Blair Books

a remarkable and continually surprising read; a real joy filled with ideas and insights into an earlier age and a remarkable mind

I was/am unprepared for the depth of every detail in this tome. Insights from a far-away time march through the mind and connect with todays events and daily situations.

Despite translating thousands of worthless Latin quotations, the editor of this edition leaves large passages from the section on Love Melancholy, which Burton waggishly wrote in Latin, untranslated. Burton demands enough of one's patience; one shouldn't have to put up with this sort of nonsense from his editor, even if one's Latin is good. After plodding through over a thousand pages, the reader has earned a little titillating trivia. Also, if you've forgotten your Latin, Burton's notes are left untranslated. Finally, I'll say that although Burton is amusing, the book is too long with too little content. Go back to his sources, read Swift, read Marcus Aurelius, read Kierkegaard on religious despair; and then, if you have time, read Burton-- or skim him.

There are many reviews of Burton's "Anatomy" ranging from the 'best book ever written' downwards. I have been involved with many editions of this work over the years, and have a couple of things to add to what's been so eloquently said. First, it's a reference book and not a novel, and therefore shouldn't be read in a continuous way. It becomes tedious and incomprehensible. Like grandma used to say: "Take small bites so you don't choke!" There are parts of it that are dated but much that is totally applicable today. Second, it is a book about society, and the hypocrisy of the way different people get treated:"A sheep-stealer is hanged for stealing necessary victuals but a great man in office may safely rob, pillage, and destroy, and be honored for good service, and no man had best find fault with him." This prefigures much of Enlightenment thinking and can be seen to relate to Culturalist Analytic thinking, like the works of Karen Horney. Third, it is a historical contemporary look at the Jacobean age, and even the Elizabethan world. If you're interested in the cultural climate of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, here is an overview of what was known and opined by a scholar. One wonders how melancholic he really was (in the modern sense) since the preparation and writing of such a compendium certainly requires motivation and energy, not generally associated with chronic depression. I would suggest the Preface and the Digression of Air as fascinating views of knowledge in the early 17th century. Even if you don't like it (which I didn't for about 5 years), it tends to grow on you as long as you go slow!

Where to begin discussing this book? How about again and again? For it begs never to be put down, and if finished (as if that's even possible) to be picked up again and pored over. Again. And again. And again . . .

It got Samuel Jonson out of bed earlier than he wished. It kept me up later than I wished, and still "reading" it in my mind over and over again, musing on the insanity of it - the brilliant, always entertaining, enlightening, LIGHTING bolts of language and thought crammed so mercilessly between two covers. It won't drive you mad, though, or mess with your humours, unless, of course, a sense of one you don't have - a bricolage (I think) to be devoured ravenously and chewed interminably like an everlasting gobstopper - a joy to exhaust your mind and body by . . .

I received the book in good condition and in a timely manner

This book takes a look at the time after Jesus Christ has been crucified through the eyes of the man who was to be in his place; Barabbas. Lagerkvist does an exellent job revealing the true person that Barabbas is underneath hard gruff shell this character puts up for everyone to see. The only hard part is following the spoken words of the characters considering there are no quotation marks used in this novel. Other than that it is a very interesting read for anyone to read.

Barabbas is one of those books that covers a lot of territory in a small package. Purely a work of fiction, it is a classic "what if." The story follows the life of one of history's most famous names, yet a person that we know nothing about. What I found interesting was the honest portrayal of the times. The era was not a clean intellectual period, but rather a dirty, dangerous, largely illiterate time in history when life was typically short and painful. It is also striking what little information the believers of the time had. Where we have multiple Bible translations, study groups, commentaries, etc., they became followers based on the smallest scraps of information, and were unable to articulate their faith in little more than a few abstract sentences. Yet, they were passionate believers. A thoughtful book worthy of investing a couple hours into on a rainy evening.

One problem for me is that I read this novella while taking a break halfway through Lloyd Douglas' awesome epic, "The Robe" (The Robe is physically large, so I knocked off the compact Barrabbas during a single long airline flight). The effect was like taking a break from driving your BMW 700 series, for a Kia Rio. Like taking a break in the middle of filet mignon, for a pressed chicken nugget.

While "The Robe" follows the continuing life of a Roman Tribune, present at the Crucifixion . . . similarly "Barabbas" follows the continuing life of that infamous liberated murderer, who was also (fictionally) an eyewitness at Golgatha. (It is cruel of me to put "Barabbas" up against "The Robe", but they have clear similarities).

