Spencer Books

Sally Spencer's writing style is interesting, the book is certainly a "page turner". The characters are well defined, the plot twisting and turning, the end a little of a surprise; also, there's plenty of realistic humor.

A Historic Nation's Remarkable Past Shahin Shaghaghi For anyone trying to find a book that vividly describes many of India's best traditions, religious ideals, pastime activities, and general information about this historic, wonderful country, Made in India, by Cornelia Spencer, is a good choice of read. Made in India examines many of the traditions of India, and explains their origins through popular belief, myths, and passed down stories. Spencer explored many aspects of the country and its heritage, including popular games, the Taj Mahal, music, storytelling, grammar and the Indian language, and the relationship between India and Pakistan. The book has many references to Indian mythology, and Indra, the most popular Indian god. He was armed with a thunderbolt, and was a fierce warrior, who helped the Aryans against their enemies. Spencer talks about how this god killed many dragons, the most important being when she killed the dragon Vrita, who has taken control of the clouds and prevented rain from soaking fields and farms, resulting in a drought and famine. Much of the songs and prayers of India from long ago were numerous, but were never written down until hundreds of years later. This is explained by the fact that the storytellers did not want them to fall into the wrong hands or heard by evil men who were not supposed to hear them. For this reason, many of the popular stories and myths were told orally, and written down on paper many years later. The book talks briefly about the Rig-Veda, the oldest written Indian book. It talks about divine beings, and man's relationship with the universe. The book was written at a time when people were beginning to question their origin, and where they came from. This book started new thinking and philosophy about the origin of the universe. Since religion plays such an important role in Indian life, there is a section of this book devoted to The Buddha. Since he lived before written records, there are many tales and myths that exist about him. Although many of the stories about Buddha are untrue, the wide range of characteristics and imaginative stories written about him are what make this individual so special; he sums of the wide range of beliefs about life, gods, warriors, and heritage that were held my Indian's citizens long ago, and still believed by some people. The reason this book is so interesting to read is because it talks about everything, from religion and jewelry to the Pythagorean theorem. This mathematical formula, which is an essential element in math, was discovered by an Indian named Baudhayana. Also, the game of chess one of the most universal and well-know games is strongly believed to have originated in India. The many trade relations between India and England made Indian culture known to the West. When Queen Elizabeth wanted to build trade relations, she sent merchants to England. They witnessed not only the spices and other commodities that were traded, but also the strangeness and richness of this country. This led to many books written by westerners about the country, including Paradise Lost, by John Milton. India was now known as the "Silken East," because of her many traditions, jewelry, and cultural richness. Indian theatre is also examined in this book. The theaters are similar to the Elizabethan ones, with a plain wooden floor serving as the stage set up in a courtyard, a curtain in the back, little scenery, and the plays had very little or no action or violence. Some of the most famous plays are Gita Govinda, Song of the Cowherd, The Toy Cart, and Sakuntala. The importance of Hinduism is another interesting part of this book. As the people of India became made up more of different backgrounds, races, cultural beliefs, and differing lifestyles, the great force of Hinduism was the one element that always unified them. Cornelia Spencer examined the three gods involved in Hinduism, Brahma, the chief of the gods, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Siva, the Destroyer. She also explains how this religion affects ways of living and attitudes of its believers, and how important an influence it plays in India. One of the more interesting points she makes is when she explains why the gods are all drawn with many hands and arms. They are not drawn this way because people think they look like that, but rather to show people that these gods are more generous and merciful than any picture can accurately tell. All the extra arms are only symbols of the extreme generosity of their gods. Made in India examines many different aspects of India, which all play a role in developing the country into what it is today. The author uses references to history, mythology, and popular belief to vividly explain the various aspects of this country that make it so unique in the world. The result is an interesting book that gave an excellent description of India, and all its greatness.

This one is just an average issue, with a story average of 3.40. Di Filippo's Feynman bit is interesting, as far as the rest goes, with the usual book and movie stuff, the latter related to graphic from derived movies, the reviewer admitting she is rather wobbly on the source material.

FSF658 : Brain Raid - Alexander Jablokov
FSF658 : Stone and the Librarian - William Browning Spencer
FSF658 : The Helper and His Hero Part 1 - Matthew Hughes
FSF658 : Red Card - S. L. Gilbow
FSF658 : Fool - John Morressy


D-level intelligence problems.

