Lewis, Matthew

Average customer rating:

WOW! But if you want it you better hurry!

Proteas of the World
Lewis Matthews
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0881922358

Book Description

Native to the southern hemisphere, the members of the family Proteaceae are mostly shrubby and are notable for remarkably varied, often spectacular flowers that are prized in cut floral displays.Published at $45.00 Our last copies available at $22.49

Customer Reviews:

WOW! But if you want it you better hurry!.......2000-10-09

This book is fantastic! Considering that it is really the only book available to U.S. customers right now I find it truly a miracle that it could be so good(being the cynic that I am). Do not be put off by the fact that the book is illustrated rather than having photographs of the plants. The illustrations are accurate,botanically speaking, as well as being exquisite. The jacket says "This 1st major international bk on protea's covers more than 130 species.It includes banksia's, leucospermums, waratahs,+ others, + cultivars." Book is divided into plants from, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America & other. There is from 1/2 to 1 pg of information on each plant, a glossary, a bibliography & cultivation info. But word to the wise according to publisher it is OUT OF PRINT! Timber did still have some copies. Believe me fellow flower lovers this one is well worth the $45, I would pay even more if I had to! You will be very sorry if you let this one get away, especially those protea ambitious gardeners out there. As I said before the all color illustrations/paintings are great. There is one per plant described. The author does not just stick to the most commonly known varieties there are also some of the more unusual ones described. That being said if I were to want to change one thing, it is that the author does, in some respects, direct his focus to gardeners and to those plants which could be cultivated in the home garden or hot-house. There is plenty of information given on what each plant requires for this to be successful. That said, us arm-chair gardeners will also find more than enough to fantasize about in this great book.

Average customer rating:

a definite page turner
Gothic Horror Defined
Shocking, horrifying, thrilling
Delightfully Lurid
An astounding and absorbing novel....

The Monk (Oxford World's Classics)
Matthew Lewis
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story (Oxford World's Classics)
Melmoth the Wanderer (Penguin Classics)
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The Italian (Penguin Classics)

ASIN: 0195151364

Book Description

One of the most extravagantly dark works of Gothic fiction ever written in English, admired by the likes of Lord Byron and the Marquis de Sade, The Monk drew a firestorm of criticism when it was published in 1796. Contemporaries condemned it as "lewd," "libidinous and impious." "Lust, murder, incest, and every atrocity that can disgrace human nature," one critic cried, "brought together, without the apology of probability, or even possibility." Of course, it was an immediate best seller. Written by Matthew Lewis at the tender age of nineteen, The Monk tells of the violent downfall of the monk Ambrosio. Idolized by all Madrid for his spotless character, the proud Ambrosio is privately tormented with lust for Matilda and, once sated, with overpowering desire for the pure and innocent Antonia, whom he rapes and murders in the crypt of Saint Clare. Sentenced to death by the Inquisition, he sells his soul to the devil, with unusually bad results. But the plot is only part of the book's appeal. The Monk is a bubbling cauldron of Horror characters and motifs. Ghosts, murderous banditti, the Wandering Jew, a gypsy fortune teller, the Bleeding Nun, the Grand Inquisitor, and Satan himself all have roles in the drama. Characters are buried alive, tortured, tempted by demons, and torn apart by riotous mobs, in settings that include castles, monasteries, and dungeons. Stephen King, in his introduction to this edition, calls The Monk "a black engine of sex and the supernatural that changed the genre--and the novel itself--forever." Everyone who loves the novels of King will find this book irresistible.

Customer Reviews:

a definite page turner.......2007-05-12

I didn't get the horror aspect of this novel, because I was not horrified by the tale. But it is really enjoyable to read. I couldn't put it down. The writing is almost like poetry. The tale is engrossing. Everything comes together. Others provide a more descriptive review, so I won't. For someone considering this book to read, do it.

Gothic Horror Defined.......2006-12-21

I recently came across the phrase "gothic horror" while reading the reviews of the somewhat mediocre novel, The Keep, by Jennifer Egan, and after doing a little digging around, determined that if one were interested in such a thing--or even what such a thing was--The Monk would be the place to go. Well, I recently went there, and was quite delighted.

One would surmise that the word gothic, when applied to literature, would have to do with castles and dungeons and such things, and the Monk certainly has those in droves. But beyond that there is a religious element also. In Christian nations throughout the ages--at least until very recently--boys and girls were regaled with tales of the terrors that await them in hell should they misbehave, that evil lurks in the hearts of all men, and that the devil, literally, walks among us. What makes the Monk so great is that it incorporates these elements into its story in a completely straightforward and unironic manner. This has the effect of elevating the horror that occurs within it to an even higher degree, in that in the recesses of our minds we continue to harbor the uneasy suspicion that these things are true.

