Mythology and Folklore Books

Like all Froud books this one is incredible. This isn't just for children. People of all ages will enjoy it. Especially if you are a Froud fan. The pictures are beautiful and the story is really nice. This is must have for all children and Froudians

On the Midwinters Eve the faeries are having their annual celebration to welcome winter. But something is a miss and they all know it..where is winter? Why are there still flowers and fruit on the trees? Where has lady winter gone?
This book is illustrated with beautiful faerie figures in the traditional Froud family fashion. The story is a little familiar of many fantasy stories, and yet unique and steeped in lore.
Almost looking as a young childrens book at first this book is pretty and soft but the story is almost that of a short chapter books. The story is long enough and yet simple enough to be enjoyed by all. This book is great for children and adults alike

This is an extremely beautiful book. With Wendy Froud's doll making skills and Terri Windling's magical story weaving, teamed up with Brian Froud well, it sounds too good to be true. This follow up to "A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale" did not disappoint.

Sneezle, our beloved hero from the first book, is again teamed up with his friend Twig for a quest to find out why Winter has not yet reached their forest. Again they encounter many characters, in which Wendy's dolls never fail to amaze me. She is so incredibly gifted. I would like to show this book to anyone who does not appreciate winter as a season, because while it's not the "moral" of the story...it takes a look at winter as being the season for rest so that everything can be reborn in the spring. It tells a magnificent tale.

Not only is it a wonderful book to read and enjoy, but it's a treasure to put up on the shelf or coffee table for looking at again and again.

Wendy Froud is the wife of Artist Bryan Froud ( Good Fairies, Bad Fairies). She is a great artist and this book reflects her abilities, the books has pictures of the dolls she created for the story. The pictures say a thousand words. If you are a doll maker, you will greatly enjoy this book. The story is good but the pictures are better. It has different kind of trolls, fairies and wizards. If you love fantasy you will love the book.

Terri, Wendy, and Brian have done it again! Teaming up again to send Sneezle, the beloved hero of "A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale," on another adventure, the Frouds and Windling masterfully create a mythical world that defies the pages the story is written on. Using photographs of dolls created by Wendy Froud in settings built in the Froud's garden studio, the characters literally step from the pages. Fresh and exciting, Windling's writing brings new life to old folklore, bringing the faeries and goblins of Dartmoor out of their hiding places, at least for a little while, for us to see. A treasure to keep, with plenty to share, this is a wonderful read for the self and the wee ones!

Kerrie Colantonio, Penny-A-Page Publishing

This is one of those books you'll read and keep reading even though it is geared towards pre-teens. I find myself re-reading the story, and looking at the pictures to see if I can find something I didn't see before. It is a captivating story that introduces you to a legendary character. I would recomend this book to anyone.

I had to buy this book because my daughter (6) was checking it out from the library so often. It is an unusual look at Guinevere and offers a good, empowering role model for girls. We love the illustrations and have read it over and over. Unfortunately, the paperback version has not stood up to those many readings. The pages have all had to be taped back in because once one came loose, the rest followed. I don't blame the binding, it is just that a paperback cannot survive that much love.

This is a beautiful picture book for pre-teens rather than for really young children. It has a mythological tale of what young Queen Guinevere's life might have been like. It is well written by the talented Robert D. San Souci and is filled with symbolism and adventure and heroism. The illustrations are well done and are brightly colored like the pages in a medieval illuminated manuscript. Beautiful mythical creatures like a chimera and a unicorn and a werewolf help give this story its otherwordly feel and add to the mysterious and magical flavor we have come to know from other great Arthurian writers like Sir Thomas Malory, T.H. White, and Howard Pyle. This is a simple story that ends with foreshadowing of the world Guinevere will grow into and it makes a good introduction to this enigmatic character.

When I found this book, the artwork captivated me. The story is simple yet strong. I would buy this if I had a child. It is beautifully illustrated and told. Take/Borrow it and read it.

This book has the best illustrations that I have EVER seen. They draw you to the text and are partnered with the book perfectly. They have the quality of a photograph.

I expected it to be a bit dry, but after the first chapter, I found I could not put it down, and read it cover to cover in one night.