4 out of 5


Knowledge Based reality.

3 out of 5


Dreams come to nonaut.

3 out of 5


Her assignment shot through.

3.5 out of 5


Hitperson choices, occult or not.

3.5 out of 5




3.5 out of 5

Dr. Grant Madison's return might be causing a stir amongst the single women of Springdale, but he's back for one reason only - to rebuild his parriage.

When he and Olivia first got married, they had one thing in common - the naive belief that blazing passion was all they needed. A series of hard lessons later, both are wiser, but apart. Now Grant has another proposal: to put passion on the back burner until they've established a foundation of friendship and trust on which to try again.

A simple, sensible experiment - that's if they can resist each other long enough.

Memories is a fast paced ride that never slows down. The characters are very well difined, and the villians are as brutal as they come. If you're a fan of horror check this book out. I can't wait for Spencer Ash's next book.

This is a good choice for no nonsense mink trapping. It is just mink trapping the way it is, organized and to the point. Anyone who reads this should be able to take some Mink.

Nello Ponente has created a neat little introduction to the art of Amedeo Modigliani. This is a companion volume to another that I have already reviewed, "Manet." Like that work, this is a slender volume, beginning with a brief biographical sketch of the artist, followed by a description of his art and its evolution, and then a segment on "Modigliani and the Critics." Finally, examples of his art, with 80 full color portrayals of works of his. Let's move through this sequence in turn. . . .

Apparently, he was denied great recognition in his own lifetime (as Manet was never given full credit through much of his career, providing something of a parallel between these two books and their subjects). As the author notes (Page 3), "[His] life was short but intense, not only in its emotions, but also in its artistic exchanges and contacts."

Modigliani was born in 1884. By 1895, he was suffering a series of afflictions, pot4rnding the health struggles that characterized his life. His first paintings were completed in 1900-1901. He journeyed to Italy after a recurrence of health problems. After his health improved somewhat, he began studying with artists there. He returned to France--Paris--in 1906. He wed various traditions--impressionism, African art, cubism, and so on--to create his own artistic vision. He also did sculpture, enriching his art in the process. His life was often a wreck, his health a problem. He died too young in 1920.

The discussion of his work emphasizes the influence of artists such as Cezanne and the cubists. Ponente says (Page 15): "The version of reality presented by Modigliani increasingly becomes an expression of his tormented world, rather than a supreme ideal of beauty."

And then there are the plates, representing his art. 80 of these are included in this volume, with works from 1905 to 1919. It is fascinating to trace the development of his work. One can see changes developing over his short career.

All in all, a good introduction for amateurs like me. I'm not so sure I want a lengthy view of Modigliani's corpus; this work, though, gives me what seems to be a decent introduction.

This is a one-of-a-kind guidebook for the Mojave Desert area. It's invaluable for the detailed directions to local desert haunts that aren't in any other guidebooks. This is the place for a history lesson and some local hidden culture throughout Southern CA's Mojave. I used it to tour Randsburg, Johannesburg, and get directions to Burrow Schmidt's tunnel. I couldn't find any of these places in my other guidebooks.

The book is obviously done in a vanity press, but that's forgiveable because there probably wasn't any other way to get this information out. For the price, you get a book chock-full of off beat places you aren't going to learn about unless you find a local historian to give you directions.

It is supplemented with the authors' own photos of many attractions (in b&w), which is very helpful.

Inexpensively produced with black and white pictures, this book presents Cistercian/Trappist life at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. Basil Pennington's text is as clear and telling as the photos themselves. This is an excellent way to begin to understand Trappist life. The chapter called "A Greater Solitude" includes insight into how the community deals with death. The simple acceptance and rejoicing that a brother has persevered to the end and a new beginning make a startling and illuminating contrast to the American way of death. I keep this book on my coffee table so that people who don't understand efforts to combine Cistercian spirituality with daily life will have an quick and easy glimpse of the life.

This is an excellent book if you're examining the issue of whether aliens in one form or another have really ever visited us..It leaves no stone unturned, looks at the issue from every angle and offers realistic and solid argumentation for the case it presents. And the case it presents is one of cautiousness. Everything from abductions to sightings to dimensional travel to SETI is looked at here. Great read, flows though. You wont regret it.