The story mostly has to do with a Spanish monk, who is at the beginning of the novel looked upon as a paragon of virtue and godliness and people from miles around flock to hear him speak. But he is proud and arrogant to such an extent that eventually he believes he can do no wrong. His first slip becomes another and then another until he eventually abandons his faith and succumbs to unbridled lust. He loses everything he had worked for--both here and in the afterlife, see above--a fact that is demonstrated in the last couple of pages of this novel in about as powerful a way as any horror fiction you could ever read.

But there are a number of other threads as well, intermingling to some degree with that of the monk's, all of which are equally compelling. There is the journey of Raymond and the story of Antonia, there is the terrible castle ghost that appears but once a year, the cave in which its body was left, the noble who it torments, the innocent nun unjustly imprisoned in the dank catacombs, the bandits in the German forest, rotting corpses, base sexual behavior . . . and pacts with demons signed in blood.

It must be said that it starts off a little slow. The reader is immediately introduced to several characters--one of whom is an old lady--in the setting of a church, no less. But once Don Raymond's narrative begins about fifty pages in this thing moves along like a freight train, and despite the fact that it was written more than two hundred years ago, it is nevertheless quite descriptive, if not quite as explicit as these sorts of things are nowadays. It's quite enjoyable if you enjoy quality fiction and creepy, gruesome horror.

By the way, you may safely skip the Stephen King introduction. It adds absolutely no insight whatsoever, and in fact manages to get the name of one of the major characters wrong! Why must the world continue to suffer the ramblings of this ubiquitous mediocrity?

Shocking, horrifying, thrilling.......2006-08-02

Lewis' "The Monk" will satisfy any reader who is longing for a story to chill and horrify, the classic way. The tale of a monk whose lust proves destructive and his tragic downfall is filled with visions, superstition, bandits, uncontrollable passions, and gruesome details of death and base mortality.
The monk Ambrosio is esteemed by the whole of his community in Madrid as the most upright, unblemished and holy man as well as a moving and inspirational speaker. His exterior proves to be only a superficial skin for inward vanity, selfishness and sexual obsession. As the novel progresses, we horrifyingly witness Ambrosio's seduction and first sexual experience with Matilda, a sorceress who later becomes the key encouragement and accomplice in his sexual ambition for the young, innocent and beautiful Antonia.
The novel is in parts heartwrenching as we feel deeply for Antonia, whose goodness and naivete is countered by Ambrosio's ever-increasing desires and corruption. To say that it was written in the 1700s, the novel is shockingly risque in its depictions of full-on sexual lust, so not surprisingly it was received at the time with much critical negativity. The subplots, whose characters are woven into the monk's tale seem to mirror his own, involving a young nun, Agnes, who is punished inhumanely by her superiors for the consequences of a moment of passion with her lover, Raymond.

In a tale so filled with corruption, violence and lust, there is still room for Lewis to dabble in more haunting sides of the gothic genre, such as several main apparitions which visit the main characters throughout, and even lighten the mood at times with some satire and humor. Nevertheless, this is a heavy read and, while it hits all the right spots for the lover of gothic and horror, it perhaps leaves little to be desired for the general reader and the faint-hearted should certainly steer clear.

There is a certain fascination in the horrific, and Lewis allows us to indulge in this with a truly thrilling novel - I have even more respect when I find that he accomplished it in ten weeks at the age of 19.

Delightfully Lurid.......2006-06-17

It's no coincidence that the opening epigraph of Lewis' one and only novel is from Shakespeare's _Measure for Measure_. Both works have pillars of public moral rectitude collapsing after encountering their first major temptation of carnality. Monk Ambrosio figures in for a penny, in for a pound, and starts the slide from mere sex to murder, incest, despair, and damnation.

Lewis' streamlined prose abandons the detailed descriptions of Gothic architecture and Alpine vistas favored by his model Ann Radcliffe. And, in a plot of not two but four frustrated lovers, he crams many a gruesome incident and image. No Radcliffean rationalism for Lewis. Despite frequent criticms of the superstition of Spain during the Inquistion, this plot revels in the supernatural with curses, ghosts, Bleeding Nuns, Wandering Jews, and the Prince of Demons himself.

Yet, despite the melodrama, there is an air of psychological realism in how Monk Ambrosio rationalizes his escalation of evil. Perhaps more disturbing is the mind of Matilda, his first lover, and her willingness to advise and aid his evil even after he has sexually spurned him.

Stephen King's introduction is, like many such introductions to classic works, an unfortunate spoiler of much of the plot. However, most of his observations are valid and interesting though I'm dubious that all English novels before Horace Walpole's _The Castle of Otranto_ had moral purposes. (Lewis novel seems to have no serious moral statement except, perhaps, that the chaste life of the convent and monastery is unnatural.)

