Serpent: A Novel from the NUMA Files (Numa Files Series)

Book Description

Clive Cussler, the author of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers, unleashes a hero for the next millennium in an electrifying new series of unrelenting action and edge-of-your-seat thrills.

When Kurt Austin, the leader of a courageous National Underwater & Marine Agency exploration team, rescues beautiful marine archaeologist Nina Kirov off the coast of Morocco, he becomes the next target of Texas industrialist Don Halcon. A madman bent on carving a new nation out of the southwestern United States and Mexico, Halcon's scheme hinges on Nina's recent discovery involving Christopher Columbus, and a priceless pre-Columbian antiquity buried in the battered remains of the sunken Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria. Only Kurt Austin and his crack NUMA team stand between Halcon and the Andrea Doria's silent steel hull -- and if their deadly mission fails, Halcon will ride to power on a wave of death and destruction.

Download Description

Clive Cussler, the author of sixteen consecutive New York Timesbestsellers, unleashes a hero for the next millennium in an electrifyingnew series of unrelenting action and edge-of-your-seat thrills.

When Kurt Austin, the leader of a courageous National Underwater &Marine Agency exploration team, rescues beautiful marine archaeologistNina Kirov off the coast of Morocco, he becomes the next target of Texasindustrialist Don Halcon. A madman bent on carving a new nation out ofthe southwestern United States and Mexico, Halcon's scheme hinges onNina's recent discovery involving Christopher Columbus, and a pricelesspre-Columbian antiquity buried in the battered remains of the sunkenItalian luxury liner Andrea Doria. Only Kurt Austin and his crackNUMA team stand between Halcon and the Andrea Doria's silentsteel hull -- and if their deadly mission fails, Halcon will ride topower on a wave of death and destruction.

"In the tradition of Pitt, there's a lot of underwater excitement."
    THE PLAIN DEALER (CLEVELAND)

"Great fun... Plenty of hair-raising derring-do."
    PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Simply terrific fun."
    KIRKUS REVIEWS

"SERPENT is a typical Clive Cussler novel, as the plot is filledwith endless excitement, nonstop action, and quite a degree ofentertainment... A pleasurable thriller that will entice fans of actiontales to want many more novels from the NUMA files."
    WELCOME TO BOOKS 'N' BYTES

"Many twists and turns... [and a] devious plot that certainly willdelight mystery fans."
    THE CAPE CODDER

Customer Reviews:

Appallingly awful.......2007-06-04

My first (and last) Cussler book. Appallingly awful. Purple prose, outlandish plot.

Clive Cussler.......2007-01-10

The story was very good but I was dissapointed that I was sent a library book & the cover wasn't in very good shape. The story itself was very exciting as is all of Clive Cussler's books.

Serpent: A Novel from the NUMA Files.......2006-07-02

I enjoyed the story and found it hard to put down. There is always an element of surprise to his stories. I especially enjoy the underwater element of exploration and discovery. Since being underwater is not in my element I find it interesting what others can and do find with the proper training. I hope they make this into a movie someday. I have read other Clive Cussler novels and find them all very informative and entertaining. Joan Sutton jvsutton@volcano.net

A Disappointing First Kurt Austin Attempt.......2006-03-23

Well, actually Austin did not disappoint me, it is more on Mr. Cussler's side. Do not get me wrong, I am an avid Cussler fan. This is my third Austin novel and Nth for Pitt. It is a disaster finding, for reading this novel is not finding what you are actually finding for. Later Austin novels were much more refined.

A 2.5-3 star only for it is one of worst Cussler novels.

suprisingly enjoyable.......2006-03-08

Although not a Dirk Pitt novel, this Kurt Austin book was action packed and had the general feel of most Clive Cussler books. I am a devoted Pitt fan, yet I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Cussler's writing. The archaeological expedition was intriguing.

Serpent - A Novel From the NUMA files (Serpent - A Novel From the NUMA files)

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Serpent - A Novel From the NUMA files (Serpent - A Novel From the NUMA files)

Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: 074352926X

Product Description

From AudioFile Hidden in the depths off Nantucket Sound lie the sunken remains of the ANDREA DORIA, an Italian luxury liner. Few know of the pre-Columbian artifact locked in within its bowels, or of the murdered guards secluded with the artifact. Reader Purdham draws listeners into the characters as murder and mayhem ensue. He switches accents and gender roles quickly. Nina, a young, beautiful, marine archaeologist, is depicted with youthful vigor. The staccato enunciation of killers in hot pursuit is in sharp... read more --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition. Book Description Clive Cussler, the author of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers, unleashes a hero for the next millennium in an electrifying new series of unrelenting action and edge-of-your-seat thrills. When Kurt Austin, the leader of a courageous National Underwater & Marine Agency exploration team, rescues beautiful marine archaeologist Nina Kirov off the coast of Morocco, he becomes the next target of Texas industrialist Don Halcon. A madman bent on carving a new nation out of the southwestern United States and Mexico, Halcon's scheme hinges on Nina's recent discovery involving Christopher Columbus, and a priceless pre-Columbian antiquity buried in the battered remains of the sunken Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria. Only Kurt Austin and his crack NUMA team stand between Halcon and the Andrea Doria's silent steel hull -- and if their deadly mission fails, Halcon will ride to power on a wave of death and destruction.

