Book Description
Jack and Annie are off on another Merlin Mission. This time, Merlin has sent them to rescue a beautiful magical creature—the unicorn. But when they land in New York City during the Depression of the 1930s, Jack and Annie are confused. Where will they find a unicorn in a big city?
Customer Reviews:
Another Wonderful Book.......2007-05-27
I read this wonderful book to myself the day I got it. I was thrileed and couldn't wait for the next book to come out. It takes place in New York City in 1938 during the Great Depression. jack and Annie have to find a unicorn. But how will they find one in a big city? Finally Jack and Annie find the unicorn, whose name is Dianthus. But just then two teenagers named Balor and Grinda burst in and try and take Dianthus. Jack and Annie escape with the unicorn, and stop in Central Park. There, Balor and Grinda show up, and Annie recites her favorite magic rhyme, Turn Into Ducks. Balor and Grinda turn into ducks.
Teddy and Kathleen, Merlin and Morgan, show up and the two other teenagers ride Dianthus home to Camelot. Jack and Annie travel home in the Magic Tree House, and merlin and Morgan take a ride around New York City.
For ANY fans of the magic tree house, MAGIC TREE HOUSE #36: BLIZZARD OF THE BLUE MOON, I reccomend you read this wonderful book. You will be so surprised that you read this book over and over again!
Goody, Goody. Sugar and gooey talks down to kids........2007-05-11
I felt insulted for my seven year olds intelligence. These books not only murder the myth of Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur (Merlin and Morgan best buddies and silly wizards) but the writing here is bland and boring. The prose reads aloud like a robot's voice.
The story is full of holes and illogical points. Why, why, why are these two older kids following the little kids but not giving them information. I don't understand why Merlin and the older kids know everything that has to be done, knows where and how to do it, but instead of telling the little kids they send to do it, they give them poems that give them hints to figure out. I wanted to scream at them.
Why doesn't the author use pronouns? Even early readers can read pronouns. The use of proper nouns for names and the constant repeating of information makes the books more fit for preschoolers than early readers.
By advice, buy Junie B. and Lemmony Snickets, better books, better writting.
I love fantasy and have been reading since before I started school nearly 30 years ago. I can't subject my children to this poorly writen garbage. All I can say is, thank whoever for Harry Potter teaching people that childrens litterature doesn't have to suck.
Capturing The Unicorn.......2007-04-13
Blizzard of The Blue Moon by Mary Pope Osborne was a fun, entertaining book that I would recommend to elementary school kids, because it's a lower reading level. It all begins when Jack and Annie go in there tree house that goes to wherever they want. They had to go to New York City to rescue a unicorn. The tree house landed at Central Park, and there was a BIG blizzard. They got on the subway so they could get closer. A lady told them the wrong stop that was really far away from where they needed to go so they took a taxi to try to get closer. The taxi ended up getting snowed in, so they just got out and walked. Jack and Annie had block's and block's to go.
As Jack and Annie are walking there far distance, thinking they needed to go to the zoo, they decided to hit the museum to warm up. This nice museum lady said she was very excited, since she hadn't had any costumers all day. She suggested they stay a while, since there was going to be a huge blizzard. She wanted to inform them on some older facts, that probably nobody knew nothing about. She talked for a long time, about boring things, that practically put them to sleep. Jack finally stooped her with an interruption, and said "we need to get some work done." So she showed them the way to the back of museum, and said "why don't you take a look there, because you'll enjoy it." Jack and Annie had no idea why there were going there, but maybe there could be the unicorn that they need to capture. So they went right along, through a double set of doors, to the outside, and back into a different building. Right when they enter, and to the left there was a HUGE picture of an unicorn that would capture your eyes in a second. From that moment on, they knew that was the right unicorn. Jack got into his backpack a read a poem form the book. All of a sudden, the unicorn came to life. Oh no. Just now two people showed up who were also trying to get the unicorn. Now were going to have to fight for him.
Make sure you read this book and find out what happens. I would recommend it to you any day.
Another great book!!.......2007-01-15
My son and I enjoy reading this series and this book did Not disappoint--another great one from Mary Pope Osbourne.
Magic Tree House does it again.......2007-01-10
We read these books together and although they are all different there are some repetitions from previous books. We love this series, but the last 12 books have to be read in order because of clues. We suggest reading them in number order from one all the way to the last number.
