History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Funny, easy read
Love the Wimpy Kid
Makes kids want to read!
8 year old fan
Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney
Manufacturer: Abrams Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810993139

Book Description

Boys donÂ't keep diariesÂ—or do they?

The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to

ItÂ's a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before youÂ're ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.

In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when RowleyÂ's star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friendÂ's newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion.

Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, Â“Just donÂ't expect me to be all Â`Dear DiaryÂ' this and Â`Dear DiaryÂ' that.Â” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he wonÂ't do and what he actually does are two very different things.

Since its launch in May 2004 on Funbrain.com, the Web version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been viewed by 20 million unique online readers. This year, it is averaging 70,000 readers a day.

Customer Reviews:

Funny, easy read.......2007-10-18

My nine year old son and I both read this book. I am an avid reader, he is not as of yet, but he read this book cover to cover quite quickly. He loved it!!! Parts of it were laugh out loud funny and made you want to read them out loud to anyone else in the room.

Love the Wimpy Kid.......2007-10-11

My 8 year old son bought this book from his school book fair after seeing it in the handout. It was a very popular book this year. When my son got his there were only 2 books left. So he bought it and he LOVED it!! He read it in about 3 days. He has never read a book of this size (200+ pages) on his own. He read it on the bus and came home and read it on the couch with NO TV!!! Then he read it to go to sleep. It was so cute to hear him laugh out loud while he was reading. Now he wants more Wimpy Kid books. I hope they keep 'em coming. Thanks for reading my post.

Makes kids want to read!.......2007-10-08

I purchased this book for my 12 year old daughter as something lighthearted to read on top of her expansive list of challenging novels. She finished it in an hour, laughing all the way. I started reading it to my 6 year old son -- the first few entries were hilarious! He then picked it up on his own because he couldn't wait for me to continue. He just started reading simple chapter books and I was surprised that he mowed through this in a weekend. I think the comic style and large font were unintimidating, and the text was engaging and downright funny. Although this book is about a middle schooler, even much younger kids will appreciate the humor.

8 year old fan.......2007-10-05

My eight year old boy was having a difficult time finding things to read. So I was relieved to find something besides Captain Underpants that he can get excited about. The style of the book is accessible -- lots of white space, informal dialogue, and frequent cartoon illustrations. It's about middle school, but younger children will still enjoy it.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid.......2007-10-03

I am like the other parents who have sons who are not that crazy about reading. He got this book and read it in two and half days. Also he is very excited about the next book. I just want to say this is a great book.

The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: Volume One: The Early Church to the Reformation (Story of Christianity)

Average customer rating:

Thorough and readable
Excellent introduction to the 1st 1500 years of Church history
Strong historical survey
Opening Narrative to the Story of Christianity
An excellent introduction

The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: Volume One: The Early Church to the Reformation (Story of Christianity)
Justo L. Gonzalez
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060633158

Book Description

The Story of Christianity, Volume 1, is an informative, interesting, and consistently readable narrative history. It brings alive the people, dramatic events, and ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of Europe, such as the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the New World. Historian Justo Gonzalez shows how various social, political, and economic movements affected Christianity's internal growth.

Gonzalez skillfully weaves in relevant details from the lives of prominent figures from the apostles to John Wycliffe, tracing out core theological issues and developments as reflected in the lives and struggles of leading thinkers within the various traditions of the church. "The history of the church, while showing all the characteristics fo human history, is much more than the history of an institution or movement," Gonzalez stresses. "It is a history of the deeds of the spirit in and through the men and women who have gone before in the faith." The Story of Christianity demonstrates at each point what new challenges and opportunities faced the church, and how Christians struggled with the various options open to them, thereby shaping the future direction of the church.

The Story of Christianity will serve as a fascinating introduction to the panoramic history of Christianity for students and teachers of church history, for pastors, and for general readers.

Customer Reviews:

Thorough and readable.......2007-09-27

As a former history major and social studies teacher I have read a lot of history books. Gonzalez's "The Story of Christinity: Vol. 1" is one of the best history books I've read b/c of its amazing readability. Like the title implies Gonzalez is telling a story and it was such a well told story that I found myself reading far ahead of the class reading assignments for my Ancient Church History class in seminary. The book covers Christian history from just after the time of the Apostles right through to the Renaissance. In addition to readability this book's main strength is that it covers Church history in Africa, Asia, and the South American in addition to Europe. This opens up a whole new world to most of us who have only heard the story of the Church in Europe. There were so many amazing stories that I want to know more and will read some of the suggested readings Gonzalez compiled at the end of each section. Lastly, this book is one of the best I've read b/c it does not shrink from telling the inspiring stories Christians need to spur us on to greater love for God, but it also tells the stories that we don't want to hear about the evil that has been done in the name of Christ by many well-meaing and not so well-meaning people through the ages. This book is a must read!

