Book Description
In the life of Precious Ramotswe–a woman duly proud of her fine traditional build–there is rarely a dull moment, and in the latest installment in the universally beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series there is much happening on Zebra Drive and Tlokweng Road. Mma Ramotswe is experiencing staffing difficulties. First Mr. J.L.B. Mate-koni asks to be put in charge of a case involving an errant husband. But can a man investigate such matters as successfully as the number one lady detective can? Then she has a minor falling-out with her assistant, Mma Makutsi, who decides to leave the agency, taking the 97 percent she received on her typing final from the Botswana Secretarial College with her.
Along the way, Mma Ramotswe is asked to investigate a couple of tricky cases. Will she be able to explain an unexpected series of deaths at the hospital in Mochudi? And what about the missing office supplies at a local printing company? These are the types of questions that she is uniquely well suited to answer.
In the end, whatever happens, Mma Ramotswe knows she can count on Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, who stands for all that is solid and true in a shifting world. And there is always her love for Botswana, a country of which she is justifiably proud.
Customer Reviews:
Great series! You must read the entire collection!.......2007-10-13
Delightful series. It is good to start with the first book, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, and read in order. We have reviewed at least two, in sequence each year, in our book club. Suitable for younger readers, as well. One develops a love for a simple life and a deeper understanding of Africa. A MUST READ! If you are looking for a great gift, buy your loved one the entire set. You will treasure these stories.
Another triumph for McCall Smith.......2007-09-28
I eagerly awaited this new installment in the series, and was not disappointed, although there were a few parts in this novel that moved slowly. The situations in this novel seemed real, the types of human relationship issues we all deal with on a daily basis. Things are not always lovely, people do disagree and doubt one another, and this novel revealed this underside of humanity. I hope this series will continue, as I am anxious to find out more about Mme Makutsi and her upcoming marriage, and also about the kids, who appeared only briefly in this novel. If you have not listened to the audio, run to your public library and check it out. Lisette Lecat's wonderful voice has gotten me through many long and tedious road trips.
The Best So Far!.......2007-09-20
My husband and I listened to this on our trips to my doctor and we really enjoyed this one. It has more than one subplot, and held our attention. As always, the narrator is wonderful. This series is like comfort food - always satisfying even if it doesn't have the most substance. No profanity, no real violence--just great entertainment.
Another charmer.......2007-08-28
What can I say? This is another charming installment in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I wish Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni really existed so I could meet them. At any rate, this series makes me want to visit Botswana. If you liked the other books, you will definitely like this one. If you are starting out, read them in order from the beginning.
Earthy Wisdon.......2007-08-26
Close to the earth, close to what's real and true (if there is ever a 'true'). Very personal to me as I lived in Botswana some years ago for a few years. An authentic rendition of the ways of living and the general 'feeling' of Botswana. I have all 7 of the series and re-read the previous 6 before reading the newest one. I loved the immersion. Mma Ramotswe is wise. Her character is not unique to Botswana but Botswana offers a fine ambience for developing and displaying wisdom. Over the coming years I intend to re-read the series frequently.
Book Description
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRODUCT is a time-tested, Web-supported, teaching/learning/testing system that delivers comprehensive resources. The text uses the 3-x-3 writing process to guide the user in writing effectively. Accurate, detailed model documents provide numerous examples for learners to emulate, and abundant activities and cases develop skills. The variety and depth of resources in both print and electronic media are unmatched by any competitor. Mary Ellen Guffey leads the market in providing instructors with timely, innovative, and continuously refreshed teaching tips and support through her Web sites, monthly newsletters, and conference presentations.
Customer Reviews:
Student review.......2006-10-19
My writing has improved 200% because of the information presented in this book. I am a junior marketing major at Northern Illinois University. This text is enjoyable to read with great visuals and equally interesting real- world examples. I will definitely keep this book. The skills learned from this book will guide me in my career for years to come. Thank you for writing this book and to my professor for choosing this book.