Book Description
Merlin sends Jack and Annie on a mysterious mission to Paris, France, over a 100 years ago. There they must find four magicians and give them an urgent message from Merlin himself. When Jack and Annie land in Paris, they make their way to the 1889 World’s Fair. Below the Eiffel Tower, built especially for the fair, there are thousands of exhibits from all over the world. But how will Jack and Annie find the magicians in the crowds of people? And who are the magicians anyway? Jack and Annie are about to find out in another adventure filled with history, magic, and amazing surprises!
Customer Reviews:
From a grandson's perspective.......2007-09-16
My grandson has done nothing but rave about how GOOD this book is. Perhaps part of it is because he loves magic as well as reading.
Night of the New Magicians.......2007-06-03
I would recommend this book to kids who like books that have magic, adventure, and information about other cultures. That is why I would recommend this book.
A Great Work.......2007-06-03
Magic Tree House #35: Night of the New Magicians, is another wonderful installment in Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series. In this book, Jack and Annie go to Paris, France for the World's Fair of 1889. There they have to find "four new magicians" and warn them about an evil sorcerer who is planning to steal the secrets of their magic.
I am just a kid, but i highly suggest that any fans of Mary Pope Osborne should read this book AND the entire Magic Tree House series.
A belle époque perspective on the magic of science.......2007-05-18
One of the best Magic Tree House books I've read with the kids. As usual, Osborne brings history to life. In this case, she turns science and technology into mystery and suspense, with the Eiffel Tower as a beautiful gathering place for brilliant minds and tales of inspiration. The World Fair attendees are awed by inventions that seem commonplace and even old-fashioned to us. This book taught my kids to take nothing for granted... and it gave them the desire to climb the Eiffel Tower - a pretty nice ambition for land-locked Mid-westerners!
Another great one from M. Pope Osborne.......2007-05-14
I purchased this book for my son as an Easter present. He read the whole thing that day and said it was just as good as the rest of the series. We struggled with him to try and spark an interest in reading, and these books were the only thing that worked. Even now, when he reads much more advanced books, he still comes back to these adventures.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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Similar Items:
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History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
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History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Book Description
Jack and Annie travel back in time to a desert in the Middle East at the behest of Merlin who has given them a rhyme to help on their mission. There they meet a Bedouin tribe and learn about the way that they live. From camel rides and oases to ancient writings and dangerous sandstorms, here’s another Magic Tree House filled with all the mystery, history, magic, and old-fashioned adventure that kids love to read about.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderfully imaginative.......2007-05-06
I just can't say enough about this book! My six year old and I have read every book in the series and especially love the later books (the Merlin Missions). They are vivid with imagaery and are full of information that we both enjoy.
I really like Jack and Annie's quest........2006-06-08
I gave it five stars because I think I should give the magic carpet two stars.
Smarty Pants.......2006-01-18
Season of the Sandstorms is about Jack and Annie going on one of Merlin's Missions.This time they go to the golden age of Baghdad and are suppose to help the Caliph sread wisdom to the world.Your going to have to read the rest yourself.You'll also learn who the Caliph is!This was the best book I ever read!
Goo's review.......2006-01-18
Season of the Sandstorms is a good book. They go to a desert and find people which help them on their journey to help save Camelot,but you need to read the rest of the book to find about their journey. I hope you injoy this book.
Too Basic.......2005-11-28
im a second grader and i dont like it cause its too basic and is to short for 10 bucks. If u like the series go check out at library but do not buy it.
Book Description
MERLIN HAS ASKED Jack and Annie to help on another Merlin Mission. This time they head back into history to Venice, Italy. With the help of a research book, a book of magic rhymes, and a set of mysterious instructions from Merlin, the heroes will save the beautiful city from a flood! Here’s another Magic Tree House book that will engage kids with history, magic, and nonstop action from beginning to end.
Customer Reviews:
An Amazing Book.......2007-06-03
Carnival at Candlelight is an awesome book. It takes place in Venice, Italy, 260 years ago on the night of the annual Carnival celebration. It starts out when Jack and Annie recieve a note from Merlin that says they have to save the Grand Lady of the Lagoon from a terrible disaster!
