Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu would have been able to do credit to the effort to review this book of their poems. I envy the exquisite beauty of these poems. Across the centuries...a thousand years....the sensitivity and the depth of human feeling still touches deeply. In addition: the introduction, appendix and notes to poems are very informative and helpful in understanding the context of the times in which these poems were written and the complexities of the translation process. All of which makes the enjoyment of these works that much more comprehensive. The poems are beautiful beyond words and the translation superb.
Stu

This collection of poetry blew me away. Most of the poems are quite short (4-5 lines), but they all carry as much meaning as any long poem I have read. This poetry is soulful, intellectually stimulating, and understandable. My favorite thing about this collection is how easily I could identify with the poetry. Most of the poems are about secret love, wanting someone, loving someone, and leaving someone (both in body and spirit). There is also a large portion of the poems that were written about missing someone who has passed away, and I found it to be especially beautiful. If you have ever had a secret lover, or lost someone you will never forget, this is the poetry for you.

Having devoured numerous Japanese anthologies, I can tell you this one is a pure delight. The translations are beautiful. The choice of poems is beautiful. The introduction is wonderful. And the layout is clean. A must for anyone with a heart and soul. A desert island choice.

This coffee table quality book contains as much information on Jane Austen and the Regency as the fan would want to know. It covers info on Jane's life, her family, her death, and her books all in a easy to read format with beautiful photos and drawings from her life and movie adaptations of her work. Along with this glimpse at Austen, there are sections on the Regency itself, with all its quirks and mannerisms.

A book for the fan to treasure and look back at time and again!

"Jane Austen's world" is an excellent book for any Jane Austen fan--whether you're just starting to learn about Austen or you're already a seasoned fan. While giving some good biographical information on Austen, it more importantly familiarizes the reader on English society at the time that Jane Austen lived.We learn to understand how the novel was a recent literary form at this time, and this adds appreciation to the genius of Austen's works. "Jane Austen's World" is an excellent guide to recent Austen film adaptations. I particularly appreciated the sections on the English government and monarchy of the time. This is a wonderful beginning biography of Austen as it is very approchable and easy to read. The format of the entire book is interesting and inviting.

Having bought the book based on its shelf appeal--particularly the full-color stills from my favorite movie adaptations of Austen's novels and the lush photography of England--I was thrilled to find much more information than I expected. From the "Who Is Jane Austen" chapter, with its concise yet thorough biography and family history of Jane, to the "Everyday Life" and "Society and Culture" chapters, this book provides today's reader with the historical/cultural/social backdrop of Jane's novels. Chapters are divided into sub-topics, and each sub-topic fits perfectly into a two-page spread. This was especially appealing because if I had only five or ten minutes to spare for reading, it was easy to find a logical stopping place. This book re-ignited my love for Jane Austen and her characters--and I'm planning to read through all five novels again very soon.

During her "Scandalous Life" (1800's), Jane Digby was often written about in the press and provided foder for the tea room gossips for over 50 years. The stories seldom had more than a grain of truth but her ability to live her own life outside of the conventional standards of her day needed no embellishments. I have read other books and accounts of her life but Mary S Lovell has now set the standard that the other biographers will be judged. Her attention to details and access to the volumes of diaries and letters brought this biography its validity. She presents Jane's life without moralizing and judging her actions. Noone could make up a story with the twists and turns found in Jane's biography. After the episode with Isabel Burton(who tried to capitalize on Jane's story and her brief acquaintance with her when she thought Jane has died), must have left Jane Digby very cynical of biographers but I believe that she would have been very happy with Mary Lovell's. What greater compliment can an author garner from their subject? I will add my lament about the "out of print" status of this biography here in the states. I was thrilled to find a copy displayed casually in the biography section of a village bookstore in Ashburton,Devon, England while I was visiting the area with friends. The cover was bent and battered but it was their last copy. They told me it would take a few days until their next order arrived. The title was changed to "A Scandalous Life", The Biography of Jane Digby published by Fourth Estate,London. I bought the battered copy and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have also added Mary S.Lovell to my list of favorite biographers!.

I have read this book and the only thing Scandalous about is is that the publisher has not reprinted it! The herstory of the Middle East has many intriguing women who have done remarkable things. These women like Jane Digby, loved the desert no less than many of the "heroes" we all can still read about today. Yet their travels are scarcely cited. Jane Digby's romantic trysts may have stunned her peers, but today her story is fascinating. Visiting Damascus, travelling to Palmyra, each had such a different impact knowing I was seeing what she saw over a hundred years ago. In a region where the dominance of males, Islam and the harsh desert life is well documented, it is a shame more interested readers cannot learn why a western woman would chose it as her home in the 19th century. The author stays away from judgements about Jane Digby, and presents her as honestly as she was-a rebel of the heart.