BUSINESS WRITING INSTRUCTION TAKES QUANTUM LEAP!.......2004-10-01
As a college business communication instructor and corporate writing consultant of 20+ years, I feel my career is about to take a quantum leap forward with my discovery of this magnificent compendium of materials. Mary Ellen Guffey has done ALL the hard work! Juicy, readable text: done. Riveting "inside" information on cool corporations: done. Web-based support? Manuals? PowerPoints? Videos? Done. Fresh writing prompts, some packaged with the research already done? Done. With my old text, I've been drowning in an attempt to supplement and update and enrich the dated material enough to keep it relevant and arresting. Now I'm finding that I have plenty of time to interact with students over their own writing and presentations. I've always felt one-on-one and small-group interaction to be a huge part of my mission as a classroom teacher. Thanks to Mary Ellen Guffey, I'm able to do more of it, while spending less time overall on take-home work. Thank you, Mary Ellen, from the trenches--not just for a marvelous tool, but for a whole toolbox full of them.
Perfect for the Classroom!.......2004-09-27
I am an instructor at a business college, and this textbook (along with the accompanying website for students) proved to be wonderful for use in the classroom. The chapters were lively (even for a four-hour lecture class!) and provided real-world details and examples. The website accompanying the textbook has plenty of extra information for classroom use, as well as activities that students can do to review chapters and test their grammar skills.
A Great Book for College Students.......2004-09-23
Business Communication: Process and Product has been the best textbook I have worked with. Everything is presented in a clear and reader-friendly manner. Of all the books I have had to purchase for my courses, this was well worth the investment. Even though I recently earned my degree, and am no longer taking classes, I am still benefiting from owning this book.
BC:PP is an instructor's dream!.......2004-09-22
I teach an entry level MBA class that focuses on Leadership and Communication. Previously, the text for this class was average to poor. I dreaded using it. Starting this semester, we're using Mary Ellen Guffey's Business Communication: Process and Product text. It's a dream! It's a joy as an instructor to have an academic text such as BC:PP that is (a) very applicable to real-world business situations, (b) easy and fun to read, and (c) filled with tons of great ideas for class and homework assignments. In addition, instructors can request support materials such as video, PowerPoint chapter reviews, chapter tests, etc. that save a TON of time and effort! I am truly enjoying using this book, as are my students. I'd HIGHLY recommend it for any undergrad or graduate level communication course!
Customer Reviews:
Great book!!!.......2006-12-27
I found this book to be fantastic!!!! The green pages at the back give many great ideas for teachers of literacy.
Very useful.......2006-03-11
I needed to order this book for a class. It is well written and easy to read. As a reading teacher I can say that I will keep this book as a reference long after the class has ended. This edition comes with a CD (or DVD) which I have not previewed yet, but the instructor of my class raves about it.
A must have!!.......2003-03-08
I was first introduced to this book in one of my graduate literacy courses and I have been hooked every since. The teachers at my school pass it around constantly looking for ideas. My favorite aspect of this book is the fact that there are real teachers giving real examples of what works in their classrooms. There are no strategies that seem too hard implement in your classroom, because the layout is right there!! You know it can be done and it words because the examples in the book are proof! You don't feel like you are reading about some ideal or Utopia of a classroom. You are reading about REAL classrooms. I absolutely love it!
Excellent resource for teachers.......2002-11-17
This is an excellent resource. It is concise and contains a wealth of information. I teach second grade and am working on a Master's degree in literacy. I am finding this book to be invaluable. Much of the information is sorted into charts for easy referencing. So many of the books I have read lately seem to ramble on and on. This book makes it's point and moves on to other salient information. I get rid of so many of the professional books I purchase after I read them. This one is a keeper. It is very pertinent to the current trend in improving the literacy of our children.
Chock-full of good information!.......2001-09-27
We dived right into this book in our Teaching Reading credential course. This book is worth the price just for the internet resources (web sites, discussion boards, etc.) alone! Includes a great appendix which defines key terms, such as book talks, word webs, readers' theatre, etc. These are the "buzzwords" that are important for the RICA examination. A wonderful resource!
Book Description
Maeve Binchy once again brings us an enchanting book full of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that have made her one of the most beloved and widely read writers at work today.
