Charles Williams Books

I'm so glad this is out on DVD. The quality of the picture is excellent! Extras on the DVD are a nice added feature. This is a wonderful classic you must have! They don't call it the "Golden Age of Hollywood" for nothing! Simply the best! Highly recommend you also get Jean Arthur's films "You can't take it with you" and "The more the merrier".

A very simple story written for another time that will cause you to laugh, cry, and, if you're very lucky, remember the way it should be and the way it was. A romantic comedy starring greats from another generation, Gable and Colbert. Nothing else need be said.

I had seen the movie years ago, and after searching the internet to find a copy of it, I was so hapy to have found it off of Amazon.com. It was exactly how I remembered...fantastic! The quality was great and the story is funny yet romantic.

What's not to like with this classic, original screwball comedy? It still holds up after all this time, and Clark Gable is as sexy as ever with those pervasive dimples and ironic grin.

If you crave some real star quality, some Hollywood [as well as American] history, get this film now. The chemistry between Gable and Colbert makes this movie hum, and compared to the drek we get today both in our "stars" and the scripts, it is a stellar piece of art.

Heartily recommended!

Since ths reviewer seems to be on an "oldies" kick of late, certainly this film has to be included. The movie swept the Oscars for a production of 1934 vintage, and of all the movies made in this era, this one seems to stand up today as best. The opening credits are absolutely childish; one would swear that he or she were about to watch a silent film. End of swearing! Capra's direction flies at the viewer at a lightning pace. Spoiled rich girl Colbert seems as natural as any seasoned actress, and Gable's famed barking quickly turns to love, albeit none too tenderly. The plot is simplistic; no need to embellish a theme repeated hundreds of times. But, just imagine even one short sex scene in a 2008 remake completely ruining the movie.No, the chemistry between the budding lovers is just fine, thank you; even an idiot can tell where this duet is heading. One story, perhaps apochryphal, has Colbert showing up late for the Oscar ceremony, leaving a cabbie waiting outside the theater, running down the aisle, accepting the award , and running back outside jumping into the cab. As Gable had said in the movie: "All you dames are so darned dizzy".

I'm so glad this is out on DVD. The quality of the picture is excellent! Extras on the DVD are a nice added feature. This is a wonderful classic you must have! They don't call it the "Golden Age of Hollywood" for nothing! Simply the best! Highly recommend you also get Jean Arthur's films "You can't take it with you" and "The more the merrier".

A very simple story written for another time that will cause you to laugh, cry, and, if you're very lucky, remember the way it should be and the way it was. A romantic comedy starring greats from another generation, Gable and Colbert. Nothing else need be said.

I had seen the movie years ago, and after searching the internet to find a copy of it, I was so hapy to have found it off of Amazon.com. It was exactly how I remembered...fantastic! The quality was great and the story is funny yet romantic.

What's not to like with this classic, original screwball comedy? It still holds up after all this time, and Clark Gable is as sexy as ever with those pervasive dimples and ironic grin.

If you crave some real star quality, some Hollywood [as well as American] history, get this film now. The chemistry between Gable and Colbert makes this movie hum, and compared to the drek we get today both in our "stars" and the scripts, it is a stellar piece of art.

Heartily recommended!

Since ths reviewer seems to be on an "oldies" kick of late, certainly this film has to be included. The movie swept the Oscars for a production of 1934 vintage, and of all the movies made in this era, this one seems to stand up today as best. The opening credits are absolutely childish; one would swear that he or she were about to watch a silent film. End of swearing! Capra's direction flies at the viewer at a lightning pace. Spoiled rich girl Colbert seems as natural as any seasoned actress, and Gable's famed barking quickly turns to love, albeit none too tenderly. The plot is simplistic; no need to embellish a theme repeated hundreds of times. But, just imagine even one short sex scene in a 2008 remake completely ruining the movie.No, the chemistry between the budding lovers is just fine, thank you; even an idiot can tell where this duet is heading. One story, perhaps apochryphal, has Colbert showing up late for the Oscar ceremony, leaving a cabbie waiting outside the theater, running down the aisle, accepting the award , and running back outside jumping into the cab. As Gable had said in the movie: "All you dames are so darned dizzy".

I was loaned this book by a friend of mine who is German. She was given this book by her mother and read it when she was a child in Germany. Years later she found it in a used book sale here in the states (her current residence) and fell in love with it again. She lent me this book, and I have to say it was wonderful. I learned so much reading this book everything from Napoleonic history to early French fashion. Desiree is a delightful character and her life is fascinating. I recommend this book for anyone. It is a light easy read. I was sad when I finished it because I wanted the story to continue.

