Goddess: A Celebration in Art and Literature
Jalaja Bonheim'sGoddesspresents a visually stunning, wide-ranging  exploration of the "feminine face of God." Its tales and illustrations dip into  many cultures, drawing up the likes of ribald Baubo, the Greek goddess of obscenity who  "speaks from between her legs," and Au Co, the Vietnamese goddess from  the 36th heaven whose tears became a river on earth. The Egyptian goddess Nut gives  birth to the sun daily, then swallows him nightly in her enveloping body. Told she must  sprint faster than an egotistical Irish king's swiftest steeds or die, pregnant Macha-- daughter of the Strange Son of the Ocean--asks bystanders to appeal for a delay until  after she gives birth. "Help me," she entreats, "for a mother bore each  one of you." When her plea is ignored, she wins the race handily, gives birth to  twins, and curses the men of Ulster. Well-told myths, poetry, songs, and contemporary  stories make this celebration of the goddess thoroughly enjoyable.