Forced to parent your mother from the age of 5?

If you, like me, suffered from role reversal, if your mother expected you to"look after mummy because if you don't, something might happen to me!", if you have been weighed down by guilt, shame, anger and depression which seems to have dominated your adult life, if you still don't seem to know who you are as a woman when everyone else seems to know where they are going, if you still feel an overwhelming need to be parented, then, this cassette comes as highly recommended.

The author, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, sounds as if she has travelled a very similar journey. Her voice is warm, soothing and empathic, as she explains why unmothered children get locked into certain ways of behaving, the depressions, the feelings of unworthiness and low self-esteem, and the far-reaching effects such abuse can have on adult life. Listening to this tape will give any unmothered adults, (especially women), hope, understanding, and empowerment to find their way back to the child they once were.

Clarissa states very early on in the tape that the only person who can parent an unmothered adult and"make it better" is the adult herself. A bitter pill to swallow when all you want is for someone to come into your life and do it all for you but knowing that truth can act as a catalyst for change. Yes there is a way out of this dungeon of pain. Your life can change. You can't change your past any more than I can, but you can change your future. Let Clarissa help you and guide your first steps on the road to your recovery.

Exposing the roots

During the past century, archaeology's tool kit gained immensely in size and quality. New, accurate, dating systems pinpoint events. Researchers study humble pollen, weather conditions, changes in household implements along with building construction plans and methods. Even the"dismal science" of economics contributes information on trade, surpluses, products exchanged and records. Documents, always problematic, are subject to intense criticism and comparison. Inevitably, this investigative array has turned to the eastern Mediterranean and the societies flourishing there in"biblical times". During the 19th and early 20th Centuries, scholars rooted in the desert sands seeking evidence that Biblical episodes indeed occurred. The authors turn that process on its head, accepting the occurrence of events but challenging their dating. Biblical dating, they argue, is generally contrived.

What would be the reason for fabricating excess longevity to the founding of the Jewish people? According to the authors, it was an attempt by priest-scribes to formulate a theologically-based ideology. The purpose of this propaganda document was to justify a forced reunification of the"dual kingdoms" of Israel and Judah, long sundered, but still related. Instead of a history written over strung out centuries, Finkelstein and Silberman say the authors of the Torah flourished during the 7th Century BCE. Their intent was to galvanise the people of Judah to participate in the reconquest of Israel.

As the biblical writers put it, David founded a glorious kingdom, further enhanced by Solomon. This empire was centred on the Temple in Jerusalem. A centralised dogma with adherence to a single deity [no matter how capricious] represented by a single building in a central city was the rallying point. The Torah, then, was little more than a manifesto for conquest and unification. Past failures and successful invasions by Egyptians, Assyrians and Persians were attributed to idolatry, intermarriage with foreign women and rejection of YHWH, the all-powerful desert god. Finkelstein and Silberman credit the biblical authors with manipulating, if not fabricating past events to build the case for Jewish unity.

The book's authors bring every tool in archaeology's kit to bear in constructing their case. Each chapter opens with a"biblical account" of periods and events. The archaeological evidence is then presented for comparison. The Exodus, for example, a Jewish foundation stone of tradition and celebration, lacks all support. The Egyptians, meticulous record-keepers, say nothing of large Hebrew slave populations. Pharonic border guardians, ever alert to invasions from the east, apparently missed half a million people crossing the other way. The great infrastructure projects attributed to Solomon were more likely to have come from the despised Omride dynasty of Samaria. The evidence derives from gate construction techniques. Even business makes a contribution - it was Judah's rise in commerce that improved its level of literacy. A more learned population was more susceptible to the wave of propaganda insisting Israel and Judah should be reunited.

