I was delighted by 'Britain Then & Now,' Philip Ziegler's book on the amazing Francis Frith landscape photos of Victorian Britain, most of which have been updated by superb contemporary color landscape photos by John Cleare, or by landscape views taken in the same position several decades apart, say in 1900, 1920 & 1950. I have almost never seen this 'then & now' format used for sites in Britain, though it has been very frequently used for sites here in the United States. The changes to the landscape over so many decades are stunning, often shocking. Discover, for example, what is hidden behind the garish neon signage of Piccadilly Circus !! Not a book which is likely to please defenders of advertising, modernism, or "the ubiquitous motor vehicle," but which will not only please, but delight the rest of us. Architecture is supposed to be "the most public of the Fine Arts," yet one has to wonder how respectfully Britain's marvelous legacy of this artwork has been treated, after reading this volume.

After reading many books from Osbert Sitwell and buying first editions where I found them only now I have a perfect idea about who and what the man was. A splendid book which it was oimpossible to close after beginning. Everybody interested in this family and man should begin with this work. It is well written, humorous in a convincing way and perfectly thrustworthy and gives you by the way for the most important books "the critical heritage".I am sure every reader will after finishing this books start buying those which he has not been reading. Splendid.

Being a woman is one of God's most precious and complicated gifts. Woman assume so many roles in life:wife, mother, lover and friend are the most visible roles. But in Victoria Warren's moving and beautiful book CAN YOU FEEL ME? INTIMATE POETRY FOR THE WOMAN, THE WITCH, AND THE WHORE IN YOU, she captures the true essence of a woman.

The poems are poignant, real and so inspirational. My favorite poem is titled Be Strong, it lets readers know that no matter what their obstacles are, God will always be there for them. He will sustain, love and carry when necessary. I highly recommend this book to everyone because it will inspire and uplift.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I love this book!!! I got it today, and my girlfriend and I have been practically fighting over who gets to read each poem. Some of the poems were hillarious, yet others were just straight and to the point.....and I enjoyed every minute of it. I plan to buy 2 more copies for my other "single" girlfriends. It is definitely an "in your face" kind of book. This is a definite keeper.

Aside from the fact a reader will gain new appreciation for the Larssons and their art, a reason to purchase this book is that it is gorgeous. Good paper, excellent color reproductions, a nice heft. If you admire Larsson and Scandinavian culture, this book is a "must have."

I ordered this book sight-unseen as a gift, and thought "well, I like Carl Larsson's paintings, I'll get one for myself while I'm at it." I'm so glad I did! I realize that, before reading this delicious book, I had never really "seen" a Carl Larsson painting before. I didn't know that all those happy Swedish ninteenth-century domestic watercolor scenes actually documented Larsson's home and family, and I had no idea that his wife Karin was the creator of the fabrics, co-creator of the furniture and equal partner in what is not only a beautiful and original home environment, but one that has influenced interior design to this day, a hundred year later.

The text is written by different experts. I am not really sure that I come away from it with much sense of the Larssons' personalities in a detailed way, but the work speaks for itself and I consider this book to be more than just a valuable addition to my art library, but also as a great read and, even more -- a great "look".

I loved Victoria Holt books but I disliked the Jean Plaidys; so when I found out there was another name and that my aunt had most of the books, I was excited! I'm missing the first three and my series ends with this one, but I'll find the first and last books someday.

"Song of the Siren" is my favorite PC book, and "The Changeling" probably comes pretty close. I didn't expect the ending!!

Great book, great series. I'm eagerly awaiting the others!!

A story of love, envy, passion and betrayal, by Britain's famed historical romance novelist. Fatherless since birth, young Rebecca Mandeville soon becomes motherless as well, left with her infant sister, Belinda, in the custody of Benedict Lansdon, the stepfather she despises. As Rebecca grows into a clever beauty and Belinda into a hellion determined to get her way at all costs, another child, Lucie, is added to the household. Together they make a complex triangle laced with affection but also with jealousy. And when Benedict remarries, family tensions erupt in one catastrophe after another- blackmail, scandal, devastating accusations and the hint of passion made violent. But it isn't until Benedict's new wife disappears, amid cries of murder, that Rebecca and Benedict, together, are able to pick up the pieces of the shattered family to which both are bound. Rich in historical detail, this book is an evocative portrait of victorian England by one of England's greatest storytellers. You won't be disappointed !