Excellent introduction to the 1st 1500 years of Church history.......2007-03-16

I read this book as a layman somewhat well-read in theology, but less so in church history. Given that, I thought Gonzalez' work fantastically fit the bill as an introduction to the growth of the church.

The book is logically broken down into several chronological segments, to include the apostolic church, the early post-apostolic church, the imperial church, and on into the medieval church. Within each of these blocks of time, Gonzalez covers the growth of the church, and the actions of Christians, through the major geographical centers and with respect to the major geopolitical events. For example: the early growth of the church through a somewhat ambivalent Roman empire, primarily between Jewish communities; the early martyrs as the Roman empire grew hostile; the growth of monasticism, encouraged by the imperial adoption of Christianity and the new "ease" of becoming a Christian; the various heresies that developed, and the responses of the various councils as doctrine was codified; and so forth.

The primary emphasis is on the Western church, ie, the Catholic Church in its centers of both Rome and Constantinople. A balanced coverage is given to the various theological centers, although the trend is westward as the church begins to split. Reasonable coverage is given to Eastern Orthodoxy, but the emphasis at the dawn of the second millenium is on the Roman Catholic Church, tracking both the honorable and less than honorable actions of popes, councils, and bishops leading toward the Reformation. In addition to the actions of the major portions of the visible church, due attention is given to various groups (eg, the Waldensians, the Hussites) whose thought was a precursor to, or even influenced, later groups such as the Reformers.

As I understand it, Gonzalez is a Protestant. This is probably detectable in the book, but all in all he gives a fair and balanced coverage of the various groups of the church. Mention is also made of other, perhaps lesser known, aspects of the church, to include the Persian church, the Indian church, and, briefly, the spread of Christianity to China. For significant depth in these areas, one would do well to continue on to other resources as well.

The only weak point I'll highlight is footnotes. Gonzalez' gives "Suggested Reading" lists at the end of each major section of the book, but footnotes would be a useful addition to highlight, for example, source materials for some of the more esoteric pieces of information about the early church.

As an intro to church history, this book is a "must read"!

Strong historical survey.......2007-01-12

This is a very accessible, readable history, but it's extremely thorough, and useful for many applications. Highly recommended.

Opening Narrative to the Story of Christianity.......2006-12-07

This is a summary of the first seventeen pages of The Story of Christianity, Volume 1, The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation. This book was written by Justo L. Gonzalez. In the early chapters of this writing, it is clear that the author is writing in narrative form and that subsequent chapters merely build upon the earlier issues or incidences that occur as the history of the church is unfolded.
Firstly, the author asserts that Christians were first-century Jews. To describe Christianity, Gonzalez then goes on to examine the geography of its beginnings, the culture and politics of the day, and variations to the normal views. Palestine becomes a central location to many of the narratives concerning Christianity's growth. The author implies that Christianity spread because of the location of Palestine; and that because it was invaded regularly for its resources, that other nations were exposed to it. Despite the Hellenistic culture of the day, Christians would not bow to other gods that came with the culture and therefore became known to be obstinate. This seeming obstinance led to Roman authorities putting down the seemingly `Christian rebellion,' but more likely was a reaction to radical or Zealot Jews than to Jewish Christians. Within Judaism there were varying beliefs.....some conservative and others more liberal in their beliefs. Notably so, were the Pharisees, who believed in a final resurrection; as opposed to the Sadducees, who did not. In addition was a group called the Essenes, who were a sect that withdrew from the larger number of Jews and believed that the end of the world would be sooner than later. Because the Sadducees were more involved in the temple, their philosophy began to disappear with the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.
Secondly, although the temple was destroyed, Christianity continued to blossom despite language barriers, counter-cultural issues, and politics. Because of new language barriers, the Hebrew Old Testament had to be translated into Greek and Aramaic. The Greek translation was known as the Septuagint, which helped spread the message to Gentiles. Some Jews fought to avert being assimilated into the Hellenistic culture, while others sought to integrate with the culture to further the recording of Jewish history. Finally, the politics of the day became troublesome for early Christians being that citizens would be required to bow to a Pantheon of gods and the Roman emperor himself. Certainly, there were advantages during the Roman rule such as protection of certain individuals under the law, the latitude that some rulers had with the law, which brought a level of `civilization' to the time. But, those same characteristics also brought abuse in some cases. That is when certain philosophical ideas would help Christians explain their faith in a climate that favored reason and logic.
This book is awesome in the way that it narrates the story of historical christianity. It makes it easy to understancd why historical personalities did what they did.