Everybody loves a good fairy tale, but as you get older you may feel silly reading "Cinderella" or "Hansel and Gretel". Thank goodness for the Ancient Greeks; their mythology stories are the perfect fairy tales for adults. There's plenty of double-crossing, emotional outbursts, sex, violence and jealousy, and you get the added benefit of learning about classical civilization while you read these soap-opera stories. In "Zeus: a journey through Greece in the footsteps of a god", author Tom Stone manages to blend these wonderful mythological tales with a travelogue of Greece. Since the stories that comprise Greek mythology are so numerous, with so many characters, Stone focuses his book on the tales involving Zeus, the most powerful of the gods. He also does a wonderful job of presenting the stories in a somewhat chronological order (time being a fuzzy thing when talking about mythological events), beginning with Zeus's early years and his struggles against his own father Kronos. Stone also weaves in the various ups and downs of Greece, conflicts with her Aegean neighbors, changes in Grecian society and the growing influence of monotheistic religions. A timeline, a map and a ton of endnotes helps round out this really engaging look at Ancient Greece. It's a wonderful read for anyone who likes Edith Hamilton (mythology), Simon Schama (history) or Peter Mayle (amusing anecdotes of interactions with colorful locals).

Tom Stone manages to produce a magnificent history or mythological and historical Greece. It's written by a lyrical kind of prose that stays true to the original romanticism of the myths. He also includes an incredible and comprehensive bibliography for those who wish to continue their own study of everything Greek.

A wonderful scholarly, but immensely readable odyssey through Greece. Stone visits ancient sanctuaries and shrines throughout the mainland and islands, and discusses the myth and the reality of this glorious civilization.

I have always loved Greek myths but I have never been able to get all the stories straight. Stone has performed the impossible task of doing just that. By putting them in their proper sequence in the story of Zeus -
Prometheus stealing fire, Pandora's jar ("box" was a bad translation),the Minotaur in its labyrinth, Perseus and Medusa, Hérakles, the House of Átreus, the Judgment of Paris,Helen of Troy, etc. -- and linking them to actual historical events such as the eruption of the volcano on Santorini, the fall of the Minoan Empire, the Dorian invasion, the Peloponnesian Wars, and the Roman conquest, Stone has made what has seemed to be an impossible labyrinth into a most enjoyable read. But in addition to all this, the travel parts of the book, which involve the story of his and Persian wife's travels through Greeceto research the book, are refreshing and delightful side trips to the main story. A deep and beautiful look into the Greek soul!

I am a student of Persian and have found this book to be an excellent source of short stories that are both enjoyable and relatively easy to translate. The binding is sturdy and the pages are heavy and durable, (Important if you're going to make lots of notes inside!) All the vocabulary I had to look up could be found in the Hippocrene Standard Persian-English Dictionary, also available on Amazon.

I grew up with Mulla's stories. You can not find an Iranian who does not know a few stories of Mulla. Even though his storues are very funny, still they have a philosophical value too. A must read for anybody and everybody.

I read Molla's stories in English not being fortunate to know enough Persian. I hope they translate more of these stories to English, because just mentioning Molla's name brings smile to the people who know him.

In the present times, in the US we have Woody Allen, and in the East the impaccable Aziz Nassin of Turkey whose very name make you smile.

Molla's Character is popular in the Middle East as well as the Indian subcontinent, the same way as another Persian storyteller, Scheherazade is. Molla, in the Persian culture is title for the learned men or teachers. When people saw someone with beard and turban, they already assumed he is a molla so they would throw their questions.

For instance, Once Molla was hammering the nail at the end of his donkey's bridle, as he was going to a teahouse. Someone asked him: "Molla, where is the center of the world." Molla said," The center of the world is where I just hammered the nail to my donkey's bridle." Someone said, " I don't believe this." Molla took a sip of his tea and said, " If you don't believe it, go measure it."

In the forties and fifties Molla became popular among British. Some English speakers, in the hight of tension, during Nationalization of Oil, used to quote Molla when they wanted to break the ice with their Persian counterparts.

The funny stories did not solve the problem, but opened the door for many translations in English, Franch, German and many other languages. I have seen the book translated in Arabic, Turkish, Ordu and Hindu. In each of these countries they have, in years, added more stories to the old ones, giving the character a native identity. I am sure the Arabic Molla has some particular stories and the Turkish one some other. Molla now belongs to every country in Asia, as Sheharazade does.