"Desiree" is the (mostly) true story of Desiree Clary, silk-merchant's daughter of Marseilles, who becomes involved with the Bonapartes, rises with them to the heights of power, survives Napoleon's downfall and ultimately becomes Queen Desideria of Sweden, the first Bernadotte Queen. Desiree herself tells her story in diary form, although it isn't as annoying as the diary form usually is, and the reader experiences events of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as Desiree did--as a series of domestic events. That these events occur in royal households and that Desiree is a major player in them could be accidental, but one quickly realizes that Desiree is a remarkable woman and these are no accidents.

The tone is intimate, and one feels as though Desiree is confiding in the reader as a friend. Annemarie Selinko is a virtuoso; even in translation not one word of this amazing story rings false. You will find yourself thinking of Desiree long after the end of the book. I read this first at sixteen, and found the historical information invaluable in a college history course (not the reason to read it, but it doesn't hurt).

I've since read the Josephine B. books, and a wonderful novel based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte called "The Emperor's Lady" by F. W. Kenyon (available used on Amazon), which I also heartily recommend, but "Desiree" is the platinum standard by which to judge historical novels/fictionalized biographies.

It is simply wonderful.

I love this book (as well as the movie to this book) and not all of the book is fiction! There was a woman named Desiree Clary she was the first love/fiance of Napoleon Bonaparte. She married one of his marshals, Jean-Baptise Bernadotte whom was elected to become King of Sweden in the early ninteenth century. Desiree's and Jean-Baptise's descandents are still on the throne of Sweden to this day.

I would also like to add that the author has done a brillent job in writing this book! She wrote the book so well, that it's diffucult to distinguish the line between fact and fiction in this book!

Annemarie Selinko's "Desiree" is one of the best novels about France during the first Empire. It is definitely my favorite novel about Napoleon, told from the point of view of his cast-off fiancee, the enchanting Desiree Clary. Selinko's characterizations and descriptions are based on meticulous research, making this book one of the finest of the historical fiction genre. Feisty Desiree becomes a queen in spite of herself, and in spite of Napoleon, through a course of events that are almost unbelievable, but true. Many famous historical figures are brought to life, especially the fascinating, glamorous Josephine. The fortune-telling scene is one of my favorites in the book. Well-written, gripping, romantic and an unforgettable love story, "Desiree" is a book to own and read often. It is goes well with two other novels about the same era, almost as if they were a trilogy, Norah Loft's "A Rose for Virtue" and Elena Vidal's "Madame Royale."

I'm a certified anglophile, when it comes to history. This is probably because I am one-half Angelo Celtic and so the history I read about when I read about England, Scotland and Ireland, is in some sense my own. It is a basic human urge to understand where we come from after all. Anyway, this is my way of saying I don't "get" France. I can't speak French (and so in books when there's some French thrown in I'm just lost) and I don't know anything about French history (except a little where it bumps up with England.) For most of the historical fiction I read about France, which has events that occurred so long ago it doesn't seem to matter that I have no knowledge, this doesn't effect my enjoyment of the book. But when we get into the French revolution and the whole Napoleon thing it seems I have to know something to get the book. Happily, this book explains everything so well that I can report if you know nothing about the after events of the French revolution (like me) you will not only be able to enjoy the book but you will actually learn things!

This is a fake diary kept for about forty years by (real person) Eugenie Desiree Clary, one time fiancée of Napoleon and later Queen of Sweden and Norway (obviously many events happen between the two titles.) I know nothing about the real historical person of Desiree, but the character is an amazing women. Smart, resourceful, bold, courageous, romantic, sweet, funny...kind of a perfect main character. She meets Napoleon's older brother Joseph when getting her older brother out of jail and invites him to dinner to meet her older unmarried sister Julie. Joseph brings Napoleon along with him and soon because of the girls' large dowries and the impoverished state of the Bonaparte's, Julie and Joseph are married and Desiree and Napoleon are engaged.

But we all know that Napoleon marries Josephine. So the majority of the book (told by Desiree remember) revolves around Desiree's own love story with a General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (a great character and lovely romance) and of course what happened in France under Napoleon. Like I said this book is an education about what happened to change a republic into an empire (perhaps we could be looking for parallels to today's United States?)

Desiree's life is fascinating but what also makes this book interesting is the portrait painted of Napoleon-a very different one from other view points about him (say as in "The Josephine Bonaparte collection" by Sandra Gulland which presents him as...well as a very different kind of man. Josephine also) The Napoleon of this book is selfish, arrogant and so conceited and entitled he's unbearable (as Desiree says at one point, "can you believe I was going to marry him?") I suppose the view presented in this book is more in tune with the traditional historical view of Napoleon (little-man syndrome and all) but then I don't know much about it.

