Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
TokyoPop
Usually ships in 24 hours 『When Mayanne finally recognizes Sejuru, he is sent to the dungeon, where he must either remain forever or be killed. Upon hearing voices that tell him he is the "precious one," Sejuru manages to escape. But a deadly case of mistaken identity puts a halt to his plans, and he is forced to confront the queen alone...』
IPhone 3G used's review (A COMPELLING STORY THEN AND NOW) 『 To hear versatile actress Anne Flosnik read The Lady in the Tower is to be transported to 16th century England, to the court of Henry VIII. While Henry was, indeed, a contradictory figure his court was even more so, filled with plotting, scheming, betrayals of trust. Flosnik's voice itself takes us there with a distinct, brisk British accent. Her tone is both soft and firm. Add to this voice her acting ability and you have an exemplary performance, one that holds listeners rapt even though most know the outcome.
Throughout history we find women who intrigue, their stories captivating us even after centuries have past. Surely few of those lives are as compelling as that of Anne Boleyn.
History does not accurately record the date of her birth with guesses ranging from 1501 - 1507. What is known is that as a young girl she was sent to France, to the household of Mary, Henry VIII's sister who was the wife of Louis XII. She returned to England in 1921 to prepare for a marriage which did not take place. Following this she had relationships with several men. Anne was an ambitious woman, and eventually caught the eye of Henry VIII who was then married to Catherine of Aragon.
Catch Henry's eye she did and more. When she refused to become his mistress he decided to divorce Catherine and marry Anne. The marriage did finally take place after she became pregnant with his child, a girl. Anne never produced a son; Henry's attention soon turned to another. She reigned for a brief three years as Queen and the drama of those days continues to attract us.
Highly recommended
- Gail Cooke』
(The tragedy of Anne Boleyn) 『Anne Boleyn was the second and most famous of Henry VIII's six wives. Henry's determination to marry her, in part, led to the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. Another reason was that Henry wanted the wealth of the Church in his own hands being a greedy grasping man.
The book begins with Anne's incarceration in the Tower of London as she reflects on her life. We are taken back to when Anne was seven years old and traveled to France to serve in the household of Princess Mary, sister of Henry VIII, and wed to the King of France, Louis XII.
We are given the colorful details Anne experiences and witnesses in the Royal French Court. Anne's beautiful sister Mary becomes mistress to the new king of France, Francois, but is sent back to England in disgrace , because of her lack of discretion at the French court. Mary was simply too trusting and simple to hide her indiscretions which were all too common in the French court, but were done in more secretive and hiding fashion, Mary Boleyn with her big beautiful blue eyes saw no evil, thought no evil and spoke no evil, but gave her love freely without considering the consequences. She was sent back to England and married to a poor nobleman, William Carey.
Mary Boleyn later became mistress to King Henry VIII. She too was discarded by Henry who became infatuated with Anne, and became determined to make her his mistress despite her refusal. Anne's love with with a young and honest nobleman Henry Percy was destroyed by King Henry and Cardinal Wolsey. And eventually Anne enticed to marry King Henry in exchange for becoming Queen.
Henry secretly married Anne in January, 1533. Henry's Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer pronounced Henry's first marriage null and void. Anne Boleyn was crowned queen in June and because of circumstances beyond her control was unpopular with the English people and had many enemies. Anne gave birth to Elizabeth in June. But Henry a cruel and selfish man had wanted a boy and soon tired of Anne. After she repeatedly failed to produce a male heir, Henry and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell had Anne framed for adultery and executed. Anne reflects in this book on all that passed and the target that could have been averted. She reflects that the way in which the king showed no compassion for his former mistress, Anne's sister Mary, after she was widowed and fell into dire poverty. He had discarded her and wished not to be reminded of her existence. Anne recounts how she should have had some insight into the nature of the King and what lay in store for her. She reflects that hypocrisy was second in nature to Henry and he used it so well because he believed it when he said it. Only just before her execution did she realize that behind his mask of geniality "bluff King Hal" was a selfish misogynistic monster and murderer.