This book is, however, in Persian. As the English version was a lot of fun for me to read, I'm sure Persians, who have a great sense of humor, will find this book much funnier than the English translation. Enjoy it.--Khandeh dareh!

It's not the point that Hoca is a character of Turkey nor Iran. Hoca is one of the wisest man of all times. He makes us remember things everyone else has forgotten for ever and always. His sayings -jokes- guide us to the objective and practical knowledge of All.

Nasreddin Hoca is not an Iranian character!!!! He had lived in Aksehir,which is a small city in Anatolia(Turkey).I am a very surprised to see that an Iranian writer try to show Nasreddin Hoca as an Iranian character.Let's not forget that 2 or 3 years ago it was celebrated as the Nasreddin Hoca year in Turkey!

Any writer of fantasy or science fiction needs to own this volume. When writer's block hits, just open to any page to jump start your imagination. This is a valuable resource for any writer, but especially for those writing about vampires. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

Theresa Bane does it again with this absolutely masterful work. The writing is clear and concise in spite of how daunting a task the research must have been. Whether you're a writer, looking for believable facts for your next bestseller, or simply a vampire folklore enthusiast, The Actual Factual Dracula will keep you spellbound from start to finish. This isn't just a book on folklore. It also gives you insight on the beliefs and fears of the various cultures mentioned. This reader would even go so far as to say that one looking up his/her heritage might find this to be additional information on one's background. And last but definitely not least, the text is complemented by the fantastic artwork of Theresa's husband, Glenn T. Bane. This book is a real treat......enjoy!!

Splendid research source! In depth and obviously deeply devoted to details without being overly wordy or difficult to understand. Cross referenced for ease of comparison. A MUST HAVE for any investigator or hunter!

This is the absolutely definitive book on vampires. I seldom comment about the index in a book but this is one that HAS to be talked about. Looking for a 14th century bloodsucker that only feeds on adolescent shepherds, wears orange Liederhosen, is invisible, and can be fought off by spinning counterclockwise while reciting the Hippocratic Oath? This is where to look.

What a terrific tool for anyone researching the subject.

This is a must-have for anyone either interested in the roots of the vampiric archetype or thinking of writing story that includes vampires or even a RPG.

The depth is just as deep as the breadth covered and that is saying a whole lot. It reaches back to the dawn of mankind and covers all the societies and subcultures touched by these legends up to the present day. Just one more thing I must add, the author has a wonderful knack for writing and manages to add a warm and witty style even to this very serious academic work.

This beautifully produced book contains 12 tales for children and 12 short stories for adults. There are almost 150 illustrations, many in color, from classic editions of Andersen's works. The colored images by Clarke, Dulas, Nielsen and Lorenz Frolich are splendid, as are the many ink drawings by W. Heath Robinson.

Maria Tatar edited The Annotated Brothers Grimm and The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales. She and Julie K. Allen translated the stories, and Tatar provides many annotations. Example: "The Ugly Duckling" is "the most deeply personal of Anderson's stories, a narrative that traces his trajectory from humble origins to a literary aristocracy."

Tatar is eloquent on the importance of Andersen: "We need to engage our critical faculties in order to understand what makes these stories so emotionally addictive. Why have these Danish cultural stories taken hold in the United States to become instruments for navigating childhood? How do the stories enable the reader to get lost in the book, to drink the heady elixir of fantasy? And how do they arouse the intellectual curiosity of children?"

Tatar argues that Andersen's descriptive techniques create moments with "ignition power" that kindle the imagination. "Andersen's descriptions of beauty can weave spells. They create an adrenaline rush so that you begin to read with the spine rather than the brain. These luminous moments energize the mind, leading the reader to read on to explore perils and possibilities, but also to dig deeper."

"The Emperor's New Clothes" exemplifies Andersen's narrative powers. "When I reread the tale I remembered how as a child I had started to imagine what the cloth looked like. Even though it is invisible, the swindlers and the adults describe the cloth as silky and beautiful, with gossamer designs ... and Andersen invests so much narrative energy in describing the invisible cloth that, ironically, it begins to dazzle in the mind's eye. That is what Andersen can do -- he lights up the imagination."

The short stories were new to me and have some interest seen through Tatar's eyes. But these new translations of the old favorites like "The Snow Queen" or "The Little Mermaid" are just as magical as ever.

