Product Description
Gryllus is the hero of The Pig Scrolls. Gryllus is a pig. Well, not strictly speaking a pig. He's a man who got turned into a pig. More specifically, he was one of Odysseus's crew (you remember Odysseus - big bloke, hero, all round clever clogs) and the whole crew got turned into pigs by Circe, a witch, but Gryllus never got turned back. So Gryllus is a pig who can talk which, as you can imagine, causes a bit of a stir in Ancient Greece. Anyway...two of the gods have had a bet, the world as we know it is in danger, the only one who can save everyone is a smartypants talking pig. Oh dear ... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Quest for the Holy Gryllus
I am a Middle School teacher who has read "Iliad," "Odyssey," and a load of Greek and Roman myths.I always approach books of this type with trepidation because I believe in the classical works as a means of preserving how the ancients viewed humanity, our relationship with the gods and each other, and the "human condition."

This book, by no means, treats the classical tradition with anything approaching deference.However, it has made it's way into the top ten, maybe top five, of my favorite books for young readers.This is primarily because, although it pokes fun at absolutely everything having to do with Greece, you can tell that the author is both knowledgeable and appreciative of that tradition.For that reason, at the heart of the book is an attempt to answer the big questions that those ancient Greeks tried to answer themselves.

Themes:
- the struggle between Chaos and Order (which is the basis of many creation myths)
- the fear of death
- what it means to be human

On top of all this, it is funny.There is a sense that the author just had a great plot idea and not quite the skill to do it justice.He's not quite Terry Pratchett, but he's more than sufficiently skilled to make this book an enjoyable read.

What I especially like about it is, with a little preparation, I could teach the entire unit on Greece using just this book and still feel like I got to the heart of what it meant to be Greek.

best book ever for readers who like humor
This book is about a talking pig!This pig, after enjoying a beautiful day in the woods, finds himself suddenly caught up with a girl who has the idea of saving the world.This quick-witted pig talks himself out of many difficult situations with a combonation of reasoning and humor.The whole book is based on Greek mythology, and it goes by quickly.There is humor, action, and adventure in every chapter.I highly recommend this book to anybody who likes to read.

hard to beat
This book is hard to beat for laughs -- it's hysterical! But the author clearly knows his stuff, too -- there's plenty of food for thought (appropriately enough with Gryllus the Pig).

Brilliant!
I really loved this book, it's so funny. I guess brighter readers will probably get the most from it, as some of the wordplay is quite clever, but I've been talking up this book to readers of all ages.

A terrific read
Wasn't quite sure what to expect of this, but its blend of high silliness and surpisingly thoughtful moments really won me over. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh and a little bit more. Gryllus, the narrator of the tale, is just the funniest character I've read in a long, long time. The ending seems to pave the way for more -- let's hope this is the case. ... Read more

Product Description
The Duke of Dulwich is in distress--several reports are coming in that the city is beginning to be overrun by a plague of rats.Naturally he has killed off all witnesses, but daily the problem is becoming more obvious.His corrupt council, led by the hapless ex-wizard Tambor, has no solutions.He must send for mercenaries to rid his city of the rampant rodents.

Heralds ride out from every gate, each hoping to bring back the savior of the city.Part-time herald, full-time thief, and grandson to Tambour, Jimmy Quickstint is the lucky man--falling haphazardly upon the skills of Diek Wustapha--a charmer--recently inhabited by magic and suddenly irresistible to girls, sheep--and rats.

Diek fulfills his task and is promised $500 for his troubles.But once the rats have gone, the council reneges on their deal.Full of anger (and magic), Diek charms the children of Dulwich out of the city, playing on his mouth organ, where he disappears into the caves ad woodland of the surrounding area.

The Duke is now in despair and has to resort to mercenaries to track him down.These include Groan Teethgrit (a man-mountain with more fingers than brain cells), Gordo Goldaxe (a dwarf who takes offence at people looking down on him) and Jimmy Quickstint (the only thief in history to go into a house with more than he came out with).It's not looking good. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

What a catastrophe
David Lee Stone's first Illmoor Chronicle is not quite a catastrophe, but it's not good either. The first of this fantasy series, "The Ratastrophe Catastrophe," is one of those books that has to strain to be halfway funny and a quarter entertaining, but doesn't quite manage it.