Oxford University Press seems to have taken the typesetting of this edition from an earlier one. A lot of asterisks show up in the text without accompanying footnotes. A minor annoyance to a novel that holds up well after more than 200 years.

An astounding and absorbing novel...........2006-04-21

I had wanted to read this for quite awhile so when I happened on it in a bookstore (such luck! HARD to find classic gothic literature in ANY bookstore) I snatched it right up.

I was surely not let down. This book is glorious, it sneaks up on you and you can't put it down. It's not as "well written" as some other gothic classics such as "Mysteries of Udolpho" or "Melmoth the Wanderer" in my opinion...but it none the less a book not to be missed if you love this genre.

A true treat for the mind and soul.

Average customer rating:

What does a monastery hide in its cellars?
Of historical significance only,
Sensationalism passing for a Classic
Being authentic/Romantic Zeitgeist/Momento mori
Exploitative But A Good Introduction To Gothic

The Monk (Penguin Classics)
Matthew Lewis , and Christopher MacLachlan
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140436030

Customer Reviews:

What does a monastery hide in its cellars?.......2004-10-19

A classic in the gothic genre, in fact even a founding novel of the genre. It is at first sight a strong criticism of religious orders that lead to extreme violence and narrow-mindedness instead of charity, purity, humility, etc. But it is also another denunciation, that of the practice of some noble families of getting rid of some of their daughters by sending them to nunneries. Yet it is a novel that has many other interests. For one it is anti-Faust : the monk is the one who knows, who preaches THE truth, but he is also the one who is easily tempted and dragged into the worst crimes. Then, when the devil comes into the picture, it is not to save that monk from death, but to destroy him utterly : the objective of the devil has been, all along, to tempt him and to lead him to the worst destruction possible when he thinks he is saved from death by this very devil. The devil more or less takes possession of him, puts him under pressure in order to punish him in his mortal body a hundred times more severely than the Inquisition, to punish him not for his crime but for having been a monk who preached purity. Two objectives for the devil : to get rid of this cumbersome monk for the task of the devil in the world, and to prove to the world that monks and other moral fundamentalists are fakes and monsters. In this element this novel is modern because it announces the death of God among the people, the regression of religion. And yet it does not go as far as Goethe will go with Faust. Another interest is in the negation of sexuality by these religious fundamentalits : negatiion for themselves, but also negation for the whole society. Sex is dirty, sex is ungodly, sex is to be absolutely rejected, even if it does not take much for the monk to fall into it, though the nun, next door, seems to be a lot more unpliant on the subject. Women are more fundamentalistic than men on the subject, in the Catholic church. And yet it is through a woman that the devil will tempt the monk, how else could he do it anyway, though he will not even try to tempt the nun. Contradictory messages then. A last remark about how popular opinion is variable and can shift within seconds from adulation to the most extreme and destructive violence and hatred. This aspect goes along with the method the Inquisition uses to lead someone who is redhandedly taken while committing a crime to his or her execution by forcing that person to confess the crimes the court wants him or her to confess : and they will use all methods, even the most cruel ones, to reach their aim. They are not really concerned by the crime itself ot the truth but only by proving to the people with spectacular autodafes how good and useful they are at protecting people against evil. The Inquisition is an ego trip for powerthirsty religious dignitaries. All that and many other aspects make this novel fascinating and in a way modern.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Of historical significance only,.......2004-06-14

Unlike, for example, Beckford's "Vathek" and Radcliffe's "The Italian," "The Monk" is a classic gothic novel that has only historical interest. When he wrote it, Lewis set out to go beyond anything his predecessors and competitors had done in terms of shocking the reader. In that respect, he definitely succeeded -- his book was notorious for over 100 years, and even by today's standards it's an eyebrow-raiser. Illicit sex, torture, rape, murder, satanism (with one real-live demon, no less) are all here, described in "loving" detail.

All this sounds more titillating that it really is. Lewis's style is completely conventional, the characters are two-dimensional, and long stretches are quite dull. "The Monk" is worth reading if you have a real interest in classic gothic literature, but otherwise it may be safely by-passed.

Sensationalism passing for a Classic.......2004-04-08

This immensely popular gothic novel desperately attempts to overload the senses with scenes of the most graphic, morbid, sexual, and shocking images Lewis could concoct. With no deeper themes than the immensity of temptation's power and the way even a devout man may fall, Lewis' main goal seems to be to make us cringe. Culminating in an incestuous rape and murder scene, the novel just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. In the year of its publication The Monk was a smash hit in England, mostly among upper-class women. It was, in essence, a soap opera of yesterday, with about as much depth as that trite form of entertainment. I do believe that its amazing popularity is its only credit for any continued study, as an historical phenomenon, but not as great literature.