Robert C. Ross 2008

An excellent example of Norton's annotated series, this edition contains what we have come to expect from this publisher, Anderson's goblins and mermaids hopping through the pages, the margins offering historical context, the influence of culture and an interpretation of the selections that hint of the darker nature of fairy tales. Translated by Maria Tatar and Julie K Allen, these tales are lushly illustrated, ink sketches, black and white drawings and full-color renderings that pique the curiosity of young and old alike, "Tales for Children", "Tales for Adults", "Biographies", "Anderson's Readers" and "Bibliography". Children's selections include "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Princess and the Pea", "The Little Mermaid" and "The Wild Swan", segueing into the more sophisticated stories for adults, "The Red Shoes", "The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf", "The Goblin and the Grocer" and "The Bell".

Putting the collection in context, the Introduction, "Denmark's Perfect Wizard", speaks to Anderson's genius, a Dane born over 200 years ago. Anderson tackles provocative subjects: compassion ("The Little Match Girl"); hypocrisy ("The Emperor's New Clothes"); and the necessity of hope ("The Ugly Duckling"). Sparking imagination through the texture and color of language, darker issues are dressed in sparkling prose and brilliant hue ("a purple flower with light streaming from its calyx"). It is such language that draws young and old into the world of the fairy tale, subtle lessons on the vagaries of human behavior and the undiluted power of storytelling as a means of universal communication.

Evocative illustrations and fascinating annotations offer a depth of perspective that is common to this series, an exploration of social consciousness and tales couched in the visual and the arcane, a juxtaposition of morality and fantasy that allows the reader to challenge preconceptions and enter the world of expanded imagination, because some stories never grow old. Luan Gaines/ 2007.

Many people dismiss Hans Christian Anderson as a mere author of now outdated children's stories. Anderson, as this volume of his annotated stories makes clear, was a poet, folklorist, historian, and commentator as well as a children's writer. In fact, many of his stories were written for adults, not children, and even those aimed at the young have side passages and comments which were meant for grown up men and women to hear and ponder. This volume contains a good sampling of both of these types of Anderson's stories. Each story is copiously annotated, a real pleasure for the modern reader who may not recognize references to customs and people now far in the past. There are many beautiful illustrations from the multiple published versions of the stories. Most importantly, the stories have been newly translated from the original Danish, so that as much of the original emphasis and focus is present as possible.

This annotated volume not only allows the reader a fresh view of some famous stories, it also makes the enormously complex original author much more comprehensible and even more likeable.

Ever since taking some literature courses to complete my degree, I've been fascinated by fairy tales. These stories can be enjoyed on a very basic level, but in order to understand the context, one often needs to know more about the author, the time of the writing, and what the characters and story line connote for the writer and his or her readers - at the time it was written. Using a very simple format of narrow text with wide margins to contain the annotations, this book allows the reader to read the story only, or read the notes only, or read a combination thereof, or, just look at the fascinating pictures and engravings as copied from the original editions. The dust jacket is colorful and ornate, and the paper is crisp, easy on the eye, with error free print. In short, this book will appeal to old and young, scholars and casual readers, and even those just looking for a pretty book to put on the shelf.

I ordered this as a Christmas gift for a friend with young children. The quality of the book exceeded my expectations. The wonderful stories and illustrations are perfect for kids, whilst the scholarship and annotations are excellent for adults.

Intriguing Read.......... Happy to Recommend ............. 5 Stars

Following the success of their highly regarded 'The Hero Perseus', the first in the Mad Myth Mystery series writers Robyn and Tony DiTocco have tackled another Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction work based on Ancient gods and their doings.

We first met PJ as a sixteen year old when he was summoned by Zeus to help in the defeat of the Medusa. This time twenty year old PJ Allen is a college student and part time graphic artist for a movie studio. Beginning another adventure as a descendant of the Greek gods Perseus and Hercules the tale begins with a bang. We find him with snowboard locked to his boot, surging toward a sharp 90 degree twist that becomes a straight vertical drop. This particular stretch is the only thing that is preventing PJ from conquering the mountain known as Atlas' Revenge.' In an effort to forestall yet another inevitable crash PJ grasps for anything and finds only a broken branch, slow mo tumbling and an ominous rumbling coming straight for him. With a gasp PJ awoke. For three nights now he has had the same disturbing dream. Maybe his recent assignment is getting to him; PJ has been reading Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged for class. PJ has lived in Southern California for three years now, and there is nothing resembling the curve or drop like the one in his dream. He has spent hours in the Malibu waves and has snow boarded the frozen surf of Olympia mountain many afternoons.

