Amazon.com
The Space Between Us, Thrity Umrigar's poignant novel about a wealthy woman and her downtrodden servant, offers a revealing look at class and gender roles in modern day Bombay. Alternatively told through the eyes of Sera, a Parsi widow whose pregnant daughter and son-in-law share her elegant home, and Bhima, the elderly housekeeper who must support her orphaned granddaughter, Umrigar does an admirable job of creating two sympathetic characters whose bond goes far deeper than that of employer and employee.

When we first meet Bhima, she is sharing a thin mattress with Maya, the granddaughter upon whom high hopes and dreams were placed, only to be shattered by an unexpected pregnancy and its disastrous consequences. As time goes on, we learn that Sera and her family have used their power and money time and time again to influence the lives of Bhima and Maya, from caring for Bhima's estranged husband after a workplace accident, to providing the funds for Maya's college education. We also learn that Sera's seemingly privileged life is not as it appears; after enduring years of cruelty under her mother-in-law's roof, she faced physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, pain that only Bhima could see and alleviate. Yet through the triumphs and tragedies, Sera and Bhima always shared a bond that transcended class and race; a bond shared by two women whose fate always seemed to rest in the hands of others, just outside their control.

Told in a series of flashbacks and present day encounters, The Space Between Us gains strength from both plot and prose. A beautiful tale of tragedy and hope, Umrigar's second novel is sure to linger in readers' minds. --Gisele TouegBook Description

Poignant, evocative, and unforgettable, The Space Between Us is an intimate portrait of a distant yet familiar world. Set in modern-day India, it is the story of two compelling and achingly real women: Sera Dubash, an upper-middle-class Parsi housewife whose opulent surroundings hide the shame and disappointment of her abusive marriage, and Bhima, a stoic illiterate hardened by a life of despair and loss, who has worked in the Dubash household for more than twenty years. A powerful and perceptive literary masterwork, author Thrity Umrigar's extraordinary novel demonstrates how the lives of the rich and poor are intrinsically connected yet vastly removed from each other, and how the strong bonds of womanhood are eternally opposed by the divisions of class and culture.

Customer Reviews (71)

The Space Between Us Large Print
The book arrived in good fashion.It is great to get a Large print edition for a reasonable price.

Poignant exploration of social injustice and much more.
"The Space Between Us" is a very moving exploration of social injustice and much more. Set in the modern day India, its lessons are very much applicable to any society. The main story line is interplay between Bhima, house servant, and Sera, her mistress. Belonging do different classes and religions they both develop, on one hand, close proximity and understanding of each other, and on the other, the inability to cross the invisible space separating them, set by society and habit. For Sera even "... The thought of Bhima sitting on her furniture repulses her. The thought makes her stiffen, the same way she had tensed the day she caught here daughter, then fifting, giving Bhima an affectionate hag. [snip] , but also feeling of revulsion, so that she had to suppress the urge to order her daughter to go wash her hands." And yet Sera does help Bhima with her grand-daughter education and treats her, in many ways, much better, that some other family would. That is the main conundrum of the story. Being generally a good hearted person, Sara is unconsciously unable to consider her servant as equal.

Passing through the life, these two human beings experience cruelty of their relatives set in their ways of prejudice. For Bhima the life's journey is set of steps from bad to worse. It is a continuous manifestation of treachery by the people around her, who are looking to take advantage of illiterate woman. Her husband, Gopal, who is to abandon her in the slum, exclaims "Woman, don't you see? [snip] It does not matter. One way or the other they would've tricked us. Because they own the world, you see. They have the machines and the money and the factories and the education. We are just the tools they use to get all those things. [snip] Well, they used me as a hammer to get what they want. That is all I am to them, a hammer." The fate play its own part in the life of both woman, freeing Sera from dominance of her vengeful and violent husband, and truly vile mother in law, and punishing Bhima by the death of her daughter, alcoholism of Gopal and finally unwanted pregnancy of her grand-daughter. The last one, perpetuated by Sara's son in law, as she is to eventually to learn, leads her to a final break up with Sara's family and a vision of freedom on the ocean shore.

Yes, there is some element of the soap opera in this book, but the truth be told, there are plenty of people, whose life is very much as described in this book. One can only hope that less and less people will suffer such indignity. This is a book with a mission and a very well told one. It offer a glimpse of Indian society and many universal and poignant observations of human condition. Bhima's ability to persevere and stay sane, perhaps the only sane person at the end, in the face of all things conspired to defeat her is a true testament that not all lost on us and indeed that there might be a reason for our frail existence.

Now why not five stars then. I am sorry, but those are reserved for writers like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Leo Tolstoy or Chekhov.

Best book I read in 2007
From the first page, I was hooked and couldn't put it down.The story is so well written, you fall in love with certain characters and grow to hate others, the plot takes turns you don't see coming and the language is filled with incredible depth. At one point towards the end, I put the book down and yelled out loud.It was a pleasure to read.

Un-put-downable!
Loved this book.The characters are rich and developed, and the book is engrossing from the first page.I couldn't put it down!

space between us
This book has changed my life in many ways and I'm especially grateful to have Amazon Books to choose from.
Thankyou,
Care Seltmann ... Read more

Amazon.com
The perfect first space book for those almost-readers, There's No Place Like Space takes us on a whirlwind tour of our solar system, with a few constellations thrown in for good measure. Cat in the Hat (along with beloved Thing One and Thing Two) straps on his space suit and rhymes his way among the nine planets, presenting important facts along the way. Where else could your preschooler learn phonics and astronomy at same time? "A planet can have satellites that surround it.Uranus has lots of these objects around it" is just one example. This is a fine addition to the library of any young stargazer--few books are written with this many facts furnished in such an easy-reading manner. (Preschool to early reader) --Jill LightnerBook Description
Blast off for educational fun! Beginning readers and budding astronomers are launched via Seussian sorcery on a wild trip to visit the nine planets in our solar system along with the Cat in the Hat, Thing One, Thing Two, and Dick and Sally. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Great fun book about space for little and big ones.
This is a really cute book about space.Fun and educational.My boys 5 & 6 love it as much as I do.

