Geek Love: A Novel

Amazon.com

A wild, often horrifying, novel about freaks, geeks and other aberrancies of the human condition who travel together (a whole family of them) as a circus. It's a solipsistic funhouse world that makes "normal" people seem bland and pitiful. Arturo the Aqua-Boy, who has flippers and an enormous need to be loved. A museum of sacred monsters that didn't make it. An endearing "little beetle" of a heroine. Sort of like Tod Browning's Freaks crossed with David Lynch and John Irving and perhaps George Eliot -- the latter for the power of the emotions evoked.

Book Description

Geek Love is the story of the Binewskis, a carny family whose mater- and paterfamilias set out–with the help of amphetamine, arsenic, and radioisotopes–to breed their own exhibit of human oddities. There’s Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan . . . Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins . . . albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly normal Chick, whose mysterious gifts make him the family’s most precious–and dangerous–asset.

As the Binewskis take their act across the backwaters of the U.S., inspiring fanatical devotion and murderous revulsion; as its members conduct their own Machiavellian version of sibling rivalry, Geek Love throws its sulfurous light on our notions of the freakish and the normal, the beautiful and the ugly, the holy and the obscene. Family values will never be the same.

Customer Reviews:

Geek Love.......2007-10-01

I greatly enjoyed this story. If you like books like Fight Club, you will too. I have a feeling that this is the sort of book that you either love it or hate it. It was a little slow to begin with but I stuck with it to the end and was glad that I did because overall it is worth the read. I liked it so much that I purchased another copy to be shipped to my brother in Florida. This story was surprisingly and refreshingly different. I would advise parents to read it before allowing their teenagers to due to the fact that there is some adult content. I would rate it a P-13 borderline R but some readers may feel differently so don't take my word for it, go read it yourself! I will be looking for more books by Katherine Dunn!

strangely odd , but just as lovely even odder.......2007-06-30

Read this book years ago, and I read it fast not being able to put the book down for a day and half. I had to finish it, and hating that it came to an end. This book has stayed with me for some reason that I can't name. Don't think you are going to read a book about the life of circus folks, you are going into depths that can frightened you and make you throw you head back and laugh all at the same time

A PERFECT DESIGN.......2007-06-22

Okay, if you are on Amazon to look for a new book to read, and decide to read the reviews first, than listen up. Read the "synopsis", see what it's about? Yeah, it's not a novel about Nerds who fall in love; it's a fantastical novel about a family that is designed to be full of horror, wonderment, shock and awe, literally. If you cannot stomach reading descriptions of deformities, or people who are cult followers to the nth degree, or talk of injuries to both body and soul and mind, than do not buy this. If you do, than soon you will be on here reviewing this and saying "it was disgusting, and horrific, and I didn't get it" This book isn't for the faint of heart, or the simpleton who just wants quick read before settling into beddy-bye for the night. You must be able to wrap your head around profound, well written, scarring literature. If you choose this for a readers circle, or book club, make sure that everyone has an open mind, you don't want to choose this and than have a bunch of people look at you like you grew fins and a hunchback.
We all have handicaps, physical or mental. I know that I can personally blame my parents for the struggle and afflictions I have had in my life, they might not have designed me that way, but they sure as heck didn't think before they acted. I fell in love with this book because I fell in love with the sublime mystery of It all, I couldn't wait to see how it unfolded, and how it came to be that Oly was on her own looking after both her daughter and her mother, and neither knew who she was. I will forever treasure this book.

And I'd figured I'd come to the end of being amazed........2007-06-05

"And I'd figured I'd come to the end of being amazed. Run out of it, like you'd run out of sugar. But when I saw you lovely girls I thought to myself, maybe there's more to life yet."

An astonishing, grotesque, sharp-tongued, and lovingly written family memoir and the most entertaining work of fiction I've read in years. Reduced to archetypes, it's the story of a family struggling with its own hubris (a la the Magnificent Ambersons or Royal Tenenbaums) and a meandering reflection on small-town America -- an unsentimental road-trip comedy dotted with soft drawls, murder, prostitution, tigers, telekinesis, a cult of amputees, and lots of security guards. Think Willie Nelson and the Quay brothers collaborating in the milieu of HBO's Carnivale, and you have a rough idea of the premise and aesthetic of the novel.

