France Books

For many years I've been a great admirer of Pablo Picasso's work. Whenever I travel I always look for Picasso's museums or General Art Museums where Picasso's works are displayed. As a result of these trips I've gathered panflets, brochures and many books focusing different phases of the artist. However something was missing! And that would be a comprehensive overview that could be able to explain and make sense of his imense and brilliant lifelong work and at the same time to show magnificent reproductions! congratulations to the author who was very successful in her enterprise!

This is a great book. It's chock full of illustrations--so many that they just quit offering text every few pages to let the images catch up. It goes through his entire life, showing the art he created for each section. It's great, insightfull, a huge folio-sized book and just an all around great read/see.

this book rocks so much it breaks the very laws that govern physics!! so much information, so many beautiful pictures, so dense. it seems to capture the very spirit of pablo picasso. it was give to me as a valentine's day gift, and it is one of my most prized books. this is a MUST purchase for any picasso fan.

To see tons of Picasso works in one book is nothing short of breathtaking. This is easily the best Picasso book that focuses on his paintings. What's incredible is to see the prolific amount of work he was capable of, and just what a inventive genius he was. Without a doubt the greatest Artist of the 20th century. Not all the works make sense, or are even recognizable as anything, but that was Picasso; his art was how he viewed the world, and how his own heart felt inside:confused, and out of place. His Cubism is nearly mathmatical, and very intriguing. IF you're interested in Picasso as more than that weird guy who made all those paintings i just don't get, come and check out this book to see all of what he was made of. You'll be amazed and inspired.

I took this book out of our university library to have on hand while reading Françoise Gilot's "Living with Picasso", in order to see representations of the artwork to which she refers throughout the book. "The Ultimate Picasso" proved invaluable. Not only does it contain Picasso's complete major works, they are also presented in chronological order which made look-up easy despite Gilot's often describing an artwork and the process used to create it but not always giving its title (she always gives dates). I ordered "The Ultimate Picasso" before the library due date because I couldn't bear to not have the book in my house!
The photos of the artwork are brilliant and crisp, and the accompanying text is informative.
You will not be disappointed by this book.

I read this book in fifth grade. It was one of the best books I have read. Me being a huge WWII fanatic who reads about it all the time. I was said when Uncle Heinrich didn't make it to the train i felt like crying because Ruth loved him and Jeanette. I have read many books like this like Number The Stars, Hitler's White Russians, The Russian Roots of Nazism, The Russian German War, but this book was nothing like those others it was incredible, fascinating, heart thumping, and most of all touching. Sure it was a little slow in the end, but it was still an incredible book.

This is the story written from the view of a 5 yr. old girl who is literally torn away from her parents where she is not old enough to understand what is happening. The story is heart rendering and a good one to start reading about the holocaust. Other books are far more compelling than this as regards what happens to people, but in the eyes of a youngster it is almost life ending for her and her friends. It seems there is another book or two awaiting to tell Ruth's parents' side of the story as well as possibly the Resistance Movement in and around the geographical area mentioned in this book.

Your Name Is Renee is an extraordinary book that captures the mind and spirit of the reader. It keeps you interested and has so much great detail that you just fall in love with the characters. I was truely amazed at how wonderful this book was. There were several reasons I found it so astonishing. There was great detail and information about the characters, events of WWII, and of the Holocaust. While you read this book you discover how hard the Jews had to work to stay unharmed and how scary it was for them for fear of being caught. You learn that everywhere they went they had to be cautious not to give themslves away as Jews. I love how you felt as if you were there. The events seemed so real. You especially felt sorry for the young children,such as Ruth (Renee was her fake French name), who had no idea what was going on, why families everywhere were being pulled away from eachother, and why her family was on a constant run. It was very emotional to learn about the Jew's struggles and ways of life during the Holocaust. Even children like Ruth had to adapt to this lifestyle and learn exactly what they should say around strangers to keep themselves safe. I got really into Your Name Is Renee, even catching myself yelling at characters for treating Ruth or another Jew cruely or taking something away from them. I mostly loved this book because I learned a lot about the Holocaust and who was involved during it. I also learned that the Jews always had to be alert no matter where they were and careful about who they trusted. Your Name Is Renee is a remarkable book full of suspicion, suspense, suffering, and support. I recommend to each and every person who likes or dislikes reading. Your Name Is Renee will astound everyone.

