Asian Reviews

Images of Enlightenment, New & Revised Edition: Tibetan Art in Practice

Published in Paperback by Snow Lion Publications (2006-11-25)

Author: Jonathan Landaw

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Accessible introduction to Tibetan Buddhist art of thangka

Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-21

If you've ever seen Tibetan Buddhist art and wondered who or what is represented in these colorful paintings (known in Tibetan as thangka), what the various objects in the paintings symbolize, or how the paintings are used in the practice of Buddhism, Images of Enlightenment may answer your questions. Concisely written for a western audience of general readers by two English students of Tibetan Buddhism, this book also provides an introduction to basic Buddhist principles and practice, as well as a brief history of the Tibetan school and short biographies of some of its greatest teachers.

Images of Enlightenment is organized around 32 full-color plates, paintings by Andy Weber, a UK-based artist trained in Nepal by refugee Tibetan painters and now himself a widely traveled and respected teacher in Europe and North America. (See the artist's website for more examples of his work and his current teaching schedule.) Each chapter of the book begins with a theme, followed by explanations of the handful of paintings that best represent them. The first chapter on the life of the Buddha and the basics of Buddhist philosophy, for example, includes descriptions of paintings of the Buddha, stupas, and the Wheel of Life.

As an introductory text, the authors cannot hope to cover the nearly 200 deities of Tibetan Buddhism. They manage, though, to provide an informative, well-written, and properly illustrated volume covering some of the most popular images. If you'd like to learn more about the methods and materials used in painting thangka, you might like to see Jackson and Jackson's Tibetan Thangka Painting: Methods & Materials. The paintings used in this book, while well executed, are quite simple and not cluttered with many of the background items found in many thangka. There is, therefore, little in this book explaining many of the minor elements of Tibetan painting. For a more thorough treatment of symbolism and iconography, see Robert Beer's A Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols. If you'd like to see larger and more elaborately and finely detailed thangka, have a look at two collections in Romio Shrestha's Celestial Gallery and Goddesses of the Celestial Gallery.

The Most Definitive Guide of Buddhist Deity

Helpful Votes: 23 out of 25 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-20

The most definitive guide to Buddhism. The deity are all beautifully illustrated in rich color, complete with the historical background of the deity that gain enormous popularity in the east.

It had all the answers that you had always wanted to ask in the past. For illustration why some deities look so wraughtful, fierce and the significance of those implements or objects they hold.

I like the most is the explaination on the deity background concise, full illustrated, very well elaborated and accurate description.

An indispensible guide! Highly recommended.

Excellent Book on Tibetan Buddhism

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-14

Though I am an SGI Buddhist, Tibetan Buddhism intrigues me with their beautiful art. Mr. Landaw clearly describes each entity and Mr. Andy Weber beautifully illustrates in color each image. If you have ever wanted a deeper understanding into Tibetan images, I highly recommend this book

Especially recommended for students, scholars, and practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism.

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-05

Written by experts who spent years living in India to study Tibetan Buddhism and its art, Images of Enlightenment: Tibetan Art in Practice is a straightforward, plain-terms guide to the rich history, legends, and spirituality expressed through Tibetan Buddhist sacred art. 32 full-color plates illustrate Images of Enlightenment, while the text describes the symbolic self-transformation and expressions of enlightenment depicted. Chapters survey different paths and aspects of Buddhism as expressed through art, including the Bodhisattva Path, and the Path of Bliss and Emptiness. Images of Enlightenment is especially recommended for students, scholars, and practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism.

Excellent Insight into the Nature of Deity Yoga

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 23 total.
Review Date: 1999-12-03

This is an excellent book for all those interested in the practice of Deity Yoga. Written by Westerners with a very clear insight into the elements and art of the practice.

Imagining Zion: Dreams, Designs, and Realities in a Century of Jewish Settlement

Published in Kindle Edition by Yale University Press (2003-05-11)

Author: S. Ilan Troen

List price: $40.00

New price: $32.00

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The questions posed must be faced...

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-13

Prof. Troen confronts questions that stand at the heart of Israel's self-understanding. His answers will surely arouse controversy, but the questions he poses must be faced.