An excellent introduction.......2006-03-03

Recently I was asked to recommend some books for a burgeoning scholar of early Christianity and this was the first book I chose. It offers a very good introduction to the history of Western Christianity, treating most subjects well despite limited space. Still this book is not meant to be comprehensive, but instead to provide the basics of the Christian story in the West, and it does a fine job of this.

The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories

Average customer rating:

Great for a Little House fan
The Little House Cookbook
Lot's of fun
The Little House Cookbook
I love LH books but...

The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories
Barbara M. Walker
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064460908

Book Description

More than 100 recipes introduce the foods and cooking of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s pioneer childhood, chronicled in her classic Little House books.

Notable Children’s Books of 1979 (ALA)
Best Books of 1979 (SLJ)
Notable 1979 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Children's Books of 1979 (Library of Congress)
1980 Western Heritage Award

Customer Reviews:

Great for a Little House fan.......2007-09-20

As a big fan of the Little House books I was really excited to get this cook book. It is full of great info and is good for learning about how they cooked (and what they cooked) in the past. I wouldn't plan on using it as a day to day cook book, but for something fun or to understand the Little House books better, it's a great buy.

The Little House Cookbook.......2007-08-11

Fantastic! I am a docent at an 1800's prairie settlement and I use some of the recipes in the summer kitchen. The lemonade was recently a big hit!

Lot's of fun.......2007-01-11

This book is a lot of fun for the people who love food, the little house on the prairie, and the readings of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
With this it also has the extra of being a cook book with some great finger licking old fashion food.

The Little House Cookbook.......2006-11-04

Interesting and informative as to how people in Laura Ingalls time ate. The struggles of providing in those times involved far more than just running to the corner market. Nothing was wasted, everything had a use and the whole family became involved with the work. To eat in those days was work intensive. The book opens up a new appreciation for what we have now.

I love LH books but..........2005-11-08

I love LH books and read them before there was a TV show- I remember how at age 10 I enjoyed reading about Laura and Mary in the Big woods and how facinating it was to read about playing in the attic among all the food and goods the family had in storage. Laura Ingalls Wilder was so decriptive about the foods and acitivities of her childhood that it made you hungry for what they were about to eat and you felt a part of what was going on.
I am an avid reader and a history major and found the "Frontier Foods" book boring.
I was looking forward to using the kitchen to help get my children interested in history.I was disappointed with this book - Since it is called a cook book I was expecting a more recipes, of foods from the past. What I received was a book about a settler's life but much less interesting than the LH books. Also, the book has a good number of Garth Williams wonderful illustrations but it could have used more,since it is supposed to be a cook book for children.

Average customer rating:

A good one from Kay, though a bit under my expectations
A lovely, enlightened epic adventure
Beautiful prose, but highly contrived plot and ending.
A Song for Arbonne
I read my eyes out

Song For Arbonne, A
Guy Gavriel Kay
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517593122
Release Date: 1992-12-29

Book Description

"Elegant, sweeping, and colorful...one of those books you wish would never end." (San Francisco Chronicle)

This is the acclaimed novel about forbidden love, bitter rivalries, and power struggles, set in a world based on Eleanor of Aquitaine's France-from Guy Gavriel Kay, who "stands among the world's finest fantasy authors" (Montreal Gazette).

"This panoramic, absorbing novel beautifully creates an alternate version of the medieval world....Kay creates a vivid world of love and music, magic, and death." (Publishers Weekly)

"A richly ornamented and tightly woven tapestry, a panoramic and compelling tale....War, love, assassination, deception, kindness, heroism, loyalty, friendship, and magic mix...in startling, unexpected, and satisfying ways." (Locus)

"A cracking good fantasy novel." (Interzone)

"Kay has another hit on his hands." (Toronto Star)

"Rarely has a book come along that fulfills on so many levels without succumbing to stereotype or unbelievable characters ....Kay skillfully and lyrically paints a portrait of a land and the human hearts that inhabit it, complete with their failures and epiphanies." (Palm Beach Post)

"A novel of epic sweep and panoramic romance provides a sensual and stirring feast for readers." (South Bend Tribune)

Customer Reviews:

A good one from Kay, though a bit under my expectations.......2007-04-06

I will probably end up comparing every GGK novel that I read to Tigana, because I thought of that book often as I was reading this. Arbonne has a lot of the same themes: rival nations, good character development, good back story, love and betrayal, etc... The novel displays all of these themes well, though perhaps not as well as it's predecessor.