Though it's thoroughly entertaining, the flaws are stark: at about the two-thirds mark, Dunn steers the storytelling away from a first-person recollection to 'journalist's notes,' a decision which, depending on how you frame it, drags down the pace considerably or is a judicious bit of editing that compresses the formidable challenge of exposition and actually speeds the action. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it's there and it gives Dunn the opportunity to drop in a few smart epigraphs that would otherwise have been non sequiturs. Some characters are painstakingly and hilariously dressed but given few lines; while I hoped that some of them would have more presence in the story arc, I know that if my obituary is to be published, I want Dunn to write it.

Something else to keep in mind as you read this book: a majority of the action happens between characters who are children, at most adolescents, in the 20th century. While in the 21st century, I might no longer look upon carnivals or freaks or even acts of extreme sadism in awe, Geek Love reminded me of the thrill of audacity, and that achievement on its own is amazing to me.

One "Freaky" Book.......2007-06-05

This is a tough book to review because it is definitely weird - but not so twisted that you should pass it up. I don't go out of my way looking for books this strange, but I did enjoy it. You would have to know a person pretty well to know whether they would like it or not. It kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out where it could possibly go after starting with such a bizarre premise.

Book Description

A relic of Manhattans Gilded Age, when Edith Wharton and Henry James chronicled its inhabitants, the Erich Bruel House on Gramercy Park contained three floors of glorious artand one Christmas corpse. While the mansion was being decorated with antique ornaments, and preparations were being made for a lavish holiday party, someone killed the obnoxious art historian Dr. Roger Shambley. Lieutenant Sigrid Harald of the New York Police Department comes up with a long list of suspects, and must sort through all sorts of motives, including academic rivalry, infidelity, art fraud, and good old fashioned spite.

Customer Reviews:

Good read.......2006-12-27

If you enjoy the world of art and mystery, then Corpus Christmas is the book for you.

The story takes place in the venerable, art-filled Erich Breul House during the Christmas season in New York City.

Maron prepares the scenario by introducing the main characters and their connection to Breul House. Dr. Roger Shambley, an art historian who works at the house and who seems to be disliked by everyone, makes a startling discovery involving a work of art that could make him rich and famous. For the moment, he decides to keep his discovery a secret. Then, a few days before Christmas, a special dinner is given and the characters come to attend. That night, Dr. Shambley is bludgeoned to death.

Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD, who happens to be one of the guests because of her relationship with famous artist Oscar Nauman, soon takes charge of the investigation.

Who could have murdered the art historian? The list of suspects is long-enough to keep the reader guessing until the end.

Having read other books in the Sigrid Harald series, I feel that on the earlier ones Maron comes quicker to the point where the mystery is concerned. In this book the author spends a lot of time giving information about art.

This is great for a reader who loves art, but a reader who doesn't might be irritated by a lot of information that slows down the plot. Of course, Maron's style is irreproachable and as elegant as always. Corpus Christmas is an excellently written mystery for those readers who enjoy a touch of sophistication in their mysteries.

Armchair Interviews says: Art and murder mixed up for a good read.

Sigrid Harald, #6 of 8, about average, too "artsy" (for me).......2002-02-25

I generally have enjoyed Margaret Maron's earlier (than her current series about Deborah Knott) 8-book series about NYC detective supervisor (Ms) Sigrid Harald. I just finished the 1989 edition, but I notice it's been republished and available readily again. Most of the Harald stories are pretty straight police investigations, with just enough plot complexity to retain an edge, but otherwise, like the leading lady herself, somewhat minimalist. As in the finale (#8), this one is set in the art world, at a Manhattan art museum known as the Erich Breul House. Not only is a significant amount of the book about famous painters and art gallery goings-on, but also each of the chapters is onset with quotations from the young Mr. Breul or some other pertinent history of nearly a century ago. By now I think it fair to guess Ms. Maron must at least be an art student or devotee since the art descriptions are probably just too detailed to be mere research.

The story gets its name from a murder that takes place at the gallery a few days before Christmas. (Have no fear, it is not otherwise a Christmas tale, so can be comfortably read any time...) One of the new trustees is found bludgeoned to death after it is clear some research he has been conducting has uncovered something somebody doesn't want public. There's plenty of reason to suspect several of the main characters, many of who have no alibis, but ultimately the discovery of the murder weapon solves the crime.

Since my desire was to read the complete Harald series, I'm not sorry I read this. It was to me not as good as most of the others, as it took an awfully long time for the "body", of both the story and the victim (!), to appear; and having no interest at all in art, all that stuff about the gallery and famous painters was a little boring. But Maron is a good writer, her tales pleasing, and no doubt some will appreciate parts of this book more than me.