When i was a senior in high school, the class read this book. A chilling, heart rendering tale of a horrible time in our history through the eyes of a victim too young to be so brave. While others griped about having to read yet another book. it was not long till all eyes in the class were glued to their books. The writing makes you want to continue, almost as if you stop reading then maybe you can close your eyes and act as though the horror never happened. Yet you continue out of a strange respect for this child. Luckily for our class after we had read the book and its end became known to all of us, our teacher had Stacey Cretzmeyer,the author, come and speak to our class. An awe inspiring moment for most of us. While origianlly she was there to talk about the writing of the book, it became abundanlty clear that even the toughest of kids where concerned about what had happened to that child. She informed us that she had been to a family reunion not to far long before this event.She passed pictures around the class and yes.there were tears shed as people were finally able to put faces to names we had only read about. The most poignant picture was of a group photo. A large smiling group of people looked back from the glossy page-and the most hard hitting moment that dawned on the class-and finally uttered by one of the biggest, quietest, hulking guys in the class- "They grew into such a large family" They had carried on. The Nazi's had lost in every way. Not just to U.S. bombers and fighters but to the unending spirit to survive, thrive and to flourish. Even Ten years after reading this book for the first(but not the last time) I look forward to reading this story with my own little girl.This story is so touching and leaves a mark on you that never fades from your memory.

"Your Name is Renee" is the unforgettable story of Ruth Kapp Hartz, told from her viewpoint as a child in Nazi-occupied France in the early 1940's. It is too compelling to read in little increments...you'll want to consume it from cover to cover in one sitting. The writing style is simple and tremendously effective, never distracting from the story itself. Mrs. Hartz's story should be required reading from middle grades on up. Hats off to Stacy Cretzmeyer for giving us such a gem.

26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur by Florence Chatzigianis details wonderful half-day experiences along the Mediterranean Sea coast of France. With excellent maps of each hike and beautiful color photographs of the places to hike, the book includes Islands of Hyeres, St. Tropez, Frejus and Saint-Raphael and the Esterel Mountains and the Maures Mountains, from Hyeres to Cannes. Chatzigianis gives instructions of what to wear, best times to go, and alluring descriptions of what you will experience. She also tells for each hike the distance, time required, elevation, and difficulty, as well as restaurants, tourism offices, and sports stores nearby. The book is certainly one to plan your trip to this beautiful area.

26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western CÃ'te d'Azur is an illustrated guide that invites you to slow down, take a breath of fresh air and soak in the Western French Riviera's natural beauty. Author Chatzigianis is a long-time hiker who has spent many years scouting southern France for footpaths with stunning views, walks that lead to boat-accessible only inlets, and prehistoric sites rarely visited or seen.

This guide has stunning maps and photographs of the nature hikes. There is an introduction with points of interest for each hike. Hiking time, distance, difficulty level and elevation profile are included with each hike description as well as practical advice on when to go and what to take with you.

The descriptions of the hikes are vivid enough to make you want to go there, to see it for yourself.

You climb a short, steep hill behind the village of La Garde-Freinet. You cross a moat that is carved deep into the rock. Step back 800 years in time; you have entered the ruins of the ancient fortified stone settlement of Fort Freinet.

Whether you enjoy an evening walk through a chestnut grove to watch a monastery set aglow by the setting sun or a more vigorous hike up the red mountains to view the amazing view of the Mediterranean Sea, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this beautiful guide of the Western Cote d'Azur.

The hikes range from an hour to half a day. I never knew some of these places even existed until I read this lovely guide. My interest has been peaked and I found myself daydreaming as I became absorbed in the photographs. My family may find themselves on a vacation soonâ"that only I have been dreaming of!

Armchair Interview says: Excellent book for hikers and dreamers

An alternative tourist attraction could be found and would be well appreciated by nature lovers around the world - "26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur" is a compilation of guides for twenty six half day hikes around France's beautiful coastline along the Mediterranean Sea for any experience level. Packed with color photos and specifics of each trail such as its time, distance, difficulty and what you should bring in preparation, it is the flat out most comprehensive guide you can find on the subject, even covering the history of the area alongside information on the plantlife. "26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur" is highly recommended for armchair travelers and hiking enthusiasts destined to travel to southern France.