I want to be clear on the fact that the romance in this novel is NOT between Desiree and Napoleon but between Desiree and her husband Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. In fact once you past page 100 it's pretty obvious that the only emotion Desiree feels towards Napoleon is some nostalgia and contempt and fear.

Anyway, this is a great book. It has engaging characters, history that's real and understandable (even by one with no knowledge such as me) and an enchanting narrator who has an inspiring sense morality, especially about government. My only complaints are that sometimes the diary entries are very far apart chronologically and there is little explanation of what happened in between the dates and so often times I had to re-read entries a couple time to get a sense of continuity. A history book may have been helpful here but I eventually figured out what was happening/had happened in between the entries. Also there are so many characters, often with similar names that a character index really would have been helpful.

Other than that this book is pretty perfect. It's a real treasure and I heartily thank the kind person who recommended it to me as one of the best of the historical fiction genre.

Five stars.

I bought this DVD for my boyfriend for a Christmas present with my fingers crossed. It's impossible to describe how movie-centric he is... we've chosen vacation destinations based on movies. It was a HUGE hit! He's watched all of the extras at least once now, and he loved the creative way Criterion made the front insert look like an old newspaper. It's gritty, ahead of it's time, and Kirk Douglas is a true star! Criterion wins again (as if anyone thought it'd be otherwise!).

Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)

Thank heaven (or Criterion) for a release of Billy Wilder's notorious and brilliant Ace in the Hole for the home video market. As topical as it may have been fifty-six years ago, today it has an unprecedented relevance to American society. It's rare that a film's importance grows over time. This is one of those cases.

The story centers around Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas in the performance of his career), a disgraced newspaper reporter who finds himself working in the backwoods world of Albuquerque journalism, covering compelling news stories like a rattlesnake contest. While on his way to cover one such story with cub photographer Herbie Cook (Green Grass of Wyoming's Robert Arthur), he stumbles into something much bigger: Leo Minosa (Richard Benedict), who owns a service station/knickknack shop in the dusty little town of Los Barios, has gotten himself trapped in a mine collapse while looking for Indian relics in a cliff dwelling to sell to tourists. Rather than simply helping the guy out, getting one story, and going on with his life, Tatum-- desperate to get back in the good graces of the Eastern papers with a strong series of stories-- concocts a plan with the corrupt local Sheriff (Ray Teal) to keep the story alive for a week. In the process, he manipulates everyone around him, including Leo's cynical yet naïve wife (Jan Sterling).

Wilder takes the idea of the media circus to new heights here (including having an actual circus on the grounds during the latter half of the film). Ace in the Hole is a relentlessly pessimistic film in which no one cares about Leo Minosa the human being, only about Leo Minosa the story and what each person can get out of it. Leo's wife wants a way out of hicksville, as does Tatum (and, to a lesser extent, Herbie); the sheriff wants re-elected; the head engineer of the rescue team wants an exclusive on the fat contracts that come with the sheriff's re-election; even the competing papers' journalists, who are the only people in the film kinda-sorta set up as the good guys, just want the story, and their editors eventually want Tatum. After a while, news stops being news and starts being entertainment. (Note that Wilder has no illusions about this from the get-go; the first story Tatum files has less to do with Leo Minosa than the Indian curse that Minosa believes trapped him in the shaft.) This, of course, is exactly what's been happening to American culture since not long after Watergate.

Topicality, though, is not the only reason to watch Ace in the Hole. Wilder was one of those great directors, now an endangered species, who could do anything (and often did); the melodramatic Ace in the Hole was bookended by Sunset Blvd., the finest piece of film noir of all time, and Stalag 17, the movie that (loosely) formed the basis of the television show Hogan's Heroes. Imagine a modern director filming three so widely differing movies in a row, not to mention having all three of the movies, fifty years later, being known as timeless classics of filmdom. Wilder got the most out of every actor he ever cast in a movie, and knew where to put the cameras and how to film the shots so that all that acting talent could be showcased in the finest possible way. A Billy Wilder movie is filmmaking at its best, and Ace in the Hole, finally available again after languishing in obscurity so long, is ample evidence of that. **** ½

Ace In The Hole (aka The Big Carnival) was directed by my hero, Billy Wilder. He is the genius who gave us Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard and Some Like It Hot - three of my all-time favorite films. Ace In The Hole, however, suffers from the over-the-top performance of Kirk Douglas who manages to play every scene with clenched teeth and boiling-point anger. His early scenes in the small newspaper office in Albuquerque are so over-played that he comes off like a man in need of a straight-jacket rather than a job. I believe it would be a more powerful film if his character were a little more sympatetic initially, thereby shocking us once his dark side is fully revealed. As it stands now, we are not surprised at the depth of his depravity because of Douglas' inability to bring some subtlety to his performance. Having said all that, there is much here to recommend...some solid acting performances and a powerful story of greed and power and how contagious corruption is. Jan Sterling stands out as the cold and indifferent wife of the man trapped in the cave. She delivers the only funny line in the movie, "I don't go to church. Kneeling bags my nylons." She can be seen in Caged and in her Oscar-nominated performance in The High And The Mighty. In closing, I would like to say that I think William Holden would have brought more subtley and dimension to the lead role. However, it is what it is and I my hope is that this review has peaked your curiosity and you will watch the film and decide for yourself.

