This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind

Book Description

This work introduced a major modern author to the reading public. Doig’s life was formed among the sheepherders and other denizens of small-town saloons and valley ranches as he wandered beside his restless father. New Preface by the Author.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-10-14

This book was one of the few memoirs I have written when in the end I placed the book down and sighed "wow." What a wonderful story. The author rolled experiences together in western Montana with his dad and grandmother and turned it into a lovestory for fathers and grandmothers, for people of Montana, and all that using very little dialogue. (That gave the book a sense of truthfulness, as who can recite full conversations that took place years ago?)

The constant struggle with man against nature, man against man and man against himself come alive in these pages. Montana and its bittersweet closeness never leave the reader; its isolation and wide open sky are always in the background. Thus the title is so perfect for this beautiful memoir.

This was my first Doig book and I will definitely read more of him. I definitely consider this book one of the top ten in American 20th century writing.

Great American literature.......2007-01-09

This is my all time favorite book. Period. Beautifully written, thought-provoking. It will make you want to move to Montana. It will make you love open sky and a horizon that goes on forever and the importance of family.

An excellent read!!!.......2006-12-31

This was my first Ivan Doig book, and I loved it! As a result, I've read most of the rest of what Doig has written and thoroughly enjoy reading about (and remembering) the areas of Montana where I used to live.

Strongly recommended.......2006-11-27

As soon as I started reading This House of Sky, I fell into Ivan Doig's world. By the end I was so mesmerized by his wonderful language and vivid characters that I was wandering around the house with the book up to my nose, bumping into things, trying to do chores one-handed while reading. I would never have believed that a book that starts out with the gasping, hideous suffocating death of one of the author's parents and ends with the gasping, hideous suffocating death of the other one could contain such boundless love of family, such joy, and such beauty. Doig's vivid writing shades perilously close to poetry, and he has an eye for the perfect anecdote to illustrate his point. Doig evokes in the endless drudgery of Montana ranch life a heroic struggle, and turns his hardworking, mercurial father into one of the great figures of modern literature. As a chronicle of Doig's childhood and its end and of the Montana sheepherding life in the early parts of this century, This House of Sky is a spectacular success; but as a tribute to his beloved family and especially his father, the book is a powerfully moving classic.

This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind.......2005-08-27

The author "Ivan Doig" introduces Montana through his youthful eye and shares his rememberances of growing up in Montana. If you have yet to read any of Mr. Doig's excellent books or are already a fan; this book is not to be missed.

Fresh Tracks: Writing the Western Landscape

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Fresh Tracks: Writing the Western Landscape

Manufacturer: Raincoast Books, Polestar
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Canada | Travel | Subjects | Books

Nature Writing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1896095429

Landscapes of the New West: Gender and Geography in Contemporary Women's Writing (Cultural Studies of the United States)

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A great challenge to traditional views of women & the West

Landscapes of the New West: Gender and Geography in Contemporary Women's Writing (Cultural Studies of the United States)
Krista Comer
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Women Writers & Feminist Theory | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Women Writers | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

In the early 1970s, empowered by the civil rights and women's movements, a new group of women writers began speaking to the American public. Their topic, broadly defined, was the postmodern American West. By the mid-1980s, their combined works made for a bona fide literary groundswell in both critical and commercial terms. However, as Krista Comer notes, despite the attentions of publishers, the media, and millions of readers, literary scholars have rarely addressed this movement or its writers.

Too many critics, Comer argues, still enamored of western images that are both masculine and antimodern, have been slow to reckon with the emergence of a new, far more "feminine," postmodern, multiracial, and urban west. Here, she calls for a redesign of the field of western cultural studies, one that engages issues of gender and race and is more self-conscious about space itself—especially that cherished symbol of western "authenticity," open landscape. Surveying works by Joan Didion, Wanda Coleman, Maxine Hong Kingston, Leslie Marmon Silko, Barbara Kingsolver, Pam Houston, Louise Erdrich, Sandra Cisneros, and Mary Clearman Blew, Comer shows how these and other contemporary women writers have mapped new geographical imaginations upon the cultural and social spaces of today's American West.

