Kakaku：
Oxford University Press, USA
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A English History Fanatic) 『Henry of Huntingdon's History of the English People is an amazing resource not only for dates and historical events but also for astute comments relating to the progression of time, and the meaning and use of written history. Henry of Huntingdon states that the writing of man's deeds is one way that differentiates man from animals and if we did not our great leaders and people would be lost in time and the lessons that we can learn from their lives forgotten.
At times the text reads like earlier histories compiled from Easter Tables (the monks that computed the time of Easter would also mark down the major events of that year - these were a major source of earlier annals) however, Henry's elegiac interludes break the occasional repetitive nature of the text. He also places every now and then speeches (not necessarily the real speeches - more like Shakespearian speeches) of the major participants and fierce battle scenes. Also, most surprising, Henry of Huntingdon addressed questions that the reader might have about his biases - for example, when describing Henry I he asks why he would write such wonderful things about him when he also did bad deeds as well. His reply is simply that his good deeds overshadowed his bad. One of the most astute and comical statements is his observation that in the past there seem to have more miracles - perhaps this is because we are more critical of who becomes saints than before. This is but one of the multiple volumes of his work and I wish that Oxford World's Classics would publish the rest. This is an amazing resource not only for historical facts, but commentary from the time from the point of view of a lower level clergyman attempting to please his patron and provide entertainment for his readers. 5/5』
(Very good) 『This is a great read--easy and accessible. A must have for English history buffs.』
(Nice affordable edition of an important work) 『Good to see a nice copy of (part of) a medieval historical chronicle on the sales lists again - it's hard to get ahold of this kind of literature unless you want to shell out 180 bucks for a library-quality full hardcover copy. This is a good edition too, by the scholar who (literaly!) wrote the book on Henry of Huntingdon - they couldn't have found a better person to do the job.
The only thing I didn't understand was why Dr. Greenway re-arrainged the order of the selections from the original work. In the front of the book she gives the original positions of everything according to her edition, though, so you can read them in that order if you want. I suppose this new order does make for a more unified and enjoyable read, even if it slightly anachronistic.
So, whether you're a specialist or just casually interested, this is a great volume to pick up - lots of good stuff directly from the medieval world.
Also, in response to the earlier reviewer - the notes are numbered in the back according to the page they refer to, which is standard practice with the Oxford World's Classics series. I don't tend to like endnotes either, but personally, I didn't find them difficult to use.』
(Excellent Source Material) 『What surprised me most about reading this was how accessible the book was. I was expecting it to be as dry as the original parchment that it was written on. Instead, it narrative reads more or less like any other history, and I mean that as a compliment. It is apparent that translator Diana Greenway and and the Oxford University Press have bent over backwards to make the text inclusive and unpretentious. The first part of the book has a wonderful introduction, setting the stage of what England was like during the time "History" was written. Including the state of the church and the politics surronding it at that time. It also provides how the book was written and the best way to approach the style of the text. And then of course it gives an interesting look into life of the author itself. This volume also includes a selected bibliography, genealogical tables, as well as a glossary.
The book itself is a fascinating account, starting with the Aethelred's second marrage to his Norman wife Emma and ending with the coronation of Henry II. The pace is brisk and he likes to move things along. One particular aspect of the narrative that I enjoyed was his use of biblical verses used to reflect what he was talking about. I'm not a religious man, but of course Henry was and his broad use of "verse dropping" ranges from clever puns to very profound. And the "eyewitness" factor of Henry I and Stephens reign should be catnip to the history buff.
My only severe complaint about this book was the explanatory notes. Normally footnotes are at the bottom of the page or in back of the book. In this case it's the latter which is fine. However be warned that the notes are not numbered. While reading you will see a simple asterisk. The notes are divided by chapter in the back of the book and it's very frustrating trying to hunt down an explanation when the note list on that chapter is over two pages long and you don't have a "number" to that note to go to. Aside from that complaint everything else about this outstanding. So armchair historians can relax. This is a comprehensive and accessible offering. A definite must have.』
『Henry of Huntingdon's narrative covers one of the most exciting and bloody periods in English history: the Norman Conquest and its aftermath. He tells of the decline of the Old English kingdom, the victory of the Normans at the Battle of Hastings, and the establishment of Norman rule. His accounts of the kings who reigned during his lifetime--William II, Henry I, and Stephen--contain unique descriptions of people and events. Henry tells how promiscuity, greed, treachery, and cruelty produced a series of disasters, rebellions, and wars. Interwoven with memorable and vivid battle-scenes are anecdotes of court life, the death and murder of nobles, and the first written record of Cnut and the waves and the death of Henry I from a surfeit of lampreys. Diana Greenway's translation of her definitive Latin text has been revised for this edition.』
IPhone 3G used's review (An Eclectic Mix of Puzzles - Highly Recommended!) 『The Amazing 1000 Puzzle Challenge has something for everyone in our family. We bought our first copy of this at a book fair and had to order another one for my oldest daughter (now 21) when she wouldn't give it back to my son (13). My whole family has found challenging puzzles in this large book, some are easy enough for 10 year olds, and others have stumped me (44 year old high tech professional).