The story follows through with Barabbas' life immediately thereafter, in Jerusalem, then on to his slavery in far off places. There are hints that he was not such a bad guy, and in some ways better than the mainstream (acting in behalf of a disfigured executed Christian girl). He is privy to much inside knowledege regarding the resurrected Jesus and struggles greatly, trying to believe. Obviously, he is carrying a gargantuan guilt complex. Once, in order to save his own life, he denies that he is a follower of Jesus. He is portrayed despicably for this act, but did not Peter do the same, with forgiveness? (There is much such allegory). In the end, Barabbas is crucified for suspicion of being a Christian and participating in the burning of Rome. The ending paragraph is sublime, where as death approaches for Barabbas, the reader is left hanging as to his final spiritual state. There is a hint that he believed "enough".

BUT . . . perhaps something was lost in the translation from Swedish (no doubt), but this was very plain and mostly uninspiring reading. Written sparsely and a little strangely, it's a good parable, but a so-so novel. Notwithstanding the occasional high points, this was generally a drudge to work through.

Barabbas tells the tale of the common thief who was acquitted in place of Jesus Christ. Its palm is always open to catch what the New Testament, concerned with larger matters, lets drop. If such tales strike you as literary opportunism, a grab after ready-made thematic power, you're not alone. But it's probably best to approach this material with an open heart and mind.

The common thief turns out to be, of course, not so common. The narrative combines a bare-but-exalted prose style with grubbily realistic impressions of the era as it details his encounters with the Christians, who are refreshingly presented here in their first incarnation as a minor cult suffering under society's bewilderment and persecution. There are some wonderfully sensory scenes in slave quarters and echoing Christian catacombs, as well as thrilling "eyewitness" accounts of legendary figures like Lazarus.

Barabbas literally has given up relation to his own father (I won't reveal more), and has no son--therefore, the "holy ghost" is all he has, or might have, as an intimate anchor in the male-dominated society of the time period.

People who recommend this book do so with emphasis, and now I think I understand. It allows for spiritual absorption without an embrace of unseemly religious dogma. It's a book for everyone--for the religious, for the closeted religious, for the agnostic, for the atheist, even for the closeted atheist. It studies spirituality not from a position of certainty but from the position of human need.

All of us need to believe in something, and to belong to something, whether or not we acknowledge these needs. Lagerkvist's tale examines the human need to believe in something, and the profound isolation can that result from refusing to join any clan.

From a theological standpoint this makes Barabbas curiously versatile: its frightening parable of unbelief will keep the believers believing, while its compassion for the unbeliever, the lone mind, will resonate with society's "outsider." And reading folks, even religious ones, habitually enter the mode of "the observer" and therefore, on some level, will identify with the isolated mind of this fictional outsider.

Non-believers, however, may not be won over by descriptions of the Christ as "pale-skinned" and characters as blue-eyed, et cetera, when this clearly flies in the face of all historical evidence, and is the result of centuries of great European art that has unwittingly (and sometimes wittingly) acted as cultural propaganda. Also, Lagerkvist's depiction of Christ as slim-bodied, weak and fragile of frame, while endearing, directly contradicts the gospels' testimonial of his supposed lifelong occupation as a carpenter. How could Lagerkvist's Christ have angrily driven thieves from the temple? These flaws would matter less if the novel didn't seem to pride itself, like Gibson's Passion, on its gritty historical verisimilitude.

Your ability to lose yourself in the novella will also depend on your tolerance for lofty-sounding biblical phrases--which I have always found beautiful in a reasonable context--and for what I would argue are less successful attempts at evoking mystical or mysterious states of mind through the forced overuse of ellipses: "Strange... he had never felt that before... strange..." You get the idea.

I recommend Barabbas as an absorbing, even fascinating, but not particularly satisfying reading experience. At every turn the narrative stubbornly refuses to provide answers, favoring bleak existential mysteries over meat-and-potatoes resolutions. But the spare "parable" format only made this reader long for a clearer conclusion and for a clearer "message." Perhaps it's unfair to say that it reads more like a skillful literary exercise than as a story that needed to be told. But it takes some restraint not to respond to its existential "what if?" with a big non-existential "so what?"

First off, this book is an almost drama-free book considering what 'should' be going on. A man convinces his best friend to marry this widow sight unseen and take care of her. She believes him to be an old man and waits for him only to discover he's young. She had suffered nothing but abuse and wanted no part of the marriage bed and unknown to him at the time of the deathbed promise she's pregnant and due any day..then finds out she has 4 yr old twins..of course she doesn't tell him the guy her dead hubby sold her to is after her..

what I didn't like about this story is that it never fully developed the characters. There are 2 other stories related I think and I'd like to read them just for the nice sweetness of the story, and the humor..I DID laugh several times reading this but just not wanting to pay the used prices for the OOP titles...

I started to rate this a 3 star but it was a nice read and what I wanted/needed at the time...a book not too short but not too long and not too many people to keep track of..just 'sweet' and 'cute' in places. good night shift read!