Evil magic possesses a very ordinary young man named Diek, making his eye glow and giving him the power to charm animals and people with music. At about the same time, the ancient, run-down city of Dullitch is suddenly overriden with thousands of giant rats. Diek offers to charm them away, for a price. He does so... only to be informed that there isn't enough to pay him.

So he charms all the city's children away. So the dim Duke hires some not-so-competant mercenaries, including belligerent dwarf Gordo, crocheted-hat-wearing giant Groan, and has-been wizard Tambor. But can they find the missing children and defeat the evil magic in time, or will the parents of Dullitch revolt?

Something magical is missing from "Ratastrophe Catastrophe," and it's not just because of the constant comparisons to Terry Pratchett. A few too many things -- Dullitch, the Duke, the guilds, even the magical possession story -- are similar to Pratchett's Discworld, but that wouldn't be a problem if Stone had crafted a funny, witty fantasy.

Unfortunately, he tried and failed. With an old plot like the Pied Piper, a story needs exceptional wit to stand out. Unfortunately Stone seems focused more on contrived jokes that really aren't that funny, like hair loss or the Tower of Screaming Doom. They're a little funny, but not so funny that you might actually laugh at them. If he just let the humour flow, it would have worked better.

And even more unfortunately, all the time that Stone spends on his jokes takes away from the characters. They're all paper-thin one-joke characters -- inept wizard, big doof, grumpy dwarf, corrupt politicians. And the most interesting characters vanish pretty quickly, such as the weirdo who is mad because he LIKED having a rat infestation.

Humorous fairy-tale retellings are a common thing, but David Lee Stone adds little to the genre in "The Ratastrophe Catastrophe." Here's hoping the second book of the series has some substance.

Ratastrophe Carastrophe
Another version of the pied piper... Yet "Ratastrophe Catastrophe" is the best pied piper version for kids.Not because it is babyish but because it is fun, imanginative, funny and full of action!:-)

When a young nobody gets possesed by an evil creature he gets the power to enchant animals and people.Dullitch (a city) has a giant rat infestion, so they offer a huge award to anyone who will rid the city of the monstrous rats.Of course the evil enchanter does and when he gets told that the city has no money to Voice (inside his head) tells him to take all the children.The only people that can save the city are a dawrf, giant and a old time sorcerer that has lost his spell book and has a terrible memory.

Yes it sounds like just another ordinairy adventure were the heros are perfect and of course they are going to save the world but in this story the heroes are not perfect.They are ordinairy (well as ordinairy as you can get in a city run be thieves and assasins) that have their own problems.

All the characters in this story are funny by their personalities, faults or decisions.This is a truly hilarious book that any kid should read.It gives you a different version of the pied piper and in my mind a truly better one.This is a must read for any one looking for a less then perfect adventure! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

love magic
hey my name is amara doumbia.i want europe finland love magic form you people.i want for me,and sosatten,and familys doumbia,diah,youhn,familys.i live in europe finland lappeenranta.i want for men and women woman weman girls man boys.i want it internationllen.i form africa liberia.

Amazing and Entertaining
I bought this for my Finnish husband and we both really enjoyed it.It had a lot of information that I just hadn't heard of before and it has caused my husband to become really interested in his Finnish pagan past.We have both grown spiritually as a result of this book.