A tragic story of a woman who was chosen by Henry and stood no chance after he selected her as his paramour. Her great dignity and courage in the tower in the face of death, her great fear being only for the future of her three year old daughter Elizabeth, is extremely moving. I think Jean Plaidy is a far superior historical novelist to Philippa Gregory because Plaidy's novels are more historically accurate and pay greater attention to historical detail.
Plaidy's novels are history in the form of novelization while Gregory's novels are really romances set in historic periods ie period pieces』
(A Human Anne Boleyn) 『I'm a big fan of the Tudors and was definately excited to read this book by Jean Plaidy. I was really glad of the fact that she spent time with Anne's earliest years in the French Court. Something the show wasn't able to really do. It's also a departure from The Other Boleyn girl in that respect also. I thought that it helped to set up the rest of the book and to explain why she acted how she did towards Henry and the politics of the Court.
Having said that I was slightly disappointed that more attention wasn't paid to certain things like Catherine's appearance at Blackfriars. I felt that part was really rushed. I also felt that she didn't really get into how she felt being a mother to Elizabeth, until the very end. In fact the years between her telling Henry she wouldn't be his mistress to their marriage seemed rushed. But maybe one year was much like another so she felt she didn't need to spend so much time with it.
I did feel that I got a better feeling for King Henry though. I felt that Plaidy made him a bit more indepth than Gregory does. I didn't hate him as I did in The Other Boleyn Girl. But I preferred TOBG to Plaidy in regards to Anne's family. George wasn't a big figure in this, and neither was Mary. I felt that they didn't exist really in the whole book.
I would highly recommend this though for a more sympathetic look into the life of Anne Boleyn. I'm glad Plaidy took a more human approach to the woman who changed the face of English history.』
(Not quite amazing, but pretty good) 『I've read most of Plaidys' books along with her other pen names: Victoria Holt and Philippa Carr and I can honestly say that this was a really great read. I like how Anne was portrayed as an ambitious, but intelligent victim subject to the whims of her vicious and philandering husband. Plaidy creates a truthful and tasteful novel although it lacks the lust present in Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl which I admittedly found rather intriguing and consider a guilty pleasure. I would recommend this book any day if you want a true picture of what happened to Anne and her story, but I just couldn't give it a five because I felt it lacked the storytelling that Gregory's novel had (even though Gregory's novel was almost completely untrue). Even though I ultimately feel that Plaidy's tale is better literature I personally liked Gregory's story better. 』
(A humanizing portrait of Anne Boleyn) 『Jean Plaidy's The Lady in the Tower tells the story of the rise and fall of Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn, and charts her life from her beginnings at the French court until her execution for treason.
Anne, who many consider to be Henry VIII's most fascinating queen, has been the subject of countless retellings. What I like about Plaidy's novel is that it is written in first person as a kind of memoir while Anne is imprisoned in the Tower of London, and tells her story from her own point of view. This creates a sympathetic portrait and helps in humanizing a historical figure who was greatly hated and villified in her own day.
A very great and interesting read. I am so happy that many of Plaidy's other novels are being re-released for a new generation of readers to enjoy.』 『One of history’s most complex and alluring women comes to life in this classic novel by the legendary Jean Plaidy.
Young Anne Boleyn was not beautiful but she was irresistible, capturing the hearts of kings and commoners alike. Daughter of an ambitious country lord, Anne was sent to France to learn sophistication, and then to court to marry well and raise the family’s fortunes. She soon surpassed even their greatest expectations. Although his queen was loving and loyal, King Henry VIII swore he would put her aside and make Anne his wife. And so he did, though the divorce would tear apart the English church and inflict religious turmoil and bloodshed on his people for generations to come.
