Amazon.com
In this cycle of 14 bittersweet stories, Walter Mosley breaks out of the genre--if not the setting--of his bestselling Easy Rawlins detective novels. Only eight years after serving out a prison sentence for murder, Socrates Fortlow lives in a tiny, two-room Watts apartment, where he cooks on a hot plate, scavenges for bottles, drinks, and wrestles with his demons. Struggling to control a seemingly boundless rage--as well as the power of his massive "rock-breaking" hands--Socrates must find a way to live an honorable life as a black man on the margins of a white world, a task which takes every ounce of self-control he has.
Easy Rawlins fans might initially find themselves disappointed by the absence of a mystery to unravel. But it's a gripping inner drama that unfolds over the pages of these stories, as Socrates comes to grips with the chaos, poverty, and violence around him. He tries to get and keep a job delivering groceries; takes in a young street kid named Darryl, who has his own murder to hide; and helps drive out the neighborhood crack dealer. Throughout, Mosley captures the rhythms of Watts life in prose both musical and hard-edged, resulting in a haunting look at a life bounded by lust, violence, fear, and a ruthlessly unsentimental moral vision.
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Walter Mosley introduces an "astonishing character" (Los Angeles Times Book Review) in this acclaimed collection of entwined tales. Meet Socrates Fortlow, a tough ex-con seeking truth and redemption in South Central Los Angeles -- and finding the miracle of survival.
"I either committed a crime or had a crime done to me every day I was in jail. Once you go to prison you belong there." Socrates Fortlow has done his time: twenty-seven years for murder and rape, acts forged by his huge, rock-breaking hands. Now, he has come home to a new kind of prison: two battered rooms in an abandoned building in Watts. Working for the Bounty supermarket, and moving perilously close to invisibility, it is Socrates who throws a lifeline to a drowning man: young Darryl, whose shaky path is already bloodstained and fearsome. In a place of violence and hopelessness, Socrates offers up his own battle-scarred wisdom that can turn the world around.
Customer Reviews:
Readable, not great, 3 stars.......2007-05-23
A collection of stories (some are more like character sketches) is just not as compelling as a book with one story would be, but the main character is interesting and the book is well-written and not as bleak as it might be. The author likes his protagonist, and you probably will, too, an ex-con with a strong moral code and no inhibition about expressing it. Made me want to read the author's other books, so it can't be too bad.
Great Book.......2007-02-05
I really enjoyed this book. Mosley is a great talent and his writing is though provoking and insightful. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star rating is because I felt there was something lacking. I wanted to feel like there was some kind of conflict and there wasn't. It was preachy--in a good way- but if given a definite plot or pushed a little more in a definite direction it would have been an amazing book. Even the constant reminder of his rape and murder convictions didn't create enough conflict. His goodness outweighed his crime and eventually with every mention, I got this "haven't we all" feeling. It was as if he was confessing to stepping on ants. Overall though, I would suggest reading it, just because Mosley has an amazing honest voice in his writing and I love the passion he gives his characters.
Socrates Fortow: a man of character, we should all learn from his example.......2006-09-20
Socrates is a man trying to recover from his past mistakes. The story begins 8 years post Socrates' release from prison for rape and murder. Socrates is a man full of character, who has decided that his prison time was not enough to repay the debt to society for his heinous crimes. He makes a life long committment to encourage and mentor as he tries to muddle through the obstacles of being an ex con.
Once again, Mosley has created a wonderful story. Socrates' profound descriptions of life around him are so perfect, it is difficult to imagine this man ever committed such crimes. There is a lesson in this story for everyone.
Great Road Trip Book.......2006-07-13
Last summer I read this entire book on the train from Ohio to NYC. Socrates Fortlow is one of my favorite characters of all time. There is a poignancy to a character who seemingly has nothing going for him except his strength of morals. Read this book and you may have to take a second look at the downtrodden of society.
outstanding realistic view of segments of black society.......2006-02-24
this is an outstanding and realistic book about both the black society and for any man that is just out of prison and determained to make it. he make no excuses, he becomes a mentor to a young man trying to keep him from gangs and crime in watts. it gives you a hard long look at life, but it is both sad and uplifting as it shows a man who refuses to quit and finds his place in society and stays free
Average customer rating:
- not as good...