This is not Deborah!.......2001-12-17

But it is good. I found this book - set in New York - to be a fun read. I enjoy Ms Maron's style of writing, so that didn't matter. The cast of characters is quirky and the art world was a far cry from the southern family style of the Knott mysteries. Over all I had fun with it and learned a thing or two.

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Corpus Christmas

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Corpus Christmas
Margaret Maron
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OCQ7BA

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One to re-read

Witch Wars...

great witch book!

GREAT GREAT STORY

Captivating

Triplex Coniunctio: Book One of the Witch War Histories
Stephanie Weeks
Manufacturer: R&R Endeavors Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0974044423

Book Description

Real life magic is woven in Triplex Coniunctio to a masterful degree that entertains and intrigues readers of all types. Follow the lives of Thalia, Ambrus and Etienne as they battle dark covens, weave magic and discover prophecy. Love abounds in this tale of witches that struggle with extraordinary circumstances in a very real world.

Customer Reviews:

One to re-read.......2005-03-29

Triplex Coniunctio is one of those special books I intend to read again and again. I can't wait for the remainder of the trilogy.

The Peytons and Solons are people I definitely enjoyed meeting. They welcome the reader into their homes and lives, and the reader's life is enriched.

Excellent work, Dr. Weeks!

Witch Wars..........2004-12-14

Great idea for a novel and written by a pro. Excellent writing style and tone!

great witch book!.......2004-12-10

The other reviewers here are absolutely right, Triplex is great! I picked it up just because I was fond of the other R&R titles and it did not disappoint. It's different but a truly wonderful read. The interior artwork fits too!

GREAT GREAT STORY.......2004-11-18

Great Book!! Great Story!! Great Characters!! Great Author!! This book kept me in a total trance the whole time I was reading. I could not put it down from the beginning of the first chapter to the final page. And of course, the final page left me wanting for more. Sure hope that there is more to come very soon!!!

Captivating.......2004-11-17

Excellent read, captivating characters caught up in believable circumstances. Couldn't put it down until the last word, which left me wanting more. I'll wait anxiously for the next installment.

Book Description

You can't cut fat if you don't know where it is, and now Joseph C. Piscatella, author of Don't Eat Your Heart Out Cookbook and other diet and health books, with over 2 million copies in print continues his quest to make fat-reduction easier to implement. The Fat-Gram Guide to Restaurant Food gives the fat-grams, calories, and percentage of calories from fat for over 3,500 of the most commonly ordered restaurant dishes. It includes fast-food offerings by franchise, and it is the only guide to sit-down restaurant meals. Here are breakfasts, from McDonaldís Pancakes to Sausage McMuffin. (Choose the pancakes.) Lunches and brunches. And of course all manner of dinner foods, from beef to fish, Mexican to Japanese.

In addition to its convenient alphabetical listings, the guide provides Joe Piscatella's own strategy for making smarter choices in restaurants. And he should know. A tireless speaker and promoter for his books, he is on the road 100 days out of the year, eating out during every one of them.

Customer Reviews:

Organizationally Challenged?.......2000-12-31

While this book is very comprehensive in the number of food items convered, it is extremely difficult to use. Rather than organizing the information by TYPE of food (Mexican, Italian, etc), it is organized by ingredient. Thus, to find Chow Mein, you have go to the "Pasta" section!! Nachos are found under the "Cheese" section. By the time you find the menu item you want, the waiter has probably left the table (of course, that alone could be helpful in reducing caloric intake.....)

Don't leave home without this book!.......1999-11-05

Everyone with an interest in their health should have a copy of this book in their home. This book is a wonderful and resourceful guide earning a 5 star rating from ThePigOutDiet.com staff.

FAT-GRAM GUIDE IS INDISPENSIBLE.......1998-08-31

Piscatella's "The Fat-Gram Guide To Restaurant Food" is a great reference book to have in your home. It's amazing (and sad!) how bad for you most of your favorite foods are. The book offered some common-sense, realistic advice. For example, it suggested eating the regular Wendy's hamburger instead of the Junior version. It's only a difference of a few fat grams, but you'll be more full. The book also has a COMPLETE listing of most of the brand-name food served at fast-food restaurants. It really helped me choose "healthier" alternatives to what I'd normally order. For example, a McDonald's EggMcMuffin has only 12 grams of fat compared to over 40 for a Bacon-Egg-Cheese Biscut. I learned all this information in only a sitting with the guide. I know I will definitely keep it handy and refer to it from time to time. And, for under $7, it was well worth it!