Customer Reviews:

A great challenge to traditional views of women & the West.......1999-07-30

Beautifully written and wonderfully detailed, this book looks at literature by women who, in different ways, make "the West" their home. But Comer overturns defintions of the West as simply the old frontier and "the big sky." The West is black women in LA and Asian women in San Fransisco and Native Indian women writing about their modern lives. The book has very interesting interpretations of contempory women's literature, but the best part is the way it makes you re-think what you thought you knew about the "West." Put away your cowboy images, this book shows the West as a diverse region that has produced some of the best fiction writers in the nation.

Illustrated Sketches of Death Valley and Other Borax Deserts of the Pacific Coast (American Land Classics)

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Illustrated Sketches of Death Valley and Other Borax Deserts of the Pacific Coast (American Land Classics)
John Randolph Spears
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Landscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Landscape | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Ecotourism | Specialty Travel | Travel | Subjects | Books

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0801865077

Book Description

In 1891, New York Sun reporter and travel writer J. R. Spears accepted an invitation to visit Death Valley to write about the region and explore its borax mines. Spears, the first professional journalist to visit, photograph, and report on the region, provided the American reading public with an engaging and informed account of Death Valley and its surrounding desert country. Through nineteen chapters, Spears examines the 20-mule teams used in borax mining, freighting in the rugged desert landscape, and various desert characters--including "Desert Tramps" and a California bear hunter.

Long considered an important literary and regional history of Death Valley and a primary source of information, Illustrated Sketches of Death Valley and Other Borax Deserts of the Pacific Coast will appeal to enthusiasts of the region and of the American West.

American Vision: Far Western Landscape and National Culture 1820-1920 (American Social Experience Series, 17)

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American Vision: Far Western Landscape and National Culture 1820-1920 (American Social Experience Series, 17)
Anne F. Hyde
Manufacturer: New York University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0814734669

Legendary Route 66: A Journey Through Time Along America's Mother Road

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Legendary Route 66: A Journey Through Time Along America's Mother Road
Michael Karl Witzel , and Gyvel Young-Witzel
Manufacturer: Voyageur Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0760329788

Book Description

It started in the heartland and originally ended in Los Angeles (not, contrary to myth, at the ocean). It carried truckers crossing the country, Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl, vacationers seeking the sun. It was America’s Main Street, the Mother Road, the Will Rogers Highway, and, at its dangerous curves, Bloody 66. Get your kicks on Route 66 with this wonderfully illustrated tribute to the best-loved highway in this car-loving nation. Michael Witzel shares his expertise and wealth of personal, archive, collector, and contributing photographer images in these pages, offering a nostalgic tour of the charms and oddities of this road through American cultural history.

Starting in Chicago and running to Santa Monica, this book highlights the sights along the highway with historic and current photos in then-and-now pairings, and includes Route 66 postcards, road signs, trinkets, maps, brochures, and advertisements. Here we see Route 66 as it was in its heyday and as it is now, the neon glamour of yesterday versus the ghost towns of today. Witzel and his wife, Gyvel Young-Witzel, recount the highway’s history, its role in popular culture, and its demise, as well as the individual stories of famous sights. Several profiles of those with close ties to the Mother Road, including the woman who played Ruthie Joad in the The Grapes of Wrath film, are included.

Myth of Shangri-La: Tibet, Travel Writing and the Western Creation of Sacred Landscape

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Myth of Shangri-La: Tibet, Travel Writing and the Western Creation of Sacred Landscape
Peter Bishop
Manufacturer: Athlone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Tibet | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0485113694