I adore biography - especially those of the great characters of the second half of the 18th and first half of the 19th centuries. I knew of Jane Digby el Mezrab from Irving Wallace's Nymphos and Other Maniacs which I read many years ago and also via several biographies of Sir Richard Burton. This is a well written, carefully and extensively researched book which benefited enormously from the author's good luck in uncovering much new, previously unseen and unpublished family material in Dorset and New Zealand. This, the author says in her acknowledgements, is more satisfying than the publication of the book itself. I agree, for this sort of discovery is palpably thrilling and the author's excitement shines through her narrative.

This biography reads like fiction and Jane Digby, firstly Lady Ellenborough, was one of those larger than life people who followed their own path, irrespective of the mores of their own time. Following Jane's life is a tour through the drawing rooms of Regency England, several European and Balkan courts to the deserts of Syria and Arabia. It is the story of a woman (thrice divorced) who eventually found happiness and fulfilment with a man of great nobility from an entirely different race, culture and religion. Jane's interest in the minutiae of life in Damascus in the mid 19th century makes fascinating reading and her wit and fondness for her adopted "tribe" in the desert is moving.

Highly recommended!

Towards the end of his life Ansel Adams, a purist among photographers, noted that , perhaps, the most exciting images in the genre of photography would be created in the then infant field of electronic imaging. Lisa Jane is one of the "new breed" of photographers creating these images. What she has done in her book Enchanted Childhood has been to go beyond simply mastering the art of photographing children, a formidable objective in itself, and moved us into the realm of capturing the fantasy of childhood. Who amongst us was not a Faerie Princess or Elf at some point in our infancy? What parent does not see their child as a angel? By integrating what at the turn of the Century would have been deemed as "Pictoral" photography with the brave new world of electronic imaging Lisa has pushed the bounds of photography and our imaginations into canvases which, until now, were the domain of painters not photographers.Her images are rich with detail and literally drip with color (take notice of the plate that accompanies Walter da la Mare's "Dream Song"- what saturation!). On an unmarked page (I do wish there was a compliation at the end for reference of the color plates) of Faeries could Tinkerbell have been any more delicate than the faery looking at it's own image while sitting on a lilly pad? the angel facing the page that includes a quote from Peter Pan belongs on a fresco in some chapel.Her work will fire up the imaginations of countless portrait artists who will imitate her. As well they should. Lisa has established a standard and shown a sensitivity that many of us would do well to emulate.

Lisa Jane visited to Japan (2/25/99) and introduced the book "Enchanted Childhood." Japanese photographers were amazed and shocked because her pictures are ultimate art!

Lisa Jane definitely capatures and brings into reality a child's magical world we, as adults, can only dream of. How does she do it? This book is an absolutely captivating book which has brought fantasy to life. Is it real or fiction? Each page contains new worlds to discover and dream about. Leaving us guessing at what lies on the next page... a must for the young and the young at heart. Be captivated by the beauty and talent of this artist. ***** I give this book five stars! Thank you Lisa Jane!

DarkVisions is an amazing trilogy full of all issues that surrounds teenagers today. Dealing with relationships, trouble, friends and love! Kaitlyn's life is very facinating in The Possessed and The Passion tells us how her life ends up. Will she end up with Rob or Gaberiel? Will thier telepathy link be broken? And will they fight and survive the battle against Zetes? Read The Passion to find out !

Kait, Rob, Anna, Luis, and Gabriel decide to fallow their dreams AWAY from the institute and to a house that they know only is up north somewhere. On the way there, Kait finds out that Gabriel harbors a dangerous secret...something that happened to him after he was hooked up to the impure crystal at Zete's house.
Terrific read! I loved it through and through. Did i mention that Gabriel is HOT??

This book was great book to read. Gabriel is the best character in the story...other than Kaitlyn. I just wish that we could read more from his point of view. And I wish there was a little bit more between Gabriel&Kaitlyn. But all in all it deserved five stars. It had the perfect amount of suspense.

The book was mainly focusing on the five psychic friends (Kaitlyn,Gabriel,Rob,Annna, and Lewis)who are on the run from Mr. Zetes. They are searching for a house that will help them fight the evil that is after them. Only problem is that they dont know where the house is. Meanwhile Mr.Zetes has been sending ghostly figures after them to haunt them in their dreams and trap them. You will be surprised who the ghostly figures are at the end...