When Jack and Annie get to Venice, they travel to the Carnival in a gondola. Then they walk around and get into trouble from guards and go up flights of stairs, look at maps, and see statues, all the while thinking about their crazy mission. It isn't making any sense!
They go out into Saint Mark's Square and look in their research book for help. The note from Merlin says to find a tower with two men and a bell, climb it, and get on a king of a jungle. Wandering in the crowd, they spot the tower and race up it. Then they spot the lion and use one of their magic rhymes to make the lion come to life. Then they go out over the sea to spot Neptune, the god of the sea.
They learn that the Grand Lady of the Lagoon is Venice, Italy, and they have to save it from a flood. They spot Neptune and tell him to stop the flood. He does and their mission is over.
I am just a kid, but I recomend this book for any fans od the Magic Tree House series. I got this book for Easter of 2005 and read it that day and enjoyed it.
Magic Tree House #33: Carnival at Candlelight is the book for young readers.
I think the author, Mary Pope Osborne, states things clearly in her books and the pictures explain them better. Mary Pope Osborne, in my opinion, is the best author in the world.
A Great Review From a Spiritridge Third Grader.......2007-03-21
Want to hear a book that's really cool? Well, the book Magic Tree House Carnival at the Candle Light will do the trick! This book is amazing. It's about two Aencheris kids Jack and Annie who goes to Venice to save a mysterious person the Grand Lady of the lagoon. But, once they found out about that person it wasn't what they had expected! Jack and Annie figured that this job was getting harder and harder.
Jack and Annie have some wild stuff happening in this wacky book. That's why I'm telling you to read this book! What I most really like about this book is when Jack and Annie said a spell and got to ride on a Golden, shinning, flying, lion. That part was Awesome!
I would recommend this book to someone who loves and who totally enjoys mysteries, because this book has spells, a mystery, and Magic stuff. Well, that's all. I hope you will adore this book.
Mary Pope Osborne creates magic... from a Book Loons reviewer..........2006-07-31
Mission: to save the Grand Lady of the Lagoon. Place: Venice Italy. When: 260 years back in time on the night of 'Carnival'.
Jack and Annie of Frog Creek are off again on a new mission in the Merlin Series #33. Odds of surviving a dungeon: Fair to Good... i.e., if the 'book of magic' has something to help them, and Merlin's apprentices Kathleen and Teddy, too.
Mary Pope Osborne never fails to create magic in her stories, with backgrounds of historical places, and supporting the suspense that follows Annie and Jack as they follow the instructions in a letter from Merlin -- "...When waters rise beneath the moon,/Visit the Grand Lady of the Lagoon." The heroes meet grouchy guards, a son of a famous painter, climb the Giants' Stairs, fly the sky on a Golden Lion, and meet Neptune.
Osborne visited Venice and of the city she writes: "...no photographs can truly do Venice justice. No notes or diagrams can truly capture her. Venice lives best in memory, stirring the deep waters of the imagination."
Other Recommendation: Night of the New Magicians by Mary Pope Osborne
A adventures book.......2006-07-18
Carnival at Candlelight is a funfilled book. It all starts when Jack and Annie of FrogCreek has the same dreams. (Which was sent by Teddy and kethleen). They decide to go to the TreeHouse
and finds teddy and kethleen fast asleep. 'Then later they wake up and they said that they will not be going with them on their adventure.' 'Oh No!' Said Annie 'But what if we need your magic?' Teddy Said 'Morgon thinks that you are ready to use magic your own.''Really?' said Jack 'Yep'. Said Teddy 'But we don't know any magic.' said Annie 'Remember what I said if we work together we can do anything.' said Teddy 'Anything is possible but you just said you were'nt coming with us'. said Annie 'Thats true thats why we give you this Wow a 10 magic rhymes book!' said Jack 'Yes,they are ment to last for your four journeys.' said teddy 'Each line is in Teddy's language, and one in mine the language of the seal people.' said kethleen. my opinion is that this is a fantastic adventures book.
Carnival at Candlelight.......2005-09-11
"Carnival at Candlelight" by Mary Pope Osborne was a delight to read. I generally don't like the fantasy genre but I absolutely love the "Magic Tree House" series. One of the things that I love about this series of books is the author's ability to blend factual knowledge with adventure and excitement. As a teacher I appreciate this ability because I believe that students will learn a lot of facts from these books plus they will be enjoying a grand adventure too.
