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Book reviews for "Cheslock,_Louis" sorted by average review score:

The Newfoundland (The Pure Breds Series)
Published in Hardcover by Doral Publishing (29 August, 1997)
Authors: Emmy Bruno, Luana Luther, Ellen Young, and Louis Palmisano
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A Must Have for the true Newfoundland Lover
This is one of the best books ever published about the Newfoundland breed. The drawings of structure and movement alone are worth the price! Great for the long-time Newf lover as well as a beginner.

Most comprehensive and enjoyable book ever about Newfs
Amazing book! As a new owner of a Newfoundland, this is my bible! It is apparent the author truly adores her dogs! Big book and covers all topics that owners may be interested in!

Excellent! Magnificent! The best of all Newfoundland books!
At last! A book that describes, quantifies and illustrates what makes the most beautiful of dog breeds beautiful.The "COMMENT REGARDING THE STANDARDS" and "MOVEMENT" chapters should become the standards themselves."One remains enraptured before a beautiful dog as one does before a beautiful painting, and one never tires of looking at him. Thus, to study the anatomical substrata of the powerful neck or the noble expression almost appears to be mixing the sacred and the profane.", Mrs. Bruno states. But she manages it, and in what way! A true expert.


Notre-Dame of Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Published in Paperback by Penguin USA (Paper) (1978)
Authors: Victor Hugo, John Surrock, and John Sturrock
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Fabulous French Fiction
Having little knowlegde of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I failed to realize how drastically different the Disney version was from reality. The story does not focus on a loveable hunchback who finds happiness in the end, rather it is about the cathedral itself. The action and characters all feed off of Notre Dame and represent its values, but they are merely secondary aspects of the book. It is also a violent, depressing, and sometimes even erotic book, none of which of course comes through in a Disney movie.

Many things make this book an incredible read. The most obvious is the incredible prose. Hugo was a beautiful writer and his writing flows so smoothly. He also described with incredible detail the Paris of the late 15th century--the city's skyline, its culture, some of the notable people, and the issues of the day. He spent three years researching the book and he turned his noted into an historical epic. Finally, the action and characters of the book are well developed, exciting, and unique while still representing the values and controversies Hugo wanted to explore.

I originally picked this book up when I was in the 7th grade and was unable to make it more than 20 pages without giving up in frustration, but having more knowlegde of European history, a greater appreciation for literature, and more patience with a book that admittedly starts slowly, I am very glad I came back to it. I don't think this is a book that a young reader will find interesting--though the story itself is great so an abridged version would keep them reading--but any fan of great literature, beautiful prose, French history, architecture, or Victor Hugo will love this book if they give it a chance and do sit patiently while it revs up for 30-40 pages. I highly recommend it.

A brilliant and heartbreaking book
If you've only seen the film adaptations of this story, for heaven's sake read this jewel of a book! Hugo's ability to see into the hearts of people, especially those in states of degradation, is unequalled. His style, even in translation, is immensely powerful. The scene between Claude and Esmeralda in the dungeon is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking bits of writing I have ever come across.

LOVE STORY
This is one of the greatest love stories ever written.


Old Dogs Remembered
Published in Paperback by Synergistic Pr (01 June, 1999)
Authors: Bud Johns, Tom Stienstra, James Thurber, Brooks Atkinson, E.B. White, Loudon Wainwright, John Galsworthy, Stanley Bing, John Updike, and Ross Santee
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For a good cry......
read one of the short pieces in this anthology. They are also incredibly uplifting too. A brilliant bedside companion for any dog lover.

Not a sad read but a celebratory one
Although each of the pieces in this book was inspired by the loss of a much beloved dog, this is really a book about vibrant, fully-alive dogs: family pets, fellow hunters, soul mates, and best friends. And while none of the dogs remembered so fondly here still lives, Old Dogs affirms the remarkably special place in the heart we reserve for our dogs. My own dog is sturdy in her middle-age, but reading the eulogies and odes in this moving anthology has made me appreciate more all the quirky habits I take for granted, like how she can't resist running off with one of my Reeboks when I'm shoeing up for our evening walk--the little prance she performs when I tell her, "Bring the shoe back!" Not a sad read but a celebratory one, required for every dog owner!

