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The passion for gardening comes together with the passion for words in this anthology by writers who garden and gardeners who write. Among the contributors are Marina Warner, who remembers the Guinee rose, and Henri Cole with two poems. As well as the new, some old favourites are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Powerful Story
How many of us as people in general can relate to being an adorable, obedient, loveable child; then turning into a deceitful, sneaky, and mischievious teenager? Jamacia Kincaid does a beautiful job of depicting this in her novel "Annie John" through her unique writing style. Never, have I read another author's book and felt the same as I did after reading "Annie John". The character Annie John starts off in the story as an adorable child who has a wonderful relaioship with her mother. This particular relationship is almost described as a fairy tale between the two. As time goes on, Annie's mother seemed to intentionally put up a wall between Annie and herself,(perhaps so she wouldn't have to deal with the pain of letting her go). Like many of her novels, British oppression over Antigua was an unannounced element to the novel. For example, she makes reference to how many of her teachers at her school happen to be of British nationality as many of the characters are. After reading this powerful story, one can certainly conclude that this book uniquely describes the dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship and British oppression by letting the reader literally feel the happiness and sorrow at the same time.

Annie John: An oppressed relationship with Mother and Countr
How many of us as people in general can relate to being an adorable, obedient, loveable child; then turning into a deceitful, sneaky, and mischievious teenager? Jamacia Kincaid does a beautiful job of depicting this in her novel "Annie John" through her unique writing style. Never, have I read another author's book and felt the same as I did after reading "Annie John". The character Annie John starts off in the story as an adorable child who has a wonderful relaioship with her mother. This particular relationship is almost described as a fairy tale between the two. As time goes on, Annie's mother seemed to intentionally put up a wall between Annie and herself,(perhaps so she wouldn't have to deal with the pain of letting her go). Like many of her novels, British oppression over Antigua was an unannounced element to the novel. For example, she makes reference to how many of her teachers at her school happen to be of British nationality as many of the characters are. After reading this powerful story, one can certainly conclude that this book uniquely describes the dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship and British oppression by letting the reader literally feel the happiness and sorrow at the same time. ... Read more

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A pearl of wisdom passed along from mother to daughter can be far more valuable and lasting than any heirloom treasure. In this book, mothers and daughters from every stage of life--spanning as many as five generations--share their knowledge gained from experience, strength from perseverance, and courage, love, and determination. 50 fultone images.Amazon.com Review
Because many of the handsome family portraits in this album ofmothers and daughters are set against a velvety black background, thewomen jump out at the viewer with almost nothing to distract theeye. Some of the photos are arresting-Whoopi Goldberg enfamille, for example--and others more plebian, but it's a pleasureto trace the generations through similarities to the eyes or hands,or, in the case of adopted children, a certain stance. Jamaica Kincaidcontributes a dark and incantatory opening essay. "I have amother, and I know her now and she had a mother; her mother is nowdead," she writes. "...I knew that woman, my mother'smother; I know her more deeply and more fully than if I had spentevery day of my childhood life with her." Brief paragraphs fromeach of the other women photographed point up the complex connectionbetween mothers and daughters. What makes these texts particularlypiquant is the words women choose to define their relationships whenonly a few are allowed.--Francesca Coltrera ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A fascinating look at women in the family.
What is most interesting is how Ms. Cook captures the relationships of the women pictured in her photographs.You get a real sense of the proximity or the distance between family members.This book is a loving tribute tothe family and would be a great gift to someone in your own.

With words and photos, a beautiful tribute to the family.
Marianna Cook renders each family so beautifullywith her camera.With words and photographs, this book beautifully chronicles women and their families. No two portraits are alike, and everyone telling of the relationships shared within each.

Accompanying each portrait are interviews of the family members, some surface, but mostly poignant revelations about the relationships that they share with one another.I know that this book will touch everyone, not just those pictured within its cover. ... Read more

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Against the historical background of slavery and colonialism, this study investigates how white and Afro-Caribbean women writers have responded to feminist, abolitionist and post-emancipationist issues. It aims to reveal a relationship between colonial exploitation and female sexual oppression. ... Read more

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A major new translation of a stunning rediscovered novel by Alexandre Dumas, Georges is a classic swashbuckling adventure. Brilliantly translated by Tina A. Kover in lively, fluid prose, this is Dumas’s most daring work, in which his themes of intrigue and romance are illuminated by the issues of racial prejudice and the profound quest for identity.

