Writing today a book that still has something to say about Shakespeare is hard on our days. This is the reason why one can consider this book outstanding. Nonetheless, I have read many recent books about Shakespeare and I consider that behind the interesting concept of social energy lies an excessively skeptic version of Shakespeare. I can agree that Shakespeare's preeminence in the canon is largely due to the circulation of social energy, but I think that many of the richness of Shakespeare is too reduced to this factor. The book is an excellent reading for anybody interested in Shakespeare but requires some balancing. My recommendations would be the heterodox book by Rene Girard and the passionate and excessive approach of Bloom. This triad gives an excellent approach to contemporary theses on Shakespeare with complete counterarguments that neutralize the radical points of view of the three authors.

Although Greenblatt as received a good deal attention for his interest in critical practice and for his coining of the terms "New Historicisim" and "cultural poetics," his real strengths ahev also ben doing close readings of literary and historical texts. In Shakespearean Negotiations, Greenblatt offers typically brilliant and engaging readings of some of Shakespeare's major plays. His book is of interest to a wide audience beyond an academic one. The man is an exceptionally gifted writer and storyteller. It's a pity that so few other literary and cultural critics even come close to matching him. Perhaps only Stephen Orgel and Stanley Fish have equally brilliant prose styles and analytical powers.

Published over a decade ago, this book has become not only a classic in Shakespearean study but also the exemplary of the "new historicism." Even nowadays it does not lose its refleshing power, and never fails to stimulate controversies (e.g. the issue of subversion and containment) that still continues well into the new millenium. Greenblatt has been criticized for homogenizing the history and sacrificing the complexity of the text (for an alternative model of new historicism, one can refer to Louis Montrose's articles and his book "The Purpose of Playing: Shakespeare and the Cultural Politics of Elizabethan Theatre"), but still he has successfully made a strong case for his major argument, namely that Shakespeare, far from a single-handed isolated individual genius coming from nowhere, heavily drew upon the cultural resources and "social energy" circulating among various domains beyond the boundaries of theatre and literature. Greenblatt is very deft in reconstructing the historical and ideological context that enriches the Shakespearen play. Time and again readers feel that the historical anecdote Greenblatt talks about even eclipses the play itself with its magic power of invoking wonder, which might make even those sympathetic readers like Frank Kermode complain that the part on Shakespeare in this book is less interesting than the part on history. But isn't this refocusing of interest not exactly part of demystifying the notion of genius and his sacred writing in order to appreciate Shakespeare more as a negotiator in the marketplace who purchases and exchanges symbolically? The last chapter on "Tempest" is especially highly recommended for its skillful intermingling of the issues of ruling strategy by means of inciting anxiety, colonial (counter)history, the space of theatre and finally the institutionalisation of literature.

This is a really lovely book. Ruth writes very lightly and speaks eloquently through her character. As with all memories, you feel the story is imperfect. Sections are missed and then recalled in a very beautiful manner which imitates our own flawed memories. More than anything else, the book shows the unity of the generations and expresses the passions within families.

I've read a number of Jhabvala's novels and short stories and this is by far my favorite. It's the story of a family's relationship with an Indian guru. Whether this spiritual advisor is a charlatan or a true holy man is never completely clear, but his impact on the family reverberates over four generations.

My only complaint about the book is that it suddenly shifts narrative tone about a third of the way through, from the grandmother's first-person account to a third-person tale focussing primarily on her grandson. Other than that, a wonderful, engrossing story about family, spirituality and memory.

This book was amazing I enjoyed it emensly I am 16 and Female I got the book on my birth day in september I read it and some things I could relate back to my life I enjoyed the book and would like to thank Ruth for her skills I recomend that all who shall come across to read it its amazing seriously I enjoyed it!

This is an engaging and entertaining adventure. This is definitely a book you should have in your library. It gives a very humanistic view of Africa and its people without resorting to stereotypes.

In the world of survival stories, this one is an outstanding classic. Captain James Riley's account of his shipwreck and subsequent enslavement by nomadic Arabs will amaze you beyond belief. I cannot began to imagine how anyone could survive under these conditions...naked, sunburned, starving, beaten and driven across the buring desert as slaves. It was encouraging to me that throughout it all, he kept his faith in God and somehow endured with the hope he would eventually be a free man once more. He also exhibited great leadership as he urged his fellow shipmates not to give up. Somehow they would make it! Written in the early 1800's this story has been an inspiration to millions over the years. It's a great addition to any library.

Our lives today are easy beyond compare to the lives the desert nomads lived, the Africans who enslaved the crew of the wrecked ship Commerce back in 1815. The way water was treasured to every last drop makes me feel guilty about how little thought we generally give to where our water comes from. This is an enthralling tale, one I could not stop reading until I was finished. To realize that I am reading a book that my great great grandfather may have read back in his days makes it that more special.

