Book Description
German Quickly: A Grammar for Reading German is a thorough, straightforward textbook with a sense of fun. It teaches the fundamentals for reading German literary and scholarly texts of all levels of difficulty. It can be used as an introductory text for scholars with no background in German, or it can serve as a reference text for students wishing to review German. The grammar explanations are detailed and clear, addressing common problems students encounter while learning to read German. This book includes thought-provoking and entertaining reading selections consisting mainly of aphorisms and proverbs. There are also twelve appendices, including a summary of German grammar, descriptions of German dictionaries, a partial answer key, strategies for learning German, and a humanities vocabulary section of about 3,800 words.
Customer Reviews:
Very helpful for learning to read on your own.......2007-07-09
I got this book because I wanted to read German, not speak it. It provides very, very clear explanations and emphasizes some realities of learning German that I, as a self-teacher, was trying to evade. For example: you're not going to be able to understand German without understanding noun cases.
There is an extremely helpful chapter on using German dictionaries that would have saved me many headaches if I had had it earlier. The chapters are short enough to comprehend, logically organized, and illustrated with amusing and interesting brief readings, starting in the very first chapter with one-sentence quotes and proverbs. I am not really reading German yet but I am much closer to that goal now that I am using this book rather than one of the many, many books that focus on speaking German.
Other reviewers have expressed disappointment at the lack of attention to German pronunciation. I have a shelf full of books and tapes and CD's to help me with that, but none of them taught me how to use a dictionary. I am not at all disappointed that a book on reading German doesn't spend time on pronouncing German.
The only reason I don't offer it a full five stars are the many typos, but it is mentioned elsewhere that the author will email you a list of corrections. I haven't asked yet but probably will. The price of the book is also a bit steep - I bought a copy a year ago for a whole let less. But this is probably the book to go with if you're trying to learn how to read rather than speak.
Decent, but not five stars..........2007-05-26
I am a PhD student at Harvard who recently used this book to study German for a language exam (for scientific reading knowledge).
I would recommend the book for independent study for the following reasons:
1. Each lesson is short and self-contained.
2. There is an answer key in the back (essential if you're studying alone).
3. The practice readings are interesting (drawn from German proverbs, philosophers, theologians, etc.).
But there are two major problems as well:
1. You will get no sense of the pronunciation of the language, which is essential for a real understanding (as opposed to a superficial reading knowledge, i.e. my understanding!) of any language.
2. The book has literally dozens of annoying and distracting typos. Example: One of the most difficult chapters (27), The Overloaded Adj. Construction, has numerous typos which certainly do not help you along the path of understanding. And for those of you who love the answer key in the back, it too contains several critical typos. So beware. But this is the publisher's/editor's fault, not the author's.
So, if you're just trying to learn a bit about another language for reading knowledge, etc., this is a good book. Viel gluck!
P.S. I did in fact pass the reading test, mostly due to the solid presentation in this book! (And also by being subsequently heckled through a semester-long reading course...).
P.S.S. And a note on the typos: The author offers a list of corrections to anyone (apparently) that will email her, which is very generous (see 'comments').
Does the job with captivating interest.......2007-03-10
German is my sixth formally-learned language. I've used eight introductory grammars extensively.
For me, there might be too much explanation and examples, but these can be skipped over easily enough. Other students not as acquainted with language acquisition might really appreciate such commodities!
There is hardly a dull moment in any of the first 100 pages I've worked through so far. That is to say, while learning German might not be fun (!), Wilson makes the task not seem tedious.
As others have mentioned, the majority of Wilson's exercise sentences are proverbial: "Sleeping after lunch is as healthy as a rotten fish;" "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of the Truth than lies" (Nietzsche); "Other people's cows have bigger udders...."
What a refreshing change from typical translation exercises! I e-mail my wife one or two such proverbs a day.
I do a chapter every day or two, without too much pain.
Wilson is a gentle taskmaster. She attaches vocabulary reminders with the exercise sentences.