Georges Munier is a sensitive boy growing up in the nineteenth century on the island of Mauritius. The son of a wealthy mulatto, Pierre Munier, Georges regularly sees how his father’s courage is tempered by a sense of inferiority before whites–and Georges vows that he will be different.

When Georges matures into a man committed to “moral superiority mixed with physical strength,” the stage is set for a conflict with the island’s rich and powerful plantation owner, Monsieur de Malmédie, and a forbidden romance with Sara, the beautiful woman engaged to Malmédie’s son.

Swordplay, a slave rebellion, a harrowing escape, and a vow of vengeance–Georges is unmistakably the work of the master who wrote The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Yet it stands apart as the only book Dumas ever wrote that confronts the subject of race–a potent topic, since Dumas was of African ancestry himself.

This edition also features a captivating Introduction by Jamaica Kincaid and an eloquent Afterword and Notes by Werner Sollors, who addresses key themes such as colonialism, racism, African slavery, and interracial intimacy.

Long out of print in America, Georges can now be appreciated as never before and added to the greatest works of this immortal author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Dumas tackles race relations with mixed success
Dumas gives us a swashbuckling adventure set in the colony of Ile de France.What makes this novel intriguing - and why we read it today - is the title character's mixed racial heritage, an added dimension that sets this book a notch above standard adventure fare.As a study in racial prejudice, and how one exemplary young man attempts to deal with that prejudice, Dumas has given us a powerful document, almost a blueprint for living in a multiracial society: family first, be true to yourself, and be the very best that you can possibly be.

But as entertainment this reviewer found the book somewhat lacking.Perhaps too much is made of what an amazing young man Georges Munier is - it's hard to identify with someone who's so perfect in every way.And certainly the pace of this book is problematic; the first half of the book was painfully slow, then the second half almost seemed to move too quickly.Yes, there's no shortage of adventure: a horse race, a prison break, a native uprising, a wedding, a betrayal, an execution, a sea battle, surprisingly little man to man swordplay... but without the emotional engagement that should have made us really care about the characters, this reviewer felt the book fell a little flat.The easy-to-read prose of this translation makes it accessible enough for young people, but not all will find it much to their liking.Highly recommended for students of the history of race relations.For casual readers: 3.5 stars.

A note on the cover of the hardback edition: a very dark-faced Georges is shown holding hands with two white women, although Dumas makes it pretty clear that Georges is actually light-colored enough to "pass".One presumes this cover was designed to emphasize Georges' ancestry, and not just to generate controversy.

A great lesson on tolerance, even today!
I enjoyed this book very much!The translation was perfect, not an emotion or imaginary description was lost.This is a perfect lesson on tolerance, an old story with a timely message. A Must READ!!!

Lesser known, but not necessarily lesser (at least not by much)
I have been a big fan of Alexander Dumas ever since I first read an abridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo back in high school.I followed that up a couple of years ago with an unabridged version of the same novel, which I now consider my favorite novel of all time, and with the first two volumes of the d'Artagnan series, which is also excellent.However, I've been reluctant to start any other works by Dumas recently mainly because most are extremely long and I haven't had much free time, so I immediately one-clicked a copy of Georges once I stumbled upon this little gem.At less than 300 pages, it presented a much less imposing option versus continuing the d'Artagnan series (which I will do at some point), and I'm glad I picked it up.

Georges follows the exploits of the young mulatto Georges Munier and is set on the Ile de France, a small French (and later English) colony located in the Indian Ocean.While the population of Ile de France is racially diverse, it is not exactly tolerant, as the economy is based upon slavery and the large mulatto (and other free non-white) population can never achieve the upper echelon of society (can't marry a white woman, can't attend certain social events, can't march with the white regiments into battle, etc.).Georges, after his father sends him to Europe as a young teenager in order to complete his education, returns to Ile de France as a young man in his twenties in order to undertake the Quixotic task of eradicating prejudice from the island - a task which he is determined to either accomplish or die trying.