Loathed by the English people, who called her“the King’s Great Whore,” Anne Boleyn was soon caught in the trap of her own ambition. Political rivals surrounded her at court and, when she failed to produce a much-desired male heir, they closed in, preying on the king’s well-known insecurity and volatile temper. Wrongfully accused of adultery and incest, Anne found herself imprisoned in the Tower of London, where she was at the mercy of her husband and of her enemies.』
Kakaku：379 saved$3.79
Columbia University Press
Usually ships in 24 hours 『
From its beginnings as a pestilent port and colonial backwater, Hong Kong became the "pearl" of a declining British empire, and then ascended to its present status as a gleaming city of commerce. Throughout its history, Hong Kong has been steeped in drama, intrigue, and seismic social shifts. Shih Shu-ching, an acclaimed Taiwanese writer, sets her epic tale of one beautiful and determined woman's family amid this rich and colorful history, capturing in vivid, panoramic detail the unique tensions and atmosphere that characterize the city. Critically praised and long popular in the Chinese-speaking world,City of the Queenis now available for the first time in English.
After being kidnapped from her home in rural China, Huang, the novel's heroine, is brought to Hong Kong and sold into prostitution. Thanks to her shrewd, sometimes devious business dealings and unexpected twists of fate, she emerges from these cruel beginnings to become a wealthy landowner.City of the Queenfollows the fortunes of Huang's family, including those of her devoutly Christian daughter-in-law, who tries to redeem the sins she believes Huang has committed; her grandson, who becomes the first Chinese judge on the Hong Kong Supreme Court; and her great-granddaughter, a quintessential Hong Kong young woman, who turns her back on family tradition to revel in the pleasures offered by the 1970s and 1980s metropolis.
The novel introduces a range of other Chinese and British characters, examining the complicated relationships between colonizer and colonized in a searing and perceptive portrayal of colonialism. There is Adam Smith, the British officer who struggles with the competing seductions of Huang's beauty and British respectability; Qu Yabing, Smith's servant, who despises anything Chinese, yet becomes Huang's lover after she is abandoned by Smith; Colonel White, the sadistic colonial police chief; and Auntie Eleven, a concubine who owns a pawnshop and teaches Huang the secrets of the trade.
Kakaku：209 saved$2.09
Three Rivers Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (The Best Book I've Read in a Long Time) 『After a year of disappointing reads, I turned to a new author and series... and was not disappointed. The Guenevere series was thrilling, magical, and breathtaking- one I couldn't put down.
I am not the biggest fan of romance novels, so I was a bit skeptical of the series at first. However, the books were more focused on the plot- wonderfully seeded with magic, adventure, and battles- and character development. The romance of the novels, while prominent, was secondary to the plot... The Guenevere series had the perfect blend of everything anyone could ask for. Honestly, it is the kind of 'romance' novel that men could easily enjoy.
I loved the characters more than anything else. They each had very realistic flaws and strengths, and each grew (for better or worse) during the series. Character development is important to me, and I was not disappointed.
Rosalind Miles' writing was fluid and engaging. While she did have a few select phrases she liked to repeat often, I truly enjoyed her style. I picked up some of her other books (Triston and Isolde as well as I, Elizabeth) and didn't enjoy them half as much as the Guenevere series.
When the series ended, I felt as though I had lost a few very good friends. Indeed, it's been six months since I have finished the series and still mourn the loss of them. I highly recommend the series to anyone- male or female. Keep an open mind, and enjoy!』
(Enjoyed the book immensely) 『I enjoy historical fiction. I also enjoy different takes on the same stories one has always heard - Gregory Maguire's books are a good example. This book provides a different look at the traditional King Arthur story. While not quite the Mists of Avalon, what I enjoyed was the way the trilogy was written. Three different books looking at three different parts of the story was far more preferable than one really long book (Mists of Avalon). I would recommend the book to anyone looking for a strong heroine, historical fiction or just a different take on the story of King Arthur.』
(Not worth reading) 『I'd been wanting to read this book for a while. Finally picked it up yesterday, made it through almost 200 pages on the plane, and gave up. Maybe I've just been spoiled by The Mists of Avalon, which is one of the best books of fantasy I've ever read. Or maybe I was too fresh off reading one of the greatest books in all literature, The Grapes of Wrath, which I'd finished just a day before starting Guenevere. I just found this book immensely difficult to get through. I can't remember the last book I read where I had to force myself to turn the page to get on with the story. Arthur comes off as a silly little lovestruck frat-boy incapable of making up his own mind, and Guenevere is a simpering, ineffectual idiot. In general, the description of their evolution of their relationship is not believable. I didn't make it far enough along in the book to be able to relate more about other main characters, but from what I've read from other reviews, it doesn't look good for their portrayals either.
