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"Lady of Horses" was a very enticing book about the struggle of Sparrow, a young women, within her tribe. Sparrow believes that women should be allowed to be near horses and do many other things that only the men can do, but of course, the men would never hear to such things. So, she sneaks out very late at night and just sits with the royal herd, until one night, a white mare, Horse Goddess, asks her to sit upon her back and feel what it is like to fly without wings.
The story has a great plot, and the characters are well depicted - she describes their physical features wonderfully, and allows you to relate to them so much, that you can see each individual character very clearly in your mind. I would definately recommend "Lady of Horses" to anyone looking for a good book to read!
Written about the Horse Goddess and a very powerful female character, she continues in the vain of her previous novel's, "White Mare's Daughter" and "The Shepherds Kings". Sparrow, an isolated, spiritual but strong female, is chosen by The Mare and is complelled to fulfill the destiny demanded by the Goddess to become a powerful Shaman and lead the Grey Horse People of her mother's tribe. Raised in a patriarchal society in the Tribe of the People, where men dominate and women are viewed as worthless and threatening, Sparrow must follow the Horse Goddess lead and learn the ancient lessons of the Gods. Set in the world of pre-historical times, the novel focuses on the physical and spiritual relationship between Humans, Gods and Horses. By daring to turn against the rules and demands of the men of her Tribe, Sparrow ultimately leds Tribes with different values and beliefs together. Through Sparrow's response to the Mare who has chosen her, Tarr leads the reader into the Tribe's world and the Spiritual World of the Horse Goddess. Characters arise from the pages of the book who are evil, wise, compassionate and loving. Walker, the People of the Tribe's powerful Shaman and brother of Sparrow, steals Sparrow's visions to control others in evil ways only to fulfill his desire to make the people do what he wishes and become the Maker of Kings. Keen, Walker's wife and best friend to Sparrow, becomes a strong and independant women with the aid of her friend and the will of the Horse Goddess. Then there's Wolfcub, who has always loved Sparrow secretly, but is bound by honor to return her to the Tribe after Sparrow rides the Mare away. Riding horses is an act forbidden to women by the Men of the Tribe and their Gods. And Old Women, a powerful Shaman who lives alone, she becomes the teacher and spiritual guide to a less then willing Sparrow. These four are but a few of the many characters in the story with which the readers becomes intimately involved.
Then there are the Horses. All aspects of the Horse world are brought intimately to life through Tarr's powerful, humorous and very real descriptions of their behavior, habits, relationships, and physical and spiritual nature. Readers become one with the horse, drawn into their world to the point of feeling the joy of riding on their broad and powerful backs, arousal at their definitive and playful courtships between Mare and Stallion, and understanding their thoughts, emotions and communication with the Humans that they allow the privilidge of being in their lives.
Don't start this book unless you have the ability to sit and read it straight through! As with many of Judith Tarr's novels, everyday life intrusions are as annoying as the flies that can torment the Horses. Lady of Horses is an all incompassing experience and it is with a sigh of both sadness and joy that you reach the final page and close the book. I never let go of a Judith Tarr Novel however, as this book, like her others are meant to past the test of time and be read and re-read for years to come.
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take a note from judith thompson's lion in the streets.
otherwise, you're not getting it.
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"Focusing on men has taken us as far as it can. This book is written directly to women, and just about women, so that we can turn the corner. The way we turn the corner is that we let go of the idea of getting to love by helping men to change. In our all-too-understandable obsession with getting more of what we need and what we are reasonably entitled to in a relationship, we have overlooked a key psychological truth: ** relationships depend far less on whom we choose than on who we are.**.... You are the single most important factor in whom you choose to love, and in what you experience in return. Love is a measure of your own inner stretch..."
If that paragraph intrigues you, you'll find much of value here. Throughout the rest of the book, she'll gently -- and a little philosophically -- show you how you can help yourself to stretch further.
And despite her statement that she is writing for women on the topic of romantic love, much of what she says about love applies in family and friend relationships as well.
