Gardner continues with his adventurous scholarship and speculative conclusions about occult history. There are many excellent insights about the mystical and aristocratic traditions represented in popular mythologies, such as the "ring" stories and the grail legends. However, Gardner is an insider of sorts, and promotes the ideas of his own lineage, at times evading or glossing over some issues, such as the origin of the Annunaki & Shining Ones. This book is an excellent read and thought provoking, but some of the author's conclusions are questionable.

Laurence Gardner completes his "Holy Grail" trilogy (Bloodline Of The Holy Grail, Genesis Of Thee Grail Kings) with this book, "Realm of the Ring Lords". The book is once again full of a plethora of information, as well as lush illustrations. Laurence Gardner may write like a mystic novelist, but his keen perception of words (he is as much an etymologist as he is a historian) make the fiction very truthful. After all, myth has some basis on true facts. In "Realm of the Ring Lords", Gardner takes an inside look on the mystic origins of "ring" legends and how they relate to the Holy Grail. Garder has proposed that the Holy Grail, a feminine symbol, represents the bloodline of Jesus and his union with Mary Magdalene. In "Genesis Of The Grail Kings", he further explores the personages of Abraham and Moses. Time after time, in true Kabbala tradition, Gardner elevates the man/woman relationship and the procreational power, especially of prominent figures.

In fairy tales, such as Sleeping Beauty or Rapunzel, there is always a helpless maiden, a woman frustrated because she has no male consort- Sleeping Beauty was cursed with a sleeping spell and Rapunzel was kept a prisoner in a tower, only to be saved by a handsome prince. This, Gardner insists, is only another manifestation of the Grail legends, of the inevitable union of man and woman for dynastic intentions, such as those dating back to old Sumerian civilizations. The same applies to the ring lore. Rings, symbols of eternity and perpetual bloodline. The rings of power have been the source of inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and the Wagner opera "Ring of the Nibelung" which he had himself taken from the Norse sagas.

Gardner further explores the great cycle of legends revolving around King Arthur, the Round Table and the Knights Of The Holy Grail. King Arthur, without a question, is a parody of Jesus, a triumphant Christian king who will return once again in dark days to save people, a wounded king during "the wasteland" who can only be saved and healed by the life-giving Holy Grail. Arthur's purity was never a question in the old legends. Lancelot and his carnal affair with Guenevere, a violation of the balance between Arthur and Guenevere's marriage and the stability of the Round Table (which both coexisted in a mystic bond), made the ideal of Camelot become merely an ideal, and less a reality.

A great book, with deep insight on mythology and the meaning of legends. Laurence Gardner concludes his trilogy with a very thought-provoking book. Eventhough one cannot believe every thing, per letter about anything, one must always have in mind that in fiction, there is always some element of truth.

In anticipation of Laurence Gardner's new book, Realm of the Ring Lords, I re-read his previous two works, Bloodline of the Holy Grail, and Genesis of the Grail Kings. Both of them were groundbreaking books, revealing, in the first instance, convincing theories about the progeny of the dynastic marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, and the intriguing influence of their descendents throughout European history; and, in the second instance, a fascinating theory of the origin of the Grail King lineage, starting in ancient Sumer, and evolving, through Babylonia, Egypt, and Canaan, up to, and including, Jesus.

Gardner not only has access to the private libraries of the current Grail Family members, but he has a remarkable facility with languages. Both of these assets come into play in his newest work, The Realm of the Ring Lords. As a result of the incontrovertible practice of the Roman Church to exterminate anyone whom it declared a "heretic", the Grail Family, and the theology and tradition it represented, were forced to remain underground for many centuries. The powerful and persuasive essence of the Grail tradition, though, was kept alive all the while by a coded folklore, which created all kinds of elves, fairies, leprechauns, pixies, gnomes, heroes/heroines, etc., many of which we have all heard of at one time or another. Gardner has successfully translated all the fairy-tale "fiction" into an enchanting, but very real history, based on his deep understanding of the Grail tradition, and his adept use of etymology.

While this book doesn't rival his other two in terms of earth-shaking revelations, it does complement the other two by providing a deeply satisfying explanation of the effects of the Grail tradition on European cultural and literary heritage that, heretofore, had been accepted as fantasy, but now are very real and significant.

If you haven't read any of Gardner's work, don't start with this one. He makes frequent references to his previous books, and assumes that the reader is familiar with them. If you have read both of his other books, I think you will enjoy this guided tour and interpretation of Europe's folklore.

