e99 Online Shopping Mall

Geometry.Net - the online learning center Help  
Home  - Book Author - Grimm Jacob (Books)

  Back | 21-33 of 33
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

click price to see details     click image to enlarge     click link to go to the store

 
$24.95
21. Terrors of Childhood in Grimms'
 
$57.95
22. The Portrayal of the Maturation
$19.57
23. The Hard Facts of the Grimms'
$2.95
24. Grimm's Last Fairytale: A Novel
$5.50
25. The Brothers Grimm: From Enchanted
 
$2.54
26. Cinderella's Gold Slipper: Spiritual
$7.37
27. The Brothers Grimm: Two Lives,
 
28. Once upon Time
 
$282.74
29. FAIRYTALE ROMANCE
$5.94
30. Darkest Desire: The Wolf's Own
 
$28.84
31. Mi primer Larousse de principes
 
$49.82
32. The Wrestler's Cruel Study: A
 
33.

21. Terrors of Childhood in Grimms' Fairy Tales (Berkeley Insights in Linguistics and Semiotics)
by Winfried G. Kudszus
 Paperback: 149 Pages (2005-09)
list price: US$24.95 -- used & new: US$24.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0820456551
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Questioning culturally predetermined consolidations of childhood experience, this study focuses on memory and affect on the verge of linguistic formulation. Fairy tale plots frequently function as cover-ups of a deeply rooted violence that expresses itself through sensibilities of the skin and in presymbolically charged cataclysms. In a narrative border zone, early linguistic and psychic events re-emerge with primordial force. Split into seemingly irreconcilable opposites, good and evil engage in warfare with each other; cannibalism and infanticide take hold of family life. In close readings of four newly translated, intricately interpersonal fairy tales related by the Brothers Grimm, this inquiry explores an utter frightfulness ... Read more


22. The Portrayal of the Maturation Process of Girl Figures in Selected Tales of the Brothers Grimm (Europaische Hochschulschriften Reihe I, Deutsche Sprache Und Literatur)
by Diann Rusch-Feja
 Paperback: 288 Pages (1995-06)
list price: US$57.95 -- used & new: US$57.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0820429546
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

23. The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales
by Maria Tatar
Paperback: 360 Pages (2003-05-06)
list price: US$27.95 -- used & new: US$19.57
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0691114692
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Murder, mutilation, cannibalism, infanticide, and incest: the darker side of classic fairy tales figures as the subject matter for this intriguing study of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's Nursery and Household Tales. This updated and expanded second edition includes a new preface and an appendix containing new translations of six tales, along with commentary by Maria Tatar. Throughout the book, Tatar skillfully employs the tools not only of a psychoanalyst but also of a folklorist, literary critic, and historian to examine the harsher aspects of these stories. She presents new interpretations of the powerful stories in this worldwide best-selling book. Few studies have been written in English on these tales, and none has probed their allegedly happy endings so thoroughly. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

3-0 out of 5 stars Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales
Ms. Tatar has a dry, somewhat solidly academic style of expression which unfortunately made reading this book a chore, rather than a distinct pleasure (despite its admirable research into the original sources for the tales of the brothers Grimm and the history behind the many revised versions of various tales).

While this is an intelligent, informative book, it was 'weighty' when it could have been written with a much lighter touch.I don't mean, in a poking-fun-at-the-subject style, or that Ms. Tatar needed to dumb it down, but just... lighter.Some writers, including academics, have this gift and others just - don't.

The (black & white only) illustrations are very good; I particularly liked the ones drawn by Gustave Dore, and could wish there were a few more of these.

This book would probably be a very useful source for a college term paper, but as reading material for the ordinary person (like me) with an interest in the facts behind fairy tales... well, in the end, I'm relieved this was a library loan and not a purchase.