Following an auto crash on the Santa Monica Freeway PJ and old friend Andi Martin are again thrown together. Andi is now president of her clothing design company. PJ is attending college when he is not surfing waves or snow.

Without warning PJ is confronted with an all too familiar visit from Hermes the Messenger God. The 6.2 earthquake shaking Andi and PJ down the hillside following their auto crash has had many repercussions; villages in the Philippines are under water, in France skiers by the hundreds are isolated by snow and ice, tsunami, avalanche, earthquake are all the result of Atlas' tricking Hercules into taking the burden of holding up the heavens.

Zeus has sent for PJ's immediate return, Hercules can continue to hold the heavens for about three weeks and then the sky will fall. Hercules has been tricked by Atlas into holding up the heavens however he is becoming weaker and is losing control. PJ must complete the Twelve Labors initially assigned to Atlas, then he must locate Atlas, who has vanished and get him back on duty all before Hercules folds and the world collapses.

Travel into the vortex to meet with Zeus, homing arrows, an awakened lion, twelve labors to complete before Hercules is spent. PJ is not an always willing warrior as with Zeus's counsel he duels nefarious mythic gods and creatures. Many of the old familiar Greek mythical characters and exploits are adroitly integrated into the action.

When he is not performing heroic feats, decked out in magical armaments supplied by Athena, PJ is a pretty common fellow who attends class regularly and actually studies and still has time for surfing, snow-boarding and dating. This action packed, at times zany tale holds reader interest with its fabled characters, enlightened references, and dazzling quests often enjoyed by today's young people as they delve into role-playing video games.

Writers Di Tocco have crafted a fast paced spell binder sure to intrigue the strong middle grade reader, high schooler who is 'into' fanciful works and adults who just plain like a good tale wound around Olympus. PJ Allen is a strong character built around a real kid. Parents will enjoy reading of him and his adventures. Appearing first in 'The Hero Perseus,' PJ has matured and continues to succeed in spite of himself.

Atlas' Revenge Another Mad Myth Mystery is a polished work, filled with absorbing characters, stimulating settings, a compelling storyline and nicely detailed settings. Transitions between the mythical and present are handled well, PJ's confusion and distress are felt by the reader. The writers Di Tocco displays an perspicacious adroitness for taking mundane situations as well as the not so mundane and weaving them into a real attention grabber. From the opening lines the reader is drawn into the tale, moved at breakneck speed into, through and beyond amazing situations, states of affairs and affairs.

The Di Toccos have done their homework, the ancient gods are well presented. High school students who are bored to death with 'ancient reading' will find themselves pulled into the tale, interest held fast and learning something of a fascinating period of time and myth.

I was sent a hard bound, library copy for review. Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend, hope to see more of PJ soon.

Molly Martin
Reviewer

When his parents divorce, PJ and his mom move to the tiny country town of Athenia. PJ finds an old art set in his room, and he draws a roly-poly old man who comes to life as Hermes. He convinces PJ (actually Percy, or Perseus) to help him behead Medusa and save civilization from a drought. PJ becomes much too close to people in his past and present who are actually characters from Greek myth as he accompanies Hermes on wild adventures based on the mythical Greek stories.

The fast-paced action and element of mystery in these books would appeal to the modern adventure fantasy reader. They do teach as well as entertain, since they are based in mythology. The main character is a fantastic athlete, and each book also contains great sports action sequences.

The myths are woven naturally into the story, but at times they were hard to follow, with many characters and situations thrown at the reader simultaneously. For the young adult unfamiliar with Greek myth, this series would be overwhelming at first. The second book in the series has a smoother flow between the myth and the story. Some of the characters are cliché, like the tomboy neighbor with a secret crush on PJ, the "big man on campus" who is jealous of PJ's new popularity, and the crazy roommate who eats cold pizza and calls everyone "dude." Overall, these are satisfying reads that will appeal to readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasy and action stories.

