Posted: 10 Jan 2010 02:38 AM PST

By Clover Stroud
Published: 8:00AM GMT 10 Jan 2010

Sites of Antiquity by Charles Freeman (Somerset Books, £25)

In this illuminating guide, Charles Freeman pulls off the impressive feat of bringing narrative clarity to the Classical world, from ancient Egypt to the fall of Rome, by illustrating the ways in which 50 key archaeological sites are interrelated. Colour photographs of current ruins and excavations are accompanied by maps of each area, so that throughout the book he builds a vivid impression of the way the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Hellenistic and Roman worlds evolved. Via his selection of ancient ruins, he shows the key role the Mediterranean played in the development of civilisation through Asia Minor, north Africa and Arabia. Beautifully illustrated with pictures of the ruins, and the paintings and sculptures that decorate them, the book also answers big questions such as how Greek democracy developed, but is interwoven with gripping details, such as why the Romans loved their baths and what Socrates actually looked like.

Extract:
"The eruption that destroyed Pompeii extended the coastline so that today one does not realise that in its heyday the town was a port. The plain… enjoyed rich, fertile soil (as a result of lava from earlier eruptions), and Pompeii began its life in the sixth century BC as a town which exported produce from the valley of the Sarno. The origin of its first inhabitants is not known. Greek influence, in the shape of a temple to Apollo and a Doric temple, is obvious and… there is also evidence of Etruscan settlers."

Nine Lives by William Dalrymple (Bloomsbury, £20)

This is Dalrymple's first travel book in more than a decade and his fans won't be disappointed. Over the course of nine chapters he recounts his conversations with nine individuals who have all taken distinct religious journeys. What is most impressive in this elegant book is the generosity with which Dalrymple allows his subjects to speak from the page, creating a compelling portrait of the spiritual in modern Indian culture. On the page he brings to life, among others, the internal lives of a prison warden from Kerala who dances at a temple and is worshipped as a deity; a Jain nun who witnesses the ritualistic death of a close friend; and a middle-class woman from Calcutta who finds peace as a Tantric skull feeder. Dalrymple acts as an empathetic guide, illuminating some of the more nebulous areas of spiritual life and how they fit into life in India. His presence as the storyteller is reassuring yet never interfering and he teases profound stories of love, loss and redemption from his subjects with great compassion and sensitivity.

Extract:
"In the midnight shadows of a forest clearing, bounded on one side by a small stream and a moonlit paddy field, and on the other by the darkness of a rubber plantation and a green canopy of coconut palms, lit only by a bonfire and a carpet of flickering camphor lights, a large crowd has gathered, silhouetted against the flames. Most have walked many miles through the darkness to get here. They are waiting and watching for the moment when, once a year, the gods come down to the earth."

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On the Trail: Book reviews - TriCities.com

Posted: 09 Jan 2010 11:24 PM PST

Hiker shares his knowledge of famous trail in new book

"Along Virginia's Appalachian Trail: Images of America," Leonard M. Adkins and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99, 2009)

Renowned Appalachian Trail hiker Leonard M. Adkins shares his knowledge of the famous footpath in a new pictorial history.
Published in conjunction with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, "Along Virginia's Appalachian Trail: Images of America" focuses on places in Southern Virginia, Central Virginia, Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah National Park.
In Southern Virginia, Adkins shows not only where the trail is today, but he also takes you on the older route in the book's first chapter, showing off Galax, Fries and the Pinnacles of Dan.
Other images reveal the streets of Damascus, Whitetop Mountain, Thomas Knob Shelter and the wild Mount Rogers Ponies.
Adkins is the author of several other books, including the recently revised "50 Hikes in Southern Virginia."

"Spirits of '76: Ghosts in the American Revolution," Daniel W. Barefoot (John F. Blair, Publisher, $15.95, 2009)

Daniel W. Barefoot presents what appears to be an encyclopedia of the American Revolution in a new book called "Spirits of '76."
Only, this is an encyclopedia with a supernatural twist: Barefoot tours the battlefields of the war in the late 1700s and offers what are allegedly haunted places, from Maine to Georgia.
"Spirits of '76: Ghost Stories of the American Revolution" could be considered a resource. Various travel information is included, but the book, unfortunately, lacks a bibliography.
Ghost-hunters addicted to the Sy-Fy Channel's brand of spirit-hunting – with ghost rays, cameras and voice recorders – may find Barefoot's style quite academic.
Yet history lovers will relish in the details of such stories as "The Ghost of a Mad Housewife" in Ashland, Va., and the "Spooky Ringwood Manor" in Ringwood, N.J.

"Hidden History of Nashville," George R. Zepp (The History Press, $19.99, 2009)

George R. Zepp shows there's more to Nashville than country music and the Tennessee legislature in a new compilation of his newspaper columns.
Zepp's "Hidden History of Nashville" unfolds a mix of weird stories that range from a shrunken head and prostitution to how children were living in slums in the shadows of the Tennessee capitol.
Much of this book is taken from Zepp's "Learn History" column, published in The Tennessean of Nashville.
Among the stories told is how Maxwell House Coffee got its start in Nashville – and was named for the Maxwell House Hotel at Fourth Avenue and Church Street in downtown Nashville.

