Longhorn Reviews

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An Egyptian grammar with chrestomathy and glossary

[Longhorn Review] An Egyptian grammar with chrestomathy and glossary

Material Type: All, Books — Tags: ancient egyptian, egypt, egyptian, grammar, hieroglyphics, hieroglyphs — Posted on January 31, 2009, 9:11 am

By: Mercer, Samuel A. B.

Be aware that this text is exactly what its title says it is: a grammar. The text
is terse and to the point - out of the book's 184 pages, only the first 86 actually
contain English text. The rest are the selection of Egyptian readings (or
"Chrestomathy" as he calls it) and the sign list.

Furthermore, the copies printed by
Ares are exact duplicates of the original edition (1926, London). When this was
written, it was still a fairly safe assumption that anyone reading it had already
studied Latin and probably Greek. As a result, you will find this rough going if
you're not already familiar with grammatical terms borrowed from Latin and Greek. I
had some Latin and Anglo-Saxon before I was assigned this book as an introductory
text. Most of my classmates did not have that background. I learned a good deal from
this book; they, mostly, did not.

In short, if you don't know what a "dual pronoun"
is, you need a newer, friendlier book. I have some recommendations.

For a
comprehensive introductory textbook aimed at those with a serious interest in
mastering Middle Egyptian, try "Middle Egyptian: an introduction to the language and
culture of hieroglyphs" by James P. Allen. If your interest is more casual, you may
find "How To Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs" by Mark Collier and Bill Manley helpful.
Both base their examples on texts found in museum pieces.

Alan Gardiner's "Egyptian
Grammar" is still fairly comprehensive, but decidedly dated. Avoid anything by
E.A.W. Budge - he published prolifically, but also sloppily. There are a great many
errors in Budge's work, which will cause you no end of headaches if you try and use
his texts as study guides.

Lastly, for a good dictionary try "A Concise Dictionary
of Middle Egyptian" by Raymond Faulkner. Note that this book is handwritten lecture
notes in published form, so it can be hard to read. The English index was published
as a separate volume, the "English-Egyptian index of Faulkner's Concise dictionary
of Middle Egyptian" by David Shennum. These two are expensive; refer to them at a
library if you can.

Reviewer: Will Martin

Meet Kirsten, an American girl, 1854

[Longhorn Review] Meet Kirsten, an American girl, 1854

Material Type: All, books — Tags: American Girl — Posted on January 16, 2009, 12:30 pm

By: Shaw, Janet Beeler

I was introduced to the American Girl series a few years back when I got them for
my step daughter. I read hem and began to get more and more interested in their
stories. My office mate is a huge AG doll collector and I asked her to check on a
particular miniture doll for me; they come in two sizes. She did and I was able to
obtain my very firs american Girl Doll. Her name is Samantha. Every time anew movie
or book comes out I look forward, with much anticipation, to checking in out. I just
saw Crissa on DVD and she was great. Kristen is next on my list. Each girl
represents a different era in America's history.

Reviewer: Longhorn Reviewer

American Girl

Race and the subject of masculinities

[Longhorn Review] Race and the subject of masculinities

Material Type: All, books — Tags: culture, gender, masculinity — Posted on January 5, 2009, 8:53 am

By: Harry Stecopoulos

This ground-breaking collection of essays brings together some of the best
scholarship on the cultural intersections of race and masculinity, understood as a
pluralistic concept. Future work in the areas of gender construction, masculinity,
and racial identity will continue to depend on this volume's intellectual
contribution.

Reviewer: Longhorn Reviewer

Judaism in biological perspective : biblical lore and Judaic practices

[Longhorn Review] Judaism in biological perspective : biblical lore and Judaic practices

Material Type: All, books — Tags: judaism, science — Posted on January 5, 2009, 8:49 am

By: Rick Goldberg

This book is an edited volume of science-based essays written by biological
anthropologists/psychologists and Judaic scholars. Can there be rational examples of
the compatibility between natural science and Judaism? This book offers a strikingly
novel perspective on traditional and contemporary Judaic practices. For those with
some Judaic knowledge, there are biological explanations in these chapters not seen
elsewhere. For those well-versed in evolutionary theory, the authors’ perspectives
suggest new approaches to the scientific study of religion. Topics include the
monistic tendency, biblical polygyny, biblical family conflict, circumcision and
proselytes, sacrificial-ritualistic mitzvot (obligations), periodic conjugal
separation, Judaic traditionalism, male and female reproductive strategies, and the
relationship between costly signaling and prestige.

Reviewer: Longhorn Reviewer

Minstrel Show (sound recording)

[Longhorn Review] Minstrel Show (sound recording)

Material Type: All, music — Posted on December 19, 2008, 9:27 am

By: Kuhn, Joseph

This is a magnificent selection including "Preacher and the Bear" and "Asleep in
the Deep" Warren Biggs (Basso) was perhaps the finest bass singer in the history of
this "Pre-Politically Correct" format. I've got an original copy (still) in good
condition. Some of the jokes I still use -- the best involved a Hair
Restorer.

Reviewer: James Thurber

Calvin and Hobbes: Sunday papers, 1985-1995

[Longhorn Review] Calvin and Hobbes: Sunday papers, 1985-1995

Material Type: All, books — Posted on December 15, 2008, 8:33 am

By: Watterson, Bill

This book is like totally kewl and it is soooooooooooooooooooooo funny :D

Reviewer: Longhorn Reviewer

American Wife: A Novel

[Longhorn Review] American Wife: A Novel

Material Type: All, books — Tags: Laura Bush — Posted on December 12, 2008, 8:57 am

By: Sittenfeld, Curtis

The summary says most of what you need to know about plot, leaving out only that
this is a novel about sphinx-like first lady Laura Bush. What *must* she think of it
all? The bulk of the novel, and the best part, deals with the early life of Alice
Blackwell, the LB-surrogate, in the days before her husband became first a governor,
then POTUS. Sittenfeld gives some sympathetic insight into how someone could find
herself living a life "in opposition to itself." This novel will make you want to
read bios of Laura Bush, as well as more fiction by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Reviewer: tonstant weader