Atlas' Revenge: Another Mad Myth Mystery is the second book of the Mad Myth Mystery series. The first book of this series was a finalist in the IPPY (Independence Publisher Book Awards). In this first book, the reader was introduced to seventeen year old Percy John Allen (PJ), who had recently moved to Athenia with his mother after the death of his father Zack. Soon after the move, a man calling himself Hermes (messenger of the Gods) began appearing to PJ. This strange man revealed to PJ that the boy was actually the descendent of Perseus and that PJ must travel back in time to re-enact the heroic feats of his ancestor in order to save the world.

The second book of this series, Atlas' Revenge, finds PJ four years later and settling into college life, a new job, and a beautiful new girlfriend. All seems well for PJ until a chance meeting with PJ's old flame Andi and an earthquake. At first, PJ assumes these events are complete coincidence, until Hermes appears once again. It would seem that another of PJ's ancestors is in trouble. Evidentially, Hercules has managed to get himself into a little mess. While completing his Twelve Labors, Hercules was tricked by Atlas into holding the world on his shoulders. PJ must not only find Atlas and trick him into taking the world back onto his shoulders and complete Hercules' final labors but also write a paper for school, get drawings done for his slave driving boss, and be sure he's not late that date with his girlfriend. Completing the Twelve Labors of Hercules while balancing all of his other responsibilities is going to make slaying Medusa look like a picnic.

Atlas' Revenge, is a great action filled twist on an old story that will be enjoyed by all ages, those who know these myths by heart, and those that have no previous knowledge of the Greek myths. PJ is just an average guy stuck in an extraordinary situation. He makes mistakes, he flounders, and he tries his best. The results are often humorous and always completely entertaining.

PJ is an ordinary 21-year-old college student, in many ways, with a part-time job doing graphic design for a small studio (with a mean boss named E.G. Never) and a beautiful, red-headed girlfriend, who is quite demanding and unpredictable.

However, he isn't so ordinary, after all. You see, he is the descendant of the Greek hero Perseus and the Greek semi-divine hero Hercules, and, four years ago, the ancient Greek gods pulled PJ into the middle of a major problem they were having, with PJ ending up proving himself by slaying the Gorgon Medusa and helping Zeus, the King of the Greek gods, again defeat Cronus, the King of the Titans.

Now, there is trouble again in Olympus. The defeated Titan named Atlas had been petrified and sentenced to carry the Heavens for all eternity, but Atlas has somehow escaped, and fooled Hercules into taking his place. Even the mighty Hercules, though, cannot hold up the Heavens for very long, and the Earth begins experiencing a series of "natural" disasters as a result of Hercules' growing fatigue. PJ meets with the Greek gods, and finds out that, to help solve the problem, PJ (as heir to Hercules) must re-do the famous Twelve Labors of Hercules. As PJ embarks on this arduous quest, he begins to find out that there is a deeper mystery going on, and the future of everything is at stake. Some friends are actually not who they seem to be, and some foes might even end up as allies. Can PJ accomplish the Twelve Labors? Can he figure out the mystery of the puzzle pieces and the plot underlying Atlas' disappearance? Can he do all that fast enough to prevent the ruin of the Earth and the end of Humankind?

At first, the story is, given the premise, quite simple, with PJ starting to complete the Twelve Labors, with the Olympians giving advice and tools to help him. The story then gets much more complex, as the plot-within-a-plot begins to emerge, the identity of some of the characters is revealed to be different from what everyone first thought, and treachery comes into play. The characters seem two-dimensional at first, but adversity, intrigue, and betrayals help us see them as much more complex, even as the story grows more complex.

Tony and Robyn DiTocco co-wrote and helped get this book published. It is the sequel to "The Hero Perseus" (the adventures of PJ's first Olympian encounter at age seventeen) and is part of their "Mad Myth Mystery" series for young adult readers. The book is very fast-paced and, once one gets past the somewhat simplistic beginning, and into the more complex story-lines, this is a very exciting and interesting mystery-adventure story, with lots of action. The authors did an excellent job of giving the reader enough information on the preceding book, so that this book can stand alone. I appreciated this, as I have not read "The Hero Perseus", but I have not put it on my list of books to get.

This book is aimed at younger readers, and I can see it being good for readers as young as nine or ten, if they are good readers, and especially if they have read and enjoyed something about the ancient Greek myths. At 46, I found the reading very fast, but I enjoyed it and, while I had solved most of the mysteries slightly ahead of the protagonist, PJ beat me to a few of them, leaving me wondering why I hadn't figured it out.