"Don't worry, Leo. I'm your pal." That's Chuck Tatum speaking. He's a hot-shot big city reporter who has been fired from every top paper he's ever worked for. Now he's hit bottom. He works for the Albuquerque Sun=Bulletin, a small town daily which puts yard sales on its front page. Tatum needs the job, but he's determined to find that one big ticket story that'll put him back in New York. The man he's talking to is going to be that big ticket. His name is Leo Mimosa, owner of the desolate, dusty Mimosa's Indian Curios ("Gas and Oil, Drinks on Ice") in Escudero, in New Mexico's high desert. Leo is currently 300 feet underground, trapped in a cave-in while looking for ancient Indian pots he can sell for a few hundred dollars. In the next 111 minutes, covering five or so days, we're going to experience so much corruption of the soul, misplaced trust and consuming ambition...leavened by so little humanity...that we'll want to take a bath afterwards. This is one of director Billy Wilder's greatest pictures. For me, it's permeated not by Wilder's famously sardonic outlook toward humanity but by the inevitability of commonplace tragedy. That there are only one or two people we might think well of isn't so much a limitation as an element that sharpens the fascination with great story-telling combined with vivid acting.

While Tatum controls his big story, and while Leo becomes increasingly desperate, to the point of believing Tatum is his only friend, we encounter a cast of characters who are either stupid and venal or sly and venal. Top of the list is Tatum, himself. Kirk Douglas gives an utterly believable portrait of a man, excellent at his job, who can taste the big-time again and is determined to do whatever it takes to achieve it. "I'm on my way back to the top," he says, "and if it takes a deal with a crooked sheriff, that's alright with me! And if I have to fancy it up with an Indian curse and a broken hearted wife for Leo, then that's alright too!" Close behind is Jan Sterling as Leo Mimosa's wife. Lorraine Mimosa wants out...out of Escudero, out of New Mexico and out of her marriage with Leo. She's a pouty bleached blonde, callous and discontented. Gus Kretzer, the local sheriff, is corrupt and more than willing to work with Tatum to insure he gets the kind of news coverage he needs for his re-election. And there are all those visitors to the cave where Leo is trapped...gawkers, thrill seekers, whole families out to set up camp and see what happens. Food booths and a carnival keep them contented while a drill pounds away at the rock to reach Leo. It's the slow way which Tatum has maneuvered to insure his exclusive coverage of Leo's predicament can play out over the next few days. Leo literally is Tatum's ace in the hole. The conclusion is as depressing as Wilder's depiction of human character. The movie's whole set-up, in fact, is designed to make us feel uncomfortable at what we're seeing. If we've ever slowed down to get a better view of a traffic accident, if we've ever watched with fascinated revulsion as a snake swallows down a live mouse or a mantis gnaws at a struggling lizard, we have to recognize that in spirit we're also part of the crowd eager to see what happens.

What makes the movie stand apart from so much of Wilder's skilled cynicism in some of his other films, I think, are two elements. First, Wilder plays this story straight. There's no sardonic comedy or witty, misogynistic lines. He serves us up a serious, well-acted drama and then compels us to take it seriously while he makes us squirm a little. Second, he includes two characters that give us some relief from Tatum's ambition and our own unease. First is Herbie Cook, played by Robert Arthur, the young photographer from the newspaper. Herbie is a graduate of a journalism school, a little naive and so innocent-looking you want to protect him from Tatum's manipulations. Second, and most important, is Jacob Boot, played by that fine character actor, Porter Hall. Boot is in some ways our conscience, the serious, realistic publisher and owner of the Sun=Bulletin who has the quaint idea that telling the truth is important. Boot is able, although not by much, to show us that people come in all flavors, and that venality is only one of them, no more or less than trying to do the right thing also is. In Ace in the Hole, however, nothing good happens in time. As Tatum said earlier, "It's a good story today. Tomorrow, they'll wrap a fish in it." Same with people.