Nnnnn....
I'm tempted to lean towards one and a half stars for this but E-bay doesn't really let us do that.
Anyway, this isn't a horrible book. It certainly does not give any insight into authentic Finnish (or Saami) traditions, it does give some insight into modern "neo-shamanic" beliefs that are built around a historic base... and the inherent weaknesses within. In my mind, there are several great problems with the book. Not the least of which is that the author appearently doesn't speak Finnish! Aside from that, he blurs the line on the differences between Finnish, Saami and Scandinavian culture and mythology. That he calls the Saami "Lapps" (an antiquated term which many consider offensive) MIGHT be overlooked, but to claim that the Saami and Finns borrowed all their cultural beliefs from the Norse is far worse. This is not new amongst neo-Pagans, many of whom are quite intent on stealing native cultures for themselves, often strainin them through a Eurocentric medium. I can think of countless New Age gurus who claim ancient Native American or Maori secrets, often made up at the spur of the moment. So definately avoid thinking that this book provides any information on authentic Finnish culture.
Also, his other great error is that he relies far too much on literature. While the Kalevala may indeed be an excellent source for pre-Christian Finnish beliefs, it seems that he based a large portion of his book off the great epic. Again, this is rather sloppy scholarship. It would have been better to include a greater focus on archaeological studies, or even making educated guesses based off studies of other Finnic cultures. Furthermore, the fact that the book is written with a "do-it-yourself" attitude strikes me as potentially dangerous. Yes, hallucagenic mushrooms, animal sacrifice and bath houses played a major role in shamanic rites in the north, but including potentially dangerous mis-information to the public is not a good idea. It is very possible to injure oneself using mushrooms or bath houses, and improper animal sacrifices are just as bad.
Having said all of that, I do admit that it gives some insight into the thoughts and beliefs of at least some so-called "Neo-shamanists" who have appropriated cultural and religious practices and adapted them to their own culture. Such a thing is not new, nor is it entirely European. The best way to approach this text is with a skeptical, scientific view; its better to study neo-shamanic/new age beliefs with than "ancient and enlightened" Finnish culture.

Dismal
I just had to loan this book from the local library to see if the reviews here were at all accurate. They are. I'm not sure what the aim of this book is. Is it to give Finnish-Americans with an interest in new age gibberish some sort of connection to mythic, mystic past? That's my theory, because it certainly doesn't have much to do with bonafide Finnish history or culture.

The authors carelessly intermingle Sami and Finnish cultural traditions, misspell or misuse Finnish words, and even worse, create something of a mockery of Finnish culture by creating this bizarre, frankly non-existent mismash of cultures and positing it as "Finnish". All I can say in conclusion is that I wish I could get back the time I wasted reading this horrid book.

Sami Traditions
I dropped this book on the floor, the minute this supposed scholar wrote Lapp.First of all, the correct term is Sami. Secondly, if you want a decent book on the Sami, don't look here.I picked up a good book while in Snasa,Norway at a Sami museum.If you want authentic information, get it directly from the source! ... Read more

Product Description
American Gargoyles: Spirits in Stone is the first pictorial essay on the many gargoyles found in the United States, featuring unique stories and breathtaking full-color photographs of these monstrous but delightful angels with a sense of humor. A number of books have showcased the medieval gargoyles of Europe, but never before has one been devoted to the thousands of gargoyles that peer down from American buildings. Lewd or ferocious, holy or humorous, these astonishing carvings are distinguished by fine artistry, vivid imagination, and spiritual mystery.

American Gargoyles puts us face-to-face with the winged griffins, fallen angels, and damned souls of Washington's National Cathedral, as well as those adorning the Woolworth Building and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Tribune Tower in Chicago, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and many other buildings. Robert Llewellyn's glorious photographs reveal the craftsmanship of the artisans and sculptors who created these works.

With Darlene Trew Crist's fascinating explanations of the varieties of gargoyles, stories about their history and creation, and extensive resource information, including websites, American Gargoyles makes a convincing case for looking up as we walk down the streets of America's cities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderful Book
I bought this as a gift for someone and now I wish I would have also bought myself a copy! The pics are great, as is all the information regarding gargoyles. Only drawback for me, I thought it was going to be bigger, it's no bigger than maybe 10x10 or so.

American Gothic
This book is one of the best books I got from amazon. I got the two books Holy Terror's and American Gargolyes... it was a great deal. The book is loaded with pictures of gargoyles from across america and desrcibes what type of gargoyle and where it is located in america. The photographs are beautiful and descriptive through out the book. If you gargoyles get the two books for the price of one. Highly Recommended!!!!