- All's Well That ...
- A unique series with interesting charaters
- entertaining blend of historical facts with fantasy lore
- A pleasant surprise
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All Night Awake
Sarah A. Hoyt
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Any Man So Daring
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Ill Met by Moonlight
ASIN: 0441011128
Release Date: 2003-10-28 |
Amazon.com
The adventures of the Elizabethan teacher and poet Will Shakespeare continue in All Night Awake, the sequel to Sarah A. Hoyt's debut novel, Ill Met by Moonlight. Seeking his fortune, young Will has come to London, but his only fate looks to be death, by either starvation or plague. All hope seems lost--then Will meets Kit Marlowe, the most acclaimed playwright of the age. Marlowe offers to help Will find work on the stage, and Will accepts, never dreaming that Marlowe is a treacherous tool of Queen Elizabeth's secret agents. Will believes his fortune has turned--until his Dark Lady, Silver, the ruler of Elvenland, finds him. Believing she seeks only to seduce him away from his wife, Will sends Lady Silver away. He refuses to believe her story that the plague afflicting London is caused by her villainous brother. But Silver speaks the truth. Her brother, the ex-king of Elvenland, seeks vengeance on those who overthrew him: the Lady Silver and her ex-lover, the mortal Will Shakespeare.
Like its prequel, All Night Awake is a suspenseful and entertaining fantasy. However, you probably shouldn't read this series if you don't like the idea of Shakespeare as a character in fiction, or if you don't want to see any fantastic explanations of Shakespeare's staggering talent. --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
The fairie known as Lady Silver-who gave the creative spark to Shakespeare and Marlowe-is in London, tracking a deadly supernatural beast that is drawn to Marlowe. She must stop it before it destroys both their world and hers.
Download Description
A poet with promise and little else, young Will Shakespeare is having a harder time of it in London than he thought he would. Though his contact with the world of faerie has left him with poetry in his blood-and the urgent need to express it-he is overshadowed by the favorite of Elizabeth I: Christopher Marlowe. But Will and his rival have more in common than they think. They can both trace their creative spark back to the world of faerie, back to the same bed-and now Lady Silver, who loves them both still, has come to London. She has come to track down a creature of supernatural might and vaulting ambition. It wants nothing less than to take control of both worlds. With the same blend of romance and magic that made Ill Met by Moonlight 'a delightful fantastic speculation" (Booklist), Sarah Hoyt offers a new novel about the greatest playwright of all time-and the passions that inspired him.
Customer Reviews:
not as good..........2006-02-16
After reading "Ill Met by Moonlight" and being amused by it's interesting intermingling of the fairy world and the world of William Shakespeare, I looked forward to the next installment. Although as well written, the story was much darker. The main character is evil itself and the notion of evil. I would rather read something a little more light-hearted. All of the characters seem to lose whatever goodness they posessed in the first book and give in to the 'chaos' taking hold of their world. Ms. Hoyt could have taken a totally different direction with the fantasy and explored the more positive aspects of the fairy realm.
All's Well That ..........2003-08-31
I looked forward to reading this after being pleasantly surprised at 'Ill Met By Moonlight.' This book proved as entertaining, and maybe even a little more action packed than the first in what looks like is heading into a series.
Here, Faerie King Quicksilver accidently frees his evil brother, Sylvanus, who was banned from the fairy kingdom for having King Oberon and Queen Titania (Sylvanus and Quicksilver's parents) knocked off so he could assume the throne. He used the help of the Hunter, an ancient and mysterious power, to help him kill the king and queen, and now Sylvanus, having been captured, is forced to serve as one of the Hunter's hounds as his punishment. As 'Awake' gets under way, it's 10 years after 'Ill Met,' and now that Quicksilver has unwittingly set his evil brother free, now the Hunter is injured and a breach in fairy land has occurred. Now, plague is rampant, beginning at Stratford and spreading to London, where Sylvanus seeks death and destruction. Quicksilver doesn't want anyone to know, especially his wife, Queen Ariel, and he takes off to London to try to right his wrongs.