I personally found this book to be very helpful in dispelling my own ignorance in many aspects of Dharma.
Sakya Pandita's straight forward teaching gives clear and precise view on practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
Sakya Pandita was one of five legendary founders of Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He is highly recognized by all 4 schools of Tibetan Buddhssm, and he was an emanation of Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri.
Sakya Pandita clearly points of many traps that an ignorant practitioner can get into without understanding of all the aspects of Dharma and the consequences of breacing the vows even due to the simple unawareness.
Sakya Pandita's teaching is like a clear and powerful light and should be studied by all, interested in Dharma.
In this book,Sakya Pandita explains how an ordinary practitioner can really breach all of his vows and connections with Dharma by misinterpretting its meaning. He clearly warns of danger of teaching Dharma by unqualified person, he clarifies all possible confusions about 3 vehicles of Dharma and honestly warns us to humbly study Dharma without creating any false fabrications in our own minds...
Sakya Pandita points that with many benefits of practicing Dharma, comes the great responsibility. And if we will not become aware of those, we can easily slide into many traps of our own ego and grow in huge, and create even more ignorance than before by feeding it our own misinterpretation of Dharma.
Even now, after many centuries, this teaching was given by this great Teacher, the hair on my body stands as I read his clear and meaningful instructions.
It is sort of like a father instructs his children on how to avoid all possible dangers and traps while travelling by foot at night in the mountains...
The least we can do for ourselves now, that we are attempting to understand deep meaing of the Tibetan Buddhism is to simply read this book and try to comprehend its meaning.

This book is the first English translation of the "sDom gsum rab dbye"--one of the most famous and controversial doctrinal treatises of Tibetan Buddhism written by Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltshen (1182 - 1251), a founder of the Sakya school and one of the Tibet's most learned sages

The author discusses the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Tantric vows of Buddhist conduct, which often diverge and contradict each other. He also points out how later practitioners of almost every lineage (including the Kadampa, Kagyupa and Nyingmapa) for contradicting the original teachings of their own traditions.

A very good book which provides much food for thought. Anyone contemplating on the Tibetan Buddhism path should read this first.

I loved this book and hated to see it end. It's part history, part art, part anthropology, and part travelogue and just a perfect read if you have an interest in any or all these subjects.

Findley's style is breezy but informative. The one chapter that got a little slow was the one on the violin/orange but then if you were a musician it might be just the right chapter!

I thoroughly enjoyed this reportage, where Victoria tracks down the origns of so many colours I knew from my childhood paintbox and later days with an aniline dyestuff manufacturer. However good the book is, and I highly recommend this to anyone interested in colourants and their origins, I was left wanting more......an upto date Part 2 please, to answer the questions that were left unanswered such as, "Is the lack of vivid bright orange just a reaction to the 60' & 70's overuse or is it still the case that cadmium orange (which does not get a mention) has not been replaced with anything quite as powerful? and what are the colours we now use in our paint boxes, wallpapers and so on?"

Why am I posing these questions, well Victoria is just the person to tell us auhtoritatively & accurately. I only had a few quibbles with the entire 400+ pages, one was an editor's slip that allowed India to be separated into Bangladesh, India & Pakistan in 1947! Which I am sure the author knows was not quite the instant route it seems (first it was the eastern half of the division known as Pakistan i.e. East Pakistan which then separated in 1971 I believe from West Pakistan and became Bangladesh). Another was the rather simlplistic way she refers to chemical formulas, yes of course AsS is a combination of 1 molecule each of arsenic & sulphur whereas As2S3 combines in the ratio of 2:3, however whether this means in fact the latter is any more poisonous than the former can not be assumed from the chemical formula....if I remember my chemistry correctly you need to understand which is more soluble in water or most readily adsorbed in the stomach (a solution of HCl I believe). If the author has confirmed this it was not clear from the text and copiuous and excellent notes. Lead as usual gets a poor press, it would have been nice to see it labelled as harmless until compounds are airborne and/or actually disolved. Lastly I really enjoyed reading about FDA "enforced inks" (as in tattoo inks. In my days of permitted food & cosmetic colours the term was "FDA Approved", however the process of approval and batch certification would no doubt be viewed as enforcement by many I suspect!

Please don't let my minor quibbles spoil a interesting, unique and very accurate book which I found a delight to read and one I look forward to re-reading, somehting I hardly ever do - life is too short!