This is an awesome beginning to a series about rogues that are bound to become classics of the genre. Blair is a talented author in whatever time frame she takes on, and she just keeps getting better. If you think this was great, you should try The Scot, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

An Undeniable Rogue by Annette Blair starts the Rogues Club series. This is the story of Sabrina and Gideon who get married and then get to know each other. Sabrina is a widow with twin boys and one on the way. Gideon promises his dying friend he will marry and protect Sabrina. This has nice mix of romance and mystery. I off to read the rest of series An Undeniable Rogue (1) , An Unforgettable Rogue (2) An Unmistakable Rogue (3)and A Christmas Baby (3).

Along with its companion novel, An Unforgettable Rogue, this novel was sluggish, the characters did not engage and the story was thinly plotted. I found it difficult to keep my attention on it; there was that old feeling of a modern characters in a sometimes saccharine, Americanized story wrapped up in long dresses and neckcloths. Unfortunately, others have already done series about rogues and the like (and done them much better) and this one came across like a very faint copy. Undeniably forgettable, sadly.

Gideon St. Goddard, Duke of Stanthorpe, had held his best friend, Hawksworth, on the battlefield of Waterloo as he died. Gideon promised to wed his friend's sister, Sabrina, and take care of her. But Gideon had not understood that Sabrina Whitcomb was the sister-in-law. Sabrina was also a widow, had twin (four year old) boys, and was VERY pregnant! Even so, Gideon lost his heart to them all upon sight.

Gideon quickly found out what a lovely woman Bree was, inside and out. Her deceased husband had been cruel to her and the boys. She married to provide for her children ... and hide from an evil man that still searched for her. Gideon knew it would take a lot of patience to earn the trust of the mother and the twins. But earn it he would!

***** AWESOME! To call this story incredible would be an understatement. I read the book twice. This is a hero worth dreaming about! Not the average hero in a book that the heroine had to win over. Not the average heroine that had one or two minor problems that seem to get out of proportion. Nope, the roles have been reversed! The heroine has several secrets and most are huge, and dangerous. The hero has to win the heroine and the twins over. I enjoyed this tale thoroughly! Highly recommended reading to all! Do not miss this title.

On a side note, Annette Blair if you read this, know that you have a new fan in me! Write faster! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

This book deserves a handful of applause. I wasn't sure about the book since the cover was not designed and printed pretty enough and the author was someone I never read anything from. But what a blast it was. The action scenes made me hold my breath and I almost found myself walking behind the actors. Characters are amongst the living and that only gives more excitement and value to it. I'd very much like to hear the reactions of the real versions of them. Especially Cardinal Mahony himself.

I'm not particularly a fan of Catholicism nor long for a revolution within it. But in the light of this novel, I think every Catholic will find it deep in their hearts to rekindle with the foundations of their church.

The end was kind of a surprise for me. I don't know how the author is going to continue without some key characters but this certainly will make me buy to find out what happens next.

This was an interesting read, and a book I will pass on to friends, but a block buster it is not. The begining and original premise is quite good and interesting but after the opening crisis the unfolding of events is more of the author's wishful thinking, especially in light of the true Cardinal Mahony's reaction to Austrailian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson's book "Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church". One who is not familiar with the Catholic Church will have trouble determining which characters in the book are real people and those who are contrived.

The final sequences in the book are fun and action filled.

In all, a good but light read.

Last century, both Kaiser and Mahony were people whom I met and with whom I interacted, even if only on a limited basis. When I became aware of this book, I knew I wanted to read it and did so, in two sittings. I had read 'A Church in Search of Itself' so I knew Kaiser could write history without putting me to sleep.
Even better with the novel, which follows what I call a 'punch and run' method that keeps the reader turning the pages. And, Kaiser pulls no punches. I sat in front of my computer while reading this and Googled names from time to time to see if he had pulled them from fact or from his facile imagination. An excellent combination of both, and excellent charaterizations of the actual people who appear as characters in the book.
Our Deanery here in Alameda (CA) has four churches and fewer priests. The rent-a-priests who come in to fill in the vacant Mass slots are mostly geriatric, and with few if any successors on the seminary horizon. Besides telling the Church to get a clue, Kaiser tells them how and, importantly and succinctly, backs it up with proof from scripture and condemnation of the prevalent hypocrisy from Canon Law. That's an amazing accomplishment, in particular that it is done without rancor.
He uses Bob Dylan as a character in the book but eschews the obvious: "The Times, They Are a-Changin' " As a sacramental Catholic, I applaud this send-up and look to be part of that change in my own Parish, if that's possible.
And, I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Cardinal Mahony is a fun read with some shakin' goin' on. Time for the L.A. Cardinal to take note, not just laugh it off. It's about a Catholic Church for the people, about a hierarchy of servants, rather than of secrecy. About being full of life and openness to all, an embracing of the poor, the lonely, the shunned teen gay girl made to feel guilty by hypocritical theology. Time for equal status for women.