It took me until about two-thirds into this book before I really became engrossed. Until then, we had a lot of in depth characters (flawed heroes, sly musicians, noble counts and countesses) but not much reason to care about what happened to any of them. It wasn't until the last third or so of the book, when we start seeing more POVs from Arbonne's rival nation Gorhaut, that these story archs start tying together and making the earlier segments more relevant. Once the last act really starts moving, the book became engaging and the pages flew by. Still, even after finishing the book, I couldn't help but think that something I was waiting for had been missing the whole time.

In Tigana, we knew exactly why the heroes fought and what they fought for. It was a story of revenge and redemption and an evil magic used to erase an entire people. There was a passion in their cause and a villain you could truly hate yet love at the same time. In Arbonne, we have two nations that will inevitebly fight each other because the poems say that they have to. We have villains who make excuses to go to war, (think of Rosala as Helen of Troy) simply because it is in their nature and their religious beliefs demand it. Because of this, it felt more like I was reading about these people from the sidelines than being involved as if I were actually there.

Still, this is Guy Gavriel Kay, and he does know how to write a book. His prose and dialogue are as always, excellent. His environments are descriptive and vibrant, his characters are heartfelt. Sure, some of the characters are cliches (Blaise is many cliches rolled into one) but you still care for them and cheer for them. This is a story of love, innocence, war and honor and Kay does well with all of these themes. Because it was written by him is why I give it 4 stars. Only Kay can take a story that is slightly cliche and contrived and whip it up into something enjoyable lke Arbonne. I will look forward to reading the rest of his work soon.

A lovely, enlightened epic adventure.......2006-08-25

The story starts out very slowly, at 100-plus pages into it I found myself wondering why I was still reading. But when the story picks up, it does so really quickly, so much so that I could not put it down afterwards. I loved the twists, the intrigues, and the raw passion and emotion involved in the politics and rivalries between the countries. What stood out particularly for me was the theme of destiny and how little incidents that occur in the lives of the characters are inexorably intertwined (with Blaise of Gorhaut at the crux of these crossroads), and how the decisions that people make can shape future events. The writing is richly detailed and sensitive, whether describing a joglar conveying the artistry of his troubador, or in recounting a fierce battle scene. The characters are strong and well-developed. I found Blaise Gorhaut to be especially likeable and noble. Despite having been raised by a sadistic and cunning father, he managed to rise out of his circumstances and refused to be molded into his fathers beliefs. Furthermore, whereas his father constantly derided women, Blaise treated them with respect and courtesy.

Although the book is not overtly feminist, it does carry somewhat feminist (for lack of a better word) undertones. Arbonne acknowledges BOTH a god and a goddess deity, representing a state of balance of the masculine yang with the feminine yin, whereas Gorhaut, Gotzland, and other lands represent the unbalanced, patriarchal societal in which women are treated as second class citizens. This is interesting in light of the fact that early societies initially started out as matriarchies, as evidenced by the Goddess/pagan religions, which, with the advent of Christianity, became supplanted by male-dominated societies. Perhaps the future of our society is headed towards one similar to that of Arbonnes, where neither male nor female are better than the other, and both share mutual respect and equal footing all while keeping their respective masculinity and femininity intact.

Beautiful prose, but highly contrived plot and ending........2006-08-01

Arbonne and Gorhaut--two lands as different as the sun and the shadowed moon.

In the south, the olive trees and vineyards of Arbonne flourish, as the troubadours fill the air with the music of love and desire. To the north, the history of Gorhaut has been forged with blood and fire, and now a degenerate king and his ruthless advisor seek to quench a thirst for conquest by sweeping down upon Arbonne. But the land of courtly love is also a land of passion, willing to wage a complex and cunning fight to survive.

This epic fantasy is inspired by the troubadour culture of Provence and the historical events of the Albigensian Crusade in the 13th century. Those who do not truly understand Arbonne--a land of goddess-worshippers ruled by a woman, a place that values song and the romantic conventions of love above all things--might think of it as weak. Certainly, that's what Blaise, a wandering young knight embittered by recent events in his home country of Gorhaut, believes at first. But Blaise gradually discerns the hidden strength of Arbonne, and his dawning respect for the land and its people as well as his passionate love for his own kingdom will lead him to defend Arbonne and Gorhaut against the man he perceives as a threat to both: Gorhaut's most powerful cleric--Blaise's father.