Book Description

Shangri-la. An arcadia hidden in a remote, secluded valley. A vast, wind-swept plain cradled among the far away peaks of the Orient. Tibet. Beginning almost as a mere rumor in the mid-eighteenth century, Tibet evolved over the next century of industrialization into one of the last great sacred places of Victorian romanticism, taking on much of the mystery, power, and ambiguity of more traditionally experienced sacred spaces. In this masterful study, Peter Bishop examines Western travel writings on Tibet to trace the creation, fulfillment, and decline of the landscape of this fantastic place.
Bishop shows that travel does not discover worlds, but rather constructs them. He takes the Jungian stance that each Tibet has been the creation of the unconscious at work in the representatives of an era, imaginative practices coming to be understood as truth, truth subject to repeated revision. Each generation of writers reveals preoccupations, unfulfilled wishes, fears, and hopes as the unconscious is made conscious by its projection onto Tibet. By following the trail left by Western missionaries, soldiers, diplomats, mystics, traders, adventurers, and poets, Bishop uncovers the deep structure of the European imagination and plots its transformation in the making of the Tibetan myth.
The Myth of Shangri-la is not so concerned with the historical details of the exploration and development of Tibet as with the phenomenology of the imagination, the way Tibet was experienced and imagined in the Western world order. Bishop looks at where travellers were coming from more than where they were going, and in doing so he delineates the complex relationship among cultural imagination, physical landscape, and the sense of the sacred. His rich narrative and sustained recourse to diaries, letters, histories, and works of fiction make this a fascinating book that will be of interest to anyone interested in European cultural history and in the powers of the imagination.

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Writing the Western Landscape
Mary; Muir, John Austin
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OPBUWI

Writing the Western Landscape (Concord Library Book)

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Writing the Western Landscape (Concord Library Book)
Mary Austin , and John Muir
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Nature Writing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0807085278

Book Description

Introduction and Illustrations by Ann H. Zwinger "Two of this country's greatest writers on the natural world." -Washington Post Book World "As thinkers and artists, [Austin and Muir] were made by the West. Though neither was born in it, they found it their spiritual home, the source of their power. Their writing about it is an act of acknowledgment, a gift from the heart. From them we still learn to see our mountains." -Ursula K. Le Guin, Portland Oregonian "John Muir and Mary Austin exemplify the patterns and perspectives of classic nature writing. . . . Muir appears as the solitary, romantic explorer . . . [while Austin's] feminism and inclusivity point up the limitations of the romantic excursion as a basis for sustainable relations with land." -John Tallmadge, Orion

Book Description

In 1976, John Roskelley joined an expedition to climb Nanda Devi, the third highest mountain in the Indian Himalayas. This is the story of that ascent, led by top mountaineer Willi Unsoeld, whose young, inexperienced daughter, named for the peak, perished there. It is the story also of Ad Carter, part of the team that first summited Nanda Devi forty years earlier; and of Lou Reichert and Jim States, two of the three members to actually reach the summit. But mostly this book is about Roskelley himself, who led the summit party of three and who outspokenly criticized an expedition that allowed unqualified climbers to participate in the technically difficult ascent.

Originally published in 1987, Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition established Roskelley's reputation for being not only a forthright and uncompromising climbing critic, but also a wise and authoritative mountaineer dedicated to grueling preparedness.

Customer Reviews:

Lessons in Climbing and Leadership.......2007-03-05

John Roskelley's "Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition" is a brutally honest narrative of the 1976 American-Indian climb of 25,000 foot Nanda Devi in Northwest India. The expedition never came together as a cohesive group, leading to endless arguments en route to and on the mountain, and perhaps contributing to the death of Nanda Devi Unsoeld, daughter of expedition co-leader Willi Unsoeld and named for the mountain itself.

Roskelley's description of the effort to bring a team together, gather the necessary equipment, and move it to Base Camp in India contains the early signs of trouble. The expedition co-leaders seemed unwilling to assert themselves. Perhaps worse, the expedition members did not share a common climbing philosophy. Team "A", of which Roskelley was a founding member, was focused on summitting the mountain. Team "B" seems to have entertained the notion that the trip was the adventure, with reaching the summit a seemingly secondary objective. Whatever the merits of the respective approaches, they were incompatible in the same expedition and left Team B less mentally prepared for the horrendous challenges of the actual climb.