Cardinal Mahony is a good story in itself no doubt about it, yet with Harriet Beecher Stowe's classic story, it's a wake-up call! Thanks for the admirable effort, Kaiser.

This novel begins with the transformation of a fictionalized American cardinal after he realizes he has conducted himself more like the chief executive officer of a big business rather than as a pastor whose life reflects Christ's teachings to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, etc. At the outset, many readers might feel they could predict the outcome before finishing the novel: the prelate would be treated like a pariah by his fellow bishops and quietly removed from his post, with a successor appointed who understands the foremost rule of today's Catholic bishops is to fall in lockstep behind the pope. But the novel has unexpected twists and turns.

Approximately one-quarter through the book, the author, a former journalist who covered the Vatican II council for TIME magazine, introduced a number of thought-provoking ideas to enhance the laity's participation in all aspects of the church. As the much beloved good Pope John XXIII once said, "The Catholic Church is its people," as distinguished from its hierarchy. In the novel, the priest shortage leads one church in California administered by a nun to have communion services in lieu of a mass. But the nun in this story does something relatively unique: she invites the small congregation to join her in saying the eucharistic prayer in unison out loud.

When word of these communion services reaches the local bishop and eventually the Vatican, all the conservatives are horrified that this upstart nun is democratizing the mass and letting all the congregation join in feeling they play a role in consecrating bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. But a participant at the communion service describes it this way. "First thing I'd say, we don't call them Masses. Second thing, these are the most devout, solemn liturgies I have ever seen. When we say the words (of the eucharistic prayer), we say them in the kind of wonder-filled tones we use when we're reading our nieces and nephews their bedtime stories." Nevertheless the Vatican and America's conservative bishops get all in a tizzy over the very thought of people saying the same words used by the priest at mass.

The typical Catholic mass in America involves a priest giving a too-long homily and then making up for lost time by racing through the shortest eucharistic prayer for consecration. Because of this time constraint, the fourth eucharistic prayer, which is the longest of the four prayers available for consecration, is seldom used. Yet Eucharistic Prayer IV contains the most beautiful words of all: "Father, you so loved the world that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. He was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, a man like us in all things but sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation, to prisoners, freedom, and to those in sorrow, joy. In fulfillment of your will he gave himself up to death; but by rising from the dead, he destroyed death and restored life. And that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him, he sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father, as his first gift to those who believe, to complete his work on earth and bring us the fullness of grace."

Why NOT let the laity -- the congregation -- say these beautiful words out loud during mass? For too long, the conservatives running the Church have tried to maintain the pre-Vatican II notion that the clergy dispense God's graces and the laity's job is to seek passively these ministerial graces from clergy - in a process ultimately controlled by the Vatican. Yet, in 1965 towards the end of the Vatican II council, Pope Paul VI noted that the passive nature of the laity had changed. Outside of mass, Vatican II sought to codify and recognize the laity had spiritual gifts equal to (if not greater than) the spiritual gifts of the clergy.

How welcome indeed then are the scenes depicted in CARDINAL MAHONY, in which the Church in California, and eventually across the country, rallies around the renegade nun, forces the conservative hierarchy to back down, and demands a greater say in the administration of the church and the accountability of its bishops. The novel explains the concept of an autochthonous church - which is 100% Catholic and loyal to the pope, yet retains for itself certain decision-making power. As Kaiser explains, autochthony does not mean autonomy; it means "home grown."

According to Kaiser, as of 2007, the Vatican recognizes twenty-one autochthonous churches inside the Catholic Church. These churches include the Melkites in Lebanon, the Maronites, and an Eastern European branch that has maintained married Catholic priests from its first existence. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church in Africa and Latin America today already has "home grown" elements in the prevalence of priests with unofficial companions. "It's an open secret that many Roman Catholic priests -- especially in African and Latin American nations -- have taken common-law wives," wrote Don Lattin in a nationally circulated religious article for the San Francisco Chronicle in 1994.

Reading CARDINAL MAHONY will cause readers to reexamine their faith and what they have been taught about the church since childhood catechism classes. Whether it is greater accountability of diocesan finances or censorship of dissenting views by the Catholic press, genuine reforms are still needed worldwide in the Roman Catholic Church. Hundreds of millions of Catholics left the church during the long reign of Pope John Paul II, because they were spiritually unfed. Similarly, the results of polling on religion in America released in late February 2008 by the Pew Foundation showed Roman Catholics were more likely than any other denomination to abandon their faith.

The Roman Catholic Church depicted in CARDINAL MAHONY is so hopeful and inspiring that it comes as a let down when the book is finished, and the reader has to return to reality. I recommend all progressive Catholics read this book, request your local public libraries add it to their collections, and use the book's themes to discuss whether readers want to play a more active role in the life of the Church.

