Alternative Books

I red this book for a very simple reason: the research i'm working at is just about Harbin, its uniqueness as the only russian city outside russia and the cultural atmosphere it enjoyed during the 1920's. I found Wolff's work very useful, a miracle of different sources, but i keep asking to myself: why such an amazing experiment in history as my Harbin was not studied until now? Anyway, good job..i wish i had written it myself!

I didn't really read the book, but I used to stay after school in 3rd grade and draw cartoons with Wolff. His cartoons were wonderful, so I have no doubt his insights and analyses of Harbin and the Chinese Eastern Railway are every bit as good.

I found the book very interesting .As a kharbinetz born in 1949 in Harbin I left Manchuria as an infant for Poland and don't remember myself anything of the atmosphere of that unique town.My parents (they were Russian and Polish) were born and spend their youth there.I remember their stories about that vibrant, colorful, exciting and multicultural life in that Pearl of North Manchuria.The Poles and Jews are mentioned as "minorities" in the predominantly russian town, but the significance of polish technical staff during construction and running the CER was underestimated.Russians noticed that influx of Poles in CER, so even press in S.Petersburg warned about "polish danger" on russian railways .The personalities showned as Russians were Poles : Stanislaw Kierbedz, Adam Szydlowski, Stefan von Offenberg, Seweryn Wachowski, Mikolaj Liniewicz, Aleksander Letowski,Alfred Zaremba ).The magnificent Harbin railway station was design of polish architect Ignacy Cytowicz, art nouveau in Harbin was supported by architect Konstanty Jokisz then responsible for New Town development.The landmark of the city famous railway bridge was built by polish steel construction company "Konstanty Rudzki i S-ka" from then russian Warsaw, frames were prepared in it's plant in Minsk Mazowiecki then sent by rail to Odessa and shipped through seas to Vladivostok and then on barges to the site in Harbin.All steel bridges on later Amur Railway finished in 1916 were also prepared and built by that company.It is estimated that about 35% of technical personnel of CER was up to the IWW of polish origin.Suppressed in their homeland Poland , sought career and better life in outskirts of Russian Empire, so did Jews fleeing from antisemitism and discrimination.But they were active rather in commerce, banking and industry .Far away from "problem" areas all "minorities" could live without all the limitations imposed on them in the Empire.Ironically as it is they were accepted as "Russians" by St.Petersburg bureaucracy, that was unable to furnish Manchuria with adequate number of energetic, able and educated people of pure russian origin.

This book provokes a tremendous amount of thought. A broad and powerful array of forces - political, social, cultural, and commercial - converged at the start of the century in this uncharted bit of Manchuria to make for a great laboratory experiment. The author describes brillantly the under-emphasized successes of Harbin and the Chinese Eastern Railway, which are a triumph of cooperation, tolerance, vision, and simple good sense. Much is to be learned in terms of strategy and negotiation from Russian finance minister Witte, who, with careful patience, offered mutual benefit rather than threat to potential adversaries from other nations, ethnicities, cultures, and factions of his own government. These themes are of the greatest relevance today, with diversity at the forefront and corporations increasing still further their influence away from home borders.

The author has researched his subject comprehensively, exploiting fully his outstanding combination of academic and linguistic skills.

I love tori amos, but this book makes her songs sound.. just not quite right. They make it easy piano, the layout is nice with chord symbols and full lyrics.. but compared to the actual song, i feel like they leave out some very important tones which bring the song together and make it a TORI song. But its great if you want to figure out the skeletons of her songs and then add in more as you go a long.

Great book!
It is the closest sound to playing Tori that you will get (If your a beginner) Take your time with it and remember its "for easy piano" and wont sound like tori's piano playing but you will have access to play her songs in a simple form and they sound great.

I am learning to play piano and this book is helpful. I am playing the favorites that I have truly enjoyed over the years. I recommend this book for Tori fans.

I've been a Tori Amos fan ever since I was eleven and always wanted to be able to play her music, but her being the excellent musician she is, it was difficult for me to play out of her existing music books. The music isn't really easy, but it is manageable for all the fans with less musical expertise than she has, which is probobly the vast majority. I'm really glad she came out with this, because even more so than most musicians, her music needs to be simplified (but not dumbed down) for all her fans to play.