When a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. But young Father Flynn is most concerned with the fate of St. Ann’s Well, which is set at the edge of the woods and slated for destruction. People have been coming to St. Ann’s for generations to share their dreams and fears, and speak their prayers. Some believe it to be a place of true spiritual power, demanding protection; others think it’s a mere magnet for superstitions, easily sacrificed. Not knowing which faction to favor, Father Flynn listens to all those caught up in the conflict, and these are the voices we hear in the stories of Whitethorn Woods—men and women deciding between the traditions of the past and the promises of the future, ordinary people brought vividly to life by Binchy’s generosity and empathy, and in the vivacity and surprise of her storytelling.
Maeve Binchy is at the very top of her form in this irresistible tale.
Customer Reviews:
Overrated.......2007-10-10
Whitethorn Woods:
I love the Irish authors, but Maeve Binchy is one that I have never ever managed to get into. The times I've tried her books, only to give them up because they are so hum-drum and there are so many excellent books out there, why waste time with mediocre? This is definitely the last one I'll ever try. She just ain't got it.
Single Voices Combine To Tell the Story.......2007-09-09
Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite authors and is extraordinarily gifted in telling stories in an amazingly inviting manner. Each chapter of Whitethorn Woods is told from the perspective of someone who either lives in or has a connection to Rossmore, a small town in Ireland. As she has done with some of her previous books, the chapters are each almost a short story in themselves. Characters (written in her charmingly warm and descriptive style) from each chapter intertwine and collectively tell the story.
The many individual voices from each chapter gives you insights and nuances you would not have if told from the perspective of one or two people. The end result is that the story was more about the people of the town of Rossmore - with the plot line actually becoming secondary - and I felt almost as if I'd visited the town and it's citizens by the conclusion of the book. Goodness usually prevails in Maeve Binchy's books and that is satisfying in itself.
I enjoyed Whitethorn Woods more than the author's last, Night of Rain and Stars, but I don't think it's her best (Tara Road among them). That said, any Maeve Binchy book is a soothing and enjoyable read that is probably better than three quarters of the books out there and worth reading!
A nice, pleasant book.......2007-09-08
This is a nice feel-good book--a pleasant read. At some points, I felt like each story was much too contrived. I love being swept away into another world when reading a novel, but it didn't quite happen with this book. Some parts were too unrealistic, and others too predictable. The ending was nice, but not satisfying. Overall, it was a nice book to read at the beach, under an umbrella.
Maeve's Done it Again!.......2007-08-27
Maeve Binchy's newest book is a charming addition to her body of work. There is humor and drama in a bittersweet mix. This book was as enjoyable as all her others.
Unconventional characters come alive.......2007-08-20
No one can make characters come alive in a few short paragraphs better than Maeve Binchy. She brings the most interesting characters to Whitehorn Woods, a satsifying page turner set in a small Irish town. Based on a proposed highway that would destroy St. Ann's well, which is thought to bring miracles to many, we meet diverse characters who are somehow connected to the shrine. Ms. Binchy is a genius when it comes to creating a conventional person who has more depth and layers than we would expect.
All of the characters have challenges and they learn how to use their talents to better their lives and others. I would have liked to have some of the stories resolved, particularly the tragic tale of the stolen baby. It probably was more realistic that the long-suffering mother never knew what happened to her daughter, but I did want the child robber punished and the child to know her background. I could come to terms with the other characters' fate, but this story was the most heartbreaking.
There is a "Hollywood" ending in regards to the proposed highway which tied up the many pieces of the plot. And, of course, the hero was the character who was not considered the brightest or most ambitious. A good read.