The Fat Tooth Fat Gram Counter/the Fat Tooth Restaurant & Fast Food Fat-Gram Counter

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A Lifesaver!!

The Fat Tooth Fat Gram Counter/the Fat Tooth Restaurant & Fast Food Fat-Gram Counter
Joseph C. Piscatella
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Food Counters | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1563051494

Customer Reviews:

A Lifesaver!!.......2002-01-15

I came out of by-pass surgery with absolutely no idea where to begin changing the habits of 68 years and mad at the world for my situation! This book led me step by step and in a very natural and rational way into a healthier lifestyle. What began for me as a determination to have my own way and change nothing, turned around into a reasonable approach to the rest of my (and my husband's) life! His recipes are very good and his approach to the whole matter is sensible and gentle! I've just ordered another of his books!

The fat tooth restaurant & fast-food fat-gram counter

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The fat tooth restaurant & fast-food fat-gram counter
Joseph C. Piscatella , and Bernie Piscatella
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

A sense of well-being and good health is certainly high on most people's list of concerns. In this refreshing and informative book, Deng Ming-Dao shows readers that life need not be that frantic and encourages them to establish a balance in their lives though diet.

Drawing attention to the innately healthy practices of eating only fresh, seasonal foods, considering color, and allowing for the compatibility of flavors, this book will awaken the reader's senses and invigorate both the body and the spirit. From classic Zen dishes like Five-Color Stir-Fry to creative recipes like Mango Ginger Gazpacho, all of the recipes are accompanied with anecdotes and quotations from Zen masters. Also included is a section on tea and the ceremonial Zen approach to preparing and drinking it. This thought-provoking book is more than a collection of recipes--it is the key to a new lifestyle.

Customer Reviews:

delicious recipes and wonderful photography.......1999-03-16

This cookbook does an exceptional job of blending eastern cooking techniques with contemporary recipes and adventureous combinations for any palate. The photography is superb.

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I have a TON of Geisha Books -- This is my FAVORITE

a good edition for geisha collectors

Geisha: Women of Japan's Flower & Willow World
Tina Skinner , and Mary L. Martin
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Postcards | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile

Geisha: A Photographic History, 1872-1912

The Kimono of the Geisha-Diva Ichimaru

Autobiography of a Geisha

Geisha: The Life, the Voices, the Art

ASIN: 0764321536

Book Description

This is the most comprehensive assembly of historic geisha images ever compiled in a book. Over 500 exquisite views - drawn from postcards produced primarily between 1900 and 1940 - illustrate the rarified world of Japan's now-extinct licensed pleasure districts.The comprehensive text introduces historical background about the talented geisha entertainers and other women who were indentured in virtual slavery within the famed and idealized "Flower and Willow World." High-class prostitutes, as well as lowly tea servers are pictured, and the life of early 20th century women in Japan is explored. The symbolic kimono, poses, and accouterments of the women photographed are explained in captioning that will help to open the eyes of many Westerners to Japanese culture, and help to debunk misconceptions regarding the status and nature of geisha.

Customer Reviews:

I have a TON of Geisha Books -- This is my FAVORITE.......2007-08-03

I have a ton of Geisha related books in my personal library -- both antiquarian and new, including a lot of "must have" volumes from amazon. This is my favorite. It is a perfect combination of the best of late 19th century and early 20th century photographic images -- mostly from the ubiquitous real-photo and collotype postcards of the day -- combined with an enjoyable text that seamlessly brings together accurate historical descriptions and informal anecdotes. Enjoyable to read, pleasant to look at. The entire package is is further enhanced by high production values -- the art direction and layout can hardly get any better for a book such as this. While the Geisha in Japan today continue on in small numbers as a disconnected, living anachronism (or a cultural decoration adored by visiting photographers), this book faithfully takes you to the heart of the Meiji-era, when the Geisha really were an integral part of the social mechanisms of the country. I recommended this book to anyone wanting a huge gallery of beautiful and representational images, along with meaningful and accurate commentary skillfully culled from the best sources.

a good edition for geisha collectors.......2006-02-26

a prized book to add to my geisha book collection. HOwever it is filled with OLD black and white and coloured photos of geshia in the oldern times so if you dislike that type of giesha picture try other books.