Atlas' Revenge, Another Mad Mystery by Robyn and Tony DiTocco is a great book! Normally, I find books about Gods, Destinys, and Mythology boring and un-eventful. That is certainly not the case with this book which is the sequel to The Hero Perseus, another great book. This second story is about an average boy, PJ, in his early twenties with a normal life of school, work and his girlfriend. But, as you probably guessed, there is a catch; PJ is the only descendant of the great god Perseus!
The Gods atop Mount Olympus have a problem. Atlas, who holds the heavens atop his shoulders is gone...Hercules holds them for now and cannot for much longer. He is slipping, and with each slip a devastating natural disaster strikes the world. When he falls, the heavens will crush the earth. The Gods desperately need to find Atlas and save the world! There is another problem though, magic has been cast, and PJ needs to complete Hercules' 12 labors while he holds the heavens. Throughout the book PJ faces death straight in the eye. With each task completed, more pieces of the puzzle are added as to where Atlas is and how PJ must save the world.
This book is for a fantasy, mystery, and adventure seeker who is a medium level reader. I, as the reader absolutely loved this book! It's a "Don't want to get up and stop reading" story, beautifully written with a great plot line. There is never a quiet moment and each time you think you have figured something out a new piece of information is added, making the story more and more complex. Besides reading the book I ask you this, do you dare to learn the dazzling mysteries of PJ and how he saves the world? I'll let you decide that for yourself.

Folks, the chapter, 'Never Without a Book' is worth the price of the book alone.

Thank you Bro. Haki for the inspiration and the early awakening. Since reading "Black Men", I have been able to properly increase my "education" and it all began with your very important contribution.

Black...on...Black...LOVE!

This book is a must reading for those who are serious about advancement for those of african desecnt. The author hits on several critical points, and he does an excellent job at providing solutions. THIS BOOK WILL OPEN YOUR MIND!

Understand yourself and the world around you in a way that you never had before.

ALL black people need to read this book!

You will not be able to put this down as you read about the simplest differences between you and your white equivelent. Madhabutis' almost poetic language is peaceful to read.

If you're a black person who believes that change is necessary but you don't know what to do about it, the educative source is right in front of you, it's now up to you.

This eloquent, yet hard-hitting book gives a blueprint, instructions and provocative reasoning behind why Black families are in crisis today, and most of his criticsm is leveled at the "men" in the Black community who have yet to step up to the plate and claim their rightful responsibilities in the home and in the world. In often humorous ways, Haki breaks down what the issues are, where the solutions lie and what we should demand of each other in our collective struggle (from our Black mates, children, leaders, etc.). He does all of this without being condescending or pious, but stern and loving, an accomplishment in itself, and I recommend this to any Black person commited to the struggle to make lives better for Blacks in this country as a whole, starting in their own backyards. If more Black men took these word to heart, the world would be a better place for all brothers and sisters. VITAL, CRUCIAL and NECESSARY!!!

This a great introduction to Ganesha for kids. My daughter is five and she loved all the stories.

The Broken Tusk tells seventeen different stories of Ganesha in easy reader format for second grade and up. The stories also lend themselves well to the read-aloud format for younger children. Many of my old favorites are here including the ones about how Ganesha got his elephant head and about how he made a "pradakshina" around his parents, into a trip around the world. Some might find the versions of certain stories here to be different from what they know. That is understandable considering how many of these have been passed along strictly through oral tradition. There are also some rarer stories here including one borrowed from Buddhist folklore.

Krishnaswami has done a thorough professional job with this one. She has prefaced the book with a brief introduction to Hindu mythology and to the god Ganesha himself. Also complementing the stories are a glossary of terms, a list of characters (kids would appreciate that!), a list of other names for Ganesha, and a pronunciation guide.

Krishnaswami finishes every story she narrates with a line or two that ties the legend to modern day reality. For example, after the story about Ganesha's head, Krishnaswami explains that in Indian (especially South Indian) temples today, sometimes elephants are fed and maintained reverentially. These acts, Krishnaswami explains, probably acknowledge the sacrifice made by the elephant in the original story. Small explanations like these place the stories in context, a service that I think is especially useful. The last word belongs to the wonderful old-world illustrations by Maniam Selven that complement the stories wonderfully.