Years later Austen would satyrize The Monk and books like it in her Northanger Abbey. I would instead highly recommend (...)to leave The Monk on the shelf.

Being authentic/Romantic Zeitgeist/Momento mori.......2003-11-20

Satan might dread to dwell in his (Lewis') skull for there he might find a deeper hell -- Byron. It wasn't as graphic and eroticly descriptive as one might be lead to believe by the reviews here; although for it's time apparently it was. The narratives were a bit tedious, dialogue was good, it was a solid story and was worthily meaningful. It seemed to advocate, somewhat in the line of Rousseauian/Romantic thinking that people are born with natures and should endeavor to find and live their authentic selves; society should not chain people to custom, tradition, or have abusive power. I didn't see it as whole hearted anti-Catholic or anti-Christian attack as I saw it as an attack on power and superstition, which not all religious people subscribe to; however it did point to the Romantic notion of there being a higher virtue present in nature it is just a matter of finding one's authentic nature (symptomatic of having one's feelings and actions in harmony). It was in-line with the Romantic/Humanist zeitgeist. The Monk, as the author points out, knew only the life of a monk, from birth, but as the author directly states his nature was something entirely un-monkish which was the root of the problem and the door for which demons could enter (in Lewisfs thinking). Once his authentic nature was awakened he became a threat because he had inauthentic powers which the demons were all too willing to utilize (his inauthentic powers which Romanitic/Humanists wanted to rid the world of); a few other characters are forced into these inauthentic lives as well by corupt uses of power. The hero is someone who is not wrapped in superstition but uses a disguise to hide his power (money/title) so he can know people for who they really are and not have money infringe upon human relationships, he is a Romantic-humanist who proves more virtuous than the church people; his feelings and actions were in harmony and he was not ruled by superstition. The demons are those who enjoy deception and portraying themselves as something they are not, they are the posers and inauthentic peoples who prey on people who are not who they are (and whose feelings and actions are in disharmony) by accident, choice, or vanity, greed, what have you. Some good monks and nuns are described, however, so it was not a whole hearted attack on religion per say; as some reviewers seem to imply.

The gypsy? Why does the author have her who she is? She mocks those that are not who they are with gleeful joy, she sees the precipice of hell and dances near it to envoke the anger of demons and mock them, she tells people who they really are, but she is no demon, she asks for money openly and tells it like it is, she even warns people by her manner that to be near her is to unveil disguises, so beaware of the truth -- the truth can be funny, that is what separates comedians (a high art) from clowns.

Theodorious disguises himself out of love for his master his intentions are entirely different, his intentions are purely of the heart.

The book supports Rousseau's ideas and is in-line with Romantic thinking of the time that society should not place people in chains and perhaps supports Rousseau's statement (in one of the most controversial statements ever and is really the root of public education) gthat people must be forced to be free.hObviously the Monk has many candidates whose lives might be made happier under such a standard

A solid book, if it is taken in the right spirit. A literary momento mori in several places as well. It was also interesting that it was written by a nineteen year old. A definite advocation for the Romantic/Humanist Natural Man of Rousseau, Jefferson (he wrote a Bible with all the miracles taken out and the Constitution, by-the-way), Beethoven, Byron etc. A fine work of its genra and era. It is easy to see how personal these ideas must have been in Lewis' life and the the choices he was going to undertake, plus the particular situation of his mother and father's relationship as he was growing up.

Some see contradiction between this book and Lewis' stance against slavery. Slavery, in the Protestant world, was largely justified by religious superstition, Lewis' heroes are obviously not superstitious; so I see no contradiction. It must be remembered that Jefferson, Rousseau, Beethoven, Washington, Byron etc. had much more in common with Jerry Garcia than Jerry Fallwell.

Exploitative But A Good Introduction To Gothic.......2000-12-06

Obviousely this book is a 19th century (s)exploitation novel in the framework of the Gothic/Romantic genre. The Monk is particularily obsessed with a young virginal maiden and his lusts are apparent while he spies on her bathing nude and a bird twitters about playing with her nipples and whatnot. It really is a sort of pervy story in a way, but a good introduction to what the Gothic Genre was about, especially the preoccupation with Catholism and its inherent "evil."

A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces

Average customer rating:

"We do this because we believe in it. We don't need any other reward."
Beautiful tribute to the US Forces
A Typical Day in the U.S. Military
Pictorial summary of our military
The American Military Family passes in review

A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces
Lewis J. Korman , and Matthew Naythons
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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It's Not about Me Journal

ASIN: 0060541806
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Book Description

On October 22, 2002, more than 125 of the world's finest photographers set out on a unique global mission. Their instructions were simple: look beyond the daily news headlines, dig beneath the breaking stories, and capture what life is like on an ordinary day for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces around the world.