Typee was a difficult book to read but worth the effort. There isn't much plot beyond "Tommo's" rehabilitation at the hands of the Typee and his fears that they might be cannibals. Is he being nursed back to health or fattened for a future supper? As with Moby Dick, the bulk of the text is in the form of essay and commentary. There are lengthy discussions on the language, the architecture, the music (or lack thereof), taboos and tatoos, and diet of the Typee. These extra chapters though don't have the humor that is present in Moby Dick. They are still an interesting observation on one subset of Polynesian culture.

(This review is based on the Library of America edition)

Melville's first book - and you can call it a novel, because it is - is quite an impressive work. I have to admit that during my reading of it, I didn't know how much was non-fiction and how much was fiction. In the case of a non-fiction book, I would have been rather astonished by Melville's work. But the fact is that this isn't a non-fiction book, and that as a reader you should think more of a literary work. But do not be sad!

For what Melville does remains awesome. The book begins like a novel; the narrator seeks to escape his whaler and remain some time on one of the Marquesan Islands. After numerous adventures, he's eventually caught by the Typees, and from that point on, the book becomes close to an anthropological study of the exotic habits of the tribe. Melville is very insightful and witty, and more often than not, funny. His prose is rich and wonderful. A pure pleasure to read.

"Typee" is a peek at some kind of long lost Eden, where no one has to work for a living - fruits can be plucked any time - and where there seems to be no evil. The Typees all have perfect beautiful skin, due to countless bathings during the day, and they're seldom seen to either cause or receive any harm. However, things aren't so dream-like, and the narrator is constantly haunted by the ghost of cannibalism, especially as he has no clear idea of why his captors detain him and yet treat him kindly.

The author manages to produce some very interesting comparisons between the exotic "savages" and the Western Man, and this reminds me of many a sociologic book. Society, culture, humanity, all of these - and more - are considered from a very unique perspective in "Typee". Life among the cannibals, in an Eden of sorts, that is, in short, what the novel is about. Excellent read from a master of literature.

Melville's famed magnus opus, "Moby Dick" should not be tackled without this adequate introduction to his work and dazzling literary adroitness. Do not have any apprehensions animated by a seemingly simplistic or bromide plot, for once a reader foreign to Melville's work grasps the exquisite prose and sincere romanticism ingrained in all of his novels, you're soon to become a captive of it's pages bound by an aroused imagination. Soon to learn the fame and notoriety surrounding Herman Melville is certainly not without reason and like many noble literary giants that have gone before us, his masterpieces withstand the test of time deservingly of the title, "Classic."

The quixotic idea of emerging as a castaway on a dissolute tropical island hidden from the world, deep in paradise with only the company of an exotic but mysterious native people should not deter you from believing "Typee" is of any similarity to other inferior postdating stories of the like. Melville combines a brilliantly adventurous travelogue accompanied by earnest philosophical reflections balancing it all out with anthropological observations of the Island's primitive peoples, as well as recollections of his own home. This famed novel was an ebullient endeavor during it's day which hints the emprise of such modern films as "Castaway" while engrossing the empathy of multiculturalism found in "Dances With Wolves." It is feasibly the first accurate portrait painted of South Pacific life through the eyes of a Westerner, influencing many travelogues to follow focusing on the region in the same fashion of Stevenson and Becke.

Numerous editions have been published since the original. The Penguin Classics Edition provides an introduction by author John Bryant who puts the story into context and Melville's conclusion of the supporting character's fate, written two years prior to the first edition in "Sequel: The Story of Toby."

When first published in 1846, "Typee" was an immediate hit. Readers of the era in the US and even in Europe already knew to expect stupendous things from the then obscure author. This is exemplified by the book's quantum leap to stardom. The original draft was submitted to be published in New York but was rejected supposedly because it was "too fantastic" to be true. The apparent fact that after more than a century and a half of being published readers still have an appetite for Melville's original work, must persuade even the most discriminating of literary tastes of the caliber of his writing. Do not be deceived by the age of "Typee." You needn't be a diehard classical literature enthusiast nor scholar to appreciate this very readable, gracefully written novel. Which is contrary to the sometimes unfathomable rhetoric of the bygone antebellum era. It remains still just as amusing and captivating to readers today.

"Typee" was the first of a trilogy of autobiographical novels set in the South Pacific dealing with Polynesian life. Readers of the author's lifetime couldn't get enough of his masterpieces still acclaimed today. Although not quite as well known as "Moby Dick" is to modern day readers, "Typee" is no less gripping or eloquent.

Realizing that at least some people might want to know if the book is a good read or not, I'll write a review that hopefully wont read like the opener to a thesis on early american literature: Here goes...

I liked it! I thought this Mellville guy writes and interesting and egageing story. Perhaps he does go into details that the story doesn't need, but even his tangents on trees and fruits, etc. are well written.