Out of Date
This is a great book but it's out of date.Pluto is no longer a planet.I would just skip that page but it's hard because there is also a mnemonic device that includes Pluto in it.They need to update this book with a second edition.Otherwise, it's a great book.

Inexplicably fun
My son sees this book at his doctor's office and begged for his own copy. He's usually a truck guy, so I don't understand his attraction to this book, but he definitely strongly likes it. And, heck, there's no harm in him learning the names of planets and a bit about space! Great book.

It Could Be Better
The concept of this learning book is fine and it is a good book to introduce young children to space. I read it to my 4 1/2-year-old granddaughter and she enjoyed it. However, about half of the poems could have been much better. They lacked proper poetic cadence. A few seemed very ordinary. The publisher surely should have asked the writer to improve them. The statement that the spinning Earth will never slow down is technically incorrect. That's a fine point, but it would have been easy to present the idea correctly.

Love it!
Love this book!!It gives nonfiction science content in a Dr. Seuss format.Keeps the kids' interest while they learn science - excellent! ... Read more

Book Description
A superb visual reference to the principles of architecture

Now including interactive CD-ROM!

For more than thirty years, the beautifully illustrated Architecture: Form, Space, and Order has been the classic introduction to the basic vocabulary of architectural design. The updated Third Edition features expanded sections on circulation, light, views, and site context, along with new considerations of environmental factors, building codes, and contemporary examples of form, space, and order.

This classic visual reference helps both students and practicing architects understand the basic vocabulary of architectural design by examining how form and space are ordered in the built environment.? Using his trademark meticulous drawing, Professor Ching shows the relationship between fundamental elements of architecture through the ages and across cultural boundaries. By looking at these seminal ideas, Architecture: Form, Space, and Order encourages the reader to look critically at the built environment and promotes a more evocative understanding of architecture.

In addition to updates to content and many of the illustrations, this new edition includes a companion CD-ROM that brings the book's architectural concepts to life through three-dimensional models and animations created by Professor Ching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Well it is informative.
Its very informative, but feels very tedious to read. Very very good illustrations which aid in learning to draft and understand spacial concepts.

A wonderful architectural book!
I read this book in Chinese when I started to learn architecture many yaers ago, and I bought the English version later when I came to the US. I love it, it is one of the best architectural books that you can have.

Architecture
The book came in good shape.It just took a long time for it to arrive (2 weeks).

great
its always good to buy book driectly from amazon if the price is right.i had to buy it from amazon due to a poor transaction from "superbookdeals" who were late to send my book, then won't process my refund after I sent it back.

Interesting
I picked it up as a first architecture book.Its not.Its more or less hundreds of pages of drawings with themes on each page to make you think about that form. Good for understanding basic forms. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This is a deep, magical, densely captivating book about space, our homes, how we live in them, and how dwellings and space affect us; it is as much a book of philosophy as a work of serious literature. It requires careful, preferably leisurely reading, with the possibility of moments to pause and digest and re-read the words. It will change the way you look at your home and your life, providing a deeper, more insightful relationship with the spaces you occupy.Book Description
The classic book on how we experience intimate spaces.

"A magical book. . . . A prism through which all worlds from literary creation to housework to aesthetics to carpentry take on enhanced—and enchanted-significances. Every reader of it will never see ordinary spaces in ordinary ways. Instead the reader will see with the soul of the eye, the glint of Gaston Bachelard."
—from the foreword by John R. Stilgoe

6473-4 / $15.00tx / paperback ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

English, please
I don't know if the problem is in the content of the book, or in the translation, but the book was almost incomprehensible. Unfortunately, I don't speak French, so I can't read the original and compare them, but I suspect it is the translation, which appeared a bit stilted and unnatural (similar to translations of Frederick Bastiat's The Law, or Pierre Boulle's Planet of the Apes, both of which were oddly worded, although easily readable, and Bastiat wrote more than 150 years ago).

Maybe the translator didn't quite understand the topic, or have a conversational grasp of the English language, either of which would make translating difficult. I almost picked up my Strunk & White's Elements of Style to review their readability formula just to quantify how dense this book was, but restrained myself.

To the reviewers I read before buying this book, now I understand why a number of them wrote things like, "you have to be able to sit back and ponder the book, savoring the words before digesting them." I took this as a sign that there were deep meanings that mesmerized the reader, and looked forward to it. No. To translate that phrase into common English, it means, "the translator has an Oxford English Dictionary and he's going to use it."

Whats the big deal
I don't get why this is the bible of architects.Its boring as hell.Sure people are affected by the spaces they inhabit for various conditioning reasons.OK thats obvious but do I need to read a whole book written in pompous philospeak to learn that.

Honestly I put it down half way.Too boring and too many other things to read.Life is short.

very pleased
Book itself was in great condition, and was waiting at home for me sooner than expected.

An inspirational analysis
This book is hardly new, but Bachelard's analysis of the psychology of space remains as fascinating and lyrical as when it was first published.I've recommended this book to artists and sculptors and students over the years, and they in turn recomend it to others.Bachelard went on to write a book on the poetics of reverie and the "psychoanalysis of fire" but his book on space remains the most readable and the most genuinely poetic.