2-0 out of 5 stars Rambling, Poorly Edited
Hard Facts of Grimms' Fairy Tales / 0-691-11469-2

Like many of us, I am deeply interested in fairy tales and I eagerly anticipated this book, looking forward to an engaging, informative handling of the content and textual analysis of the Grimms' tales, with a focus on the un-"child-friendly" elements so common in the stories, due to their original intent to entertain mature audiences.

Unfortunately, I was profoundly disappointed in this book. Clarity and organization are severely lacking and the whole book feels very much like a hastily expanded dissertation that was haphazardly padded to 'book size'. The writing runs in various different directions, often seemingly at random, with no clear view of why a certain topic was discussed, nor how it led into the next topic.

For example, in the first chapter ("SEX AND VIOLENCE: The Hard Core of Fairy Tales"), Tartar deals very briefly and very superficially on the existence of sex and violence in fairy tales before moving hurriedly on to devote the bulk of the chapter on the Grimms' financial difficulties, publishing woes, irritation over harsh critics, and such varied and dissimilar themes as the differences in vernacular between various editions, the misfortunes of modern compilers who have not had the older, less heavily edited versions available, and authors who failed to realize that the "Grimms" author were two people, not one. Most of these topics, as the shrewd reader will note, have little or nothing to do with sex or violence in Grimms' fairy tales or any others, so it is deeply unclear why this comprised the bulk of a chapter titled "SEX AND VIOLENCE".

Another flaw in this book pointing to a dissertation source is Tatar's baffling obsession with diagrams. Multiple diagrams are devoted to detailing the difference between "fairy" tales and "folk" tales. This was not a topic that interested me whatsoever, and the multitude of pages devoted to it was deeply annoying. What does the difference between a fairy/folk tale have to do with the "hard facts" of the Grimms' tales? Nothing, as we later find out. It's just something Tatar is interested in, and she hopes we will be, too. Slightly more pertinent is the number of diagrams devoted to detailing the relationships between various story archetypes, but once again, I did not buy this book to learn about the archetypes of fairy tales, but rather to deal with the "hard facts" of the Grimms' tales - specifically the existence of, explanation for, and critical analysis of the sex, violence, and abandonments in the Grimms' tales, along with the fact that a number of endings were very much "happily ever after". The lack of serious treatment of these grim topics makes me feel that this book was misnamed in an attempt to drum up sales.

I seriously considered giving the book 3 stars because I did eventually find Tartar's off topic discussions to be mildly interesting. However, I do not think it is appropriate to market a book to an audience expecting analysis and explanation of the content of the Grimms' tales, when the book should more accurately be billed as a "history of the publication of the Grimms' tales" or "an analysis of relationships between archetypical characters in classic fairy/folk tales" or something similarly close to the actual content of this book. If you want a book on deconstructing fairy tales in general, this is a decent resource, if somewhat dry. If you want a book on the grim realities of the Grimms' tales, look elsewhere.

3-0 out of 5 stars Interesting
The book is quite interesting but rather academic.I had the feeling I was reading someone's PhD thesis, albeit an interesting one.

3-0 out of 5 stars The Riddles Of Classic Fairy Tales
I have read several of Maria Tatar's books for critical fairy tales analysis.
The book is lush with beautiful drawings and the writing style is acutely very good, and very easy to read, and understand.
However, I just really wasn't impressed because I had known most of the information that was presented in thisvolume.
I acutely would recommend her novel The Annotated Classic Fairy Talesand her up coming book The Annotated Brothers Grimm ( this also looks very interesting. )
The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales( to me at least. ) Would be a good starter point for someone who really wants to know the truth about fairy tales.
More recommend for new comers who want's great art work and something easy to read.