Worth the money, worth the time, and worth the attention. Plus, there is the added benefit of acting like a literature snob on a review.:)

Its a book, people. Relax, and enjoy.

1841. A young man of 23 is looking for adventure, he signs a contract on a New England whaler and travels to the South Pacific. Life on the ship is not what he expected, the captain is a tyrant, the life is a bore, food is terrible. The ship reaches the Marquesas after 15 months, with no commercial success so far and the prospect of another few years of the same. The islands have just been occupied and claimed by the French. What one knows of the locals is full of horror: cannibals! But also of delight: the women! On arrival in the harbour, a fantastic party with the best orgy since 15 months is happening. But nothing can distract our hero from his plan: jump ship, wait for its departure, then look for another way home. He finds a companion for the desertion and does it. Then follows an account of 4 months among the cannibals -- while in reality it lasted only 1 month. This is a fictionally embellished travel and adventure story. 5 years later, a book is published. It will be Melville's first and most successful book during his lifetime. From here on, it went down for him.
The book lets us observe one of the great American writers in his initiation phase. A future ancestor of Conrad and O'Brian, two of my addictions. I wonder why I bypassed him for so long, with the exception of the Whale, which I read 30 years ago. And loved.
Typee gives you an adventure account in exotic surroundings, told in often surprisingly fresh language, but totally free of any scientific pretension: few observations on flora, fauna or geology, but a lot of romantic landscaping. Young Melville was no Maturin.
There is a lot of ethnology, the description of the people, their village and life takes a lot of space, so does the process of miscommunicating between the two white runaways and the tribe. As a matter of fact, not much verbal communication happened, the hero spent most of his time in a kind of fog: what was his status? was he a guest? a captive? a friend? was he destined for BBQ? Only half way through the story does he meet briefly a man who speaks some English, and it becomes clear that he is indeed a captive, but to what purpose is not clear.
He does reflect on the religion of the tribe, as observed by him in the practices of rituals, and concludes that the information spread by missionaries in the US is exaggerating wildly as far as the practices of paganism are concerned. Self-serving, obviously.
He takes a strong position against the morality of our civilization as opposed to the noble naked savages that he gets to know: the white civilized man is the most ferocious animal on the face of the earth, he concludes.
He was a bit in love with fair Fayaway, no doubt.
More Melville to follow here!

this book brought back sooo many memories...I believe I read it to my younger sister 100 times!

I recently bought this book for my daughter, thinking that this book looked interesting and simple for a young child.
As we were reading this book before going to bed, I was surprised to discover that the words and pictures seemed somewhat familiar. When we came to the part "A clam is what I am" the memories came rushing back to me. Indeed I was familiar with this story, my mother read it to me as a little girl, it was a story in my little golden book library, a favourite set of books that I loved as a child, and the picture of the little girl pretending to be a clam, was a picture that I liked to look at.
I am really glad that Little Golden Books have chosen to re-release this story. I am happy that it brought back a memory I had lost, and will create a new memory for me and my daughter.

I love this book, mostly cause of the illustrations, which capture everyone's imagination. I used to beg my mom to read me this one when I was young, and now my 18 month baby is beggin me to read it to her. She points to it on the shelf and says "Fly Fly Fly...." Anyway, there are many pages accompanied by short but cute rhyming phrases. I have no idea if boys will like this book as much as girls, but who knows. its an old book, done around the 50's (i think) but its timeless and i hope to read it to my grandchildren someday.

Be sure to get this classic. It so aptly captures the joy and innocence of childhood exploration of their surroundings. The colors are just gorgeous in the illustrations and it's just so sing-songy that it's quite easy for a little one to memorize. Very, very cute and a nice change from some of today's children's books. It's nice to go back a few years and read about the innocence of youth. Our little one truly loves this story (yes, we've read it over, and over, and over...) and we highly recommend it!

I was disappointed when this book arrived. When I was young I had an edition from the 1960's - this is not it! Text from the 1960's version is referenced in the editorial review which does not appear in this book (both the goat and the crab do not appear, among others).

Don't assume that the same title and publisher means it's the same book. And, unlike I did, read all the reviews before you buy (some else has already made this discovery).

This book is THE cookbook for septic systems. If you want to do it yourself or want to do your homework prior to having one put in or if you just want to know everything you wanted to know about septic systems but were afraid to ask, this is the book for you. It is well illustrated and easy to read and understand. I have put in several septic systems and have found this to be the best reference guide out there.

Informative with basic information for those who have or are new to the world of septic tank maintenance. Could save you lots of money and headache over the life of your tank.
Fun chapter on history of waste disposal systems throughout the progress of civilization. Also, some political background if you are being forced to make a change in your system that works -- the septic tank. It's worth the price even though much of the information can also be found searching the Internet but who has that much time?