For 24 consecutive hours, this prize-winning team of civilian and military photographers -- working with the cooperation and support of the Department of Defense -- chronicled daily life in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

The resulting book of photographs documents the lives of elite units and freshly minted recruits; of cadets, generals, fire-fighters, medics, and MPs; of soldiers at desolate outposts and on strategic bases. It illustrates life in the cockpit of a fighter, on a Trident submarine, in an underground missile silo, and at computer terminals in a war room. It shows personnel patrolling borders, jungles, mountains, and harbors; training for special operations; and fighting terrorism.

It is a timeless portrait -- in indelible images and eloquent words -- of the men and women who wear the uniforms of the American military. They are your sons, daughters, spouses, neighbors, and friends.

Together these photographs provide an inspiring visual reminder of the routine and heroic operations, the sacrifices and dedication, that are necessary to defend America's freedoms 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Customer Reviews:

"We do this because we believe in it. We don't need any other reward.".......2006-07-21

This is a magnificent and well deserved tribute to the men,women and families that have made the United States Armed Forces the greatest force for Peace and Freedom, not only for America,but also for the rest of the world who want to live in in peace and freedom as well as those throughout the world who have the same aspirations. They have had a long history of defeating evil organizations and countries that have attempting to dominate others by force. America has worked with others in defending against oppressors;but has often taken on the task virtually alone. This has never been more true than we see today in her endeavors with The War on Terror.
The only successful defense of Liberty and Freedom is the maintenance of a Military equipped with the best equipment,the most honorable intentions,and most of all the best personnel. Today,as America stands almost alone,free people everywhere,have to thank their lucky stars,that the Armed Forces of America exists. If you doubt this,just think of the mess the world would be in today,if what we see represented in this book ,were not existing,prticularly throughout the 20th Century as well as now as we move into the 21st.
So often the media concentrates too much on the negative and only reluctently even only covers the positive.
This book may at first only appear to be another military
coffee -table book. It is much more than that.It is an excellent portrayal of the people who give up all to serve their country.Thank God ,for these people of the past,those in uniform today and the need for their services in the future. The hope of future Peace and Freedom in the world without them is impossible to imagine.
We all owe them our thanks.

Beautiful tribute to the US Forces.......2006-03-29

As the wife of an active duty servicemember, I am so happy to see a book that shows the amount of work each and every soldier/sailor/airman/marine does on a day to day basis...and throughout all parts of the world. We have had the pleasure of living overseas during much of his time. We miss living in the US but we are proud to be over here while he serves his country.
--Vicki Landes, author of "Europe for the Senses - A Photographic Journal"

A Typical Day in the U.S. Military.......2004-05-26

Everyone has been talking about the United States military in the recent past, thanks to the ongoing war against Iraq. Photos are sent back from the Middle East showing the soldiers in their military garb with weapons in hand and we constantly hear about how the war is going. We expect this during times of war, but what takes place in a normal day when there is no war to fight? What do the military personnell do in a typical day?

These questions can be quickly answered by reading this book. It's mostly a collection of photographs, with only a minimal amount of wording. It starts out in the early morning hours, showing photos of military men and women eating breakfast and engaging in physical workouts, then proceeds throughout the day, ending with pictures of night time security workers checking highly sensitive places to make sure all is clear.

This book is 256 pages in length, but it includes mostly pictures, so it doesn't take very long to read. It is well- organized, too, with an introduction by Walter Cronkite and a world map on each page, indicating the area of the world where a particular picture was taken. And the photos, like I mentioned above, are organized in order of the time of day they were taken, allowing the reader to follow along from sunrise to sunset and gain a better understanding of what life is like in the military.

This coffee table- size book makes contains many great pictures, showing men and women at work and at play with their families and friends. It's a nice addition to any home library and it proves to be a good educational guide, letting readers see and understand exactly what takes place during a normal day for the United States military personnel.

Pictorial summary of our military.......2004-05-05

This book creates a snapshot of life in the U.S. military, by showing us a large collection of pictures from across the world, displaying what the U.S. military does in different places on a certain day. The pictures are high in quality, and the captions concise. This is a good book for people thinking of joining the military, or for those with a loved one already in the military.

The American Military Family passes in review.......2003-10-09

What a great theme to choose to revive the "A Day In the Life Of..." series! The predictably excellent photos (except for one field portrait where the camera's autofocus missed the subject) are a wonderful documentary of a single day in the globe-spanning mission of America's military.