5-0 out of 5 stars close look at the uncensored tales
It was really interesting to find out about how the Grimm's collection was put together and how it was rewritten. I was surprised to read that the Grimms added violence in order to make the stories more parent-friendly--I guess parents in those days really believed that punishments would produce virtue.Loved the stories at the end, which are pretty hair-raising.
I was surprised to learn that these stories went so far back in time and that they were originally for adults. ... Read more


24. Grimm's Last Fairytale: A Novel
by Haydn Middleton
Hardcover: 256 Pages (2001-03-16)
list price: US$23.95 -- used & new: US$2.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0312272901
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
In September 1863 Jacob Grimm travels through rural western Germany with his devoted niece, Auguste, who longs to learn at long last the truth about her family.They are accompanied by Kummel, their new and enigmatic manservant.As relations between the three reach crisis point, vivid flashbacks tell of Jacob's traumas and heartbreaks here in his original homeland.Old now, Jacob resists Auguste's attempts to make him take stock of his life.But memories that are repressed have a tendency to reappear in other places, and in other guises.Throughout Jacob's travels, he is reminded of the folk tales he and his brother Wilhelm collected in their Tales for the Young and Old.Although the brothers were renowned language scholars and passionate supporters of German unification, the Tales haunted them throughout their lives.Most notable is the feverish fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, which holds a shattered mirror to a life, a country, and a history. The version recounted here is not the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, nor even the Grimm's version, but an enchanting tale that goes beyond the marriage of the Prince and Princess, to reveal the surprising truth behind the evil.In his compelling historical novel, Haydn Middleton re-creates the life-story of literature's most famous brothers.It is a history that could almost be a fairytale itself, with its fabulous changes of fortune, tests of duty and honor, arrogant princes, lost loves, and twisted family relationships - all unfolding in a world of dark forests and even darker politics.AUTHORBIO: After graduating from New College, Oxford in 1976 Haydn Middleton has taught and lectured in history. He is also the author of six acclaimed novels. He lives in Oxford, England with his two children. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

5-0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing
An incredible accomplishment.Middleton interweaves 3 stories:Jacob Grimm at the end of his life, key moments throughout Grimm's life, and a stylized version (related to Grimm's life) of the fairy tale, Briar Rose.All three stories are richly interwoven and overlapped, so you are never quite sure which is influencing the other.Middleton uses wonderful pacing, beautiful language and a "well-spun" yarn to keep the reader thoroughly engaged.As a history buff, I appreciated Middleton's ability to include historical and cultural background to help explain the purpose behind Grimm's actions.I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of fairy tales, German development during the early 19th century, the life and times of the Grimm's Brothers, or simply a well-told story.

5-0 out of 5 stars MAGICAL ARTISTRY
Middleton's Grimm ranks with Angela Carter's bejeweled fairytale rewrites in BURNING MY BOATS. He weaves three plots into one story. First he tells of the life of Jacob Grimm in his last year as he takes a sentimental journey across Germany to an early home he shared with his brother during Wilhelm's marriage. He tells of Jacob and Wilhelm's youth and their mother's stories that burst with blood and suicide, and how these stories later lead into the the brothers collecting horrific children's tales. He tells of Jacob's tie to his late brother's daughter, who falls in love with their mysterious manservant, Kummel. And he tells the story of Sleeping Beauty as it has never been told before and which parallels Jacob's own life. All these stories are suffused with marvelous description and surreal imagery that at once rubs shoulders with gripping realism and such rich epithets as "Her face would split a pitcher." For me, this is a stunning invention and modern classic that follows the German soul into its darkest subterranean windings that lead later into jackboots on cobblestones. Do yourself a huge favor and dip in. ... Read more


25. The Brothers Grimm: From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World
by Jack Zipes
Paperback: 384 Pages (2002-12-18)
list price: US$22.00 -- used & new: US$5.50
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0312293801
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Most of the fairy tales that we grew up with we know thanks to the Brothers Grimm. Jack Zipes, one of our surest guides through the world of fairy tales and their criticism, takes us behind the romantic mythology of the wandering brothers. Bringing to ber his own critical expertise as well as new biographical information, Zipes examines the interaction between the Grimms lives and their work. He reveals their personal struggle to overcome social prejudice and poverty, as well as their political effortsas scholars and civil servantstoward unifying the German states. By deftly interweaving the social, political, and personal elements of their lives, Zipes rescues the Brothers Grimm from sentimental obscurity. No longer figures in a fairy tale, the Brothers Grimm emerge as powerful creators, real men who established the fairy tale as one of our great literary institutions. Part biography, part critical assessment, and part social history, The Brothers Grimm provides a complex and very real story about fairy tales and the modern world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

3-0 out of 5 stars Mandy's Review
Zipes, Jack.2002.The Brothers Grimm:From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World.New York:Palgrave Macmillan.

