HuldufolkIt started in the Garden of Eden
347541
Seriously. People like this? Well, let's be open minded. The title is cute. The cover catching. The content, not so. Stephen should have used the delete key more generously. He could have told the story about how the huldufolk came about. It started in the Garden of Eden when Eve tried to hide a few of her children from God's eyes. This beginning and a host of stories, legends through the ages, would have been interesting.  And he could have done it without using the F... word. Imagine that.
2448159
"The Hawk and His Boy" is a good introduction to the land of Tormay and the characters that inhabit the trilogy. Bunn does a good job of revealing information and unfolding the story in cleaver ways that make this a very worthwhile book.
998562
I purchased this book for my Mother as a Christmas gift a few years ago. She loves looking through it, mainly for the photographs. She has described it to me as having a sweet and subtle tone that catches the essence of the Nordic summer. The photographs are beautiful and are works of art. The book reminds my Mother of her own grandmother's garden in west Norway. The book has photos and text about the gardens of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, but not Iceland. Well worth having for enthusiasts of gardens.
1536945
Some of Hallmans descriptions of utopias he visited I appreciated, such as the intentional community and the founders of the Pleistocene rewilding concept), while others I wouldnt really consider utopian concepts, such as the Korean city and the gun-toting community. Nonetheless, I appreciated the the overview of utopian literature and thought.
4123751
This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in the British countryside. The first third of the book is a history of human effects on the landscape, beginning with the Neolithic period. It makes clear that man has shaped the physical environment from the time that humans first appeared on the scene. The second third is a natural history of hedgerows and walls. The last third is of interest only to the specialist, since it covers the differences in hedgerow styles in various parts of Britain.
1037401
Toynbee it isn't but I really enjoyed it! If one wants to get a great overview of how our ancestors went from what was basically a slum to making Europe the premiere continent for several centuries. Then heres is a great place to start off from. The Authors cast of Characters from Attilla, The various Popes, Henry VIII, Luther, Magellion et al is well chosen and covered. Like the fact the so called two pillars of the Protestant Reformation Henry VIII and Luthor really hated each other with a passion. A real good to go!
824243
While this city has not been on my Top 10 List of places to visit while on my trip to Europe, after reading this book by Gary Jones, I added this biggest of Scandinavian cities. I love gardens and have heard of Tivoli Gardens but not know exactly where it was. Its in Copenhagen, home of Carlsberg Brewery, the statue of beloved author Hans Christian Andersen, the Little Mermaid and the Frederiksborg Palace.

Ive read a few of the authors books, and like the way he structures it by starting off with a brief history, transport, the areas of the city, museums, art galleries, best coffee shops, bars, restaurants and special things to do. What I liked best about the book is the section at the end called A 3-Day Itinerary, which is a logical plan to see the vast majority of places and things covered in the book which is a great idea if you're not sure where to start.
824098
This is an alternate story about the landing of Vikings in North America.  Kind of what you would expect to read about Plymouth Rock.  there is some internal strife and hardship that starts out for the small group of Norse settlers that survive the horrible weather to get to Markland.

The story is a bit simplistic, really for a younger audience the way I see it written but still a nicely told story.  Hopefully the next book speeds up the timeline a bit so we see how the good old USA develops as Norsemen get there first.  What might happen at Plymouth Rock.  Do the Pilgrims meet Indians or Norsemen?

Looking forward to finding out.
4839371
Good story of Scandinavia partial history.  Young girl beliefs and her decisions to be the mother of a future king.  Christianity is starting to interfere with the validity of Norse God's. Well written and a good story unfolds but the end leaves an opening for another book.
1121318
i started with Up From Eden....and the decided to read The Atman Project First. i am still in process will give an updated report when finished. i personally love Ken Wilbur; i been reading and rereading his work since 1995 when i first found Transpersonal Psychology and Perennial Philosophy.
4915598
I enjoyed the book and the possibilities of the beginnings it offered.  I've heard a minister ask where was Adam when Eve was talking to the serpent and why wasn't he there to protect her.  But this opens up an entirely different view to consider.  His turning came first.  That's why he wasn't around when the serpent went to Eve.  Interesting!
73226
... and yes the rosebush of man was indeed transplanted into that fantastic utopia delineated by Bellamy, and that land was called Russia, where the rosebush of the bog, which had lived since the beginning of time, was thenceforth dead in a space of less than 75 years.
3489784
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