Essential reading on Jewish settlement in Palestine/Israel

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-13

Ilan Troen's Imagining Zion may well be the very most important book to appear in many years on patterns of Jewish settlement in Palestine/Israel. At a time when much discussion is devoted to Jewish settlement and, related to that, the very legitimacy of the Zionist enterprise in the Land of Israel, Troen's balanced and highly informative book is a must read. Thoroughly researched, lucidly written, and informed by an intimate familiarity with comparative materials (the author was an urban historian of the United States before switching to the history of the Yishuv), this book serves as a much needed corrective to the spate of essays that have recently appeared lining the modern state of Israel in most superficial ways to so-called settler states such as French Algeria and South Africa. In telling the compelling story of Zionist achievement, the author never loses sight of how the Jewish community in the Land of Israel envisioned the master plan of Zionist development and also took into consideration its impact on the indigenous Arab population. This highly nuanced and extremely informative book should attract audiences drawn from a wide range of academic disciplines. It is not only very timely, it has the virtue of being written in very accessible prose.

An important contribution to a field dominated by politics.

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-13

This is the only comprehensive history of Zionist and Israeli settlement available in English. Troen's focus on Zionism's developmental ethos and its realization yields an important contribution to a field dominated by high politics and military affairs.

One of the finest books on Zionist ideology

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-13

"Among all the books on the subject of Zionist economic/security ideology, this is one of the finest I have ever read. Its research is vast, its approach is fresh and original, its conclusions are sound."--Howard M. Sachar, author of A History of Israel

"Prof. Troen confronts questions that stand at the heart of Israel's self-understanding. His answers will surely arouse controversy, but the questions he poses must be faced."--David Engel, New York University

"This is the only comprehensive history of Zionist and Israeli settlement available in English. Troen's focus on Zionism's developmental ethos and its realization yields an important contribution to a field dominated by high politics and military affairs."--Derek J. Penslar, Zacks Professor of History; Director, Jewish Studies Program, University of Toronto

"This is a superb book. A sweeping study of the Zionist settlement of Palestine from the late nineteenth century to our own time, it analyzes the ideological, pragmatic, and ultimately strategic concerns that shaped the nature of Jewish communities in the State of Israel as well as the pre-state period. It succeeds in integrating the story of the building of Israel--from the kibbutz to Tel Aviv to development towns--within the context of urban and rural development in the modern western world."--Paula Hyman, Yale University

"Ilan Troen's Imagining Zion may well be the very most important book to appear in many years on patterns of Jewish settlement in Palestine/Israel. At a time when much discussion is devoted to Jewish settlement and, related to that, the very legitimacy of the Zionist enterprise in the Land of Israel, Troen's balanced and highly informative book is a must read. Thoroughly researched, lucidly written, and informed by an intimate familiarity with comparative materials (the author was an urban historian of the United States before switching to the history of the Yishuv), this book serves as a much needed corrective to the spate of essays that have recently appeared lining the modern state of Israel in most superficial ways to so-called settler states such as French Algeria and South Africa. In telling the compelling story of Zionist achievement, the author never loses sight of how the Jewish community in the Land of Israel envisioned the master plan of Zionist development and also took into consideration its impact on the indigenous Arab population. This highly nuanced and extremely informative book should attract audiences drawn from a wide range of academic disciplines. It is not only very timely, it has the virtue of being written in very accessible prose."--Jacob Lassner, Northwestern University (author of The Middle East Remembered: Forged Identities, Competing Narratives, Contested Spaces)

Superb. A sweeping study of Zionist settlement of Palestine

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-13

This is a superb book. A sweeping study of the Zionist settlement of Palestine from the late nineteenth century to our own time, it analyzes the ideological, pragmatic, and ultimately strategic concerns that shaped the nature of Jewish communities in the State of Israel as well as the pre-state period. It succeeds in integrating the story of the building of Israel--from the kibbutz to Tel Aviv to development towns--within the context of urban and rural development in the modern western world.

In the Snow

Published in Paperback by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (2000-10-15)

Author: Huy Voun Lee

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Wonderful story with factual information

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-29

I purchased this story to share with my preschool class, since we have 2 Chinese ESL students. While the story was not of high interest to all of the children (probably better for slightly older children), it held their attention, and the 2 Chinese boys were thrilled to see familiar faces, familiar writing, and hear familiar words. The story is about a mother and son walking in the snow. The mother teaches the child the Chinese characters for certain words by explaining how the character looks like the word it represents. It was exciting to have the boys participate in storytime and be able to teach the rest of us something! This is so important in a diverse preschool classroom - I can't wait to order more books.