As a connoisseur of hiking books and having spent a summer during college (many moons ago) exploring this region of France, I was drawn to this book about hiking the western Côte d' Azur. The book is lightweight, perfect for carrying or slipping into a backpack. The table summarizing hikes by difficulty, distance and terrain will prove particularly helpful. Other positive aspects in the book include the color photographs, the useful contact information and the interesting tidbits regarding history of the area, plants and the like. My only regret is that our vacation plans this year do not include the Côte d' Azur, so will have to postpone putting this book to use first-hand. Maybe next year . . .

I've hiked in France, but I had no idea what a beautiful and interesting region Cote d'Azur was until I read Florence Chatzigianis's, "26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur." Now I want to go there, her guidebook in hand, and try out the trails she describes so vividly!

Chatzigianis's book is not only informative, but also easy to use. She's organized the 26 hikes by region, which enables visitors to quickly find a trail nearby. I particularly like the way that the "Table of Hikes," breaks the hikes into categories of "easy" and "medium," and then gives the distance and time needed for each. And since I like to know whether I'll be doing a lot of climbing in the mountains or a bit of strolling by the shore, I find the small drawings showing the elevation range of each hike are also quite useful.

Chatzigianis's colorful photos are a rich accompaniment to the text. Not only are there pictures of the beautiful countryside, but also of the many historical and cultural sights that most auto-touring visitors miss.

Finally, I found that the "Aside" sections--short essays on such intriguing topics as "Hiking Under Water," (on the island of Port-Cros) and "The Cork Oak" (some of which you see on the Lac de l'Ecureuil trail), make "26 Gorgeous Hikes on the West Cote d'Azur" an indispensable guide for any traveler who wants to truly experience France's Mediterranean coastline.

Highly recommended!

This is a wonderful book combined with an extraordinary collection of plates. The only problem is that virtually all the references in the text do not refer to the correct plates. This is really disappointing is such a fine, and expensive, book.

The Anatomy of Glory is a wonderful account of Napoleon's Guard, from its beginnings during the Revolutionary Wars to its end after Waterloo. The text is highly readable and engaging. The accompanying prints are wonderful, as are the useful appendices. I would recommend this to any student of Napoleonic history. The Tondu and his Grumblers seem to march across the pages of this seminal text.

I concur with the supportive opinions expressed here that this book, The Anatomy of Glory by Commandant LaChouque, et al, is the ultimate reference material for serious students of the History of the Imperial Guard.

I first came upon this wonderful book as a Senior at the University of Minnesota in 1984. My senior thesis was a study of Anglo-French Diplomacy during the Napoleonic period, and I find this book to be a wonderful source of information, not only information concerning the History of the Guard, but also more generalized history of the period itself.

This book, as stated, has a fabulous collection of artwork from the Anne Brown Collection at Brown U., and also does a wonderful job getting down to the nitty gritty concerning the Marshals, the Campaigns, the Politics of the Period, etc. Commandant LaChouque leaves no stone unturned in this hugely successful documentary on the Era.

The fact that this book centers the majority of its attention on Napoleon's Guard specifically is especially attractive to me since even now with the advent of the Internet it's still a bit of a tooth pull to get so complete an analysis of the history of one of the most courageous, loyal and dedicated organizations of professional soldiers the world has ever seen...La Garde Imperiale! These hardcore heroes richly deserve to be remembered, and this book does their memory ultimate honor.

The day I lost my original copy of this book was a sad one, and I'm very pleased I have now had, thanks to Amazon.Com, the opportunity to get a replacement. I most highly recommend this book for any gung-ho student of Napoleonic History...Vive L'Empereur!

The glory of the Imperial Guard resounds above all others in the annals of war. Created, built and nurtured as a bodyguard for Napoleon, it grew from a brigade of fewer than two thousand men into a virtual army, and became 'a human fortress which no one but [Napoleon] could dominate and no enemy could penetrate'. And, on such battlefields as Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, Wagram and Waterloo, it won the laurels of undying fame. Written by France's foremost historian of the Napoleonic Wars, Commandant Henry Lachouque, and translated and adapted by Anne S. K. Brown, this sumptuous work is enhanced by over 180 illustrations, including 86 plates in full colour. This new printing from the second, revised edition of Lachouque's masterwork will be especially welcomed by students of Napoleonic history. The plates alone are uniquely valuable as a source of uniform colours and style, and the text provides the definitive history of an elite body of men. With its vivid narrative and lavish illustrations, The Anatomy of Glory can lay justifiable claim to be one of the most magnificent books on military history ever published. The critical acclaim that greeted it upon its first publication provides ample testimony to its reputation. The Anatomy of Glory is both informative and entertaining: a work of unquestionable quality - termed a masterpiece by Elting - and a monumental contribution to Napoleonic literature.