I appreciate every author that attempts to promote understanding and tolerance for transgendered people, but none more than Leslie Feinberg. The collection of personal stories from many different people are combined here with Leslie's own heartfelt appeals for equal rights, equal access. Trans Liberation is a terrific book, part insight, truthful experience and signpost on the sometimes unfriendly highway the author traverses to support the cause of transgendered people.

In this beautifully written and persuasive volume, trans activist Leslie Feinberg articulates a deep and compassionate vision of trans liberation that interconnects issues of trans oppression with issues of poverty, racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism and sexism. (Like the labor saying goes, "An injury to one is an injury to all.") As a working-class, effiminate gay young man living with AIDS, I especially appreciated hir class analysis. I also enjoyed the fact that s/he included essays by other trans activists in this book, making it multi-dimensional. Read this book and encourage your friends and family to do so as well. The fresh perspectives of this volume will enrich your life and better equip you to challenge the forces of inequality, violence and discrimination in our world.

Although a masculine heterosexual male, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and found it applicable to my own life. Feinberg's examination of the restrictive ideas of sexuality and gender are insightful, and have made me think a lot more about being more open in all areas of my life.
I also think it's important that Feinberg notes that while advocating individuality, s/he also supports unity and the right for everyone's expression-whether they be what is socially acceptable or the most radical, looked-down upon revolutionaries. I also like the fact that she saw this unity as necessary, because anti-transsexual/transgender attitudes are not "special" but related to ALL forms of oppression, including homophobia, racism, sexism, classism, and discrimination based on physical disabilities. Feinberg looks at the manifestations of all this oppression-from gang rape and beatings, to refusal of medical care and cutting of social support institutions-explores how these attitudes developed, and suggests how they can be combated. Overall, a very good read whether you know about transgenderists or transsexuals, are only vaguely familiar with them, or know nothing about them at all, for it is valuable in becoming aware of the myriad forms of oppressive norms, laws, and behaviors that we are daily subjected to.
I also think it's important that s/he recognizes that labels and circumstances do not define who you are, but actions. Feinberg makes a significant and not too frequently voiced claim that Democrats are no better than Republicans-they are basically Republicans in disguise.
Feinberg's writing style is not boring. Even those who do not care much for political or social reading might enjoy this. While many of the issues cover violence and emotionally rending accounts of discrimination, there is also humor in the text, and optimism. Feinberg also frequently uses literary devices such as metaphor, making the text less dry, with such colorful phrases as: "To me, gender is the poetry each of us makes out of the language we are taught."
The brief essays by other people are useful portraits of a diversity of people and the different hardships they endure.
My one complaint is that I wish there was more on what to actually do in order to actively combat these attitudes. While some attention is given to this subject, ideas far overshadow specific suggestions for how to fight discrimination in daily life. I think a more thorough exploration of the moral implications of such issues-and the possible consequences toward social attitudes-would have been a great addition.

I've read all of Les's books, this is the best so far. S/he goes beyond gender roles as they are currently constructed because those roles cripple us all in the long run.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in gender.

Where F. M. Alexander's own writings read almost like philosophy, Dimon's book is more grounded, with the feel of a psychology textbook. It's a distinctly objective approach, an argument for the Technique with the logical impact of a medical journal.

Cautious or skeptical people who hear the success stories of others who have overcome physical problems with the Alexander Technique say, "OK, so what is the technique? How does it work?" It can be hard to get a straight answer - it's a complicated issue, and in any event the only way to really understand the Technique is to experience it for yourself with a teacher. If an intellectual introduction is what you're after, though, and if your approach to this sort of thing is more empirical, this is the book for you.

AS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST I AM ALWAYS SEEING THE DISASTROUS EFFECTS OF THE MIND AT WAR WITH THE BODY. I HAVE ALWAYS URGED MY PATIENTS TO TRY AND INTEGRATE THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AS PART OF THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS TO RESOLVE THIS BATTLE. THEODORE DIMON, A NOTED ALEXANDER PRACTICIONER AND TEACHER (WHO HAS HIS OWN SCHOOL IN BOSTON) HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ANYONE INVOLVED IN HEALING THE MIND BODY DIVIDE MUST READ. IT WILL HELP PATIENT AND HEALER ALIKE. I URGE PEOPLE TO READ IT AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE.