A book to savor .......
........this book is about house and its space and remembrance and meaning.House as protector, memory store, place in the world, construct.This is a philosophy book about house written by a poet, reflecting his views,and other's, onthe importance and vital organism that is shelter.If you love word that conjures thought...and love home (whatever that means for you) I believe you will savor this book. ... Read more

Book Description
For over 40 years, satellites have been orbiting the Earth quietly monitoring the state of our planet. Unseen by most of us, they are providing information on the many changes taking place, from movements in the land and volcanic eruptions, to human-caused changes such as the growth of cities, deforestation and the spread of pollutants in the atmosphere and oceans. Led by four editors with support from a production team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, many of the world's top remote sensing scientists showcase some spectacular and beautiful satellite imagery along with informed essays on the science behind these images and the implications of what is shown. This is a stunningly attractive and informative book for anyone interested in environmental issues and the beauty of our home planet, providing inspiration for students, teachers, environmentalists and the general public alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Our Changing Planet
Well done book for the scientist or anyone who is interestd in preserving planet Earth. A dream come true for a geologist and for someone who teaches any geoscience education at the college or university level. Well written, lots of photos and results from research, easy to read and the most important things is: it was done by a series of scientists even from NASA - AWESOME book!!!I highly recommend it to anyone ... Read more

Book Description
NASA launches a yearlong celebration of its 50th anniversary in the fall of 2007, and Abrams is privileged to publish this visual history of its many achievements in manned and unmanned space travel. Written and edited by a team of experienced NASA staffers, and illustrated with many unpublished and rare photographs from the voluminous NASA archives scattered across the country, America in Space offers an unparalleled vision of half a century of exploration and discovery.

The story of America’s space age is told with more than 400 carefully selected images. The story begins in the 1950s with intrepid test pilots venturing ever faster and higher, and opens out into the now-legendary Mercury and Apollo missions of the 1960s that made astronauts into national heroes. The space shuttle era shows us what everyday space travel might look like, while grand vistas of the universe expand our sense of wonder. The large format of the book captures both the human drama and the vast scale of NASA’s projects. America in Space is a photographic record of the greatest adventure of our time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

American In Space coffee table book
This is a beautifully produced coffee table book with photos covering those exciting years of the space program.It is especially meaningful to anyone who participated the program since you'll find many colleagues and friends in the pictures.

America in Space: The First Fifty Years
This was a Christmas gift for an individual that had worked for NASA.He was very appreciative and has enjoyed the book.It is large-coffee table size book.

I bought two copies!
If you love space history and exploration please be careful, you might end up buying two copies like I did; just so I could have one copy for my office at work and one for home.

It's a big book. Great pictures. Just a delight to own.Makes a great coffee table book. Would make a great gift too.

A great book
This book is huge and pretty expensive.It is not for the casual reader.It is so big you have to set it on a table to look at it.Some of the pictures are classics, that you will be familiar with.But many are rare shots that you do not see often, if at all.My father worked for the space program back in the 1960's and he loves this book.

For space buffs...
Big & heavy! Spectacular selection of photos (with little text). As said by another reviewer, photo 270-271 is marvellous!
IMHO this book is not like other selections of space photos that abound. I think this one somewhat summarizes in color what we (space buffs) have in text, in our bookshelves, with the appropriate image size.
... Read more

Product Description
Louis is delighted to learn that his teacher has sent him to the principal's office to attend "Personal Space Camp." This book addresses the complex issue of respect for another's person's physical boundaries. Told from Louis' perspective, this story is a must-have resource for parents, teachers, and counselors who want to communicate the idea of personal space in a manner that connects with kids. Color. Grades K-3. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Funny book on serious topic
This book is great for those k-3rd grade kids who don't seem to understand that not everyone wants them in their face. Lois goes about his day crashing into people (flying through space) and is told he would have to go to Personal Space Camp. He is all excited because he imagines that he'llbe flying rockets or getting to eat astronaut's ice cream. When he sees hoola hoops on the floor, he is confused... I love the gray pictures of Lois's imagination and how he views his world (or more appropriately, his out-of-this-world) experiences. At the end he finally realizes that he had misunderstood what others had been saying all along. The humor is just what this topic needs and it allows the kids to grow without being embarrassed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Sacred Space 2008
I have found Sacred Space a good resource for my daily prayer and meditation. The format at the beginning of each week gives a simple and inspiring framework for prayer. The questions following the daily scripture reading are unique and helpful.

An Excellent Guide For Prayer
The website for Sacred Space has a steady worldwide following. Started by Alan McGuckian and Peter Scally, two Irish Jesuits, the site offers prayer suggestions based on the daily Mass scriptures used in the Catholic Church and the basic methods of Ignatian prayer. The site also offers seasonal retreats and newsletters to better help people pray. People can sign up to receive newsletters, participate in online retreats, and share feedback. People can also log on to use the daily prayers, but for those of us who do not like sitting at a computer to pray, there is a companion volume: SACRED SPACE THE PRAYER VOLUME 2008.

The book is set up in an easy to use format. It follows the liturgical calendar and begins with an overall weekly reflection. For each week there are reflection questions that vary from week to week to help the person focus on scripture and God's movement in his/her life. There are excerpts from the daily readings or psalms and accompanied by a few other reflection questions. The method is straightforward and easy to use. First the person reminds him/herself that prayer is being in the presence of God and clears the mind. Second, the person asks for God's help in the time of prayer, remembering that while prayer is a free act, it is only fruitful with God's help. Third, we bring ourselves to prayer, bringing our thoughts, feelings, moods, etc. to prayer and sharing them with God. The fourth step involves reading the scripture for the day, the fifth is reflection and conversation with God about the scripture. The prayer ends with the sixth and final step, praising and thanking God.

