Kakaku：699 saved$6.99
Leisure Books
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Augusta Tabor, the first Silver Queen) 『Augusta Pierce has her eyes set on Horace Tabor, a Vermont master stone mason hired by her father, from the first moment she sees him. Left behind when he goes to Kansas to shore up the abolitionist movement, Augusta misses him terribly. His letters seem formal and intent on decreasing her fears for his safety as the the abolitionist and pro-slavery forces make Kansas the political battleground. When Horace (nicknamed "Haw") returns from Kansas to marry Augusta, she moves from being a daughter to an independent woman who faces the hardships of trying to settle a home in Kansas. Determined to make a success of this new venture and her marriage, Augusta faces fear and hardship with resoluteness, thriftiness and creativity. When rumors of gold reach her husband's ears, Augusta followed him to Colorado. Alone most of the time while her husband is out prospecting, Augusta Tabor provides the stable force within the family, running a store and pinching pennies, the very pennies her husband wants to give away to all those who ask. When Horace is elected mayor of Leadville and one of his schemes hits paydirt in Colorado's Silver Boom, suddenly their life changes forever. Whereas their life had been a battle against the elements with poverty always a step away, now the Tabors are among the richest people in Colorado. Augusta is now the wife of Colorado's Lieutenant Governor. With unlimited power and wealth, Haw Tabor sets himself on a path that leads to a shocking scandal, a scandal that will test Augusta to the very depths and threaten everything she worked so hard to attain.
In THE SILVER QUEEN, Jane Candia Coleman presents the life of Augusta Tabor, the First Lady of Leadville, Colorado from her early youth in Maine to her arrival in Pasadena, California in 1895. An epilogue set in Leadville, Colorado in 1935 rounds out the last details of the cast of characters. The narrative centers on the Tabor family's life in Kansas in the build-up to the Civil War, the boom and bust cycles of Colorado's gold rush and silver boom, and the Tabor family's political life in Denver as scandal and the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act bring another turn to the Tabor family's life. Winner of several Western awards and a multiple Pulitzer prize nominee, Jane Candia Coleman narrates one of Colorado's most fascinating high profile historical families through the eyes of the lesser recorded figure of Augusta Tabor, the first woman in Colorado's silver-mining camps. THE SILVER QUEEN provides an insightful look into the pioneer history in Kansas and Colorado with precise details of the era, the stages of mining exploration and development as well the interrelation between Kansas and Colorado history. Without sidetracking from her main focus, Jane Candia Coleman ties regional history into the larger picture of American history of the time.
Based on the memoirs of Augusta Tabor, THE SILVER QUEEN's first person narrative draws readers into the inner thoughts of a woman whose life suddenly changes as she moves from the security and community of her Maine childhood to a harsher Western landscape where independence and inner fortitude are often the difference between poverty and survival. Often alone, Augusta's self-reliance and resiliency inspires within her a sense of creativity to reach out to others' needs and in doing so, she also finds a way to take care of her family. THE SILVER QUEEN chronicles the rags to riches story of the Tabor family through the eyes of the woman behind the man, not only the woman but the lesser known woman. Whereas ballads and operas, and websites galore tell the story of Elizabeth Doe McCourt, also known as "Baby Doe Tabor," Jane Candia Coleman tells the story of Colorado's first Silver Queen. While historians Betty Moynihan in Augusta Tabor: A Pioneering Woman and later works by Evelyn Furman provide intriguing biographical insights into Augusta Tabor and the period, Jane Candia Coleman's first person historical fiction combines historical research and fictional imagination to give readers a look into the inner life of this woman. Set in a time where marriage often defined a woman, THE SILVER QUEEN gives a glimpse into the fortitude of Augusta Tabor not only during the harder financial times, but the most devastating emotional challenges as well. Although modern readers themselves might not make the same decisions today as those made by Augusta Tabor when faced with similar circumstances, Jane Candia Coleman presents an empathetic portrait, highlighting the themes of steadfastness, independence in the face of adversity, compassion for others, and inner strength. THE SILVER QUEEN presents a portrait of a historic pioneer woman who faced difficult challenges and several reversals of fortune, a woman always bold in her taking on of the challenges of the movement West in all its forms.
COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS 』
(superb biographical fiction) 『In the late 1850s Augusta Pierce and Horace "Haw" Tabor marry and leave Maine for the "Bleeding" Kansas Territory. Soon afterward gold is rumored to have been found in the Rockies so Haw with his wife join the "Fifty-Niners" heading to West Kansas Territory. For the next two decades the flexible Tabors make a living in various jobs amongst the silver-mining towns. When they were short cash, Augusta worked the mines alongside Haw; they were a team.
When they finally become the wealthiest couple in the Colorado Territory as Western Kansas is now called, Augusta remains thrifty as she remembers the bad times. On the other hand Haw relishes his affluence flaunting his nouveau riche status and becoming a successful politician. When he meets Elizabeth "Baby Doe" McCourt, he dumps Augusta. Once their divorce is final he marries "Baby Doe". Augusta knows her soul mate dropped her, but she never quits on life; thriving without her Haw at her side.
This is a superb biographical fiction that focuses on the lives of three intriguing individuals who were major regional figures in the latter half of the nineteenth century in Colorado. The prime focus is actually on THE SILVER QUEEN, Augusta; however because much of what occurs happens with Haw and later with Baby Doe, the story line provides a deep look at their triangle. Fans will appreciate this superb Americana as Jane Candia Coleman writes an insightful look at three strong obstinate people.
Kakaku：1316 saved$13.16
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Usually ships in 2 to 3 weeks IPhone 3G used's review (A must for history amateurs) 『A fantastic read. England before 1066BattleofHastings. Queen Emma is quite a character, a survivor, almost on par with my alltime favorite Eleanor of Aquitaine. Ms O'Brian's research is implecable, her narrative gripping, the wealth of detail, considering the lack of primary sources, is impressive. I wish all history books were this well written. 』
(WELL DONE AND WELL WORTH THE READ!) 『There are a couple of facts we need to remember when reading this particular book. First, and this is important, it, the book, is not a Doctorial Thesis and it is not written as such. This is a popular historical work, meant to inform, but at the same time, to entertain. Secondly, I too, like a couple of other reviewers, was a bit disappointed that more was not written about the main character, Emma, her personal life, etc. This leads to the second fact we must remember. Source documents from this era, in particular personal histories, are very, very hard to come by. Most documents from this time have simply disappeared, have been destroyed, or are lost in some historical black hole. This being said and this being remembered, as the book is being read, might help.
The author has given us a fascinating look into the life and politics during the latter part of the first century. A very troubled time for England, and indeed, most of Europe. True, she, the author, does not go into the depth of her subject as many of us would like, but as I have stated, the author had very few source documents of refer to. This work is done in the "popular mode," and is quite readable. The author has taken great pains to let us know when she is stating documented facts and when she drifts into the realm of speculation. This is important to understand what the author is trying to do. I found the author's style far from dry, considering the subject matter. Queen Emma was indeed a complex and fascinating woman and the author has gone to great lengths to bring this across.
This is one of those book I like to call a "tickler," or "seed book." It gives information to those who are interested in a subject, but not fanatical about it. My primary interest is in New World History, but I do like to know where we came from. Works such as this give me as much information as I need for my purposes. Granted, if I were doing a research paper, or was extremely interested in the subject, I would indeed want more. As it stands though, this work gave me a wonder glance into those days and times. Now that I have this information, I find I do have an interest and this work has "tickled" me into checking other works out. This is a good thing. Perhaps one day I could land a nice juicy government grant, travel to England, and check out some of the source documents myself. Would not that be fun!
All in all, I found the work to be very well done, enjoyable to read and quite helpful. I do recommend this one for any individual interested in those days and times and the Queen Emma.
