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Book reviews for "Gyldenvand,_Lily_M." sorted by average review score:

The Pleasure Police: How Bluenose Busybodies and Lily-Livered Alarmists Are Taking All the Fun Out of Life
Published in Hardcover by Doubleday (1996)
Author: David Shaw
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Good points, but biased
"The Pleasure Police" is, well, a pleasurable read. It brings out a lot of good points about how we are becoming increasingly overcautious and having less and less fun. Like investigative reporter John Stossel of ABC, David Shaw takes a peek at the people who profit from America's anxiety. But like Stossel and most political pundits (Shaw sounds a lot like Michael Moore at times), Shaw occasionally fails to give the whole story. I personally liked the many personal examples the author gives, but some may not. All in all, a very entertaining and thought-provoking read.

Enjoy yourself - you actually might live longer.
This is a nice bit of naughtiness in an otherwise oh so politically correct world. Shaw shows us that most of what we are taught to be afraid of, in most cases won't hurt us at all. There is a good bit of science to the book, but what carries you along is the daring attitude that life is to be enjoyed, not just prolonged. It's time somebody said all this, and David Shaw says it all clearly, succinctly, and with no small amount of common sense. Go ahead, live a little, read The Pleasure Police, and then don't ever worry about them again.


The Real Jerk : New Caribbean Cuisine
Published in Paperback by Arsenal Pulp Press (2002)
Authors: Lily Pottinger and Ed Pottinger
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The Real Thing!
The Jerk phenomenon in Toronto started at this sunny little place on the corners of Broadview Avenue and Queen Street East. True to the original recipes all these years later, Ed & Lily Pottinger create the best darn jerk around! The cookbook really shines in its inspiration for home cooks. Simple and quick, sizzling and fiesty!

Sauces, salsas, dips, dressings, and more
Lily and Ed Pottinger own and operate The Real Jerk, a premier Caribbean restaurant in Toronto, Canada. In The Real Jerk: New Caribbean Cuisine, the Pottinger's draw from their more than eighteen years of experience to compiled list of helpful cooking tips, as well as recipes from sauces, salsas, dips, and dressings. Then they go on to showcase outstanding recipes for fish and seafood, meat and poultry, side dishes, breads and snacks, drinks and desserts. Of special interest is a section devoted to Menu Ideas. From Cool & Creamy Carrot Salad; Mashed Coco & Codfish; Jamaican Pot Roast; and Stewed Cow's Foot; to Sweet Potato Balls; Baked Bananas; Easter Spice Buns; Coconut Pudding Surprise; and Ginger Beer, The Real Jerk: New Caribbean Cuisine is a welcome and highly recommended addition to multi-cultural and ethnic cookbook collections.


Two of Everything: A Chinese Folktale
Published in School & Library Binding by Albert Whitman & Co (1993)
Authors: Lily Toy Hong and Judith Mathews
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MY 5 YEAR OLD LOVES IT
There is something funny about saying Haktak. It makes the book enjoyable to read. A very fun folktale that I had never heard before. My daughter got it as a library book and I am considering buying it for her.

Delightful book!
Lily Toy Hong's book is a delight for both children and adults alike. Her colorful and comical illustrations please the soul, and both the text and the pictures keep the attention of all school-aged children.

In the state of Utah, the children in the schools and public libraries selected her book as The Best Picturebook of the Year in conjunction with nominees presented by the Utah Librarian's Association.

Lily's book shows Chinese characters and artifacts depicted in authentic dress and style. How do I know? I am one of her sisters raised in a loving home of parents and grandparents who immigrated from China and who preserved many of the ways of their roots.

Any classroom teacher (which I am) who is looking for a book to raise the spirits and share a fun Chinese folktale with need look no further than Two of Everything! (Math teachers can use it to introduce the concept of doubling, and expand it to tripling, etc.)

Respectfully, Kim Hong Wu


When the Sun Was a Winged Bird (True Journal of an Alcoholic's Wife
Published in Paperback by Protea Pub Co (2000)
Author: Lily Night
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A tragedy told in freeform poetry.
A well written and heart-rending roller coaster ride through the life of a couple afflicted with malignant alcoholism. I was unable to put it down. If you or someone you love suffers from alcoholism, reading this book could be cathartic.