SACRED SPACE is almost the perfect guide for personal prayer. Since it uses the daily Mass scripture readings from the Roman Catholic lectionary, it is prayer that unites members of the Church throughout the world. It is easy to use so a person beginning a prayer routine will not be intimidated yet since it is based on God's word through the scriptures, it is both simple and sophisticated. It is a method that can be done in a rather short period of time yet can easily be extended to longer periods. It's also a method that can be used at any time of the day. It could easily be something that begins the day (probably the ideal way to use the book), be a refresher for midday, or a good way to conclude the day.

P.S.: For people who have to prepare a homily for daily Mass and run out of ideas, the reflection questions in the book can be a wonderful way to sound new and fresh, and since it stems from prayer and reflection, it is what a homily is supposed to be.

Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2008
Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2008.Excellent for the busy Christian who wants to start the day with a reflection on the scriptures.Reflection questions each day are an added bonus.
I have been using this product for three years, and give it as a gift to friends.

Sacred Space....daily meditations
Sacred Space, a hard copy, of the web site created by the Irish Jesuits is an invaluable prayer companion resources for daily meditation. I use book almost everyday and take it with me when I go on trip. The prayer methodology follows the traditions of the St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. I would recommend it highly. R.W. Vancouver, Canada.

Ideal for Individuals and Groups
The Sacred Space Prayer Book is a creation of the Jesuit Communication Centre in Ireland, developers of www.sacredspace.ie. Like the web site, the book offers brief meditations on scripture relevant to life in the 21st century. The weekly sections begin with something to think about and pray about each day. Often the think-about section focuses on remaining faithful in today's world. For example, we examine the culture of the individual against the strong sense of community in the early Church. And we are urged to reject the philosophy of the marketplace by "building a personal spam filter into our eyes and ears, a half-automatic delete key to use on whatever distracts (us) from the Lord."

Facing the weekly think-about page is a six-step process expressed as prayer-poems. In the first three steps, unique for each week, we invite God into our hearts; ask for the grace to be open to God's word; and acknowledge our current concerns, thoughts, and emotions. The fourth step takes us into the daily passages, selected from the lectionary readings, and brief reflections. Finally, we engage Jesus in a conversation about our experience and conclude by praying the Doxology.

This 2008 prayer book, which begins with the First Sunday of Advent, 2007, is ideal for individuals and groups wishing to find a sacred space within their existing lives. Ideas for slowing down and finding time are provided in a brief how-to section of the introduction and integrated into the daily reflections.
... Read more

Product Description
When Space Meets Art / When Art Meets Space
Spatial, Structural and Graphics for Event and Exhibition Design
Often overlooked, the importance of space design to the overall experience of an event or exhibition cannot be overstated. An environment must be created that takes into account all of the integral parts, which make up a good display.
When Space Meets Art / When Art Meets Space showcases some of the best recent designs for museums, galleries, retail shops and other public venues. The first section will examine the role of structures and graphics to the success of a given event. The second part will focus on the customization and use of graphic displays and the use of decorations, backgrounds and promotional items to create a cohesive design.
This book is a must for curators, gallerists, and event planners alike. ... Read more

Book Description
The first book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which continues with Perelandra and That Hideous Strength, Out of the Silent Planet begins the adventures of the remarkable Dr. Ransom. Here, that estimable man is abducted by a megalomaniacal physicist and his accomplice and taken via spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra. The two men are in need of a human sacrifice, and Dr. Ransom would seem to fit the bill. Once on the planet, however, Ransom eludes his captors, risking his life and his chances of returning to Earth, becoming a stranger in a land that is enchanting in its difference from Earth and instructive in its similarity. First published in 1943, Out of the Silent Planet remains a mysterious and suspenseful tour de force. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (149)

Love Lewis- Lukewarn about this book
I am a CS Lewis fan. Have read Chronicles, Till we Have Faces, Screwtape Letters, etc. Was really excited to read this book based on the reviews posted here. I was terribly disappointed. This book moved at a snails pace. I was bored to tears until chapter 12 picked up through 18, and let down through the last post script. I am not sure if the reviews were based on Lewis the author or the book- but I didn't get the raves. Needless to say, I am done with the space journey and won't be finishing the trilogy.

awesome book
the first sci-fi book i've ever read (now i'm hooked), really pulls you in, must read 2 and 3 in the trilogy

Short review but I enjoy this book a lot
As both a author and reader of fiction, I enjoyed Out of the Silent Planet very much. I guess I have always liked a book that could hold my attention and make me think at the same time. Read this story.
Tommy Taylor - The Second Virgin Birth

Excellent!
This was my first time reading any fiction of Lewis's. I have previously read "The Screwtape Letters" and am still reading "Mere Christianity".

I must say this was an awesome book. Very believable characters, wonderful locales, and Lewis did a great job painting a picture with words. This is the first Science Fiction I've read since reading Isaac Asmiov in high school, and this had me engrossed on the same level as "Robots of Dawn". I am very excited to read the next 2. I highly recommend this book!