There are a wide variety of puzzle types including word, math, and multiple logic types. All of them are obvious once you look at the included solutions, but some are frustratingly simple and you want to kick yourself for not figuring it out yourself.
Highly Recommended!』
(Amazing!) 『I love this book because it has puzzles, riddles and mind challenges that you'd never think about.』
(Think hard, but on several different tracks) 『The 1000 puzzles in this book are some of the most challenging, entertaining and frustrating that you will ever find. Reading through the book is addictive, once you start on a puzzle, it is hard to put it down. I spent hours reading and trying to solve the puzzles, occasionally I would solve one, but most of the time I was forced to read the solution. Like all good puzzles, the answer is obvious once you know what it is. However, I must confess that I would never have solved many of them on my own. The solution was so far out of my circle of thought patterns that I never would have landed there. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend the book as a source of intellectual play, but only if you can tolerate an increase in your frustration level.』
(Give your brain a workout) 『This challenging oversized book is full of colorful illustrated brain-benders of all sorts that range from the simplistic to the mind numbing. It includes a good variety of spatial, visual, logic, word, lateral thinking, and number puzzles. The solutions sometimes involve a trick of some kind. The format would have been improved if it had a spiral binding so it could lie flat. It is difficult to work the puzzles in a book this thick without one.
According to the introduction, there are few puzzles in this collection that children under 10 could not solve. I doubt that is true, because many of the puzzles are super-tough and require out-of-the-box thinking. It would make a good gift for an experienced puzzle solver.』
『Test your brain power -- or that of your friends, co-workers, and family members. From the simple to the extremely challenging, The Amazing 1000 Puzzle Challenge offers page after page of fun for all ages.
This book is filled with a mixed bag of all types of puzzles: - Mazes - Word puzzles - Number puzzles - Crosswords - Logic puzzles - Lateral thinking puzzles - Visual puzzles - Spatial problems - Codes and ciphers
The solutions are sometimes deceptive in their simplicity or just wickedly difficult to figure out. In all cases, the answer to each puzzle is provided at the back of the book.
This big, colorful book will provide hours of fun for the whole family. It's the perfect companion for rainy afternoons, long trips, and active minds.』
Kakaku：
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Great How To) 『This book is one of the best how to write Flash Fiction I have read. I didn't know exactly what flash fiction was. Not only did this book explain it, it also gave step by step suggestions on how to write it. The activities, writing execises and prompts help to inspire you to go for it.』
(Flash Writing: How To Write, Revise And Publish Stories Less Than 1,000 Words Long) 『Mr. Wilson has done an excellent job conveying, encapsulated in just a few words, exactly what flash writing is and how to approach it, complete with marketing information. The only reason I've marked the review a 4 rather than a 5 is that I felt there could have been more detail in the informational craft section of the chapters without losing the clarity and overall effect of the concise explanations.
His chapters are divided and presented logically and the points are easy to follow. I believe this would be true for beginning writers who know nothing about flash fiction as it is for those who have published in the genre. I found the prompts and exercises in the DO IT! sections to be some of the most helpful I've ever used. They are quick inspirations that help hone technique. If writers learn to write excellent shorts, there is no place we can't go when tackling scenes and chapters in longer works.
Finally, I thought the appendices were very useful. Not only are there good selected readings that demonstrate the principles set forth in the book, but also the web and book sources for information are well chosen.
I would highly recommend this book to fellow writers who wish to improve their craft or find a little inspiration. For flash writers, I think it is as essential a tool as Damon Knight's Creating Short Fiction and Roberta Allen's work. Happy writing to all!
Donna Johnson』
(Only Amazon.com Purchase I ever returned) 『I bought this book with the best of intentions, however the lessons were stilted and labored. I continued reading on hoping to find something valuable I could take away from the book, but in the end I came away with nothing. In being fair to the author, I suppose if you are a complete beginner, this book may hold some value, however if you have spent any amount of time writing in any form, there is little here that will aid you in your quest to write flash fiction.
