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Celtic Folk Soul: Art, Myth & Symbol Review

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(More customer reviews)The Celts have produced wonderful art - but what does it all mean? "Celtic Folk Soul: Art, Myth, and Symbol" is a book of art and history, hoping to investigate the spiritual aspects of Celtic artworks. Going through the major pieces left behind by people who lived before Christianity reached the British Isles, and offering a look at how they interpreted both the mundane and spiritual worlds through their druids, "Celtic Folk Soul: Art, Myth, and Symbol" is a scholarly, educational, and awe-inspiring look at the Celts, highly recommended for both history and art collections.

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Welsh artist Jen Delyth is one of the most highly respected contemporary Celtic artists in the world. Her debut book, Celtic Folk-Soul, illuminates the beauty, power and spirit of nature expressed through the ancient language of Celtic art and symbol: the voice of the Folk-Soul. This beautiful book is rich with Delyth's stunning artwork and is structured around a symbolic nine-chapter motif. From Roots/Elements to Stone/Mysteries to Beyond the Ninth Wave, Delyth pairs insightful explanations with her radiant artwork, Celtic myth and poetry revealing to us background, meaning and depth to the theme of each section. Celtic Folk-Soul takes us on a journey of discovery into the many aspects of Celtic myth and symbolism. This is an ancient thread which weaves back through the art, myth and poetry and connects us to a complex mysticism that expresses the interconnection and balance of all things. The book includes a foreword by Robin Williamson.

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Seabiscuit: An American Legend Review

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(More customer reviews)Seabiscuit's "gallop was so disorganized that he had a maddening tendency to whack himself in the front ankle with his own hind hoof." And so the spell-binding story about a horse that runs with a duck waddle, a jockey (Red Pollard) who is blind in one eye, a trainer (Tom Smith) who is practically mute, and an owner (Charles Howard) who brought cars to the West is born. This unlikely group of misfits joins together through chance -- and because all three men immediately see the untapped potential in a mistreated, high-spirited, and lazy horse named Seabiscuit. This trio devotes their love, skills, and energy into turning Seabiscuit into one of the most phenomenal horse racing legends.
Tom Smith, perhaps the original "horsewhisperer", spends hours learning and understanding his horse. When Seabiscuit is first put into his care for training, the horse is nervous, paces incessantly, weighs too little, and suffers from a sore body. Tom spends time caring for Seabiscuit, showering him with affection and carrots, even sleeping in Seabiscuit's stall at night. A daily routine is introduced plus animal companionship. Before long, Seabiscuit has his own entourage: a cow pony named Pumpkin, the little stray dog Pocatell, and Jojo the spider monkey. Under Tom's care, the high-spirited Seabiscuit learns to trust, becomes calm, and, most importantly, starts winning horse races.
The triumph of Seabiscuit is ultimately the story of what any person (or animal) may accomplish when their talents are recognized, supported, and expanded. Seabiscuit, given his inauspicious start in life, could just as easily have faded away into non-existence running third tier races. However, the love and care he receives from his owner, jockey, and trainer have you cheering until the end of the book for Seabiscuit to keep running (and winning) with his heart. Not only does Seabiscuit capture the hearts of the misfit trio, he will capture yours.

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Mythology of the World Review

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(More customer reviews)Since I was a small child my mind was perplexed with simple questions.
Whenever my crazy cranium came up with questions I would always turn to my mom who in my world knew everything. Now just imagine in the early years of man how they tried to explain common day problems that even today the simplest modern day child could answer. We natural label what we can't explain as a ghost, monster or god, and so did early humans but in the shape and form of mythology.
Neil Philip's Mythology of the world is mostly for people who want to learn more about the cultures of the world. The genre of this book is historical fiction based on facts and cultures around the world. This book is also informative because it helps you learn more of a certain part of the world.
Neil Philip's Mythology of the world is book about mythology around the world in certain areas and time periods. Neil Philips organizes the books information by continents and time period using a detailed map of the world with keys that show you the terrain and region you are going to be reading about. Neil Philip also uses illustrations and photos of artifacts to give you a feel of how their environment affected how they lived, what the believed in, what they saw and created. This book also includes little interesting facts that help you understand the culture more and their certain way of life.
A contrast that I can compare this book to is Evolution by Ryan Day explaining that mythology is jus t something that we create to entertain ourselves while Neil Philip's explains that mythology is effected but geography and religion not something that can be simply be made up. One good strength about this book is that it has maps that picture and keys to help you see the landscape and how it affects the Native people. Another great feature is that it gives you little facts about the cultures of a certain area helping you see how the myth is affected by culture. Another great feature is that it has illustrations and photos that creates an image in your head giving you a feel for the myth is about. One flaw of the book is that it could use a better table of contents that is better arranged so that is easer for the readers. All in all, this book is wonderful for a history project on a certain area or just to learn new cultures, people and great myths using rich illustrations, pictures and diagrams. In my opinion this book derives 5 stars.

