Member: malinablue

Cindy-

Help Please.

I am trying to add Vicki Leon's book, "4000 years of Uppity Women" to my books list and I'm afraid that I have run into an "uppity" process.

I have tried using the title and the ISBN number and used the Amazon and Library of Congress search things.

Sometime when you have time will you please send me the ISBN number that you used to enter the book or let me know how you got it listed.

Thanks very much,
Rodger Foshee
Oxford, Mississippi
omboy (Ole Miss boy)

posted by omboy at 6:24 pm (EST) on Jan 3, 2012

I couldn't find on the Folio Society website how you can pay in installments...do they bill you or periodically bill your ccard? That might just be the deciding factor to joining:) Thanks!

posted by lilmanmom at 4:49 pm (EST) on Nov 16, 2011

I toy with the idea of exchanging it for the hardcover, as I ususally opt for the latter as they are more durable (and have a higher resell, if it comes to that), and it's easy to add a mylar protective covre. A hardcover without a dustjacket, though, is the same as a paperback in that. I put mylar covers on paperbacks also, but it is more difficult, and I don't tape them, so they tend to slip off when reading. (There is a design available online for a cover that won't fall off, but it would be tedious to cut one to the size of each book. My library has some 3,000 volumes, so that would take 900 years.)

I've still not decided whether to do the exchange -- that would be yet another hassle, and I don't live for distractions -- but ultimately probably won't. I'm waiting for response from Amazon re. the "missing" dustjacket, on the chance it is intended to have one.

Also dumb: the 2 1/2-ish inch by 1 1 1/4-ish inch ISBN sticker is on the upper front cover, rather than on the lower back.

Otherwise: how is the book itself? (I also note you have the "Mulan" that discusses the "Mulan" "symbol" in terms of changes, including those in the US. I think the latter is questionable, as the "Mulan" story was not, to my knowledge, known about in the US until Disney's 1998 film (which spawned a flood of after-market book versions of the story).

I learned of the story through a combination of information: Michelle Kwan did a skate to the signature song, "Reflection," in the "Disney" film (she actually did an entire TV special to the music of the film, but that's not in print). If interested, that can be found on youtube, and on fsvids.com (the latter the better copy, though I've not found any of better than sufficient quality). Downloading can be done using orbitdownloader.

And I was lead to it by watching Chinese film, of which there is a substantial number of versions, the earliest made during the silent era, the most recent, "Mulan," from 2009-2010, starring Zhao Wei (the emphasis in this version is the emotional, with more emphasis on the relationship between her and the male general). I'm still hoping to find the 1939 version, "Mulan Joins the Army," made during the Japanese occupation, and a huge hit at the time.

Wickipedia is useful but not comprehensive as to the full list, which full list I'm not certain yet exists. There is an Asian equivalent to imdb.com which has useful information on at least some of the many Chinese versions. (And there are a number of Chinese-writtern in-English essays about the story, one having finer detail on her town, and how her having to suppress "female issues" may have resulted in illness.)

And according to imdb.com, director Wong Kaw Wai ("Chungking Express," "2046") is making a version with Tony Leung Chu Wai (among his most recent "Lust, Caution," directed by Ang Lee; "Eat Drink Man Woman," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Sense and Sensibility," "Brokeback Mountain") and Zhang Ziyi ("The Road Home," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "House of Flying Daggers," "2046," "Memoirs of a Geisha").

I so far have some half dozen film versions, three animated (one the Disney, two for children), the "best" of which (I was surprised with its quality for the era) is, "Lady-General Hua Mu-Lan (I especially like the "Lady General" part of the title), a semi-opera made by Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers in 1963-64, starring Ivy Ling Po. Everything about it is excellent, including the acting (and the print). If interested, the latter is available through various Asian film websites, such as yesasia.com.

If asked I can provide the details on those I have. I think you must know at least the Disney version, which I love, but of which I have a central criticism: it shows Mulan sneaking away during the night, without revealing her plan to her parents, primarily her father, which is apparently intended to imply oppression of women. While oppressions existed, most of the Chinese versions have her being opposed by her parents -- her father especially, of course; but ultimately, while disguised from him, she defeats him in a martial arts contest (he had taught her martial arts as she was growing up), as result of which she gets her father's blessing. His only concern is that she not bring dishonor to the family name. (The "central" point of the Mulan story, at least as told beyond the sparse poem, is filial piety: honoring and obeying one's parents over one's own "preferences"; one "achieves" more to honor one's parents than for oneself. Michelle Kwan exemplifies that -- entwined and sometimes in conflict with the individualist US notion that there are no limits to what one can acheive.

The 2009-10 version gives pointed emphasis, at the beginning, to the, "You're only a girl" "theme," and she is subjected to some ridicule. (In all of the Chinese versions, it is relatively prominent that the father is war-injury crippled and or asthmatic, and elderly, which are the "reasons" Mulan chooses to take his place; again, the filial piety of putting parents/family interests ahead of the individual. "Filial piety" also applies to male children.

All in all, it's a fascinating and compelling story, especially as Mulan is a celebrated heroine* in a culture which is allegedly oppressive of women (certainly the highlighting and elevating of her might be a "response" against that contrary backdrop).
_____

*I don't buy into "geneder-neutral" language. I recall a news report about a woman whose car stalled on the railroad tracks, with her two little ones in the back seat, and a train coming. She, by herself, pushed the car off the tracks in time to avoid being hit. To call her a "hero" instead of "heroine" would eliminate the fact that the achievement was that of a woman, not of a man.