Hope this helps

"If you've ever looked for information about the personal battles of lesbians with cancer -- beyond the scope of statistics and risk factors -- and were disappointed, don't fret. An impressive new book, sponsored by the Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer, will soon hit the shelves. Coming Out of Cancer: Writings from the Lesbian Cancer Epidemic (Seal Press), edited by Victoria A. Brownworth, is the first anthology to address the devastating effects of cancer on the lesbian community. It offers candid, moving testimonies written by and for lesbians with cancer.

The book combines the voices of numerous writers in an extraordinary effort that began just November of last year. The publication coincides with Healing Works, the first-ever conference on lesbians and cancer, organized by the Mautner Project. The conference runs September 21 to 23.

...The Mautner Project, founded in 1990, is a national organization dedicated to fighting the lesbian cancer epidemic. It offers information and services to the lesbian community and to healthcare providers.

Brownworth, an award-winning writer and cancer-survivor, was the first to write about the increased risk for breast cancer among lesbians. In her introduction to the anthology, she eloquently recounts how the book came about. A detailed cancer diary written by Audre Lorde follows, along with personal stories, essays and poems by authors such as Sandra Steingraber, Rachel Carson, Joan Nestle, Pat Parker, Adrienne Rich, Marilyn Hacker, Ruthann Robson, Dr. Susan Love and others.

The stories explore the emotional and physical rigors of living with cancer, such as facing treatment decisions, addressing political and socio-economic concerns, and -- perhaps most compellingly -- wrestling with fear, illness and death on a daily basis. Proceeds from the book...will fund cancer education and direct services for women who partner with women.

'So many women, so many different cancers, such divergent experiences of treatment and care and survival -- or not. I could not include them all,' Brownworth writes. Indeed, Coming Out of Cancer is a testament to the power of sharing one's stories. This is a book to be read and discussed." --Sarah Albert...

"...Today, many of those middle-aged second wavers who finally mobilized for breast cancer are contributors to Coming Out of Cancer: Writings from the Lesbian Cancer Epidemic, edited by journalist and disability rights activist Victoria Brownworth. This...radical book focuses on lesbians with cancer.

The tone of the anthology is urgent. Audre Lorde writes about her fear of death in an excerpt from The Cancer Journals. Jackie Winnow, who started the nation's first feminist cancer project in San Francisco in 1986, begins her essay by declaring, 'Everything about cancer is political.' Mixed in with the activist fire and practical information (how to get decent insurance, when to fire your doctor, what the scar looks like) is the stuff of everyday life: sex and relationships. Winnow's essay is preceded by two poems written by her lover, Teya Schaffer. Both are about Winnow, and the latter movingly contemplates the few minutes after her death, 10 years ago, from metastatic disease.

Sometimes the fear and loss are transformed into erotic energy, making the connection between cancer and lesbianism not so incidental. The sense of feminine anomie that came with losing a breast leads one woman to take her first woman lover. Mona Oikawa's poem about monthly self-exams raises the specter of her mother's death from breast cancer. Oikawa purges the memory with the image of a woman's mouth on her breast, 'sucking me hard/making me hot with life...to fill this moment with/craving rage/instead of silent grief.' Poet Pat Parker describes a post-mastectomy massage loosening up her 'numb' body that no one except her surgeon and her lover had seen. 'Like fine bread I rise...I reawake/I want to kiss you/instead I say thank you/and go home.'" --Jennifer Baumgarder, Girlfriends Magazine

* * * * * FIVE STARS - EXCELLENT ! ! !

Given the importance that money plays in the harmony of a marriage, it's hard to think of a more important topic in either the aisle of books on Investments or the aisle on Relationships. Yet the topic seems to "get lost between the cracks" of these two gendres. This book fills the void by examining couples' attitudes toward money, by providing insight into the nature of our discourses, and by advising with much practical information and case-studies.

Reaching into her background as a psychologist, Victoria Collins believes that our attitudes towards money are rooted in our childhood. "Your financial life from cradle to Jr. High School deserves a second look", she suggests. The author also looks at other influences ranging from parents to church to contradictory expectations in the post woman's movement era.