This is a wonderful book, filled with many characters with interesting potential. One major regret was that some of the characters I found most interesting, such as Blaise's assassin friend from an analogy to an Italian city-state, or the homosexual husband of Ariane Barbentaine, don't receive the development that they deserve. The assassin fellow is fascinating enough to star in his own series. Also lacking development is Bertrand's rival, and late husband to his lost love, who lurks like a menacing cloud behind the Barbentaine court and over the heads of other major characters, but whose ultimate actions and motivations remain a mystery.

Regardless, as one other reviewer said, it's easy to ascertain when an event of some great importance to the story is set to occur, as every major character suddenly appears in the room. The book is also pretty heavy handed with "real men", the rough and tumble types, but glorifies the delicate yet artistic types that one can only assume Kay himself identifies with. While the writing style builds to a fairly interesting emotional level in the first quarter of the book, by the time we actually reach Arbonne, the tone changes so much you feel Kay is driving home a personal point, and the book starts to feel more than a bit "preachy".

Finally, the dénouement is somewhat contrived, in that it appears that the main enemy, in the person of Blaise's father, has only had Blaise's best interests, as he perceives them, at heart all along. His crimes on behalf of Gorhaut, and ultimate price paid for them, are merely stepping stones to ensure Blaise's security. One's credulity can only be stretched so far.

Regardless, the prose is, indeed, beautiful, and I'm currently starting Tigana, in hopes of a rather better story with more believable character motivations. After that, there's always the Sarantine Mosaic, and Lions of Al Rassan.

A Song for Arbonne.......2006-04-25

I think I am different from most Guy Gavriel Kay fans in that I really didn't care much for his novel, Tigana, and I LOVED A Song for Arbonne.

The story has a great blend of history, action, romance and drama. Taking place in a fantastical French Provence, Kay details a country built on art and culture, worshipping a godess (therefore making it "womanish") and its passion to stay afloat in a world ruled by men and war. The characters are richly-written, the story well-told, and the setting perfectly chosen.

This is the sort of book you can read once and be captivated. And to come back to it after a long absence is like finding an old friend all over again.

Beware- last I saw, this Roc paperback edition of this book had a VERY important typo in it, that can change the way you read the ending of the book. I don't know if this has been taken care of yet, but it's something to take note of.

I read my eyes out.......2006-02-22

A bitterly triumphant tale of love, hate, and nobility of spirit. This is a beautifully woven novel that defines the bounds of true patriotism in a historically accurate setting, where the true of heart manage to prevail, but with staggering losses-a truth that the kitsch of most fantasy novels ignores completely. Do not allow this novel to be darkened by the shadow of the award-winning Tigana, either: the emotions are just as strongly felt and the political themes just as relevant. In the end, simply an engaging novel that I failed to put aside until sleep claimed me in the larger hours of the morning. Don't miss this!

The Story of the World: Activity Book Two: The Middle Ages

Average customer rating:

An Excellent World History Primer
Great homeschooling tool....
Like the copy pages
A great resource
The Story of the World Activity Book Two: The Middle Ages

The Story of the World: Activity Book Two: The Middle Ages
Susan Wise Bauer
Manufacturer: Peace Hill Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Medieval | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0971412944

Book Description

This comprehensive activity book and curriculum guide contains all you need to make history come alive for your child!

Don't just read about history—experience it! Colro a picture of a Viking warrior, make an edible oasis, create a Moorish ruler's turban and Aztec jewelry and more. Designed to turn the accompanying book The Story of the World: Volume 2: The Middle Ages into a complete history program, this Activity Book provides you with comprehension questions and answers, sample narrations, maps and geography activities, coloring pages, lists of additional readings in history and literature, and plenty of simple, hands-on activities&151;all designed for grades 1-4.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent World History Primer.......2007-09-21

There is no doubt that this series is well written. My son read each of the four books in the span of less than a week. They really piqued his interest. These books will let you know what really turns on your child, but you'll need to go on for further, more in-depth review.

Can't recommend this series enough for the pre-teen set!

Great homeschooling tool...........2007-01-12

We love this book! It has everything I could ask for in activities for our history studies (except someone else to teach it!) My daughter loves to do the map work and make crafts that correspond with her lessons!

Like the copy pages.......2007-01-10

I love the copy pages and maps in this book. Also, the suggested reading lists are very helpful as are the chapter questions and review. However, I find about 70% of the activities are too complicated for a child to complete, maybe even for an adult to complete. Even if you want to do the activities you need much planning time to gather supplies. Otherwise it's an excellent buy.