Sterne befuddles and delights readers and critics alike in A Sentimental Journey. He takes the fashionable travel log of the time and satarizes it. Contemporary critics had a fit over its supposedly bawdy nature, yet some modern readers may over look its sublte innuendo. The form of the novel is quite unlike anything that had preceeded it, thus is important for any scholars. Most importanly, however, the book is funny and fun to read.

A Sentimental Journey is a fabulous book for so many reasons. Laurence Sterne was an immensely influential writer in the 18th century--his major works, Sentimental Journey and Tristram Shandy, were responses to the travel narrative and newly born novel, respectively. His writing is essential to scholars of the 18th century--he is referenced in Austen's Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, Brown's The Power of Sympathy, Foster's The Coquette and Tyler's The Contrast. To understand and appreciate his novel is to have a better appreciation and love of the works that built their structures on his foundation. And yet it is original, as Yorick says himself, "both my travels and observations will be altogether of a different cast from any of my fore-runners."

Yet it is not solely for historical benefit that one should read Sentimental Journey. The adventures and amours of Sterne's semi-autobiographical Yorick are delightful. One of the most romantic passages I've read in a book occurs when Yorick inadvertantly takes the hand of a woman and describes in detail the thrill of merely holding it. Granted, hers is not the only hand he will hold, but he writes so wonderfully, candidly and engagingly that it is extremely difficult to hold his passions against the sentimental Yorick. His scene with the starling locked in a cage is pertinent and a touching commentary on slavery. What a guy! My only complaint is the editor of this edition does not feel it necessary to translate the French-of which there is plenty-making some passages difficult to understand at best. However,this is a sentimental journey that I will gladly take over and over.

This autobiographical acount by Sterne of his amorous progress through France and Northern Italy is surely one of the most delightful books ever written. Composed as he lay dying of tuberculosis, the book nonetheless encaptures the author's renowned zest for life as well as the libertine spirit of the age in which he lived. The journey down through France to Northern Italy is the perfect vehicle for an excursion into the nature of human sensibility, and from the moment that this cultured Anglo-Irish cleric sets foot in Calais, the reader is treated to a seies of exquisite encounters with the fairer sex. Rarely has an author transmitted so well his understanding of the psychological complexity of women, or the pleasure he takes in their company. Engaging, perceptive and witty, this is a book whiich cannot fail to leave an imprint on the imagination.

This pictorial book was to coincide with the release of the epic movie based on the classic memoir of Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer. The book contains scripts, location stills of Tibet, and hundreds of photo stills from the making and the movie itself. Knowing that due to the Chinese opposition parts of the scenes from the movie were actually shot in South America, I was somehow disappointed. But the pictorial still adds grciously to my Tibet collection.

The book is very....real.The author described everything in great detail.Brad Pitt's character was also very realistic in how the author projected him.Also has many cool facts on Tibet(customs ang religion),the many characters had very interesting personalities.Brad Pitt's character had alot of character,the way the author projected.Good book.Read it.

I found Richard Graves English translation to be excellent. One can almost feel the cold nights and the pain of Harrer's trek up from India to Lhasa. His appreciation of the customs and desire to learn from them is something much needed today as Americans try to understand Tibet. This is a good book to begin with in gaining background. He is not a theologian or historian but gives a much needed glimpse of Tibet fifty years ago. Knowing the past makes the future brighter.

This host of "the Natural Garden" on Northeast Public Radio has developed a low-maintenance approach to gardening that allows him to have a beautiful garden with interesting plants - and time for his family too.

This easy-to-read book starts with the very basics of gardening - the site, the soil and the tools a new gardener will need and then guides the reader in developing gardens for a wide range of sites. He explains how to design a garden, choose annuals and perennials for the site and each season, and then how to maintain that garden through the year. There are good source lists and a useful reference section.

The writer has a direct approach that is readable and useful for the novice gardener. The book is published by Rodale - a long-established and reliable publisher of gardening books.

As a longtime fan of Larry Sombke's occasional stint on WAMC's "Vox Pop" program, I was thrilled to find out about his books. Just like his radio self, Sombke's prose is smooth with clear explanations and illustrations accessible even to those of us with purple thumbs...

