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A good story can take a child on a voyage into the imagination and change a life forever. Hear the tale of Rumplestiltskin as read by Kathleen Turner. Music is by Tangerine Dream. ... Read more

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THE COMPLETE SHAKESPEARE SONNETS read by Patrick Stewart,Natasha Richardson, Ossie Davis, Al Pacino, Claire Bloom, KathleenTurner, Alfred Molina, Lindsay Crouse, Ruby Dee, Brian Stokes Mitchelland more

"The Sonnets are as important a part of Shakespeare'slecacy as his Plays. They are filled with thoughts and emotions all ofus can recognize: desire, disappointment, jealousy, love, andforgiveness.To speak his Sonnets, Shakespeare created a character, aPoet, who gives voice to the feelings and observations reflected ineach poem. We thought it appropriate to gather together a group ofactors who could bring this Poet to life. We have set out t read theSonnets in Shakespeare's language, in such a manner that allows therelevancy and originality of each poem to shine through." From theIntroduction to the Complete Shakespeare Sonnets, Kathleen Turner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A befitting tribute to The Bard of Avon...
The sonnet is one among the many forms of poetry. It is a difficult form of verse with a FIXED rhyme scheme. The other trivia about writing it is that the verse should be 14 lines long. 154 sonnets written by Shakespeare have been read/recorded in this collection. There are actually two cd's in the box - the first cd contains sonnets 1 through 75 and the second, sonnets 76 through 154. The accompanying book of sonnets is a plus - it saves our time spent in scurrying to locate the sonnet being read next, since all the sonnets are in one place, in the order that they are being read. The book also has two indexes of the sonnets: 1. Track number / First line of sonnet/ Artist and 2. First line of sonnet / Track number / Artist

Since the rhyming scheme is fixed (abab bcbd cdcd ee), listening to them all at a time can sometimes make it sound monotonous, but that issue has been fixed in this audio book, by varying the tone, voice, and reader. When it comes to reading The Bard's works on an audio CD, who can do it better than experienced and well known thespians and theatre personalities who have made a mark in their own style? Here is the list of personalities who have read the sonnets for us:
1. Gerry Bammon
2. Roberta Bella
3. Claire Bloom
4. Lindsay Crouse
5. Ossie Davis
6. Ruby Dee
7. Brian Dennehy
8. Denise Dumont
9. Jill Gascoin
10. Amy Irving
11. Anne Jackson
12. Jordan Lage
13. Brian Stokes Mitchell
14. Alfred Molina
15. Al Pacino
16. Natasha Richardson
17. Patric Stewart
18. Allyson Tucker
19. Kathleen Turner (who, along with Charline Spektor, is also the producer for this audio-collection)
20. Eli Wallach
21. Fritz Weaver

Some of the sonnets have been rendered by more than one person, and both of them have been published in this cd, since both of them are good to listen. There was no point in time while I listened to the CD that I felt bored. In fact, some of them have been rendered so well that I wanted to listen to them again, just for the rendition.

For those who are interested in Shakespeare, this is an important addition to their collection. Some of the sonnets therein are well known ("Let me not to the marriage of true minds/Admit impediments.../If this be error and upon me proved/I never writ, nor no man ever loved"), and there are so many others to be read for the first time. Some of them bring vivid imagery, even if they are unknown ("Thus in his cheek the map of days outworn"), whereas others have wonderful metaphors ("So are you to my thoughts as food to life,/or as sweet-season'd showers are to the ground;"). Almost all of them are treasure houses of wisdom (remember, Shakespeare was 45 when they were published, and he had lived life then).

Now, coming to majors who have to read the sonnets for their academic purposes - it is well known that it helps if we can quote lines from the sonnets amidst our theory answers; to that end, listening to the cd before, after or while reading the sonnet in print helps memorizing the lesson easier - this is my experience.