Quality Book on Odd Subject
I was a little skeptical when I first picked up "American Gargoyles: Spirits in Stone" but a friend had reccomended it so I decided to read it. Boy, am I glad I did! If I hadn't I would have missed out on the wonderful details, breathtaking pictures and an all around fascinating history of American Gargoyles. The pictures are well shot, and I have to admit, were the first thing that caught my eye. But, when I sat down to read the text the author shared all these captivating little details about the gargoyles which I loved! The author tells you the story behind a particular gargoyle and if there is anything special you should look for when you see it. This book was so fascinating that I was inspired to take a trip to some of the sights mentioned in the book and check out the gargoyles for myself. I reccomend this book to all readers, it appeals to all audiences.

Monstrous Stoned Fun
Gargoyles have gotten to be very popular recently, and any gargoyle fan ought to get the book _American Gargoyles: Spirits in Stone_ (Clarkson Potter) by Darlene Trew Crist, with photographs by Robert Llewellyn, because American gargoyles are fun.It wasn't the original job of gargoyles to be fun.One of the explanations of how gargoyles got into their exalted positions in churches is that they were placed there to entice pagans to come and worship at Christian locales.Those who ran the churches thought that pagan symbols, and scary ones at that, were a good marketing ploy.Perhaps we American moderns are simply amused by carvings of fearsome dragons, but there are plenty of gargoyles shown here that are deliberately humorous caricatures.

The pictures are a treat.This is not a big, coffee-table book, but there are scores of pictures from many American sacred, commercial, and academic buildings.Though American gargoyles reflect the traditions of Europe, many are truly American.The University of Pennsylvania, for instance, has a strictly medieval style of quadrangle, complete with gargoyles, but one of them is a football player.At Washington National Cathedral, there is a gargoyle showing a crooked politician; he has horns, a big belly, a cigar, and a pocket full of dollar bills.There are a pair of gargoyles there which were given by a grandmother in thanks for her two grandsons.One is angelic and one is demonic, and she never said which is which; the grandsons are now grown up and still don't know.A weeping sea turtle is there as a statement of environmental protection.Out of the mouth of a monstrous duck stares a tourist with a camera, a payback from the carver who was the subject of thousands of pictures as he worked.

_American Gargoyles_ could have been a lot bigger, but Crist has included a reading list for those who want to see more.It is a good-looking and informative book.

American Gargoyles
Having read this book, I have a new outlook on American Gargoyles which truely are spirits in stone. This book is very educational, picturesque,informative, well written and I simply love it! ... Read more

Product Description
After a long and painful Christmas shopping expedition, Robert Llewellyn had a revelation. He had enough stuff; he'd had enough of rampant consumerism; he would simply stop shopping for a whole year. "Sold Out" follows the highs and lows of a former hippie drop-out who morphed into a wealthy Western male as he attempts to disengage once more from a consumer-driven society. Challenging, thought-provoking and funny, this book proves that it doesn't have to be embarrassing to darn socks in the 21st century. ... Read more

Product Description
Works which have sought to look specifically at the Welsh in Australia have been few in number and characterised by a concentration on prominent individuals and cultural/religious societies, thus excluding many facets of immigrant life. This book provides an analysis of the Welsh immigrant community in the Ballarat/Sebastopol gold mining district of Victoria, Australia during the second half of the nineteenth century and considers all aspects of the Welsh immigrant experience. As its focus, the book has the Welsh migrant group as a whole, in one particular area, during one period of time, for ultimately it was the migrants themselves who were responsible for the strength or weakness of Welsh religious life, the success or failure of Welsh cultural institutions; they who decided whether or not to retain and transmit their national language if, indeed, they spoke it in the first place; they who chose whether or not to marry within their own group, to live amongst their own, to retain the ties of Welshness and pass on the values of the Old Country, or to attempt full and immediate integration; they who were miners or shop owners, abstainers or drunkards, law abiding or criminal.A true picture of Welsh immigrant life can only be obtained by considering the community in its entirety, to view it in the round, as it were. This work attempts to do just that and hopes to make some small contribution to the understanding of what it was to be one amongst the thousands of Welsh people who lived in a particular place at a certain time in a land so far from Wales. ... Read more