Familiar images inevitably occur: Drill sergeants bawling out rattled recruits; wide-angle nose shots of fighter jets, flight deck sailors giving "launch" hand signals to carrier pilots; mud-slathered soldiers crawling through training courses, anonymity-suggesting group photos; and individual portraits showing the full range of humanity that calls America home.

There are also plenty of pleasing novelties, at least to me. A soldier in Hawaii snaps a salute while carrying a surfboard. Soldiers run station drills around a golf green, the only one on the one-hole course, in the Korean DMZ. A SEAL emerges, like Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now, from the water. A seemingly prosaic picture of a cadet eating upon closer inspection reveals a meal of pancakes, cake, nachos, a pork chop, a hot dog, and other unharmonious victuals. Women and families are plentifully represented throughout.

We get representative shots of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield, a rear view of President Bush disembarking from Air Force One, a National Security Agency lab, and pictures of the troops in Afghanistan on the job. The closest thing to actual trouble that was going on on this day, that was allowed to be photographed, was a forensic investigator examining a Marine's sabotaged parachute. So, there are no pictures of military intelligence giving prisoners an interrogation, though there is a picture of Camp Gitmo.

This is a splendid album, technically and thematically, of America's best.

The New Monk
Average customer rating:
The New Monk
R.S. , and Matthew Gregory Lewis
Manufacturer: Valancourt Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Necromancer; or, The Tale of the Black Forest

ASIN: 0979233216

Book Description

First appearing in 1798 during the scandal that followed the publication of M.G. Lewis's The Monk, The New Monk is a ruthless parody of Lewis's Gothic masterpiece.

In this dismantling of the Monk tale by "R.S., Esq.", Lewis's Spanish monk Ambrosio is replaced by Joshua Pentateuch, a Methodist minister in London. Like Lewis's monk, Joshua is renowned for his piety and eloquence. But this monk is willing to sell his soul, not to possess a beautiful woman, but to get his hands on her money...and a juicy leg of mutton.

Book Description

This spectacular guidebook details most of the cultivated members of this intriguing family, from Banksia to Grevillea to Mimetes, not just the single genus Protea. The author's expertise and lifelong passion for proteas is clear in both the text descriptions and photographs accompanying these entries. Essential advice on cultivation, propagation, and garden uses helps readers in the pursuit of growing their own proteas, and a section on commercial cut flower production previews a future of exciting new varieties.

Customer Reviews:

A book of beautiful flowers.......2005-04-02

This is the only readily available book on proteas, so my review is somewhat biased because of that. Proteas are a spectacular family of flowers that might be the next big thing in the cut flower industry, and when you see them for the first time, your jaw will drop. With its many colorful photos, this book shows the reader why these flowers deserve more attention. There is a wealth of pictures in "The Protea Book", and it deserves 4 stars just for that reason. Some of the photos are out of focus, but in general, they are of high quality. I wish that this book had offered more cultural guidelines and more details about the morphological structures of a protea flower. Also, some noteworthy species are only mentioned briefly or not covered at all. Instead, the author has chosen to focus on those species that show promise for commercial cultivation. Still, this is a very interesting book for horticultural enthusiasts. If you grow proteas or are looking for some amazing ideas for cut flowers, this is definitely a good book to buy.

Average customer rating:

Not a Relevant Book for Muslim Families!!!
a cute introduction for children
A simple and sweet children's book concerning Islam
Good!
Good informative book.

Magid Fasts for Ramadan
Mary Matthews
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Multiculturalism | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Fasting and Dates: A Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr Story (Festival Time)
Ramadan (On My Own Holidays)
Ramadan (Rookie Read-About Holidays)
Muslim Child: Understanding Islam Through Stories and Poems
Sitti's Secrets (Aladdin Picture Books)

ASIN: 0395665892

Book Description

It is the first day of Ramadan, the month when good Muslims eat nothing and drink nothing all day, every day, from sunrise to sunset. Mama and Baba have told Magid he isn't old enough to fast, but even Magid's sister, Aisha, is fasting, and Magid doesn't want to wait. Set in present-day Egypt, Magid Fasts for Ramadan satisfyingly recounts Magid's struggle and its surprising and happy resolution, and offers an illuminating introduction to the beliefs and practices of Islam.