This book has been really helpful to me as a planning commissioner in trying to analyze our local ordinances as most of our county is rural with homes served by well and septic systems. It has been very helpful in allowing me to understand how it all works (or should work when all is well).

If you want to know what are the various kinds of septic systems and how they work, this is a good book. If you have a problem and want to know how to diagnose or solve it, you'll be disappointed. Overall message on how to maintain a septic system seems to be, "the less you use it, the better." Index is inadequate.

As a practicing Environmental Health Specialist and homeowner with an onsite sewage disposal system, I can say with some authority that these authors know their s***. As a former Bug owner I can also say that the drawings by Peter Aschwanden, who got you through your first VW repair in Muir's classic, don't hurt one bit. Somehow car repair and septic repair gets your hands really dirty, in a Zen-like way. But I'll stop there before I dig too deep.

It's all here for the novice: standard gravity fed drainfields, septic tank sizing, gravel-less trenches, alternative and gray water systems, frequency of tank pumping, what not to dump down the drain, designing your own system, and the history of septic systems.

For $6 used you'll learn enough to avoid the ultimate nightmare: a failing septic in the winter. And even if that occurs, you'll know how to keep from giving your hard-earned buck to that "Waste of Time" Septic Engineer in the yellow pages.

My 2 1/2 year old daughter loves this book. She calls it the 'Te-he-he' book. I'm sure it's all about the laughing right now, but eventually she'll get the good message of the story. I love the illustrations. She calls the woman 'bachan' (grandma in Japanese).

And parents please note: 'Te-he-he' is a lot easier to repeat over and over than the tonguetwister Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo (also a great book).

This was my all time favorite book as a child. It was ridiculously funny, cultural and of course had a hidden moral to the story I just couldnt get enough of it. As an adult I am actually going to buy this book again I'm glad to have found it on amazon!

I ordered this to take to a baby shower requesting favorite books from childhood. This book includes wonderful illustrations and fun text. My favorite parts were when my mother would get to the parts where the Funny Little Woman laughed... "Tee Hee Hee."

Here's another I came across at the library for my daughter. I was delighted as I remembered it from youth. There are so few books that stick in your mind forever. That's what makes them so endearing. And after all, kids are the Real critics. Do they remember or forget?

Both the story and illustrations are unforgettable. The pictures tell a story all their own. The colors are breathtaking with gorgeous jade, warm browns, dazzling yellows, bright orange and black accents. Anyone who loves monsters like in 'Where the Wild Ones Are' will appreciate the "wicked" oni, who are called that, I think, just for added appeal as they are really just hungry, horned, three-eyed, long-haired monsters who want the Funny Little Woman to be their cook since, well, after all...she's there. I think another aspect which makes this book so appealing is that the child can see above ground and underground at the same time; however, only the location that is taking place in any given time during the story is in color yet both are still intriguing. I remember as a child being fascinated with the old man in the story who never says a word but is a powerful presence in the story, nonetheless. He adds some mystery which is always a good thing in a story.

BOTTOM LINE: The funny little woman, no matter WHAT happens good or bad, ALWAYS laughs and makes the Best of the situation. This is a simple yet terrific take-home point of the story that ages 5-105 can appreciate. Books with an interesting story, fascinating, colorful illustrations AND have a lesson to learn are always welcome in our home. I'm so glad this book is still in print. It's a timeless classic.

Soar!

A little women makes dumplings, a dumpling rolls down a hill and that is how her adventure begins. I like this book becouse it has a little bit of seeing for your self. I think if you like adventures with a little bit of humor thrown in, you'll love the funny little women.

This is a very well written and absorbing novel by a master story teller. It is highly descriptive and captures the reader in its thrall. It is a chilling and imaginative ghost story centered around a love triangle that existed approximately two thousand years ago and ultimately ended in murder. The murderer, Marcus, a Roman legionaire, is cursed by his wife, Claudia, after he has her lover, Nion, a druid priest, killed. Marcus then kills Claudia. It is this tragedy that now haunts the present.

When London based author, Kate Kennedy, breaks off with her selfish live in lover, she goes off to lick her wounds and nurse a broken heart in a cottage in a remote area of North Essex. The cottage, though cozy, begins to become a less than hospitable place, when unexplained sounds, scents, and traces of moist earth and sand begin to manifest themselves. Moreover, her landlord's son, Greg, and daughter, Allison, seem determined to have her leave the cottage.

Discovering that Allison has come across an archaeological site not far from the cottage, Kate goes to the site and finds an ancient Celtic ornament. She soon begins to hear voices in her mind and see visions of what cannot be. Ultimately, Greg, Allison, and Kate become trapped in the miasma of these ancient star crossed lovers who are determined to bring their long dormant conflict to resolution. The cost to those in the present is dear, as the reader will soon find out.

Be warned. This is a scary book.