Some call Ace in the Hole a noir. I'm not one of them. For me, it's a powerful drama, and it transcends genre classification. We might as well call Macbeth a noir simply because Macbeth has a tragic hero, a femme fatale, death and the inevitability of fate. The two-disc Criterion release features an excellent black-and-white picture transfer and several extras which include interviews with Kirk Douglas, Billy Wilder and screenwriter Walter Newman. There is an audio commentary by Neil Sinyard, identified as a film scholar. Amusingly, the booklet insert which has essays by Molly Haskell and Guy Madden is in the form of an edition of the Albuquerque Sun=Bulletin.

Ignored, unappreciated, even despised by the majority upon its initial release, Ace in the Hole is a bold social critique that pulls no punches. This movie holds up the public mirror and tries to make people see just how much they suck.
Kirk Douglas delivers another fearless performance as Charles Tatum, a shameless big-city reporter that has been exiled from several lucrative jobs. So he retreats to a small town newspaper gig in New Mexico, in order to reestablish his career.
Tatum hates his new job, and desperately searches for the big break that will propel him back into the limelight. That moment eventually comes when a mine collapses, trapping a worker inside. Tatum takes charge of all the relief efforts, not out of concern for the desperate man inside, but for the fame that accompanies this tragedy. A media frenzy ensues.
One moment that illustrates Tatum's arrogance--other reporters try to move in and capture some of the news coverage. One says "We're all in the same boat". Tatum's cynical response was "No, I'm in the boat. You're in the water."
This movie is an excellent display of humanity's overall decline of morality. How vanity supersedes compassion. How humanity has lost touch with one another. I'm not trying to sound judgemental, heck I'm ignoring all company policies and personal job responsibilities by writing this review. Nobody's perfect. But this is a great movie, with powerful but controlled acting and a significant message.
So now, go hug a stranger. No, on second thought you better not. You'll probably get punched.

A simple but a great story that explores some very important issues. Do you wonder why God is silent while people suffer and die? This book explores that issue, and I think it does offer some worthwhile insight.

The book was in great condition and arrived promptly to my door. For me, the typeset was a bit small, but the book appeard to have been brand new. Silence has been very thought provoking. A must read for anyone of Catholic background.

How proud is God? How should God's people uphold his honor? How exactly should the gospel transform human society?

These questions lie at the heart of Silence. Written in the wake of World War two by the Japanese novelist Shusaku Endo, Silence tells the story of the persecution of Christians in seventeenth century Japan.

Although proselytizing efforts by Francis Xavier had been successful in the previous century, the 1600s brought about ecclesiastical quarrels between Roman catholic and protestant missionaries. These squabbles often went hand in hand with political and military shenanigans between competing European powers in Japan. Japan's leadership came to view Christianity as an essential part of this distasteful western mess, and severe persecution quickly became standard fare for the newly budded Japanese church.

Endo's protagonist, the young Portugese priest Sebastian Rodrigues, enters Japan secretly in the midst of these persecutions, along with a monastic colleague, Francis Garrpe. They encounter crude but strong faithfulness among the Japanese believers, who undertake great sacrifice in order to protect the padres from the authorities.

Eventually, however, they are betrayed by a weak-willed Japanese Christian, and their trials begin in earnest. Rodrigues's faith is tested to limits which comfortable modern western Christians may never be able to properly understand. His captors torture him psychologically in order to make him renounce his faith. This is not a simple temptation or test of honor; it is not Rodrigues's mere conscience at stake. If he submits to the authorities by trampling on Christ's portrait, his peasant flock goes free. If he does not, they will be tortured to death.

This test is one of the most soul-churning passages of literature I have read. What will Rodrigues do? Will he apostatize? How important is his honor? How important is God's? As the pastor of these simple peasants, is it better to renounce his faith to save their lives, or better to embrace martyrdom and doom them?

Initially, I found myself cheering for Rodrigues's perseverance and martyrdom, but by the novel's end, I was shaken and unsure. In the West, Christendom has a long and hallowed tradition of persecution stories, from the early believers in Jerusalem, to the church in Rome, and in various places throughout the centuries. Although Christ gives approbation to those who are persecuted for his sake, human sinfulness, such as it is, can even distort the meaning and value of martyrdom. Even the brightest lights in Christian history sometimes succumb to an unspiritual triumphalism. With the benefit of time, we often come to see some of Christendom's triumphs as accreted with sin and pride.

The first believers in Japan did not have this cultural background narrative to inform their consciences. They had only an immediate pagan background confronted with the fresh, non-accreted startling news that God has suffered, endured shame and humiliation, and forgiven their sins. This gospel surely would have motivated them to endure great persecution, but at the same time, the gospel is the story of a man who suffered in order to release his friends from condemnation. In that light, martyrdom for its own sake is dubious at best.