A POWERFUL STORY!
This book was given to me by a dear friend who has lived through the devastation of losing a loved one to alcoholism. While reading the book, I was finally able to see the disease through the eyes of my friend. This is a powerful story of unconditional love that conjures up a whirlwind of emotions for the reader. Excellent!


William the Curious: Knight of the Water Lilies
Published in Library Binding by Random Library (1997)
Author: Charles Santore
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William the Curious
This is a charming book that lets children (and adults) know that sometimes what appears to be perfect, isn't. The pictures a lovely and engaging and the story moves along well. My four year old declared "it should be a movie". Definitley a good bed time story.

WOW! A Discovered Gem
Okay, I wish I was a kid again. Can I be a kid again?! I bought this book because it was about a knight who was curious and I can't think of a more perfect quest for a knight than curiosity. This is a little gem of a book and it could be made into a wonderful movie. It's art. It's a wonderful story about a knight who goes on a quest and learns that everything perfect is not so perfect. But that's okay. Even flawed it can be magical. William is a terrific character. The art work is fantastic, and I want to be young again. Mothers of young children should read this to them often. It's got a great message and it's clever. Not enough books for little boys either, and this is a great one. Buy it now.


Chi Gung: Chinese Healing, Energy and Natural Magick
Published in Paperback by Llewellyn Publications (1997)
Authors: L. V. Carnie and Lily of the Valley Carnie
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A wonderful way to start Chi Gung
I found reading this book a wonderful experience. The author writes in a very personable style, with plenty of examples for finding how chi works best for you. You will learn briefly about the energy flow patterns of the body but primarily learn to use practical health tips to improve both your physical and mental health. Chi Gung can help you change your perceptions and restore your child-like wonder and appreciation for the world around you. Chi Gung is perceived by many as a martial art, but this book helps you realize that it can be so much more! It's about intuition, being in the right place at the right time, and learning to fully sense the world around you. I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their overall physical health and who wants to realize their full mental and spiritual potential.

A wonderfully sincere work
Being a reader of many Chi Gung books, I've noted that some tend to focus on techniques and systems, going into elaborate details on forms, postures, diagrams and the like. Others tend to discuss principles and concepts and then demonstrate how various Chi Gung practices incorporate them. Ms Carnie's book definately falls into the latter category and takes it to level I've not seen before. It seems like her fundamental precept is this...if Chi is indeed a universal force then it is available to be experienced, sensed and applied everywhere not just in a martial arts studio while doing this form or that exercise. Ms Carnie helps to bring an "everyday" aspect to the study of Chi. She begins by laying the foundation and then goes on to an extremely diverse variety of training exercises intended to enhance your experiences with Chi. The last portion of the book does discuss some extraordinary abilities that have been traditionally associated with Taoist Wizardry, yet I found that the way she handles those topics to be a reasonable extension of the principles of Chi awareness she discusses earlier. Some may prefer a detailed focus on technique while others may prefer the more relaxed and open style of Ms Carnie. Each reader will have to decide if this approach is effective for them, but I've found this book to be an honest and sincere work dedicated to increasing one's awareness of Chi.

Enlightening Insight!
This book was very enlightening . The author wrote this in a very unique way, very personal and to the second person which makes it very intimate. This reading was easily absorbed and the graphics make it visual from cover to cover. It covers the meridians and theory in general. Then gives you exercises to help you develop your Chi. Then how to include Chi Gung exercises into your daily actions. It even discusses some things that can be made possible at even higher levels. This book had truly wonderful insight how Chi Gung can help you change your awareness and refurbish your child-like wonder and positive reception for the world just about. All and All a wonderful book!