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Last Days Review

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(More customer reviews)Though Mr. Roskelley was only in his early 40's when this book was written, it was meant to be his last hurrah of high altitude climbing. His credentials are enormous. Not only is he one of the top climbers of his generation, he writes with great force, grace and originality. His previous books "Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition" and "Stories Off the Wall" belong in any enthusiast's collection.
The attempts on Himalayan peaks Tawoche and Menlungtse are the foundation of this book. What? Not Everest, or at least K2? Been there and done that. With John, it is the Route, the Complexity, and the Satisfaction of Solving the Problem. His writing is so clear, he can write of very technical maneuvers and be interesting. But this book is more than just a recapitulation of the climb. He has strong opinions on many facets of the sport and the people who take part. He strongly favors alpine style climbing, which is basically climbing light (small team, little equipment as possible and minimal "porter" help). The large "expedition" style (think 1996 Everest) does not win many points with the author. He is at his strongest when he writes of the interaction between teammates on the climb; he puts a human face on the endeavor like no other mountaineering author I have read.
Just when I have about given up on mean, tough John Roskelley, he writes a passage of such grace, I have to do an instant re-evaluation:
---" Tibet has a beauty all its own. It isn't found in a single rock or within a village or even along a meandering creek, no more than a single brush stroke in a Renoir captures the mood of the painting. No. Tibet's beauty, its inner soul, is in the depth and breadth of a distant horizon, the magnificence of time and space, of peaks and valleys and plains that never seem to end. When I look out upon Tibet's endless views, I dream of riding a horse into the distant hills forever and never coming back."-
Highly recommended.

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Climbing expeditions in the Himalayas.

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The Bluest Eye Review

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(More customer reviews)The Bluest Eye, the story of a young girl's tortured life, is not a story you can "like". It reads like your worst nightmares, very disturbing and very graphic. It takes a strong stomach to get through this novel. But, this is just what makes the book a masterpiece, that Ms Morrison can draw such powerful feelings from readers. Toni Morrison has grown as a writer. But this book, her first, takes you to a world most didn't know existed and evokes almost unbearably strong emotions. A must read for lovers of great literature. This is not a book you read for pleasure. It's a book you read for the power of the written word.

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Chile Handbook, 6th: Travel guide to Chile (Footprint Chile Handbook) Review

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(More customer reviews)Good information, recommendations were surprisingly accurate and useful. Compared to LP or Rough Guide, the Chile Footprint seems to be written more for diverse travelers looking to mix cheap with moderate prices, exactly my type of traveler. Example: Book includes good reviews of budget hostels in Pucon, but also doesn't show fear for making recommendations that cost a bit more. The top recommended guide up Volcan Villarica (Paredon, great guides!), was not the cheapest, but they gave us the best experience. We used the guide for travel in Santiago and the Lake District and found it helped navigate places to stay and eat. Wished it included a detailed map supplement, but otherwise the maps worked in a pinch for finding major waypoints.
Note: This is a hardback book, but the size and weight is similar if not smaller than the comparable LP guide. The hardback actually makes the book more usable as you can open the book wide. Did not find this a hindrance at all while traveling.
Spent a long time finding a good guide book for countries in South America, and I can honestly say I was satisfied (with a great sigh of relief) that Footprint appears to be the answer moving forward. Highly recommended.

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This guide opens the door to all the remarkable sights and scenes Chile has to offer-from the Peruvian boarder to Tierra del Fuego, including Patagonia and the Chilean Pacific Islands; from the world's driest desert to one of its highest geyser fields and highest lakes. It is replete and informative with the best and most up-to-date travel facts and lively listings. With its diverse geography, serenity, and stunning natural beauty, Chile is perfect for those wanting to escape it all.

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Louisa May Alcott: Little Women, Little Men, Jo's Boys (Library of America) Review

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(More customer reviews)Louisa May Alcott is best known for her classic novel "Little Women," an enchanting look at growing up. But the story of Jo March didn't stop when she went to Plumfields. This collection includes not just "Little Women," but also its two sequels.

"Little Women" introduces us to the four March sisters: pretty Meg, shy Beth, aspiring artist Amy, and tomboyish Jo. In the middle of the Civil War, the girls mature and explore the world, with the help of their mischievous male neighbor Laurie. But with their new freedoms and loves come sacrifices and heartbreak as well...

At the end of the first book, "Mother Bhaer" adopted a small army of preteen boys in addition to her own sons. "Little Men" chronicles the growing pains of her boys -- some of them have been neglected, some are wild, some are nieces and "nevvies" of Jo's, and some just need the delightful chaos of a loving home.

"Jo's Boys" wraps up the trilogy in a bittersweet manner. Jo's boys (and girls) have grown up and are starting to stretch their wings away from home, and are even starting to fall in love. Some of the boys have run-ins with the law, some have trouble pursuing the girls of their dreams, and one will risk his very soul -- and his love -- for something he believes in.

With a much-beloved classic like "Little Women," it's pretty much a given that the sequels won't stack up. But "Little Men" and "Jo's Boys" are still a good mixture of humor, poignancy and "lovering." And of course, the original "Little Women" is one of the best coming-of-age novels of all time, as well as the best book that Alcott ever wrote.

Alcott had a talent for writing realistic family stories and sweet romances, without letting them get dull. And she manages to create a colorful cast, from the mischievous Laurie and rambunctious Jo, to the gentle Marmee and the meek-to-mad cast of "Jo's boys." No matter how many characters Alcott wrote, she managed to give each one a personality.

Louisa May Alcott created the lovable March family, and in the three-pack of "Little Women," "Little Men" and "Jo's Boys," we get to see three generations in action. Funny, poignant and sweet.

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