A great resource.......2006-07-22

First the positive
Each book in this series is a complete introduction to history within a certain time frame, for example this one is about the Middle Ages. You will have to add your own history book to go along with this, this is just the lesson plan/idea book. (Usorne History of the World would be one example of the type of history book you might buy).

This book has a lot of ideas and activities in it all relating to the Middle Ages. There is cooking recipes, craft ideas, coloring pages, and so on. It is very comprehensive.

The one Negative Comment. It is very big and very thick. A large part of this is because it gets into the very basic ideas that most people do not need help remembering. That is, it provides a list of questions for each subject and page read. The questions are very basic and many of them you could think of yourself. However, this would be helpful for a first time home school mother who is not sure where to start.

Well worth the money. Enjoy.

The Story of the World Activity Book Two: The Middle Ages.......2006-03-17

I purchased the Activity Two Book because my son enjoyed the Activity One Book. This book is appropriate for Grades 1 through 4 and should be purchased "together" with The Story of the World Volume 2: The Middle Ages book. The activity book can be used in families with different-aged children. Each chapter includes a narration exercise, question and answer for oral and written review, cut-outs, coloring, maps, craft projects as well as a thorough list of suggested readings. There is something for everyone here to make learning history an enjoyable experience.

The Adventures Of Super Diaper Baby (Captain Underpants)

Average customer rating:

my son reads these over and over
It was great !!
Super Diaper Baby
Super Diaper Baby
Real muture

The Adventures Of Super Diaper Baby (Captain Underpants)
George Beard , and Harold Hutchins
Manufacturer: Blue Sky Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0439376068

Amazon.com

Move over, Captain Underpants! There's a tiny new superhero in town. Undaunted by Principal Krupp's insistence that their essay assignment on good citizenship not be another comic book about the briefs-clad warrior, fourth graders George and Harold decide to invent a new superhero. Super Diaper Baby is born! It's up to our fearless infant hero to save the planet from diabolical Deputy Doo-Doo and his reluctantly evil pooch, Danger Dog ("I'm not really evil. I'm just in it for the kibbles."). Several robotic battles, intergalactic digressions, and "flip-o-ramas" later, Super Diaper Baby has done his duty, and George and Harold are in trouble yet again with their principal. Still, it was worth it, as any fan of Dav Pilkey's lowbrow, scatologically inclined "epic novels" (The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman, etc.) will attest. George and Harold's spelling is atrocious, their humor is straight off the grade school playground, and kids love every page of it. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Oh, no! It's not enough that George and Harold have invented Captain Underpants, the greatest superhero of all time, and that they've also saved the world FIVE times! They defeated Dr. Diaper! They punished Professor Poopypants! And they whacked the wicked Wedgie Woman! What task could be worse?!!? This one: As punishment, the boys have to write a 100-page report on "good citizenship," and they have been specifically ordered NOT to write another comic about Captain Underpants. So what do they do? Aha! Meet Super Diaper Baby--the most powerful peewee to pack a punch. With Pilkey's typical over-the-edge humor, Super Diaper Baby will have kids laughing until soda comes out their noses.

Customer Reviews:

my son reads these over and over.......2007-04-13

I would recommend this book because it is clever and funny. There is a bit of bathroom humor but my son loves that and it keeps him reading. It is a trade off I am willing to make.

It was great !!.......2006-12-27

I loved when dumpty dangerous turned into poop. I read it every time I went to hockey practice. There is a lot of action in this book. You better check it out :)

Super Diaper Baby.......2006-03-30

Someone else would like to read this novel or book because it has great humor, action, and flip-o-roma which are two pages combined to make one. You use the flip-o-rama by holding down the second page and flipping the first page.

The themes in this story are courage and bravery. Super Diaper Baby fights crime against Dr.Poo Poo and his giant ant. That makes him couragous and brave.

Super Diaper Baby.......2006-03-23

Have you ever seen a baby just in a diaper fighting poop? In Super Diaper Baby, you will. It has flip-o-rama in every chapter! Flip-o-rama is when you flip the pages. It looks like the characters are moving. A deputy gets turned into poo and builds an invention to destroy Super Diaper Baby once and for all. Does Super Diaper Baby die? Read it to find out. Recommended for people with a great sense of humor.

by
Cordell

Real muture.......2006-01-11

I liked when Super diaper baby pooped in his so call "CRIB". And when deputy doodoo said "STOP CALLING ME THAT! Also, when Super Diaper Baby's mom said "Look in the sky it's an ant!" Then her husband said I'll smash it!" Then he looks out the window and like NEVERMIND! Then super diaper baby said 'I'll do it" and he did! I RECOMMEND YOU FINISH THE BOOK TO FIND OUT THE REST. IT IS THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq

Average customer rating:

Will Touch Any Bibliophile's Heart
PLEASE!
Agree to disagree
A rare portrayal of a strong Muslim woman
4 1/2 The Woman Who Saved a Library

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
Jeanette Winter
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Military & Wars | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0152054456

Book Description

"In the Koran, the first thing God said to Muhammad was 'Read.'"*
--Alia Muhammad Baker

Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in Basra, Iraq. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for those who love books. Until now. Now war has come, and Alia fears that the library--along with the thirty thousand books within it--will be destroyed forever.

