Memorials Books

I read it for a class, it was very informative. I would suggest it to everyone who wants to know more on thev subject

If you have ever attended a funeral or memorial service and come away disappointed because you thought it was inappropriate or that the deceased would have hated it, then this book can help. As its title states, it really does provide a guide to selecting the type of ceremony you want. And because it was published by the Unitarian Universalists, it provides a wide range of religious options.

I think I was expecting more than the author intended to deliver, so maybe it is unfair for me to give only three stars, but on the other hand I may not be the only one to make that mistake because of the vagueness of the title and presentation.

I was hoping for an anthropological examination of sacred landscape being seen as sexual and as the body of the earth spirit, perhaps with some discussion of shamanism in connection with the topic. Despite its title, though, landscape wasn't really what this book was about. It addressed only man-made sites. The early parts were best, addressing the subject of ancient monuments with their fertility connections, phallic representations, and sun-penetrating-the-barrow-to-fertilise-the-earth kind of things.

But even there, sometimes the hints dropped sounded more interesting than the material covered. I would like to hear more about Irish traditions about valleys and springs representing the female principle, but all it got was a mention. References for further reading on that would have been nice. Also, to be honest, the phrase "ritual copulation" got a little old.

Later in the book, in more recent times the topic of sex must not have provided enough subject matter, so it was watered down to places connected with love, along with stories of dalliances. The whole thing made me squirmy and I was reminded of a Monty Python bit I'd forgotten, the one in which Cleese comes into a couple's apartment to talk about shellfish and can't get their attention until he mentions sex, so he starts getting more and more lurid, making up sex lives for the poor inert creatures in order to keep his audience rivetted. The bit was meant as a commentary on television and how it's guided by people's taste, but in places this book took on some of Cleese's character's desperation in its efforts to tittilate. I began to fear, uneasily, that in the book truths were being similarly stretched.

Don't get me wrong. I did enjoy the book for the most part. The pictures are lovely and information on sites is generally good. It makes a good addition to a collection of books on megaliths, and a cute book to show to your kids when they're home from college, unless you're too prudish.

Maybe that was my biggest disconnect with the author. She represents all of the sexual imagery as somehow surprising and risque, but for anyone who has been paying attention to discussions of sacred landscape recently, these topics become matter-of-fact pretty quickly. You'll enjoy the book more if for you the whole idea of sexual imagery has retained its naughty giggle quality.

This fascinating book investigates the erotic landscapes and monuments that were created over 5000 years in the British Isles, from prehistoric times through the Roman and Victorian eras to the present. The informative and well-researched text is enhanced by copious full colour illustrations.

The chapters are titled From Eden To Eternity (includes the Mound of Venus in West Wycombe, the Cerne Abbas Giant and the Long Man of Wilmington), Romancing The Stone (standing stones and stone circles), From Womb To Tomb (caves), The Goddess Landscape (including the Paps Of Anu and Jura), When In Rome (Roman baths of Bath, Hadrian's Wall), The Serpent In The Garden Of Eden, Licentious Landscapes, We Are Surprisingly Amused, Signs Of The Times (including the work of sculptor Tim Shaw at the Eden Project at St. Austell in Cornwell and the garden of Derek Jarman at Dungeness on the Kent shore, made of pebbles, poles and driftwood).

It is a very revealing study of a landscape that is suffused with fertility images, both ancient and modern. It really makes you think! The book contains a bibliography and a Site Gazetteer. I also recommend the book Stone Age Soundtracks by Paul Devereux, for another perspective on ancient monuments.

Guy Le Querrec's On The Trail To Wounded Knee: The Big Foot Memorial Ride is an impressive photographic memorial of one of the most brutal and tragic massacres of Native Americans in recorded American history. In 1990, the one hundredth anniversary of the long journey and eventual slaughter of Chief Big Foot and most of his tribe, members of the Sioux nation retraced the journey in honor of those who suffered and died. Photographer Guy Le Querrec followed the trail with them, and captured these powerful black-and-white images. Vignettes and quotes from history are interspersed with this moving, visual testimony of the long forced march that has since become a symbol of American genocide.

BEWARE THE INTRODUCTION
I'm very torn on this review, as the criminal tragedy at Wounded Knee does indeed require national awareness and attonement. Photographer LeQuerrec has compiled an exceedingly moving testimony to the tragedy, with images that speak more eloquently than any words. Since I was 13 and began my own journey learning of the shameful acts against the native peoples during this county's rapid expansion - I've felt obligated to know and do whatever part I could take in attonement.