This was the only Amazon.com purchase I have returned in all the years and hundreds of books I have purchased. If you have read any books on writing in the past, please don't waste your money. I ended up losing in the end because I paid for shipping and was hit with some other fee, so I actually paid over $5 to read the book. Oh well.』
(Write your first story in a flash!) 『I used the techniques outlined in Flash Writing to write my first short story in years.
Each chapter packs the practical "how to's" with idea-provoking exercises. Whether you're looking to think up stories, get them down on paper or prepare them for publication, this book has the goods.
Michael Wilson's energetic approach will motivate you toward greater creativity and productivity. A must read for anyone serious about breaking into the flash fiction market. 』 『Flash fiction is one of the hottest literary trends of the 21st century. Online magazines crave it, mainstream publications such as Esquire, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair publish it, and many other markets and contests seek it.
Flash Writing is your guide to writing, revising and publishing stories fewer than 1,000 words long. Learn how to generate story ideas, create characters, develop conflict, and establish setting and point of view for flash fiction. Then discover how to research, format, and submit your work to flash fiction markets. Shorter is better, and Flash Writing helps you learn how to create entertaining, publishable flash fiction.
This book includes: *Over 400 writing exercises to get you started *Story examples to illustrate concepts *Guidelines for coming up with topics for flash fiction
AUTHOR BIO: Michael Wilson has been teaching creative writing classes and facilitating writers' groups for over 8 years and was an award-winning Contributing Editor for The Writer's Block at Suite101.com. He earned a BA (with honors) in English from Ohio University. Michael has been a featured guest speaker at the Thurber House, the Maumee Valley Writers' Conference, and the Columbus Writers' Conference. He has worked on writing projects for companies such as Lucent Technologies, Qwest Communications, American Electric Power, and Nationwide. He is also the publisher and editor of Grist for the Muse a free monthly creative writing e-newsletter.』
Kakaku：
Backcountry Guides
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Great routes) 『Good routes in this book, with some excellent descriptive text for each ride. These really aren't bicycle "tours", since a tour is usually defined as a ride that's more than one day, but no matter.』
(Great fun, you need a supplemental map.) 『I have read (and used) Ms. Zatz's book. I especially enjoyed the 'Old Mine Road' and "Lebanon State Forest' tours. I would caution that any cyclist use a supplmental map, with more detail, and study it thoroughly before starting the tours. I have found that the maps printed in the book lack enough detail to be helpful. Without a more detailed map it is quite easy to make an error in navigation.
I did find that her mileage counts seem very accurate, at least they matched my bike computer.』
『Arline Zatz has added five brand-new tours to this new edition of her well-established guidebook, as well as bringing up-to-date all of its old favorite rides. One of New Jersey's most prolific and honored travel writers, Arline Zatz knows what's appealing to touring bicyclists--and exactly where in the state they can find it. These 30 tours lead you past the state's most intriguing and most beautiful spots. The author's commentary along the way tells you everything you need to know about the sights you'll see and the road conditions along the way. The five tours new to this edition include trips past an herb farm; around Merrill Creek Reservoir; along the pounding surf of the Atlantic coast; and among an array of colorful public gardens.』
Kakaku：
Time Out
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (This is Time Out LONDON) 『I love Time Out New York, and although I know there are several editions of Time Out, I didn't realize this books was Time Out LONDON until I sat down to look through it. It is DEFINITELY British, and not American. There are a lot of interesting books, authors, etc. noted, and I do love a lot of English literature, but I was definitely thinking this was a US book and was frankly disconcerted that it was not. The cover of the book I have is different, too, and I should have realized something was up when I didn't recognize most of the authors noted on the front cover. I guess there is only this London edition, since the one I have (and it IS British) has the same ISBN number.』
(Great airline book.) 『Softcover, light, easy-to-pack, and easy-to-carry. Even if you are a career reader put this in your carry-on. You will feel good seeing the books discussed that you have already read (this validates your reading program) and it might point out books you've overlooked. Much, much easier to carry than "1000 Books You Must Read Before You Die." In addition, the essays are just that: essays. Pick it up at a discount book store for about $8.50; about $11.50 at Amazon.com.』