But Couples & Money book does not over indulge in theorizing. It gets down to earth with worksheets, 10 essential truths, and numerous examples of real life financial counseling sessions. Most importantly for me, Collins deals with games men & women play vis a vis money. She gives advise for the most effective manner to address financial issues, using what she refers to as "MoneySpeak". Collins begins by asking "why does everyone find money so damn hard to talk about?" She then proceeds to advise couples how they can change their communication mode from one of confrontation to one of collaboration

An excellent book for couples wanting to get their money goals in-synch and, more importantly, wanting to improve their relationship. Victoria Collins' essential message is reflected in her comment: "As we all know, it (money) never really buys lasting freedom, security, love and power, but only a temporary facsimile of those states. To feel really free, secure, loving, and powerful requires emotional maturity, an integrated sense of personal value money cannot buy."

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!

Given the importance that money plays in the harmony of a marriage, it's hard to think of a more important topic in either the aisle of books on Investments or the aisle on Relationships. Yet the topic seems to "get lost between the cracks" of these two gendres. This book fills the void by examining couples' attitudes toward money, by providing insight into the nature of our discourses, and by advising with much practical information and case-studies.

Reaching into her background as a psychologist, Victoria Collins believes that our attitudes towards money are rooted in our childhood. "Your financial life from cradle to Jr. High School deserves a second look", she suggests. The author also looks at other influences ranging from parents to church to contradictory expectations in the post woman's movement era.

But Couples & Money book does not over indulge in theorizing. It gets down to earth with worksheets, 10 essential truths, and numerous examples of real life financial counseling sessions. Most importantly for me, Collins deals with games men & women play vis a vis money. She gives advise for the most effective manner to address financial issues, using what she refers to as "MoneySpeak". Collins begins by asking "why does everyone find money so damn hard to talk about?" She then proceeds to advise couples how they can change their communication mode from one of confrontation to one of collaboration

An excellent book for couples wanting to get their money goals in-synch and, more importantly, wanting to improve their relationship. Victoria Collins' essential message is reflected in her comment: "As we all know, it (money) never really buys lasting freedom, security, love and power, but only a temporary facsimile of those states. To feel really free, secure, loving, and powerful requires emotional maturity, an integrated sense of personal value money cannot buy."

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!

I bought this book at a used book sale, and was very pleased with my purchase. The comparison to Nancy Mitford. Victoria Clayton's use of words and humorous descriptions made me want to keep on reading. The characters were real enough to sympathize with, while being kooky and oh-so-British-upper-class (or at least, how I imagine them to be) at the same time. I liked the introduction of more serious elements in the midst of the humor. I have since read "Past Mischief," which actually occurs prior to the events in this book, and will read everything else Ms. Clayton writes.

I picked up Dance With Me becuase I was in the mood for some light reading with a dash of that high society escapist farce which I usually associate with the likes of Nancy Mitford. I was not disappointed! The story follows the romantic antics of the young and rather scatty, but very likable, Viola Otway as she starts towards independence from her rich Aunt and guardian. Although it's pretty obvious early on which of her potential lovers she'll eventually fall for, this touch of predictability in no way detracts from the enjoyment of the novel, perhaps even adding to the romantic suspense as Viola tumbles from one unsuitable beau to another.

My only critism would be that Clayton has attempted to tackle a few more serious issues which, while certainly very readable, are slightly incongruous against the generally light-hearted backdrop. Having said that, Dance With Me is a thoroughly enjoyable read, complete with tumble-down country mansions, handsome rakes, and farcical disasters.

Once I started, I couldn't stop! I definately recommend it.

El libro es magnifico, profundo pero sencillo, de tal manera que cualquiera que no tenga experiencia en guerra espiritual puede facilmente entender y aprender a descubrir los secretos de la guerra espiritual y convertirse en un intercesor!
Recomiendo este libro para cualquiera que este interesado en ganar victorias para Cristo en sus comunidades y su familia!
Es una bendicion para todo aquel que pueda dedicar el tiempo para leerlo y "desmenuzar los detalles". Dios Bendiga al autor!

The author writes about this crucial theme out of his own experience. Everything he shares has been his personal experience as the General Pastor of El Shaddai Church in Guatemala City. This book gives hands-on experiences on Spiritual Warfare, it provides the reader with useful guides to apply the principles learned in the book to your own life. It is a must for anyone wanting to win souls for Jesus, as it applies to persons, neighborhoods, workplaces, cities, and even your entire nation. I assure you that after reading this book your perspective on prayer and your Christian life in general will be forever changed!