Finkelstein and Silberman avoid sinking into the morass of"biblical minimalism" prevalent in recent years. They don't contest the"historical reality" of biblical events. They do insist on better evidence for chronology, and for realistic assessment of the power of Jewish leaders. David couldn't have ruled more than a minuscule kingdom and nobody seems to have heard of Solomon. The authors acknowledge the long-term impact of the Torah and its successors in the Christian world. The reason, they argue, is that no other theological or political documents of the time reached so many people so intimately. Greeks, Persians, Egyptians and Babylonians all produced their commentators. None of these, however, could prescribe the daily lives of their readers. The Hebrew Bible's writer's provided this and other guides with a surety of purpose other societies never matched. It proved an effective, if historically flawed, document. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Indespensable

Have you ever had a seemingly impossible to win argument? Or needed an excuse for an impromptu celebration? Then grab a copy of The Golden Bough...enough pagan holidays and fire festivals to satisfy the most ardent firework junkie, and loads of useful (?) facts as well. It is also very interesting to browse through, and you can find out a surprising amount.

A Great Read

I first read this book more than fifteen years ago while still at primary school. In the edition I read there were no illustrations but the quality and descriptive nature of the language had me hooked from the start. My imagination was fired by the heroic deeds of King Arthur and his Knights. This book is a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who like to lose themselves in a glorious book.

For the first time in 2000 years...

Geza Vermes' book, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, is a worthy capstone to a long and distinguished scroll career. Vermes entire career, from his student days to this present work, has been concentrated largely on the Dead Sea Scrolls and related topics. His doctorate in 1953 was completed with a dissertation on the historical framework of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is difficult to find any scholar with as complete a knowledge of the scrolls as has Vermes; it is impossible to find one who knows them better.

This book was released in 1997, 50 years from the time the first Arab shepherd climbed into a cave in search of a wandering animal and instead fell upon the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Following the 'revolution' of 1991 (to use Vermes words), everyone interested could have unfettered access to the Scrolls, and yet, as inaccessible as they had been previously due to physical restriction, they remained just as inaccessible due to the problem of language and translation.

'In addition to the English rendering of the Hebrew and Aramaic texts found in the eleven Qumran caves, two inscribed potsherds (ostraca) retrieved from the Qumran site and two Qumran-type documents discovered in the fortress of Masada, and brief introductory notes to each text, this volume also provides an up-to-date general introduction, outlining the history of fifty years of Scroll research and sketching the organisation, history and religious message of the Qumran Community.'

This is the latest volume of a series: when Vermes first published an edition in 1962 (then 15 years after the discovery of the first scrolls), the book had 262 pages; the current edition has 648. The introduction deals with a brief sketch of the history of research (including a bit on the controversies, such as not allowing Jewish scholars to work on these Jewish texts, the close-guarding and restrictive access of the scrolls by the scholars); further issues in the introduction address current research, including questions of dating, provenance, and perhaps, most importantly, the meaning and significance of the Qumran texts.

Vermes puts together a three-part essay on his view (as well as a little on alternative views) of who was the community at Qumran, the history of that community, and the religious ideas of the community.

This is where we get into the text of the Scrolls in earnest. Vermes begins with The Community Rule a large document that listed the requirements and a penal code. This is best known as the Manual of Discipline. Composition may have begun about 100 BCE, and several fragmentary remains exist of copies of the manual.

'There are, to my knowledge, no writings in ancient Jewish sources parallel to the Community Rule, but a similar type of literature flourished amogn Christians between the second and fourth centuries, the so-called 'Church Orders' represented by works such as the Didache, the Didascalia, the Apostolic Constitution.'

From the Rules and variants, including the now-infamous MMT text, which provoked international lawsuits for violating the 'copyright' exerted by one Scroll scholar on its contents, Vermes proceeds to examine Hymns and Poems; Calendars, Liturgies and Prayers; Apocalyptic Works (which have the greatest appeal to many imminent eschatologically-inclined sects today); Wisdom Literature; Bible translations, commentaries, and apocryphal works; and Miscellanea, including objects such as the Copper Scroll (a rare form, not on parchment, which reads like an accountant's register of treasure), and lists, including the List of False Prophets.

For anyone interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls in any serious way, this is an essential book. With various 'complete' scroll editions and collections being released, this edition, produced by one who has devoted his life to scroll studies, remains one of the best, most complete and clearly translated.

The one drawback, which will only affect those whose interest extends to the study of Roman-period Hebrew and Aramaic, is that there is no photographic imagery or recreation in Hebrew/Aramaic script to show the actual scroll text so that one might make a personal study of the accuracy of the translation. Thus, this text works best for that purpose in conjunction with another translation, or with the very-expensive scroll photographic plate sets now available.