Wilson is most supremely interested in gettting her reader-client to read German. Thus, she provides sample readings of short essays which simulate the real reading world of students acquiring German for advanced humanities studies. These are designed to challenge, but again she provides sympathetic assistance to help the reader get trhough such essays.
Wilson's sympathies toward her reader-client is also reflected by her vocabulary lists. They are quite extensive. However, important words recur in these lists from chapter to chapter, giving plenty of exposure to them before finally being marked as the final chapter in which they will be listed.
Such sympathy may also be reflected in Wilson's decision not to give extended definitions in the chapter vocabularies. Instead of giving two or three different possible meanings of a word, she usually gives but one, and then introduces an alternative meaning in another chapter. For me and my brain, I'd rather have all two or three meanings altogether at once. Wilson's approach leaves me with wondering if I had learned the word wrong to begin with. Wilson's approach, however, might be well appreciated by other users.
Included is an extremely helpful three page chart designed to help English readers recognize related words in German. Thus, when the reader discovers that the German ff parallels the English p, the reader might more readily guess that the German word Affe is the English word ape. Or, since the German letter z parallels the English letter t, one might guess that the German word Zunge is the English word tongue.
Answers to about half of the exercises are provided in the back of the book. A quite thorough glossary of basic and humanities-specific words is also provided, including a list of proper names (e.g., Armelkanal--English Channel; Bundestag--German Republic; Island--Iceland).
There is an array of materials available on the web for the book. I would be happy for a specific vocabulary flash card program designed for each chapter. Maybe there is....
Wilson seems very personable. She provides her email address, and has corresponded with me a couple of times. She provided me with the answers to the exercise not included in the book.
If you're looking to learn how to read German academically, I doubt you need to look further.
One of the best I've read.......2007-03-08
I have looked at many books in my quest to learn how to read German. Most don't serve that purpose well. Wilson's book stands above the rest. It is clearly written, and has a way of getting me up to a moderate speed quickly. Her long experience in teaching German clearly shows through.
If you need to read German- buy this book!.......2005-12-30
I have both this book and German for Reading Knowledge. German Quickly is by far more helpful and worth every penny. It was developed by the author after years of teaching students how to read/translate German (without worrying about speaking). Because the focus is on translation and not "learning" German language in the manner of a formal school course, the book is much more intuitive than any other I have encountered on this topic. After working with this book for 5 weeks, I was able to translate an amazing amount of German!
Customer Reviews:
THE BOOK on the Death of Jesus Christ.......2004-05-27
I used this book extensively in an exegesis paper on Luke's account of the Death of Jesus that I wrote this term. There is no book like it - and you want to own it. In paperback this book is a complete steal.
Brown was a serious higher-critical scholar. If you're looking for something that avoids some of the difficult aspects of the crucifixion accounts (notably variations in the accounts) this is probably not the book for you. But if you're looking for seriously scholarly analysis of the crucifixion accounts then you can do no better. While individual commentaries on the four Gospels do offer some advantages, this book is second to none when it comes to comparing the accounts as well as Brown's insight into why the author might have recorded the story as he did.
There are two key aspects that make this book as strong as it is.
1) Despite his higher-critical method, Brown's faith comes through constantly. This is not a person out to dispel and destroy the Gospel accounts. Rather, this is the work of Christian scholar who takes the text to be his authority.
2) Brown avoids heavy use of technical language and lots of Greek. Although not a light read, knowledge of Greek and/or a seminary education is not necessary to make use of this book.
If you want to read about the Passion of our Lord, this and volume 1 are it.
Very exhaustive amount of research........2003-05-07
"The Death of the Messiah" is the most exhaustive commentary I have ever seen on the Passion Narrative. While the books are usually reserved for seminary students, some undergrads such as myself have had to drudge through the 2,000 pages of material. Hard as it may be to get through the chapters, every page is very informative into both the literary history of particular passages, as well as the physical probality that such events actually occured during the life of Jesus.