Customer Reviews:

Not a Relevant Book for Muslim Families!!!.......2005-02-25

I and my wife were very disappointed with this book as Muslim parents. The principles that the book promotes to it's audience, Muslim youth; are dangerous and erroneous ones. The child Majid, the main character in this story wants to begin fasting for Ramadan at age 7 and is not permitted by his parents, he disobeys and lies to his parents in order to follow his own desires. His sister who is 12 does not want to fast and is allowed to follow her own desires. Lying is a sin in Islam regardless of the reason, this is not a behavior that should be excused or accepted. At age seven a child is old enough to begin at least a partial fast and should in order to prepare him/her mentally and physically for the task when it is required of them at puberty. If this had been done with the sister in the story she would have been fully prepared and fasting at 12. This book appears on the surface to be benevelent and harmless but it promotes a false image of Islamic family behavior and values to non-Muslims and a very poor example for Muslim familes to follow. Absolutely not recommended.

a cute introduction for children.......2003-10-26

Set in modern Egypt, with subdued watercolors, the book tells the story of Magid, who at age 8, wants to fast for Ramadan. His older sister, 12, is fasting, why can't he? She glares at him when he voices his desire to fast like everyone else in the household. The story realistically shows some sibling antagonisms. The story shows a close 3 generation family, waking early to eat and pray, making it through the day, and watching for the evening lanterns to be lit by the muezzin. Magid feels great pride as he skips breakfast and then lunch. He shows his openness to various levels of obedience when his friend Gamal informs him that Gamal's family is not into fasting. Magid breaks his fast with a date, just as The Prophet did, and the next day he skips breakfast again. But when he gets caught, he learns an important lesson. Along the way we learn why they fast, read about their relatives in Cairo and Detroit, and understand more about the spirit of Ramadan.

A simple and sweet children's book concerning Islam.......2003-07-30

I bought this book for my sister's little girl. She has a Christian/American mother and a Muslim/Algerian father. I read the book myself before giving it as a gift. It is a very sweet book about a little boy and his family. The boy enjoys talking and learning about Islam with his grandfather who lives in the home with them. The child chooses to fast for Ramadan even though he is afraid his parents will not allow it because of his age. This a simple and sweet children's book that promotes understanding.

Good!.......2002-11-15

As a Muslim, I really liked this book, because it addresses typical Muslim issues. I thought it was very accurate, by the way; Islam does not require fasting until a person is past puberty. Fasting is required only for healthy adults (not the sick, pregnant, traveling, elderly, etc.), so -- although some Muslim children do enthusiastically try out a fast or two before puberty -- it's not a requirement and is not common. So I think this book was informative, representative of the Muslim experience, and empathetic. Recommended.

Good informative book........2001-12-28

I really appreciate this book for not just discussing Ramadan but bringing up some issues surrounding Ramamdan. It allows Muslims to be human and assists us in appreciating all the trouble they go through in order to worship God in their own way. I wish I could have known about this book for Ramadan this year, but I will use it next year in my classroom.

Average customer rating:

Sensational

The Monk (Dover Thrift Editions)
Matthew Gregory Lewis
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The Mysteries of Udolpho (Dover Giant Thrift Editions)
The Castle of Otranto (Penguin Classics)
Three Gothic Novels: The Castle of Otranto; Vathek; Frankenstein (English Library)
A Sicilian Romance (Oxford World's Classics)
The Italian (Penguin Classics)

ASIN: 0486432149

Book Description

A spellbinding Gothic novel, The Monk is Matthew Lewis' most famous work. First published in 1796 and set in a sinister Capuchin monastery in Madrid, this violent tale of ambition, murder, and incest focuses on a monk's struggle to maintain his monastic vows in the face of temptation and sexual obsession.

Customer Reviews:

Sensational.......2006-05-01

Almost as entertaining as reading gothic fiction is reading
the introductions. Someone is *paying* these
academics, but they act as if they've been forced to
become circus geeks, biting the heads off chickens
for booze. You wonder if they signed their real name
to the article. The editor of "The Oxford Book of
Gothic Fiction" explains that, yes, gothic has a
particular meaning with regard to art and
architecture, but Horace Walpole didn't know that, and
used it to mean creepy and medieval, and she's
horribly embarrassed to have to call it "Gothic"
fiction for the next ten pages. She also tells you
that if you have a historical interest in this
fiction, you should start from page one, but if you
want to read GOOD literature, start on page 245 (i.e., with
Edgar Allen Poe). You wonder what the publisher thought of that advice.

Even worse is the author of the preface of the Dover edition
of "The Monk" by Matthew Gregory Lewis, who says right out in
the first paragraph that this is a terrible book ("It may
be admitted at once that this erst belauded romance has
little claim to perpetuation on its own merits."), and then
spends the entire preface suggesting other gothic
novels you'd be better off reading, although he really thinks
they're all a waste of your time. He works himself up
into such a high dudgeon, you can practically feel the
spittle hitting your face.