I first saw this book and read it in high school. Since then, it has been an indispensable part of my Napoleonic library. It is full of information unobtainable eslewhere in English. The superb illustrations, from the Anne S.K. Brown Collection at Brown University, greatly enhance the presentation, Mrs Brown also being the translator. The book traces the Guard from its inception during the Revolution, its emergence as the Guard of the Consuls, and into its final evolution in 1804 as the Imperial Guard. The personalities who populate it are a truly talented and colorful group, from Pere Roguet, to Napoleon himself. The book almost appears as a personal narrative of the author, Commandant Lachouque, and while he has been accused of being somewhat biased, his references used for the book itself are impeccable. That the book has already stood the test of time is a virtue in itself. The new Introduction to the latest edition is by Col John Elting the noted suthority on the Napoleonic period, and new information on the Guard was discovered by him for this introduction. It not only enhances the Guard's formidable combat reputation, but the book itself. This book is a must for every Napoleonic enthusiast.

I just received the Ancient Roots Translinear Bible and srarted reading some key chapters; and I have to say it reads very well, its very poetic. I love the Idea of striving for 100% accuracy to the original languages. I LOVE, ABSOLULTY Love that you are using Yahweh instead of LORD. I hope they use Yashua (sp) instead of Jesus in the New testament as well.

I also notice in some cases they are putting the Hebrew Names, such as Adam, and than listing the English meaning (Human) in parentheses, this is a great idea.

Now this is not done in Gen chapter 5, but if it were we might see this.
ADAM (Human) SETH (established) Enosh (Mortal) Kenan (sorrow) Mahalalel (the blessed God) Jared (coming or shall come down) Enoch (Teacher or teaching) Methuselah (his death shall bring) lamech (despairing) Noah (rest). {Human established Mortal sorrow, the blessed God, shall come down teaching, his death shall bring (the) despairing rest}. I would love to see this putting the English meaning in parentheses throughout the whole text.

I like the cover and also the text in the ARTB, I need reading glasses and I am putting off getting them, and I have to say the print hear is very clear and dark and is easy to read.


So far so good, great JOB, and an excellent study tool

Total satisfaction with every aspect of purchasing this very enlightening book! The entire purchasing experience was one of my best...arriving in the mail before expected and so much more than anticipated. This TRANSLINEAR BIBLE is revolutionary. An incredible treasure has been given to the world through this ANCIENT ROOTS BIBLE! A trustworthy, superb and unique translation, faithful to Hebraic language & thought patterns, you will also discover that the actual physical book is beautiful to behold and a pleasure to hold while you are either reading or studying. Clear type. Wonderful font size. It also has an appealing cover that invites the reader to explore inside to relish familiar scriptures with ancient insights and to unearth sweet riches. In my personal evaluation, after researching the biblical texts as a pastor for over forty years and owning 8,000+ books in my library I would have to say of the ANCIENT ROOTS BIBLE what A. Frances Werner herself writes concerning the Torah's essence in her characteristic elegant style and literal vocabulary, using the words of the Psalmist, that it is my honor to say that the ANCIENT ROOTS TRANSLINEAR BIBLE is "sweeter than the honey nectar of the honeycomb" Ps. 19:10b (ARTB). I have chosen to make her website [...] my Home Page on my computer so that I can quickly access the concordance and other helpful features she makes available. Hope it comes out in genuine leather some day. The words printed at the bottom of the front cover capture what I am hoping this review says in just a sentence: "Find out what you've been missing." A must have!!

I know that many may be leery when any new translation of the Bible is released. The fear is always there that perhaps the translation will put forth something contrary to what the Lord is actually saying and it could lead to some confusion in our Spiritual walk. In my opinion I have to say that this is not the case with this new translation by A. Frances Werner. This is one translation that can only enhance your Spiritual understanding of God's Word. Having been in the ministry with my husband for almost 30-years I have seen many Spiritual works come and go, but I truly believe this one is here to stay.
I love to read the Word and often cross-reference to try to get a deeper revelation of a Scripture. I would want to know, where in our world was Abraham living, exactly where does certain countries and cities appear in the Word? Our author gives us those answers and more, right in the verse we are reading, no more digging out tons of reference books to find it. Not only is this helpful but this knowledge definitely brings the Word alive in your spirit.
As I sat and read through the Psalm's I was delighted. The meaning became more clear within my Spirit than I ever thought possible. I especially loved Psalm 103:1, "Bless Yahweh, my soul, and all that is in my center, bless his holy name." I had never realized the full meaning of that, but when the word 'center,' was used, a greater understanding filled me. Think about it!
To me this translation is a God-send. One more step to knowing our Heavenly Father and His Word in a clearer way.
The book is well written, the type is crisp, clear and easy to read. If you are truly looking for a translation of the Word of God that will help you in your walk, this one is for you. I can't wait to see what the New Testament holds. Very highly recommended; a must have for all those who believe and hunger for the true Word of God.
Shirley Johnson
Senior Reviewer
MidWest Book Review