Serpent - A Novel From The Numa Files, A Kurt Austin Adventure

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Serpent - A Novel From The Numa Files, A Kurt Austin Adventure
Clive with Kemprecos, Paul Cussler
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JZZI8A

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Serpent: A Novel from the Numa Files
Clive; Kemprecos, Paul Cussler
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NXX21I

Average customer rating:

Serpent: A Novel from the Numa Files
Clive; Kemprecos, Paul Cussler
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NP644S

Book Description

Running low on funds, ex-CIA agent Scott Sterling moves into an apartment over a Bangkok bar. He teaches scuba diving and does occasional investigative work usually involving missing bargirls or wayward spouses.

But he is soon involved in tracking a murderer through Bangkok's little known world of upper-class gentlemen's clubs, houses of domination and kinky expatriate orgies. Meanwhile, with the help of his muay-Thai trained girlfriend, he attempts to rescue a young girl from thugs in a slum. All the while knowing that his girlfriend might in fact be the murderer.

Customer Reviews:

It's Truly Sukhumvit, Isn't It?.......2006-06-26

Being a big fan of private detective tales (Mike Hammer in NYC, Nate Heller in Chicago and Vinnie Calvino in Bangkok), I knew I'd be enjoying this novel as soon as I got it and that's exactly what transpired!
Once again, Dean's love for the Sukhumvit Rd area, especially the bar areas where many farang men hang out (Soi Cowboy, Washington Square), cannot be missed and what this writer has learned/discovered/ouright lived through for more than a few rainy seasons is perfectly melded into the storyline so even were I to be reading this novel here in the States, I could still smell that bizarre mixture of street vendor food, joss sticks, pollution and Buddha-Alone-knows-what-else, I could still hear tuk-tuks drag racing with motorcycles and I could still see all the lovely and not-so-lovely Thai bargirls parading under sizzling neon signs in the redlight districts that partially make Bangkok what it is. And that's just the background!
The main character is someone most of us will relate to at once as you follow him all over the place first wondering "What the hell?" followed by "Whodunit?" and finally "How does he solve this case without going home in a body bag?"
If these are the kinds of elements you require in a mystery novel NOT taking place in New York, Chicago, LA or London, get a copy of this and prepare for a good ride on a blood-washed avenue.

Weak Main Story, Good Local Color.......2005-08-23

There's no real reason to read this average pulp thriller unless you're specifically interested in the sights and sounds of Bangkok. The hero is an ex-CIA operative Scott Sterling, now living the expatriate life, eking out a living as a scuba dive instructor and part-time private detective. However, one gets the distinct impression that he spends most of his hours haunting the bars of Soi Cowboy. The story kicks off in true pulp fashion, with a sexy blonde walks into a bar and captures his attention. But before she can become a client, she turns up murdered. Feeling inappropriately obligated, Scott decides to investigate and soon finds himself in a predictably murky plot involving rich men, expensive call girls, and sexual shenanigans.

Fortunately, this rather rote material isn't all there is to the book. The author provides a bridge to the Thai people via the sassy bar girls Scott knows (and lives amidst in his run-down apartment), and Dao, his kickboxer girlfriend. Of course the whole notion of the ex-CIA guy with the sexy (every woman in the book is sexy) local Muay Thai champ is pretty over-the-top, but that's the kind of book this is. There's a fairly significant subplot involving a gang of slum loansharks who kidnap a girl and Scott's mission to free her. This brings Dao's gangster/monk brother into the story, and the entire affair is kind of overpowers the main plot, which seems curiously commonplace next to the colorful local scene. A lot is made of Dao's character as well, plenty on her her training and then a long blow-by-blow account of her "big match".

So, this is a curious failure of a book in that when Barrett leaves the main plot, it generally gets much better. The details of Dao's spartan kickboxing camp are quite interesting, as are the dynamics of the slums, the funny scenes in bars involving other colorful expatriates, and even the scuba instructor parts. In other words, all the local flavor stuff is nicely done and rings with authenticity, while the murder plot seems kind of paint-by-numbers. The hero seems rather too easily surprised in the climax, although the manner of his deliverance was quite clever. In sum, don't read this for thrills and a good murder mystery, read it because you want a sense of life as an expatriate boozer in Bangkok.