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Lt. Jason Kent lives secluded in an 800-year-old gothic mansion, brought stone by stone from Germany. However, the gargoyles, which guard its turrets, can't keep the pain the world offers Jason at bay. A mission gone wrong has forever changed his physical appearance and abilities. Now he only interacts with the world through the computers in his study and the occasional visit of one of the children from his nearby orphanage.
The recluse had started his orphanage as an extension of a gag. He'd risked everything once to save a child from certain starvation, smuggling her into the United States. He had all kinds of money and nothing to do with it, so he started an orphanage for hard to place children in memory of that first child he'd rescued. But the terrible scars resulting from his last mission keeps him from the halls of the orphanage, and from the hugs of the grateful children.
Angie understands the need to hide. She lives with her own deep-set fears; that is, if she risks her heart with Jason he will find her wanting. She can't stand for him to look at her with that look of pity and disappointment that she'd seen in her previous fiancé's eyes after the drunk driver came around the curve at her on the wrong side of the road. Sure, Stephen had said all the right things, but he had also left her standing at the altar. She absolutely believes that Jason will want more, and certainly deserves more, than she can possibly give.
Talented author Judith Lyons has a marvelous gift of characterization. Even as she exposes the deep-set emotional vulnerability of her characters, Lyons doesn't allow them to wallow in self-pity, but forces them to confront their weaknesses and grow. The well-crafted plot, unique setting, and intrusion of a whimsical child weave together in an exhilarating plot. Reflecting both the tragedy and the triumphs of life and love, SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT comes highly recommended.
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For any older sibling who has a newborn addition to the family, things like this are common even among the most organized parents. What can be confusing to the older sib is what exactly is going on? Why is Mama suddenly getting forgetful? While the book doesn't exactly answer this question, it does tell us that everything will work out in the end and Mamas are good at improvising (when Jenna, Mickey and her Mama go to a birthday party a week early, Mama looks ready to cry but instead they go by a bakery and have a cupcake instead).
I love this story, especially now that our second child has entered our lives and our older child is wondering why the adults are not only always tired, but why we do things like stick the cereal in the refrigerator and the milk in the cupboard, and why I've gone to work in mismatched socks on more than one occasion. As families, somehow we manage to muddle through all the little trials and tribulations and try to make the best of even the most frustrating situations (when the bathroom floor floods, "Jenna went wading in her rainboots.").
The text of "Mama..." is easy to read and understand, so young children with new sibs can easily understand these funny situations. The illustrations are soft and colorful (watercolors, I think), and they clearly convey a sense of belonging and family among the characters, even when minor disasters strike like flooded floors, open car trunks and too-early arrivals to birthday parties. The book also shows us that minor setbacks and frustrations are simply a part of being in a family, and instead of complaining about it, what can we do to make the situation better? (Jenna entertains Mickey in the back seat while Mr. Carbone jimmies the door lock).
For the delightful illustrations, for the ease of text and for demonstrating that everyday frustrations are part of life, I highly recommend this book to parents and families of all kinds!
o Compare the advantages of focus group research over quantitative studies.
o Understand the process and timing for selecting a facility, scheduling groups, screening respondents, re-screening respondents, conducting sessions, and reviewing results. Learn which features and services to look for when selecting a facility.
o Find out what you need to know about cheaters, repeaters, and deceivers. Learn how to deal with know-it-alls, people who talk too much, respondents who are rude, and conversations that stray off the topic at hand.
o Review dozens of tips, actual phrases and signals you can use to keep a group on track-how to get the group talking, how to ask questions without biasing responses, how to control group dynamics, when to probe and when to use a firm hand.
Get the most out of your sessions and research dollars. As a client, learn when to speak up and when to let the moderator do her job. As a moderator, learn how to address client concerns and how to deliver the most value to them-Every Time!
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The series has given me a love for historical fiction and knowledge of many details in Russian history. Pella has done a wonderful job and I have never been disappointed by any of her works.
I find that the author(s) of these stories manage to twist their way into my gut like very few others have been able to do. If you are ready to being what will initially appear as light "pleasure" reading, but what will also stretch you heart to it's boundaries, try the series. And please, read them in order.