The prose is also, for the most part, insufferable. I found the descriptions of the characters' actions obvious, trite, and repetitive. It was also jarring to veer between rather graphic descriptions of Merlin's lustful thoughts to Guenevere's constant, Harlequin-y "Oh Arthur! My love, love, I love you." Gag.
In short, not recommended, unless you really have nothing else better to do.』
(A Great Read) 『This book was really entertaining. I got really engrossed in the storyline and cannot wait to read the sequel. I highly recommend it.』
(Incredible read) 『This book, even though fiction, accurately protrays the history of that time. The determined spread of Christians, by any means, and the undying love between a woman and her country. Everybody focuses on Arthur and his knights, no one bothers to look into or knows Gueneveres life, other than she's an adulterer. But Ms. Miles sheds her life into a new light, and while she can be whiny, this book protrays her as Arthurs and then Lancelots strength.』 『Last in a line of proud queens elected to rule the fertile lands of the West, true owner of the legendary Round Table, guardian of the Great Goddess herself . . . a woman whose story has never been told -- until now
Raised in the tranquil beauty of the Summer Country, Princess Guenevere has led a charmed and contented life -- until the sudden, violent death of her mother, Queen Maire, leaves the Summer Country teetering on the brink of anarchy. Only the miraculous arrival of Arthur, heir to the Pendragon dynasty, allows Guenevere to claim her mother's throne. Smitten by the bold, sensuous princess, Arthur offers to marry her and unite their territories, allowing her to continue to reign in her own right. Their love match creates the largest and most powerful kingdom in the Isles. Yet even the glories of Camelot are not safe from the shadows of evil and revenge. Arthur is reunited with his long-lost half-sisters, Morgause and Morgan, princesses torn from their mother and their ancestral right by Arthur's father, the brutal and unscrupulous King Uther. Both daughters will avenge their suffering, but it is Morgan who strikes the deadliest blows, using her enchantments to destroy all Guenevere holds dear and to force Arthur to betray his Queen.
In the chaos that follows, Arthur dispatches a new knight to Guenevere, the young French prince Lancelot, never knowing that Lancelot's passion for the Queen, and hers for him, may be the love that spells ruin for Camelot.
』 『This is the first part of a trilogy chronicling the life of Queen Guenevere. Beginning with the young King Arthur who is preparing for the war that will unite Britain, the book recounts the marriage of Guenevere and Arthur, the growth of Arthur's court, and Guenevere's adulterous affair with Lancelot.
Although told mainly from Guenevere's point of view, this is a truly epic narrative, encompassing pageantry, political intrigue, war, and the conflict between the old pagan religion and Christianity. At times earthy, sensual, and violent, it is a powerful romantic drama firmly rooted in historical Britain, a modern yet traditional retelling of the stories given definitive form in the first four books of Thomas Malory'sLe Morte D'Arthur.
The characters are grippingly evoked as realistic, living, and breathing human beings rather than simple archetypes, yet the writing is effortlessly lyrical, with the elegant flow of folktale. In emotional depth,Guenevereis comparable to Parke Godwin's fine Arthurian romance,Firelord.
