I consider is serious historic study about the role of woman in the nineteen century. I specially like the information about the position of urban black woman in the hispanic society. Because the role of the black woman in the Puerto Rican history is misjugde. I recomend books by the author.

The lyrics of the Yaqui Deer Songs are magical, moving poetry both in English translations and in the liquid sounds of the Yaqui originals. This book gives a sense of the true flavor of Yaqui culture and spirituality.

For my son's first birthday, a good friend and my sister gave him something about Felix the rabbit (a cup and a backpack, they both live in Germany, seems Felix the rabbit is more famous there than here in USA), because my son's name is Felix. However, I waited until he's almost two to buy the first Felix book. We really enjoy the book, since we travel a lot (along last year, we flew more than 30,000 miles), and Felix knows people talk differently and they look different. With the book, Felix can already tell the cities' and countries' names by picking out the right stickers or by pointing at the map. I can tell him some of my trips to the European cities I went before he was born. We are planning a trip to Asia in May, and I'll buy another Felix book before the trip, so that we can read it on the airplane.

I like this bookl a lot. I like it because it is funny. I also like it because I like rabbits and it is about a rabbit. In the book a girl name Sophie's rabbit, Felix gets lost.I think you should read this book!!!!!!!:-) It is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:-) :-)

Felix is a little Rabbit who gets lost from his owner, and then travels around the world, mailing letters and postcards back home, untill he finally returns home himself on Christmas Eve.

Our world of today has become quite small because of all the travelling we do, but this can be difficult for a child to understand. Felix is a good helper here. Through his travel letters he tells in a fun and friendly way about the adventures he meets. And his stories are a good start to tell children about our adventurous world. Use an atlas or a map book when you read for your child, and you can have a good conversation about our huge world.

We travel alot, so my 6 years old Marta has been to several of the places mentioned in the book. And I have been to some more and can tell about my travelling. The book Letters from Felix is more than a book actually. It also contains all the letters sent home by Felix, so we can open them and read them - over and over again. And it also contains small souvenirs from the places Felix visited.

Lately I have heard about a little doll named Flat Stanley. He, like Felix, travels around the world, actually he spent Christmas with us here in Norway, and with our relatives on Iceland this winter. I don't have the Flat Stanley book, but I'm thinking of sending a small Felix around the world, a Felix who can write back to my little daughter about the places he visits.

Letters from Felix is a wonderful book teaching your kids about travelling and about different cultures. We love the book here in our house, and also has a huge Felix who spends every night in my daughters bed.

Britt Arnhild Lindland

After seeing part of the movie (as much as I could stand to watch), I've always avoided this book, but after reading some reviews of it, I decided it was probably just the movie that stunk and gave it a try.

I liked the book. I thought the plot was good, and the characters were solid, and I was always interested to find out what happened. But the plot never really grabbed me, I never had to keep reading to find out what happened, so it went a litt;e slow for me. But I think that may just be a personal preference more than any shortcoming of the story. I thought it got a little too involved in the ritual and the customs of the Fremen, but what I was more interested in were the characters of Maud'dib and Jessica and the Atriedes and Harkonnen families.

I'll probably at leat read the next book to see if I get any more interested, but if I don't I probably won't go any farther with the series. Overall, though, I thought this book was interesting and well-written if not the best thing for me personally.

The novel Dune is one of those works that you hear of by reputation as being a classic and which you always see in the bookstore but never seem to pick up to read. I had seen the David Lynch film when I was younger and was confused and bored by it. I borrowed a copy of the Dune tv mini-series recently, and after watching one episode I found the story intriguing but the special effects lacking. So I decided to read the book in order to experience a better effects company, my imagination.

To me, one of the things that makes Dune unique is its glimpse of what the future holds for the human race. It isnt a future controlled by machines and dominated by technology as so many science fiction worlds are. The universe that Frank Herbert creates here is a humanistic one, almost a mideval renaissance world. Going along with that thought, this universe is filled with court intrigue. The known universe is loosely ruled by an emperor named Padashan IV who keeps his rule going with the threat of his imperial guard, elite fighting units called Sardaukar. He also keeps his noblemen in suspicion of each other and sometimes helps bring about actual wars between them if it suits his purpose.