What is true religion? The bible maintains that true religion consists in looking after orphans and widows in their distress, and keeping oneself from being stained by the world. Those two mandates, it seems to me, should never be at odds with one another. If Rodrigues had refused to trample on the fumie (the term for the sacred image of Christ), he would definitely not have been looking after orphans and widows, but rather sending them to certain doom. However, would his simple act constitute "being stained by the world?" Would he be a Judas and an enemy of the gospel? There is a prominent strain of Christianity, very much in the tradition of the western theology of glory, which says "yes". Endo's answer, more in tune with the theology of the cross, is "no".

I am inclined to agree with the latter.

As author stated in the preface of "The Life of Jesus", he is for "Japanese readers who have no Christian tradition of their own and who know almost nothing about Jesus"
1. Two Roman Catholic priets/missionaries from Portugal crossing dangerous oceans to reach Japan. Then giving up everything:Pride,
faith, freedom, and love(?)
2. Courageous Native Christians. Accepting their martyrdom with silence.

There is no balance between these two. There is no reality.

This is a book written by a Japanese for Japanese readers.

I knew a little about this book before I purchased it, since it was referenced in an article I read for one of my doctoral courses.

This book is about the missionary activities in Japan back in the 1500s and 1600s. What would YOU do if you were faced with the choice of stepping on the face of Christ or allow other people to suffer?

Read the book -- and be prepared to THINK! It's worth every second you spend in it!

Barjavel's The Ice People is the most amazing story that I have ever read. I cannot get over the passionate love story, the wonderful world of the Gondawans, and the truth in Barjavel's portrayal of humanity - even of humanity the way it was 900,000 years ago. The ending broke my heart, and the book changed the way that I think about love and how important it is in our lives. I live for finding books such as The Ice People, and I hope you will consider reading it as well. You won't be sorry if you do.

I first read this in about 1978 when I was in high school. I have since read it again once or twice just because it is a such a great story. A true original work that captivates and draws you in. In a world where innovation in writing seems now almost extinct, this book is a oasis for the intellectual SciFi fan. A must read. It is in my personal top 10 for SciFi!

My dad gave me this book a few months ago, and I LOVED it!! I was an incredible book. I've recomeded it to all my friends, but I don't think anyone else is going to read it sonce they are not avid readers and we are only in grade nine! But I still anyone who listens that this is the best book ever written. I don't understand why it's not famous and why it is so hard to find...

This book was the best book I ever read! I read in portuguese and english and both times I realized that life could be perfect. We are able to have a perfect world as the book show us, but we are also kind enough to destroy it. My hope from the book was beliving that life was once perfect!! Great book, great history, great science!

In "The Ice People", Scientists discover a perfect sphere buried deep in the continent of Antarctica - not in the ice but below the ice in the ground. A major undertaking is commenced...dig to the object. What they find astounds everyone - perfectly preserved humans, a man and a woman; young, healthy, and beautiful, these two are the last people from an advanced civilization 900,000 years ago.

Scientists rush to revive they two from their stasis. The woman comes to first and she begins to tell the story of their lost world. It is a beautiful story, and a heartbreaking one. But, as the man nears revival, chaos ensues and things will never be the same.

Thirteen years ago, on a road trip in the heart of California, a friend told me of this French Science Fiction novel he had read when he was younger called "The Ice People"; this was a book that had stuck with him for years and he lamented that he did not own a copy and had looked for a used copy for years to no avail. One of the purposes of this road trip was to hit used bookstores to find new treasures; this is what prompted his sharing of this book. The very first bookstore we entered ended up having a paperback copy on the shelf! He was astounded and of course bought it in a flash. Later that day, in another bookstore - and after more talking about the book - we came across another copy, and I promptly bought it after all of his influence for the day. I was not disappointed!

This was one of my favoret books... a must read!!!! In the first book, you begin to think captain Bligh is evil but in the second book he seems verry reasanable guy...

Having chanced to see the Mutiny on the Bounty movie starring
Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson recently, I immediately resolved
to obtain and read the book.

I can only add my praise to the preceding reviews. The
quality of the writing, the details of the sailing life
of the time, the descriptions of the characters, were all
excellent.

If you know of young readers enamoured of Harry Potter
and the like, get them a copy of the Bounty Trilogy
and encourage them to read it while they await the final
Potter tale. They won't be disappointed with the
adventure nor the struggle between good and evil men.

To all those actively seeking hardy adventure from the comfort of a chair:
Look no farther, your search has come to an end. This is it. This is 100% total immersion into a world of adventure. So this thing comes in three equally consuming parts. I mean who writes an entire book about sixteen guys stuck on a small wooden paddle boat out in the middle of the pacific, and makes it a treat to read? Hardy adventure seeker I have your fix, and it's not a quick fix, it's a time consuming gem that will have you in its grips until the last page is eaten up. I have to admit that I can't think of an adventure novel(trilogy) that I've enjoyed this much. Quality entertainment. Quality.