This title is Rosalind Miles's 17th book. She is the author of the highly praisedI, ElizabethandThe Women's History of the World. In 1990, she won the Network Award for outstanding achievement in the field of writing, and the same year she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.--Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk』
Kakaku：119 saved$1.19
Torquere Press/ BBA
Usually ships in 24 hours 『All the Queen's Men and Other Tales is a collection of four sizzling menage stories that range from eternal night to the depths of the sea. In Coming Home in the Night, Elizabeta has returned to give her old master, Yves, a proper send off. She never expected to see her old lovers, Dug and Tosco, too. Can the three of them rekindle their relationship? In Triad, magicians Went and Artur live high in a mountain keep. Beautiful thief Lissa gets more than she bargains for when she invades their home. Will they convince her to stay? Out of the Sea gives us fisherman Grodin and Bardt, his young apprentice and lover. After an accident Bardt believes he can hear a mermaid calling to him, but Grodin can't believe the geri is anything but a monster. Will he be able to admit he was wrong? Finally, in All the Queen’s Men, Trini is the heir to the throne of the Zati. When her mother arranges a marriage for her, Trini is furious. And defiant. It's up to Aide, Trini’s faithful companion, to walk the line between loyalty to his beloved Mistress and helping her accept her betrothed. Indulge in a little magic with All the Queen's Men!』 fetish『 Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen 』
『 Sammy Keyes and the Search for Snake Eyes 』
『 Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary 』
『 Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man 』
『 Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things 』
『 Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief 』
Wendelin Van Draanen
Kakaku：596 saved$5.96
Yearling
Usually ships in 24 hours 『IT'S SAMMY'S BIRTHDAY, which should be a good thing, except that Heather, Sammy’s arch enemy, turns out to be her star sister. And El Gato, the creepy new student at Slammin’ Dave’s Pro Wrestling School, keeps hissing at Sammy to stay away. And Dorito, Sammy’s cat, is missing, and while Sammy’s searching for him, she finds three dead cats in dumpsters around town. And as if that weren’t gross enough, Miss Kitty, a psycho cat lady, blames Sammy when it turns out one of the dead cats belonged to her. And then last, but certainly not least, Lady Lana, Sammy’s mom, confesses that she lied about Sammy’s age so she could start her in school a year early. So—surprise!—Sammy isn’t turning 14 at all, she’s going to have to be unlucky 13 for another whole year!
IPhone 3G used's review (i love it) 『I love this book i read all of his others and i couldnt find this one till now.』
(Two Snaps Up!) 『I FINALLY got my hands on this book after reading "Christ-Like." I laughed, I cried, I loved it! I look forward to anything Xavier publishes. He is too fierce!』
(Inspiring) 『"Tradiciones" and "Bushwick Bohemia" are the bomb. Overall, this is a jagged collection of poems which display the author's strengths and weaknesses. Yet, this is what makes his writing real and universal. Xavier's simple words come straight from the heart with the audacity to keep it real.』 『Emanuel Xavier's 1997 self-published debut collection of poetry which paved the way for his 1999 debut Lambda Literary Award nominated novel, CHRIST-LIKE.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Great Home School Teaching Resource) 『The series of books that Robert Green has written are excellent tools for home schooling. They are factual, well documented with noted resources that can be used for continued study of the subject. Hats off to Mr. Green!』 『Examines the life of the present British queen, discussing her royal upbringing, the job she inherited, her commitment to the monarchy, and her highly publicized family.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Continues to be A excellent potrayel of Guinevere) 『As the sesond book in a series, i thought this book would be rather weak. i was wrong. This series continues to delight me, as i have never come across such a human Guinevere before. In erver other book, shes either beeb a snivelling,annoying super christian, or a super Pagan. Here, she is just Gwen, a woman trying to be queen of her people. Trying to deal with her barrenness, and her love for Lancelot, which continues to grow.』
(Extraordinary retelling) 『This trilogy by Persia Woolley, which includes Child of the Northern Spring, Queen of the Summer Stars, and The Legend in Autumn, is well worth reading. Among the plethora of feminine centric Arthur retellings, I thought this trilogy was second only to The Mists of Avalon, which is the best Arthurian novel I've read, period. Neither a simpering bauble like Marion Zimmer Bradley's queen, nor a bitter shrew, as she is depicted in Rosalind Miles' trilogy, the High Queen in this series is a strong woman, bold, intelligent, compassionate, and well worth the love of two legendary heros. My only complaint with the character is this: Woolley saw fit to make her Guenevere homely, not the great beauty of legend, and Guenevere is supposed to be the fairest of the fair. Otherwise, this trilogy gets my highest recommendation. It is much better than the other Guenevere trilogies out there (by Miles and Newman). If you like this one, you might also enjoy Queen of Camelot by Nancy McKenzie.』
(The book I didn't plan on reading) 『My first attempt at reviewing this book never appeared on the page; I think it's because I called Morgause a nasty name. LOL. So, my reviews for this book and the following book, _Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn_, will be out of order.