In a war-stricken country where civilians--especially women--have little power, this true story about a librarian's struggle to save her community's priceless collection of books reminds us all how, throughout the world, the love of literature and the respect for knowledge know no boundaries.

Includes an author's note.
*From the New York Times, July 27, 2003

Customer Reviews:

Will Touch Any Bibliophile's Heart.......2007-06-08

The courageous story of one dedicated librarian, her friends, and how they saved the majority of books from Basra's Central Library from destruction. I have shared this book with folks from five to 50, and every last one of them was touched. It's simply a must for every classroom, library, and anyone who loves books, libraries, and reading.

PLEASE!.......2007-02-08

My wife and I brought our 5 year old son to an interview at a private school we were interested in. They had a box full of this particular book sitting there in front of us while the head-master was evaluating our son. My wife and I each picked-up a copy and flipped through it. I have no problem with childrens books about what's going on in Iraq if done properly. This isn't one of them. At one point, the iraqi woman (Alia) who saved the books shuttles them to her friends restaurant, and they hide them in sacks and curtains. Here's a sample of the story (and I'm paraphrasing - not for effect or an attempt to exaggerate anything, but only because I don't have the book in front of me): "Soldiers [the illustration depicts an american soldier] came to the door of the restaurant and asked Anis [the owner] why he has a gun. 'To protect my business' he replied. The soldiers didn't enter the restaurant, and so Alia and Anis knew the books would be safe." So that's the "hint of the United States' involvement" that the paid reviewers spoke of: Apparently, the evil americans were prepared to destroy all the books if discovered. Garbage.

Agree to disagree.......2006-06-08

I think this book will always divide its readership. I have worked in the past with a Lady from Iraq. A well educated, literate and articulate woman, who was educated in Iraq by Iraqi's so for those who think the Iraq was liberated rather than invaded and through the actions of George and Tony et al they will always believe that it was only those actions that allowed the people, women in particular a greater amount of freedom. That is not always the case... should we see ourselves as "saviours"? This will always be a matter for debate. As a Librarian myself I agree that given the right set of circumstances I would indeed take and look after the stock from my Library as I believe that information IS the key to power. So to this title's detractors yes, read in isolation it could be misleading, yes the "invasion/liberation" will have done some good and after many a long discussion with my former colleague, it has, HOWEVER for those who fall on the invasion side, I agree does any government have the right to do what ours (and I include the british here) have done? We are not Iraqi - we are not there, we will never PERSONALLY know. But read this book whichever camp you fall into, read it to your children, explain it to them in context. That is what you should do. Remember, BOOKS ARE POWERFUL I'm glad this book is generating so much discussion. This is what books do, the Librarian in the story understood this, that is what THIS book is about.

A rare portrayal of a strong Muslim woman.......2006-05-13

There are many wonderful things about this book which have already been mentioned by 27 of the other reviewers. However, what struck me the most was that Alia Muhammad Baker, the main character of The Librarian of Basra, is a strong Muslim woman who becomes a heroine in her struggle to preserve her faith and country's heritage at her cherished library.

This is very critical considering that most readers of this book probably view Muslim women as oppressed and passive as opposed to strong and committed to their faith.

Anyone who wishes to offer a more balanced presentation of Muslim women in their classroom or to their children should get this book and read it themselves and to kids.