"Carnival at Candlelight" is the fifth book in a group of Magic Tree House books called the "Merlin Missions." Jack and Annie (the main characters) have a fantasy adventure in real places in real times. In this book they travel to the city of Venice, Italy. There they discover the mystery and magic of Venice.
This book is filled with factual informations such as, "Instead of roads, Venice has waterways called canals. People glide along the canals in shallow boats called gondolas."
Not only is this book filled with adventure and factual knowledge but it also has great illustrations. The illustrations in this book make the story come alive. The illustrations really give you an idea of how Jack and Annie feel during key moments in the story.
This is a great book for second graders as a read-aloud. Third graders could read it by themselves.
Amazon.com
A book chronicling one of the worst human disasters in recorded history really has no business being entertaining. But John Kelly's The Great Mortality is a page-turner despite its grim subject matter and graphic detail. Credit Kelly's animated prose and uncanny ability to drop his reader smack in the middle of the 14th century, as a heretofore unknown menace stalks Eurasia from "from the China Sea to the sleepy fishing villages of coastal Portugal [producing] suffering and death on a scale that, even after two world wars and twenty-seven million AIDS deaths worldwide, remains astonishing." Take Kelly's vivid description of London in the fall of 1348: "A nighttime walk across Medieval London would probably take only twenty minutes or so, but traversing the daytime city was a different matter.... Imagine a shopping mall where everyone shouts, no one washes, front teeth are uncommon and the shopping music is provided by the slaughterhouse up the road." Yikes, and that's before just about everything with a pulse starts dying and piling up in the streets, reducing the population of Europe by anywhere from a third to 60 percent in a few short years. In addition to taking readers on a walking tour through plague-ravaged Europe, Kelly heaps on the ancillary information and every last bit of it is captivating. We get a thorough breakdown of the three types of plagues that prey on humans; a detailed account of how the plague traveled from nation to nation (initially by boat via flea-infested rats); how floods (and the appalling hygiene of medieval people) made Europe so susceptible to the disease; how the plague triggered a new social hierarchy favoring women and the proletariat but also sparked vicious anti-Semitism; and especially, how the plague forever changed the way people viewed the church. Engrossing, accessible, and brimming with first-hand accounts drawn from the Middle Ages, The Great Mortality illuminates and inspires. History just doesn't get better than that. --Kim Hughes
Book Description
La moria grandissima began its terrible journey across the European and Asian continents in 1347, leaving unimaginable devastation in its wake. Five years later, twenty-five million people were dead, felled by the scourge that would come to be called the Black Death. The Great Mortality is the extraordinary epic account of the worst natural disaster in European history -- a drama of courage, cowardice, misery, madness, and sacrifice that brilliantly illuminates humankind's darkest days when an old world ended and a new world was born.
Customer Reviews:
Much More Entertaining than you would Expect it to be.......2007-08-10
It takes a certain personality to write about death and disease, but it takes an altogether odd personality to write about a pandemic and make it interesting. Kelly has done a whole lot of research about the pandemic and it's progress from the Steppes of central asia until it finally peters out after four years of obliterating up to half of the population of Europe.
Like any one, you would ask the traditional who, what, where, when and why? Kelly does a superb job of blending the answers together in an easily readable and knowledgeable way. He start where the disease begins, and then goes into explaining the different theories of it's causes that have been postulated over the years. He gives his own opinion as to whose theories he believes and then explains why he doesn't agree with others.
His description of how the disease began and how it was able to have such an overall effect on Europe. More than anything, he explains how the years preceding the outbreak had set-up the conditions for it's maximized effect. Prior years heavy rains and poor harvests had led to starvation and people living on the edge. In poor physical condition to begin with, and many having lingering effects from a famine in their childhoods, large numbers of Europeans had no ability to fight off the disease.
In addition, the unsanitary nature of European cities, with garbage and fecal matter mixing in the streets with animal carcases and the detritus of butchers just thrown in the street created a paradise for the rats that carried the disease vectors (fleas) with them. Add to this mess, the idea that bathing was unnecessary and probably dangerous and you have the makings of a paradise for the disease.