Makes wonderful reading.
This is a remarkable anthology of stories and poems by outstanding authors of the past, as well as more recent times. Although these moving remembrances are only of beloved dogs, the lovers of any species of pet will find identical sentiments for their own losses. Whatever kind of companion animal you had, you will find your own bereavement and healing tears reflected here, as well.

Care was taken to avoid over-sentimentality, in this assortment of loving reflections of dogs, celebrated here. These accounts are full of love, and are sometimes even funny - and we are thrust into the realization that perhaps that is the most wonderful kind of living memorials we can have for a beloved pet. Too often, we lose this perspective, while trying to keep from drowning in our own bereavement and sorrows.

Rather than being a collection of sad literary memorials Old Dogs Remembered is a joyful celebration of life with pets. This inspires healthy new points of view and adjustments to moving on into our new lives, without them.

Here we are treated to many different outlooks on how they permanently enriched the lives of their owners. Reading these heartwarming pages will broaden the understanding of each reader, concerning his/her own personal bereavement. Here, we are offered the collective wisdom of others, who reminisce on their honored pets. There is much to be shared and learned here, as well as enjoyed.

With so many different authors, one must appreciate that references and styles have changed drastically, through the ages. As an example of this, some might find the essay by the dramatist John Galsworthy to be interesting, but a bit troublesome to read. And, as with any anthology, there may be some accounts not everyone would appreciate. But all pet lovers will readily identify with the overall shared remembrances, here. This is a heartwarming collection, which can be enjoyed comfortably, in several installments.

There will be many an uplifting tear shed in its reading, and we suggest it for your reading pleasure.


Only My Life: A Survivor's Story
Published in Hardcover by St. Martin's Press (1997)
Authors: Louis De Wijze, Kees Van Cadsand, Victor De Wijze, Kees Van Cadsand, Victor De Wijze, and Louis De Wijze
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Exquisite!
I absolutly LOVED this book. Honestly I wasn't paying attension when i just randomly pulled it off the book shelf. But I must say that I am glad that I did. I believe that this book is a sign of heroism, survival and hope. Throughout the whole thing, De Wijze expresses himself and his life so vividly that when i was done, I just sat there, still, glaring at the last three words: only my life. I reccomend this wonderful book to both adults and children. It is a great source of information, and also an exilerating experience to read just for fun.

Amazing!
This book is simply the truth. It is amazingly descriptive, and makes you feel as if you are experiencing the Holocaust. Mr. de Wijze tells of his struggle for survival in the treachorous conditions of concentration camps. It describes the favoring of one prisoner over another and the many horrible deaths during this time period. I reccommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

A Twentieth Century Odyssey Without the Myth
It defies logic and cynicism to believe that this story could be anything but fiction. Unfortunately, it could only be fiction if it were set in another galaxy amongst different forms of life. For here on Earth, this stark, skeletal narrative rings all too true. And yet this story of insane unrelenting brutality is woven together with so many episodes of hope, it is impossible to not love its main character, the narrator himself. Louis is a triumphant survivor, like Odysseus, only real. In a world rife with hyperbole and fraudulent heros, this is the agonizing path of a true survivor who will never leave you wondering what life is really all about. It's a quick read and completely necessary.


The Other House (New York Review of Books, No 12)
Published in Paperback by New York Review of Books (1999)
Authors: Henry James and Louis Begley
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A surprisingly quick read
It's hard to believe that James's theatrical turn of the late 19th century ended with his audience "booing" him off the stage. This novelized play reads quickly and delightfully. I've read more than twenty of his novels, and this was the quickest of them all.

The plot is simple enough (at least for James): two houses, apparently back to back, in Wilverley, a small English village, set the scene. One contains a widow, the other a young married couple. The young wife widows the young husband, and he becomes Wilverley's "most eligible bachelor," except for the fact that he promised his dying wife that he would never marry again, at least not during the life of his child. So somebody has to kill the child, right?

Enter James's genius for character. There's Paul, the huge, infinitely imperturbable son of the wealthy Mrs. Beever; the diminutive and impetuous Dennis Vidal; Tony Bream himself, a remarkably good-natured but insensitive fool; and the powerful Mrs. Beever, whose awful determination cows every one else before her. Like James's best writing, his characters become interesting on their own; his fictions become an opportunity to satisfy curiosity. I think that's what makes this book a "page-turner"; the characters are interesting enough that I want to know what's going to happen.