But, for most any use from general interest to scholarship, this volume will serve the reader well.

Who do you think you are?

You'll need a sheet of paper the size of a football pitch to map out Hesiod's family tree of the gods! This edition, however, boats a lively translation supported by a brief and concise introduction and useful explanatory notes. In contrast to Homer, Hesiod's voice and play on the role of the poet is clearly demarcated, particularly in his appeal to his brother Perses in Works and Days. Hesiod appears to be attacking Perses' idleness and lack of ambition. But could Hesiod's attack also be aimed at other sections of his society, those people who seek a life of indolence, dependent on hand outs, with little motivation for social responsibility? Hesiod's obvious attention to a strong work ethic, deeply embedded in the agrarian cycle, espouses a moral responsibility for the individual and his neighbours. Perses does not seem to share his brother's values and principles and is duly criticised. In an interesting passage Hesiod details the need for Perses to conform to social conventions, such as not cutting your finger nails during a feast to the gods, sitting on the graves of children or using a `woman's washing water' to cleanse your body. As in all times (take a look at a tabloid newspaper) gossip is seen as destructive but hard to avoid. For Hesiod `Rumour [a divinity] is a dangerous thing, light and easy to pick up, but hard to support and difficult to get rid of.'<br /><br />As with many civilisations Hesiod conveys a patriarchal view of divine order and social responsibility. For me there is a widely sexist element to this structure and, alongside, for example, the Bible's Eve, women are seen as harbingers of trouble and strife. For instance in Works and Days Hesiod warns against the `arse-rigged woman [who will] deceive your wits with her wily twitterings when she pokes into your granary; he who believes a woman, believes cheaters.' Similarly the consequences of Prometheus' theft of fire from Zeus is the creation of a woman in the form of Pandora, whose jar (not box) is `unstopped' and all man's ills are released for all eternity, the only exception being Hope which remained `under the lip of the jar.' Hesiod's genealogy and moral framework offers an informative insight into the world of ancient Greece.<br />

Simply wonderful!

"The Power of Myth" was a series on PBS where Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell explored myth through various archetypes. The importance of myth is explored in terms of comparative mythology and the place of myth in current times. Bill Moyers, a prominent American journalist, is an engaging interviewer and Joseph Campbell is lucid in his explanations. Both of them are a brilliant combination, offering intelligence and wit. A great book for anyone interested in Joseph Campbell, myths, archetypes and symbols from a comparative framework.

men in cuneiform

This, though billed as an edition for the general reader, really isn't. The texts, instead of being worked up into a continuous narrative as in some other versions, are presented exactly as they appear in the original sources: disjointed, repetitive, incomplete. Sadly, the Epic of Gilgamesh is particularly affected by this. Thus whatever the merits of the translation, which I'm not qualified to judge, this is not something you can just sit and read as entertainment. Since it is avowedly not a scholarly edition either, it's hard to see who it's going to please.

a beautiful tale of a young girl's attachment to a mermaid

Like all four-year-olds, I guess, my daughter has a thing about Mermaids, but I found this story to be more touching, more beautifully illustrated that the other mermaid tale which she is most familiar with - notably The Little Mermaid (both Disney and otherwise).

It tells the story of a little girl who befriends a strange young girl who she meets on the beach, while her father is out in his fishing boat. When she discovers that this stranger is actually a mermaid, she is reluctant to let her return to the sea and prevents her from doing so (without wishing to give the entire game away).

It is a rather chilling tale, with more than a hint of ghostliness to it, but which captures all young girls' obsessions with the idea of being a mermaid.