Out of the Silent Planet
I am admittedly bias toward C.S. Lewis, having over 75 books by, or about, this author.This book (Out of the Silent Planet) was the last of the trilogy that I was missing.It helped to fit the rest of this series together.Great reading.One word of caution.The reader must understand the world's situation at the time to appreciate the language and the setting of the story, and the influence that this particular time had upon the author.I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Book Description
"Our homes are mirrors of ourselves. Through them we can interface with the universe."
Everything in the universe is composed of constantly changing energy, including your home and its contents. This energy can profoundly influence your ability to be healthy, loving, creative and abundant. By clearing and enhancing this energy you can transform your home into a sanctuary which radiates positive energy in ever-expanding circles.
In this fascinating and unusual book, Denise Linn shows you how you can dramatically change your life by changing the environment in your home or office. She combines information from her own Native American heritage with material she has personally collected from native traditions around the world to bring you practical, easy-to-use exercises for balancing the physical, emotional and spiritual energies in your home, including how to:
* Diagnose and solve problems with stagnant home energies.
* Use sacred sound, spirit smoke, mystic symbols and purifying fire for
clearing home energy.
* Discover the personal numerology of your home.
* Use the ancient art of Feng Shui for the placement of objects in your
home.
* Call house angels and totems as home protectors.
* Use rituals to rid your home of unwanted spirits.
* Instantly uplift the energy in your home.
Your home can resonate, sing and pulse with Light energy that can touch the lives of everyone around you. Your home can become Sacred Space. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Loved it
What a pleasant read. Denise Linn really knows her stuff and is an expert at space clearing. The Feng Shui techniques are wonderful and really make a difference in your space area. Of course there are people who are going to call this woo woo or moosh material - but these are individuals that dont understand energy and how it works. The elemental techniques were specially fascinating - being a Pagan myself, I found this read highly educational and insightful. But dont let that misguide you - you dont have to be a spiritualist or believe in a different religion other than your own to work this stuff - anyone can make use of this book and the techniques described herein.

Love this book!
I'm on my second copy--the pages are falling out.Some sections may not be for everyone, but it is an excellent resource.Great book--highly recommended!

Sacred space
A neat book, with lots of woo woo and a mish mosh of religious ideals.A little too mixed up for me.

Excellent
This is one of the best books, I found on this subject. I use it more like a reference and a diary in my day to day life rather than a book. Its filled with lots of useful and simple information which can change your life for good. Considering the prize, its an excellent investment. There are plenty of reviews about the details of this book. Therefore I will just say that if you are considering a book about space clearing or making your surroundings more harmonious, this is one of the best books available. Go, get it.

Excellent ideas for protection of space at home and in the office
I purchased this book based on past reviewers to help me protect my personal energy and work space in my office rather than my home.Although some of the ideas may seem far out, with repeated practice they do work.A book I think perfectly complements this one is Energy Vampires: A Practical Guide for Psychic Self-protection by Dorothy Harbour. ... Read more

Book Description
Flanagan (who is, for want of a better word, a pirate) has a plan. It seems relatively simple: kidnap Lena, the Cheo's daughter, demand a vast ransom for her safe return, sit back and wait.

Only the Cheo, despotic ruler of the known universe, isn't playing ball. Flanagan and his crew have seen this before, of course, but since they've learned a few tricks from the bad old days and since they know something about Lena that should make the plan foolproof, the Cheo's defiance is a major setback. It is a situation that calls for extreme measures.

Luckily, Flanagan has considerable experience in this area . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Debatable Novel
Debatable Space is a rather banal, uninteresting space opera.The plot is silly and the characters are silly - and unbelievable.The book revolves around a group of space pirates who kidnap Lena, who they hope to ransom to the ruler of most of the inhabited universe, the Cheo (or Peter). Their ultimate goal is slowly revealed, but it's more than just a king's ransom they want.And while Lena has had a very long and interesting life, it too is unbelievable and a bore to read to about.

Given the drawn out plot, uninteresting characters that lack believability, and generally boilerplate storyline, I can't recommend this novel.

Good space opera, with a few weak points.
Overall I was very pleased with this novel, it is an incredibly strong book for a first novel.Do not expect the fine prose of the sci-fi Grand Masters of the past because you will not find it here.

Instead what you will find is a well plotted out and reasonably well written space opera involving some very weird and at times distasteful characters and situations.The science is there for the most part(with a few wonky concepts that had me scratching my head) and the story only feels weak and contrived in a few areas.At times there is an overabundance of character development, but it all seems to serve some purpose or another even though it could have been shortened.

Even though this book at times showed obvious signs of being a first novel such as the occasional logical and literary hole I was left wanting to read the second novel Philip Palmer is writing.Despite any complaints I may have I would recommend this book, and I know Mr. Palmer's writing can only get better.

terrific space opera
Lena is traveling solo in deep space glad to get away from the perfection of thirty-first century Earth when the computer implanted in her brain informs her that a pirate ship is heading her way.The leader of the pirates Flanagan wins the battle and boards her ship telling her she is a hostage to be used in negotiations with Cheo the dictator of Earth.He knows of the special relationship that exists between the two of them and intends to exploit that.

Lena knows that when it looks hopeless, the Cheo will let her get killed. Flanagan has plans and one includes the liberation of his homeworld Cambria a slave colony ruled by Doppelganger Robots who are inhabited by the minds of the elite on Earth.He has a plan that would allow the crew to disconnect Cambrina from the universal web.From there he convinces the pirates from all over the galaxy to help him disconnect the beacons which would result in isolating Earth and freeing the empire.The only problem is the empire has warships in the millions and the pirates have ships in the six digit range.

Philip Palmer writes a terrific space opera and DEBATABLE SPACE would make a great marquee movie in the tradition of Star Wars.Alien races co-exist with humanity and the aliens are major characters so readers feel as if they actually exist.Readers ride an orbital roller coaster that takes us to various planets in the galaxy, making the audience realize how enslaved the human race is if they don't live on Earth.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Amazon.com
Peter Brook's career, beginning in the 1940s with radical productions of Shakespeare with a modern experimental sensibility and continuing to his recent work in the worlds of opera and epic theater, makes him perhaps the most influential director of the 20th century. Cofounder of the Royal Shakespeare Company and director of the International Center for Theater Research in Paris, perhaps Brook's greatest legacy will be The Empty Space. His 1968 book divides the theatrical landscape, as Brook saw it, into four different types: the Deadly Theater (the conventional theater, formulaic and unsatisfying), the Holy Theater (which seeks to rediscover ritual and drama's spiritual dimension, best expressed by the writings of Artaud and the work of director Jerzy Grotowski), the Rough Theater (a theater of the people, against pretension and full of noise and action, best typified by the Elizabethan theater), and the Immediate Theater, which Brook identifies his own career with, an attempt to discover a fluid and ever-changing style that emphasizes the joy of the theatrical experience. What differentiates Brook's writing from so many other theatrical gurus is its extraordinary clarity. His gentle illumination of the four types of theater is conversational, even chatty, and though passionately felt, it's entirely lacking in the sort of didactic bombast that flaws many similar texts. --John Longenbaugh ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