Do your self a big favor and read this book. Make sure you read all three parts- The Bounty, Men against the sea, and Pitcairn's Island. It is an absolute shame that most people have only read the first book because the other two are just as good if not BETTER! My personal favorite is part three ,the last book, where the mutineers find an island and try to start new lives there.
Then, be sure and check out the movie - Mutiny on the Bounty starring Marlon Brando. That one is the most accurate version, and I have seen all three.
And then dream of being one of those lucky sailors landing at the paradise know as Tahiti.

Buy this book and read within a week, and you WILL want to explore to the south pacific.

This is an amazing epic of 18th mutiny of the H.M.S. Bounty. Although the tale has been fictionalized as an historical novel, it portrays the conflicting cultures of that time as the forces of racism, imperialism, autonomy and autocracy clash on the high seas. The trilogy is comprised of three novels: The first is Mutiny on the Bounty which chronicles the abuse of Captain Bligh, the mutiny led by Fletcher Christian narrated by midshipmen Roger Byam. Men Against the Sea, narrated by ships surgeon Thomas Ledward, picks up the tale at the mutiny and chronicles the amazing feat of Captain Bligh in returning 19 souls to England after being set adrift in a twenty-three foot longboat with only seven or eight inches of freeboard. The trilogy concludes with the tragic, yet redeeming tale of Pitcairn's Island where the mutineers made their home.

On the surface, Captain Bligh is the villain and Fletcher Christian is the hero. This has been ingrained into our culture to such an extent that any hard-driving taskmaster will not doubt inherit the name Captain Bligh by those under his charge. Yet, Nordoff and Hall resist the temptation to draw these lines so clearly. Yes, Captain Bligh was his own worst enemy. He was so sold out to an autocratic model of leadership that he was incapable of recognizing the autonomy of his men- the needs of his men were subordinate to the success of his mission. Now, men will often subordinate their needs to the need of the mission, or even give their lives for it, if the mission is a noble one; but supplying breadfruit to feed slaves did not fit that bill. Yet, once set adrift, Bligh now becomes the hero navigating his overloaded longboat 3600 miles to safety- a deed that must rank as one of the most remarkable feats of seamanship and leadership in history.

This is also a story of imperialism and racism- the two are inexorably intertwined. British imperialism, carrying the white mans burden to the South Seas, lead to the inevitable conflict between the two races. The sailors, obviously enjoyed the company of the Tahitian woman, even fell in love with them; yet, the idea that the white race was superior was a festering boil just under the surface that exploded when the mutineers made their home on Pitcairn Island. It is interesting to note who was the more civilized race when the conflict arose on Pitcairns Island, the European men acted like savages, whereas we see a measured dignity among the Tahitian men.

What I find interesting about the other reviews written on this book, is the omission to mention what specially brought peace to the Island- it was the rediscovery of the Bible and man's submission to the will of God. Without transcendent values, each man was out for himself and the result was anarchy and death; but when the survivors submitted their will to God's will, peace and harmony was restored. This is an amazing epic and well worth the read.

I am a first year medical student in the middle of my cardiac module and have really enjoyed using this book. It is easy to read, high yield, and very clinical. I would recommend this book to any student trying to really nail down cardiology.

If you are in medical school this book is the greatest thing you will ever buy. For our cardiology block I read this cover to cover and made the highest grade I have ever gotten on an exam.
Get it right now!!

I picked this book up at Barnes and Nobles while studying for the boards. It is excellent, both concise and thought provoking. My only regret is that the faculty and students have not written these books to cover every topic in medical school.

I love the way this book explains things. It made it interesting and easy to understand. Plus it is short and sweet, no fluff or unescessary stuff.

I read this book cover to cover for my cardio theme. It was clear and well written. I would recommend it highly to anyone in medical school who wants a clear easy read. It has all the detail you need to know, without extraneous material.

This is the real deal. I first used this book in a class for the USPS when I was around 13 years old (I'm 60+ now). Everything is factual and updated often. If you want the best reference manual on boating get this one.

Our most frequently asked question: "What's the one book you'd recommend for a boater?" Our answer every time: "Chapman's."

Whether you're a new boater just getting started or an old salt needing a little refresher, this is your dependable one-volume reference. When we need material for our "Boating/PWC Basics" course, this is where we go.

The book is continuously updated and fresh, with new information on topics like GPS and how to use it and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) for your marine radio. It continues to present essential and complete information on preparing to get underway, operating and navigating your boat, the practice of good seamanship, docking or mooring your boat, and how to put it away for the winter (which some of us have to do!).