But why were men of science and logic unable to see what the base cause was? Mostly because they were stuck in the paradigms of the times and no one could think their way out of the box they had all put themselves in. The only major organization that could have helped by crossing over political lines was the Catholic Church. And the Church as much as anyone spent a lot of time running away from the problem while losing many of their brightest people to the disease. Those who were left were overwhelmed by the enormity of death and destruction the disease caused.
If your first thought is that this is a payment from God for ungodliness then you've already stopped yourself dead in the water. How do you stop something that is the wrath of an omnipotent deity? You don't. You cower in your little hovel and hope he misses you because you are too insignificant to be worth bothering with.
Or you look for someone to blame it on. Lunatics, Lepers, Jews? Yes that's the answer, this is a conspiracy of the Jews. So lets kill them (torture confessions out of them first) and at the same time we can also steal all their gold and possessions. They killed Christ and they are probably trying to kill all of the Christians too. Give credit to Pope Clement VI who sent out many papal bulls denouncing the destruction of the Jews and asking the local priests to protect them. It did no good but it's more that a lot of other Popes (Pius XII) have done.
In the end, the explanation as to why this pandemic was so destructive as compared to others where the death toll was never above 15%, is yet to be undiscovered. There are lots of theories and counter-theories but no one can say for sure.
Grotesque and fascinating tale to entertain.......2007-03-19
"The Great Mortality" succeeds as entertaining popular history; it is not entirely accurate biology and epidemiology. Nor is it a comparative analysis of differences in the many areas savaged by the Plague.
Other works by Norman Cantor and by Robert S. Gottfried are also of value. Kelly is more fun to read which appears to be its purpose. Along with something of the historical and social context he includes lively stories and experiences of those living - and dying - at the time.
More case studies in other locations and cultures that have differing medical and social responses potentially could reveal much. There is an older interesting study of Egypt and perhaps others of China (?), perhaps even of India (?) but no comparative analysis that could be fascinating and revealing.
Historical errors raise concerns about the author.......2007-02-28
While this is a brisk read, as a good popular history should be, I am concerned by errors in the text. One example suffices. In Chapter 2, Kelly describes the infamous Fourth Crusade thusly: "Venetian authorities offered a group of French Crusaders free passage to the Holy Land, then rerouted the Crusaders east to capture Constantinople." Wrong on virtually every count. Then as now, Venetians gave nothing away free. The Doge and the leaders of the Crusade agreed on a (healthy) price for transport by sea to Egypt (not Palestine). When the troops arrived at the port, however, the Crusaders proved to be short of funds, and were unable to raise the balance. Only then were they diverted to the sack of Zara and then of Constantinople as a means of paying their debt to Venice. See Norwich, "A History of Venice" for the details.
Now, if Kelly can get an episode as well-known and well-documented as the Fourth Crusade so wrong, how can one trust his judgment on other issues? Especially on such issues as epidemiology, which few readers (myself included) are likely to know much about?
I also note that the author apparently personally responded to one of the negative reviews posted here. I would rather that he respond to the one that accuses him of plagiarism. I do hope it's unfounded.
Too choppy to keep interest.......2007-01-08
This book started out interesting, I was drawn in after reading possibly the most graphic paragraph I'd ever encountered, but the author skips around so much that you can't find a thread of narrative to follow. It makes the book confusing and hard to remain interested in.
Fasacinating, but choppy in places.......2007-01-02
Europe - and eurasia - suffered a devastating pestilence in the mid-14th century, with an estimated 25% of its population dying. The spread of the buboic plague from Caffa to Moscow is graphically recounted in Kelly's _The Great Mortality_.
The book follows the course of the plague chronologically, city by city, citing sources while giving the reader a feel for the time period. The book is at its strongest when it discusses the vectors, spread and effects of the disease on European society. Relating the individual stories of plague sufferers and survivors is also a strength, and gives a personalizes the losses inflicted by the disease.
It is at its weakest, however, when the author literally gives "voice" to the deceased, straying from the historical record. This was most apparent in the sections dealing with the plague in Britain, curious, as this was in the latter part of the book. The controversey about the nature of the plague also detracted from the narrative - an addendum or afterword would have been a more apporpriate place to discuss historical semantics.
I do recommend it - the historical scholarship is first rate, and on the whole it reads more like a novel than a history.