Average customer rating:

Love this book

Feline-iciously Charming!

A Year of Cats...in Hats: Crafts to Make You Smile
Sheila Haynes Rauen
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cats | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Sassy Cats: Purr-fect Craft Projects

Cat Quilts and Crafts

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A Laurel Burch Christmas: Color the Season Beautiful with 25 Quilts and Crafts

Cats in Quilts: 14 Purrfect Projects

ASIN: 1564775291

Book Description

Keen on felines? You'll love adding these lighthearted cat projects to any room! Show off a dozen comical cats in special-occasion hats--these delightful quilts and craft projects make it easy and fun.

• Twelve cats in adorable hats find something to celebrate each month of the year

• Eight companion projects feature a glass vase, a serving tray, and an umbrella

• Themes include "Yankee Doodle Tabby," "Windy Kitty," and "Tabby Tree-O"

Customer Reviews:

Love this book.......2005-01-08

The cats in this book put a smile on my face!..what fun!

Feline-iciously Charming!.......2004-06-26

Sheila has done it again! This time she has designed a yearful of cats, each with earsful of seasonal cheer. Uh, I'd better explain. Sheila has designed twelve cats, one for each month, each having month-appropriate hats on his ears. For example:
April's cat has umbrellas in her ears and is named "Don't Rain on My Purrade" and June's kitty is entitled "Will Mew Marry Me?" with a top hat on one ear and a wedding dress on the other.
Who has a great sense of humor?
Instructions are given for making finished quilt blocks for each month, plus other great crafts projects.
What fun!

Book Description

The villa remains one of the most potent architectural forms in western culture, the idea of a cultural retreat for relaxation and contemplation having endured from antiquity up to the present day. Yet there have been many changes in its structure and use following the social and economic circumstances of its owners, many of which took place during the Georgian period. This stimulating book brings together 13 leading historians to look at the 18th century villa in its wider context. Images of the villa - real or imagined - are shown to reveal much about contemporary attitudes. The role of Andrea Palladio is re-examined through the response of architects throughout the period to his work. The range of form, planning and sources of the villa is seen not only in Robert Adam's designs but also in the variations of the villa found in Edinburgh and Glasgow where it provided a balanced contrast between city and retreat. Later in the period changes in the demand for houses and the urban fabric brought the villa into the city where its elitist aspirations were replaced by democratizing principles.

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Georgian Villa.
Dana (ed) Arnold
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M44B2M

Customer Reviews:

pros and cons.......2001-03-08

This is a great survey of David Smith's career. It has both color and black and white photographs of pieces from just about every different major stage of his carreer (except the Medals For Dishonor). It also has good but brief biographical information, and perhaps most outstanding is the heap of articles, transcribed talks, and interviews interspersed throughout the book, which are tremendously informative about his philosophy and development. The book does suffer for being too broad and not really covering in depth any of his stages or series. Expect, therefore, a couple pictures of the Voltron series, maybe two Tanktotems, a handful of Cubi, etc... Another frustration is that most of the paintings are in black and white, as well as a number of the painted sculptures; it is helpful but unsatisfying that the captions tell the reader what colors are used! The book is likely overpriced, being worth maybe fifty or sixty dollars, but given a real lack of material on Smith, this may be the best accesible option.

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David Smith: Drawing + Sculpting
Steven Nash , Candida Smith , and David Smith
Manufacturer: Nasher Sculpture Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0974122130

Book Description

David Smith is arguably the most important American sculptor of the twentieth century. From his early development out of Surrealist and Cubist influences to the towering structures he made late in life, Smith created a new language in iron and steel that embraced both symbolic figuration and pure abstraction. Forty years after his death in 1965, the body of work he created still astonishes in its variety, technical mastery, and creative energy.

So powerful is Smith's legacy as a sculptor, however, that other highly important aspects of his art remain relatively neglected. Such is the case with the thousands of drawings Smith produced throughout his artistic life. David Smith: Drawing + Sculpting breaks new ground by focusing on his drawings and investigating specifically the important interactive role they played with his sculptures. It illustrates many works drawn from the extensive holdings of the artist's estate that have never been exhibited previously, and it contains the most thorough compendium published to date of David Smith's writings and statements on drawing.