The first edition of Jack Zipes' The Brothers Grimm:From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World was published in 1988.So, this particular book is the second, revised version of its kind. Zipes wished to write this book to address more information that has become available about the lives of the Grimm brothers since his last edition.He describes his inspiration with the following statement."Their hope for themselves and their people in the once upon a time of their fairy tales is the hope that has inspired my own work, and despite the critical and skeptical attitude I maintain in studying their work and legacy, it is their fairy-tale hope that keeps me going" (p. xvi).

Zipes begins the book with a reintroduction of The Brothers Grimm.He writes of the early "idyllic" life of the Grimm family.Their father was a successful lawyer and their mother was a devoted housewife.Life was going well for the family of 6 children up until the death of their father.After that, they depended heavily on the graciousness of their grandfather and other relatives, especially their Aunt Henriette, whom Zikes compares to a "good fairy".Jacob and Wilhelm, the oldest male children, were expected to become successful and take care of and retain the good name of the Grimm family. Jacob was the eldest, very bright, and was much like their father.Wilhelm was very bright also, but more prone to ill health.Jacob and Wilhelm did go on to excel in school.Jacob had planned to become a lawyer like his father, but instead he felt obligated to care for his mother and 5 younger siblings.So, he left behind the study of law and secured a job. Wilhelm did stay on to finish his law studies, but eventually Jacob and Wilhelm followed their heart in the literary world. These two brothers were very close all through their lives.

The second chapter describes the intent and process of the gathering together of tales.The brothers sought to capture and preserve the German literature and folklore.Jacob even composed a letter to request the help of the people in the gathering of this material.He writes, "Our literature, history, and language cannot seriously be understood in their old and true origins without doing more exact research on this material" (p. 27).The Brothers Grimm are often portrayed as having traveled around Germany collecting tales from the peasants. However, this isn't exactly the way it happened at all!The primary way that these famous writers gathered their material was to invite "storytellers to their home and then have them tell the tales aloud, which the Grimm's either noted down on first hearing or after a couple of hearings" (p. 28).

The third chapter discusses the symbolic subject of the forest in many of the tales.Next, the fourth chapter looks at the valued characteristic of cunning in various heroes of these tales. "The male heroes in the Grimm's' tales tend to be adventurous, cunning, opportunistic, and reasonable" (p. 95).Also, it is interesting to note that most of these heroes are not princes!The fifth chapter explores how many German people view the Brothers Grimm and the fairy tale.Chapter six shows comparisons of the work of Henri Pourrat to Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. Then, the next few chapters deal with some analysis of various aspects of these tales, such as the treatment of children, the shift of power, and the relationship between fairy tales and myths. Finally, the last chapter explores the "struggle for the Grimms' Throne".Zipes discusses the different writing styles that have developed since 1945.These new kinds of fairy tales include social satire, utopian, pedagogical, feminist, comic parody, and spiritual tales.The final part of the book includes notes on various aspects of the chapters and then a bibliography at the very end.

The Brothers Grimm certainly made a tremendous impact on the world of literature as we know it."Highly acclaimed as the founders of the popular fairy-tale tradition in the West, if not in the entire world, the Grimm's aspired as brilliant philological scholars to glorify the greatness of the German popular tradition" (p. xi).Jack Zipes does an incredible job of bringing together a very detailed look at the lives of the Brothers Grimm and their impressive contributions.The strength of this book is the author's obvious investment in the amount of research and analysis.This book is an excellent resource for gaining a better understanding of the history behind the work of the Brothers Grimm.By understanding their work better, educators can make informed decisions about what aspects they may or may not want to include in lessons."Educators have not been interested in motifs so much as in the morals and the types of role models in the tales" (p. 49).Teachers might use the analysis provided by Zipes to prepare lesson plans that look more closely at various elements that make up the fairy tale.After reading this book, the reader becomes more aware of the traditions and culture of fairy tales.