』
(excellent) 『Queen Emma and the Vikings opens a window on a time and a queen that is not often discussed. Emma was an extraordinary woman who married two kings, one an unlamented bumbler, the other a conquering Viking was mother to two more and lived through five kings altogehter. She was a survivor and no matter what life in her brutal era threw at her she triumphed.
Harriet O'Brien is a very talented author who took what could have been a dry, threadbare history and made it a thrilling read. I really loved it.』 『Emma was one of England's most remarkable queens: a formidable woman who made her mark on a Europe beset by Vikings. By birth a Norman, she married and outlived two kings of England and witnessed the coronations of two of her sons: Harthcnut the Viking and Edward the Confessor. She became an unscrupulous political player and was diversely regarded as a generous Christian patron, the admired co-regent of the nation, and a ruthlessly Machiavellian mother. She was, above all, a survivor: her life was punctuated by dramatic falls, all of which she overcame. Her story is one of power, politics, love, greed and scandal in an England caught between the Dark Ages and the Norman invasion of 1066.』
Kakaku：374 saved$3.74
Arcadia Books
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Whimsy) 『This is a quick, amusing read that's just the thing to read in between heavier works. The Queen decides that she's had enough of being on duty for her entire lifetime and is equally sick of the scandals and ructions caused by her own troublesome children and cranky husband, so flies first class to one of the Virgin Islands where she's made a down payment on a soon to be built villa. Calling herself Mrs.Gloria Smith, she has no luggage with her as her luggage has always previously been transported to wherever she goes and she somehow assumes that things will just keep happening as before. Playing the role of an ordinary person, she is amazed at the lack of courtesy from people who should know better and the effort required by ordinary mortals, just to live from day to day. She somehow manages to serenely sail through a few days, relying on the kindness of strangers to make things happen. It's a strangely moving little book and I'm not sure that HM would perceive herself as quite as inept and other worldly as Mrs.Gloria Smith.』 『
Queen Elizabeth has gone AWOL from Balmoral and no one can find her. Where has she gone and why? This winsome, if unlikely, account of the Queen's disappearance, recounts the monarch's solo journey to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, to take possession of her recently purchased home in the idyllic-sounding Joli Estate. Here, after more than half a century on the throne, she will recall the years of her reign in peace and tranquility, in the guise of her new identity as Gloria Smith. But the house is no more than a muddy hole in the ground, and the Queen must punt. She is not used toasking for anything, carrying cash, fending for herself, introducing herself, or being ignored. The story of the sovereign's sojourn in her former colony is a funny and touching account of the sometimes contentious and occasionally baffling friendship between Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and a scruffy young St. Lucian, Austin Ford. How this radical change of life and circumstance affects the Queen—and how she changes as a result—make for a hilarious and moving tale, in which her need for her subjects is as marked as their dependence on her staying on the throne.
Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
Ace
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A Trilogy for the ages) 『Clegg has created a classic with this trilogy and this last book is stunning. This author's imagination is on fire and its a real treat to read book after book that is as creative as these are. Mythology, archetypes, grand themes and dark passions... this is Clegg at his best and the genre at its best.』
(strong finish) 『He is called the "Anointed One", the Maz-Sherah, named so by Merod the Priest of the Blood. He feels no different than any other vampyre as he flees with Pythia, a mortal vampire since she put on the Gorgon Mask, from a land torn apart from feuding vampires who want to take over another vampyre's land and believe they have the right to do so. Although Aleric doesn't trust Pythia, she is carrying his child and so he keeps an eye on her knowing she can turn on him at any second.
The veil between the worlds is thinning, and Medya, The Dark Mother, is trying to return to the realm she was exiled from and lay waste to all that opposed her. On the battlefield where the sorcerers fight the crusaders, Pythia and Aleric raise an army from the dying who choose to accept the Sacred Kiss. Aleric, with another vampire, travels to the city of Myrrad. There the serpent God gives him the weapons needed in the upcoming battle against Medya and the Myrrydanai priests at Taranis-H, also called White Robes. Inside the city are Pythia and his two mortal children. If Aleric loses the war, all he loves will be destroyed.