Smith himself stressed repeatedly the connection in his work between drawing and sculpture, noting that all of his art flowed from one continuous, evolving stream, with no "separate provision" for two-dimensional versus three-dimensional expression. Drawings tended to link to sculptures not in linear developmental sequences or one-to-one relationships, but more often as clusters or constellations of graphic themes and notations exploring ideas, forms, and motifs that also circulated through his sculptures. David Smith: Drawing + Sculpting illuminates this fundamental principle in his art.

Building Cost Planning for the Design Team, Second Edition

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Building Cost Planning for the Design Team, Second Edition
Jim Smith , and David Jaggar
Manufacturer: Butterworth-Heinemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Project Planning & Management | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Buildings & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0750680164

Book Description

"When will I get it? How much will it cost?"

For the client, these are the two most critical questions. Cost Planning answers these questions and is crucial to the team working on the design and construction of a project.

This introductory text on building economics and cost planning provides the reader with the fundamental skills and knowledge to operate as a building professional in the area of economic advice and decision making at the project level. Cost planning is not an esoteric area for specialists alone, but a core skill for the whole design team.

Starting from the environment in which cost planning and design activities take place, the book works through the cost planning process in theory and practice, discussing the issues involved from a design team and client perspective. With analysis of key concepts related to cost control such as life cycle costing, value management, cost modelling and accuracy, and integration of estimating techniques, the authors provide an unequalled introduction to a crucial aspect of professional construction management.

* Introduction to the discipline of cost planning in construction
* Question, prompt and answer format throughout to assist learning
* Teaches core skills based on global best practice

Between transcendence and brutality: American sculptural drawings from the 1940s and 1950s : Louise Bourgeois, Dorothy Dehner, Herbert Ferber, Seymour ... Isamu Noguchi, Theodore Roszak, David Smith

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Between transcendence and brutality: American sculptural drawings from the 1940s and 1950s : Louise Bourgeois, Dorothy Dehner, Herbert Ferber, Seymour ... Isamu Noguchi, Theodore Roszak, David Smith
Douglas Dreishpoon
Manufacturer: Tampa Museum of Art
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1878293079

David Smith - Sculpture, Painting, Drawing

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David Smith - Sculpture, Painting, Drawing

Manufacturer: New York M. Knoedler & Co. 1983.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HTNWFY

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David Smith Ink Drawings from 1957
Ann Lauterbach
Manufacturer: Margo Leavin Gallery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JWHZB6

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David Smith..Drawings of the Fifties

Manufacturer: Anthony d'Offay Gallery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000LT13SI

David Smith: Drawings of the Fifties (ISBN: 0947564195)

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David Smith: Drawings of the Fifties (ISBN: 0947564195)
Not Applicable
Manufacturer: Anthony d'Offay, London,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PSWMVW

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David Smith: Ink drawings from 1957
David Smith
Manufacturer: Margo Leavin Gallery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Pen & Ink | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1880641038

David Smith: Paintings and Drawings, 1955-1958

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David Smith: Paintings and Drawings, 1955-1958

Manufacturer: Margo Leavin Gallery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1880641046

Book Description

Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon… and Beyond, the first full-length biography of Ron Howard, takes an in-depth look at the Oklahoma boy who gained national fame as a child star, then grew up to be one of Hollywood's most admired directors. Although many show biz kids founder as they approach adulthood, Ron Howard had the advantage of brains, common sense, and two down-to-earth parents who kept him from having an inflated view of his own accomplishments. He also had a longstanding goal: to trade the glare of the spotlight for a quieter but equally creative life behind the camera. This biography tracks his career from 1960, when he debuted as six-year-old Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show through 2002, when he accepted his Academy Award

Customer Reviews:

Captures the personality of Ron Howard Beautifully.......2005-08-24

Beveryly Gray is truly a wonderful biographer. She captures the tone and warmth of Ron Howard throughout the book. Beverly also puts you "in the know" for the locales, such as Greenwich, Connecticut, where Ron Howard moved to partially shield his children from the "glamorous temptations of the film industry." This is a book for people who want to take a walk with Howard and really get to know what drives him. It's warm, friendly, and low-key, just like its subject. And a great read! Well done, Beverly! Oh, by the way, did I mention Beverly also teaches film at UCLA Extension. A wonderful, warm person in her own right.

Ron Howard-From Child Star to Innovative Director.......2003-12-26

One of the advantages of an "unauthorized" biography is that it should offer a more creative and exciting challenges to the biographer and a much greater illumination to the reader.
There is always the danger when a biography is authorized that a conflict of interest may arise and the truth may be compromised.