In the meantime, Shakespeare is in London trying to make it as a writer, but he's not doing too well. He's in debt, starving and basically ready to foot it back home in the country if he doesn't starve to death along the road back home. However, in steps Christopher Marlowe, who's enjoying patronship and success. Problem is, he's in hot water with the secret service, and they're badgering him more and more ruthlessly to name names in any conspiracy to off Queen Elizabeth. Marlowe sees a chance to implicate Shakespeare (the queen's men are always hungry for more), before Marlowe can make what he hopes will be a clean break from the intrigue and maybe take his illegitimate son, Imp, along with him, since Imp is the only thing Marlowe really cares about. If you're wondering, 'Hey, wasn't Marlowe gay?', well, Hoyt offers her own explanation, mainly that Marlowe had a fling with Quicksilver some years back. Quicksilver, incidentally, is a sort of gender shapeshifter, so Marlowe basically was enjoying the best of both worlds, so to speak.
Now Quicksilver arrives in London and is trying to set things straight with the help of Shakespeare. Will doesn't want any more connections with faerykind, though, as he's not happy he cheated on his wife in the first place with Quicksilver's feminine side, Silver. For a while the plot bumps back and forth between Shakespeare and Silver, Silver/Quicksilver and Marlowe, and Marlowe and Shakespeare, all of whom are trying to accomplish their own agendas, with the exception of Will, who basically wants to be a poet, earn an income and help his family out back in Stratford.
In the middle of this, Queen Ariel is basically pouting at home in faeryland, because she thinks Quicksilver has left her to find Shakespeare and resume the affair as Silver, two things he'd promised her he'd never do again. Every few chapters we see her miserable over her marriage and absent husband as faeryland unravels. She remains a passive character, no real development, and drags the story along. I read it and kept thinking, 'Stop whining!'
Eventually things tighten up storywise and the last 100 pages are the best in the book. Many can imagine roughly what happens, maybe just not exactly how, as they read this. It's fun and entertaining, but I had three other problems: One, Hoyt's not exactly clear enough for me on some of the magic principles of faeryland; two, the plot moved a bit too slowly the first two-thirds of the book; and three, her explanation for Shakespeare's gift kind of bothered me on some levels. Not necessarily a bad explanation, and it's sort of brave of her, but personally it rankled me a bit.
Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed the book, and I'll probably read the third one (it seems more than likely to be forthcoming), but hopefully Ariel gets a spine and things speed up a bit.
@
A unique series with interesting charaters.......2003-04-17
Having read (and thoroughly enjoyed), the first book, "Ill Met By Moonlight" I gladly picked up the second. And, while I enjoyed it a great deal, there were several points in which I was physically frustrated with the actions of some of the characters. When Quicksilver goes in search of Shakespeare to enlist Will's help, the Queen, Ariel, is not told the extent of the situation. She thus spends the entire book in a self-loathing and misunderstanding as she - and Quicksilver's own right-hand man, Malachite! - thinks naught but ill towards her missing husband. Always assuming the worst, this line of the plot was deeply frustrating for the reader who wished to slap some common sense into the Queen.
The other issue which was not expected was that this book was more about Kit Marlowe then it was about Shakespeare. This was fine enough, as the character was interesting and served the plot well, but I was certainly not expecting for Will to have a secondary role in the story.
One must certainly read the first book ("Ill Met By Moonlight") prior to starting this one however, as the basis for the story relies on your easy knowledge of the setting and characters. I had not expected a second and was pleasantly surprised when I saw it printed, but I was left a little wanting in comparison to the first, which I enjoyed cover-to-cover without pause.