Roskelley's description of the approach march into the remote valley at the base of Nanda Devi is fascinating. The actual climb makes for exciting reading; the expedition worked under marginal weather conditions on an untried and extremely dangerous route up the Northwest Ridge of Nanda Devi. Team A repeatedly pushes the pace, alternately bullying and shaming Team B to participate in placing camps higher on the mountain. Several climbers suffer from illness and crises of confidence. One sick climber is evacuated; another quits. In retrospect, Team B's misgivings about the route were well-taken; Roskelley describes a series of hair-raising pitches over difficult rock in poor weather and under constant threat of avalanche. Only some superb mountaineering overcomes the challenges and places three men on top. A second summit team which included Devi Unsoeld moved to the top camp but turned back when Devi sickened and died at the 24,000 foot level.

Roskelley's candid commentary appears to have been adapted from his diary entries and letters; the story is told day by day, without undue foreshadowing of the outcome.

Leadership challenges should not have been unexpected given the fierce will, competitiveness and self-confidence required to climb at high altitude. The failure to pick a more balanced team might have been the first failure of leadership. The reluctance by the expedition leaders to impose organization led to a second major failure: rolling chaos in the creation and supply of the various camps and in constant bickering over assignments. In retrospect, the lack of leadership created a third failure: a situation in which an unwell and unacclimatized Devi Unsoeld was allowed to proceed on a summit attempt against the expressed better judgement of the expedition doctor and several more experienced climbers.

Roskelley's multiple epilogues underline the hard feelings that followed the expedition. Death at altitude is a common hazard of the sport; unnecessary death made all the bickering less forgiveable. Although not within the scope of this book, an account by a member of Team "B" would be of interest in providing "the rest of the story."

This book is highly recommended to those interested in high altitude mountaineering and to those interested in some lessons in leadership.

Not Exactly Inspirational.......2006-08-01

I have read a number of mountain climbing books over the past few months, and this was the least enjoyable of the bunch. The problem is both the subject matter and the writing style. The expedition itself seemed like a mess--two leaders, one of whom lost interest half-way through and left the country, the other of whom didn't seem to notice or care that his lovely college-age (I think) daughter was dangerously ill. A team that had widely different ideas about what the goals of the expedition were and who never overcame those differences in philosophy and skill-level. And a climb scheduled at the wrong time of the year to accomodate the teaching schedule of the leader who left half-way through. It's surprising that Roskelley and two other members got to the top of the mountain, but by the time they did, I couldn't even take any joy in their accomplishment.

The other problem, and perhaps the more serious as far as the worth of this as a book, is that it is Roskelley's first book and it shows. It is apparent much of the time that his narration is barely edited diary entries. The narrative doesn't have the flow and the perspective that fully-fleshed-out story-telling requires. Many of his sentences are short and wooden; for example: "The weather was bad." There is little attempt to make the technical aspects of the climb comprehensible to non-climbers.

All in all, the book left me feeling depressed. Many mountain-climbing books have a tragic tale to tell, of human error and over-powering difficulties, and yet something of the human spirit, of the struggle to overcome, shine through. But perhaps as a result of the personality of John Roskelley, this story just seemed pitiful and sad.

Nanda Devi.......2003-01-12

Between the fragmented leadership, conflicting agenda's of the climbers and general lack of cooperation between various members of the expedition it's a small wonder that more people weren't seriously injured or killed. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The suspense that John Roskelly creates is fantastic. With so many possible things that could go wrong...

Fantastic account.......2002-01-05

Wow. My first reaction on reading this book was amazement as to how dysfunctional this team was due to the fractured leadership style. The inability of the strongest climbers to agree on strategy and work loads contributed to the team's overall slowness on the climb. Yet they still managed to put people on top of the mountain. Other climbing expedition books often make allusions to similar types of disagreements on strategy and plan but this one really lays it all out in front of you.

My second reaction was that there are surely two or more sides to any story -- this version of the climb was surely colored by Roskelley's own self-acknowledged aggressive personality and his bias/perceptions of what his team members were thinking at each step of the way. The second afterword from Roskelley describes a bit more of other team members' own reactions.

The story was compelling but I left one star off the review because the writing style was somewhat wooden. Plus, I wanted to hear more about the climb from someone other than Roskelley to get a different perspective.