Beverly Gray's unauthorized biography Ron Howard From Mayberry to the Moon..and Beyond is a "putting the record straight" kind of a book, wherein some of the myths that have been prevalent in the press for so many years are explored and set aside.

Many of us have grown up with Ron Howard the child actor Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, and then as Richie Cunningham of Happy Days.
Today, Ron Howard is a well known Hollywood film director and producer, who directed such films as: Through the Magic Pyramid, Night Shift, Cocoon, Willow, Parenthood, Backdraft, Far and Away, The Paper, Apollo 13, Ransom, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Academy award winner, A Beautiful Mind.

Gray practically begins her story from the cradle. Howard was born of parents, who themselves were actors, and at eighteen months he captured his first acting role as a crying baby, thanks to the efforts of his father.
Throughout his life, his parents, Rance and Jean Howard, played a tremendous role in shaping his life, and at the tender age of five years his father had imparted in him professionalism and basic acting techniques that have remained with him throughout his career.

As we read Howard's "unauthorized" biography, we are amazed at the extensive research that must have gone into the writing of this book, most of which was gleaned from Howard's interviews with the media over the years, as well as the author's interviews with many of his associates.
One advantage of writing Howard's biography in the prime of his life is that almost everyone is still around from his youth and his filmmaking career.

Practically no stone is left unturned, as we trudge along with the author from Howard's early childhood until his present day directing achievements.
We learn of his successes as well as his failures, and very often we are privy to some little known facts about him.
As an example, Howard was in awe by director George Lucas's talents and counter culture approach to filmmaking, as was in evidence in the film American Graffiti, where Howard had been asked to improvise scenes with other actors.

Movie buffs will surely appreciate the four appendices included at the end of the book that provide a timeline for the actor, filmography as an actor, filmography as a director and producer, and his major awards and honors.

One deficiency I found with the book, and one that is very prevalent in many biographies, is the creation of a narrative pattern that relies on the chronological tick of events; the day- by -day or year- by- year pattern should have been re-imagined. If the author had made Howard's story more innovative, it would have been more attractive to its readers.

Norm Goldman-Travel Writer and Editor Bookpleasures

Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond.......2003-11-12

I found Ms. Gray's study of Ron Howard to be a highly creative and attention-grabbing presentation of a man with a constantly developing and fascinating career and personality, ranging from his child-actor beginnings through his current reputation as a successful director in many genres. The book brought to life his early years in the Andy Griffith television series and "The Music Man." The author's treatment of his recent film, "A Beautiful Mind," is especially moving and insightful and tied together Howard's consistency and creative exploration in all of his work. His ever-present optimism, human decency, energetic habit of taking on new challenges, and loyal respect for others in his life and his work is presented in a very appreciative and in-depth way.

Opie to Richie to the Moon.......2003-07-25

Did you ever want to be Opie when you were a kid? I did. The thing about Opie was that even when he got into trouble, and he did get into trouble, everybody still liked him. Beverly Gray, in Ron Howard From Mayberry to the Moon, presents a good case that the same is true of Mr. Howard. Everybody in the motion picture business likes him, that is if you exclude a few pretentious critics (and even they probably like him, just not always his happy endings). Nice guys do NOT always finish last.

Howard did not cooperate with this biography because "he felt himself to be in midcareer and not ready to participate in a long range assessment of his accomplishment." OK, fair enough. Keep that in mind while you are reading, but do read it.

From Opie to Richie to director, this is a detailed portrait of a man whom everyone agrees is a real mensch and who is wildly successful. It is also fascinating, and adds to Howard's charm, to realize who loyal he is to his family and friends, yet how honestly he treats them when casting projects. Simply put, if he feels they are right for a part, they get it; if not, they don't. That takes quite a bit of respect and love - from the actor and the director.

Gray's extensive interviews bring out some interesting bits of trivia about Howard. Her prose flows nicely and her organization is excellent. Maybe in another forty years or so, she can write an update - next time with Ron Howard's input.

Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond.......2003-06-25

I read Beverly Gray's book on "Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon... and Beyond". I found it to be very easy to read, very entertaining and full of interesting stories about Ron. Ms. Gray was objective, diplomatic and kind, never to offend any party involved. I thoroughly enjoyed the book so much so that I finished reading it in one and a half day while sun bathing in Del Mar, California recently.

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