Here is a fantastic audio-book that reminds me why I was so entranced by literature while I was studying. A good gift for literature oriented people to add to their collection.
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A must for the rhetorical critic
It's this book that has convinced me that the historical-critical method is one of the most misunderstood and least appreciated approaches to rhetorical criticism. It's not mere historicism, but much, much more. I heartily recommend this book to the critic who does not want to decontextualise the discourse they analyze. Rhetorical criticism must yield real-world implications, not merely critical "insights" based on an ivory tower view from a postmodern perch! ... Read more

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The development of an Ambonese nationalist movement from a non-territorial communal riot offers an important insight into understanding the changes in ethnic and national consciousness that had taken place among the Ambonese since the eruption of violence in January 1999. The 1999 conflict in Ambon, Eastern Indonesia began as a communal riot in which members of one group suddenly instigated a violent attack on civilian members of another group. However the development of the Moluccan Sovereignty Front and the Java-based Laskar Jihad represented an important phase in conflict development as each nationalist construction played off each other. The conflict on the island became characterised by this trend where two conflicting ideological constructions translated the conflict into a non-negotiable confrontion between opposing national rights. These constructions remained internalised on the island and embedded within the mindsets of both Ambonese Christians and Muslims thereby rendering setbacks to conflict resolution. ... Read more

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Crochet Musings
This is not your traditional crochet book.Pauline Turner paints a picture of how she was/is inspired to design and create innovative free form crochet.It is Pauline thinking on paper about her history leading to her status as the "guru" of crochet.The photos are great.If your passion is crochet or free form crochet at its best get this book.If your looking for structured patterns or instructions skip it.I found the book inspirational, motivational and insightful into the process of creativity. ... Read more

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Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)This book speaks to every person who ever looked for happiness and didn't know where to turn; for every person who wanted love and never really felt it; for every person who longed for forgiveness for what they believed were "unpardonable sins" and didn't believe there was anyone to grant it; for every person that has wanted to go to a dark room and close the door because the "world" was just to much to bear.Kathleen Suzanne Turner, a writer, speaker, wife and mother lives in Georgia with her husband and step-son.She is currently working on her next non-fiction book entitled "Getting to the Right Place on all the Wrong Roads." It chronicles her journey through six failed marriages, Multiple Sclerosis, multiple illnesses, rape, molestation, drug abuse, emotional abuse, adultery and estrangement from her two biological children. It is the happy ending to a life doomed to fail, if it were not for the love and forgiveness of her Savior and highest love of her life, Jesus Christ.Her life today she says is "a far departure from the person I used to be." It is inspiration for any woman or man who may be struggling with a life threatening disease, personal disappointment and/or despair in their own lives, and it is hope for anyone who is really seeking the ultimate answer to living a joyful life. ... Read more

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Twenty-Four Hours with God
I find this book to be very spiritual.I felt the Holy Spirit was there when I read it. As a matter of fact, I could feel the Holy Spirit moving within my body; speaking to me.I could feel the author's frustrations and I could feel the Lord speaking with her in her time of need.I think the book is a very, very deep concentarted spritiual communication with God.It helped me to be able to understand more about the Word and the blessings that are ours if we seek Him [God] as she stated in her book.It truly is HOPE for people that may feel there are no more chances for them in their lives. I think she is a very good writer and is very compassionate.She expesses her feelings in a very comprehensive way.It is a book that you lose yourself in.You feel as though you are in the realm of God and the author makes you feel as if you were with her experiencing what she has gone through.You feel Him [God] around you and feel the Holy Spirit while you are reading this book.As a Christian, I value this author's work very highly.I would recommend this book (Twenty-Four Hours with God) not only to those that are already believers but, to anyone really seeking to know the Lord and His unlimited capacity for forgiveness. ... Read more

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"Turner's sassy performance is a hell of a lot of fun"-Los Angeles times ... Read more

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The smartest and sexiest sleuth around is Vicky Bliss. Inthe sunsplashed streets or moonlit courtyards of Rome, Vicky is out touncover a true geius and master art thief. Someone is creating themost beautiful jewels and replacing the real ones. Debauched noblesand majestic villas, charming thieves and startling murders, and thatall too charming Sir John Smythe- Vicky's got her hands full. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

An Early Work.
Street of the Five Moons by Elizabeth Peters is interesting in that is an earlier work, 1978 to be exact, and reading it showed how the author has grown over the years.Victoria Bliss, expert in medieval art gets mixed up with European art forgers.She is attractive, intelligent, well educated, but looks and sounds like a Vegas showgirl.Anti-hero John is an interesting mix of English aristocracy and modern crook, some of the dialogue between these characters is hilarious.