This is the last book in the Vampyricon Trilogy and it ties up all the loose ends and ensures all the key questions not addressed in the previous two books are answered. Although more action oriented than the first two books (see THE PRIEST OF BLOOD and THE LADY OF SERPENTS) in this fabulous series, the characters are fully developed and readers get a better understanding of what motivates them. Douglas Clegg is equally a good storyteller in the horror realm as he is the fantasy area and readers who like him in one genre will also like him in the others. His world-building is so magical that spellbound readers find themselves transported into the Clegg realm to trek alongside Aleric.
Harriet Klausner 』 『The vampire Aleric’s lost love, Enora, has become the Queen of the Wastelands, and has begun the quest to call the Dark Madonna. To stop her, Aleric must become what he was destined to be—the Messiah of the Damned.』
Kakaku：1045 saved$10.45
Thistledown Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Interesting) 『This is a really interesting version of the Snow Queen. It often when directions that I wasn't expecting, which I love. The writing is great. I had never read Eileen Kernaghan before so was happy the authors voice was so clear and interesting. It feels like a old time fairy tale or fable. It is a very short novel, which was a little disappointing.』
(A fun and charming female adventure!) 『Gerda, a naive though endearing teenage girl living in nineteenth century Denmark, could never be called the adventurous type. And yet, when her dear friend Kai is stolen by a mysterious woman known as the Snow Queen, she knows that there is nothing she can do besides follow him to the ends of the earth to rescue him! And this she does, until she is captured by the warrior robber-maid Ritva... This truly was an entertaining story; with two interesting and unusual heroines, who are sure to win the heart of anyone who reads this book. The plot was fast paced enough so I didn't get bored, but not so unbearably tense (at least not til the end) that I couldn't relax while I was reading it. I adore fantasy stories, and yet I'm also completely sick of the repetative rendition of the young boy hero rescuing the girl from evil. This refreshing, unusual tale is a real gem, completely turning things around, which I greatly enjoyed. Good for anyone twelve or older.』
(A unique blend of fantasy and historical realism) 『The Kalevala, Saami shamanism, Arctic exploration and Victorian lady travellers all play a part in this imaginative reworking of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. Kernaghan's version of The Snow Queen won an Aurora (Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy) Award in 2001. The story begins in the real world of mid-Victorian Scandinavia, and moves across the polar ice to the Snow Queen's fantastic country "beyond the Cave of the North Wind where earth and day end". Carefully researched, and with a surprising twist at the end, the novel will appeal to both young adults and older readers.』
(A midwinter night's entertainment) 『My copy of _The Snow Queen_ was in my mailbox when I came home from work on one of the coldest nights of the winter. (Here in Missouri, the fact that it was technically March and not January didn't necessarily mean anything.) I curled up in my favorite chair with a blanket, and read the book in a matter of a few hours.
_The Snow Queen_ is a short novel, a single-sitting book, and more enchanting than many longer works. Nothing in this book is superfluous; Kernaghan tells the story she has come to tell--a reworking of Andersen's fairy tale of the same name--and that's it.
The enchantment begins with the cover, graced with a lovely illustration drawn from a 1913 book of fairy tales. Then, in the first paragraph, I was taken back to my childhood storybooks as Gerda and Kay sat among the flowerboxes, conversing across the narrow space between their townhouses. The setting is homey, but all is not well--Kai has grown snobbish and callous, insulting Gerda's poetry as "childish". He has set aside poetry and dreams for the coldly logical world of mathematics. And now a stranger, the mysterious Baroness Aurore, has come to town. Kai is quite taken with her, and she takes him on a long journey. He does not return.