An innovator's ideas about Theatre
I am not very knowledgeable about Theatre and certainly not about Theory of Theatre. I found this book quite abstract and difficult to understand. Its opening sentences sets the tone for the whole work.
"I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. An actor moves across this space while someone is watching and a piece of theatre is engaged."
This would seem to detach Theatre from local trappings and customs.
The book consists in an effort to define four kinds of Theatre, the Deadly or Conventional commercial theatre: the Holy Theatre based on sacred repetition , the Rough Theatre that of people in the steet, and the Immediate Theatre, the flowing transformative Theatre which Brook himself is trying to do.
As the author is considered one of the most revolutionary and important of modern Theatre directors I believe the book might be of value to those actually involved in 'doing Theatre' more than it is to the general reader.

Required Reading
Before you read anything else on theatre, you should read The Empty Space.

Brook's Genius
What is great about the empty space is that Peter Brook's theory is relevant to all art forms. The four theatres he describes are basically categories in which all art falls into. This seems odd at first until you see what he is describing. What turns most people off is the idea of over-categorizing art. But Brook's theatres tend to be more or less critiques of individual performances, or what the effect of that performance is on the audience. This is also easy to read. Too much theatre philosophy gets bogged down by either melodramatic thespian writers, or rambling philosophies from those who have not trained themselves to ge good writers. With Brook, it is pretty straightforawrd, not always easy to understand mind you, but straightforward. If you are at all interested in the arts then this is a must read.

Peter Brook
This book, along with Uta Hagen's "Respect for Acting" and any Stanaslavski, is the motherload of theater expertise.

Take heed
This is an essential read for anyone interested in the creative and performing arts ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

great book
excellent, up to date book about space/solar system.lots of words, but my 2 yo still enjoys it and will grow with it.

not worthy
I am kind of disappointed at this book. The illustration is dull. The words are plain.

Not very appealing for preschoolers or 1-2 graders, while it is too simple for a savvy reader. I would not recommend it for either gifts or self use.

Excellent first book about space...
What a GREAT book!I was looking for a book for my 3 1/2 year old that would introduce him to space in a simple way, "What's Out There" is exactly what I wanted.He is so captivated by this book, it is short, simple and easy to understand.It is perfect for him now and will be forthe next several years.All of the basics are covered such as the 9planets and their relation to the sun, how the earth travels around the sunand spins, the moon, gravity, the make-up of all the planets, asteroidsetc.Each topic is explained in a fun and easy way for a child tounderstand and the illustrations are wonderful.Highly recommend as afirst book about space! ... Read more

Book Description
Where is the earth?  Where is the sun?  Where are the stars?

Now in a Dragonfly edition, here is an out-of-this world introduction to the universe for children.  With earth as a starting point, a young astronaut leads readers on a tour past each planet and on to the stars, answering simple questions about our solar system. In clear language, drawings, and diagrams, space unfolds before a child's eyes.  Colorful illustrations, filled with fun and detail, give children a lot to look for on every page and a glossary helps reinforce new words and concepts. A terrific teaching tool, Me and My Place in Space is an easy and enjoyable way to introduce the concept of space to the very youngest astronomers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Okay, but inaccurate.
I liked "Me on the Map" MUCH better.I ordered the space book because the map book was very useful in explaining the concept of map representation to my four year old.This book simply wasn't as good.It is inaccurate, also, as it includes Pluto as a planet, though it is no longer considered to be one.

Me and My Place in Space
This book is great!Excellent teaching tool.Engaging for children.

Great resource for home or classroom
I bought this book to introduce a unit on Saturn for my third grade class.When I first scanned the book I thought maybe I'd made a mistake and bought something beneath their level.Not so!I read it aloud to them & they loved it.They all wanted to take it home to read again.

Great non-fiction for young Children.
Great illustrations, and informative non-fiction for preschoolers. I am a big beleiver in improving young children's vocabulary through non-fiction reading. This book series will help keep your youngsters attention while you talk to him/her about the world around us. A couple sentences per page. If you want to read another science series with more reading and more detail, but still great illustrations try the "Let's read and find out science" series including "Why Frogs are Wet" and many others.

Wonderful for my 1 year old
My one year old daugher and I read this book at least once a day.She loves the illustrations-like the space suit with pop beads for the oxygen line.It is not too wordy, so she stays engaged, yet provides all the basic information about our solar system and planets.She can now identify the pictures of the moon and the earth by name and knows that earth is where she lives.An animal lover, she also likes that the cat journeys into space.My daughter and I often look at the night sky, and she knows the ASL signs for moon and stars.I think that is why she loves this book so much despite her young age. This is a wonderful introduction to basic astronomy, and has spurred me to order more books on space for us to share. ... Read more

Book Description
Henri Lefebvre has considerable claims to be the greatest living philosopher. His work spans some sixty years and includes original work on a diverse range of subjects, from dialectical materialism to architecture, urbanism and the experience of everyday life. The Production of Space is his major philosophical work and its translation has been long awaited by scholars in many different fields. The book is a search for reconciliation between mental space (the space of the philosophers) and real space (the physical and social spheres in which we all live). In the course of his exploration, Henri Lefebvre moves from metaphysical and ideological considerations of the meaning of space to its experience in the everyday life of home and city. He seeks, in other words, to bridge the gap between the realms of theory and practice, between the mental and the social, and between philosophy and reality. In doing so, he ranges through art, literature, architecture and economics, and further provides a powerful antidote to the sterile and obfuscatory methods and theories characteristic of much recent continental philosophy. This is a work of great vision and incisiveness. It is also characterized by its author's wit and by anecdote, as well as by a deftness of style that Donald Nicholson-Smith's sensitive translation precisely captures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Space is produced by, and produces, society
Thinkers have long analyzed things in space, but it is time to analyze space itself and "the social relationships embedded in it" according to Lefebvre. He wants to analyze the form, structure, and function of something he calls "social space" and explore how such spaces have been produced.

