Kakaku：542 saved$5.42
Anchor
Not yet published IPhone 3G used's review (They can research -but- the Frasers can't write!) 『Both Fraser Mother&Fraser daughter can research a subject to death. However, neither writes gracefully or entertainingly. This book reads like a compilation of notes. Yawn. I'd rather read a loosey goosey Mitford biography, as if I wanted sleep, I'd read dissertations.』
(An enigma, still unexplained) 『This is a fascinating, almost incredible, true story, but (as reviewers who've preceded me here have pointed out) Flora Fraser hasn't managed to do it justice. Queen Caroline's actions are so baffling, so inconsistent, and so seemingly self-destructive that a writer really must have a "take" on her for a biography to be enlightening or moving. Fraser seems almost afraid to take a stand, or else so mired in her research that she's lost the need for a big picture. The result is that when Caroline veers in completely new directions-- suddenly taking lovers after years of faithfulness to a husband who despised her, or leaving England at the drop of a hat after years of determination to fight her battles there-- the reader gets the (highly detailed) facts without any insights that could help us understand a seemingly random shift. We don't even learn why Caroline, with few marital prospects into her mid-20s, was chosen to marry the future George IV in the first place. It's not even clear whether Fraser likes her subject, approves of her actions, or felt much enthusiasm for the project except as a collector of commemorative objects she calls "Carolingiana." I guess writing biographies is just the family business...
Specific oddities include no real sense of George IV's personality or motivation, the tendency of key people to drop out of the narrative altogether when they're not present in Caroline's life (even those important to Caroline, like her daughter Charlotte), and detailed descriptions of paintings (by one of Caroline's supposed lovers, Thomas Lawrence) that Fraser hasn't actually included in the illustrations. So much is made of the transformation of Caroline's appearance over the years that we really do need to see more from her later life than caricatures and cartoons.
It would seem inevitable that someone will make a great drama out of this story-- as a biography, or even as a play or film. It's a shame that Fraser didn't see that she could convey some of this drama, and real insight, without compromising her extensive research.』
(Exciting history) 『Flora Fraser writes beautifully, and her research is impeccable. This is one of the best "life and times" set in Georgian England available today. The popularity of Queen Caroline with the populace, always looking for symbols of opposition to the monarchy, makes clearer the similar fascination in our time with as inexplicable a figure as Diana, Princess of Wales. The books is a great read that has something to say, rather like the wonderful Mediterranean histories written by the late Sir Steven Runicman (e.g., History of the Crusades). The Unruly Queen, along with David Gilmour's Curzon, are must reading for those interested in British history.』
(May I have my time back, please?) 『Whatever were they THINKING!?! I mean, the author, and worse, the editors. This is an appallingly bad book. I staggered through the whole University of California paperback version, convinced that eventually it would improve. Sadly, I was too optimistic.
Caroline of Brunswick was clearly quite an unpleasant person all 'round. Ill-educated, dishonest, gullible, ill-bred, plain at best, lacking in style and sense, desperate for any sort of attention, she would be difficult to like in the hands of the most talented biographer. It's a shame that she was left to Flora Fraser. This particular Ms. Fraser is living proof that a talent for biography isn't hereditary. She is pendantic, tedious, and apparently without enthusiasm for her subject, whom she abandons regularly in pursuit of political minutiae.
I was startled by the ineptitude of the editing. In a number of instances the vocabulary used was clearly anachronistic slang, but the quotes were not footnoted, leaving the reader bewildered as to the meaning of the quote. In these instances, the Oxford English Dictionary was no help, surely a responsible standard for an editor of a British/American release? Some quotes are simply inaccurate.
I suspect the editors may have been overawed by Flora Fraser's lineage, and hopeful of a comparison between Diana Spencer and Caroline of Brunswick. If Caroline was as Flora Fraser describes, there is scant ground for such hopes.
I majored in British history, am quite accustomed to dry texts, and have read each and every one of Lady Antonia Fraser's splendid works with pleasure. In this case, the daughter should NOT have attempted to go into the family trade, she has no talent for it.
I very much regret the time I wasted plodding through this exceedingly dull book about a sad, dreary woman who would have been best left to rest in peace.
And no, to the best of my knowledge, I'm no relation to this branch of Frasers.』
(A woman with a heart but next to no common sense!) 『A biography about one of England's most enigmatic and on this side of the pond at least lesser known Queens. Charlotte born into the rather stogy provincal atmosphere of the Hanoverian Court was married off while still a teenager to her first cousin the future King George IV. A dandy and bon vivant who had already contracted a marriage years ago to the attractive and apparently virtuous widow Mrs. FitzHerbert. Alas Mrs. FitzHerbert was not only a commoner but a staunch catholic and George was a spend thrift. When His father refused to continue filling his coffers unless he found himself a proper (i.e. Royal) bride he abandoned Mrs. FitzHerbert and wed poor Charlotte.
Almost at once however he was repulsed by his cousin (whom he had never before met). After siring one child (a daughter Charlotte) he promptly returned to the far more worldly and appealing Mrs. FitzHerbert. This led poor Charlotte to rebel.
Her rebellion was to cost her dearly. Leading in the end to a notorioius and flawed trial headed by parliment to decide if she was in fact guilty of adultry.
Charlotte led a tragic but interesting life. As with Marie-Antoinette it can be said that Charlotte's own bad judgement and ignorance were as much (if not more) to blame for her misfortunes as the ill will of her enemies.