Gerda, worried, sets off to find him--but the journey proves much longer and more difficult than expected. Along the way she is robbed, and taken in by the robber-girl, Ritva, who has a story of her own. Ritva is a shaman-in-training who isn't so sure she wants those talents, and longs to run away from her family. When Gerda resumes her adventure, Ritva goes with her--both as an excuse to run away, and because of the girls' budding friendship. Ritva is as street-smart and cynical as Gerda is trusting and naive, and they [but] heads at first, but in the end they forge a wonderful bond. Neither of them could accomplish this mission without the other, and together they face the Snow Queen.
I long for a sequel--the ending leaves me wondering what happens next--what Gerda and Ritva do with their lives, and whether Kai ever grows up.
All in all, a lovely book, which makes me want to go and read the Kalevala, not to mention the original fairy tale. Well done. The obscurity of this book belies its quality.』
(Kernaghan does it again!) 『Once again Kernaghan brings thorough research and a new twist to an old favorite. The Snow Queen is a delightful blend of Victoriana and magic that young readers will be unable to put down. I'm over 50 and I loved it too.』 『
Winner of the 2001 Aurora Award for Best Long Form Work in English!
In this reworking of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, the magical worlds ofSaamishamanism and theKalevalacoexist with the polite Victorian society of nineteenth-century Scandanavia. At a time when traditional faith is challenged by modern science, the old pagan gods still haunt the northern forests. Kernaghan blends fantasy and historical realism to create an enchanting, provocative story that will inspire readers of all ages.
』 『Gerda is a sheltered daughter of Victorian-era Denmark's middle class; Ritva is the savage daughter of a Lapp shaman and a Swedish bandit chief. Christian and pagan, city girl and wildwood outlaw, their paths should never have crossed. But Lady Aurore, a mysterious noblewoman, bears away Gerda's beloved, Kai, and Gerda steals away from home to rescue him, though she knows she has little hope of success. Even that slim hope is dashed, it seems, when she is captured by the robber-maiden Ritva. Yet they willfind themselves traveling together beyond the Cave of the North Wind, to the end of the earth--and the Snow Queen's perilous palace.
InThe Snow Queen, Eileen Kernaghan has respectfully combined elements of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale with Saami shamanic lore and the Finnish epic,The Kalevala, to create a powerful, enchanting, and gracefully written novel with intelligent, well-drawn characters and with unexpected plot turns that will surprise you right up to the end.--Cynthia Ward』
Kakaku：599 saved$5.99
Random House
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (African Beauty: African Boring) 『This book was so poorly written I kept expecting a monotone voice from a documentary to start narrating. No "meat" to the story. It just drownded on and on about the exploitation of this African woman mainly because her behind was so huge. It was truly a waste of time to read and barely kept me awake, even with a cup coffee.』
(African Queen: The Real Life of the Hottentot Venus) 『I discovered this story thru an email regarding a U-Tube video. I was shocked that I never heard this story before. After reading this book it open my eyes to history that was lost and forgotten until recently. The author gave life and honor to Saartjie Baartman. This is a moving and thoughtful document on slavery and exploitation. Unfortunately the exploitation of women of color still exist today. For anyone who is a history buff this book is for you. I recommend it to anyone who is intrested in women's study.』
(Well done story of racist and sexist exploitation) 『The subject matter (the sad tale of Saartjie Baartman, a well-endowed African woman put on British and French freakshows as the "Venus Hottenot" whose gelueteus is exploited to the maximus) has been discussed by the other reviwers. Therefore, I would like to commend the author for her excellent use of primary sources in the telling of this story. We see shockingly crude cartoons mocking Saartjie's buttocks (often comparing her with Lord Glenville, a forgotten british statesman with a comparatively large derriere) and giving her a ridiculous pidgin English that she obviously didn't speak. We read from the handful of known interviews with her as welll as trial transcripts (as her exploiters are taken to court). This combined with Nelson Mandela's recent efforts to get her reburied with dignity in her native South Africa all make for a compelling story and good written history.