This book did a wonderful job of exploring the character of Zeena. This book, even though it draws from an earlier work, is one of the more original books that I've read in a long while.

Trying to spin a tale from a classic cannot be an easy feat, but this story really captured me. For anyone who liked Ethan Frome, this book is for you. A carefully weaved story with characters that are as real as they get.

The characters came alive in this story, and Elizabeth Cooke told it wonderfully. I just wish it was longer.

This book is fantastic and has led me to a number of great hikes right outside my door. With the changing nature of the forest and continued harvesting, it is probably time for a new edition, a few of the trails don't exist quite like they once did.

Cloe wasn't always chunn, but she is still the best guide writer. Her knowledge of geology is especially helpful. Along with historical anecdotes, flora and fauna and well scripted trail detail, cloe's love of the maine woods shines through every page. Her book(s) are like our bible when we hike in Baxter Park and other Maine locales.

Published in _Atlantic Monthly_ five months after his death, this essay describes the colors of the New England landscape as Henry David Thoreau saw them in the mid-1800s. His motivation for writing such words seems to have been his neighbors' apathy and indifference toward the natural world, for "A man sees only what concerns him." And so Thoreau speaks of the beauty of purple grasses and of maples, elms, and oaks. He doesn't mind the fallen willow leaves that land in his boat and doesn't clean them out -- he accepts them as extra cushioning for his seat. One wonders what Henry would think now, when tourists are apt to drive to New England on fall weekends, just to see the leaves. There's no earth-shattering revelations in this booklet. It's just an easy read for a crisp and bright October day.

Henry David Thoreau is one of the few authors that can write about the changing of the leaves and still not have the reader fall asleep; in fact, I would make the argument that Thoreau's ability is his west knowledge of nature and his uncanny sense for language that makes him a leading voice for people concerned with nature and environmentalism. Thoreau can be said to be the first voice to raise concern regarding the way people treat nature. Even though this is, e.g., Autumnal Tints , is not of his better works, e.g., Walden and Main Woods; I would definitely recommend anyone whom finds Thoreau to a good author to read this novel.

the first half of this novel looked quite promising but then, the construction and the structure of the plot, writing and all the other parts gradually deteriorated into a very messy one. it's like a piece of american quilt with lots of blocks to be sewn together randomly and zigzagged to and fro. bill eidson is supposed to be a good writer but it seems that he just wrote the first half and then be completed by another lousy writer. i also noted that on one of the very front pages there is a line:
in memory of mary and bill eidson" what's going on? bill eidson and his wife got a boat accident or what? kinda worrys me a lot. tried to reach bill eidson's website to verify but his webpages are all outdated. what's going on? but this repo one is indeed a messy turned-out. i am loyal to eidson, so i just barely forced myself to finish it and just don't quite like it.

Forced into an early retirement, former DEA agent Jack Merchant wastes time passing aimlessly sailing in the waters off Charleston, Massachusetts. He is bored and knows he is stuck in a watery rut, but though he loathes what has become of him, Jack seems unable to do anything but languish in self-pity.

Repo woman Sarah Ballard offers Jack a deal that if he fails to accept he will lose his sloop the Lila as she possesses the past due bank notes. Sarah knows Jack from an encounter five years ago and uses his debt as a blackmail tool to obtain his help as her own business teeters on the brink of failure. In one week, MassBank demands she locate former Veep Paul Baylor and his wife, who apparently embezzled bank cash or else. Sarah and Jack begin the quest to find the Baylors, but soon end up in the same knotted mess that has engulfed their prey.

The sleuthing is well done and exciting and that alone should hook the audience, as the investigation is as complex as it gets because it seems so straightforward and simple. However, the key to this delightful maritime mystery is the cast. Not only do the lead duo and the vanished pair come across as genuine, especially THE REPO woman, but the support crew provides depth whether they are in Massachusetts or not. Bill Eidson writes a powerful tale and readers will demand more rough sailing from this talented author.

Harriet Klausner

Boston writer Bill Eidson delivers a taut page-turner as former DEA agent Jack Merchant teams up with repo-woman Sarah Ballard to find a missing sailboat and its two deadbeat owners. Jack and Sarah are a rough match - both damaged by murder; she in the self-defense death of her abusive boyfriend, he in a Florida bust gone bad that killed another agent and ended his career - but it works. Their hesitations, withdrawals and unspoken longings, without being overdone, manage to give them a vulnerability to balance the requisite toughness. And it's a toughness that will be called upon more than once in the course of a story that builds into mayhem, greed and murder.

Living hand-to-mouth at a Charlestown dock on his 40-foot sloop "Lila," beset by enemies, both local and Floridian (relatives of the dead DEA agent), he readily agrees to help Sarah with the boat repo, despite a twinge of fellow feeling for the deadbeats. But these are rich debtors; young, with good jobs, a fancy house and no good reason to run. But following their trail up through Portsmouth and Portland, Me., it becomes clear that running is what they're doing. Eidson succeeds in bringing the pair to life during the investigation, without switching to their point of view (except for the prologue).