While this is going on Gabriel has a hunger inside him that forces him to prey on innocent people to keep himself alive! When Kaitlyn finds this out she decides that she wont let Gabriel go through this alone and refuses to let him turn away from her. And in the process of helping him Gabriel's feelings for her are revealed! And her reaction surprised me a little....

This book was undoubtedly proof that Ms. Smith is the greatest author of all time! And her characters are SO easy to fall in love with! I can almost guarantee that anyone who buys this book wont be dissapointed. I LOVED this book and Im impatiently counting down the days until my order for THE PASSION arrives.

I read this book many years ago, but it's impact on me was so powerful that I vividly remember it to this day. Yes it is long and the material is now dated, but the overall content is something every American citizen should read. It will open your eyes to what a farce the so called "war" on drugs really is in this country. It's understandable how our government caves into the corruption when you look at the staggering amounts of money and power plays involved. The now dissolved Centac organization (the focus of this book) is about the only U.S. government agency worth the tax dollars. Their approach was to go after the top men, unlike the DEA and police system making small/mid-level busts every now and then to get good news coverage, while they continue taking their kickbacks and ignoring the kingpins and tons of drugs coming in. This book will make you ripping mad and scare the hell out of you at the same time.

I have read this book twice. It is an amazing story of high crime. when i lend it it never comes back. The reason it is out of print is , as the book says, 'the names are not changed to protect the guilty' from the CIA to the whitehouse, politicians make conscessions with the bad guys. WAR on drugs? HA........ When the government puts its interests before the people it reads like this book. When criminals can operate with impunity, it reads like this book. Excellent......scary, and REAL

America was and is built and surviving on CRIME

Wow, this book should be required reading for an educated adult, this could be used as a university text. This book is hard hitting, realistic and well written about the illegal trade and alliances between Narco-trafficers and governments, whether willing or not. This book exposes the facades and uncovers startling and incredible truths about the impact of illegal drugs on America that the mainstream media just glosses over. I wish this book was still in print. There needs to be more investigative reporting like this to resurrect journalism.

This is a very nice and colorful guide, but I would not recommend it for the beginner. It does not go into detail about how to find the center point of the egg, nor how to divide the egg evenly. It has many color photos of beautiful eggs, but there is a lot of white space that could be used to show the reader how to develop the design and in what dye order to use for the best results. This book is a great supplement, but beginners should look elsewhere.

Very in-depth and well illustrated book. Pollack includes detailed instructions and some interesting techniques she's developed herself. Includes traditional designs and meanings as well as interesting contemporary approaches to the craft. Beautiful color photographs for Pollack's work and the work of other egg artists. The only book you'll need to decorate gorgeous eggs.

I was looking for a book that had the meaning and history of pysanky as well as design and technique. Jane Pollack gives it all! The pictures are beautiful. The technique is well illustrated and easy to follow and makes me believe even I can turn out some nice eggs. The variety of design is from Ukrainian to modern to make-up-you-own. As a quilter I enjoyed the many examples of quilts on eggs. She also includes how to make jewelry. I especially like the explanation of the symbolism of the traditional images. Great book, must own!

Being an adaptation by and with the great Martin Jarvis, I thought it would be absolutely excellent, as I have found his audio efforts to be always. But in his performance there is something lacking, Sir Robert Chiltern should be played with a bit more pathos. Jacqueline Bisset is formidable, and Alfred Molina also as Lord Goring.

As to being a live recording, this is a mixed blessing. This public seems to misunderstand some lines, and there are misplaced laughs, for example when Robert Chiltern says: "I did not sell myself for money. I bought success at a great price. That is all". I'm sure Wilde didn't intend this to be a joke. Chiltern is not bought, he is not changed, it is he who buys something, therefore his character, his person, is not altered. The public dismisses this important nuance and bursts into a hearty fit of laughter.

There are three o four more like that. But on the whole, this recording by L.A. Theater Works is highly enjoyable.

Wilde, in part, attempts to portray the relativity of truth, power, and character, things we often take as absolutes, while also entertaining his audience with witty dialogue and comical mishaps.