This is the finest book available explaining the deeper significance of the mind/body work done by F. Mathias Alexander, creator of the Alexander Techinque. But what I liked most about reading it was its wonderfully fresh perspective on age-old human problems. For thousands of years, philoshophers have pondered the human condition from the standpoint of someone sitting under a tree. What Dimon sees is that perhaps our greatest gift is our ability to decide to get up. From his perspective, how and where we go tells us more about who we are than we might ever have thought possible. I urge anyone curious about life and eager to improve his or her own to give this book a try.

Ted Dimon has written the definitive mind/body book, explaining how it is possible to reduce stress and tension by learning to gain a greater awareness in living. He articulates his view by conceiving of mind and body as a functional system which can be brought under conscious control, making possible, not simply therapeutic improvement in health, but the potential for becoming fully conscious of action and behavior. The book also provides the foundation for a theory of stress that recognizes the possibility for education, and not treatment, as the basis for identifying the causes of stress.

. . . that covers an amazing variety of times, cultures, beliefs, and ideas. It does all that without becoming unwieldy. Indeed, it touches on most of the prominent gender/sexuality theorists while remaining approachable to readers who haven't heard their names-a true feat! At the same time, it is an impressive work of literary and cultural scholarship that stands with Judith Butler's Gender Trouble and Monique Wittig's A Straight Mind as some of the most mind- and gender-bending work of the late 20th century.

This book affects me daily. It asks me: to probe deep inside my mind for the why. It asks me: what my actions will mean to what labels I have chosen. It asks me: to refine and/or reject certain ways I once thought about historical people. It preaches nothing and for that I am thankful.

This book is a comprehensive look at bisexuality in human culture, from ancient history to the present day. In particular, it looks at how bisexuality has been written out of history and excluded from study -- from the myth of Tiresias and triangular relationships in ancient Greece, through to modern-day movie stars and their closet bisexuality.

Stylistically, it's very readable; the one problem is that it is simply too detailed for my taste. After ploughing through twenty or thirty pages discussing Sigmund Freud, I really didn't want to hear any more about his theories of universal bisexuality. Similarly, I just wasn't that interested to read about the Bloomsbury authors' romantic entanglements, or the Taos artists' unconventional relationships.

A few sections really caught my attention, however: The LaVey "gay brain" study is demolished ruthlessly and effectively, along with other similar pieces of "scientific" research; a surprising comparison between bisexuality and interracial relationships illuminates some of the psychological reasons for biphobia; and the bisexual subtext of vampire myths is entertainingly teased out.

If you're bi and in search of a culture and history you can relate to, this is the book for you. If you want to know more practically what it means to be bi, this probably isn't what you're looking for. If you're straight, this book might just convince you that bisexuals really do exist...

It's unfortunate that this book probably will be read mostly by people who don't need convincing of its arguments. But those of us who do read it will gain some fresh ways to articulate what we knew all along -- that bisexuality is sexuality, period.

It's an excellent book -- 500 pages of anaylsis, argument, discussion, anecdote, research... in a style that reads better than many novels. This is the kind of book you can get a lot out of. It's a serious work by a scholar, but not a bit boring. Whether you're interested in your own sexuality, or that of someone you know, or that of people you see, read this book.
Garber asks us to consider that maybe sexuality isn't perfectly categorized into "homosexual" and "heterosexual". She asks us to think about the categories and how exactly we define them and whether they cover all the options. If a person does X or thinks about Y or looks like A, what shall we label that person? There are times when what a person labels herself is not what others label her; what does this tell us? Garber's answers are fascinating; the anecdotes (stories from books, movies, psychologists, magazines, research, famous folks and not-famous folks) are thoroughly engrossing and perfectly blended with the logical analysis. Fascinating discussion of sexuality through history, too. It's just a heck of a good book.