Entertaining sequel to Borrower of the Night
This is the 2nd book in the Vicky Bliss series, and even though it's been around for a while, there's not much in it to 'date' it, so it's just as enjoyable now as it was when first published. Elizabeth Peters wrote the first book (Borrower of the Night), and a couple of sequels, then let the Vicky Bliss novels rest for many years, until returning to them again fairly recently. There's no trace of the gap. All are filled with humor and wit. The characters are well-rounded and (mostly!) believeable. The mystery is always tied to the art/antiquities world, and the snapshots of the foreign cities and countries in which the action occurs are always vivid. Elizabeth Peters is a 'must-read' author for those who like a light, fun, take on mystery and romance (with just a dash of education thrown in). As this is the book that begins to make this a 'series', new characters are introduced who will weave in and out of all subsequent volumes, along with some 'old friends' from the first volume.

Better Than The First Installment, But No Much Else Going For It!
This was the second installment in the Bliss franchise. It was better than the first, but it was not nearly as good as any of the Peabody books. It started out as though it could play on that level, but failed to meet any of that promise. The reason why? Well, I think it rests in the fact that Bliss sits about all day and carps about her goods looks and then fails to impress with her brilliance. She simply keeps going, but only because she has to do so, not because she is hot on the trail of any insight. This makes for a boring book, and one not too interesting. All in all, this needed more brains, less bust to make a good story for Vicky.

Street of the Five Moons Review
While this book made for a good read, and has enticed me to want more, I found the ending to be a bit abrupt.The Character Vicky Bliss is in a terriable crunch and all the sudden we shift gears to the sumation wrap up.

Zen and the Art of the Mystery
This book has been amply and well-reviewed; however, I would like to add this short comment.

Experts sometimes make things appear so simple that we think that what they are doing is simple to do. "Street of the Five Moons" is breezy and refreshing. It does all those things a mystery novel is supposed to do and to prove it Ms Mertz(Peters)through the protagonist, Vicky Bliss, comments on it with a wink. Through a blitzkrieg plot and perfect prose, she presents us with a ballsy heroine, a handsome thief, a nefarious gang, a crazy villain, and a travelogue of Rome.

For a quick, brilliant read, set in a beautiful locale, this is perfect escapist mystery. Be aware, however, that this is not a psychological mystery with a troubled protagonist. For that sort of thing look elsewhere.

... Read more

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Features on: Kathleen Turner, William Morris Agency, Joe Eserhas, Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey, Richard Grieco, Costas Mandylor, and Martin Short. ... Read more

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A picture is worth a thousand words . . . but the photograph art historian Vicky Bliss has just received in the mail gives rise to a thousand questions instead. At first glance it appears to be the famous portrait of Frau Schliemann adorned in the gold of Troy. But closer study reveals the picture to be contemporary—which is odd since Vicky knows the Trojan gold vanished sometime around the end of World War Two. And if she needed further proof that something here is terribly amiss, a quick look at the blood-stained envelope the photo arrived in should do the trick.

Customer Reviews (24)

4th book, and still going strong
This is the 4th book in the Vicky Bliss series, and even though it's been around for a while, there's not much in it to 'date' it, so it's just as enjoyable now as it was when first published. Elizabeth Peters wrote the first (Borrower of the Night), and a few sequels, then let the Vicky Bliss novels rest for many years, until returning to them again fairly recently. There's no trace of the gap. All are filled with humor and wit. The characters are well-rounded and (mostly!) believeable. The mystery is always tied to the art/antiquities world, and the snapshots of the foreign cities and countries in which the action occurs are always vivid. Elizabeth Peters is a 'must-read' author for those who like a light, fun, take on mystery and romance (with just a dash of education thrown in). This one is entertaining, but in my opinion, the least likeable of the series - but still well worth 4 stars.There's just something about this particular story, as opposed to the others in the series, that doesn't 'grab' me.But, I repeat, that's just a personal opinion, and it's still a highly enjoyable read with a lovely setting and full of Peters' trademark humor, wit, and sarcasm.