This translation of the Old Testament (aka Hebrew or shared Scripture) grows out of a well-founded desire - to bring to the English reader a specific aspect of the Hebrew text, the ability to recognize the repetition of words and word-roots. This is an important element of understanding the original text - allowing the reader to develop an ever more precise understanding of the way the term is used in Hebrew. Ideally, this would slowly build in the mind of the reader a semantic web of Biblical Hebrew.

Unfortunately, this text fails because of false assumptions about the nature of language: (1) a word in one language translates into a single word in another language. So if an Eskimo language has 32 words for snow so does English. Or if English uses a single word "rocket" to mean both a plant and a mechanical device that goes upward at great speeds, so does Hebrew. Or if one language uses inflexions, another position, a third agglutination, a fourth particles to specify time, voice and number they all require the same number of words to say something like "she might have fled." (2) the meaning of words is static over time - has "gay" always meant both an emotion and a sexual preference? (3) if words share a root, they share a meaning. This is closely related to assumption two. Consider the following English words derived from the same Indo-European root: iris, iridescent, vinegar, vicar, wicker, wattle, witch ...

In Werner's notation of added/missing words and measures of consistency, she needs to look a bit deeper and consider the words not at the grammatic level but at the semantic level to account for differences in vocabulary and grammatic structure. She needs to look a words not at the morphological level but as units of meaning to allow for multiple meanings of a word and for changes of meaning over time.

On the positive side, Werner's noting of doubling (repeating a word), hyphenation (use indicating single'double Hebrew word, etc. and leaving certain words in the Hebrew does give added value to her text. This value would be enhanced if she specified which Hebrew and Aramaic texts she is deriving her notation from. (My usual test for the Masoretic text (Gen. 4:7-9) is inconclusive in this translation.)

With additional work focusing on the domain of meaning of a particular word and, perhaps, semantic webs, this translation has potential.

As a layman, amateur Bible scholar and consultant, I found the Ancient Roots(tm) Translinear Bible by A. Frances Werner a fresh translational approach that continuously provokes insight into the hidden nuances of the Hebrew text, breaking with the same tired phraseology, both familiar and musty. Since Genesis is my main focus of late, a couple of samples should suffice, to contrast her new approach with the seemingly endless variations on stale themes appearing on bookshelves and computer screens near you.

Whenever I read a new translation I immediately head for the "problem" areas (for Biblical scholars, that is). One is the famous "song" of Lamech, descendant of Cain. The Authorized Version reads:

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah,
Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech,
hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man
to my wounding, and a young man
to my hurt.
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech
seventy and sevenfold.

There is an apocryphal legend that Lamech (some say Nimrod) inadvertantly slew Cain while out hunting, but here Genesis knows only that apparently two were killed, some man who wounded him and some young man who hurt him, at least according to the translators of the King James Version. Lamech seems awful, threatening that if he is killed for murdering someone, his death will be avenged much more terribly than old Cain. Even worse, he is in a sense stealing God's protection of Cain to cover himself. The speculation about what the text really says is ongoing, some pointing out that only one man was slain (or wounded or both), due to the conventions of repetition in Hebrew poetry, others seek clarification in translations that attempt to show that Lamech kills a man, but wounds another, and Lamech is still a murderer no matter how you look at the passage.

However, the ARTB translation makes it clear that Lamech has probably not killed or maimed anyone (yet).

Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah,
"Hear my voice, women of Lamech!
Hearken to my sayings: I will slay a man
who wounds me, and a boy
for my stripes.
Cain avenges sevenfold, but Lamech
seventy-seven!"