Those who enjoy fantasy, historical "what if's?" and Shakespeare/Victorian literature would enjoy this book even if they generally avoided this level of "fantasy" fiction.
entertaining blend of historical facts with fantasy lore.......2002-10-13
In Arden Grove near Stratford-On-Avon lies the hill that is the heart of fairy. Once Sylvanus ruled the fey but his evil ways caught up with him and he was doomed to spend eternity as one of the Hunter's dogs. Through trickery and guile, Sylvanus plays upon the sympathies of the new king of the elves, his brother Quicksilver, into using the power of the hill to free him from his bondage.
Sylvanus, as evil as ever, makes his way to London, spreading carnage, death and illness as he passes. Realizing what he's done, Quicksilver travels to London to find a way to defeat his brother and restore the natural order of the world. Quicksilver, in his alter ego of Lady Silver, tracks down William Shakespeare to warn him to leave London for those who have been touched by fairy are forever marked and Sylvanus will be able to use him for his foul purposes. Kit Marlowe, a courier of Elizabeth I, wants Shakespeare in London as a sacrifice to those of the Queen's council who want a traitor. Sylvanus finds Marlowe more than adequate for his purposes, leaving it up to others to defeat the evil Sylvanus.
ALL NIGHT AWAKE is an entertaining blend of historical facts with fantasy lore. Readers learn how Shakespeare obtained his muse, the fate of Kit Marlowe, and the court intrigues that center on Queen Elizabeth I. The antagonist is one of the most odious creatures to grace the pages of a book so the reader wants him defeated. Sarah A. Hoyt's prose has lyrical feel that adds to a wonderful work.
Harriet Klausner
A pleasant surprise.......2002-10-08
Lately it seems that all fantasy writers must write trilogies--even if they only have one book's worth of story--because that's what is in fashion now. I've read enough dud sequels lately to last me a few decades. This book is an exception. For starters, I wasn't even expecting a sequel to _Ill Met by Moonlight_. That novel was complete in itself and very satisfactory. So, seeing that a sequel had appeared was a pleasant surprise--since Hoyt hadn't blatantly set it up with loose ends as many authors do.
I didn't like this book quite as much as Ill Met, for three reasons. First, the metaphysics were more confusing than in the first book. Second, the constant use of Shakespearean quotes gets a little heavy-handed from time to time. Third, this book doesn't stand on its own as well as Ill Met; it would make no sense without the first volume and too obviously sets up the third.
However, _All Night Awake_ is a good book. Quicksilver, the gender-bending elf who became king of Fairyland at the end of Ill Met, has ruled his kingdom now for ten mortal years. At the behest of his beloved wife, Ariel, he has promised fidelity and suppressed his female aspect, Lady Silver. But when his evil brother, Sylvanus, hatches a diabolical plan to take over the world, Quicksilver must go to London to save both the human world and the elfin one. And there, Lady Silver demands her share of attention--for there live two of her ex-lovers. Will Shakespeare, starving artist, determined to remain faithful to his wife after his one lapse. And Kit Marlowe, famous and admired, but haunted by memories of his fairy lover and by the deaths of men he has betrayed over the years. Without being preachy or pedantic, Hoyt delivers a moving story of love and honor, marriage and temptation, friendship and betrayal. And along the way, there's a bit of humor. For example, Marlowe makes a habit of never actually calling Shakespeare "Shakespeare". Instead he cobbles together synonyms--"Wigglestick" is one example.
I would add the caveat that this book is more violent than _Ill Met by Moonlight_.
Customer Reviews:
---This is the old, 2000 edition--- .......2007-05-23
Please refer to the 2006 expanded, second edition. Just click on either author above.
5+++.......2007-03-17
Easy read, that helps make so much sense after coming out of an abusive marriage. It helps to make sense of the situation and how one might have gotten their- without the blame.If you were ever abused, mentally, physically, emotionally, this is a book for you.
A must read for anyone who has experienced domestic violence.......2006-03-01
I could not put this book down, I carried it with me everywhere it helped me regain my sanity after a very abusive relationship.
A brilliant read - you will find yourself on every page. You are not alone. An important book for recovery.