Chapman's has been a fixture in our library (and on our boats) since the 50th edition in 1972. And even though we pay a little more for it now than the $8.95 price in 1972, you'll still find it a great value at Amazon's price shown above.

Our advice: Don't leave home (or the dock) without it.

Chapmans is the must-have for any boater who wants to do things the right way. I regularly go to this book. Easy to read, organized and practical. A bit big to bring onboard, however.

I've been a profesional captain for over 30 years, and I still find myself going back to this book for a quick refresher on the Rules of the Road or a check on the working and breaking strengths for various moorings, ropes, chains, etc. If you were allowed only one reference book on boating, this one, in my opinion, would be the best choice. It has a wealth of practical information on virtually every 'basic' subject of importance to the mariner -- novice and professional alike -- and is completely free of controversy and error. With 64 printings under its belt, you can be sure you're getting the facts and figures straight.

There are indeed other very worthy books that cover individual aspects of boating (heavy weather seamanship, advanced navigation, etc.) in a more comprehensive manner, but none of these will offer more factual, accurate, or appropriate information for such a wide range of skill levels. We all know experience is the best teacher. But when the tuition can kill you, it pays to come to school prepared. In this regard, Chapman's has no equal.

If you could only buy one book on boating, this would be it, but it's overkill for a beginning recreational boater. The newcomer to boating will get lost in all the detail if he tries to use this as a practical manual. With all the books on boating, it might be better to label this as an intermediate-advanced reference book. Sure, it's got everything, but most weekenders don't need to know everything, just the basics.

I really enjoyed this book, over all it is well written and the recipes look interesting too. It fills a glaring gap in the history of the Kennebunk's by providing a first person account of the Jewish experience in that famous tourist spot. It is something that has been overlooked by historians writing about the Kennebunk's largely because so little information on that subject survives or is available. Having lived in, researched, and written about the town of Kennebunk myself for over 20 years I really enjoyed the book however, it contained some really major, and embarrassing factual information. For instance, the "Brickstore museum" is really The Brick Store Museum, "Liz" Magnuson is really "Roz", there is no Kennebunk Historical Society, The Grist Mill Restaurant was spelled like that not Griste and to the best of my knowledge there was no newspaper called the "Kennebunkport Times". Also the "Main" Historical Society is really The Maine Historical Society. This may sound petty and nit picking but I think it's important especially when you thank someone in your acknowledgements and get their name wrong! I also found that in the book that the writer, Rebecca Charles, frequently interchanged Kennebunk and Kennebunkport as if they are the same town when in fact they are separate towns with separate governments. The only other issue I found annoying and distracting was her constant use of "David and me"; or "Momma and me" (for example) instead of the correct "David and I"; and "Momma and I". This is something an editor or the professional co-writer, Deborah Di Clementi, should have picked up on.
Other than the above problems this is a well written and entertaining book which I read it in one sitting. It was fascinating to read about the Forest Hill House and the people who original operated. This book will make an excellent addition to the many works of history all ready published on the Kennebunk's!

From chef and owner of New York City's Pearl Oyster Bar Rebecca Charles comes Lobster Rolls & Blueberry Pie: Three Generations of Recipes and Stories from Summers on the Coast of Maine. Family history and heritage permeate a fine gathering of family recipes, from Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon and Toasted Almonds to Blackberry Nectarine Crisp. The vintage black and white family photos are lovely embellishments to a blend of memoir and cookbook.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

If you love Maine, you'll love this book. Rebecca Charles has written a memoire for all of us who share similar family histories. She has captured the special pull of the Maine coast that keeps so many of us going back year after year, expressing well how it remains unspoiled after nearly a century. And she's done it without being overly sentimental. My grandparents began our annual tradition of summers at Kennebunk Beach just before World War I and we now take the family's fifth generation every year. I enjoyed the book so much that I've given copies to half my family.

I'm not big fan of seafood, but this cookbook of three generations of a Scottish-Jewish-American family and their summers in Kennebunkport Maine, was captivating. Its chock full of family photos, memoirs, and touching pictures from the last century. I particularly enjoyed the text, the stories, and photos and would like to encourage the author to write a novel, or more memoirs and stories. It would be a fascinating and delightful to read more.

I cannot comment on the recipes. I do not care for seafood, but I found this book valuable for the stories alone which were touching. 5 stars.

I love narrative mixed with factual, so learning the history of a family and a place [Kennebunkport, Me.] while perusing tons of delicious recipes, was a really enjoyable experience. The subject matter, the writing style, the layout--everything was top notch. In addition to recipes, there's lots of handy food tips, like how to buy the right scallops. I would reccomend the book to anyone with interest in an enjoyable read, a good cookbook, or a beautiful coffee table book.