A Wonderful Book!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-28

I read this book last year in my class when I had a Vietnamese student . She had learned some Chinese characters from her mother and taught us how to write the characters while we celebrated Chinese and Vietnamese New Year. It was a moving experience.

A Wonderful Book!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-28

I read this book last year in my class when I had a Vietnamese student . She had learned some Chinese characters from her mother and taught us how to write the characters while we celebrated Chinese and Vietnamese New Year. It was a moving experience.

Great Book for Understanding Chinese Writing!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-31

This books provides a great introduction for students and teachers to the Chinese language.

A beautiful and unique book!

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2000-09-05

This book is beautiful to look through and read. Huy Voun Lee tells a story of a mother and son taking a walk on a winter day. During their walk the mother teaches her son different Chinese characters. Lee not only provides the characters, but the symbolism behind them. The story line is simple and Lee provides ten characters, so this book is great for young readers. My two year old loves to thumb through it. Lee's cut paper artwork makes this book not only beautiful, but unique. In The Snow has not only brought joy to our family but added diversity to our bookshelf.

Indian Interiors (Interiors (Taschen))

Published in Hardcover by Benedikt Taschen Verlag (1999-06)

Author: Sunil Sethi

List price: $39.99

New price: $199.95
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Average review score:

Indian Interiors

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-22

Excellent value for the money. Beautiful photos covering a broad range of interiors.

A visual treat

Helpful Votes: 12 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-17

We review a number of books and the first time we saw this one, we were very sure it was going to make to our top selections list. And we were not wrong.

A beautifully laid out book with 500 vivid color photographs is a visual treat. Recipedelights.com gives it a "must-buy" rating for interior designers and style lovers. One of the few books that correct the injustice done by western journalists and gives a positive spin to thousands of years of culture and history. It truly reflects the grandeur of Indian style by weaving a colorful mélange that will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever visited India. This book explores a spectrum of interiors ranging from Palaces to Havelis to Huts. It does not bore with endless text or try to influence the judgment of the reader. Short text (In English, German and French) accompanies each photograph though the pictures speak for themselves.

Hours of fun

Helpful Votes: 17 out of 26 total.
Review Date: 2000-01-23

This LUSH book captivates the eye and provides such a visual feast of color, I feel saturated, then satiated, each time I dip into it. Good for hours of fun.

I have to say, I was lucky enough to meet Deidi on her travels in Ladakh and can tell you that she is one intrepid traveler. There was a war going on in Kashmir when she went to take these photos - although you'd never know it from these pictures which paint such a beautiful image of these sumptuous settings.

She is a great photographer, with three Taschen books to her credit (Gardens of France, and Fantasy Worlds). She also makes enormous photos of sacred trees in India which are exhibited in galleries - very dramatic and her best work yet!

This book focuses a great deal on Rajasthan, but also includes regional coverage of key areas.

A first of its kind and a good antidote to the predictable picture books of India. Everyone expects India photo books to show weird babas in Benares and starving people in Calcutta, so it's good for the West to see there's more to India than that.

Glad to see that scenes from the folk and peasant traditions are included alongside the fantastic royal palaces, proving that art has no boundaries.

Indian Interiors

Helpful Votes: 21 out of 21 total.
Review Date: 2000-01-03

This is a gorgeous book, beautifully laid out, with good photography and a vast range of type of interiors from palaces to village huts. Having spent significant time traveling throughout India, I frankly opened this book fully expecting to be disappointed and expecting it to be one more example of journalism not being able to do justice to the breadth and scope of India. We see that failure in all manner of books about India, from cook books, design books, culture books, and travel books; any subject that trys to cover the subcontinent in one fell swoop. Remarkably, this book achieves what no others I've seen has. In addition to photography of Deco interiors, British Revival, and Native Cultural Design, INDIAN INTERIORS wisely leaves the commentary to short blocks of text detailing the background of the property and the homeowners but not forming broad judgements or attempting to endlessly characterize and embellish. I have photo books on Village India, India Rail, Indian Design, etc., and they all try to do too much and not let the material speak for itself. This book is different, very different, and from what I've seen from this publisher in other venues, Taschen is one to watch for if you like your material presented succinctly and beautifully without gushing or extraneous filler.

DELICIOUS!!

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-26

This totally sumptuous book has been beautifully produced and is proof yet again that Taschen are publishing some of the most beautiful books around. Apart from being a visual delight, each picture has accompanying text on the place featured. The book covers a wide range of interiors from palaces and havelis to Rajasthani huts and everything in between. Whether you are interested in Indian style or interiors generally, you will find much to like in this book.