"Social space" partly consists of a certain configuration of actual space in actual time.Space also encompasses and includes physical objects that participate in discourse (as Foucault would say). Thus, space is also a container of relationships. It is also the receptacle of history, "the outcome of past actions."Lefebvre uses the example of a mountain.It does not have to have been produced or even physically altered by human hands to be considered a social space. Lefebvre's mountain participates in many relationships. The mountain space participates in a dialectic with humans, other spaces (social, representational, and represented), and history (it is produced in history and plays a role in history). It is at once a locus, a node on a network, a path, and place of potentials (i.e. of possible material exchange). "Its `reality' [is] at once formal and material."In short, the mountain cannot be reduced to a simple object, writes Lefebvre.

Space is powerful. Space, according to him, is anything but the "passive locus of social relations."It has an "active-operational or instrumental role," it is "knowledge and action."It instructs. It is also nothing less than a new mode of production.It contributes to "the establishment...of a system" and those in power (the bourgeois, most recently) frequently have made use of it.Space produces society, writes Lefebvre. He writes, "a decisive part is played by space in this continuity [of the reproduction of society]."

At the same time space produces society, space is produced. What Lefebvre sets out to do is identify "the actual production of space," to bring the different kinds of space and the modes of their production into a theory. Space is not "produced in the sense that a kilogram of sugar or a yard of cloth is produced."Nor is it produced like an aspect of superstructure. Social space is produced by (and produces) power to serve its goals.

Lefebvre laments that, in the work of philosophers, there has been an "abyss" between mental ("ideal") space and real space, between the internal "sphere", the realm of mental categories, and the external, physical, social. Lefebvre rejects the res cogitans/res existensa duality of Descartes, and separating mental space from real space strongly reinforces this. Lefebvre's belief that real minds in real bodies inhabit real space-at the same time spaces participate in the mental realm-is the most basic reason The Production of Spaceis useful for environmental historians. His ideas hint at new opportunities to bridge the culture/matter gap.

Lefebvre also believes that physical environments have histories and humans are a part of them. "In short, every social space has a history, one invariably grounded in nature, in natural conditions that are at once primordial and unique in the sense that they are always and everywhere endowed with specific characteristics (site, climate, etc.)."He even sounds like an environmental historian at times. "The departure point for this history of space is not to be found in geographical descriptions of natural space, but rather in the study of natural rhythms, and of the modification of those rhythms and their inscription in space by means of human actions, especially work-related actions. It begins, then, with the spatio-temporal rhythms of nature as transformed by a social practice."

Criticisms: Lefebvre frequently returns to a critique of the space produced by capitalism, a powerful (abstract) space that spans the globe and has left few pockets free from it. The space produced by something like capitalism is extremely powerful because one can not choose but be obedient to it; to live in it is "lived obedience."That is, to follow its dictates, move about in it in an orderly fashion, to be directed in some paths, prohibited from others, is to follow its instruction. This space is totally concerned with reproducing (bourgeois-serving) social relationships at the cost of "[creative] works, ...natural reproduction, over nature itself, and over natural time."

His point is well taken, but I think these frequently tangential moments detract from his exposition of a new analytical tool. I get tired of hearing that the point of this analysis is to uncover the social relationships latent in spaces for the ostensible purpose of inspiring revolution.I'd rather he left such an analysis to a historian employing Lefebvre's idea rather than having Lefebvre try to make his exposition of a theoretical tool double as a manifesto. (I am also really weary of his defending himself against hardcore Marxists-his concentration is greatly lessened for the effort. I understand that he is fighting personal battles with his old friends at these moments.)

Engaging and intellectually nourishing
The Production of Space is a thick yet engaging introduction to Postmodern spatial theory, providing insights to a variety of philosophical concepts centering on how we perceive, construct, and reproduce both physical and mental spaces.While complex and eclectic, Lefebvre's book provides ample food for thought for those interested in the means by which we as human beings understand space in the world and how we negotiate and transpose it in our minds.

Overall, it's damned good stuff.I read this book and the idea for my Masters thesis came exploding out of me like one of those creatures from "Alien."

Cryptic Conceptualization of Space
Henri Lefebvre's epic book, The Production of Space is a cryptic exploration into the production of various kinds of space.While I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a comprehensive spatialanalysis, I warn the reader to avoid jumping into the book blindly.It isnot a book to be kept on the night table and read leisurely before driftingoff to sleep. It is a serious book and requires serious concentration onthe part of the reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Very informative
Its a good book for human dimensions in interior spaces. A must if you are a student or an interior designer. Its full of information.

Some of this data is ooooooold
The book was copyrighted in 1979, and a lot of the data was fairly old even then. People are only a little taller (about 1" over the period when most of this data was taken, around 1960), but 25 or so pounds heavier. This is pretty significant when you're working with seating. It's great for its time, far better than nothing, but the body dimensions need revisiting. Also, bariatric furniture development, and I'm sure other areas for very large people, need body dimensions of people who are well above even the 99th percentile. There's no need to stop there just because you've covered nearly everyone. There's an increasing number of people in the country that really needs design data for people up to and even over 500 lbs.