Tragedy and Conflict.......2002-01-05

This is an exceptional book detailing a famous and tragic climb up Nanda Devi. What makes this book exceptional is not the detail of the tragedy but rather the lack of teamwork in this expedition and the author's role in the conflict. The closing remarks also frame the danger in being a high altitude climber as eventually 4 of the 13 members of this team die on the mountains in later years.

This expedition had two leaders, uncommon for high altitude expeditions. Initial meetings detail disagreements in selection of climbers and goals for the climb. With no clear leader, these initial disagreements festered on the mountain and contributed to the partial failure of the expedition. But the unique perspective of this book is that the author appears to be the central antagonist in the disagreements. Now clearly, he writes from his perspective and supports his position in a no compromise, "perfection" oriented climbing method. But it's clear these conflicts are partially his fault as he has minimal compromising capabilities which exasperates the team leaders. I've never read a climbing adventure so centered on a conflict that ends in such tragic proportions.

The characters on this climb are expertly described by the author and the expedition is described in detail. I hesitate to provide details of the climb so you might enjoy the excitement in the read but suffice to say, the most compelling human being on the mountain ends up in the most precarious fate. Read this book if you enjoy climbing or tales of adventure. You will not be disappointed.

Average customer rating:
NANDA DEVI - THE TRAGIC EXPEDITION
ROSKELLEY JOHN
Manufacturer: AVON BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PGMFZW

Average customer rating:
Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition
John Roskelley
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQM5TA

Average customer rating:

You can't learn a language without audio

Jimi's book rules

It's ok

Jimi's Book of Japanese is Brilliant Basic Japanese Instruction

Kids fun book.

Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana)
Peter X. Takahashi
Manufacturer: Takahashi & Black
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japanese | Instruction | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Japanese | Multilingual | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Katakana) (Jimi's Book of Japanese)

Let's Learn Japanese Picture Dictionary

Kana Pict-O-Graphix: Mnemonics for Japanese Hiragana and Katakana

Japanese Step by Step : An Innovative Approach to Speaking and Reading Japanese

Let's Learn Hiragana: First Book of Basic Japanese Writing (Kodansha's Children's Classics)

ASIN: 0972324704

Product Description

*WINNER* Parents' Choice Award

*WINNER* IPPY Award, Education/Teaching/Academic

*WINNER* I.D. Magazine Design Distinction Award

*WINNER* Print Magazine Design Excellence Award

Designed to appeal to a wide age range and a variety of attention spans, "Jimi's Book of Japanese" is for everyone who is learning Japanese and for anyone who has an inquisitive brain.

Put your kutsu on, grab your keitai denwa, and join Jimi, Akiko, and Robotto-san on an exciting insider's journey to learning basic Japanese. Along the way, you'll discover the secrets of using (o)hashi, how to find a unagi shop-even how to practice ojigi through eye-popping illustrations and simple explanations.

Designed to appeal to a wide age range and a variety of attention spans, Jimi's Book of Japanese is for everyone who is learning Japanese and for anyone who has an inquisitive brain.

Read, write, pronounce. Trace, flip…laugh! This friendly book's Triple Bubble Learning System(TM) makes the 46 most important hiragana stick in your brain. Plus, you'll learn over 125 useful vocabulary.

On each page, there's giant kana with stroke order arrows, an illustrated pronunciation key, and vocabulary in Japanese and English. All words are matched with authentic descriptions and colorful characters whose lively expressions make learning Japanese unforgettable.

Additional features include a helpful introduction with tips on Japanese language basics, a large word list with definitions, and a numbers page. There's even a color-coded hiragana table! Prepare your brain!

Highlights

-Master the 46 most important hiragana

-Learn to read, write, pronounce kana from A to WO

-Learn to count from ichi to gojuni

PLUS

-More than 250 full-color illustrations

-Over 125 up-to-date vocabulary, simple definitions

-Quick-reference visual library

-Color-coded hiragana table

-Ready-to-use culture tips, greetings, and MORE!

