Appearance
Emma and the Outlaw
I'm not particularly fond of this book. Though I found it more interesting than Lily's story, Lily was too stubborn, it still wasn't...great. It was a decent story with a decent plot, though I figured out the ending before the ending, it still wasn't a really good story. I suppose because I wasn't sure of Steven's affection for Emma. All he really showed was lust and a need to conquer. Even when he said that he loved her and he wanted to marry her, I just thought, "you do?" Also I had a difficult time believing that a woman like Emma with her strong ideas in what's proper would throw it all away so quick for him.Like so many have said before, there were too many love scenes. After a while I started skipping them. I want to continue the series, but I wouldn't buy this book.
Emma and the Outlaw
Ok it starts out pretty good but it soon turns. The guy is awful! He's a complete jerk who loves to bend Emma to his will every chance he can. The first love scene he almost has her and that's only after a few days in the book! He doesn't even care that she's innocent or that he's wanted he keeps coming after her! She is so annoying,she bends to him at every turn never standing up for herself. There exactly 8 love scenes and bout 4 half ones were just start out and then it goes to the next scene. Can someone say over kill? Belive me I love love scenes but it just got boring with so many. And what it is up with miss Miller and spankings and beating up of women. Yeah I like my books to be real but I don't want [...] like that in them it ruins the whole thing.
Emma and the Outlaw
The book was in good shape, but the cigarette smoke odor was terrible.I had to cut strips of newspaper and insert between all the pages and leave for several days and then remove to get rid of the cigarette odor. Before I could read the book. Of all the books I've ordered thru Amazon.com this is the first one which was too stinky to read. I will never order a book from that vendor again.
Leisure and popular culture in transition
Sociologist Thomas M. Kando of California State University, Sacramento has chronicle the changing definitions of leisure, specifically as it relates to work, in Leisure and Popular Culture in Transition. Recognizing the emerging fields of popular culture and leisure, Dr, Kando uses interdisciplinary methods as well as sociological ones to evaluate leisure's historical meaning in order to understand its modern meaning. First, Dr. Kando seeks the find the point of transition from the protestant work ethic (hard work, thrift, competitiveness) to a "less individualistic and social or even bureaucratic ethic." (Kando, 12)Over the course of American industrialization and opportunities for work on all levels (from coal-mining to merchandizing), Dr. Kando observes "the emergence of a new value system that continues to place a premium on work, emphasizes conspicuous consumption, but fails to put a high premium on leisure." (Kando, 12-13)This view takes Thorstein Veblen's notion that conspicuous consumption and leisure are not related at all. Why then, and for whom, does conspicuous consumption take place? Or has the need for conspicuous assumption come to signify something other than the Leisure Class?Appropriately, Dr. Kando moves to discuss various theories of and the history and meaning of the word "leisure." He separates the term into two different meanings: the first is derived from the classical, Aristotelian school where leisure translates into the cultivation of self through spiritual freedom and meditation. The second, more contemporary definition of leisure is defined by recreation (sports, games, play, etc.). According to Dr. Kando, this school "implicitly views leisure as if secondary importance to work. (Kando, 20).The belief that the present condition of leisure as secondary to work prompts Dr. Kando to call for changes back to the definition of Aristotle.Dr. Kando is idealistic in his argument, but as he himself has demonstrated with examples of the Protestant work ethic, it may be the United States has always defined leisure as secondary to work. At least, amongst those who worked. The new definition of work Dr, Kando asks for would be more appropriately defined as spirituality. And indeed, spirituality or the pursuit of some kind of spiritual affiliation has been historically the mark of status and leisure, this time as defined by the Leisure Class.
Words Heard in Silence
Couldn't have said it better myself. I received this book with eager anticipation. But after the first 100 pages of hoping the action would pick up, it never did.After 200-pages I didn't have trouble putting it down, only picking it up.After 300-pages I began to skip over sections at a time, only to find more of the same "I love you so much darling"s and the ever popular "I'm not good enough for you, Darling"s, etc., etc.The only exciting incidents are not even given to the reader 1st hand and don't expect to get even an inkling of sex in this book. Toward the end, almost as an afterthought, at least we do get about 2-3 pages of an actual battle scene and then the war is over (of course it is).The whole book is just WAY too unbelievable and perfect.The hero does nothing for the whole book but bustle around his (also perfect)Union troops being a caring, fatherly type. PULEEEESSSEEE!!! (gagging sounds) The biggest crisis was their not being able to get good boots or having a fist fight!Of course, in the end they are married, have 3-children, a beautiful home and live happily ever after.Besides that, there's not one contraction in the entire book, which becomes irritating after the 1st few pages.Too bad, it had the looks of a strong story. This book should be re-titled "Yet Another Drivelly Domestication of Two Potentially Heroic and Exciting Women"
Words Heard in Silence
I generally like historical novels and am seriously fond of lesbian fare. However the combination failed miserably here. With an historical novel, one is not supposed to have to suspend disbelief, and considerable suspension was required and repeatedly so. Being from the South, we're still living this history, and it makes us much more aware when grave inaccuracies float up. Though there were quite certainly disguised women who joined the military during the Civil War, there is no evidence that a single one of them ever rose to any level exceeding cannon fodder. That was just the first of many unbelievable details which the authors fail to sell to the reader.But the most disappointing aspect of this novel has to do with the changes it went through from its online version to the final print version. The relational aspects between the two main characters became a footnote to long, tiresome factual renderings of battles and historical points of note. The love scenes were perfunctory or non-existent, unlike the languid and sensual scenes in the proto-version which I find I much prefer.This is a marginally acceptable first attempt by two new writers, but it is my hope that their next offerings, particularly if in the historical novel genre, are infused with a considerabl increase in believability and liveliness.