Great Quick Reference
I honestly think this is one of the best books in my large Interior Design related library. It is extensive, yet to the point. It explains human dimension from a point you would never imagine ever existed or was in any way important. Provides very useful measurements, detailed drawings, and space planning suggestions - great resource!

great reference
this is a book that will never make you excited with designing spaces, but it is something that you really NEED TO HAVE if doing inerior design. greatest reference book i've seen.

Good Reference Text
Good reference text for deminision and clearly illustrated.Only drawback is the data this is based on is a number of years old.That said it is still highly relevant. ... Read more

Book Description
Say good-bye to that jumble of tools, muddle of magazines, and forest of fabric! Systemize your cluttered space with an expert's ideas on planning a functional and beautiful home quilting studio—a place where creativity wins over chaos.

· Create the quilt studio of your dreams with dozens of ideas for making your time more enjoyable and efficient

· View before-and-after photos of real-life makeovers for small, medium, and large spaces—all on a range of budgets

· Find fantastic storage solutions for fabric, scraps, patterns, books, tools, and more ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

Beautiful but ....
Amazing how extremely uncluttered and tidy studios can look.Always wonder
if they are ever used or just a space to lounge in.

eye opening
This book has a lot of ideas I never thought of.The info about table heights and layout were very helpful. The pictures inspired me to get my room in shape. Highly recommended!

A great source of inspiration
I bought this book not knowing the best way to reorganise my sewing room. It has gives so many wonderful ideas and helps you make them into reality. Easy to follow, great pictures and such a joy to read, which I do still do for further inspiration.

Creating my "not quite perfect" quilting space
I'm in the process of converting a boys' bedroom to a quilting room, so I was looking for specific ideas from the experts.Even though my quilting space will not be a 'perfect quilting space' as a result of reading this book, it will be so much better!I appreciated the author's guidelines for making the cutting and the pressing surfaces each the correct height - for the individual quilter, not just the average height quilter (I'm 5' tall, so "average height" does not work well for me) - and her attention to ergonomic considerations in all areas.Her ideas on use of space near the sewing machine, with small cutting and pressing areas right there, make so much sense, but would not have occurred to me.The book was well written; I just read it straight through, then went back to the sections as I was making more detailed plans.I would recommend it to anyone planning a quilting space, or redoing one that they have.It was very useful to me.

Perfect book for quilters
I have been contemplating setting up my sewing room to make it truely a "quilting studio" as the author says we should call it.In the first chapter alone I learned about ergonomics for quilters and changed some things that helped me immediately.I had things set up the wrong height and orientation and these changes relieved my back and legs immediately.Throughout the book there are excellent suggestions, and six actual makeover examples.I highly recommend this book for quilters who want to make even the smallest change to their quilt studios. ... Read more

Amazon.com
When an enigmatic monolith is found buried on the moon, scientists are amazed to discover that it's at least 3 million years old.Even more amazing, after it's unearthed the artifact releases a powerful signal aimed at Saturn.What sort of alarm has been triggered?To find out, a manned spacecraft, the Discovery, is sent to investigate.Its crew is highly trained--the best--and they are assisted by a self-aware computer, the ultra-capable HAL 9000. But HAL's programming has been patterned after the human mind a little too well. He is capable of guilt, neurosis, even murder, and he controls every single one of Discovery's components.The crew must overthrow this digital psychotic if they hope to make their rendezvous with the entities that are responsible not just for the monolith, but maybe even for human civilization.

Clarke wrote this novel while Stanley Kubrick created the film, the two collaborating on both projects.The novel is much more detailed and intimate, and definitely easier to comprehend. Even though history has disproved its "predictions," it's still loaded with exciting and awe-inspiring science fiction. --Brooks PeckBook Description
2001: A Space Odyssey is the classic science fiction novel that changed the way we looked at the stars and ourselves....

2001: A Space Odyssey inspired what is perhaps the greatest science fiction film ever made- brilliantly imagined by the late Stanley Kubrick....

2001 is finally here....

"Dazzling...wrenching, eerie, a mind-bender."-Time

"Full of poetry, scientific imagination and typically wry Clarke wit. By standing the universe on its head, he makes us see the ordinary universe in a different light...a complex allegory about the history of the world."-The New Yorker

"Brain-boggling." -Life

"Clark has constructed an effective work of fiction...with the meticulous creation of an extraterrestrial environment...Mr. Clark is a master."--Library Journal

"Breathtaking."-Saturday Review ... Read more

Customer Reviews (248)

Similarities to "Contact"
**Some Spoilers!***

Love how Clarke uses factual science like the most obvious crater on the moon to house the monolith, the tycho crater, as well as the very strange Saturn moon that has an all white side, Iapetus. How more obious can an alien make it for us to make first contact by keeping monoliths in the center of these obvious places? Besides the changes from jupiter orbit to the Saturn moon as staging grounds for the stargate I found the book to be similar to the movie/ book "Contact" by Carl Sagan. Not sure if you've seen or read, but i think Carl has read 2001. His story involved his character going through a wormhole to end up in a familiar earth environment (the beach) as well so as to be comfortable. Very similar here although in 2001 it is a hotel room, from that point however the stories change. A signal from deep space was sent to earth in Contact and from the moon monolith to deep space in 2001.

I did know that Bowman became something more from watching the sequel 2010 but not from 2001. Wonder why Kubrik left all that out.

Some powerful moments, some that DRAGGED
When the book worked, it was impossible to put down.Mind-expanding, fun, riveting - and creative.I loved the first half especially.But when it wasn't working, it was slow and I had to skim.Too much technical stuff, too much weirdness.It drifted away from the story and characters and turned into a dull astronomy textbook.

I found it interesting that the book was written more or less after the screenplay.For a book based on a screenplay, it outpaced by expectations, an