In the end, I suppose, what makes this book succeed is what would have made the dramatic version fail: James's endless fascination with the workings of the human mind must have become either painfully boring or just incomprehensible to a theatrical audience. However it came about, I recommend it unequivocally.

real, rounded characters
This book is a novelization of the play by the same name. And you can see the stageplay - the characters are continually coming and going - and there's stage business - all of which I think shows some stiffness - yet about half way through the novel I was startled at how much the characters were real, rounded - I could just about see them - they ached with life - I was always aware of the stage during the novel - the story itself is rather shocking - it's a mystery novel! - it's all very well done - it's short - and it's very psychological

Unexpected Page Turner--Timeless
I am impressed with The New York Review's revival of this unexpectedly non-Jamesian title. A truly unique James choice to bring back to life--it's been done so with a cover so compelling (I'm not a tradional James fan) I opened the book which I found locally in a brick and mortar as they are now called, book shop. The internet cannot do justice to the thoughtful sophistication of this book's packaging. (But I can purchase another copy here more easily!) The publisher's comments about the work were also compelling and complimentary to the cover art. The Other House is a mystery, a detective story, a love triangle with more than three angles--a true page turner--with a timelessly human plot and "modern" characters. Anyone thriller fan would be enchanted with it. And turning every page, holding the book, is a sensory thrill. Paper, writing, art--all representative of what any literary rebirth deserves. If it's worth bringing back--do it with quality, I say! They did--along with a whole marvelous collection of equally intriguing books, with well written new introductions. Good choices--the pieces themselves, the introduction authors and the book artist designers. Truly timeless in all ways!


Out in the Open: The Complete Male Pelvis
Published in Paperback by North Atlantic Books (1999)
Authors: R. Louis Schultz, Sean Kahlil, and Lauren Keswick
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Practical, informative, fascinating
This is a superb book. It is written particularly for Rolfers, but is essential reading for any other body worker as well. Since studying this book on my own, I have become much more confident doing pelvic massage with male clients. Having detailed knowledge of the underlying structures allows me to explain to men what I'm doing and why. Clients can be informally instructed at the same time they are made more comfortable with touch in this area. For this reason, the book is valuable for all men who want to learn about their own bodies.

The text is clearly written and technical terms are explained. A particular strength is close-up photos of the genital areas of a variety of men. Each of these is paired with a line drawing of the same scale based on that photograph and showing the underlying anatomy. This arrangement makes it easy to relate what one sees on the table during a session with what one is feeling beneath the skin as one works.

Other chapters on foetal and juvenile genital development, posture, and sexuality are also very informative.

I have no hesitation at all in giving this excellent book five stars.

Penis, Male Pelvis and Pubic Area: Explored in Depth
The author has written an intelligent, frank and provoking book about the area of the body least talked about in an intelligent, frank and provoking manner. I consider this book essential for anyone in the "body work" field. It is a well written authoritive work by a scientist well versed in anatomy, physiology, and somatics. An excellent and important book for any Medical Doctor, Psychologist or Physical Therapist yet easily understood and enjoyed by someone with a less scientific mind. In fact, I consider this book a "MUST READ" for P.T.'s, Massage Therapists, and all body workers, consultants and trainers who work with men. I would also consider this book an excellent primer for any one (woman OR man) involved in a sexual, romantic, or loving relationship with a male. It is the equivalent of the famous "Our Bodies Our Selves" only about men. I recommend this book with highest praises!

Incredible...
This book hits on a subject that is rarely ever spoken of. It addresses issues of the male anatomy that I've long suspected were problematic, but on which I could never find any information. The book is informative and eye opening. If you're male, you should read this!


Rains Came
Published in Paperback by Manor Books (1974)
Author: Louis Bromfield
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Rich and exotic, a favorite!
I have loved this book for 20 years. It makes you dream of India as a British colony. Each character is complete, fascinating and endearing. It reminds us of old concepts, like adventure, bravery, love and romance. All written in an exquisite style.
I hungrily read more of Bromfield's work after that, but I never found another book that could even come close to the magic of The rain cames. To me, it's by far his masterpiece.