Lamech merely sounds tough, issuing a warning to anyone who might even think of doing him some minor offense. In this sense it can be taken as a boasting song, typical of many ancient (and modern) tribal peoples, where the vengeance of an ancestor has become legendary and the current leaders must continue to surpass the previous standard, or at least brag that they will do so. Its function, recorded for posterity in the Hebrew, is to minimize actual violence, and replace it with ritualized "displays" that establish rank and status. Talk about fresh insight!

The ARTB is much more than a print Bible. The companion Web site includes an on-demand word search tool (Word/Strong's search) and, for registered users, the ARTB concordance. Ms. Werner writes a brief weekly essay for "Word for the Week." One previous week's word was "obey," where she points out you won't find it in the ARTB, but you will find the word "hear." In Genesis 11:6-7, the ARTB reads:

Yahweh said, "One people, all with one lip, all began to do this here! Now none are protected from their plotting which they do. Descend and mingle their lips there. Grant that no man hears his neighbor.

Instead of a scene out of The Bible movie, where supernaturally everyone starts speaking a different language and can no longer communicate, let alone cooperate, the text seems to suggest that they simply refused to listen to anyone else. In essence, Yahweh provokes a breakdown of authority, through some agency that "descends" there and, as I see it, starts the people to complaining amongst themselves until the project grinds to a halt. The phrase "their plotting" suggests that this was not a sociable bunch to begin with.

It is difficult to find fault with Ms. Werner's translation, but on balance, the work's niftiest feature is often the source of its weakness, namely the replacement of Biblical names with modern equivalents, as in Gen 2:11-14: West-Arabia" for Havilah and "North-Iraq" for Assyria. Personally the biblical names I would prefer to remain in the text, with the modern equivalents in parentheses, which would have worked just as well for me. However, all the reader need do is look up the modern rendering in the Places Index in the back of the translation. Despite this minor idiosyncrasy, I must thank Fran for finally producing an invaluable study tool that allows the biblical words to speak for themselves.

May 29, 2007
Revised: July 23, 2007

A considerable amount of history during the early Middle Ages was written by Middle Easterners, and their scholarship should be taken seriously, as shown in this book. There is a lot of information appropriate to the issues in the region even now. See other reviews in the resource library at civilsociety dot seedwiki

As other reviewers have noted, this book is an engrossing, highly informative text, that is (generally) quite an easy read. It can be gory and propagandistic at times, as some have noted. Overall, it's a very good digest of Muslim narratives of several key events.

The main drawback is that I would not consider this a stand-alone book, particularly on a lot of the convoluted political arrangements - I'd suggest Wasserman's "Templars & the Assassins: The Militia of Heaven" for that - and I really don't think one can get the full understanding of the Muslim mentality in fighting the Crusaders from it. For that I'd suggest al-Sulami's "Way of Sufi Chivalry" (for those on a budget) or preferably Sabzawari's "Royal Book of Spiritual Chivalry" (for those who aren't) to get into the mindset of the Muslim warriors. For while "Arab Historians" includes a lot personal commentary from the authors, these last two books were written as guides for the emirs and warriors, and once reading them one gets the feeling that "Arab Historians" was written by some military public relations officer.

Still a highly recommended, enjoyable read, though.

Once you've read the popular histories of the Crusades, and your appetite for the original source materials has been whetted by the excerpts in Payne, Runciman, etc., you will want this book. It's THE source reader for the Arab perspectives, better in many ways than The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (Maalouf). You get the flavor of the culture as well as their particular slant on the events and personalities. And the snarky footnotes can be delicious!

A very good source, especially for those who have read about the Crusades and understand the context of the writings. This book is not an overview of the crusades or of a single crusade; it is selections from the writings of Arabic historians placed in a chronological order. Easy to read, detailed and engrossing; both useful and enjoyable.

A good book. It has many parallels with accounts of the original Muslim invasions and subsequent 700 year occupation of most of the Iberian (Spain/Portugal) Penninsula. Due to this initial Muslim invasion and occupation of Christian Europe, the Christian Crusades were launched into Spain and the Holy Land. Same story in the Balkans and Anatolia with the Seljuk and Ottoman Turk invasions of those Christian lands. First hand accounts of events always make for good reading. A good book, unfortunately I lost it.

I am a fan of Naruto, which is why i bought this book. I also love to draw, etc. Although this book doesn't really teach to how to draw the characters, it is still a great book to just go through and say, "Wow, that's a really great cover!"

So, If you're a fan, then i recommend this. If not... then... go find something else...