Lily White
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Harper Mass Market Paperbacks (1998)
Author: Susan Isaacs
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Is the con man's defense attorney being conned herself?
That's the question criminal lawyer and JAP, Lee White (nee Lily White, with all the expected commentary), keeps asking herself as she prepares a defense for Normal Torkelson, a con man accused of murdering his most recent mark. At the same time that Lee is narrating this story, a 3rd person POV narrator is telling us Lee's history from birth through the present.
How do we know this? Because the Torkelson narrative is in Times Roman and Lee's, in Helvetica.
Using typography to differentiate, where the written word should suffice, is indicative of the problem with this novel: it is one big (459 pp.) snore. Isaacs never has decided what genre she writes in: does she write romances with a soupcon of mystery, or mysteries with a hint of romance?
I admit to bias here; I do not enjoy reading romance novels. So I think Isaacs is at her best when she is concentrating her efforts toward the elements of mystery and suspense. Had she done so with _Lily_White_, the book would have been half as long and four times a better read.

2 interesting, 2 heartbreaking, 2 books in 1
I read Isaacs' Compromising Positions a fews years back and stumbled across Lily White in the library. (incidentally, i found Compromising to be excellent.) Lily has it all. Suspense, intrique, emotion, laughs. The first time I read this book, I read it like it's written, starting with Lee White as a lawyer who is handling an interesting case while ex-DA office coworkers give her dirty looks for going to "bat for the bad guys". All the goings on of looking into the lives of some very strange people who will con their way out of a paper bag. This storyline gets swapped back and forth every chapter with Lee's parent's marriage, her childhood, her marriage (and ultimately it's demise), leading up to the moment she finds herself secure enough to live a happy-ending life. The style of this book was different and Isaacs takes care to not make it confusing to the reader. Her words are intelligent and the story kept me going til I put it down. A while after I read it through the first time, I picked it up and read every other chapter to follow that story, then went back and read all the opposite chapters. Different tone, but just as delicious. You get more for your money with Lily White.

Great read!
Although the first chapters are a little slow in developing the character, the author eventually succeeds at riveting the reader to Lee's plight. My favorite elements of this book are the way Ms. Isaacs incorporates the present(Norman Torkelson)with Lee's past (family history and relationships.) . I enjoyed this book immensely.


The Tentmaker
Published in Hardcover by Putnam Pub Group (1999)
Author: Michelle Blake
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Another female sleuth - but with a priestly difference
I found the book very interesting, and a fairly good mystery, but some of the clues weren't all that clear. However, I was a little surprised by the parish where our heroine was working. As an espiscopalian, who has served on a vestry, I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more about the "life" of the church: study groups, services, choir practices, more personalities of the parish family. From the desciption of the parish, its not surprising that things were so secretive. In most churches, there is a lot of give and take, people working within the local community, hearing confessions, planning services, planning events, confirmation classes, adult classes, etc. Everything just seemed so dark. Also, having the bishop and the cathedral so close is the exception, and not the rule for most parishes. However, I will look forward to seeing more books featuring our new heroine.

An intelligent story from a real insider's perspective
Lilly Conner is a refreshing character to see inhabiting not only a mystery but also a priest's collar -- passionate, occasionally insecure, as opinionated as she is committed, but always searching for a closer relationship with the God who fuels her commitment. And Charlie! His character alone was worth the price of the book. Lilly and Charlie's conversations and sluething bring to light some very real controversies facing the church today. As a Boston/Cambridge resident, I also appreciated Blake's careful attention to physical details -- a small but important part of bringing authencity and life to the story.

An Episcopalian Rates Rev. Lily Connor
From the standpoint of an "insider," this was a fine book. I have known many "tentmaker" priests and deacons and have been an Episcopalian for 30 years. The mystery is exciting, but equally as good is the internal politics of the parish and diocese, and the wrestlings with faith of all the characters.