That said - the introduction to the book by Jim Harrison took me aback. While emotionally trying to make the point that most of mainstream America is relatively ignorant of the negative aspects of its past (true), and by the nature of our capitalist society there is an often obscene gap between wealth and poverty in this country (true), Harrison somehow shifts from a call to responsibility to a screed against the US in general. We have our faults, and have done evil things as a people -- but artifically transfering this to modern US foreign policy (as Harrison does - lamenting US treatment of China and Cuba) in my opinion denegrates the message of Wounded Knee. Mao-ist China and Castro Cuba are not the same thing as 19th century continental expansion and colonialism, and to draw China and Cuba into the discussion (as Harrison does in the introduction) merely shows some sense of warped idealistic views of Marxist societies. My family suffered 40 years under marxist rule in the DDR - so I have an obvious differing view from the author on the "idyllic" nature of communist countries. Also, the five letter description Harrison uses in the introduction to describe the Statue of Liberty (shock value?) is over the top and beneath what this book and its message should be about.

In fairness, Harrison's quote from Bertold Brecht "whom you would destroy, you first portray as savage" is an excellent point in introducing Wounded Knee and its place in our history. Maybe I wasn't expecting to be hit quite so hard. I'm torn with wanting to rip the intro out of the book -- or keep reading it as a needed "kick."

Below is a review of the One And The Many America's Struggle for the Common Good by Martin Marty. In the first section of the book, Marty presents the case of the "traumatization" of American society. Arguing that the manner in which different groups of people relate to each other destroys the concept of the one, Marty goes on to show how diverse group's need for identity is both necessary and destructive. The author asks several good questions during his initial discourse. How can groups remain respectful? How can they co-exist without shattering the illusion (my word) of unity that pervades our ethos as "One Nation Under God?" He continues to build a case from the thesis, "Trauma occurs as each group insists on its own identity and by promoting a mutually exclusive subculture at the expense of the common weal." Marty's pedagogical commitment is experienced as he attempts to define his use of certain language that he correctly assumes might not be common lingo for the reader. The book certainly provides thought provoking conversation and leads to continue study of the subject of America as a Nation State. Who are we? . . . (Property of the writer)

Prof. Marty's book is a profound synthesis of the essential problem of America: how to unite our diverging cultures and interests into something common to all. Marty gives respect to the varied 'stories' that he speaks of and encourages us all to listen more to each of them. While I agree that listening is a good start, do not expect more tangible answers from The One and the Many. Such is the nature of the problem and this book. Overall, an excellent effort by an established scholar.

I was a little bit disapointted the book had not much text. Of course it was nice to read the other's opinions about Diana with lovely photos, but as a big fan I expected more. A beautiful book to look at, I would say.

This book is done in great taste and style. I am glad I picked it up to add to my collection. I do not add Princess books to my collection that are of bad taste.

Ditto the previous reviewer. Good booklet, excellent pictures, and the money goes to help support the COD IIRC. All wins.

If they want to flesh it out into a "coffee table" book with even more pictures and text, showing all the hardware, and every compartment in excruciating detail...I'll be waiting to buy it.

If you have an interest in WW2 subs, visit the USS COD. It's the best maintained of all the remaining Fleet subs IMO...and I've visited most of them.

This is a nice reference to the old fleet boat. I've been aboard the Cod and really enjoy the WWII era subs. The Cod is the only fleet boat that is in its original WWII configuration. This makes a great companion book to other fleet boat material as one can use it as a map to get an idea of what other authors are talking about when they make references to certain compartments etc. All Fleet boats were different and there will be exceptions to this material, but in general this is a well done document.

Romald Sampson was one of my teachers at university, and I have also been on various peace marches with him. Does anyone know if he is still alive?

Where our other teachers explained how the political system works, Sampson memorably questioned its entire moral foundation. A disciple of Tolstoy, he viewed any exercise of power over others as violence and therefore contrary to Christian teaching. This short pamphlet summarises his political thinking, and provides considerable food for thought. For a fuller account, his books are now out of print but second-hand copies are worth seeking out - I found mine through Amazon.

Read Sampson and ask yourself how different the world would be if Christians took Christ's teaching seriously.

I enjoyed this book. I felt it was very informative about women in medieval ages. You can only learn so much about a time period from second hand sources. This is a very good first hand source. It, along with other women writers of the time, should be given more than the attention given to them now. This book certainly deserves more.

This work effectivley demonstrates how oppressive Asian nations have attempted to justify their rule using Confucian concepts to argue that western ideas about human rights do not apply to them. The author clearly demonstrates that Confucian principles are not inherently in conflict with western ideas about human rights, despite the cultural differences that do exist between "Western" philosophy and "Eastern" philosophy about the individual and the state. The only weakness in the book is its pretentious style. I mean do you really have to have a sentence that is seven lines long? I don't think that shows intelligence but a desire to appear smarter than you really are.

This book covers the history of Yemen under the Egyptian Ayyubids (those of Salahuddin) and Rasulids, their administration of the country and the social climate of the country. Make sure you get the 2 volumes as volume one is the Arabic edition and volume 2 the English translation (that is of course unless you speak Arabic!)