This is a perfect item to be added to your collection if you are a Naruto die-hard fan. I said "die-hard fan", so if your just one Naruto fan, this one is probably not something you should quite consider to buy, since you'd think it'd waste your money later on.

This one is a collection of previously published Naruto arts, whether in Shounen Jump, tankonbon covers, and such. So if you want all those in one book, so this is for you.

All in all, I think this book would make a Naruto die-hard fans and Naruto fans under 13 happy. Period.

I was impressed with both the quality and contents of this book. Mr. Kishimoto not only provides readers with amazing art (colorful and huge!), but also a variety of thoughts and concepts behind each of the 75 drawings (how they relate to the overall Naruto world, technical art details, etc.) There are also bonuses: a detailed description of how the cover art was made, a gallery (small, greyscale) of Shonen Jump covers featuring Naruto, and interview material. Believe it!

Short and sweet: If you like the artwork of Naruto, you won't be disappointed with this book. I especially liked Masashi Kishimoto's walkthrough of the cover art and his interpretation of squad 7 as a rock band (although I would have made Sasuke the guitarist as the guitarist and singer are always vying for the camera's attention but that's a personal choice). Several of the pieces would be excellent poster fodder. Highly recommended!

My daughters (pre-teens and teens) likes these types of books. It's not my favotite but it's theirs. And to encourage their love in reading, I do allow them to read some books of their choices in additional to the more academic choices books.

I've been reading Asterix since I was a child, and I've never read a better comic. They're clever, silly and have great twists on words. I've picked up bits of history, Latin and enlarged my vocabulary without meaning to. These comics don't get old, even when read and reread. Now my kids and their friends read my Asterix collection and they're as absorbed as my friends and I were. The "Mansions of the Gods" is one of my top 3 picks, along with "Asterix and the Legionnary" and "Asterix and Cleopatra." Make sure to buy the Asterix written by Goscinny and illustrated by Uderzo. After Goscinny died, Uderzo continued both writing and illustrating these comics and they aren't as clever.

This is one of the best books in the series of Asterix adventures. Finally it has been translated to English so that it can be enjoyed in the US as well. This book is full of reliable historical details. For example, do you know that Caesar in his "De Bello Gallico" (translation: "About the war in Gaul") talks about himself using the third person? Well, Goscinny and Uderzo knew: this is one of the many "cultural" jokes in this beautiful comics book.
The graphic is also wonderful. I personally enjoy looking at the brochure presenting "The mansion of Gods" to possible buyers. Of course the brochure is engraved in marble.
Having read these books as a child in Italy I am looking forward to more translated adventures to enjoy reading together with my kid in the US.

Rene Goscinny, The Mansions of the Gods (Dargaud, 1971)

The seventeenth Asterix adventure, and (at least if you're going through the library system) seemingly the hardest to get hold of-- perhaps because the title doesn't have "Asterix" or "Obelix" in it. Caesar has a new plan for getting the Gaulish village to acquiesce-- develop the forest around it into Roman housing blocks called the Mansions of the Gods. All well and good, except, of course, the Gauls have some tricks up their sleeves for holding construction up, including organizing the workers. Fun stuff, this. ***

Great adventure for a great character as Asterix! Include it in your collection, it will be worth!

Originally done as a comic in a french childrens' magazine, the Adventures of Asterix the Gaul have grown beyond that small framework and can be enjoyed by peoples around the world. the idea is that in the world of 55BC all Gual has been conquored by the Romans, except for one small village which holds out against the invaders. The source of their survival is a magic potion brewed by the village Druid which gives the drinker superhuman strength. The gauls are not waging a war with the romans, they just go about theirl ives and after being thumped a few times, the local Romans are more than happy to let them do it.

in this adventure the Romans decide to try and force the gauls to intergrate with the Roman world by building luxery apartments near them. The thought is that when the guals are surrounded by woodlands, they cannot appreciate roman culture but by building Roman towns on their doorstep, they Gauls will be forced to accept the pax romana.

What follows are a series of adventures based on deforestation, colonization, and good neighbors. And if you ever thought your own building contractors were pirates or bandits...well.

I have already read the book and it was great! I found it very intersting and not wanting to put the book down until I finished it!

In "Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc," Polly Schoyer Brooks provides a biography for young adults that makes a point of separating historical facts from popular legends. One of the main strengths of the volume is how Brooks establishes the situation in 15th-century France which involved a king who suffered fits of madness and his weakling son and then tells the story of a peasant girl from the countryside who accomplished what appeared to be miracles in rallying the French to her banner. The result is a book about Joan of Arc that captures her humanity as well as her heroism.