The Lily Theater: A Novel of Modern China
Published in Hardcover by Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub (Trd) (15 August, 2000)
Authors: Lulu Wang and Hester Velmans
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A Rievew of a Good Book
In Lulu Wang's novel, The Lily Theater, the reader is captured by the story of a girl coming of age during a struggling time. It was 1972; China's Cultural Revolution was in full swing, and the Communist Party of China was doing everything possible to purge their country of Capitalist and revisionist ideas. The government, then headed by the powerful Mao Zedong, set up many revolutionary prison camps, designed to change the prisoners' ideas away from those with "Western influence". In the novel, a young girl, Lian Yang, is found staying in a Youth Accommodation center while her mother, Yunxiang Yang, serves her sentence in a prison camp. Yunxiang, concerned about her daughter's rapidly spreading skin disease, arranges for her daughter to stay with her in the prison camp for the remainder of the sentence. At the prison camp, located in a rural setting hours from Beijing, Lian became acquainted with many intelligent professors who were her tutors. Two new friends, Professor Qin and Changshan became very close to Lian, helping her with problems, mostly of understanding emotions. Lulu Wang successfully develops each of these relationships, each of which become very important to Lian, especially when she is need of guidance in the unpredictable world of the new communist state. Following Yunxiang's (and subsequently Lian's) release from the prison camp, comes the reality of living in the outside world. Many things were different in the outside world, some of which made Lian wish she were back inside the simpler world of the prison camp. Appearance became an issue to worry about again, and so was socializing with the other girls in her grade and caste. Then, there was Lian's best friend Kim, whose family was in the third (lowest) caste in the society compared to Lian's first (highest) caste status. The author Lulu Wang did an excellent job throughout the entire novel of creating a friendship that saw good times, along with many hard times. Kim tried to shake the role as the class scapegoat and become accepted for her many good qualities with the help of Lian, trying break down the caste barriers. This resulted in the relationship's inevitable fate at the end of the novel. Accompanying Lian's feelings about Kim's situation, were many feelings of her own. Why was her body changing so and why were so many boys harassing her? What was she to think of her emotions and thoughts of the government's rule and laws? Who could she confide in to answer all of her questions? These were all questions running through Lian's head. Lain found sanction in nature sitting in the orchard to think things through. This grand novel, Lulu Wang's first, followed three years of Lian's life into young adulthood. Wang did an exceptional job at portraying Lian's every thought and emotion, portraying what life growing up in the revolution was like. The descriptions of most scenes are vivid, allowing the reader to be swept away. However, some scenes seem to be drawn out too long, loosing the attention of the reader, while illustrating unnecessary details of a situation or place. In essence, this novel powerfully portrays Lian's view and is a recommended for anyone interested in being drawn into a story of the modern history of China.

A Review of: The Lily Theater, By Lulu Wang
In Lulu Wang's novel, "The Lily Theater", the reader is captured by the story of a girl coming of age during a struggling time. It was 1972; China's Cultural Revolution was in full swing, and the Communist Party of China was doing everything possible to purge their country of Capitalist and revisionist ideas. The government, then headed by the powerful Mao Zedong, set up many revolutionary prison camps, designed to change the prisoners' ideas away from those with "Western influence". In the novel, a young girl, Lian Yang, is found staying in a Youth Accommodation center while her mother, Yunxiang Yang, serves her sentence in a prison camp. Yunxiang, concerned about her daughter's rapidly spreading skin disease, arranges for her daughter to stay with her in the prison camp for the remainder of the sentence. At the prison camp, located in a rural setting hours from Beijing, Lian became acquainted with many intelligent professors who were her tutors. Two new friends, Professor Qin and Changshan became very close to Lian, helping her with problems, mostly of understanding emotions. Lulu Wang successfully develops each of these relationships, each of which become very important to Lian, especially when she is need of guidance in the unpredictable world of the new communist state. Following Yunxiang's (and subsequently Lian's) release from the prison camp, comes the reality of living in the outside world. Many things were different in the outside world, some of which made Lian wish she were back inside the simpler world of the prison camp. Appearance became an issue to worry about again, and so was socializing with the other girls in her grade and caste. Then, there was Lian's best friend Kim, whose family was in the third (lowest) caste in the society compared to Lian's first (highest) caste status. The author Lulu Wang did an excellent job throughout the entire novel of creating a friendship that saw good times, along with many hard times. Kim tried to shake the role as the class scapegoat and become accepted for her many good qualities with the help of Lian, trying break down the caste barriers. This resulted in the relationship's inevitable fate at the end of the novel. Accompanying Lian's feelings about Kim's situation, were many feelings of her own. Why was her body changing so and why were so many boys harassing her? What was she to think of her emotions and thoughts of the government's rule and laws? Who could she confide in to answer all of her questions? These were all questions running through Lian's head. Lain found sanction in nature sitting in the orchard to think things through. This grand novel, Lulu Wang's first, followed three years of Lian's life into young adulthood. Wang did an exceptional job at portraying Lian's every thought and emotion, portraying what life growing up in the revolution was like. The descriptions of most scenes are vivid, allowing the reader to be swept away. However, some scenes seem to be drawn out too long, loosing the attention of the reader, while illustrating unnecessary details of a situation or place. In essence, this novel powerfully portrays Lian's view and is a recommended for anyone interested in being drawn into a story of the modern history of China.