With this book, Krishnaswami demonstrates that she is not only a gifted storyteller, she is also a thorough one. The Broken Tusk will get an enthusiastic nod not only from the young reading set but also from their grateful parents. This book is as charming as the elephant god himself!

As we all know How old is our Hindu Religeon ! If you see the Lord Ganesha or children say's elephant trunk god with a big belly..Do you relaize that The science was developed at that time as well as surgery too.Lord Shiva was a Doctor ( Master of Surgon) and he cloned the elephant head witha human body ? Do you believe it..Yes you have to be !

I bought this book for my niece and nephew, but before I gave it to them I read it too. It brought back the stories of Ganesha I had been told in childhood, and made me smile at them again. It may not have the pictures of "How Ganesha got his elephant head", which I bought for another child, but the it has more stories of this altogether charming lovable god.

This book was written to be a children's book, but in fact it is probably the best collection of storytelling about the mythology of Ganesha that that I have ever found. The Hindu parthenon's mythology has always been passed along from generation to generation by tales of the Deity in it's various forms. This exquisite book has all the well-known tales of Ganesh as well as some obscure stories and some tales from other lands and religions. I don't have kids but do delight in the simple stories that bring the attributes of Ganesha into light in simple, vivid parables of joy. If you love Ganesh like I love Ganesh, then this is a 'must have.' If you are a storyteller, this is the book that will be a Ganesh guide. If you just want a book that you can read story's in occasionally just to smile and search for meaning in, again, here'tis. This is a delightful exposing of this beloved Deity into Western civilization in our time. GAM.

I took a Norse mythology course last quarter, and this was the only dictionary I could find on the subject at the time in all of the bookstores I visited. But if I could only find one dictionary of Norse mythology, this would be the one to find. The definitions are straightforward yet thorough. It's not an encyclopedia, so don't expect it to provide all the known details about a particular character or term, but it does give you a clear and complete definition that includes the important details and information.

It also has a sturdy cover and thick pages that hold up well to being frequently used and carried around in a bookbag.

Note: search under author's name for new paperback edition under a slightly different title.

The Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend by Andy Orchard, published in 1997 by Cassell, ISBN 0 304 34520 2, is also excellent. Despite the title, it also has entries on terms from non-Norse areas of the Germanic world. It is a somewhat larger book in terms of page size, and very nearly gives the impression of being a coffee table book. It is very attractive and is illustrated, howbeit not lavishly, with black and white photos. However, it is only 223 pages in length. It also has bibliographical information after the individual entries, but these are coded and you have to look them up in the back.

This first-rate compiliation is now (2003) available, under the slightly different title of "Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend," as a mass-market paperback (which I have reviewed at length), in addition to the trade paperback and hardcover editions listed under the titles of "Dictionary..." and "Cassell Dictionary...". If all of these are available through Amazon, purchasers will probably want to compare prices, and consider the durability of the various formats. Another factor some will want to consider is that the original hardcover edition (and I believe the trade edition) contained about forty illustrations, which were omitted from the mass-market edition.

Since the mass-market paperback is the edition in print, however, I strongly suggest checking that page before ordering. And if you are already familiar with the volume, and definitely want the larger format, you probably don't need my advice.

This first-rate compiliation is now (2003) available, under the slightly different title of "Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend," as a mass-market paperback (which I have reviewed at length), in addition to the trade paperback and hardcover editions listed under the titles of "Dictionary..." and "Cassell Dictionary...". If all of these are available through Amazon, purchasers will probably want to compare prices, and consider the durability of the various formats. Another factor some will want to consider is that the original hardcover edition (and I believe the trade edition) contained about forty illustrations, which were omitted from the mass-market edition.

Since the mass-market paperback is the edition in print, however, I strongly suggest checking that page before ordering. And if you are already familiar with the volume, and definitely want the larger format, you probably don't need my advice.

This book is a very useful book for those delving into Norse Mythology. I checked it out from the library and kept renewing it until they wouldn't let me renew it anymore. This book is a reference, not a place to read mythology. If you're looking up one of Odin's names, looking for the name of a frost giant, or trying to figure out what Harbard's Flyting is, then this book is for you. Looking through it, you may discover little known bits of Norse Mythology and where to read further.

Sadly, this book is out-of-print. It took a long while for a copy to show up on Amazon, but I was very happy when it did.