Book Description
In this lively and accessible book, Colin Heywood explores the changing experiences and perceptions of childhood from the early Middle Ages to the beginning of the twentieth century. Heywood examines the different ways in which people have thought about childhood as a stage of life, the relationships of children with their families and peers, and the experiences of young people at work, in school and at the hands of various welfare institutions. The aim is to place the history of children and childhood firmly in its social and cultural context, without losing sight of the many individual experiences that have come down to us in diaries, autobiographies and oral testimonies. Heywood argues that there is a cruel paradox at the heart of childhood in the past. On the one hand, material conditions for children have generally improved in the West, however belatedly and unevenly, and they are now more valued than in the past. On the other hand, the business of preparing for adulthood has become more complicated in urban and industrial societies, as the young face a bewildering array of choices and expectations. A History of Childhood will be an essential introduction to the subject for students of history, the social sciences and cultural studies.
Average customer rating:
- Great book
- Teacher's Grade: A-
- You would think it was the authors fifth not first......
- The start of an empire
- time warp series
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Knights of the Kitchen Table (Time Warp Trio) (Time Warp Trio)
Jon Scieszka
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ASIN: 0142400432 |
Book Description
EveryoneÂ's favorite time-travelers are changing their style! The Time Warp Trio series now features a brand-new, eye-catching design, sure to appeal to longtime fans, and those new to Jon ScieszkaÂ's wacky brand of humor.
Customer Reviews:
Great book.......2007-03-11
My students have been reading this book and giving it great reviews. It's a faster read than most of our Reading Olympics books, but they really seem to enjoy it.
Teacher's Grade: A-.......2006-07-14
I love reading this book aloud to my 2nd grade students. There is abundant humor, a lot of action, and excellent dialogue. The kids especially love the disgusting giant with flatulence issues, and the fire-breathing dragon.
This is an excellent springboard into reading for reluctant but capable boy readers.
You would think it was the authors fifth not first.............2006-03-24
You knew this was the authors first book, but you felt far into the story while reading....which made it good...I would like to read more books by this author.
The start of an empire.......2006-02-21
Finally Lane Smithh and Jim Szcieska have found their niche. These (now eleven?) stories are about to become a series on either Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network. And this is the book that started it all. Alas.
The good thing is that through the eyes of young boys the era of the Middle Ages is debunked from myth - it was smelly, dirty, unhealthy, and those suits of armor made from aluminium today weighed a lot more in those days.
But the story reads like it has a formula already: cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 1 (where do the boys wind up?), cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 2 (the boys are about to be attacked), cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 3 (the Book that got them there is in peril/unattainable/out of reach), happy resolution at the end of the book.
It's the young person's version of Robert Ludlum. Pity. I bought the first four books on the strength of other books by this dynamic duo, but I will not be buying the rest. I don't buy Robert Ludlum because I don't buy formula at any level.
Life is way more dynamic than that.
time warp series.......2005-10-27
the whole series is very good. should be in every library and school
Customer Reviews:
Informational medieval book with little bias.......2004-11-11
This fascinating medieval book is truly a jewel for students and history buffs everywhere. Rowling breaks Life in Medieval Times down into comprehensive units that allow the reader to maximize precious research time by finding important facts and quotes quickly. Each chapter provides its own concise collection of information, saving researchers the inconvenience of sorting through pages of irrelevant data to find specific quotes and subjects. The author offers readers an in depth look into Medieval society from economic, clerical, aristocratic, and even plebian viewpoints, giving all aspects of society equal representation. Rowling does not try to gild over the harsh realities of medieval life, and unlike many other historians, she does not attempt to use the brutality of the period to support any ideological opinions. She describes joyous festivals and the simple pleasures of daily life as well as documenting the cruelties of war and the injustices of feudal organization. Even such controversial topics as the conflict between religion and government, the status and rights of women in society, and the questionable alliance between militarism and piety in the Crusades are presented with a remarkable absence of pervasive bias. Rowling's educational mission presents the discerning reader with legitimate facts and leaves the individual to make important decisions and form their own opinions about history. This academic justice presents a powerfully lucid view of history and medieval life.