Book Description
Updated to include new communication technology and its unique issues
For more than 50 years, The Gregg Reference Manual has been recognized as the best style manual for business professionals and students. The basic rules that apply to the most frequent problems are covered as thoroughly as the fine points of the problems that occur less often. The colorful examples and illustrations offer easy-to-follow models to help resolve the difficulties encountered in everyday communications from e-mail messages to formal reports. New features include:
- Up-to-date coverage on dealing with online source material and precautions to observe when citing electronic material
- New searchable index: the website accompanying the book allows the reader immediate access to definitions and information on specific topics
- Updated e-mail rules and expanded plagiarism coverage to meet the needs of changing technology
Customer Reviews:
very good, well-written manual. it is a must!.......2007-10-11
I think that this product is truly a must for anyone taking business english classes, anyone working at an office, or anyone teaching an english class. this is the best manual there is!
Gregg Manual.......2007-07-25
The Gregg Manual is outstanding and any office worker - whether secretary or the boss, needs it to be sure that letters and documents are perfect. It's a little pricey but worth every penny.
Not For Beginners..........2007-06-12
This book is not really geared for the beginner; it is for those who have a decent/modest/working command of the English writing/language with a basic understanding of sentence structure but need tweaking here and there to help perfect their skill. It covers EVERYTHING from punctuation, tense and subject agreement, spelling, word use--everything that goes into writing. The book is very busy in that it is LOADED--it covers everything you need to write properly/correctly. The book's section-numbering-system might be a bit of a tickle, but give it a scratch and you'll be on your way. The numbering system helps you locate/move from one area of grammatical treatment to another quickly; it allows this full coverage monograph to be printed into a portable size book. There are no "filler text", no speeches, no stories, no editoralizing--just concise writings on proper writing. It also provides clear examples, valuable notations, and alternative sentence formations. You WILL get your $ worth! (I didn't have time to check the book for this review, so mistakes are mine. ;>)
Great General Reference for Writers and Editors.......2007-05-09
I am a medical editor so my Bible is the AMA guide, but I needed a more general reference for my regular grammar/English queries. A co-editor who has been relying on and loving his Gregg Manual for years recommended it to me. His recommendation proved most helpful because so far, this book is great. I have yet to have a grammar question the Gregg Manual couldn't answer. It's great for editors and writers regardless of industry, and would be helpful for students as well.
A "Must Have" office tool.......2007-03-30
It is a great tool for a professional looking document or letter.
Book Description
Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is pregnant! She couldn’t be more overjoyed–especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery . . . to the latest, coolest pram . . . to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician.
But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be her husband Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky's perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two . . . but are there three in her marriage?
Customer Reviews:
BEST SHOPAHOLIC BOOK YET!.......2007-09-23
I absolutely LOVED this book...I thought it was her best book yet! it kept me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book!
library material - weaker than the first books.......2007-08-23
In my opinion, this is not the best Kinsella's work, even though it has enough funny moments to keep you entertained. And it's not even because Becky didn't "grow up", as some other reviewers suggested. In the real life, women understand what had happened to them only after the baby is born, and so many of us just love to be not practical when it comes down to "baby stuff". So, I wasn't bothered by the fact that Becky continues to behave as if she is still 14 years old (that's certainly part of the charm, and one of the reasons for me to read these series).
It's simply that in "Shopaholic & baby" the humor of most situations wears down, the plot follows the main line of the previous books, with the variation of Luke's ex-girlfriend coming to the scene... and some of these "funny" situations actually made me cringe because of their absurdity.
In addition, I began to be annoyed by the fact that Luke is so absolutely perfect and understanding. Sophie Kinsella attempted to make him less perfect with all this "affair" story, but somehow it did not work for me - any normal guy that I know would immediately see the difference between friendship and flirt... and probably be more than a little upset about his wife's 16 offshore overdrafts!
I was able to re-read the first books in the series, when I needed to relax and rewind, but not this one. I suggest borrowing the book from the library and waiting for the next installment.
Shopaholic & Baby.......2007-08-23
Just finished reading Kinsella's latest enstallment for Becky Brandon (nee: Bloomwood). Was as funny and entertaining as all of the other books in the series. If you're a fan of Becky Brandon, I'd suggest reading this latest additon.
Typical for the series.......2007-08-16
I enjoyed the first few Shopaholic books. But this one I started to get a little annoyed with the main character. Hasn't she learned her lesson YET? How can anyone be that much of an idiot with money? Well, maybe there are people out there like that, sadly. Anyway, the book was entertaining at times. I am probably just tired of the series.