As the book opens, one of his most respected noblemen, Duke Atreides, is sent to the desert planet of Arrakis (Dune) to take over spice production. Spice is the most important product in the universe and whoever controls it, controls power, and brings danger on themselves. One of the sources of conflict is that the Atreides have replaced the House Harkonnen, their bitter enemies, on Arrakis, so the whole place smells like a trap waiting to spring. The Harkonnens have sworn eternal war, called "kanly" with the Atreides and it is only a question of when and how they will strike. In addition to this, there are mysterious native inhabitants on Dune, known as Fremen, whose allegience is unknown, and the Duke also has to deal with giant sandworms who can swallow ships whole.

The main character of the book is Paul Atreides, son of the duke, a fifteen year old boy trained by the best fighters in the galaxy and also learned in the ways of his Bene Gesserit mother. The Bene Gesserits remind me of the Jedi in Star Wars. They are trained psychics who have strange powers feared and respected among the general populace, such as future vision, and can sometimes control weak minds and sorta steer the galaxy. Some say that Paul is destined for some terrible purpose that will lead the human race to a new destiny.

This is a great book. Like the Lord of the Rings, you can tell that Herbert not only wrote this book, but in the process developed and shaped his world with legends and past histories that are only hinted at in this work. There is lots of action and adventure and also religious questions and philsophy, almost a little for every kind of ruler. It does have its dull moments, especially after Paul meets his destiny, but you have to expect that anytime you have a work that is an "epic". There's so much information that not all of it can be interesting. There is a large cast of characters, so I would maybe suggest watching the first episode of the tv series like I did because it gives you a visual reference for most of the main characters. I'm going to start the next book, Dune Messiah, today.

If a person were to conduct a poll, asking science fiction fans to name their 5 favorite books, Dune would almost surely appear in at least 80% of the lists.

Frank Herbert has created something remarkable, blending several intricate subplots around the central tale of Paul Atreides to form one of the most complex and riveting tales of all time.

The Characterization is flawless and there are more ideas introduced in this one book than I have seen in a dozen of the same genre. Its only drawback or another novelity, depending on your opinion, its Herbert's writing style. Some, like my sister found it very off putting to be immediately thrust into the world with no proper explanation of terms such as the Bene Gesserit, the melange. Many have not progressed beyond the first 30 pages because of this, professing a sense of confusion. I however, find this to be a refreshing change from tthe usual lengthy explanations, which lend meat but no excitement to a novel.

Dune is a roller coaster ride of thrills, exceptional in every way, and should be read by anyone, fans of the genre or not. Wheter u love it or loath it you must admit that it is something special.

This is a good book to rummage around in and to pick through, depending on your interests. The book has a strange kind of ebb and flow to it, alternating between straightforward biographical information, entertaining and easily comprehensible, and some very difficult philosophical sections on what these four disparate people were trying to achieve in their work. The book is very good but in some ways doesn't quite hold together because of the alternating style. And, quite honestly, in some of the analytical sections I sometimes wasn't sure what Mr. Shattuck was saying! If you want something that is entertaining but also very thoughtful without lapsing into the obscure you might want to try David Sweetman's "Explosive Acts" instead. That book seems to me to be more comprehensive and to give you a better feel for the times. Shattuck's book is more narrow in focus. A big drawback for me is that I have never heard the music of Erik Satie. As far as I know it is unavailable. This makes it a little tough to follow Mr. Shattuck's analysis of the music. So, "The Banquet Years" has got a lot of rich, dense prose but you'll need to beware if you are watching your intellectual weight!

Since encountering this wonderful and fascinating book during my first year in college, I have felt its influence in many parts of my life. My nickname shows the influence of Alfred Jarry and his Dr. Faustroll, even though I often identify more with the character Panmuphle. Just for introducing and explaining Jarry, Roger Shattuck's book is worth a good look. Yet another phenomenon that is more complex than its surface first suggests -- the painting of Henri Rousseau -- becomes better understood and more deeply appreciated through Shattuck's chapters on art in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. He certainly educated and influenced my own artistic preferences. And there is more, on poetry and music, but enough said. This is a book of enduring value.