Brooks neatly divides the story of Joan in half, with the first six chapters starting with Joan's life in the village of Domremy and ending with the crowing of Charles the Dauphin as King of France, and the last six depicting Joan's fall from glory, trial, and execution. Brooks emphasizes that the situations that brought about her martyrdom were beyond Joan's control and details the political calculations that ended up putting her in the hands of the English. However, as Brooks emphasizes, though the English burned Joan's body to ashes they could not wipe out the memory of her deeds from the French people. I appreciate that Brooks makes it clear to her readers how the effort's to restore Joan's name and honor after the English left France were just as politically motivated as the trial that condemned her.

This young adult biography is illustrated with historic prints and paintings, including a sketch by a clerk of his idea of Joan drawn in the margin of his report, as well as contemporary photographs of historic sites, such as Joan's stone-and-rubble house in Domremy and the statue on the post were she was burned at the stake in the marketplace at Rouen. Brooks has also written similar biographies of Eleanor of Acquitaine and Cleopatra. However, as Brooks notes, although more books about Joan have been inspired than any other women in history, she remains an enigma. In "Beyond the Myth," Brooks tries to answer the key questions concerning Joan's life and to restore her humanity, which in the final analysis, Brooks sees as being her greatest virtue. For students who are ready to get beyond your basic juvenile biographies of Joan of Arc, this is a thoughtful volume to which to turn next.

Like many females, I enjoy learning about female historical figures. I want to know as much truth as I can find. The author does exactly that for the reader. This book is a detailed account of the events that triggered Joan d'Arc's dedication to her country and its rightful king. The author traces the history based on documents and other works that have been carefully researched. She provides the reader with the personality traits and beliefs of the time which drove the events that led to Joan's trial and death. Accusations of witchcraft and sorcery were used by church and secular leaders to destroy the young life of a heroic woman because of jealousy, superstition, and shady business surrounding the church and state. In addition, health and medical issues of the times are revealed that are shocking and entertaining. Read this book to learn about Joan, but also about the way people lived. Just learning about the reasons for the need for all those castles made the read worth the time.

While this book is written for the young adult, I read it recently as a "older" adult and loved it. I have limited spare time so it was great to be able to finish this book in a day or 2. It is simply written yet gives the reader a clear, comprehensive guide to the life of a brave, determined peasant girl. All important facts of Joan's life are included, her childhood, her goal to defeat the English and secure the French throne for Charles VII and her capture and death at the hands of the British. After reading this book I now have a clearer insight into the life of this popular heroine, her call from God and her amazing accomplishments.

Okay, so I was on a tight budget and needed a new book...found this in hardcover at the local superstore on the bargain table...what a find! Frances Norris tells a wonderful story of a character coming to grips with the loss of her family, both recently and in the past. The characters are very believable and Norris gives a true feeling of setting without drowning the reader in description. I read this quickly, but still felt satisfied. Very enjoyable read.

Love and food are two of my favorite subjects, so how could I resist this book? I was not disappointed. The loss element keeps the story subtantive so that its not just another piece of fluff. The book has hilarious characters (including an overbearing narcissist in an amoeba jumper), but the author treats all with compassion enough to make them full and true. The food styling scenes bring together Hollywood fakery with a delicious disgustingness (photographing motor oil poured on macshed potatoes to resemble a sundae). You can't help cheering on narrator Julia as she navigates the crazies and searches out her soul in a soul-less city. Buy this book right away and enjoy!

I loved Julia's story. She finds her inner spark by overcoming her pain, loss, and depression and finding love and forgiveness in unusual ways. The characters are well portrayed and do not lack depth, even the obviously obnoxious figures are seen with irony and compassion at the same time. Highly recommended.

Dear Francie:

I just finished your book. What a wonderful story, full of feeling, wisdom, beauty and hope. I really enjoyed the characters, not to mention that you are an incredibly gifted writer style-wise. I lived the whole trip to Sedona as if I was there. And the end is so sexy, yummy, I love it!! All I can say is, keep writing, girl! And like I said, some day we may see the movie "Blue Plate Special", very attractive title to my ears. Thank you for your gift to the world of readers,

The only reason that I got this book was because the author went to my high school - so I have to admit that my expectations were not that high. But I really, really enjoyed this book, for the reasons stated so eloquently by other reviewers. It was gripping though sad.