This book should be required reading for the modern rumpmistresses who thoughtlessly shake their gleuteus to the maximus on the likes of BET and MTV.』
(Very interesting.) 『Gives yet another look into the dark chapters of the African Human Experience.』
(Well written book on a very interesting topic) 『The casual reader might be put off by the slow start -- the author has to establish the historical base and lay out many details, BUT once into the story it quickly gets to the heart of the matter, exploitation, de facto or otherwise, of a black African female. Not a pretty topic, but when it's handled as it is here by a sympathetic writer it becomes a fascinating story and a memorial to the heroine, Saartjie Baartman.』 『Saartjie Baartman was twenty-one years old when she was taken from her native South Africa and shipped to London. Within weeks, the striking African beauty was the talk of the social season of 1810 - hailed as the Hottentot Venus for her exquisite physique (particularly her shapely bottom) and suggestive semi-nude dance. As her fame spread to Paris, Saartjie became a lightning rod for Late Georgian and Napoleonic attitudes toward sex and race, exploitation and colonialism, prurience and science. InAfrican Queen, Rachel Holmes recounts the luminous, heartbreaking story of one woman's journey from slavery to stardom.
Born into a herding tribe known as the Eastern Cape Khoisan, Saartjie was barely out of her teens when she was orphaned and widowed by colonial war, and forced aboard a ship bound for England. A pair of clever, unscrupulous showmen rigged her out in a body stocking with a suggestive fringe and put her on the London stage as a 'specimen' of African beauty and sexuality. The Hottentot Venus was an overnight sensation.
But celebrity brought unexpected consequences. Abolitionists initiated a lawsuit to win Saartjie's freedom that electrified the English public. In Paris, a team of scientists subjected her to a humiliating public inspection as they probed the mystery of her sexual allure. Stared at, stripped, pinched, painted, worshipped and ridiculed, Saartjie came to symbolize the erotic obsession at the heart of colonialism. But beneath the costumes and the glare of publicity, this young Khoisan woman was a real person who had been torn from her people and sacrificed to the whims of fashionable Europe.
Nearly two centuries after her death, Saartjie made headlines once again as Nelson Mandela launched a campaign to have her remains returned to the land of her birth. In this brilliant, vividly written book, Rachel Holmes traces the full arc of Saartjie's extraordinary story - a story of race and eros, oppression and fame that resonates powerfully today.』
Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
Bethany House
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN ROMANCE AUDIO NOVEL) 『I would recommend this audio novel to all who enjoy a love story as well as historical background. Reading the book of Esther first is a plus but anyone can get the point of the story just by listening to it. For Christians this is a must "read." Tommy Tenney did a really good job in portraying the story of God's love for His people and for the world.』
(Excellent reading) 『This is excellent reading for young readers. It brings the story of Esther to life.』
(Great book for any girls bookshelf) 『My daughter enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the adult version. It really put the book of Esther to life for you. I would recommend it to anyone.』
(Excellent novel for young girls) 『This version of the adult Hadassah by Tommy Tenney is for girls 10-14, and is age appropriate for them, having the more graphic details of the adult version replaced with less unsettling wording. If you are looking for a book about the life of Queen Esther for the young girls in your life, this is one that would be an excellent choice. The pictures throughout the novel are quite nicely done and go along with the story. Well worth the 9.99 asking price.』 『Young Hadassah has survived a terrible loss, and now as a lovely teenager, her beauty catches the eye of Persian soldiers looking for candidates to become Queen of Persia. Captured and taken to the palace, Hadassah once again must call on the God of her Jewish heritage to protect her. If she is chosen to be the new queen, what will this mean for her and her fellow Jews living in exile among the Persians? Will she be able to protect her people from those who hate the Jews? Pre-teen and early teen readers will be captivated by this suspenseful retelling of the story of the young girl who became Queen Esther.』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