I first came across this book when assigned it in college, and I return to it every few years. I found this a bracing book when I first read it and still to this day. Anyone who thinks Andy Kaufman was the first person to cross the line of performance art into life should read the section on Alfred Jarry. Indeed at a certain point Jarry became irretrievably blurred with his creation Pere Ubu (whom he took to "impersonating" in real life to an extent that must have been quite a trial to his friends). Yet there is something very moving and affirming about the often tragic story presented here. Jarry lived in a half sized room and became a chronic drunk yet he retained an impeccable dignity despite feeling trapped in a savage and absurd world. His last words were for a request for a toothpick. Jarry returned the insult of life with perfect poise.

The other portraits are equally incisive, the Satie portrait particulary haunting (its hard to listen to his music without thinking of the tiny room he lived in and never let another sole visit during his lifetime).

Shattuck gives the historical background that gives you fascinating insight into the social/cultural conditions behind the emergence of what have to be considered highly idiosyncratic artists.

For anyone with bohemian inclinations or posturings this book is essential, perhaps making your own little room shine with a little solidarity for those who have trod before you...

A young mongoose got swept away from his family by a flood and ended up with a person family. They took very good care of him and he loved them. Cobras who were called Nag and Nagaina lived in the garden. Rikki Tikki Tavi protected the family from them. There were birds, too, who were friends of the mongoose. One of their babies fell out of the nest and Nag ate it. My brother and I loved this book. Hannah, aged 7

Everyone will love Rikki Tikki Tavi. He is cute and furry, he has been rescued from certain death by his humans, and best of all he fights snakes in a land where they are an everyday part of life - and death.

This is not just a story for children. The writing is sophisitcated enough to appeal to adults and is very funny in parts, and very touching in others. But it is a great story to share with children - it touches on all the things we want for our kids - strong and loyal friends, a protective and supportive family, and the ability to know when its time to stand up for yourself, and take risks if you need to.

It is a really wonderful story (as are all of Mr Kipling's - to be fair) but this is quite a masterpiece. Share it with a special child and enjoy it all the more.

I first had this book read to me when I was seven by my father who was a diplomat stationed in New Delhi, India. It continues to bring India alive to me and I have often re-read it as an adult. It invariably causes my heart to race during the most exciting adventure scenes, and leaves me teary-eyed with emotion at Rikki's ultimate triumph. I cannot recall any adult novel with a more gripping and exciting description of a battle than Rikki's nighttime fight to the death with Nag, the Cobra, in the bathroom of the bungalow! Rudyard Kipling is a genius and his stories for children are brilliant in that he never makes animals and their actions "silly" (check out "The Elephant's Child" and some of his others for very young audiences). Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is all about heroism and love, and every child and adult who reads this book will cherish it forever.

I got this book first, then his he wrote (The Music of Silence). This one has many nice color and black and white pictures of his life and area he came from. I enjoyed it very much. For his die hard fans, I highly recommend getting his book also, you can find it at Amazon UK. You get a much more intimate picture of Andrea and his personal thoughts and aspirations and feel closer to him and have much more understanding of what makes the man that he is. Many more photos-only in black and white-but well worth it-and different than in this book. Not to take away from Felix's book, each one offers totally different things, both are excellent books to get to know Andrea- the first is more towards his career, the second is more personal of his growing up and in his own words. Buy both as you can. They are both well worth the price.

"My blindness has never been a tragedy to me; I don't know why it should be a tragedy to others." This quote by Maestro Bocelli, out of many that are included in this interesting and well-written biography, cogently defines the man behind the beautiful voice.