Neglected Masterpiece
Although he published a score of acclaimed bestsellers and won the 1927 Pulitzer Prize, (as well as the 1929 O. Henry Award for Best American Short Story), Louis Bromfield remains an undeservedly obscure novelist. Works like The Rains Came exhibit his typical brilliance and bravado, while also offering a profound moral and philosophical engagement. Unlike many "classic" texts, The Rains Came is an exhilirating, entertaining, and ambitious read -- Bromfield was a master storyteller who valued, above all else, the richness and vibrancy of realistic fiction. Drama, suspense, action, romance, intrigue, and intellectual insight...this novel has it all. The Rains Came is undoubtedly an astonishing performance from an author who will hopefully reclaim his status in the literary canon. Louis Bromfield is one of the most remarkable talents of the twentieth century!

Also recommended: Bromfield's early books, collected under the umbrella title of Escape: The Green Bay Tree, Possession, Early Autumn, A Good Woman; as well as later novels such as The Strange Case Of Miss Annie Spragg, The Farm, Mrs. Parkington, Pleasant Valley, and Mr. Smith.

Engrossing.
I'm a sucker for any books set in colonial India and this one didn't disappoint. I'll admit that it borders on schmaltz a bit, but it also offers rings very true in many spots and is well written. Its host of characters are all very interesting and the plot includes not only several love stories but also some unexpected (to me) adventure and drama. The book also offers some genuine insights into yesterday's India (and a bit of Europe, as well). Thumbs up. There was a movie made of it, too, in the 1930s. I watched it and enjoyed it, but it leaves out much too much.


Strange Empire: A Narrative of the Northwest (Borealis Books)
Published in Paperback by Minnesota Historical Society (1994)
Authors: Joseph Kinsey Howard and Nicholas Vrooman
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A well researched history of my ancestry.
First I would like to thank Amazon for making this fine book so easy to obtain. There are countless thousands of descendants of these, strong, courageous people that now live throughout the world. my son among them, being on a temporary assigment in Turkey. Many thousands more know little of the history of our people. This book should have a particular appeal to these folk. Perhaps by the reading of Mr. Howards book some will be induced to further study and research. It is a benifit to all that seek the true history of our country. These folk were a monolithic type, what happened to one could be an indicator of what happened to the society in the whole. My families have ties to several of those mentioned in this book. As an example, my grandfather was the first cousin to the wife of Louis Riel. My great grandmother was the god child of, Marie Anne Gaboury, the first white woman in the northwest. My fathers mother was baptized by, Father Lestanc. These people are mentioned in this well written book. Thank you, Melvin Beaudry Lynnwood, Washington.

Forgotten Hero
The amazing story of the Metis people whose French ancestors first colonized and controlled most of North America. Louis Riel should have been a National Hero for all Canadians since without him most of the land west of Ontario would have fallen in US hands.

This book is riveting and should be required reading for history majors.

Haunting saga of a forgotten revolt by a dispossessed people
A century ago, North America almost had a fourth nation, Assiniboia. That would-be nation's leader, a poet, religious zealot and one-time schoolteacher named Louis Riel, once was considered a traitor ro Canada but now is being revered and "rehabilitated" as one of the founders of the Dominion of Canada. Riel was "drafted" as leader of the Metis, "mixed blood" children of the fur trade, when Canada was reneging on its promises to these people who carried on the cultures of both European and indigenous ancentry. (Today, Celtic and French folklorists visit Metis in Western Canada and Montana to record unblemished versions of tradition folk music long dead in their original mother countries.) Howard, a legend in Montana journalism and history himself, penned his masterpiece in "Strange Empire." He gets down to the basics of the struggle for Western North America and some of the more haunting passages deal with the pyschlogical effects of such white man's diseases as smallpox and alchohol and their role in subjugating the natives a century or so ago. Riel was hanged for his insurgence, but had he been more decisive in battle, the maps -- and language patterns -- of much of North America would be much different.


Satan Wants You: The Cult of Devil Worship in America
Published in Paperback by Warner Books (1989)
Authors: Arthur Lyons and Louis Lyons
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DO NOT EXECTED THE EXPECTED
I bought this book several years ago in a second hand book store, I originally bought it just becuase of the title but once I started reading I became quite engrossed, the book is very factual and to the point and not at all like alot of the so called satanic or occult books on the market that glorify perversion and depravity. If anyone wishes to find out about satanism historically as this is quite an old book or just out of general interest I would recommend this as a thoroughly good overview and actually made quite alot of sense as it takes a hedonstic view on the subject. If you enjoy an alternative lifestyle or if you would like something a bit different to read you should read this book. It deffinently gave me a view on life which I had already started on but made me feel much more confident in the process.