Oscar Wilde gives us here one of his best plays. He explores the political world in London and how a young ambitious but poor man can commit a crime, which is a mistake, to start his good fortune. But he builds his political career on ethical principles. Sooner or later someone will come into the picture to blackmail him into supporting an unacceptable scheme, by producing a document that could ruin his career if revealed. His past mistake may come back heavily onto him. But he resists and sticks to his moral reputation. He prefers doing what is right to yielding to some menace. He may lose though his political ambition and career and his wife's love. But love is saved by forgiveness and the man's career is also saved by the work of a real friend who recaptures the dubious document and destroys it. In other words love and an ethical career are saved by the burrying of the old mistake into oblivion. In other words love and friendship are stronger than the scheming action of a blackmailer. This is a terrible criticism of victorian society which is based more on appearances than principles and yet able to destroy a man's absolutely ethical present life with a mistake from his youth, throwing the baby along with the water of the bath. It is also a criticism of the victorian political world where you cannot have a career if you are not rich, money appearing as the only way to succeed, at least to succeed fast. But it is a hopeful play because love and friendship are beyond such considerations and only consider the best interest of men and women, in the long run and in the name of absolute purity. Better be a sinner and be forgiven when you have reformed than see a reformed sinner destroyed by the lack of forgiveness. Oscar Wilde advocates here a vision of humanity that necessitates forgiveness as the essential fuel of any rational approach. Real morality is not the everlasting guilt of a sinner without any possible reform. Real morality is the recognition that forgiveness is necessary when reform has taken place. Otherwise society would be unlivable and based on hypocrisy and the death or rejection of the best people in the name of (reformed) mistakes. One must not be that sectarian, because man can learn from his mistakes and improve along the road : one can learn how to avoid mistakes and repair those oen has committed. If condemnation is absolute, no progress is possible. A very fascinating play, a very modern play. And yet when can one be considered as reformed, when can we consider one has really corrected one's mistakes and improved ? And who can deem such elements ? The very core of political and ethical rectitude is concerned here and Oscar Wilde embraces a generous approach.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Perpignan

A fun book with bright colorful pictures. My son loves to help "read" the book's repeating sentence - HELP HELP WHO CAN HELP?. A nice happy ending as all the animals work together to help the duck.

My 2 1/2 year old loves calling out the rhyming words as we read through this book - duck, stuck, muck. Nicely illustrated. Be prepared to read this over and over.

One Duck Stuck is a darling children's book -- that moms and dads will love, too! We checked this out of the library, and liked it so much we went to amazon.com and bought 3!

It's rhythmic verse is enchanting and the kids recite it like a song. The alliteration is clever, as well.

The illustrations are colorful and alive!

The whole book just draws you in and makes you want to read it over and over again.

It's a feel-good, happy, sing-song little story the whole family will love.

I enjoyed her other book (Love to Water My Soul) enough to read another one by her. While I did not find this book quite as interesting as Love to Water My Soul (which I wish I had given four stars now) it was still a good book. Jane Kirkpatrick does a good job of mixing history with story to enhance both. I really felt like I got some idea of what life was like in Oregon in the late 19th century. I think at some points she works too hard to incorporate real events. There were a few odd episodes during the book that seemed a little out of place, but then I saw them mentioned in her notes at the end as historical events she had discovered in her research. But overall a good book.

Living in Oregon and loving it, I was finally able to connect with the true spirit and life of early Oregon. Jane Kirkpatrick brings this story to the very core of my soul. I actually felt like I was there in the Deschutes with Jane Shearer and the Warm Spring tribe she shared her life with and to the amazing feats that her husband,Joesph,set in the early west. The stama of the early pioneers to have trials, tribulations and yet strong faith to make the West the best of living. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. It definetley was not a slow read for me. This part of Oregon is on my list to visit, though, it won't look the same, I'm sure that I will feel the spirit of all the characters gathered in that valley. After reading this book, I could not stop. Next came All Together In One Place, and A Gathering of Finches. I am just now starting Love to Water My Soul..I hope that Jane Kirkpatrick keeps the "sweetness" of her writing coming and coming..I love historical fiction of this kind.

I absolutely loved this book! I was so anxious to read every word, all the time not wanting it to end. It was so real to me, I could smell the fresh air and feel the spray from the the Falls. I felt the pain of each loss, but also the joy of love, friendship and very hard work. Jane Sherar was unbelievably brave, as was her wonderful husband Joseph and to think that they were a very real part of settling that part of our country. They feared nothing but the thought of losing each other. They had such a fierce devotion and loyalty to the people with whom they shared their lives: Benito, Sunmiet, the Turners, Ella and all the others. Jane Kirkpatrick is such a prolific writer, with a wonderful knack of giving us every detail, making us feel a part of the lives and the community of every book she writes. Just an outstanding book...I loved it!