Overall it was an engaing account of a fascinating woman and period in time. It gave glimpses into the lives of the rest of the British Royal Family. From George's rather embittered maiden sisters to his mad father King George III and his outwardly sweet but meddling mother Queen Charlotte.』
『With 16 pages of Full-color photographs.
From the Hardcover edition.』 『"There are two types of British queens," says Columbia University historian David Cannadine."Those who hold the position strictly as wife of the king, and those (few) who have ruled as sovereign in absence of a male heir." Queen Caroline, who briefly held title when King George IV was crowned in 1820 is numbered among the former. Vulgar, selfish, and undisciplined, she fled from the husband she hated and became nearly as well known for her promiscuity as King George IV himself. Viewed by the public as a wronged woman, she survived George's attempts to dissolve the marriage, but opinion turned against her and she died in 1821.』
IPhone 3G used's review (A humble favorite) 『I am rereading this novel for the 6th time, and I must admit that its over-the-top portrayals of gay life in Central Texas are too much to believe. Yet, this novel really shows that without the many parts of our gay community - the construction worker, the barfly, the imperial court, and the many other types - we would not be able to make a difference in our world.
I would recommend this novel for anyone who wants a simple laugh, a gay novel without the too-political overtones (though they are present at many times), or a chance to find a good drag name. As unbelievable it may have seemed at times, so many parts of it were the truth in our lives; gay people do form close knit communities and when we all get it at the same time, great and fantastic(al) things are bound to happen.』
(A comedic gay adventure, with unforgettable characters.) 『This is a truly funny book, set in a reality where drag queens rule territories like mafia kingpins. The characters are unforgettable, and the action is fast-paced. An enjoyable read.』
(A studly romp through Texas and Oklahoma) 『Not much sex, but a starnge array of characters that are well developed...oops, fiction-wise and other. A nice read, some of the better contemporary gay fiction available.』 『A wild and wooly romp of a book--from drag courts to fundamentalist colleges, from the KKK to a gay motorcycle gang--by the author of The New York Times Editors' Choice Book, Travels with Lizbeth.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Detailed opening analysis illustrated by complete games) 『This short book of 102 pages is devoted entirely to one variant of the Queen's Indian Defence (in algebraic notation 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3). Readers looking for general opening theory will probably want to look at something like Reuben Fine's "Ideas Behind the Chess Openings" - or indeed, something even more general like Nimzovich's "My System" or Silman's popular "How to Reassess your Chess", with a more balanced look at the whole approach to conducting a game and evaluating a position, which many players find more urgent than opening theory.
The book covers the leading ideas, or themes, of 8 main lines in 8 chapters, each illustrated by detailed commentary on a few key games and rapid summaries of a number of related games branching off at interesting points (mostly from the 1980's). Each chapter ends with a short set of characteristic "problems" involving finding a strong continuation from a tense position, as well as the so-called "tabiyas" or fundamental positions for the opening. The last few paragraphs in each chapter give a summing up in each case, which one might want to look at before tackling a given chapter.
This line avoids the Nimzo-Indian (3. Nc3 Bb4). The classic line goes something like 4. ... b7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 followed by pawn or knight retaking on d5. This is covered by the last four of Gurevich's 8 chapters (2 chapters for each way of retaking).
His first two chapters involve substantial departures from this model, primarily 4. ... c5 (Benoni-like) or 4. ... Ba6. The line 4. ... d5 arises mostly from the classical line by transposition of moves and does not need (much) separate treatment. The third and fourth chapters involve lines which deviate from the classical lines at Black's fifth move.
These matters of arrangement are shown quite clearly in the table of contents, but are not actually noted by the author. There are no extensive tables of lines and sublines here, which is just as well, since such things are of little use and in any case go quickly out of date. It seems to me a very good book of its kind, if one is actually looking for a book of this kind.』
Kakaku：1049 saved$10.49
Kessinger Publishing, LLC
Usually ships in 24 hours 『This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.』 fetish『 Queen Juliana: The story of the richest woman in the world 』
William Hoffman
Kakaku：1795 saved$17.95
AuthorHouse
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Happy surprise) 『I was happily surprised to find this book both funny and intelligently written. The language is crisp and witty and the plot was innteresting. There were a few typos in the book but it didn't take away from the story. Great job on the part of Hoey.』
(Great Reading) 『Rob Hoey writes fiction like he has lived it. The characters are real to life, and come right out of the pages. His story cannot be more timely, as the baby boomers head for the four walls of the nation's nursing homes that will be home to thousands of them in the coming years.』
(funny and romantic, but packs a punch) 『If you like serious detective stories with lots of blood, murder and violence in general, this book is not for you. But if you like a funny, intelligent, easy read, with characters that stand up and talk to you, with a plot that is realistic and troublesome, then Queen of Charts is a must read. I loved every page and couldn't put it down. This is a wonderful effort for a first novel and I hope Mr. Hoey cranks more of them out.』 『Queen of Chartsis about Flopwood Turley, a guy with a unique name, an anemic detective agency, and a drinking problem that has stopped his marathon running in its tracks. Hired by the Foxcrofts to find their daughter, he learns that his employers are committing Medicaid fraud, big time. Victoria Prescott, R.N., the Director of Nursing at Seaside Nursing Home, is firing staff and replacing them with her cronies so they can change the reimbursement documentation to scam the government out of millions. When Flopwood learns of this from the woman he was hired to find, he decides to use the“Whistle Blower Law” to turn the Foxcrofts in and cash in for himself and Delilah Foxcroft, their daughter. Can he prove the charges and bring them to justice? Can he give up his drinking problem and run again? Will he find happiness and perhaps a sequel? LetÂ’s hope so.』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