This book gave me goosebumps! The storyline is compelling and the characters believable even in the unbelievable situations... you just believe it could be happening. I lent this book to my mum and got her hooked on Barbara Erskine as well. Can't wait for the follow up featuring Kate Kennedy - Daughters of Fire, which is due out in late 2005.

Whilst you're waiting, if you want to read something similar, try MASTER OF THE SCROLLS by Benjamin Ford. Well worth a read!

I really liked this book, except for the end. I understood early on that the anger and jealousy would end up being replayed in Kate, Greg, and Jon but I couldn't figure out which one of the guys would be Marcus or Nion.

But, the ending really confused me. Is Kate now 'possessed' by Claudia or is she still Kate, in love with Jon? Is Jon now 'possessed' by Nion or is he still Jon, in love with Kate? Is Greg now 'possessed' by Marcus and will pursue Kate/Claudia and Jon/Nion? Or is the ending saying that he let go of Marcus out of his love for Kate?

Very confusing. But, aside from that, I loved the book. Read the first half one night and stayed up until 2:00 AM the next night reading the last half. Could not put it down. Would have liked a lot more clarity for the ending though.

Story drew me in and kept my interest until the last quarter of the book when it seemed like the same thing was happening over and over. Lady of Hay by Ms. Erskine was a favorite of mine and I will read others by this author, but this title didn't do a thing for me and I ended up skimming pages to get it over with.

I feel I took a risk in reading this book. I had loved Barbara Erskine up until reading On the Edge of Darkness, which was very disappointing. But this book was a pleasant surprise.

After breaking up with her boyfriends Kate needs an inexpensive place to stay and write her new book on the poet Byron. So she rents a small cottage in northern England from a family who needs the money because the father (Roger) is dying of cancer. The elder son of the family, Greg, is pissed about the renting of the cottage-where he previously lived and painted. The daughter, Allison, has recently discovered a roman burial site on the beach that is about to be washed away by the tide that she thinks she'll excavate. But then creepy things start to happen.

This book is much more action packed than past books of Erskine's. The middle two hundred pages are non stop creepy action, and quite enjoyable. The ending however, was not so hot. It was very abrupt and kind of a let down from all that led up to it.

So this book rates a solid 3.5 stars. I wouldn't advise reading it for your first Erskine book, but if you enjoyed her other books you'll like this one.

I just want to say how wonderful this Self hypnosis revolution book is. I bought it because of the great reviews and it is true, this book is different than his first book. It is life changing. It teaches you how to make self suggestions so that you will never see your life the same way again. You will do the same mundane, boring, repetitive, habitual things of daily life and will be able to inbue them with meaning, magic, wonder, awesomeness. This is the life we were meant to live. This is the way we were as innocent, children - viewing life in wonder and absorbing it with gladness and joy.

this dude's got nothing new to say whatsoever. he's got a good marketing machine behind him...that's it. don't bother.

Instead of a self-hypnosis method, this book is in fact a presentation of hundreds of affirmations grouped by subject. Even the reading of the table of content is a waste of time.

July 28, 2007 was a lucky day for me. My brother had just come from his very first hypnosis session and was telling me how fascinated he was with the process. Later, I wandered into our local bookstore and headed for the self-help section. A book entitled, "Self-Hypnosis Revolution," had been placed horizontally on the shelf, staring right at me. Having just talked to my brother about hypnosis, I was curious. I picked up the book and was so fascinated with the intro that I immediately purchased it. Was it true that, as the author said, "Everything you do has an underlying meaning that provides an opportunity to plant seeds within your mind to promote healing, change, and growth?" To my delight, yes, it was and is true! Forbes Robbins Blair's simple, eloquent explanation of how anyone can use the hypnosis process to promote positive self-growth is a treasure! I began using the techniques almost immediately. Within a very short time, I began to see sometimes subtle, sometimes major changes in my thought patterns, and consequently, my behavior. As someone who has read hundreds of self-help books, I rank this among the most effective for content. Definitely a 5,6,7, 10 star rating from me! Oh, yes, how did I remember that date? I recently picked up the book again to re-read a couple sections and the purchase slip fell out. I have had one full-year to test its effects. It works! Linda Cassell, Washington, DC

As a hypnotherapist of over 15 years, I have read many self-hypnosis books, most of them rehashing the same old stuff. While there's nothing wrong with "the same old stuff," it was exciting to read something that is was so unique and original.

Forbes' idea of utilizing natural trance states to make changes is outstanding. It updates and brings Coue's concept of repeating "every day in every way, I'm getting better and better" into the 21st Century! Some people just don't have the time to sit down and do self-hypnosis, and some people don't feel they can go into trance. Forbes' figured out a way that folks don't have to do either!

Very exciting. A revolution, indeed.

Stephanie Rothman, Certified Hypnotherapist
http://www.lets-talk.com