Great Book
This is an absolutely wonderful book about Satanism. The author actually has a sense of humor, such a rare thing when writing an exposition on modern Satanism... Read this book.

Essential to understanding the true nature of Satanism
This book belongs on the shelf next to LaVey's Satanic Bible, for it puts Satanism in more of a historic and modern context. The chapter on heavy metal was particulary interesting. While the public's "fear" of this type of stuff has abated during the 1990s, this book remains a must-read.


Slave Narratives (Library of America)
Published in Hardcover by Library of America (2000)
Authors: William L. Andrews and Henry Louis, Jr. Gates
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Excellent selection, but limited
This volume includes ten narratives, but no general introduction, and no introductions to the narratives themselves. A better value for your money is I WAS BORN A SLAVE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF CLASSIC SLAVE NARRATIVES, two volumes of twenty narratives (including nine of the narratives in this volume), for just about the same price. The introductory material in that anthology is far more extensive, and fills in the historical and literary background that will help the reader fully contextualize these masterworks. In addition, it includes significant and astonishing narratives such as those of Josiah Henson (the best-selling slave narrative of all, and one of the main sources for UNCLE TOM'S CABIN), Solomon Northup (a free-born black man who was kidnapped and held as a slave for twelve years), William Parker (who led an 1851 rebellion that some scholars consider the first blow of the Civil War), and Moses Roper and John Brown (the most graphic and horrifying of the slave narratives).

The Voices of American Slaves
This book is a collection of ten narratives that document the nature of American slavery from colonial times to the eve of the Civil War. There are some familar narratives, particularly that of Frederick Douglass (who has a volume of his own in the Library of America series) as well as many writings that were new to me.

There are two writers from the colonial period,a short account by James Gronniosaw and a loner narrative by Olaudiah Equiano. The latter book has a first-hand description of the notorious "middle passage" -- the transatlantic journey by which Africans were transported to a life of bondage in the New World. This book also features accounts of life at sea during the mid-18th century that reminded me of Patrick O'Brian's novels of sea life during the Napoleonic era.

There are two narratives in the book by women. Sojourner Truth's narrative, as told to a woman named Olive Gilbert, appeared in 1850. It tells the story of slavery in New York State (where it was not abolished until 1827) and introduced me to a strong-willed woman who combined abolitionism with strong religous passion and a commitment to woman's rights. Harriet Jacobs's account, "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" appeared in 1861. Written in a Victorian style, it still tells the story of the trials of a young woman who resisted her master's advances and hid for seven years in a narrow attic before escaping to freedom.

"The Confessions of Nat Turner" became the basis of a controversial novel by William Styron. It is an account recorded by a local attorney, Thomas Gray, of Turner's description, while in jail waiting execution, of the slave rebellion he led in Virginia in 1831. This is a spare account but to me much more impressive than what I remember of Styron's novel.

There is a lengthy account by a slave named Henry Bibb written in 1849. This book describes several escapes, and a slave prison of almost unbelievable cruelty in Louisvill, Kentucky. I found this perhaps the most riveting narrative in the collection.

Jacob Green's narrative appeared in 1864. This is a short tough-minded book by a person who was not afraid to fight back.

The narrative by William and Ellen Craft (1860) describes how a husband and wife disguised themselves to make a 1000 mile journey from Georgia to freedom. (Most escapes occured from the border states, which were themselves extraordinarily difficult.)

William Wells Brown, like Douglass, went on to a literary career after his escape from slavery. He was the author of the first published African-Novel. His narrative (1847) is short but documents convincingly his escappe from slavery in Missouri.

This collection will help the reader understand the nature of slavery in the United States from its beginning to its end. The volume is part of the Library of America's admirable attempt to produce uniform series of the best in American literature, thouught and history. The narratives of American slaves included in this book amply deserve their place in a series that documents the American experience, both for good and for ill.

A fine cross-section of African-American slavery experiences
Ten original slave narratives provide important testimony to the slavery experience and the longing for freedom and provide insights into how a diverse group of writers challenged literary traditions by expressing their pain and anger. From 18th century slaves abducted in Africa to later activists, this provides a fine cross-section of experiences.


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