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Blue Q's Mighty Michelle Obama Shopper is the #1 Bag at Blue Q - YAHOO!

Posted: 10 Jan 2010 01:19 AM PST

Barack Obama's approval rating is good. Michelle Obama's approval rating is better. And Blue Q's Mighty Michelle Obama Shopper is the #1 bag at Blue Q.

(PRWEB) January 10, 2010 -- Barack Obama's approval rating is good. Michelle Obama's approval rating is better. And Blue Q's Mighty Michelle Obama Tote is the #1 bag at Blue Q.

Blue Q, the notorious and irreverent gift manufacturer from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, has never shied away from featuring political leaders on their products. Both George Bush and Barack Obama have been made into car air fresheners. Hillary Clinton had one for the 2008 Presidential campaign.Bill Clinton has a magnet set and gum. Sarah Palin. Now Michelle Obama is glorified on their most popular style of bag, the Blue Q Shopper. The Mighty Michelle Obama Shopper was designed by British illustrator, Fiona Hewitt, who also designed the popular Blue Q brand Miso Pretty. The Mighty Michelle Obama Bag features the first lady swinging on the White House play set baring her enviable arms. The first dog, Bo is also featured.

Mitch Nash, co-owner and Art Director of Blue Q says, "They are selling well in red and blue states. We make lots of these bags, but this was the first topical one we've done. We wanted to give it a fantasy feel, to have it embody the feeling of the country being on the upswing."

Since its introduction in October, The Mighty Michelle Obama Shopper has become record breaking seller for the specialty wholesaler.

The bag is not only eye catching but also eco-friendly as it is made of 95% post consumer material and 1% of the sale of all Blue Q bags and water bottles support the Conservation Work of the Nature Conservancy.

The Mighty Michelle Obama Shopper is available at specialty gift stores nationwide and online Click Here !

Since 1988 Blue Q has been putting an entertaining spin on everything from gum to magnets to lip balm to breath sprays to car fresheners. They created the trendy bath boom with their personal care brands Dirty Girl, Wash Away Your Sins and Total Bitch. And now, in the beginning of 2010, they can be found all over the internet.

Blue Q is proud to present their new Blue Q Blog where daily posts invite you inside one of the most creative and entertaining offices around. There are blog posts about the Blue Q office and warehouse culture, random music and book reviews, Blue Q videos and just the usual rants and raves one might hear around the Blue Q water cooler. The Blue Q Blog also gives readers an inside look to the artistic process. Blue Q is famous in the independent art world for working with both established and up and coming artists and designers, and the Blue Q Blog is the place to read about it all .

The Blue Q Flickr Photostream displays the collected ephemera that hangs on their walls and gives a quick look into the Blue Q way of life . Yes, there is a picture of a desk wrapped up in cellophane. Don't go on vacation at Blue Q. Then, of course, there is also the Blue Q Facebook Fan page where lovers of all things Blue Q get the latest news, deals and updates on the spot . Yep. They're everywhere. And that's just the way they like it.

So, keep your eyes open for the Mighty Michelle Obama Shopper and for Blue Q in general. You will be seeing a lot more of them from now on.

###

Blue Q
Trevor Ward
413 442 1600
E-mail Information
Trackback URL: http://prweb.com/pingpr.php/U3VtbS1Ib3JyLVNpbmctSG9yci1TaW5nLVBpZ2ctWmVybw==

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Poet to read and sign Jan. 16 - Salisbury Post

Posted: 10 Jan 2010 01:05 AM PST

Sunday, January 10, 2010 3:00 AM |

Printer friendly version |

E-mail to a friend | Winston-Salem poet Helen Losse will be at Literary Bookpost on Saturday, Jan. 16, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Beginning promptly at 2 p.m., Losse will read from her newest book of poetry, "Better with Friends," after which she will sign copies of her books and discuss the poetry experience individually with those in attendance.

Helen Losse is the poetry editor of The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature (www.deadmule.com). She has previously published two chapbooks, "Gathering the Broken Pieces" and "Paper Snowflakes." Her poetry has been published in a variety of journals and magazines.

Educated at Missouri Southern State University and Wake Forest University, she lives with her husband Bill and occasionally writes book reviews for various literary publications. Her current book, "Better with Friends," is published by Rank Stranger Press.

Literary Bookpost is located at 110 S. Main St. in downtown Salisbury. For additional information about this event, or future events, call 704-630-9788 or visit www.literarybookpost.com.

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Book Reviews

Sunday, January 10, 2010

“Travel book reviews: Nine Lives and Sites of Antiquity - Daily Telegraph” plus 3 more

“Travel book reviews: Nine Lives and Sites of Antiquity - Daily Telegraph” plus 3 more

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