This book, already called "an integrated medicine classic" and "a seminal work," is impeccable researched and beautifully written. It is about one of the most important health concerns of our times: how to develop unassailable immunity against viral infections. In Part I, Dr. Williams, explains how the immune system works and why viral diseases are re-emerging as major modern plagues. In ten practical and easily applied steps, in Part II, Dr. Williams, walks the reader through numerous ways to enhance your immunity and treat viral illnesses, from the common cold to herpes viruses, with natural medicines. VIRAL IMMUNITY is an important resource not just those already virally infected, but every family in America should own a copy to understand the nature of viral disease, how to empower their immune systems, and what to do in the case of infection. In this age of potential bioterrorism, who can afford not to be without such a source of timely and valuable information?

This valuable book explores the many natural ways of combating viral infections. This includes stress management, enzymes, nutrition, detoxification, oxygen therapies, immune modulators, natural hormones, natural antiviral medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines and Chinese and Western herbs.

Part One looks at viruses, immunity and evolution and includes a review of the key viral agents and an in-depth look at immunity and viral disease. Part Two is a 10-step programme to viral immunity. It deals with the immune enhancing lifestyle, anti-oxidants and oxidative therapies, enzymes, the renewal of cells through detoxification, natural immune enhancers, natural antiviral alternatives, Chinese medicine and maintaining the hormonal balance. Homeopathic remedies and nutraceuticals are also covered in this section.

The book concludes with six appendices, a glossary, copious notes, a bibliography and an index. Viral Immunity is an extensive and well-researched handbook that provides the very latest information for maintaining a healthy immune system against viral infections. I highly recommend it.

Viral Immunity goes far beyond a well researched and informative book, it is a seminal piece of work that brings critical new insights to one of the most important topics of our times. Dr. Williams combines the rare talents of taking a complex subject like viruses and viral conditions and making it understandable to the lay person while at the same time the quality of his writing skills make this book indispensable to the professional.
No flaws in this book, it is a contribution to mankind.

Dr. James Williams is an extraordinary health care professional who has written a timely and comprehensive book, VIRAL IMMUNITY, on how to make your body "bulletproof" against the growing onslaught of viral infections. Dr. Williams skillfully weaves together his training in Oriental medicine from China, his 20 years of clinical work helping very sick patients, and the latest references from scientific journals to offer the reader a practical program for building the immune system to fight viral and other infections. American taxpayers support the ...annual budget at the National Institutes of Health, which includes a desperate search for magic bullet drugs against increasingly more virulent "bugs", or infections. We need to recognize that "non-specific host defenses" are built from a generally healthy lifestyle, coupled with specific techniques to support the immune system. As infections have risen back into the 3rd leading cause of death in America, VIRAL IMMUNITY gives us the answers to preventing and reversing the bewildering array of infections now found in American hospitals and clinics. With this book, the reader can use foods, vitamins, herbs, detoxification techniques and stress reduction to substantially improve the chances for recovering from any infection. It is not a short book, nor a simple process to change lifestyle habits; but it is our only hope to avoid the potential plagues of the future.

I was hesitant to read Wake of the Raven because I didn't think it was "my type of book."

After reading it, though, I realize that it is EVERYONE'S type of book. It is the type of read that will appeal to different ages, genders and personalities. It is timeless, well written and I urge all readers to pick up a copy!

Author Graham Worthington has created a fictional world in "The Wake of the Raven" that isn't easily categorized. It's not your standard adventure yarn, nor is it a survivor tale filled with moments of high anxiety. In this book, which has The Raven (an airplane) crashing near a deserted island, a young man and a pre-pubescent girl are the only survivors. The way they find a way to eke out a living and to continue to hope for rescue is infectious and endlessly intriguing. But it isn't until the psychological drama begins that the book gathers speed. As they await for help to arrive, the man becomes unavoidably attracted to the young girl, who runs around in a perfectly understandable state of undress. She is curious about him and he is tormented by her, until it seems the man's sanity will crack.
Without giving away the ending, this book thoroughly plums the soul of a sexually aware man who also is burdened with the yoke of cultural responsibility, resulting in a conflict so deep it threatens both characters.
The island scenes are interspersed with scenes of a more stiff-upper-lip scandal unfolding in London. It's an interesting foil to the drama unfolding on the island.
Coming from a small publisher, this book has some editing gaffes that a larger house would have tidied up. But don't let that stop you from enjoying this most penetrating look at sex, morals, and the business of living from day to day in a world perhaps not so different from our own.