This book is like a best friend with real answers.......2005-06-23
To begin with, I did not know I was in an abusive relationship, until my friend mentioned to me the word 'emotional abuse'. I researched on the topic and found a lot of great information on the subject. The one thing I didn't find was WHAT THE HECK TO DO after you leave the abusive relationship.
I read "Why Does He Do That" by Lundy, and it was great..I got into the mind of my tormentor. My experience was a bit different, since my abuser left ME!!! it was a double slap in the face, and just another way he walked all over me...I learned that from this book. After reading so much about the abuser and victim, you begin to feel a sense of desolation. But Dugan's book focuses on YOU.
Dugan examines all the cliches associated with a post-abusive relationship, even talks about our friends' roles in our new life. She sympathizes with our feelings, and goes even further toward making you sympathize with your own feelings (something you could never do in an abusive relationship).
Therefore, I highly recommend this book to anyone, anywhere suffering the pain of loss. The author truly understands the victim's feelings, and leaves the abuser by the way side (as he should be).There's a reason this book is called "It's My Life Now" and very appropriately.
This book kept me sane........2005-04-13
This book was a life-line for me right after I left my husband. I never thought that I could be in an abusive relationship. I am educated, strong and smart. But I was. This book helped me to deal with accepting it and to heal. It's the only book I recommend to anyone who thinks they might be in an abusive relationship.
Book Description
Those who have never experienced an abusive or violent relationship often believe that upon finding her way out, a victim's difficulties are solved: her life is good, she is safe, and her recovery will be swift. Survivors know that leaving is not the end of the nightmare, it is the beginning of a difficult journey toward healing and happiness. It's My Life Now offers readers the practical guidance, emotional reassurance, and psychological awareness that female survivors of relationship abuse and domestic violence need to heal and reclaim their lives after leaving their abusers. Since its publication in 2000, It's My Life Now has been highly successful as a working manual for women who are starting their lives over after an abusive relationship, combining guidance on practical and emotional issues with worksheets and self-exploration exercises. In the second edition, Dugan and Hock include updated information and resources while encompassing a wider range of individuals.
Download Description
A book for women who have recently left an abusive relationship. It provides accessible practical information on how to protect yourself once you've left the relationship and how to get through the difficult emotions that accompany leaving.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2007-07-30
I left an abusive relationship and kept wondering why me? This book really helped me see what happened and why I stayed as long as I did. I really could relate to the book well and it helped a lot with the healing process.
Very Helpful and Healing.......2007-01-10
This was a great book. It was never boring and was always on point. The exercises are so helpful and healing. It's like a counseling session everytime you open the book.
From handling feels of loss to overcoming feelings associated with having loved an abuser.......2006-08-17
Meg Kennedy Dugan is Director of the Victim Assistance Program in New Hampshire and co-author Roger Hock is a Professor of Psychology: the two join forces and expertise to provide the updated second edition of IT'S MY LIFE NOW: STARTING OVER AFTER AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Life after getting out of such a relationship often continues to be a struggle, and IT'S MY LIFE NOW offers guidance to overcoming common pitfalls, blending worksheets with insights on self exploration and ongoing growth. From handling feels of loss to overcoming feelings associated with having loved an abuser, IT'S MY LIFE NOW continues to offer invaluable lessons.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Amazon.com
"Everyday a Soup" is an old Garfagnano proverb. If a cookbook devoted solely to soups from just this section of Northern Tuscany sounds limited, a look at its recipes proves otherwise. There are soups rich with meat, hearty with grains, swimming with fish, graced with cream, or creamy with puréed vegetables. One of the chapters tells the story of farro, a pleasingly flavored wheatlike grain cultivated by the ancient Assyrians that is becoming popular with cooks who want to prepare whole grains. Anne Bianchi, an American, starts every chapter with stories of life in the Garfagnano, which she visited from her cooking school that was located in a 500-year-old farmhouse in Lucca. Recipes include End of Season Tomato Soup, Bread Soup (which is full of beans and served layered with stale bread), and Tiny Meatballs in Chicken Broth.