I don't know what he's talking about. "The Monk" is
one of the most splendid books I've read in a long time. It
has everything you'd want: A crumbling Abbey with a
monastery and a convent connected by a series of
vaults and caverns that contain mouldering skeletons,
the ghost of "the bleeding nun" who appears every 5
years at the stroke of midnight, a screech owl in the
cemetary, a pregnant nun, the Spanish Inquisition, a
naked woman cavorting with a bird, highwaymen, a
sadistic Prioress, a lustful Abbot, dead babies,
hollow statues, a mob riot and lynching, sleeping
potions and spells, and cameo appearances by the
Wandering Jew and Lucifer. The plot concerns an
innocent young virgin whose mother.... oh, never mind:
you'll never keep the plot straight anyway, not to
mention which one is Don Lorenzo and which is Don
Raymond. It's the nonstop action that will hook you.
It's amazing that the plot *can* zip along, given
that, at any given moment, at least one character is
near death because of convulsions brought on by terror
or love. It makes you wonder about the economy of
midieval Spain, if 1 in 10 people was bedridden at any
given time.

Did I mention the sex scenes? They're doozies! When
the lustful Abbott is holding a vigil at the bedside
of a woman pretending to be a monk who is dying of a
centipede bite, except the centipede didn't bite her,
it bit the abbott (never mind), the woman shakes off
delirium long enough to seduce the Abbott! At least,
I think she did. The writing gets vague at points,
since Lewis can't bring himself to mention female
body parts, instead using the word "charms" as a
blanket noun in sentences like "Through a
disarrangement of the bed covers, he could witness her
charms" or "thus he could disport himself upon his
mistress's charms". I'm not sure I'll ever be able to
use the word "charm" again, much less eat "Lucky
Charms".

Perhaps this is only worth reading for its historical
importance, or perhaps it's a lot of fun: I advise skipping
the insulting prologue by a professor who clearly
wishes he was a fraction as famous as M.G. Lewis
became by writing this book at the age of 19 in ten
weeks in 1795.

Dark Ages Fae: World of Darkness (Dark Ages Vampire)

Average customer rating:

A Rare Find
What's with Amazon?
no show
This is one of the best white wolf Books
Where's the beef?

Dark Ages Fae: World of Darkness (Dark Ages Vampire)
Aaron Dembski-Bowden , Carrie Ann Lewis , Forrest B. Marchington , Deena McKinney , Krister M. Michl , Matthew J. Rourke , and Malcolm Sheppard
Manufacturer: White Wolf Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Dark Ages: Mage (Vampire: The Dark Ages)
Dark Ages: Mage Grimoire (Vampire)
Changeling: The Dreaming, Second Edition

ASIN: 1588462927

Customer Reviews:

A Rare Find.......2007-01-27

One of the hardest WoD books to find, and worth a hard look. Too bad other "reviews" are dragging down the rating over shipping issues rather than the content of the book.

What's with Amazon?.......2006-03-23

Amazon claimed that it had a copy of Dark Ages: Fae at retail price, half the price listed by some of it's competitors. I placed an order 4 months ago and the estimated arrival time had been March 18. After the long way, a few days before it's expected arrival I received and email saying that the item wouldn't be shipped. Both the books promoted by Amazon and their competitors all disappeared in the blink of an eye. I've received no explaination and won't be using Amazon anymore.

no show.......2006-03-02

I still did not receive the book. Neither - any explanations why it was not sent.
So I am in the Dark about it....
anton

This is one of the best white wolf Books.......2005-07-28

Take a step back in time to not only the dark ages but to a time when white wolf still liked a certain group of people- namely the players. But I'll leave my private beef with whitewolf that the new world hates players out, and move onto Dark Ages Fae.

The world in which you find yourself is a new level of the world of darkness with castles of frost and leaves existing in the forgotten places where humans fear to tred. The fae are in a period of decline and are split into seasonal courts. The game timeline includes the ending of a truce and the possibility of a war. This is set against the background of the church expanding its power into everything and actually harming the fae with their very words of prayer. This game can be the most fantastic fantasy tale you wish to tell or can be gritty with your fae losing themselves in human society and trying to keep the old ways and old oaths alive. Its a great chance to tell the grim faerie tells of old and have a great time. I cannot do this book justice in such a short review- so read it yourself and find out what i mean.

Buy it now before the prices inflate any more and you'll have to sell your car to afford it.

Where's the beef?.......2004-12-04

First off, take all you know of Changeling and throw it out the door. This installment of the Dark Ages line has taken liberties and strays from original histories written in previous books. Perhaps it was an attempt to induct people into the new prefabricated, trendy and unimaginative WoD. Certainly it details the powers of the Fae in great detail, one of the few bonus parts of it. It makes sense that before the weight of disbelief crushes much of their power, that creatures of Fae had the capacity to rend mountains asunder. Ideally, this is a game that is held outside of the loop if you are a die hard Changeling fan. It can almost be said much the same for the Dark Ages line as well. Get it for ideas if anything, we amalgamate everything anyway...it makes the game better.

Authors:

Authors

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