The author, Ms. Felix, takes the reader on an interesting journey. Her writing style is very engaging and educational, especially for those new to classical music. From his birth with a rare form of congenital glaucoma, all the way to White House to sing for President Clinton, Andrea Bocelli's story has the aura of a fairy tale. But the author firmly grounds the reader in reality. Maestro Bocelli is now a famous man; however, we see his life before and after, and perhaps come away thinking that it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

From his childhood in the hills of Tuscany, through his years in Pisa for law school, we see the struggle of a young man who never allowed his blindess to close his vision of the world. The author's recounting of his law school years, along with his early forays into piano bars, was very intriguing. The story how he met his wife, Enrica, will captivate the reader with its candor, along with his feelings after their first meeting. "When she touched my hand, I knew I had met the love of my life."

Many would say that Maestro Bocelli, a former public defender, was lucky to achieve his fame. One of his countless demo tapes fell into the hands of the manager of Italian pop vocal star, Zucchero, who was looking for a tenor to accompany him on a certain song called, "Miserere." His inital choice was Maestro Luciano Pavorotti, who after hearing the demo, could not believe it came from an unknown piano bar singer. In the end, the Maestro told him, "This guy Bocelli will sing it better than anyone." And with that endorsement, the path was paved for Andrea Bocelli to become a household name in Europe.

This is a very vivid tale about a determined man. The reader may get the impression that he would prefer to sing to his horse, Gisele, rather than combat his admitted stage fright in front of his passionate fans. Or perhaps take to the slopes with gold medalist, Alberto Tomba, who taught Maestro Bocelli how to ski. Or parachute out of a plane on a dare. But this is a rare man with a lifelong passion for singing, and the author paints a complete portrait of him. The reader will come away with an added respect for the man with the angelic voice.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

"I fell in love with him when I heard him sing." That's what Andrea Bocelli's wife, Enrica, later said of the night they met. It appears that millions of people all over the world are saying the same thing.

Andrea Bocelli: A Celebration, by Antonia Felix, tells in captivating words and stunning photographs, of Bocelli's life-from his youth in idyllic Tuscany, through his roundabout route to phenomenal international success and popularity in both opera and pop music, to his hopes and ambitions for the future.

Andrea is the product of a loving and supportive family and community; to all appearances, he is carrying this thread into the next generation, as we see him now a devoted family man. For most, these two-successful career and happy family-would be evidence enough of a life well lived. But this man does much more. He trains and rides horses, skis, cycles, plays four musical instruments, speaks and sings in several languages, donates his time to charitable causes, and is academically trained as a lawyer.

The editorial review says, "(t)he tone throughout is...that of a glowing admiration for (the) subject" and that Ms. Felix "passes blithely over negative press accounts and the substance of their criticisms." Fair enough. Yet, why would one write a 215-page book about a living individual if one were not already an unapologetic admirer of her subject? For that matter, why else would anyone read such a book? This reader pleads guilty.

Edi Bocelli, Andrea's mother, tells with admirable stoicism how she supported him through his loss of sight-gradual at first, then sudden and final. She wanted him to be "a man, not a handicapped person." For those of us who never would have seen Andrea as handicapped, but simply accepted his blindness as part of the incredible package that this man is, it might prove saddening to read about the difficulties he endured as a child because of his eye problems. Yet, this, too, is undoubtedly part of the package; part of what makes Andrea who and what he is.

Andrea Bocelli is an example and an inspiration for all of us-those who sing, and those who don't; those who see, and those who don't; those who are fans, and those-if such a person still exists in civilized society-who aren't.

Another reader-reviewer has written that the book contains "very little information that has not already appeared in liner notes, journal/newspaper articles and been published on several websites." Perhaps not. But then, none of those will look as nice on your coffee table as Andrea Bocelli: A Celebration. I recommend it.