I won't get into the plot in any more detail in order to avoid spoiling any of it, but the novel is very enjoyable, although it could have used a bit more swashbuckling action.The characters are well crafted, with the vindictive young Georges very much resembling the somewhat more developed Edmond Dantes (Georges was released one year before The Count, and from reading both I get the impression Dumas experimented with the character in Georges before perfecting and recasting it as Dantes, although for all I know the release dates may not coincide with the timing of when the bulk of each was written, so I could be completely wrong).Georges' character doesn't quite achieve the depth of the excellent Dantes or d'Artagnan, but that's a given due to the much shorter length of this novel.The real antagonist isn't a man but rather an idea (prejudice), and Dumas does a good, though not quite perfect, job of personifying this via the characters it embodies.

The translation, in my opinion, is pretty good.I don't speak French and haven't read any other translations of this work so I can't give a very good review of the translation, other than to say it is easy to read yet for the most part it doesn't lose too much of the "feel" of the 19th century French speaking civilization.The writing itself isn't quite as enthralling as some of the other Dumas works I've read, although I can't say whether this is due to the translation or the original work.

In short - if you haven't yet discovered Dumas, read The Count of Monte Cristo or The Three Musketeers (in unabridged form!).If, on the other hand, you're already familiar with Dumas' writing and are merely wondering whether Georges lives up to the standards of his better known works, or if you don't have the guts to undertake a 1,000+ page tome, then I would whole heartedly recommend picking this up.For the latter group, reading Georges is by far a preferable option to reading an abridged (read: gutted) version of one of his longer works.

In my opinion, Georges isn't *quite* as good as the two works mentioned elsewhere in this review, but it's pretty damn good nonetheless.If half stars were allowed I'd give Georges 4.5 stars, as I consider it excellent though not quite perfect.

I LOVED it.
Wow, what a great, exciting book!Love, betrayal, duels, revenge!Sea battles and hurricanes and slave riots!I read the whole book in one sitting.I liked it even more than The Three Musketeers.A must-read! ... Read more

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Beautifully precise prose...It leaves the reader with unforgettable experience of having met a ferociously honest woman on her own uncompromising terms. ... Read more

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Jamaica Kincaid has been described as a writer and a gardner, and her writing reflects both of these passions. In this volume Elizabeth J. Hester provides a comprehensive listing of doctoral dissertations, and master's and bachelor's theses that deal primarily with the life and work of Jamaica Kincaid. The volume also includes studies that indirectly contain references to the writer. Arranged chronologically, the text lists over 155 papers (1990-2009)from students representing over 100 colleges and universities from around the world. Author and University indexes are included.Jamaica Kincaid is an Antiguan-born American novelist. Her publications include "Annie John", "At the Bottom of the River", "The Autobiography of My Mother", "Lucy", "My Brother", and "A Small Place". ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Not illustrated. Excerpt: The Church of Life After Shopping (formerly known as the Church of Stop Shopping) is an activist performance group based in New York City, led by Reverend Billy, the stage name of Bill Talen. Using the form of a revival meeting, on sidewalks and in chain stores, Reverend Billy and his gospel choir exhort consumers to abandon the products of large corporations and mass media; the group also preaches a broader message of economic justice, environmental protection, and anti-militarism, protesting sweatshops and the Iraq War. Though it continues its street theatre activities, the Church has also appeared on stage and has toured internationally. Reverend Billy attempting to exorcise bad loans and toxic assets from the Bank of America ATM in Union Square, New York City. 2009Bill Talen (May 25 1950) is a Dutch-American Calvinist Minnesota-born actor who moved to New York City from San Francisco in the late 1990s, where he had originally created a character that was a hybrid of street preacher, arguably Elvis, and televangelist called Reverend Billy. This character was performed in various San Francisco alternative theater venues, where Talen had earned a considerable reputation as both a performer and a producer (Life On The Water theater, the Solo Mio Festival, Writers Who Act, etc.). In New York, Talen began appearing as Reverend Billy on street corners in Times Square, near the recently opened Disney Store. Times Square had recently begun its transformation from a seedy but lively center of small-time and sometimes illicit commerceand also of New York theatreto a more gentrified and tourist-friendly venue for large companies like Disney and big-budget stage productions like The Lion King. Whereas other street preachers chose Tim... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=2782267 ... Read more