Nice read.......2007-08-13
I love the Shopaholic series, I like Becky. I like how she is obssed with shopping, celebrity OBGYN and La Mer products.
This book is no different than the former ones, very fun to read.
Amazon.com
Settle down to enjoy a rousing good ghost story with Diane Setterfield's debut novel, The Thirteenth Tale. Setterfield has rejuvenated the genre with this closely plotted, clever foray into a world of secrets, confused identities, lies, and half-truths. She never cheats by pulling a rabbit out of a hat; this atmospheric story hangs together perfectly.
There are two heroines here: Vida Winter, a famous author, whose life story is coming to an end, and Margaret Lea, a young, unworldly, bookish girl who is a bookseller in her father's shop. Vida has been confounding her biographers and fans for years by giving everybody a different version of her life, each time swearing it's the truth. Because of a biography that Margaret has written about brothers, Vida chooses Margaret to tell her story, all of it, for the first time. At their initial meeting, the conversation begins:
"You have given nineteen different versions of your life story to journalists in the last two years alone."
She [Vida] shrugged. "It's my profession. I'm a storyteller."
"I am a biographer, I work with facts."
The game is afoot and Margaret must spend some time sorting out whether or not Vida is actually ready to tell the whole truth. There is more here of Margaret discovering than of Vida cooperating wholeheartedly, but that is part of Vida's plan.
Margaret has a story of her own: she was one of conjoined twins and her sister died so that Margaret could live. She feels an otherworldly aura sometimes or a yearning for a part of her that is forever missing. Vida's story involves two wild girls--feral twins (is she one of them?)--who would have been better off being suckled by wolves. Instead, their mother and uncle, involved in things too unsavory to contemplate, combine to neglect them woefully. There's also a governess, a Doctor, a kindly housekeeper, a gardener, and another presence--a very strange presence--which Margaret perceives as a ghost at first. Making obeisance to other great ghost stories, there is a deadly fire, a beautiful old house gone to ruin, and always that presence....
The transformative power of truth informs the lives of both women by story's end, and The Thirteenth Tale is finally and convincingly told. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
When Margaret Lea opened the door to the past, what she confronted was her destiny.
All children mythologize their birth...So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist.
The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself -- all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission.
As Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerized. It is a tale of gothic strangeness featuring the Angelfield family, including the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire.
Margaret succumbs to the power of Vida's storytelling but remains suspicious of the author's sincerity. She demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.
The Thirteenth Tale is a love letter to reading, a book for the feral reader in all of us, a return to that rich vein of storytelling that our parents loved and that we loved as children. Diane Setterfield will keep you guessing, make you wonder, move you to tears and laughter and, in the end, deposit you breathless yet satisfied back upon the shore of your everyday life.
Customer Reviews:
The editorial view .......2007-10-16
This opening sentence from the editorial view "Settle down to enjoy a rousing good ghost story with Diane Setterfield's debut novel" is made by a moron. This book is intriguing and exceptionally well written, but what it is NOT is a rousing good ghost story.
It was OK.......2007-10-16
I expected a more dramatic ending, but I was disappointed. I felt the book was too long and the ending didn't live up to the promise made earlier in the book. Worth a read, but don't expect to be wowed.
Perfect for flu season.......2007-10-12
This is the kind of gothic, convoluted tale to curl up with on a rainy night. Eerie but confusing themes move slowly past your window and if you are a little feverish they may even make sense. It's a hard book to rush through (notice the terse, irritated reviews here) but I found it pleasurable and suspensful if you don't ask too much or think too hard.
Don't Take This Book to Bed With You!.......2007-10-09
It starts out well. Our heroine, Margaret, is the daughter of a dealer in old and rare books, the kind that can support the family on a handful of special sales per year. She has worked with her quietly doting father from earliest childhood, learning to love both their trade and the many books upon their shelves. Then, on a day like any other, she receives a summons from the most published, and yet personally unknown, author in England. Vida Winters, known for telling a new and different scenario to reporters whenever asked about her past, has decided to finally tell the true story of her life to someone, and she has chosen Margaret.