A Scholarly Study of the Passion Narrative.......2000-06-24
The depth of Brown's scholarship is marvelous. Brown parses and analyzes each verse of every gospel story with insight and precision. It is a testament to his even-handedness that he draws criticism from the religious right as well as the avant garde iconoclasts who inhabit the left wing of modern Biblical scholarship. If you're looking for an easy read, look elsewhere. The student must invest a good deal of effort in reading and understanding this book, but the diligent student will find the reward well worth the extra effort.
Wonderful.......2000-05-28
Yet another amazing achievement by Fr. Raymond Brown. While not a book for an easy read or a quick spiritual uplifting experience, it gives the reader an opportunity to explore the passion narratives in an exhaustive manner and become enlightened by the sheer depth found in the recordings of the Passion of Christ in the Gospels.
Death of the Messiah.......2000-04-30
This is a very scholarly, theologically oriented text. It is very dense and focuses on comparison of different biblical texts, language interpretations and corroboration through ancient literary works or histories. It is not the inspirational or devotional text I was seeking, but may be a delight to serious student of theology and biblical studies.
Average customer rating:
- Satisfying
- A Darker Look at Some Manga Themes
- Not so good.
- A HEARTWARMING ENDING TO A STRANGE TALE
- Yup, yup...me likey!
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Passion Volume 2 (Yaoi)
Shinobu Gotoh , and
Shok Takaku
Manufacturer: Digital Manga Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Passion Volume 1 (Yaoi)
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Passion Volume 3 (Yaoi)
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Desire (Yaoi) (Yaoi Series)
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ASIN: 1569709777 |
Book Description
Student and teacher. Man and... man. Taboo upon taboo is what Hikaru and Shima have to overcome if they want to pursue their feelings for one another. In this final installment of the two-part "Passion" series, Hikaru and Shima's relationship takes on a more serious tone when the pair begins to see each other regularly every weekend. They agree to have this arrangement until Hikaru graduates. However, Shima eventually seems to tire of it. As Hikaru's graduation draws near, will his relationship with Shima, his teacher, end as well?
Customer Reviews:
Satisfying.......2006-02-28
As I said with Volume 1, the art can take some getting used to and the translation is sometimes awkward, but the fascinating story makes up for any shortcomings in these areas. (This series is complete with Volume 2, though the author of the story talks about the possibility of a sequel.)
One of the things I really enjoyed about this series is the way it challenges assumptions. Also, seeing the characters grow and become more mature people makes the story more entertaining; I think it is particularly easy to see how Hikaru has "grown up" in the "Valentine Side Story." Eh... it's hard to talk about this manga without giving anything away... The ending is extremely satisfying. How's that?
For further reading I recommend:
Our Everlasting (yaoi)
Kizuna - Bonds of Love (yaoi)
Loveless (shonen ai-ish)
A Darker Look at Some Manga Themes.......2005-12-02
Its hard for me to understand why I like this series so very much, when the plot is actually more twisted than I think even a lot of people who've read it realize. Passion Volume 1 and Passion Volume 2 are about the love affair between a student and a teacher, a line that should never be crossed. Albeit, Hikaru is an 18 year old (or at least I hope 18 year old) senior, it is still wrong. In the first book there is a scene where Hikaru's mom orders him to take a shower. He's sleeping with a man probably a decade older and wiser (or at least should be wiser) than him, but his mother is still telling him to take when to take his showers and asks him where he's going to be and who he's going to be with. Its not that the age difference is to great, or a big deal, its just that Hikaru is in high school, and Shima is his teacher. Shima, if you look very closely at how he acts in the manga, is mentally unbalanced. His ex broke up with him because he copied everything his ex did, conforming his wants, likes and dislikes to his. And in the begging of volume 1, Hikaru rapes him and Shima does . . . . nothing. A clear thinking person would have called the police, or, at the very least, avoided his attacker. But Shima encouraged him. Also in the first book. there is another scene which points to Shima's lack of emotional stability. Hikaru had just finished his finals and is hanging out and talking to some friends. Shima is gazing at him through the window. Jealous , he calls Hikaru and makes him chase him all throughout the city, forgetting his friends. Even if it were a normal relationship, this is not something rational person would do. Hikaru may have crossed the line, a person should NEVER force themselves on another person. But in this new volume, the reader discovers that Shima, was in fact, the one who crossed the line first. Volume 2 sheds new light on Shima. Instead of cold and unfathomable, he turns out to be very emotional and very, very human.