2-0 out of 5 stars A mishmash of everything
This book tries to cover a lot of ground, but in the end you get a sense that it has gotten you anywhere.The first impression I got was that this book was actually a bunch of journal articles thrown together because there isn't much sense of continuity to this book.It doesn't have an overall theme and the topics covered don't seem to connect well.It starts off with a short biography of the Grimms, so far so good.After that, it covers the orgins of the tales, a little dry, but not bad.After that, there's a chapter about how the Grimm tales indoctrinate children into the bourgeoisie.The Marxism seems a little dated.After that, out of the blue, you get a chapter on Henri Pourrault, an obscure writer of fairy tales.It's never explained why this writer is in this book, but I guess the author really liked this journal article and couldn't resist throwing it in.

After this, it gets really weird.You get a chapter about how fairy tales are all about childhood sexual abuse.If that doesn't kill your mood to read fairy tales, then the following chapter in which the author attacks the Grimm tales as outdated and obsolete and advocates the rewriting of the tales for more modern perspectives will.One gem that the author singles out for praise is a rewriting of Cinderella.In this version, Cinderella is a labor organizer who organizes all the workers in her kingdom.The prince, impressed by her accomplishments, falls in lover with her and proposes.However, Cinderella refuses to betray the worker and rejects the prince.In the end, Cinderella moves to America and the prince commits suicide over the heartbreak.Wow, the kids will love that one.It's not even entertaining or enlightening for adults and borders on masochistic.That's some of the nonsense that you'll run into in this book.I really recommend that you pass on this.

5-0 out of 5 stars For serious students of European fantasy literature
The Brothers Grimm: From Enchanted Forests To The Modern World by Jack Zipes (Professor of German, University of Minnesota) is an informed and informative examination of the lives of the famous fairy tale gatherers, writers, and preservers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. From their humble origins amidst poverty and prejudice to their ultimate contribution to literature as a whole, The Brothers Grimm is a truly fascinating account and a "must-read" for serious students of European fantasy literature and folklore. ... Read more


26. Cinderella's Gold Slipper: Spiritual Symbolism in the Grimm's Tales
by Samuel Denis Fohr
 Paperback: 223 Pages (1995-01-05)
list price: US$11.95 -- used & new: US$2.54
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0835606724
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Spiritual symbolism as it relates to the Grimm fairy tales. ... Read more


27. The Brothers Grimm: Two Lives, One Legacy
by Donald R. Hettinga
Hardcover: 192 Pages (2001-10-15)
list price: US$22.00 -- used & new: US$7.37
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0618055991
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Children everywhere are familiar with the fairy-tale world of the Brothers Grimm, who made "once upon a time" a part of our universal vocabulary—but few people know much about the brothers themselves. Inspired by their desire to document their national literary heritage, the two devoted brothers spent most of their adult years collecting and publishing German Märchen and Sagen, fairy tales and legends. This thorough and compelling biography addresses the social, political, and historical influences that shaped the lives and stories of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

5-0 out of 5 stars Two Lives, One Legacy
It's a great title for this book, "Two Lives One Legacy." And this is a beautiful story on the lives of the two brothers. It was not easy for me to find a book on their lives...and when I learned of this book, it was not easy to get a hold of it...

Most remember Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm for the stories they published, and sometimes myth intrudes even with this. But they lived great and wonderful lives, and this book tells all.

From childhood, this book covers their lives in an easy read. It offers a whole new light on the lives and times of, 'The Brother's Grimm."

There is not a movie on the, "true" story of the two brother's, I hope one will be made soon.