Quietly brilliant

These days, The Odyssey is usually seen as more of an historical artefact than a work of fiction. Clunky translations tend to kill the drama and fail to capture why The Odyssey is still a classic after more than 2500 years. Armitage reinvigorates the tale by completely rewriting it in the form of a radio play. Surprisingly, Armitage plays it straight, writing very naturalistic dialogue and resisting the temptation to render everything in pompous poetry. A strange approach, you might think, for one of Britain's leading poets. But it works brilliantly.<br /><br />In Armitage's version, the timeless themes of the story come in to sharp focus. The story exposes man's weakness when faced with the devastating power of temptation. But we also see the value of courage and loyalty in the face of insurmountable odds - not only from Odysseus, but also from Penelope, forced to wait to for him alone for twenty years. The Odyssey is in many ways a strikingly modern and human story, and that really comes through here. Armitage has put humanity into The Odyssey, allowing us to share Odysseus's pain and longing, as well as his famed cunning.<br /><br />There's humour here, as well as intense drama, and the whole thing is beautifully readable, compulsive, concise and easy to follow. All the romance and excitement of the adventure and the tension of the decisive moments is captured here. It could nearly be a children's classic, but for a few cases of strong language and sexual references (it's a 12A rating, really). There's plenty for grownups to enjoy here though, regardless of whether or not you've read The Odyssey.

Woeful

I've never particularly been a fan of 'stocking fillers', and coupled with the hindsight that this is a truely shocking example of the aforementioned, I have to question how this ever ended up in my shopping basket. <br />In short, the content is very poor, obviously there wasn't much stupid history to work with as large areas of the book include, well, just general facts. Buttermilk doesn't contain any butter apparently, and french poodles are originally from germany, its enthralling stuff. <br />The actual historical stories are pretty tepid aswell, and ironically the only high point of the book, we're talking about a low bar here, is the dreadful one liners that conclude most of the stories. Such witiscms, that are usually followed by tumbleweeds, or someone going 'bo-boom tsch' provide cringe entertainment for a short time, but thats about it.

Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition Faeries

Another masterpiece from Brian Froud and Alan lee.
This book is an explination into the wonderful world of faries,
I have purchased many books on faries and some by Brian Froud , but this one it the best yet. It introduces you to the fairy world in a way that captures you forever. The book is bursting with the most amazing art, from sketches to paintings, all vervibrant and alive with emotion and passion.
My children also got so much enjoyment from it, It as with other Brian Froud works looks at both sides of the fairy world, not just the good but the naughty, medling elves and pixies.
I highly recomend this book for all ages and not just fairy enthusiasts, I know this could be enjoyed by all.

very very good book

This book had so much items to look up in it.
It really explanes star trek a little bit better

a really good book to buy

not gripped me at all

the stories just dont seem like old myths and legends they just sound like daft stories like harry potter or somthing i just cant get interested in it at all ive read about 4 stories they are just either poorly written or just plain fabricated.mth and legend if im not mistaken have roots in reality these just seem really stupid and lack anything real kids wont relate to the stories and adults wont i am very dissapointed with the book. take ure kids to knghts caverns in rhyll in wales if its still there.<br /><br />note;<br />i have since read more of this book at a different time and it is ok for stories just not as interesting as other myths i change my 2/5 to 4/5

An excellent collection

First things first, this is not a cookery book! My wife Doreen picked this up assuming it to be about eggs, proving that you should never judge a book by its cover. I was absolutely furious about her mistake at first. Failure may be a stepping stone to success but when it comes to my views on the dish that she prepared, discretion would be the better part of valour. Aside from imparting the knowledge that you cannot proceed without breaking eggs, I am sorry to say that this book left her completely in the dark about how to prepare an omelette.<br /><br />Still, you win some and you lose some. In the end I realised that I had been making a mountain out of a molehill. Every cloud has a silver lining and her purchase of this book proved to be a blessing in disguise. It is most fortunate that I chose not to look a gift horse in the mouth, because this is an extremely good read. You will not find a more thorough volume of proverbs, for Simpson left no stone unturned when carrying out his research. The introduction states that over two years of intensive work went into producing this volume, but Rome wasn't built in a day. <br /><br />When I was a lad, my own father was rather big on his proverbs."Neither a borrower nor a lender be" was by far and away his favourite and he never tired of reciting it to anyone within earshot. Eventually this came back to haunt him however, when our own family fell tremendously into debt (not that this prevented the old stick in the mud from pestering people with the phrase every bit as frequently). Indeed, times were hard after my father was sacked from his position as a mortgage salesman, for persistent failure to meet with official targets.