This book really surprised me, both in it's excellent writing style, and unusual content. A bit reminiscent of Nabakov's Lolita in content, but at the same time, a really fresh, unusual, and surprisingly sensitive (if still disturbing) look at a relationship between an older man and a young girl. One of the strongest points of the novel is the phsycholological aspects of each character - I was amazed at the way the author really seemed to understand the pyschology of an [...]girl. And the way he makes you sympathetic to characters to whom your knee-jerk reaction would have otherwise been to judge as terrible. The reader becomes sympathetic to these characters, at the same time feeling disturbed for being so affected.

A sensitive and honest exploration of sexual discovery and human relations, this novel will if nothing else REALLY make you think. I read it some months ago, and still find myself thinking about it, hashing over certain situations, and, indeed, feeling disturbed about some of the events. Either way, I hadn't read such a thought provoking novel in a long time. It's sad that really innovative literature like this can't find a wider audience through mainstream publishing, but it is one that I hope eventually finds the note and recognition it deserves.

An ordinary sort of guy is trapped somewhere in the South China Sea with a schoolgirl, and as they get to like each other things get a bit to erotic, to put it mildly. Finally only murder seems the way out. At first I thought this was a straightforward adventure novel, like Lionel Davidson or Hammond Innes used to write, but gradually it became a psychological thriller, probing deeply into the mentality of a man drawn step by step into a relationship with a minor, until finally his obsession rules his life.

This is a solid story, well told, which doesn't worry about what should and shouldn't put into print, so parts of it are pretty hair raising. I didn't think it was possible to publish anything like this.

The whole story sounds more like the truth about people's sexual behavior than most people would care to admit. The author says it's basically true, and it's got the ring of truth.

In either case, once I'd started I couldn't put it down.

This book is like a spring of precious water that can nourish and sustain the reader over many years, even a lifetime. Lovingly wrought, it can be consulted again and again for its wisdom and insight. Working together, the authors have recovered for us vital elements of the Christian tradition that have been lost or excluded from mainstream teaching, to the great impoverishment of Christianity as a whole. At this crucial time of choice for humanity, their book reveals the way of the heart that could unify the visible and invisible dimensions of life, reconnecting nature with spirit, body with soul. The great spiritual task of our time as they see it, is to integrate the ancient wisdom that recognized divine immanence as the feminine face of God with the extraordinary scientific discoveries that point to our participation in the awesome Mystery at the heart of the cosmos.

This marvelous book points the way for all who are concerned with peace, justice, and the survival of the planet. With power and grace, the authors demonstrate that the path of ChristoSophia balances the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine, thus restoring humankind and all creation. The authors' scholarship is impressive and their style is accessible, as they synthesize a wide variety of traditional and excluded sources.

Cynthia Avens and Richard Zelley use the apt metaphor of "bypaths" for the hidden traditions within Christianity. The creative symbol of ChristoSophia restores the Divine Feminine to her original prominent place in Christianity. The institutional Church suppressed Sophia; the authors show that it is imperative to rediscover her in the "bypaths" of the Christian tradition. This insightful book reveals ways that ChristoSophia resurrects the Divine Feminine, restores the natural world, and recovers the mystical Christian tradition.

I highly recommend WALKING THE PATH OF CHRISTOSOPHIA to people of all faiths who desire a deeper spiritual experience, equality and justice in human relationships, and the restoration of the earth.

--Jann Aldredge-Clanton, Ph.D.
Chaplain, Baylor University Medical Center
Author of IN SEARCH OF THE CHRIST-SOPHIA
and INCLUSIVE HYMNS FOR LIBERATING CHRISTIANS

What a wonderful guide to greater spiritual fulfillment.

In their scholarly but eminently readable book, Avens and Zelley explain the important role of women in early Christianity, focusing on the two Marys, and celebrate the significance of Sophia, the feminine aspect of the Divine.