5-0 out of 5 stars Fine biographical coverage
Donald Hettinga's Brothers Grimm presents a fine biographical coverage of the era and lives of the Brothers Grimm and the stories they recorded. Photos, archival illustrations, and plenty of details on the brothers' relationship pack a 179-page, engrossing account. ... Read more


28. Once upon Time
by Quackenbush
 Hardcover: Pages (1986-02-01)
list price: US$11.95
Isbn: 0671662961
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Recounts the lives of two German brothers who collected folktales such as "Hansel and Gretel" and "Rumpelstiltskin" in order to preserve them for future generations. ... Read more


29. FAIRYTALE ROMANCE
by James M. McGlathery
 Hardcover: 226 Pages (1990-10-01)
list price: US$29.95 -- used & new: US$282.74
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0252017412
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Customer Reviews (1)

3-0 out of 5 stars Critical of Romance
When I first picked up this book I was looking forward to reading a study about depictions of passion and desire in fairy tales, especially since McGlathery covered three of my favorite authors--Grimms, Basile, andPerrault. (Grimms dominate the study.)After delving into the book though,I was dismayed to find that he concentrated on "nubile""marriageable" female images and dismissed male images of passionand desire.The lack of balance is disheartening and annoying.On theother hand, for academic readers out there, the end notes are thorough,helpful, and interesting. ... Read more


30. Darkest Desire: The Wolf's Own Tale
by Anthony Schmitz
Hardcover: 134 Pages (1998-11-01)
list price: US$19.00 -- used & new: US$5.94
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0880016264
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Wolf's life in the wood might be happy, except for one problem. He can't control his urge to devour children who stumble across his path. His runaway desires have made him an outcast among his peers. He lives an unhappy, solitary life -- until he encounters the Brothers Grimm. Wolf is thrilled to realize that in the presence of these scholars, he can speak. The Grimms take Wolf into their camp, fill him with brandy, and poke at the source of his easily apparent unhappiness. When they learn the truth about Wolf's cravings, they propose a cure.

Now Wolf must make a decision. Can the satisfaction of a "normal" life outweigh the joys of his perversion? Are his desires truly dreanged, or is he simply giving full expression to his personal nature? Does he have an obligation -- as his occasional companion Devil argues -- to live as a unique individual in the manner to which he was born?

Wolf trust his new friends, and agrees to their cure. The brothers construct a complicated and dangerous scenario to discover how Wolf will behave. Is Wolf nothing more than a subject for research? The Grimms no more than conniving reporters?

Ultimately, Wolf, Devil, the Brothers Grimm, an outraged Frau, and her endangered babe collide at a pool in the dark wood to settle ancient questions: Can the deepest and most perverse desires ever be overruled? Or more important, should they?

Amazon.com Review
In Darkest Desire Anthony Schmitz turns the Brothers Grimm on theirheads, retelling "Little Red Riding Hood" from the wolf's perspective.Whatever charm the reader might reasonably expect from such a conceit,however, rapidly dissipates under the beast's graphic and unpleasantlysexual descriptions of child murder:
If I close my eyes, I can still hear the sound of cloth shredding as Ipulled with my teeth. I was mad with rage and joy for a moment, and then Iwas overwhelmed by guilt. Yes, yes, certainly he was a pathetic thing, somiserably, mistakenly confident. But he was as God had made him, and now hewas torn asunder. I quickly lost my appetite. I left him almost whole,except for the upper ham. That I retched in the grass a few minutes later.
The wolf goes on to describe how, in the days following this first kill, he"relived those few minutes again and again," and one can't help but thinkof the Ted Bundys and Jeffrey Dahmers of the world, slouching towards theirnext gruesome murder.