Book Description
In the rugged landscape of northern Tuscany, where the mountain air is crisp and most villagers work out-of-doors, soup never comes from a can. Homemade and hearty, soup-zuppa-is the meal of choice, and each household harbors its own family secrets for preparing the traditional recipes of the region. Here are one-dish meals to inspire the most harried or jaded cook-from zuppa alla povera con erbe di prato (a "poor people's soup" of fresh greens seasoned with wild field herbs) to crema di zucca (a cream of butternut squash soup celebrated for its rich texture and color), from pancotto (a thick, succulent soup of cooked bread, plum tomatoes, and meat broth) to zuppa di carciofi (a fragrant artichoke soup with diced pancetta).
For Zuppa!, Anne Bianchi has once again ventured into the kitchens of some of Italy's most passionate cooks, returning not just with instructions and ingredients but with ample evidence that simple, great food nourishes the soul as well as the body.
Beginning with basic brodo, or broth, Zuppa! explores a different soup category in every chapter, from bean soups ("poor of ingredients but rich in appeal") to fish, meat, grain, and cream soups. Sidebars focus on such fundamentals as choosing the right soup pot, de-fatting stocks, and clarifying broths.
Illustrated throughout with black and-white photographs, Zuppa! is a pungent evocation of a region where ancient traditions are still central to everyday life-and an indispensable collection for anyone who relishes great soup, Italianstyle.
Customer Reviews:
secret of soups.......1998-12-14
A friend who owns a bookstore saw me looking at this book in his store and said, "Oh, you must have this book. My wife and I have tried several recipes from this book, and we love it." For some reason, I'd never thought of a whole cookbook just for soups, but that's because (I've discovered) my imagination was lacking. I love to cook, and I love to have good stuff in the refrigerator during the week to warm up, and I like to able to throw things together. The soups here, and the theory that accompanies the text, makes all this very easy and very delicious. I've recommended it to several other friends, and they have all enjoyed it very much.
Inspiration for nourishing, comforting soups--and travel.......1998-03-08
I bought this book for inspiration and new ideas for warm, nourishing and comforting soups. I got that and much more. There are over 130 inspiring recipes for soups, each described in the context of how it fits into the lives of the people who make it. The chapters are organized by the major types of soups--broths; vegetables; bread, puree and cream soups; rice, pasta, polenta and chestnuts; farro; lentils and chickpeas; beans, fish; meats. Each chapter is introduced with an insightful overview of some aspect of the character of natives of the Garfagnana, a little known area of Northern Tuscany where all these soups originate. I've loved the soups I've made--a rich vegetable broth, wonderful by itself with Gorgonzola cheese crumbled in, even better as the base of a thick hearty soup with potatoes, butternut squash and Savoy cabbage; a rich chicken broth which served as the base for a spinach/butternut squash soup and a mushroom broth with watercress. Among the soups on my to-do list is a shrimp and baby artichoke soup served over focaccia, and Garmugia--a meat-rich soup with asparagus and artichokes used in the 1600's to cure depression. This is a cookbook to read cover to cover, soups to fall in love with, and a wonderful-sounding region in the Tuscan Alps to dream about visiting.
Zuppa - Italian soups.......1996-11-02
My grandmother raised her family during the depression and has
always relied on inexpensive and plentiful meals to serve to
her family. Soup or "Zuppa" has always been a staple in her
freezer and often shows up on her table. When she received
this a a birthday gift form me she was delighted. It breaks
each region of Italy into it's distinctive cooking styles.
There are dozens of soup recipes that are sure to keep the
palate pleased and my grandmother busy experimenting with the
recipes. An excellent cookbook for those who love soups!
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- Appointment With Death: A Hercule Poirot Mystery
- Armageddon: Dale Brown's Dreamland
- Bell, Book, and Scandal (Jane Jeffry Mysteries)
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- Bride's Kimono, The
- Crewel World (Needlecraft Mystery)
- Cuentos españoles
- Dead in Vineyard Sand: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery
- Death at Wentwater Court: A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery (Dunn, Carola. Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries.)
Books Index
Books Home
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Rl's Dream: A Novel