The authors also discuss the hidden revelations of lost scriptures, the role of Celtic Christianity, the history of the Holy Grail, the symbolism of the Green Man in nature, the mysteries of the Kabbalah and the rewards of walking a unique spiritual bypath...that of the ChristoSophia...which acknowledges the union of feminine and masculine divinity, the sacredness of nature and the rewards of mystical experience.

The authors' genuine belief in the spiritual rewards of walking "the path with a heart" is likely to appeal to readers of all faiths, and perhaps even those who have lost their way along the spiritual highway.

S. J. Iacone, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, Adelphi University

This wonderful little book will assist those who wish to explore the various "ByWays" along the Christian Mystical path..

The authors pull together an interesting and insightful synthesis of The Feminine, Nature, and Mysticism,to lay the foundation for the Christo-Sophaic path of Christian Mysticism.

I would highly recommend this book for those interested in exploring Christian Mysticism..

I was immediately interested in this book when I heard about it. I love the story of Beowulf and couldn't wait to read the tale again from a different perspective. I was worried about being disappointed since I had such high hopes... But that was unnecessary because this book captured me from the first page! I practically could not put it down and the only disappointment I felt was when I finished reading it, because I enjoyed it so much I didn't want it to end. I especially love the back-story and mother-son relationship of Grendel (wow--how creative!). I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I have told everyone about it, and hope that it becomes the classic that it deserves to be. KUDOS to you Ms. Crownover! I hope to see more works of yours in the future!!!

Wealtheow is the young bride to Hrothgar, king of the Danes. When the monstrous Grendel begins attacking their people, all hope seems lost until the bold warrior Beowulf promises to exact revenge.

Told from Wealtheow's point of view, as well as the mother of Grendel, this legend is retold from a female perspective with powerful drama. Grendel's mother was forced to flee her home and raise him in the wild. She has a path and purpose for Grendel that becomes a bloody and violent rampage.

Wealtheow is a kind and compassionate woman who learns the truth behind Grendel and his past. And instead of having a vengeful heart, Wealtheow follows her heart and makes difficult decisions in the midst of heartache.

A quick read, at only 208 pages, Wealtheow: Her Telling of Beowulf, is a fascinating and vivid tale of love, heartache, revenge, and hope. It is beautifully written, with plenty of emotion, and gives a fresh take on the old legend.

I admit that I'm rather jaded against the "feminist revision" of numerous traditional tales. I enjoyed MZB's Mists of Avalon way back when, but got tired of the "Women are always good" vibe I got after a while (as well as the Avalonian-Goddess-worship-is-historical movement that also rose up in response to the novels). And I continue to see rather awkward, "GIRL POWER!" reworkings of various stories and themes, including in fantasy lit.

Wealtheow manages to avoid the cliched pitfalls while maintaining a unique perspective on the story of Beowulf. The story centers on Hrothgar's wife, Wealtheow, from the time of their marriage through Grendel's siege and on into Beowulf's arrival. Rather than presenting a simpering maiden or a GODDESS! worshipper, Crownover gives us a Wealtheow who is dedicated to her people (both those she grew up among, and those she married into), as well as to the sanctity of the land. Though she shows strength of character, this is no Mary Sue; not everything is perfect for her. And the devastating secret that brings about the creation of Grendel becomes a burden only she can truly carry. And I like how the story doesn't turn into "Women are always good, men are the bad guys" dualism; Grendel's mother has a surprising origin in this tale!

This is a very quick read; I finished it in a day, and it would be a good book to take on a plane trip. It's well-written, though. I had no trouble remembering which character was which, and she manages to tell a relatively short story without using cardboard characters. She weaves the traditional tale of Beowulf with her own embellishments that are believable and blend well with the original. I can't speak to the historical accuracy, so I can't guarantee that modern heathens won't be having similar wincing moments that other pagans had in response to the Avalon books. However, the descriptions of Danish culture and religion didn't strike me as nearly as fanciful as some other modern revisionist tales, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the tale rather than groaning in pain from some poorly executed "update" or "improvement".

Overall, this is a great debut novel, and I very much look forward to more from this author.

Written by the Publisher, Todd Bottorff. I would like to comment on why I published this book.