Schmitz does have a point he's trying to make about the individual'sobligation to his own true nature, no matter how perverse, versus hisduty to conform to social norms. In exploring this dichotomy, the author skewerspsychotherapy--or at least the most opportunistic practitioners of it--andpaints Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm as the 19th-century equivalent of tabloidjournalists, willing to go to any length to get their story, even if itmeans manufacturing it.All this might have worked had the wolf'sproclivities been less revolting. Unfortunately, there's just no argumentto be made in favor of baby-killing as a form of self-expression.Darkest Desire is well written but deeply unpleasant to read. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

5-0 out of 5 stars A good and dark tale of morality
Schmitz has written a great book.There is so much to feed on on so many levels.I was so astounded by the wolf's understanding of his relationship with evil.He refuses to personify it and yet has realized that his ongoing companionship is not friendship.I think the story raises questions about humnan complicity in evil and the human tendency towards idolatry (knowledge, science, consuming).By the end of the book, one has to wonder where the center of the evil that is being described lies:in the devil, in the wolf, or in the Brothers Grimm?Schmitz ablilities to make the reader see situations from the view point of the wolf is truly amazing.It's a good tale and will keep the reader thinking about those big questions about good and bad and knowledge.

3-0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable short read
Schmitz performs in 100+ pages what many writers cannot do with several hundred more.Presents us with an affable yet fallable protagonist, sets up themes and conflict we can relate (in our own desires), and resolves it satisfactorily.As it is so short, it would be unwise to summarize the plot and spoil things for the reader.Surely, however, a newly vocal wolf who preys on children, the Brothers Grimm, and the Devil should provoke anyone to read this appealing work.:)

5-0 out of 5 stars A fur-raising tale
This is another book review by the boonie dogs, Wolfie and Kansas."Darkest Desire", allegedly by Anthony Schmitz, presents a wolf's-eye-and-snout view of the Brothers Grimm.We suspect that this bookwas ghostwritten by a fellow canine.Much of the book is too insightfuland too clever to have been written by a typical human author.

Thepassages about the tastiness of human puppies are somewhat offensive.Acanine is more likely to protect a human child from human predators than toeat the child himself.However, "Schmitz" does make it clearthat the child-eating wolf is no more typical of canines than HannibalLecter is of humans.In a nice twist on an idea used decades ago byClifford Simak in "City", Schmitz makes use of the canine abilityto perceive and interact with phenomena beyond human perception.

5-0 out of 5 stars Twice Told Tails
Many postmodern deconstructions of legends and fairy tales are rather self-consciously academic and self-referential and are clever in a "hey, look at this fancy stuff" sort of way. Darkest Desire setsthe whole nature/culture controversy on its head in a most entertainingmanner with a notable lack of pretense. Strongly recommended for adults andmature teens.

5-0 out of 5 stars A splendid and original idea well done
This is one of the most original books I've ever read. I was a bit skeptical when I heard about the premise. Who writes an adult book about the Big Bad Wolf? Once I cracked it, though, I couldn't put it down.Schmitz has fashioned fairy-tale characters that are not only interestingbut (who would believe it?) believable. His writing is precise, hisobservations droll. And as you might suspect, the story is hilarious. Thisis a book that I'm going to tout to my friends. ... Read more


31. Mi primer Larousse de principes y princesas/ My First Larousse of Princes and Princesses (Spanish Edition)
by Tomas (DRT) Garcia
 Hardcover: 187 Pages (2007-06-30)
list price: US$37.95 -- used & new: US$28.84
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 9702218551
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

32. The Wrestler's Cruel Study: A Novel
by Stephen Dobyns
 Hardcover: 426 Pages (1993-08)
list price: US$22.95 -- used & new: US$49.82
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0393035115
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
As Michael Marmaduke searches for his missing fiance+a7e, he progresses from confused innocence to darker self-knowledge and grapples with the issues of kidnapping, the struggle between good and evil, and the meaning of heroism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

1-0 out of 5 stars The writing simply stinks
Not sure what these other reviewers were smokin', but I have never seen a worse example of writing. Literally every 3rd sentence is a rhetorical question -- a child would know better than that!