An intensive course in Tongan, with numerous supplementary materials, grammatical notes, and glossary,

Published in Unknown Binding by Pacific and Asian Linguistics. Institute, University of Hawaii (1969)

Author: Eric B Shumway

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Average review score:

excellent introduction to Tongan

Helpful Votes: 15 out of 16 total.
Review Date: 1999-10-13

This is an excellent introduction to Tongan when used with the tapes. It introduces grammatical points and vocabulary in a well ordered format. It's a great book to use when learning "fakaTonga", the beatiful Tongan language.

Tongan Tapes

Helpful Votes: 18 out of 18 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-05

I found purchasing Eric B. Shumway's "Intensive Course in Tongan" tapes, very helpful as a student wanting to learn the Tongan language. Although buying the book with the tapes is a necessity. I found the readings on the tapes to be very clear and easy to follow along with. The reader gives you plenty of time to repeat after them, which is very effective in learning. Also the songs and readings are very entertaining. This is a good buy for a serious Tongan language learning student. Also these are the only Tongan language tapes I could find out there.

Excellent

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-26

A great book for absolute beginners. It has many examples of sentences in Tongan which helps a lot. I wish I had such books for other languages too

Best way to learn Tongan

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-12

This Book and CD is the best way to Learn Tongan. It is straight forward and easy to study on your own. The CD allows the student to learn how to pronounce words and also be able to understand Tongan spoken at full speed. I would recommend then CD for anyone wishing to Learn Tongan!

Learn Tongan Now!

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-22

I am so grateful for the book and audio cd's. I am now able to speak with those family members that were only able to speak Tongan. What a joy it is to be able to communicate in the native language of my ancestors and have a relationship with wonderful communication between so many more people now simply because of the tools I was given, The Intensive Course In Tongan book and audio cd's. A great investment!

Intercountry Adoption from China: Examining Cultural Heritage and Other Postadoption Issues

Published in Hardcover by Bergin & Garvey (2001-06-30)

Authors: Jay W. Rojewski and Jacy L. Rojewski

List price: $119.95

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Average review score:

Very helpful, informative and insightful.

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-13

I found this book incredibly helpful as we are beginning our journey of adoptiong a child from China. It clearly walks you through the entire process, but also discusses those issues adopted children will face after the adoption, issues like attachment, grieving, developing a healthy identity. Perhaps what I appreciated most was the more researched based approach to this whole process. They conducted their own study and then drew conclusions based on the few other studies which exist on this topic. I appreciated hearing that the majority of children adopted from China appear to settle well statistically, as opposed to just testimonials (although they also included testimonials which were interesting and helpful). I have read many books which are wonderful emotional tesitmonials, but it was so helpful to have those balanced by a more objective, factual book like this. This was an excellent resource for me.

great book

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-22

This book is very enlightening and discusses many issues involved in international adoption as well as outcomes for children adopted internationally. Would be helpful to mental health workers, pediatricians and prospective adoptive parents as well as those who already have adoptive children!

A well-researched review of adoption issues.

Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2002-02-10

The Amazon book description gives a good overview of the topics covered, but it fails to convey the careful manner in which information is delivered in the book. The authors rely not only on their own research (the methodology and limits of which they describe), but also rely on other published studies. The authors note that the studies on adoption of Chinese children were done recently, and are few in number. The authors, however, refer to studies involving other adopted children (particularly Korean children) in an effort to predict some answers regarding older children. While the book relies heavily on research publications, it also uses adoptive parent comments to help illustrate points.

As important for me as the authors' conclusions, were the explainations of why those conclusions might not be correct. The authors readily note where the research is inconclusive, a sample is too small, where there are conflicting theories, or where a study might not be applicable to the adoption of Chinese children today. I also appreciate the authors citing their sources (typically right in the text). Thus, if you want to know more about an issue, you know exactly which study the authors relied upon. All of the cited publications, as well as a number of resources for adopting parents, are cited in the appendix.

Too much information on this subject is either missing, or is given in a chatty style that is not comprehensive. As a parent just starting the adoption process, I wish I had read this book a year ago.

Bravo!

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-29

I've read many books on this topic, but this one is the most thorough and fact based ones I have found to date. Very informative and a definite must have for any one thinking of adopting from China. I can't wait for their next publication!