Rowling's Life in Medieval Times reads much like a categorized medieval textbook. The book differs significantly from the typical textbook, however, in that the author delves into the cultural stories and social legends of the time. This cultural emphasis creates a fascinating blend of humanities and history and adds a warm, human touch to a subject often viewed as an assortment of cold, dead facts. Unfortunately, this blended approach also tends to soften the impact of historical fact. All in all, however, this softening is better than just getting one very opinionated side of the story like you do in some textbooks. Overall: great book
Customer Reviews:
Where does it say that this is supposed to be for younger readers?.......2007-04-11
I've scanned the entire page for this book here at Amazon.com and looked on the inside cover of the book itself when I borrowed it from the library to read. Nowhere can I find an indication that this book is directed at young readers. Therefore I must take issue with other user reviews for this book that criticize it for being inappropriate for teens. It wasn't INTENDED for teens; should it be so surprising that it contains material that some people would consider in appropriate for them?
Yes, the book contains references to the procreative activities of the mythological figure Rig. Yes, it discusses the sacrifice of a young slave girl during a chieftain's funeral (although, as the original account by Ibn Fadhlan states, the girl was not as "unwilling" as another review would indicate: she did, in fact, volunteer for the task and was treated with "great courtesy" before the ceremony).
It discusses these things because they were part of the culture of the so-called Vikings. It discusses them because they are what this book is ABOUT. Should we intentionally omit pertinent information regarding aspects of the culture of the Northmen just because it may offend our modern-day, Christianity-based sensibilities? That seems a narrow-minded, ethnocentric and thoroughly unscientific way of doing things to me.
I can also understand one being "disturbed" by (but not "with") the material in this book, especially if one is not familiar with Viking culture, but to then claim that the material is "opinionated" (or even "opionated") is quite silly. I don't know what basis one would have for making such a claim, since most if not all of the material I encountered in this book I've encountered in other, very well respected books on the subject, not to mention in the existing primary sources.
The book itself is just what it presents itself to be: a relatively short, fairly well written, straightforward overview of both Viking history and Viking society; not too stuffy, scholarly or long-winded; and engaging for the layperson with little knowledge of the subject. I would heartily recommend it to anyone--and that includes teens.
DEFINITELY NOT FOR THE KIDS!.......2002-11-25
I own ten WLWL books and most are entertaining, but I found this one to be somewhat bizarre. As with all books in this series you will enjoy beautiful color imagery. There are numerous examples of Viking artifacts - household objects, swords, clothing, longships, intricate wood carvings and the like. The text focuses on daily lives, settlements, and Viking ingenuity. Particular attention is paid to their vicious, warlike nature and the various mythological gods and pagan rituals surrounding them. Here I was struck by some overt and completely gratuitous sexual references. A few examples:"(The god) Rig was greeted by a man in his prime called Father, who was...beside an elegant woman called Mother, who sat admiring her...As was his custom, Rig stayed three nights and slept between the couple in their bed. Nine months later Mother gave birth to a boy..." This scenario is repeated several times; on page 28 Rig impregnates a great-grandmother! All of this comes from myth preserved in the Icelandic poem Rigsthula, but with the vast wealth of Viking lore to choose from, why would the author select this information? Pages 74-76 detail the cremation of a Rus chieftain and an unwilling slave girl. "The slave girl drank herself into a stupor...before being put to death she visited the tents of several men close to the chieftain and had intercourse with them...at the last moment the victim appeared to waver...Two men held her feet and two grasped her hands, while the Angel of Death looped a cord around her neck and gave the crossed ends to the other two men for them to pull. Then the old woman seized a broad-bladed dagger and plunged it repeatedly between the victim's ribs, and the men tightened the cord until she was dead..." Time-Life has long been a trusted source for young readers. Unfortunately, explicit references (without a hint on the dust jacket or table of contents) make this book a poor choice for them and a potential embarrassment as a gift. In addition, though the photos and drawings are great, the text sometimes gets a little boring even for adults. Recommended only for mature readers with a very strong interest in this subject.
Bad.......2002-03-18
Hello,
I am very disturbed with this book. I am a mother of two and have written three books. I am disgusted by the information. It is all opionated. I do not recommend that you read this book. Thank you
The best book in the series other than Egypt.......1999-11-11
When I read this book I became obsessed with vikings, everyone who likes mideaval history HAS to read this book.
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