Leaving the shop, her agoraphobic and distant mother, and her beloved books, Margaret takes with her a ream of paper, twelve shiny red pencils, and the discovered secret that her parents think is safely sealed away in a tin under the bed.
Miss Winters' story, she says, must be told in its proper order, without interruption by questions, with no looking ahead. And she must tell it before the wolf, eating her from the inside, finishes her storytelling forever. Margaret's plan to decline the job suddenly is overwhelmed by the hints of love, loss, tragedy, and deranged secrets.
The daily sessions of story-telling begin with the loss of a mother, the depression of a father, and the rearing of the product of their union. And then the story begins to darken.
Ms. Setterfield creates, with a masterful use of vocabulary and phrasing, a virtual "train wreck" of events. As the reader watches the engine approach, an inner sense of disaster perceives that the trestle ahead is weak. One by one the cars of the train follow along, swaying and groaning with the stress, starting to tumble into the abyss. Surely the train will stop and the last few cars, at least, will remain in safety. Surely the disaster cannot become worse....
Raised in a house with a reclusive uncle, a housekeeper with dementia, and a taciturn gardener, young Vida suddenly finds herself in charge of the comings and goings of all the residents of the lonely estate, responsible for their needs and for keeping anyone living in the village from intruding on their lair lest they find out their gruesome secrets.
When it seems impossible for any good ending (happy is perhaps too strong a word here), Ms. Setterfield snatches real life away from the horrors of the fire and the insanity, and carefully wraps up all the stories in a satisfactory manner. Whew!
A good, and compelling, read, The Thirteenth Tale will hold your attention and require you to continue to the very end.
Just don't take this book to bed with you.
Too many crazy people in the attic... (contains spoliers).......2007-10-05
The Thirteenth tale is a nice pseudo-gothic novel, inspired by classic English Victorian novels. It has all the mandatory characters and events, and in abundance. In place of one crazy wife in the attic, Ms. Setterfiled generously provides us with several generations of a mad family. There are abandoned children, mixed up twins, a fire and a ghost. The plot is quite engaging though hard to believe. The characters are poorly developed one-dimensional figures; the flow of events is just superficially glued together, leaving loose ends and blank gaps here and there.
The story of Vida Winter was rather a disappointment, after the first dozen of pages that had promised some dark story about a bookish girl in the world of old dusty books, diaries of dead people and forgotten pages. I wish I read about this one. Then I wouldn't have had all these silly questions that kept me from enjoying the book: why everybody would go nuts about the childhood of a popular writer, meaning the events that happened before she even started to write? How come a child lives in a family (though a nuts family but anyway) and doesn't have a name? Why did Vida's mother abandon her? Why did Vida love retarded Emmeline so much, that chose her over the boy she liked? If Emmeline and Adeline were so different, why was it impossible to tell one from another? Why was it such a bad idea to separate the twins?...
Book Description
Legacies is an anthology for literature for composition courses that is thematically organized with abundant rhetoric, composition, and argument coverage. Themes outside the usual selections such as "The Heroic Journey" are included as are themes arranged by cluster within the units. Thematic previews at the beginning of each chapter cover al of the genres and show how selections can be studied within the context of the various genres. Each chapter offers a model student essay such as thematic analysis and explication.
Customer Reviews:
College textbook price-gouging going on here........2005-12-04
$67 for a paperback book is highway roberry.
Have been pricing out college textbooks on Ebay, Amazon, and the college bookstore. It's a bloody medieval guild these publishers have going here and professors who insist on the latest editions of texts are aiding and abetting the rip-off.
This is monopolisitic practice if I've ever seen it. If the industry doesn't rachet down this greed-fest, someone else will - and as far as I'm concerned, it can't happen too quickly. Shame on you all.
Here is what counts.......2000-08-24
I am an affectionate critic of "Legacies," as both editors were teachers of mine and many of the contributors were co-teachers with me in the mid-1990s. Regardless, I used the book for several years and the results speak volumes.