Not so good........2005-05-22
Another of DMP's Yaoi Manga, it's not like most Yaoi Manga having the teacher as the Uke and the student as the Seme. It wasn't necessarily DMP's fault for my low rating of this Yaoi Manga but it simply the fact was I disliked it. The art didn't catch me and neither did the story. So if you are a true Yaoi Fan get it but if you only collect the good stuff, pass by this one. After all, two of the main characters get girlfriends and that's not my cup of tea when I prefer reading boys boinking.
A HEARTWARMING ENDING TO A STRANGE TALE.......2005-04-24
Passion Vol. 2 picks up with student Hikaru and his beloved teacher "Sir" Shima, continuing their pretend "playing lovers." Shima has helped Hikaru study hard for his University acceptance and Hikaru has been able to go out and stay in with his love. But graduation is drawing near, and Shima's ex-lover Amamiya is suspicious of Shima's behavior. Will he find out their secret? Will they stay together after Hikaru graduates? And does Shima really care about Hikaru? All these questions are asked and eventually answered in this conclusion to a strange yaoi tale. I was impressed that the translation work was improved in this volume, and that the ending was not as pat as most series wrap up. The emotions of the characters became surprisingly real, and the drawing as always was unique and lovely. The novel also includes a touching after-story bonus tale that makes you happy about everyone's fate in the end. This is a must-have for all yaoi fans. WARNING-Vol. 2 does contain an explicit shower scene, whereas the first volume's love scenes were relatively tame and hardly warranted the parental advisory. The graphic nature of the plot however is not recommended for children.
Yup, yup...me likey!.......2005-04-04
What a ridiculously long wait! Yes, I was ever the anxious one, and in my haste sought another merchant by which to speedily acquire this manga upon its release. Much better than the first, I must say. This second volume shed sufficient light on past character behaviors, which my feeble mind failed to be patient with or accept as mere building blocks to the good stuff. I'm glad I wasn't harsh on reviewing the first volume with its five stars by default, so to speak, despite the fact that I'm not much for suspense or anything under the surface. (Although quite a bit of that is needed to create some foundation--concrete and comprehensive or no).
Having said that, I do indeed like the way things turned out. Seems Shima was just a confused wreck as many are when it comes to relationships. Looking back, I can now sympathize with him as well as congratulate him for finally becoming the big softie I had a feeling he was all along. He just opened up like a flower, and his motives for doing what he did aren't far from explicable. Not at all.
I love the character Hikaru's maturing. Though you'd think with a ripeness fresh out of secondary edification, calling his lover `sir' would have been tossed like a brick out the window. Meh. Even the old player Amamiya moved on, as well as Ms. Morikawa who I think is quite the understanding lady betwixt this bungalow of boys.
So the dough of volume one was kneaded and left to rise with volume two as the nice evenly baked result. Was that dumb? Yeah, that was dumb. Okay, so it wasn't awesomely mind blowing, but I did enjoy it. Everyone came to terms with what they were faced with as was in their nature, so...yes; I was fond of the goings on uncoiling here. I don't care what anyone else says.
With regards to the manga in and of itself in the area of aesthetics and the like, I noticed at a few instances that the shades sometimes had a matte look to them, primarily on the ex-lover Amamiya at certain points. And I'd never seen Hikaru irate. That was pretty neat the way he canned the adolescent clingy act, snatched up a stable somewhat protective one where needs be and tore a new game face like nobody's business. Indeed some mental muscle was pumped and he began to take charge of things in the emotional realm because he wanted this, he loved this man. But I digress.
Eh, so the artwork is the same...so-so, not the greatest. But like I said before, it isn't a big turnoff nor is it a big deal to me. Some silly syntax errors sprinkled throughout did not go unheeded: ignorance of the rules of `i before e except after c' sorta crummy deals (well, maybe in a single instance), words that if flipped would make the perfect sentence, etc (again, maybe in a single instance). I did so dislike that. I felt gypped, but I merely overlooked it. Sometimes answers seemed a bit off or maybe my examination of the whole thing fell short. Of course a smart person would probably have made sense of it right away, but in my case, I had to reread to grasp.