Not even enjoyable.
Wow, after reading all the raving reviews on this one, I figured I couldn't possibly go wrong. Was I ever sorely mistaken. This was the first book by Elizabeth Peters I've read. The main character wasn't even slightly likable. She was a loose, sarcastic and mean person. The only reason the reader might root for her would be just to get the mystery solved. The other characters were shallow and insincere. There were so many loose ends that the whole story was unsatisfying. The concluding paragraphs even admit that there are many loose ends "that we will never know." How lame is that?
If you enjoy a mystery that actually gives you clues so that you can at least begin to piece the mystery together, then this book is not for you. Nothing in the book allows the reader to piece it together (the author doesn't even piece it together).
On the other hand, if you enjoy just following the arbitrary actions of a shallow woman who toys with her affections, then knock yourself out. The greatest mystery is why I bothered to finish the book. (Guess I kept hoping there'd be some great finale.)

Your perfect escapist mystery
You know exactly the kind of perfect Sunday afternoon I'm thinking of. It's raining, perhaps with hail bashing against the window. But you're inside and warm, cuddled up under a favorite quilt with a box of cookies and a great novel to read.

This is the great mystery novel that is part of your mental picture.

It's not that Trojan Gold is a big important book. It's not; this is just a fun mystery story. But it trods the fine line between "fluff" and "serious novel, to which I must pay attention." Making it the absolute perfect escapist book for a lazy weekend, a long plane flight or, really, anytime.

Our heroine Vicky Bliss is an art historian working at a Munich museum, when she receives a curious photo in the mail... even more curious, given that there's human blood on the envelope. There are tantalizing clues that the gold taken by Schliemann from Troy (and lost during World War II) might still actually be around. Wouldn't *that* be a feather in the cap of any museum... or thief? The photo leads her into a merry (and I do mean *merry*) chase across the German countryside, as several people are wondering about the same very subject. Quite a few of them have a romantic interest in Vicky, too.

Vicky is a woman of strong character, independent spirit, and wry wit. The situation is fun enough to be a "romp" but never veers towards silly. And I loved the setting: the Bavarian Alps at Christmastime.

Trojan Gold is not the first in the Vicky Bliss series; it just happens to be the first one that I picked up. While I'm sure it might have helped to know about her earlier adventures, I did just fine with this mystery, as it's pretty well self-contained.

The Fourth Installment of the Vicky Bliss series
The third book in the Vicky Bliss series, this book unites Vicky and John with her old flame, Tony, and her boss, Schmidt, in the search for the lost gold of Troy.

This novel is excellent- it brings back the character of Tony from the first Vicky novel, and adds to the mix other historians.The suspense is great, and the relationship between Vicky and John reaches a new level.

This is an awesome book!

Funny, character-driven comfort reading
This is the book that I pick up whenever I need comfort.It's such a treat - funny with fabulous characters that you'll wish were part of your life.I've read this book many times and for ages, every time I started it again, I'd forget who the villain was.The mystery is fascinating with history and art mixed in and enough action and intrigue to keep you going.As good as the mystery is, it's the wonderful characters and their friendships and humorous carryings on that makes the story sing.And there's a fabulous romance to boot.Get ready to fall in love with the mysterious John Smithe!

If you like to read fiction set in the places you vacation, this would be a great book to take with you on a trip to southern Germany at Christmas time. ... Read more

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Single cassette tape:After quarreling with his lover, a young fashion professional named Penelope Herschel, wealthy doctor Paul Cervino is stabbed to death. Penelope is tried...... ... Read more