-BONU

Customer Reviews:

You can't learn a language without audio.......2007-09-30
You seriously cannot learn another language without audio. This is very true when it comes to asian languages. The book is good for learning how to write and the proper direction. Along with, additional words to add to your vocabulary. I am glade it doesn't have only romaji on the those words either. But, i could not learn the basics through this book. Too much was going on inside to concentrate on the goal at hand. I would recommend anyone that doesn't use a computer program to get flash cards with audio and even the dumbest user, like myself; can learn the Japanese basics.
Jimi's book rules.......2007-08-23
it's a real good book, but they got to make a new edition with all kana. The book shows how to draw 46 of 104 existing kana. I really enjoy it. However I think it should have more pages :D Both books are great : Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana) and Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Katakana)
It's ok.......2007-06-27
I bought both Hiragana and Katakana, I thought they were card. the book is ok, nothing to go wild about.
Jimi's Book of Japanese is Brilliant Basic Japanese Instruction.......2007-03-25
Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana)

After hearing inumerable Japanese phrases and other assorted Asian utterances--most likely from the hours my 9-year old niece spends watching Samurai Jack and Avatar--I bought her two books in the Jimi's Book of Japanese series in an attempt to at least encourage her to further her foreign language efforts in a meaningful way.

These books are great. After a brief period of time she's mastered both basic syllable sets of modern Japanese. I am happy to say that I would recommend both books to anyone who is looking to motivate their kids/relatives to expand their intellectual horizons.

JIMI'S BOOK OF JAPANESE: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana) by Peter X. Takahashi, illus. by Yumie Toka, (Takahashi & Black, 2nd Edition, ISBN 0972324704, $16.95, Trade Paperback,).

Paperback: 72 pages
Publisher: Takahashi & Black (December 1, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0972324704
ISBN-13: 978-0972324700
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches

See also Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Katakana) (Jimi's Book of Japanese)
Kids fun book........2006-08-06
I began to learn Japanese over 2 years ago.
When first looking for interesting books to help me study, i came across this book. I thought that it would be fun for me to read and learn with colourful pictures. However, I was quite wrong after receiving this book. If you are an educated person who is trying to learn Kana, this book is NOT for you. It offers no real memorization techniques.

To be honest I opened and read this book 2 times before never opening it again, it is still in mint condition.
If you are actually interested in learning the Kana i would suggest:
Remebering the Kana by James Heisig

If you are a parent looking to interest your children in another language, I think this book would be interesting for a child that is less than 13 years old.

Average customer rating:

Jimi's book rules

It's ok

Jimi's Book of Japanese Sequel: As Fantastic as the First

Jimi Makes it Fun!

Excellent book to learn Katakana

Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Katakana) (Jimi's Book of Japanese)
Peter X. Takahashi , Yumie Toka , and Mikki Moto
Manufacturer: PB&J Omnimedia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
Japanese | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
Japanese | Instruction | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Pedagogy | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana)

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Kanji Pict-O-Graphix: Over 1,000 Japanese Kanji and Kana Mnemonics (Zzz)

ASIN: 0972324720

Book Description
This second interactive book in the "Jimi's Book of Japanese" series is a publishing rarity: a sequel that is every bit as good as the original. So many sequels come off like a side dish nobody ordered. But "Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese(Katakana)" is just as fresh and entertaining as the original. The lessons pick up seamlessly from where the first book left off, and don't feel forced at all. There are dozens of fresh, entertaining illustrations and new characters like Dizzy Fugu. Plus, the bonus material is simply genius! After all, any book that has monkeys, robots, and assorted other creatures teaching you how to speak Japanese has to be cool--and this book certainly is. Perfect for the Japanophile in you.
Customer Reviews:

Jimi's book rules.......2007-08-23
it's a real good book, but they got to make a new edition with all kana. The book shows how to draw 46 of 104 existing kana. I really enjoy it. However I think it should have more pages :D Both books are great : Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana) and Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Katakana)
It's ok.......2007-06-27
I bought both Hiragana and Katakana. I thought they were card. :(
It's ok, nothing to go wild about
Jimi's Book of Japanese Sequel: As Fantastic as the First.......2007-03-25
Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Katakana) (Jimi's Book of Japanese)

After hearing inumerable Japanese phrases and other assorted Asian utterances--most likely from the hours my 9-year old niece spends watching Samurai Jack and Avatar--I bought her two books in the Jimi's Book of Japanese series in an attempt to at least encourage her to further her foreign language efforts in a meaningful way.