For lovers of historical mysteries, Janet Laurence's "Canaletto and the Case of the Westminster Bridge" will be a welcomed addition. For readers who are looking for intriguing suspense, intense plots, clever developments, thought-provoking incidents, and multi-dimensional characters, then this book may be a disappointment. Laurence introduces us to Canaletto, the famed Venetian artist of the eighteenth century, who arrives in England with his personal fortune (he's been told that it is the correct time to make a "killing" (as it were!) by directly investing in English ventures) and his desire to "paint" London. Upon his arrival at the docks, he is nearly killed by a ruffian. Enter Fanny Rooker, who just happens to be meeting the boat. She saves his life twice early on in this book. Fanny is a rather nondescript young woman who has troubles of her own; she is an aspiring artist and is "framed" on a trumped up charge of theft. The two "down and outers" form a team that provides Laurence with her problem solving modus operandi. (Laurence does not permit this relationship to develop into anything romantic, although apparently Canaletto in reality was indeed quite the lady's man, the author hints.) Thus the plot thickens and we find Canaletto, basically, sans fortune and unlikely to find any painting commissions. His woes continue, but William Pitt gives him an offer the Italian cannot refuse--to help Pitt and the English government uncover the fraud that is keeping the newly commissioned Westminster Bridge from being completed, at least on time. Canaletto is instructed to leave no stone unturned in investigating the problems that have arisen from the quarry that provides the material for the bridge. He canvasses closely the usual suspects and with his keen eyes and excellent perspective, solves the case and, well, you get the "picture." Laurence does a very good job of providing us with a good sense of eighteenth century London. Her usage of Canaletto as a fictionalized private investigator not only is incredibly interesting but is also clever. (It does bring to question just which famous historical figure will be next: after all, other authors have already used Ben Franklin, Eleanor Roosevelt, King Tut, Jane Austen, to name a few to solve fictionalized crimes.) Included in the book are the usual duels, melodramatic romantic interests, and coincidental twists--all in keeping with period writing, of course, as she manages to capture the flair of the time, not only in writing style but in the landscape and atmosphere she portrays. Having Canaletto speak pidgin English sometimes gets in the way (Laurence should transcend the language barrier and simply have him speak naturally!) and (in what is hoped to be the beginning of a series!) developing her characters more fully will indeed enhance her story. The author is credited with "several cookbooks and is also the author of (a) successful culinary mystery series" (now that's food for thought!), according to the book's liner jacket information. Despite the above limitations, the book is heartily recommended. It is a good read; it is an absorbing read. Don't miss it!

In 1746, Venetian artist Canaletto has arrived in London seeking fresh fame and fortune. However, his arrival is not met with cheers. In fact, he deliberately singled out for assault and robbery twice. Both times he is rescued by neophyte painter Fanny Rooker. Unbeknownst to the talented landscape artist, there are many locally ambitious individuals who do not desire to have an expatriate Italian inadvertently interfere with their plans to obtain wealth by any means necessary. When his contact fails to meet him, Fanny and her sibling allow Canaletto to stay in their home.

Soon Paymaster General William Pitt asks Canaletto to look into why the construction of the Westminster Bridge is running behind schedule, has opposition that is very vocal and the project is stuck with outrageous cost overruns. Canaletto goes out to paint the bridge only find an even grimmer mystery waiting to confront him.

CANALETTO AND THE CASE OF THE WESTMINISTER BRIDGE is a great debut of a new historical mystery series by the ultra-talented Janet Lawrence, author of the highly regard Lisle culinary mysteries. Canaletto is a superb character and eighteenth century London is a wonderful setting as is an era where capitalism is fighting to gain a foothold. However, what makes Ms. Lawrence's novel a reading-gourmand's delight is the various ensemble of the people who made up Georgian London.

Harriet Klausner

Bullies are a problem in schools and Yep's gentle story of two brothers working together to outwit the bully works on many levels. Using the fascination with insects is an effective plot device that will keep 8 - 10 year boys interested in a story that could help their social skills.

Streetwise Teddy avoids bullies and trouble but his younger brother seems to invite them and Teddy finds himself on the losing end of a bully's wrath in this gentle story about brothers, friends, and pets. Add a Chinese family's interactions and you have a warm and involving story.

If you are addicted to Changing Rooms, like myself, You will like this. It's got lots of unique ways to arrange everyday objects into the style you want.

When I first obtained this book, I was expecting something flashy and opulent as Mr. Llewellyn-Bowen can be at times, and for which I admire his style greatly. But, he shows in simple ways how you can display even ordinary objects with great finesse and style.

By using the everyday items in your home or even everyday objects from outdoors he shows you how you can display them to the best advantage. Some of the ways include by color, texture, provenance, size and shape. He also shows how to use the maximum versus the minimum impact; symmetry versus asymmetry.

You can even display the items in your food pantry--if you have a mind to with this book.

I still wanted a little something showy with this book - something bright red with a little leopard print, but still I was very satisfied Laurence's book.