Fills a gap in the literature

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-22

This is a well-researched, easy-to-read academic work on the issues surrounding adopting children from China. The authors write both from first-hand knowledge as well as from results of a survey that they conducted via the Web over the past few years. It fills a gap in the literature on this topic.

The book covers topics such as how and whether to impart knowledge of Chinese culture to adoptees, the legal issues involved in intercountry adoption and statistics about how well adoptees do after they've been in the U.S. with their new families for several years.

It is a useful guidebook for those wishing to adopt a child from oversees, especially from China, and it is also useful for those studying adoption in general.

Island Of Bali (Pacific Basin Books)

Published in Paperback by Taylor and Francis (1986-01-04)

Author: COVARRUBIAS

List price: $150.00

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Average review score:

An Oldie but Still the best

Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2000-07-02

This book is the essential book about Bali. I read it 26 years ago when I first went to Bali and it still ranks as thee book about Bali. If you wish to learn about the Balinese people, their culture and religion and beliefs I highly recommend this book. jim

This is the One!

Helpful Votes: 14 out of 14 total.
Review Date: 2003-08-23

If you only read one book on Bali, read this one. Believe me, I'm Balinese.

Miguel Covarrubias, and his wife Rose,who were Mexican, went to Bali twice, once in 1930 for several months and again in 1933 again for several months. The first time they stayed in Denpasar, the capital, and the second time in Ubud, where I live.

They stayed with Walter Spies in Ubud,who was an extraordinary German, who had been living there for years, and who totally absorbed Balinese culture. My mother worked for him. He taught the Covarrubias's a lot.

They then wrote their book. It is regarded as the bible and all subsequent books owe a lot to it. Some things have changed, of course, but only on the surface. We are very traditional, especially in the Ubud area. The book is an excellent introduction to our rich culture.

The book discusses family and village life, rice farming, our Bali-Hindu religion, ceremonies, history, drama, art and dance.

It's very readable and the photographs and line drawings are great.

Bali and Balinese's culture in detail which is great!!!

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-04

I must confess this book is thick but hey!!! It's well worth reading about for those who want to understand a little about Balinese culture as well as it's lovely people. I found it very interesting since it covered almost everything about Bali, however the book was written before World War II and well I still think it's great to have a book that is still resourceful. Even though so much has changed with Bali over the decades this book will never die surely. This is a must and is essential for those who want to have a better understanding of Bali back before World War II and they can still relate it to the present. Nothing much has changed but a few things have altered. It was like stepping back in time when I read this book... I hope everyone will enjoy the book as much as I do too... great book to have...

Essential reading!

Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-26

This is by far the best book available if you want to know about the people of Bali - their unique lifestyle, religion, customs and beliefs. Written in the 1930's, it still holds true today. The classic black and white photos are worth the price alone. The Balinese people still live a magical life that is difficult for a westerner to comprehend, unless you read a book like this.

Island of Bali

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-06

Mexican painter Miguel Covarrubias set sail for Bali in 1931 on an optimistic personal quest to discover, absorb, and chronicle Bali's traditional living culture. Buy into the romance and seduction of Covarrubias-driven by a feverish imagination-- inexorably pulled towards and teased by the lure of Bali, half a world away. Travel back sixty-four years in time to Bali's unspoiled natural vistas-a happy, peaceful. pristine retreat standing apart from a West mired in crippling economic depression and poised on the precipice of World War II. As a fellow artist on an island with three million artists-in-residence (creativity is considered both a religious and a natural activity on Bali), Covarrubias penetrated deeply into the spirit of the dance, theatre, music, decorative arts, and pastimes of Bali.
Embellished by 114 half-tone photos and 90 drawings by the author and other Balinese artists, this essential, still-relevant classic consists of twelve chapters on the Balinese people and their civilization in the 1930s. Accompanied by painter Walter Spies, Bali's most famous expatriate resident, they roamed the countryside together with eyes, ears, and canvasses wide open, observing the local life. Covarrubias's most notable writing describes the organization of the traditional Balinese village: the markets, social order, etiquette, language, caste system, the banjar, law and justice, the courts, the subak, rice culture, and the distribution of labor. This intimate, insider's foray into every nook and cranny of his own paradise produced key chapters on everyday family life in Bali: the house, cooking, costume and adornment, childbirth, childhood, adolescence, sexual customs, and marriage.
Covarrubias explored the place of the artist in Balinese life and the development and evolution of Balinese art, crafts, sculpture, and architecture. Drama and dance are important components of Balinese life: they come alive through the village orchestras, musical instruments, classical Legong, and the ancient shadow plays. Island of Bali unveils material on priests and religion, temples and feasts, offerings and exorcisms, the Balinese calendar, and the original Bali Aga people. Written from a day when primary forests reigned supreme and witch doctors wielded terrifying power, Covarrubias delves into the cult of the Barong and Rangda, black and white magic, folk medicine, the sacrifice of widows, and death and cremation. The Balinese still lead a magical, mystical, harmonious life that is difficult for Westerners to understand unless they read a profound work like Covarrubias's Island of Bali. With an artist's sensibility and a Bali-lover's eye, Covarrubias paints a complex nirvana with words and easel in this great literary achievement.