This is a college literature/composition reader that tries to do it all -- and succeeds. For its hefty heft, one must acknowledge that each lesson plan (day-to-day lesson plans handed happily to you by real teachers, talented teachers) belongs here. I used many of them before they were "lesson plans" -- they engage and involve students.
Whether you are a reader/student simply looking for a great resource of singular texts or a college literature professor/adjunct composition instructor searching for sure-fire ways of directing your students away from the window and towards what counts -- "Legacies" is the book.
Book Description
The National Bestseller
In the autumn of 1558, church bells across England ring out the joyous news that Elizabeth I is the new queen. One woman hears the tidings with utter dread. She is Amy Dudley, wife of Sir Robert, and she knows that Elizabeth's ambitious leap to the throne will draw her husband back to the center of the glamorous Tudor court, where he was born to be.
Elizabeth's excited triumph is short-lived. She has inherited a bankrupt country where treason is rampant and foreign war a certainty. Her faithful advisor William Cecil warns her that she will survive only if she marries a strong prince to govern the rebellious country, but the one man Elizabeth desires is her childhood friend, the ambitious Robert Dudley. As the young couple falls in love, a question hangs in the air: can he really set aside his wife and marry the queen? When Amy is found dead, Elizabeth and Dudley are suddenly plunged into a struggle for survival.
Philippa Gregory's The Virgin's Lover answers the question about an unsolved crime that has fascinated detectives and historians for centuries. Intelligent, romantic, and compelling, The Virgin's Lover presents a young woman on the brink of greatness, a young man whose ambition exceeds his means, and the wife who cannot forgive them.
Download Description
"In the autumn of 1558, church bells across England ring out the joyous news that Elizabeth I is the new queen. One woman hears the tidings with utter dread. She is Amy Dudley, wife of Sir Robert, and she knows that Elizabeth's ambitious leap to the throne will pull her husband back to the very center of the glamorous Tudor court, where he was born to be. Amy had hoped that the merciless ambitions of the Dudley family had died on Tower Green when Robert's father was beheaded and his sons shamed; but the peal of bells she hears is his summons once more to power, intrigue, and a passionate love affair with the young queen. Can Amy's steadfast faith in him, her constant love, and the home she wants to make for them in the heart of the English countryside compete with the allure of the new queen? Elizabeth's excited triumph is short-lived. She has inherited a bankrupt country, riven by enmity, where treason is normal and foreign war a certainty. Her faithful advisor William Cecil warns her that she will survive only if she marries a strong prince to govern the rebellious country, but the one man Elizabeth desires is her childhood friend, the irresistible, ambitious Robert Dudley. Robert revels in the opportunities of the new reign. The son of an aristocratic family brought up in palaces as the equal of his royal playmates, Robert knows he can reclaim his destiny at Elizabeth's side. Elizabeth cannot resist his courtship, and as the young couple slowly falls in love, Robert starts to think the impossible: can he set aside his wife and marry the young queen? Philippa Gregory's The Virgin's Lover answers the question about an unsolved crime that has fascinated detectives and historians for centuries. Philippa Gregory uses documents and evidence from the Tudor era and, with almost magical insight into the desires of Robert Dudley and his lovers, paints a picture of a country on the brink of greatness, a young woman grasping at her power, a young man whose ambition is greater than his means, and the wife who cannot forgive them. "
Customer Reviews:
somewhat boring.......2007-09-29
I have read all the books in this series re: Henry 8th and enjoyed all of them except this one. In spite of the history during this period of time, the reign of Elizabeth I, this book concentrates far too much on the sexual relationship between Elizabeth and Robert Dudley as well as his whining wife, Amy. In terms of a synopsis, other reviewers have gone into depth but, again, the book is somewhat devoid of historical value. Gregory's theory about how Amy died is somewhat interesting but so much more could have been done with this time period. I actually came to despise the characters Dudley and Elizabeth. She is being portrayed as weak, Dudley obsessed, dumb and easily manipulated. As one of the greatest rulers in England, I found this characterization of her unbelievable and annoying.