(Much of interest- but could have been a lot better) 『This book about books has a lot of interesting material in it. It asks writers about books which changed their lives. It presents seven sections from Infancy to Old Age and Death- as outlined in the famous Shakespearean passage on the Ages of Man (Stages of Life). It contains four lead essays for each sections within which various titles are recommended. Among the lead essays Kate Clanchy writes on the Age of Innocence, Infancy- Adele Geras on Childhood and Telling Tales- Michael Bywater on Old Age. I found the section on 'life drawing ' or biographical writing by A.C. Grayling interesting. He speaks of why people love biography as a form. He speaks of the story element, the capacity to follow the stages of a life and learn from it, the gossip element which he does not look down on. He has a special interest in the biographies of philosophers and says that there are a very few outstanding ones, citing two on Wittgenstein one by Ray Monk. The chapter on Adulthood has a section devoted to Manhood. And there is a survey of war- writing and list of recommended titles. Among those titles is Michael Herr's 'Dispatches' which is one of the most disturbing and difficult but I suspect truest pictures of war ever given. The writing of another great war- correspondent Vassily Grossman is also on the list. There is a section on books about Working which maintains that this is one of the great ignored subjects of Literature. Dickens it is said never really wrote about people actually at their work. The book often seems insular with a bit too much British focus on the British. Many of the readers selected to give their response give responses which to my mind are most often rather unexciting. The work has a helpful index of the thousand titles recommended. However within the chapters themselves the small summaries of the works are often poor and inadequate. This work is a kind of dip-in and skim and get what you can work. Again there is much of interest in it but I felt it could have been done in a much deeper and comprehensive way.』 『
Who can talk more authoritatively about the importance of books than the people who create and critique them? In this thoughtful collection, major writers and critics discuss the books that changed their lives and offer informed suggestions for titles that might do the same for others. Organized around themes inspired by Shakespeare's "Seven Ages of Man," the book covers a diverse array of subjects and includes classic to contemporary fiction and nonfiction, as well as graphic novels. Serious yet accessible survey essays are complemented by top ten lists chosen byTime Out'sunrivalled team of critics. The book also includes fact boxes perfect for dipping, along with brief, autobiographical "Reading Experience" pieces by famous readers and writers. Designed as both a reference and an entertaining read, the book includes commissioned illustrations, photographs, and vintage book jacket images.
Kakaku：
Harry N. Abrams
Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks IPhone 3G used's review (nice overview of older Russian jewelry) 『The book deals nicely with pieces that are mostly Russian enamels, silver, or icons. Very little jewelry is in the Kremlin collection. A couple Faberge imperial eggs that are seldom discussed elsewhere, but, they are not the most superb eggs (in my opinion).』 『Forewords by Irina Rodimtseva, Truett Latimer, and John W. McCarter, Jr. An icon cover encrusted with rubies and sapphires. A miter festooned with pearls and gold. Two imperial Easter eggs from the Faberg workshop. These are just a few of the objects on view in this breathtaking book of Russian treasures.
The companion volume to a major exhibition opening at The Houston Museum of Natural Science and traveling to The Field Museum, Chicago, Kremlin Gold showcases 120 of the most spectacular objects in the Moscow-Kremlin State Armory Museum. Many of these works, considered national treasures, have never before been seen in the West, and some have never even been displayed in Russia.
Ranging from 11th-century icons to contemporary masterworks, from the buried gold of the Riazan hoard to objects created in the Kremlin's own workshops, these pieces highlight every facet and every era of Russian jewelry-making, and make this book a stunning gift for anyone interested in Russian history and culture.
310 illustrations, 244 in full color, 9 x 12"
JOEL A. BARTSCH is curator of gems and minerals, The Houston Museum of Natural Science. IRINA RODIMTSEVA is director of The State Historical-Cultural Preserve, Moscow Kremlin.
TRUETT LATIMER is president of The Houston Museum of Natural Science.
JOHN W. McCARTER, JR., is president of The Field Museum, Chicago.
EXHIBITION SCHEDULE The Houston Museum of Natural ScienceApr. 15-Sept. 4, 2000 The Field Museum, ChicagoOct. 21-Mar. 30, 2000』
Kakaku：
Spruce
Usually ships in 24 hours 『In today's world, it is all too easy to become preoccupied with our own wants and needs and forget about those around us. We may feel we don't have the time to think beyond our own individual problems and complexities, but in order to live fulfilled lives we need to express generosity. Through the act of being generous, we are one step closer to achieving enlightenment. This book highlights the way in which we need to examine our lives and experiences on a deeper level in order to practice compassion, love and kindness. Through generous actions, we open up our minds and souls and benefit from the rewards of bestowing happiness upon others.』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