And it appears, from the description on your profile page, that you accept that there are differences between male and female; that, in ancient Greek and Jungian terms as examples, male and female have parallel, but somewhat different, "life programs". I began advocating for equal rights for women some 5 years before women I knew caught wind of the issue. But at the same time that does not obscure or eliminate the fact that there are actual and legitimate differences. I've arrived at the sense -- in large part from being excluded by women from women's "concerns" because not female/because male -- that there are two "realms": one male -- there are concerns which are ineradicably exclusive to males; one female -- there are concerns which are ineradicably exclusive to females -- but that there is an area of overlap between the two.
_____

That's a "long" one, eh?

If I didn't ask: how are the two "Mulan" volumes, if you've read them yet?

posted by JNagarya at 7:55 am (EST) on Nov 6, 2011

You have an amazing library! I can't wait to explore it! :)

posted by FutureMrsJoshGroban at 10:22 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2011

I just read the post about the new Calla titles that you mentioned. I can't wait...I just pre-ordered them all. A quick question: earlier in the post, you mention "Dover's "Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales" is illustrated by Warwick Goble, not Poga."

I can't seem to find that book by Dover. I do have "The Moon Maiden and Other Japanese Tales" by Dover, but not "Green Willow." Do you have an isbn for that one? I would love to find the Dover edition.

Hey Cindy-

We're busy prepping the cover materials for them now. It took me a while to track down the comment you mention above-but I figured it out, I think. While I was able to sort things out for the question at hand ( it WAS Goble, and not Pogany) I got the title wrong... (I was likely shooting from the hip, instead of checking) Dover reprint is drawn from the original volume "Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales"— but it is a selection. It is possible that the did not include the Green Willow story, thus making it necessary to re-title it-to "The Moon Maiden and Other Japanese Fairy Tales". Or, they may have just wanted to re-title it. That happens too. It likely states on the back cover that it is a reprint of stories collected from the source book. Hope that helps. Jeff

posted by JMenges at 8:56 pm (EST) on May 31, 2011

Cindy- btw— That Aladdin Calla we spoke about eons ago- it should be out, with a bunch of other great material, in September. Check the link I left in Golden Age illustration-

Jeff

posted by JMenges at 11:56 pm (EST) on May 25, 2011

You haven't gotten a copy already, have you?

I mean, I have one here, but I don't even have my comp copies yet... I have 4 books due out this summer, this is the first. Hope you are well- Jeff

posted by JMenges at 11:47 pm (EST) on May 25, 2011

Great library. Will be back for ideas beyond the ten books we share.

posted by mahakapi at 8:37 pm (EST) on Dec 29, 2010

Thanks for accepting my friend invite! Your library is super neat and I've enjoyed browsing through it.

posted by questionablepotato at 12:02 pm (EST) on Dec 9, 2010

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0460057782/ref=nosim/1557
Befana's Toyshop for about $25 from Amazon UK

posted by Crypto-Willobie at 9:47 am (EST) on Nov 7, 2010

Hi -- I noticed your 'melusine' tag (and your interesting library) when entering some books on Melusine I'd taken out of the library -- now you've given me some others to follow up. My interest derives from James Branch Cabell's use of elements and characters from Melusine in his fantasy novels Domnei, Figures of Earth, and The High Place. I see you have his Jurgen, but not those, so I thought I'd point them out...

posted by Crypto-Willobie at 9:39 am (EST) on Nov 7, 2010

I don't think I would ever be bored if I lived in your library. You have a beautiful collection.

posted by llusby23 at 5:33 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2010

Hi Cindy,
I'm glad you my LT moniker. I've long held that the most perfect book in the world is either To the Lighthouse or The Tale of Tom Kitten. (And it still annoys me that I can't italicize either title on this, of all sites. In the words of Tabitha Twitchit, "I am affronted.") If forced to choose between them, I'm fairly certain Beatrix Potter would carry the day, if only because her dedication is undoubtedly my favorite in all of literature.
Best,
Stephen (TK)

posted by TomKitten at 5:57 pm (EST) on Jun 12, 2010

Hi Cindy,
Thanks for designating my library of interest. In light of the fact that I find your collection one of the most interesting and enviable on LT, I'm flattered and honored.
Tom Kitten (Stephen)

posted by TomKitten at 11:03 am (EST) on May 28, 2010

Now I'm practically drooling! Thank you so much---it's nice to know it's worth the cost and the wait.

posted by GirlMisanthrope at 2:35 am (EST) on Apr 2, 2010

I noticed you just added [Papercraft: Design and Art With Paper] which is a book I was thinking about. It's price is a bit dear. I was wondered what you thought of it?

posted by GirlMisanthrope at 10:03 pm (EST) on Mar 22, 2010

Hello Cindy!
Sorry for my VERY late reply. I have been away from LibraryThing for quite a while.

I used the Nikolajeva book for a paper I wrote and I remeber I had a hard time getting a hold of it. I remember buying it from Amazon. Unfortunatly it's like you say: it's out of print.
You can't find it at the library?

posted by inbunden at 11:49 am (EST) on Feb 19, 2010

Hello Cindy, I have a question have you heard of this book Glorious Gods and Swaggering Heroes by David A. Myers? Here is a link of the publisher http://www.outbackbooks.com/product_info.php?products_id=131 . I am thinking about getting it but it is international shipping so I want someone's opinion if it is worth the price. Thank you Cynthia.

posted by cindysku at 12:30 am (EST) on Jan 17, 2010