Falls flat.......2007-09-23
This was not at all like Philippa Gregory's other novels that I have read. Instead it was just filled with boring war talk and it made Queen Elizabeth seem weak, confused, and not a good leader whatsoever. Once I got over that fact, the book was just okay.
This story discusses Elizabeth's first few years on the throne. Her 'lover' is Robert Dudley (who also appeared in Gregory's novel The Queens Fool) and the book is central to him, his wife, and his affair with Elizabeth.
At first I sympathized with Elizabeth and I was naïve to even sympathize with Dudley himself for a short time in the beginning, but quickly I was repulsed by his devious and selfish behavior. As the book went on (and let me tell you it dragged on and on... not a fast read AT ALL...) I was quickly on the side of Amy Dudley and I felt horrible for the way she was treated and disrespected by her husband and the Queen.
I have adored the handful of Philippa Gregory novel's that I have read so far (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Constant Princess, and The Queens Fool) and I usually love biographical stories; therefore I was certain that I would enjoy this book as well. However, it was long, boring, and not filled with spice. If this is your first taste of Philippa Gregory, don't start with this book. Start with The Other Boleyn Girl; it is much better and much more fun.
An enjoyable read of historical fiction.......2007-08-07
This was my first Philippa Gregory book. It was a very enjoyable read, and I especially liked how she integrated historical events into the narrative. If you enjoy Elizabethan era history and movies like "Shakespeare in Love" you will enjoy this book.
The weak side of Elizabeth, not a full view.......2007-08-07
Elizabeth I may be the greatest most interesting ruler ever and I love Philippa Gregory, so what happened here? I know Elizabeth relied heavily on Robert Dudley but this book ONLY focused on the vigins "lover" so the other more compelling strengths of Elizabeth are just not mentioned. This book provides a distorted, narrow view of Elizabeth. I have learned more about Elizabeth I's strengths through other books and also the HBO movie "Elizabeth I" with Helen Mirren which was excellent. I suggest other sources for Elizabeth stories - keep looking.
Queen Elizabeth Fans Beware.......2007-07-25
While I have enjoyed several of Gregory's other works, including The Constant Princess, The Queen's Fool, and The Other Boleyn Girl, I couldn't even make it through this book. I am an avid reader of historical fiction and non-fiction and never have I been so disgusted with a portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I. Gregory writes about an immature, one-dimensional girl unable to make the simplest decisions without her lover, more focused on lust and adolescent games than running a country. Despite the fact that Queen Elizabeth I was fluent in English, Latin, Greek and had studied War, Science, Mathematics and was a model pupil throughout her schooling, Gregory expects you to view the Virgin Queen as little more than a village idiot who has the crown thrust upon her. While Gregory's works are on the whole fulfilling this left me completely dissatisfied and unimpressed with her writing.
Customer Reviews:
Not for a diversity class.......2007-09-09
This text is required reading for a master's level diversity course. I think it would be an excellent choice for an ENGLISH class, but think it is a poor choice for a diversity class. . .
Books:
- The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East
- The Illuminatus! Trilogy: The Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, Leviathan
- The Last Colony
- The Leadership Experience (Thomson - South-Western)
- The Modern Mind: An Intellectual History of the 20th Century
- The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology
- The Open Society and Its Enemies: Hegel and Marx (Routledge Classics)
- The Origins of FBI Counterintelligence (Modern War Studies)
- The Origins of Totalitarianism
- The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Transfer Pricing Methods: An Applications Guide
- Scott 2005 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Vol. 5: Countries of the World P-Sl
- Out From Underdevelopment Revisited: Changing Global Structures and the Remaking of the Third World
- Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues
- Plazas: Lugar de encuentros
- The Distant Land of My Father
- Regulating Toxic Substances: A Philosophy of Science and the Law
- Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management
- Maran Illustrated Yoga
- How to Find Information About Companies
Women Sleuths
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Blue Shoes and Happiness (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 7)
The Right Attitude to Rain (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries)
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
A Thousand Splendid Suns