The Journey to the West, Volume 2

Published in Paperback by University Of Chicago Press (1983-02-15)

Author:

List price: $24.00

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Average review score:

Part II, For Intelligent Readers Only!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-06

This is part two of one of the four great written masterpieces of China, beautifully translated by Professor Yu. It is, I believe, the closest English speakers will get to the original Chinese text. Occasional awkwardness of wording in the translation is unavoidable as this work has gone from its original to a greatly contrasting culture. Do not let this discourage you as you read, let it instead encourage you to learn to read the Chinese original. Seeing it via one of the many movies / TV productions available is a great help in enjoying this work. I highly recommend the CCTV production from mainland China done in both 1986 and 2000.

Awesome

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-19

This translation of Journey to the West is awesome. I'll admit that I haven't read other translations, but, from people that I know that have read the Chinese version, and also seen the Chinese series, and I have discussed the book with them, they say it is a great translation of the book.

journey to the west volume 2

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-29

A really great book, I could hardly put it down. The subtle comedy and the continuos action is perfect for anyone above 9 years old. I LOVED it.

The journey to the west, volume2

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-18

This is a great story not just this volume, I really recommend these books to be read by anyone it has everything that a great -great story need.
Prepare yourself for a great journey...read the story.

The most reliable translation available in English so far

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 1999-03-10

Yu has done an excellent job in this translation. The book is heavily footnoted with Buddhist and Dao references. It's an older translation so it uses Wade-Giles instead of modern pinyin. It's also the least abridged. If you can't read the original Chinese this comes a close second.

The Kama Sutra Illuminated: Erotic Art of India

Published in Hardcover by Harry N. Abrams (2002-10-08)

Author: Andrea Marion Pinkney

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Average review score:

The highbrow Kama Sutra.

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-24

This book carries with it the gravity of substance, and it's not just that fact that it's physically large, and has some weight to it. It's more then just that the materials used in it's production are of the highest grade - the paper is heavy, every page has a superb finish; but these elements compound the inherent quality of what's inside.

Andrea Pinkney's version treats the Kama Sutra with dignified respect befitting work as influential as this one. Bear in mind that this is not merely a sex position manual, nor is it pornographic. This is the Kama Sutra for those with an appreciation for art. Magnificent illustrations of subject related period art compliment the original text. This wouldn't even cause a stir at the old folks home.

It's such a nice book, it should go right on the coffee table, provided of course there are no young children around with whom their parents feel awkward discussing the facts of life. Or perhaps it would be just the thing to break that ice shelf.

This book says "I'm classy and open-minded, with a healthy sexual appetite".

very beautiful!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-02

what a lush, beautiful, dazzling book. Very well produced with many many lush color-soaked plates of erotic imagery. There are even fold-outs of larger images.

lots of text to so you can easily grasp the concepts.

impressive!

A big, fat, lovely book

Helpful Votes: 12 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2003-02-22

This is absolutely the finest version of the Kama Sutra available. With 224 pages and a huge page size--14-1/2" by 10-1/2", over an inch thick, printed on high quality glossy paper, and absolutely full of full color photos of erotic Indian art, including statuary and several twice-size foldouts, it would be a bargain at twice the offered price here on Amazon.

For years the Kama Sutra has been the object of admiration because of its explicit sexual content, as well as its Tantric religious application for those interested in the practices of Eastern religions. Of course many in the West have sought it out as a source of ancient pornography, but the artwork represented in this book is not as anatomically correct as that which can be found in Playboy or Hustler, and therefore is less useful for voyeuristic titillation. However, for the student of Eastern religions, especially the Tantric tradition, it will be found to be unsurpassed.