So far as smut went, well...smut is always going to be smut. As per Hikaru's `oh, I wanna take a bath too'. Hikaru, you dog, you! Of course you can! What follows was a tad steamy. Hehe. Yay, smut!
So, would it be fair now to say I hated the first-it was an absolute disaster? Not so much so, and not with a cruel fervor. I simply am not a fan of having that region of human disposition within my perusals: uncertainty, bewilderment-and I had nowhere to turn but to the pre-order of the second volume to quell the ire (I lie, of course. It is somewhat appealing). I consider them both now just one book so; the hesitant grade of volume one gets upgraded rollover coverage of five stars for goodness on account of volume two. I really think this continuation covered the bases for me that had been a bother before. All in all, the muddle of past is hurtled into oblivion. I didn't need a lot to understand...didn't need every single mistake delved into...every: who, what, when, where, why justified. It was uncomplicated and pleasing enough, just as the side story was. Yum! Passion 2 delivered, and I am satisfied.
So if you don't need a crap load of extravagantly spun angst, lust and love to make up for what irked you in the preceding tome, then get this. It is a nice read. If indeed you are now religiously loathing this entire series simply because you found the first book excruciatingly insufferable, this would not be suitable to your predilection, and possibly no little inkling of grandeur would redeem you. By the way, it is my understanding that there was going to be a third volume. I'm not sure, but if there is, I shall definitely be in line to attain one. And volume two, such as it is, would not be the final installment. Eh...we'll see what happens ^_^.
Well, what a long ass review-and the first! Kewl! I will say no more for fear I'll probably give stuff away. And so, on that note, get Passion 2. It isn't God's gift to yaoi readers, but it would be nice to know my opinion of it carries if even the remotest bearing. I'm so glad my worries are over!
Book Description
Education of the Senses, the first volume of Peter Gay's The Bourgeois Experience, was hailed as "a subtle, elegant, profound and prodigiously researched book" (Washington Post Book World), "the most learned, as well as the wittiest, survey of human sexuality ever to be published" (The New
York Times). In this, the second volume, Gay continues his eloquent, psychoanalytically informed exploration of the lives of the Victorian middle classes. Whereas Education of the Senses focused on Victorians' sexual behavior and attitudes, The Tender Passion concentrates on their notions of love.
Gay argues that, contrary to popular belief, Victorians were able to know love in its most exalted sense. "Freud was only summing up the current wisdom," he writes, "when he observed that 'a completely normal attitude in love' requires the uniting of 'two currents,' the 'tender and sensual.'"
Beginning with the stories of two young men, one English and one German, Gay proceeds to a wide-ranging inquiry into the ideal and real meaning of love for the Victorians. Based on a vast amount of material--including philosophical treatises, medical texts, letters, diaries, works of fiction,
and art--the book explores such topics as homosexual love, class differences in the perception of love, and the diversion of love in music and religion. There are also fascinating insights into the lives of eminent 19th-century figures, including Dickens, Stendhal, Balzac, Wagner, and Beatrice Webb.
A work of remarkable erudition and analytical sophistication, The Tender Passion is an impressive addition to "one of the major historical enterprises of the decade" (The New York Review of Books).
Product Description
BOOK
Product Description
Limited edition. "In Search of Excellence" is signed by the author.
Average customer rating:
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La Passion cathare, volume 2
Michel Peyramaure
Manufacturer: Robert Laffont
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 222107730X |
Product Description
Compiled, Edited and annotated from the Revelations of the Mother of God to Mary Van Hoof
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French for Reading
German for Reading Knowledge
Modern Theological German: A Reader and Dictionary
Collins German Unabridged Dictionary 5th Edition (Harpercollins Unabridged Dictionaries)
Oxford-Duden German Dictionary: German-English / English-German