And if this book is so great then why is it that:

a) no one has heard of it.
b) no one has heard of the author
c) the book is no longer in print
d) it's not available in a huge county-wide library system with 30+ branches!

So why did I pick this up? Because my fellow book club members think that novelty = better; the reverse is almost always true.

5-0 out of 5 stars Hmmmm
I've owned this book for about five year and just could never get into it although it seemed like it would be interesting. I finally got into and boy am I glad I did. This is one of the most unique books I have ever read (and I've read A LOT). It's a book about finding out who you are through and in ways you never considered. The characters are highly entertaining, the situations are crazy and highly entertaining and the thought provoking ideas within this book leave you with things to consider long after you've finished reading. It's hard to describe a book like this! I rarely give five star reviews, but this one deserves it. Read this book!

5-0 out of 5 stars Probably the Most Unique Book You'll Read This Year...
I was hesistant to start The Wrestler's Cruel Study. Too many books like this have left me disappointed, with an empty feeling when the last page is finally turned. I'm happy to say that this sprawling novel is not one of those. Dobyns manages to fuse literature with entertainment, creating this bizarre amalgam that is part conventional mystery, philosophical pondering, and high humor. Somehow, it actually works. I was even more struck by the dazzling prose, and stark originality in some of the imagery and style Dobyns uses. As one would imagine, this book is now out of print, but I highly reccomend tracking it down.

5-0 out of 5 stars smartly funny
I don't have much to add here, but I thought I should let potential readers know that this was the funniest and one of the most memorable books I read this year. So different from Dobyns' other stuff, but SO rewarding as well. It does help to have some interest in the history of theology/heresy and Grimm's fairytales, not to mention Nietzsche.

5-0 out of 5 stars Gimmick is form pretending to be substance....
"The Wrestler's Cruel Study" was a staff recommendation at a local bookstore here in San Francisco several years ago; and, that brief review, placed on the shelf near copies of the book, was written with such enthusiasm and humor that it charmed me the rest of the day. However, I did not purchase the book as I assumed that the reviewer was the talent and that the review was meant as a kind of comic hyperbole. That was a mistake. After running across the book again at another store, I finally bought it. Now, some years later and after a second reading, I think I can say that it ranks among my very favorites.

As the book jacket suggests, we begin by observing an apartment complex where we witness two gorillas scale the outside wall to gain entry. Once inside, they kidnap a young woman wearing only her nightgown and steal her away. Her fiancé, a professional wrestler, is warned against soliciting the help of the police in her recovery; and he is given no motive for the kidnapping or asked for a ransom of any kind. In an effort to discover her whereabouts and gain her safe return, the wrestler embarks on a search that, he discovers, will do more to unravel the mystery of who he is than it will to find the one he loves.

Here is a book that manages to be, among other things: a study in identity and the perception of the self; a nightmare; a story of redemption; absurdist theater designed to illustrate philosophical argument; and a big-dicked perversion of Nietzschean philosophy, albeit a charming and gravely humorous one.

In the book Mr. Dobyns makes much of "gimmick." Put another way, he makes much of the masks that we wear, focusing on how they serve us, but more importantly, how they do us disservice. In illustrating the many ways that it is possible for one to bandage his or her wounds, and wear layer upon layer of these dressings or masks, he has created fully-realized characters with all manner of human strength and frailty. To have done so without judgment is, to my mind, a huge achievement.

Each of the characters that populate this wild and enormously entertaining novel is developed with the skill of one who really seems to understand what it means to be human. Each of them has much to learn about life, their connections with others and, perhaps most importantly, with themselves.

As lucky readers, this all serves to do the same for us. It asks rather big questions and gives no simple answers. Again, this is quite a feat for a fiction. We are asked, "When we look in a mirror, do we see ourselves or a committee?" I submit that if we look closely enough, this book, like any good looking glass, might just give us a glimpse of who we are. ... Read more


33.
 

Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

  Back | 21-33 of 33
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Prices listed on this site are subject to change without notice.
Questions on ordering or shipping? click here for help.

site stats