I didn't plan on reading this book, since I was disappointed with its prequel, _Child of the Northern Spring_. But I was in an Arthurian mood, and saw the last two volumes at the library, and said "Hey, what the heck." And I was pleasantly surprised by books two and three; I'm glad I changed my mind and read them.
_Queen of the Summer Stars_ starts slowly; Guinevere seems more like a fly-on-the-wall narrator than a character for the first half of the book. She constantly regales us with all of the doings in Camelot--every banquet, affair, and border skirmish. But she doesn't talk much about what's going on in her own head. The result of this is that, whenever she suddenly acts with strong emotion, it comes out of left field. For example, at one point she lets two strangers talk her into trading a treasured family heirloom for a fertility potion from a Saxon witch. The scene was shocking because, while we knw Gwen is sad about her barrenness, we never knew she was *that* desperate. The emotional buildup wasn't there, so her actions were unexpected.
However, Guinevere comes out of her shell as a character when she begins to fall in love with Lancelot. They hadn't always been close. When Lance first came to Camelot, he was standoffish and rude to her. She disliked him even though he was a dead ringer for her childhood sweetheart. But they developed a friendship over the years, and then one fateful night, Lancelot rescues a delirious Guinevere from the tyrannical Maelgwn. She thinks he spoke words of love during their night ride--but was it just the delirium talking? A dream? Or long-denied truth? Now, Guinevere and Lancelot struggle to figure out a way to acknowledge their love without betraying Arthur. This book presents perhaps the classiest, most dignified portrait of that romance of any retelling I have ever read, and for that I commend the author highly.
Guinevere has the chance to run away with Lancelot and live happily ever after--but Arthur needs her, and so does her new adopted son, Mordred. Mordred is Arthur's son by the vulgar and vicious Morgause; after Morgause's death, Guinevere cares for him, though Arthur refuses to get close to the boy. Guinevere must make tough choices, and nothing will ever be the same again at Camelot.
So, although I didn't expect to like this book, I was proven wrong. I recommend it, especially for the touching portrayal of the Guinevere-Lancelot romance. See also the third book, _Guinevre: The Legend in Autumn_.』
(Best Arthurian Romance) 『I read this book for the first time about 10 years ago and I have re-read it many times since. You should start with the first book, "Child of the Northern Spring", then "Queen of the Summer Stars", then finally "Guinevere: A Legend in Autumn." Persia Woolley is actually the first author of an Arthurian romance to make me cry. I never wanted these books to end. They are so well written, and Guinevere is neither weak nor a feminist. She's absolutely wonderful. The way the affair with Lancelot is written is just some of the most beautiful that I've ever read. Not torrid and steamy, but soft and romantic. A very beautiful trilogy of books.』
(a woman's point of view) 『I first read this book when I was 13 years old, and I was immediately intrigued. But don't mistake me to mean it's full of juvenile content. Quite the contrary. This book is a beautiful story told from Guinevere's point of view as an elegantly spirited woman struggling to balance her instincts of freedom and love with her sense of regal duty as queen of Camelot and greater Britain. Not to mention her heart-wrenching dilemma between Arthur and Lancelot...I couldn't put it down! And I have read it again many times since. This is definitely not your average romance novel. It focuses on the enchanting story of a remarkable and inspiring woman's life instead of just graphic love scenes amidst a mediocre plot. I would imagine that many women today can relate to Guinevere's struggles. Ever since I first read this, I've been fascinated with the legend of Camelot, and I immediately searched for the prequel and sequel of this wonderful novel. I can't imagine why these books are out of print. Please let me know where I can find a reasonably priced edition of "Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn." Enjoy!』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