Thomas Mann as a writer definitely had his strong points, as no one really needs to be told, but his strongest point is probably the way he uses language. Some feel that he is overly descriptive and tends to drag things out a bit too much, like henry miller who called him a "great fabricator", but aside from all this, reading Mann is a unique experience. Now, Felix Krull is labeled a "con man extraordinaire" on the back cover of this book, which is fine if it is meant in the old fashioned, acting like an aristocrat way... but for people, like me, who expect a bit more "con" to the "game" the book is a disappointment. This of course, is no fault of Mann's...just do not be misled by people telling you this is a story of a con man. To make this brief, Felix is a person who finds it increasingly difficult do discern between reality and the illusory, making it hard for him to "find himself". This idea culminates near the end where for about 50 pages the "con" is definitely "on". The first half of this book is immensely entertaining, and it carries some passages that would jump out at anybody as fabulous. The second half for the most part, carries a different method of telling the story, as we get less and less of Felix's entertaining interjections...but it still keeps its magnificence due to Mann's incredible gift of flat-out "story telling". The end is strange to say the least, and there is a section where there is a letter of about thirty pages that is written in the dullest, victorian, aristocratic, "proper talk" that, at least for me, was ferociously boring; causing the story to lose a lot of the steam it had built up getting to this point. Not to sound trite, but this really is not Mann's best work, and just because it is "lighter" reading than his other books, does not make it the best introduction to the world of Thomas Mann. In fact, start with the Magic Mountain (yes, it is long) or Dr. Faustus, or even Buddenbrooks... then return to felix krull and it will be a lot more rewarding if for no other reason then because you have become aquainted with Mann's methods and techniques. Not a great book, yet still very good. Go elsewhere if looking for the confessions of a "con man."

In this, the last of Thomas Mann's novels, we see him relaxing, letting his hair down, so to speak. Gone are the philosophical debates of Magic Mountain, the complicated musical discussions of Doctor Faustus, and even the attitude toward decline and decay from Buddenbrooks. This is a book about Felix Krull, a young man who learns early on that life is what he wants it to be. He becomes a 'confidence man,' someone who changes his name frequently and acts in a 'role' of an identity not his own.

The intriguing thing about Krull is that he is every bit the artist. He is an actor through and through, so good at his trade that he actually becomes (even in his own mind) the character he is portraying. The only difference is that his stage is the world at large. Throughout Felix's early years he deceives various people, steals from a couple of them, takes advantage of others. But Felix is not your typical conman. He seems not to want to hurt anyone, and often goes out of his way to be fair to people. The schemes he does pull he does not consider to be necessarily wrong--in fact, he sees himself acting in an acceptable way. His justification for this is that he is made of 'finer clay' than other people.

In Felix we see many of Mann's other characters--Hans Castorp (in his education at the museum in Lisbon), Tonio Kroger (in his musings on the price and toll of being an artist), even Christian or Hanno Buddenbrook in a sense (what they may have been under other circumstances, without familial pressure). Certainly, anyone familiar with Mann's works will notice that most of the themes of this book are familiar, and have been used in other works as well. There really is nothing groundbreaking in Felix Krull--it is rather an enjoyable novel, especially for fans of Mann, that is easy to read and has some good insights in it. It is not his best work, but it is certainly worth the time to read it.

This was the last book written by Thomas Mann and it's certainly a masterpiece of German literature. The antithesis of a hero, the impostor Felix Krull has no respect for any moral law. Not only was he a rebel since his youth, but also a cynical and disguised person.His confessions are made up of the finest humour, irony and sarcasm ever written and the events are so surprising that it's impossible to predict what he will be up to next. Although the book remained unfinished, the plot provides us with great amusement and, at the same time, it offers an interesting portrait of the European bourgeoisie at the turn of this century

I purchased this book sight unseen on a friend's recommendation. When the book first came, my first impression was, "Oh boy, I spent money on one of these tip books." However, after reading the book, it turned out to be money well-spent.

I've been a faithful Photoshop user for nearly 3 years now, and I have about 75 little stick em notes placed throughout this book. I even had my fair share of "Wow, no way" moments.

Regardless of your level of experience with Photoshop, you will learn something new from this book's concise and well-written tips. If you're looking for "why's" please continue looking elsewhere. If you're looking for tutorials, keep looking. But if you're interested in increasing the speed and productivity from your everday use of the program, this book is definitely one for your shelf.