He leido éste libro y se usa como guia y biblia para todo obrero del mundo hoy. Examina doctrinas de administración, Gerencias, co-obreros, y política de oficina. Si no se lleva bien con toda doctrina corporada, quizás será de que no esté tan enterrado de como realmente funciona su lugar y posición. Al estudiar éste libro, va a poder navegar mas bien entre los chismes, calumnias, maltratos, y confusion en su trabajo que se emanezca desde los supervisores.
El Principio de Pedro (Peter) viene de un doctor del negocio que ha estudiado varias compañias y sus maneras de actuar, reactionar, y poner reglas para otros seguir; reglas que por lo menos, no los conduzcan a sacar mas producción, sino a cozechar mas obstáculos. Muy informativos y recomendado. Nota: el lenguaje del libro pueda a hacer que no lo comprenda todo muy bien, porque está escrito por un Doctór. Sin embargo, busque un diccionario, y no solo se aumentará su conocimiento de como funciona el negocio pero tambien mejorará su vocabulario.

Este es un libro que NO SOLO todo administrador o dueño de emprese debiera leerse... SI NO TAMBIEN cualquier funcionario público (gubernamental).

My previous experience with Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen comes from his presence on BBC America's "Changing Rooms" therefore, I am not familiar with the show upon with this book is based. Never the less, this is truly Lawrence at his best.

His creativity and talent come through both in the projects themselves and the great photography. The introduction to each section is well written, giving a history of the specific genre of design (Art Deco, Roman Bath, Egyptian...) as well as Lawrence's personal reactions to the space and the theme (as well as his wit and humor). Each section has brief excerpts from 'experts' in the field, such as an Egyptologist and a mosaic artist that are also useful.

While previous experience with DIY is necessary, and as an American, some of the terminology can be tricky, the projects are all things that can be done in a labor-intensive weekend. And while not everyone wants a dining room that looks like an Egyptian tomb, each theme has basic elements that could be applied to any room. Truly a worthwhile read, if for nothing more than to see how Lawrence matches his outfits with each theme.

You may recognise Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen from "Changing Rooms" which I understand has been shown on BBC America. He has done other shows as well which may or may not have been aired in the US yet, namely "Fantasy Rooms" and more recently "Home Front - Inside Out". (Both of these series have books to accompany them.)

In "Fantasy Rooms", Laurence creates rooms which draw their themes directly from the passions/lifestyles of his clients. For example, one of my favourites is the Art Nouveau Bedroom in which he takes the client's love of Muchas/Art Nouveau and creates a bedroom to die for! Everything from the headboard on the bed, the subtle stencilling on the wall, to the peacock coloured throw was just perfect - and the book not only shows you gorgeous pictures of the finished rooms, but a bit of how to do it yourself. I would say that they are not quick do-it-in-a-weekend type projects though...(at least not the way I decorate!!) What it should do is give you the inspiration to dump the magnolia walls and make your house reflect your own individuality and style.

I can also recommend the newly published "Home-Front Inside Out" in which Laurence teams up with Diarmuid Gavin, with Laurence doing one room inside the house, and Diarmuid doing the garden (Diarmuid is to gardens what Laurence is to interiors and together they are absolute magic!) You must see Diarmuid's mirror-tiled, egg-shaped refrigerator in one of his designs! Incredible! At the moment this is not available at amazon.com, but is available on amazon.co.uk - but keep checking as it has only recently come out in the UK (Nov 2001) and may find its way to the US in the near future.

If you think Freud is dead, or even if he had, once in his life, forgot his 1895's Project, just forget it. Read this book and you'll see that a new stage of art and science is going to take place. Although most of neuro and psy aproaches insist to forget Freud's Project as something old and unuseful, here you'll have reasons why not to do it. An excelent aproach that all those who call themselves freudian or even psychoanalitic professionals must read, in order to reflect about clinic, metapsychology, theory and technic psycho affairs.

Neuropsychodynamic theory offers a powerful theoretical synthesis of psychodynamic theory (Freud, Jung, et al.) and neuroscience research (especially re laterality), which has the flexibility to incorporate cognitive behavioral, existential, and humanistic/transpersonal approaches to understanding human consciousness and behavior. It offers the most parsimonious and elegant framework for integrating various theoretical perspectives into a coherent and unified paradigm for psychology in the 21st century. Dr. Miller's work provides an accessible and entertaining introduction to this important theoretical synthesis. While Dr. Miller's work builds on important work by others such as David Galin, Robert Ornstein, Jay Harris, and R. Joseph, Miller is the one who coined the term "neuropsychodynamic" and so he deserves to be considered the "father of neuropsychodynamic theory." "Freud's Brain," and his more recent "Inner Natures" are must-read material for anyone interested in understanding where psychology is headed in the next century.