It seems that everyone had to read Beowulf at some point or another and it can best be described as a tough read, a valuable read, but a tough read. Any reader of books must include the classic themes of Beowulf in their reading education-good vs. evil, bravery vs. cowardice, etc. But as our society has evolved, so has our perspective on those themes. We start with the simple and absolute and then develop a greater understanding of the grey areas and more complex conflicts that exist. Wealtheow gives us another evolutionary step on the original themes of Beowulf, presenting new questions and perspectives.

The themes and perspectives of the original are an essential foundation but they are also black and white and are limited to a single perspective. John Gardner, in Grendel, masterfully provided a counterpoint to the original by giving the monster a voice, a captivating, insightful and sometimes humorous voice. What Ashley Crownover has done in Wealtheow is to provide a perspective on the original with female characters. In Beowulf the female characters are all but silent. Crownover's writing style is not as radical a departure from Beowulf as Gardner's, but her style is appropriate considering the perspective of the protagonist. It is also modern (vs. ancient) prose making it much more accessible to modern readers. In addition, Crownover makes a extraordinary statement on good and evil by suggesting that good and evil are not absolute as the original would suggest. She alleges that good people can behave in evil ways and otherwise good characters can be driven to evil as a result of evil actions by traditionally "good" people. It is a more complex view and one that invites serious discussion on the topic.

She also comments on the role of the power of women. In contrast to the original, she indicates the methods that strong women use to wield power that are more subtle than sword and shield. These more feminine methods are more applicable in a modern sense. She does that without eliminating the traditional overlay of females roles in that ancient society.

Finally, Crownover adds a plot element that has not existed before, creating a backstory for the origin of Grendel and Grendel's mother. The original would allege that evil is primordial. It just exists as part of life. Crownover creates a human tale for Grendel and Grendel's mother that is captivating and compelling.

To summarize:

-new perspective that has been missing
-modern style
-additions to the plot

I hope that readers will enjoy the work and find it interesting.

This book is beautiful!
I love this book. I have my own natural beauty product business, and this book has so much to offer. I also love that it isn't sectioned by product type, but by the seasons, and furthermore, that it doesn't just have body care recipes, there are Teas, Elixirs, Soups and Tonics as well. It really brings home the idea that it's not just what you put ON your body, but in it as well.
Just looking at it and reading it really creates this atmosphere that urges you to be relaxed and creative.
Very good information on ingredients and Aromatherapy as well.
A great find!

I bought this on a whim when it was recommended to me and couldn't be more thrilled with this purchase! What a beautifully presented book, packed with rejuvenating recipes for inner and outer health and beauty, and written with the beginner in mind. It is very informative, easy to follow, and the ingredients can easily be found by anyone near a health food store or internet access. It's apparent that Barbara Close knows what she's doing as an aromatherapist and I can only imagine that her holistic spa must be absolutely wonderful considering the attention, care and fine taste that went into this book. I plan to give copies of this as gifts and am sure anyone who receives it will be as enthralled with it and ready to try their own recipes as I am. Five stars!

This is a wonderful book that teaches you how to use essential oils and herbs to cure common ailments. After reading this book and trying some of the recipes I truly believe that by sensibly using aromatherapy, herbalism, massage and healthy food you can live more naturally and improve your quality of life.

The book starts out with a brief history. Then you find first aid charts, one for herbs and another for essential oils. The charts include the name, properties, common uses and any hazards of each item. Instructions for preparing and using them in teas, infusions, decoctions, tinctures, ointments, inhalations and vaporization follow. There is also a great list of carrier and herbal infused oils.

Next, there are forty recipes arranged by seasons focusing of different aspects such as rejuvenation and sensuality. Spring includes recipes for a delicious pear elixir and calendula salve. Summer features a natural pleasant smelling insect repellant, a tea tree oil antiseptic and a citrus body splash. Autumn includes a wonderful grapefruit exfoliating paste and rosemary infused massage oil. Winter contains a tasty recipe for garlic soup, a chamomile face serum and a peppermint thyme inhalation.

Association, education, and resource directories are a nice bonus. I liked that the resource directory listed places to find herbs and oils as well as bottles and jars to put them in. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to pamper themselves. It is packed with information and is easy to follow. It would also make a great gift.

Great recipes and this book will be an inspiration for those long winter days and evenings. What a great way to take care of yourself!