4 1/2 The Woman Who Saved a Library.......2006-03-15

This contemporary story about an Iraqi librarian rescuing 70% of the Basra Central Library's books speaks of both individual courage and the irreplaceable value of books. It's based on actual events: With Allied bombers approaching Basra in April 2003, chief librarian Alia Muhammad Baker asks the local government for permission to move the books. For reasons not explained to the reader, official deny her request, "so Alia takes matters into her own hands." At first, she drives small loads to her home, but when the bombing begins and the library staff flees, she adopts a larger plan to save the books. A network of friends and relatives (most notably neighboring merchant Anis Muhammad) race to hide 30,000 books in Muhammad's nearby restaurant:

"'The books must be saved.' All through the night, Alia, Anis, his brothers, and shopkeepers and neighbors take the books from the library shelves, pass them over the seven-foot wall, and hide them in Anis' restaurant. The books stay hidden as the war rages on. Then, nine days later, a fire burns the library to the ground." As first reported by New York Times journalist Shaila K. Dewan, Baker and her friends waited out the bombs and then moved the thousands of books to the homes of friends, where, presumably, many of them still wait out the violence. An afterward explains that Alia Muhammad Baker suffered a stroke not long after and underwent heart surgery; she is "healing, and despite all, she is determined to see that the library is rebuilt."

The story begins weakly, largely due to some rather conventional pictures that evoke Saturday morning TV shows. Smooth, Western-looking faces speak about the impending war ("Will planes with bombs fill the sky?"), but the multitude of talking heads seems flat. (Older readers might like M. A. Stamaty's 32-page "Alia's Mission : Saving the Books of Iraq" for a more detailed and realistic version of the story.) However, Winter's introduction of the librarian personalizes the story, and her increasingly authentic pictures add realism and a sense of urgency to the rescue. In several dramatic scenes, Winter's bombing planes fill the fiery night sky, tanks shoot long lines of gunfire, and citizens flee against silhouetted minarets, domes, and palm trees. No bloodshed is shown, but Winter convincingly and appropriately shows the ensuing devastation. (There's also a 4-page daydream sequence about a peaceful Iraq, beautifully illustrated with colorful colors and motifs.) The Iraqi people who participated in Baker's "underground" book relocation probably risked their lives to save the books, and I expect that their story will evoke emotion and strong emotions and passionate discussion.

The Red Hat Society(R)'s Laugh Lines: Stories of Inspiration and Hattitude

Average customer rating:

The Red Hat Society(R)'s Laugh Lines: Stories of Inspiration and Hattitude
Sue Ellen Cooper
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0446695114

Book Description

The follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestseller The Red Hat Society is a collection of the RHS members' most memorably funny and touching stories. It's Chicken Soup for the Red Hat Soul. Life begins at 50! And the women of the Red Hat Society are proud of it. In THE RED HAT SOCIETY'S LAUGH LINES, Sue Ellen Cooper and the women of the RHS celebrate the life experiences that have made them who they are today. Over the years, they've accumulated well-earned laugh lines and cry-lines from wonderfully funny, incredibly touching stories that will warm readers' hearts and touch their souls. Just as there is so much more to each of these women than a purple outfit and a red hat, there's so much more to their lives than the RHS-from their husbands, children, and grandchildren to living life fabulously after 50. This book is a collection of some of the most touching and funniest stories that they want to share with their sisters, and is filled with sidebars recommending their favorite books and movies. With contributions from members across the country, this collection is bound to thrill all Red Hatters-and those who soon will be.

Can Adults Become Human (Dear Dumb Diary #5)

Average customer rating:

THIS BOOK IS GOOOD
can adults become human (dear dumb diary #5)
So Entertaining!
LOL! Too funny! Love it!
side splitting hilarious!

Can Adults Become Human (Dear Dumb Diary #5)
Jim Benton
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0439796210

Book Description

Jamie go school. School full savages. Savages be mean Jamie. Jamie teach hippo bite Angeline. Good hippo.

Customer Reviews:

THIS BOOK IS GOOOD.......2007-05-14

I loved this book! When i picked it up i could not put it down! I just keep on reading!!! I would recommend this book for everyone who love comedy books!!

can adults become human (dear dumb diary #5).......2006-11-10

My 10-year-old daughter , a picky reader, devoured this whole series. Easy to read, great illustrations, and absolutely hilarious. Book # 5 is just as funny as the first 4. I read them too. Laughed til I cried! Honestly!

So Entertaining! .......2006-11-08

L.O.L.! A hilarious adventure of Jamie Kelly! WHAT? Haven't read it? You're missing out on a lot! This one- the best of the whole series! Read this FUNNY, yes, the letters are capitalized, comedy of the great things Jamie does to live an interesting and funny life. Chao!

LOL! Too funny! Love it!.......2006-08-29

As you may or may not have known, jim benton, the happy bunny dude wrote these. there easy to read, and even my mom enjoys the series! I burst out laughing on every sentence. its too funny. all of my friends have borrowed the books, and they cabt let go of em! A must read.

side splitting hilarious!.......2006-06-09

I love this line of books. They are all very entertaining. I couldn't stop laughing.

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