These books are great. After a brief period of time she's mastered both basic syllable sets of modern Japanese. I am happy to say I would recommend both books to anyone who is looking to motivate their kids/relatives to expand their intellectual horizons.

JIMI'S BOOK OF JAPANESE: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Katakana) by Peter X. Takahashi, illus. by Yumie Toka, (Takahashi & Black, ISBN 0972324720 16.95, 76pp.)

See also Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana)
Jimi Makes it Fun!.......2007-01-03
I actually bought this book for a friend of my eldest daughter, who is a Manga fiend and loves Japanese. But I actually ended up keeping the book and I have been studying it with my five year old daughter. We have great fun practicing writing the "kani," and she looks forward to it. It's a great book with fun illustrations and nice colors. It is just right for beginning a study of Japanese characters.
Excellent book to learn Katakana.......2005-09-07
This is a fantastic visual practice folder on how to pronounce, write and learn the Katakana letters in the japanese language.

Average customer rating:

Cute

Loved the first one, but this one doesn't hold a candle.

Let's Find Fairies......

You and your preschooler will love this book!

Stella, Fairy of the Forest
Marie-Louise Gay
Manufacturer: Groundwood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Gay, Marie-Louise | ( G ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

Stella, Princess of the Sky (Stella)

Stella, Star of the Sea (Stella)

Stella, Queen of the Snow (Stella)

Good Morning Sam (Stella)

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ASIN: 0888994486

Amazon.com
Stella has as much moxie as Eloise and as much confidence (and red hair) as Pippi, but her spirit of adventure, overactive imagination, and older-sister omniscience catapult her into a league of her own. We met the inquisitive, impulsive Stella and her less reckless little brother, Sam, in Stella, Star of the Sea and in Stella, Queen of the Snow, but are newly delighted with Stella, Sam, and their faithful dog's thoroughly charming foray into the forest.
Stella has seen hundreds of fairies. Sam think he sees one, too, tiny and beautiful, but it is only a butterfly, Stella tells him. "'Do butterflies eat butter?'" asked Sam. 'Yellow butterflies do,' said Stella." As much as Stella seems to know, however, Sam knows a few things, too. That blue butterflies must eat pieces of blue sky, for instance. And that despite her insistence to the contrary, the "rock" in the stream was moving.
Marie-Louise Gay's friendly, engaging watercolors crawl with tiny snails and other woodland creatures that readers might miss the first time through. Stella, Fairy of the Forest will warm the hearts of children and adults alike, especially those who believe that a walk in the woods is an at least potentially magical adventure. (Ages 3 to 8) --Karin Snelson
Book Description

In their third adventure, Stella and her little brother cross a field and a creek before spending the day in the forest. Butterflies, snakes, rocks, and sheep provide fuel for Sam’s curious-little-brother questions and Stella’s big-sister answers as they explore the outdoor world. Gay’s watercolors bring the forest alive as the two journey toward their very own fort where Sam resolves to stay forever. Marie-Louise Gay is a multiple-time winner of Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Award, Canada's Mr. Christie's Book Award, and others. “Gay’s illustrations, done primarily in watercolors with a touch of paper collage, are bright and have a whimsical touch.” — School Library Journal

Customer Reviews:

Cute.......2004-03-05
Stella and her little brother Sam go to play in the forest. Sam has a lot of fears, but Stella, who is a know-it-all, dismisses them by reassuring Sam that bears sleep during the day, and snakes are too small to swallow people. The story is cute, but not always accurate. It has about 600 words.
Loved the first one, but this one doesn't hold a candle........2003-01-28
I loved Stella Star of the Sea. The illustrations with that flaming red hair and subtly comic dog, Sam's conservative and inquisitive nature. Stella Queen of the Snow was okay, but didn't have the same uniqueness. The dialogue seemed a bit forced and not as charming as the first. I am sadly disappointed with Stella Fairy of the Forest. It doesn't have any of the wonderful qualities of the Star of the Sea.
Let's Find Fairies.............2002-06-24
Stella's back, with her self-assured manner and flaming red hair, and she's ready to take her little brother, Sam, on a forest adventure in search of fairies. And as they walk through the meadow filled with wild flowers and sheep, and cross the stream on stepping stones, Sam is filled with questions and thoughtful comments about the world around them, and as always Stella has all the answers. "Do butterflies eat butter?" asked Sam. "Yellow butterflies do," said Stella. "Then I guess blue butterflies eat pieces of sky," said Sam. And so it goes as they enter the forest filled with "big old trees." "Are they older than Grandma?" asked Sam. "Almost," said Stella. "They must be at least a hundred years old." "Is that why their skin is so wrinkled?" asked Sam. "That's not skin," said Stella. "That's bark." "Grandma's bark is much softer," said Sam. "Especially on her cheeks." The adventure continues as they watch and discuss forest animals, snakes, and the origin and growth of rocks, build a forest house out of ferns and branches, and watch for fairies..... No one captures the essence of small children, out for a day of imaginative fun and adventure quite like Marie-Louise Gay. Her gentle text is entertaining and engaging, and her ear for sibling dialogue and chatter is unrivaled. It's easy to believe that you're tagging along with Stella and Sam, and listening in on their conversations. Ms Gay's bright and expressive illustrations are captivating, and filled with joy, whimsy, and marvelous detail. Together word and art offer a feast for both the ears and eyes. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Stella Fairy Of The Forest is a wonderful new addition to Ms Gay's Stella series. Read them all and enjoy!
You and your preschooler will love this book!.......2002-04-07
Marie-Louis Gay's books about Sam and Stella are marvelous. This, their third adventure, begins when Sam asks Stella about fairies. Stella knows just where to find some. She leads Sam through meadows, across a stream and into a magical forest.
This story is truly lovely especially in its treatment of the siblings' relationship. Ms. Gay's illustrations have a special quality particularly her depictions of the delightful red-head, Stella. Don't miss it!

Average customer rating:

Stell, Fairy of the Forest

Stella, Fairy of the Forest (Stella)
Marie-Louise Gay
Manufacturer: Groundwood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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( G ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books | Galdone, Paul | George, Jean Craighead | Gibbons, Gail | Grahame, Kenneth | Gutman, Dan
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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Similar Items:

Stella, Star of the Sea (Stella)

Stella, Princess of the Sky (Stella)

Stella, Queen of the Snow (Stella)

What Are You Doing, Sam?

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ASIN: 0888997108

Book Description

In their third adventure, Stella and her little brother, Sam, explore the magic of the forest. Butterflies, snakes, rocks and sheep provide fuel for Sam's curious little-brother questions and Stella's confident big-sister answers. Stella, Fairy of the Forest is gently humorous and perfectly captures the playful yet trusting relationship between Stella and Sam.

Marie-Louise Gay's exquisite, joy-filled watercolor illustrations bring the wonder of the forest alive as the duo journey towards their fort where Sam resolves to stay forever.

Customer Reviews:

Stell, Fairy of the Forest.......2007-08-12
This is my grandson Sam's favorite of the 'Stella & Sam' series. I can't choose because I love them all. Even though he is 7 years old he still loves to have all these books read to him and I of course totally enjoy it right along with him.

Average customer rating:
Estela, Hada Del Bosque/stella, Fairy of the Forest
M. Gay
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Stories | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Gay, Marie-Louise | ( G ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
4 a 8 años | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books | General | Libros con Dibujos
( G ) | Autores e Ilustradores, A-Z | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1417745630

Average customer rating:
Stella: Fairy of the Forest
Marie-Louise Gay
Manufacturer: Douglas & McIntyre
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JEB9V6

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