The Hindi text, both in their calligraphy and the alphabet, and fully translated into English, is beautifully done. The absolutely gorgeous large sized full-color reproductions of ancient Indian art is exquisite.

Highly recommended!

Joseph Pierre

author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity
and other books

amazing! ... exotic and erotic......just beautiful!

Helpful Votes: 42 out of 44 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-18

An unbeleiveably full, large format book with the most wonderful and colorful images of erotic Indian art imaginable. This book should really be selling for $... upwards for the quality and quantity of fantastic photos and images alone. A top-quality, heavy art book, indeed.
Fold-out pages also provide large scale formats and it seems no expense was spared to create the high quality images that abound in this awe-inspiring collection of wonderful erotic masterpieces. Truly the most captivating book I now proudly own.

As a traveler and lover of all things "India", I have been waiting for a book like this for a long time to give as a gift to my husband. This is the real heart of the matter...no need to actually read the Kama Sutra when what you really want is all right here. Even without the erotic theme, this book presents some of the most wonderful art of India I have ever seen in one breathtaking book. This book is an absolute "must" for any follower of Indian art, or just anyone who appreciates the delicious and delicate sex-play and sensualities of Indian art and history. Very inspiring :), very beautiful, exotic, erotic and just plain fabulous! What more could you want? I am thrilled with this purchase..... on all levels! A+++++

Gorgeous

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2005-01-16

This book is packed with beautiful illustrations. They cover every embrace, every kiss, and every acrobatic exotica in the Kama Sutra catalog. The pictures go beyond the actual text, in illustrations of groups and in groups of illustrations.

Some depictions are stone carvings from the temples at Konarak, other are more recent carvings in wood or ivory. Drawings and paintings seem to cover every historical style the sub-continent has seen since the 18th century, from stylized cartoons to realism. Color, where appropriate is vivid and well-printed. The illustrations capture many times, people, fashions, practices, and styles of dress. Where necessary, foldouts show larger views so you can appreciate the original's detail. With just a bit more organization and care with the attributions, the illustrations alone could form a serious historical document.

The only drawback to this beautiful book is the Kama Sutra - it's just not there, at least not in complete and coherent form. There are extracts, in Sanskrit, a Romanized form of the Sanskrit phonetics, in a modern translation, and in Burton's Victorian rendering. Maybe the whole Vatsyayana text is there, but it's pretty well chopped up and mixed with extensive commentary. This is about the Kama Sutra, but not a straight translation of the book.

Still, the pictures are worth it. This is a gorgeous book.

//wiredweird

Kerala Cooking

Published in Kindle Edition by Silicon Press (2007-05-15)

Author: Anoo Verghis

List price: $39.95

New price: $31.96

Average review score:

Kerala Cooking

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-18

Thanks to this cookbook, we have some wonderful dishes that have become family favorites. One of those is the Lime Rice; it is a delicious dish that is as stunning to present to guests (lovely yellow color) as it is eat! Best of all it goes with everything from barbeque meats to grllled vegetables. I have even brought it to church "covered dish" lunch!
The suggested "menus" at the back of the book, such as "vegetarian for beginnners" or "fish & meat for the more adventurous", help take the guess work out of planning a well-balanced menu.

Kerala Cooking

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-23

The recipes in this cookbook are easy to read and follow. I especially liked the fact that The ingredients can all be found in the US, and that recipes go from easy to more time consuming. The variety of recipes is very good, and the ones I've tried so far came out delicious.

Indian Cook Book

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-19

This cook book is more than a cook book. It gives a lot of details about the indian state of Kerala which I found particularly interesting. Being a reluctant cook, I found the recipes easy to follow as the author gives step by step instructions on producing the meals. I also found the nutrition information very useful.

Authentic Kerala recipes!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-09

A great cookbook for connoisseurs and novices alike! This book has some very authentic recipes that bring back memories of my childhood in Kerala. I've found recipes in here that I thought I could have only at my mother's house. All the recipes are well laid out and easy to follow.

practical & authentic

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-01

I am from Kerala, & have found that the dishes come out tasting exactly the way they are supposed to, very practical, most ingredients are easily available. The author has tried to make the recipes as healthy as possible in terms of minimising oil & coconut use which are a major part of Kerala cuisine. Should be a very useful resource for those who are trying to learn how to cook this kind of food.

Asian Books