And as the mystery of their disappearance deepens, and the repo team closes in, Eidson introduces a real bad guy, a rich, twisted techno-geek with a disgusted, but avaricious protector. Between this tycoon's sick proclivities, and the murderous intentions of Jack's Florida and Boston enemies, and a few surprises along the way, the action gets fast, furious and bloody and stays that way until the very end when Eidson neatly ties up all the loose ends and sets things up for the next book in the series.

Jack and Sarah - prickly, difficult and talented - make a dynamic start in a series that should win Eidson new fans.

Finely written & empathetic fictional account of a mysterious episode in the lives of poets Laura (Riding) Jackson & Robert Graves, told from the point of view of the real-life Katherine Jackson, a woman whose husband, children, house & all possessions were divested from her in a single month by the aforesaid poet-houseguests. The author, a prominent biographer of Graves, obviously detests Riding (as did quite a few of her contemporaries); yet fails to create a convincing fictional character to account for these nearly unbelievable events. The book remains a kind of literary Gothic, with its subject no less shrouded in mystery than the principals (who contradict each other completely, or have categorically refused to talk about it) left it. Katherine, however, got the last laugh: she outlived them all, & recent biographers are tending to support her side.

I wish there were half star ratings because I would really give this book 4 1/2 stars -- I reserve 5 stars for only the best of the best -- but I would be doing this book an injustice to only give it 4 stars and thus the 5 star rating. Prior to reading this book, I knew nothing of Robert Graves and his relationship with the poet Laura Riding. I'm glad I didn't because this book was such a surprise to me. It is so well-written and you turn each page with such dread knowing that something bad is going to happen but not knowing exactly what it is. Seymour's fictionalization of Grave's and Riding's visit to America during the summer of 1939 is masterful. She's taken the liberty of including some things that add to the understanding of each character. Throughout this book, I was behind Nancy Brewster 100% hoping above hope that all would turn out well for her. The author has done such a wonderful job of turning fact into fiction that I will always believe in my heart that this is truly the way it happened. I recommend reading this book to find out for yourself how powerful evil can be and if it can be humanly overcome.

I hadn't read enough about this book before I read it to know it was based on a "true" story, but I found it to be a compelling read that told of seemingly mundane events, all the while heightening my sense of dread. Good book. It made me want to read more about Robert Graves and Laura Riding.

I just finished this book; it is a fast read that provides really good descriptions of the human condition. It is insightful, and in places, quite eloquent. The depictions are so real that you will recognize the people in the story, but have to change their names.

This collection of short stories can be read as a novel. Most of the action takes place in the late 1970s in a trailer park in the Northeastern part of the USA. There is good character development of the individuals who live in the park, a little sex and very little violence.

Not sure if there's a certain "order" one should read Banks' books in, but I started with "Rule of the Bone" which I enjoyed so much I immediately bought "Trailerpark" and then "Book of Jamaica" (which I have not yet read). In this collection of short stories, we see a cast of characters that, at first glance, could be from Anytown USA. As the stories develop, at first humourous then getting progressively more bleak, we begin to realize that what makes the characters unique, as in "Rule of the Bone," is their life in the rural northeast. I love the way the lives of the tenants of the Granite State Trailerpark are intertwined; it's just a fabulous read.

This is a well written historical novel and the facts are woven into the story along with actual characters of the Massachusetts Bay Colony era.

Great book for female or male readers who like history.

The novel shows the feelings of the settlers as well as the Indians of King Phillip's War 1675-1676.......both sides loved and lost family members and friends.

The tension is constant and the book is "too soon finished".

A Historical novel with the emphasis on history. Mike Tougias brings to life our first great Indian war by following the actions of two protagonists: One is "King Philip's" most trusted warrior and friend, the other a colonist from outlying Medfield, Mass. The scene is 50 years after Massasoit welcomed the Pilgrims to Plymouth, when his son Metacom (known to the colonists as Philip) instigates a last ditch war to oust the English colonists. The novel is adept at illuminating the way of life of the Wompanoags and other Algonquin tribes of Southern New England, and illustrates the difficulty of the task they felt compelled to undertake. Historical accuracy is Tougias' watchword, but he still manages to turn out a fast-paced compelling story. Although the author is more naturalist than novelist, it is hard to tell here as the characters, especially the Wompanoag ones, gain a depth throughout the story.

Mass. readers will get a lot of local color out of it - such as the events that led to the naming of Turner's Falls, but all readers will get a gripping story of a war whose basic themes would be repeated over and over for the next 200 years.

This is a fantastic book! Great story! Accurate historical facts! Well written. Enjoyed it very much!!!