  "A great eagle with large wings and long pinions,
  Full of feathers of various colors,
  Came to Lebanon
  And took from the cedar the highest branch.
  He cropped off its topmost young twig
  And carried it to a land of trade;
  He set it in a city of merchants.
  Then he took some of the seed of the land
  And planted it in a fertile field;
  He placed it by abundant waters
  And set it like a willow tree.
  And it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature;
  Its branches turned toward him,
  But its roots were under it.
  So it became a vine,
  Brought forth branches,
  And put forth shoots.
  But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers;
  And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him,
  And stretched its branches toward him,
  From the garden terrace where it had been planted,
  That he might water it.
  It was planted in good soil by many waters,
  To bring forth branches, bear fruit,
  And become a majestic vine."' -- Ezekiel 17:1-8 (NKJV)

If you read only one book of short stories this year, make it this one.

I had not read these stories in over 40 years, and I decided it was time to revisit them.

Reading each story reminded me of my first trip on a glass-bottom boat. While such a boat is moving, you don't see much below you. Then, the captain stops over a coral reef teeming with life, and a hidden world reveals itself in startling clarity. Your perspective shifts from above water to below the water . . . and stays there. Afterward, even when just traveling over water, you continue to "see" that hidden, submerged world.

The brilliance of these nine stories comes in one brief epiphany per story where you move from being outside the story to being in the story . . . and having your sense of what happened in the story permanently changed. It's well beyond the O. Henry ironic twist.

The writing that goes into just a sentence or a brief paragraph to create that transformation is stunning. Who knew that words could convey so much meaning?

Most fiction writing today is pretty slapdash by comparison. The richness of each story made me feel as though I had just enjoyed a gourmet feast . . . without feeling over full.

Salinger's understanding of children, how they communicate, and how they respond are remarkable.

For a deeper appreciation for the personal sources for these stories, I suggest you read Kenneth Slawenski's new biography of J.D. Salinger. Read the stories first. You may not agree with biographer's views about each story.

Bravo!
1897887
The story begins in Frisia (today a large part of the Netherlands) in 850 as Thorvald Stronghawk, a jarl from Norway, banished by a false accusation of murder, has gone raiding and attacks Giselas home, killing her father and taking her captive. Thorvald finds few treasures because Giselas father has wisely hidden them. Only his two daughters had keys to the buried chests, Gisela and her sister, who escaped the Vikings.

Thorvald intended to sell Gisela to gain the money to pay compensation to regain his place, but Gisela challenges him to clear his name with the truth, not money. When his evil half brother Karl Wormtongue tries to buy her, Thorvald buys her back, giving up his gold and his sword to keep her. So, Gisela is forced to accompany him back to his home. She is determined to have her freedom and return home, but he treats her kindly, unlike any thrall and she knows she could have done much worse.

A well-written story with some good scenes traveling on a Viking longship and then at the Hedeby market where slaves were sold. The author has done much research into the customs of the Norse and their mythology, which also shows. All in all, an entertaining read.
173411
This was an excellent first novel by David Rose concerning the life of the legendary Godiva. King Canute and his Viking legions come to England to conquer but find a people that are willing to fight for what they believe in.  He destroys Coventry where a young Godiva witnesses the destruction of her town and nearly her entire family and friends.

As she grows and matures into the beautiful women we've all heard of she marries her rescuer, Leofric, who becomes the Earl of Mercia and tries to have a normal life minus the violence.  However, King Canute demands the "danegeld" be collected by none other than her husband and events become more and more shadowed by either protecting her village or honoring her husband.

Overall, the story was well-written but could use some polishing here and there.  A few typos did not detract from the plot, however, the constant piety of the Christians, primarily Godiva, needs to be toned down.  I'm sure she was a faithful Christian, however, she was not a saint that I'm aware of.  I will be looking forward to reading the rest in this series which is known as The Viking Sagas.
3284246
My grandparents made this trip from Sweden also...I love imagining them as neighbors!! Best kind of make believe. Fun hints of old Varmland and why they left for america
2559941
I bought this book after reading about the Findhorn garden project in To Hear the Angels Sing.  Fascinating accounts of how ordinary people came from around the world to create this awesome garden in a place that should never have been able to grow what they grew.