This book is oriented towards users who already have some knowledge about Photoshop but do not want to read the entire Photoshop Bible to get the most out of the program. It contains many clear and consice tips and tricks for helping the casual user maximize their time with Photoshop. If you like this book I also recommend another of Kelby's books called Photoshop 6 Down and Dirty Tricks.

I have been using Photoshop for about 8 years now & have purchased
several books on the program. This book is one of the best books that I have ever used. The great thing about Scott Kelby's books are that you can start using them as soon as you read them, meaning you don't have to read 12-17 pages before you try out a technique. Also the chances of you finishing this book before it collects dust are very real because the reading is not boring & the book is very intriging. The best asset about this book is if you're new to Photoshop you don't have to be a guru to use this book. The infomation in this book allows you to be productive as soon as you start reading just one page. The title is misleading because it not only offers tips but it allow offers design tips, color correction tips, etc. You will find things in this book that you won't find anywhere else on the program. If you are new to Photoshop this book is crucial until you get up to speed.What separates Scott's books & videos from others is that his teachings are done in a very entertaining approach.

In their final work together, "What is Philosophy?" Guattari and Deleuze envision philosophy as moving at infinite speeds in a mad creation of concepts. This formula is expressed marvelously in "A Thousand Plateaus". In roughly each "plateau", the authors explore a different opposition, although always in relation to the previous concepts, as well as those that are yet to be fully elaborated. Some of these oppositions include smooth/ Striated, rhizome/ tree, war machine/ State, etc. Each one loosely overlaps with the others, although by no means are they synonymous. However, because a similar formula is used to explore each of these oppositions, this greatly facilitates understanding the book, especially since the authors aren't always the clearest writers. However, because many of the central themes (including the fundamental opposition between creative forces and those forces which attempt to halt creation or bring it under control) are repeated, even if confusing at first, this book eventually starts to make sense. The ideas expressed in it are applicable to countless aspects of society and life (and even inorganic structures), such as the rhizome, which desribes a system in which elements interact horizontally, maintaining their heterogeneity (a prime example of this is the internet). My only complaint about "A Thousand Plateaus" is that the authors, despite their rigorous defining of various concepts, often present examples of these concepts poorly, assuming that the reader has knowledge of the examples, introducing them without preparation and then leaving them behind. For example, in plateau 3, "the geology of morals", i was able to understand the basic "abstract machine" described but unable to understand how the given examples fit into the plateau without resorting to an outside source. Of course, why use Guattari and Deleuze's examples when there are numerous instances of these "abstract machine" all around us?

Anti-Oedipus, the first collaboration by Deleuze and Guattari, is more famous than a Thousand Plateaus, but this is their masterpiece. It takes a while to get used to their strange terms and phrases, and an English-schooled "analytical" philosopher would probably find their work to be nonsense, but D & G work differently. They are creators of concepts, and A Thousand Plateaus is overflowing with them. The book moves from meditations on the face, to nomads, to courtly love, to geology, to, well, a thousand other things . . . you name it. A reader who is willing to be led where they will take him is in for quite a trip.

Philosophically, D & G seem to be proponants of a dynamic, highly charged, pre-conventional world, in which even individual identity is not yet a given. They do not suppose that we can live in this world and function normally, but we can tap into it, so to speak, and thereby harness energy for more creative living in the "normal" world, the world of conventional ideas, personal identities, etc. (and to some extent transform the "normal" world). But to paraphrase their ideas in this way is to lose the excitement they generate as they dive into specific topics--the musical refrain, schizophrenia, rhizomes, laws, and so on and so on--ever coming up with new and surpising interpretations. This book has endless riches for the reader to discover.

A Thousand Plateaus is an absolute necessity for any serious reader of contemporary philosophy. Deleuze and Guattari correctly predicted the intensification of the stratification of "civilized society" by 1980; they also presaged the World Wide Web and declared their deep suspicions about any and all massive systems for networking humankind before the web ever existed. Their anarchic call for radical individual autonomy never sounded truer than now. (A noteworthy additional book to seek from their giant bibliography: Pierre Clastres' Society Against the State.)