Moving eye opener
I'm still reeling after reading this book about a young girl's experience of the Cultural Revolution. Unlike the commonly held view that Mao's revolution was about turning the unfair class structure on its head, Wang reveals that it was more firmly in place than ever despite accusations of "class enemy" and its condemnation of "bourgeois culture".

On top of which, the book is fun to read, with Chinese flair and shockingly outspoken, arresting language. If this was indeed translated from Dutch and not Chinese, my hat goes off to the translator for putting it in such a form that you are constantly reminded that you are in China, not the Occident.

Even though I found the ending just a little over the top, it did not detract for me from a very good read, almost as informative,in my opinion, though from a slightly different perspective, as Wild Swans.


Strip City: A Stripper's Farewell Journey Across America
Published in Hardcover by Miramax (2001)
Author: Lily Burana
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A Fascinating Peep Show into the Life of a Former Stripper
When I ordered this book, I wasn't sure what to expect, or if it would even be worth my time. But, it became instantly apparent from the first few pages, that the author is both an incredibly intelligent and gifted writer. I am not a dancer, but my curiosity has led me to occasionally wander into a local strip club with a few of my more open-minded friends. (Yes, even Salt Lake City has strip clubs, although with a few more regulations!)

I respect and appreciate Lily's candor and humor, as well as her non-judgmental and humane exploration of various strip clubs throughout the U.S. While it may be easy for some to make harshly critical judgements based on hearsay or personal opinion of the strip scene, Lily presents her story in a way that is non-offensive, creating an atmosphere of comraderie with her readers.

I recommend this hard-to-put-down book to anyone, regardless of their personal opinions (positive or negative) of the sex industry. It gives a truly illuminating glimpse into this age-old, lucrative business.

It's a memoir... not a how-to!
First things first, Lily Burana is an exceptionally talented writer. Her memoir of her past (and occasional present) life as a topless dancer is witty, poignant and fascinating throughout. Detailing a personal odyssey that moves from a Times Square peep show to the yuppified "gentlemen's clubs" of today, along with intermittent stops in Wyoming, Lily bares more of her soul than her body. She understands why women perform in clubs. She understands why men spend their money in clubs. And she sees that economic interraction for what it's worth; the good, the bad and the tacky.

It's a wonderful read! But if your goal is cheap arousal, or getting the "inside story" on strip clubs, don't bother. You're not going to learn any secret signs or code words that can lead to a date with your favorite stripper. If you're a woman that wonders about a life on this particular stage (or lap), you probably stand an equal chance of being encouraged or dissuaded by Lily's experiences. But if you want to be entertained by a writer with the ability to phrase her observations and experience into an enjoyable format, this one of the better choices you can make.

Honest, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny!
What a great book. Lily Burana has made a wonderful debut. Strip City is POWERFUL...a fascinating look at a growing segment of the adult entertainment sub-culture. Burana peels away the layers of both glamour and moral outrage that are often attached to this profession by outsiders. While the publisher describes Burana's journey as a "bachelorette odessey" before her impending marriage to a cowboy, it seems a mischaracterization. Burana does not sow any oats as she criss-crosses the country--instead, she examines an outlaw profession and reveals her innermost feelings. No, the book is not a "tell-all," nor is it loaded with prurient detail. Don't let the title fool you...Strip City is less about stripping and more about a young woman's search for herself. We get to accompany Burana on her journey, and she makes an excellent travel companion. A must read...you'll laugh AND cry.


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