Is this better than a skytrain to the mall?.......2004-08-08

Skytrain to Murder, by Dean Barrett, is a decent noir-like thriller taking place in Bangkok, Thailand. It doesn't really involve a skytrain, but it does involve a murder, so that's one for two, anyway. Barrett is known for writing Asian thrillers and Skytrain to Murder is another good example of this. Unfortunately, Barrett spends too much time giving us the flavour of the city rather than giving us an interesting tale. Atmosphere is like a spice: if you use too much of it, you drown the taste. Add to that a subplot that doesn't really seem to go anywhere and you've got a rather short, yet still padded mystery.

Scott Stirling is an ex-CIA agent from the Bangkok bureau, now living there. Short of money, he's moved into an apartment over a local bar. He teaches diving and does some detective work on the side. A beautiful blonde asks him to her apartment, supposedly to request his help, along with a good screw. When he gets there, she has decided she doesn't need his help anymore, but the screw could still go ahead if he wants. He respectfully declines, but unfortunately, she later ends up dead. Investigating the murder leads him through the seedy underside of Bangkok life, reaching all the way to the top of the business world. He's also asked to rescue a little girl who's supposed to be used as collateral in a loan-shark deal. In this quest, he's aided by his martial-arts trained girlfriend (Dao) and her family. It's too bad that she's also a suspect in the murder.

The more I think about this book, the more problems I come up with, though I do have to say that I ultimately enjoyed the book. Barrett throws in a lot of sub-plots, some of them leading to other avenues of investigation and some apparently red herrings (or, for this novel, red pufferfish). It's unusual to have whole subplots be red herrings, though, and I found that it detracted from the book. Especially bad is the rescuing of the girl. After finishing the book, I can see no reason why this was in there, other than giving us a view of his girlfriend's world. This could be fine, but we get to the spice analogy above. It overwhelms everything else. Barrett makes it seem like a big deal, but when he's finished, the only thing it really did was show how tough Dao's brother is. What's the point? He also spends a lot of time on Dao's muay-Thai martial arts match, going into heavy detail about it, punch by punch. If Dao were a major character, I could see the reason for this, but she really doesn't do much in this book. So why are we spending so much time with her?

It's also bad when the narrator draws attention to the many coincidences that permeate a book. Near the end, Stirling (the book is written in first person) comments on the unlikely string of events that led him to the predicament he was in, and how he got out of it. I think readers should probably come to that conclusion themselves, and they might be a lot more forgiving about it if they do. However, the two comments at end of the book (the one about the coincidences and then the one explaining why there's a skytrain in the title of the book) are so heavy-handed and obvious that they almost don't feel like they were written by the same writer. The rest of the prose in the book is great, reminiscent of a Sam Spade in Asia novel. It almost felt like I was watching a black and white movie.

It's a shame that there are so many structural problems, because Barrett does give us some very interesting characters. Stirling is a great main character, with a cynical outlook on life yet remaining a pretty positive guy. I almost picture him with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, ala Bogart. Barrett also provides us with quirky bit characters and interesting suspects in the murder. In fact, even Chinaman (Stirling's adopted Chinese brother who adopted that nickname, but only for a select few people to use) is intriguing. We only get a couple of glimpses of him when he calls Stirling, but I definitely would love to read a book about him. The dialogue that Barrett provides for these characters also crackles. I loved some of the exchanges in the Boots and Saddle bar between the regulars there. It really added to their character.

I didn't let the problems in Skytrain to Murder get to me until after I had finished it and thought about it. While I was reading it, I really enjoyed the prose, the characters, and the dialogue. While the plot was a bit contrived and there were too many extraneous sub-plots (especially for a 260 page book!), I was hooked from page one until I got to the end. If you turn you allow yourself to go with the flow, and if you like your thrillers with a bit of exoticism to them, then give this one a try. I'll even add an extra star for the enjoyment factor.

David Roy

Fast paced and exciting!.......2004-02-26

Scott Sterling, an American expatriate living in Bangkok, Thailand, spends most of his time hanging out in bars and teaching scuba diving. Occasionally he uses his expertise as an ex-CIA agent by doing a little detective work, mostly following cheating spouses. His Thai girlfriend, Dao, is a boxer and an extremely jealous woman. When Lisa Avery, a blonde knockout from the States, starts hanging around, Scott begins to feel a bit uncomfortable caught between the two women.

Lisa requests a meeting with Scott, and he thinks he might get to the bottom of her odd behavior--maybe she wants to hire him for some detective work. Their meeting doesn't end as planned, and Scott leaves with many more questions about Lisa than when he started. Then Lisa turns up dead, and he makes it his mission to find out why she was killed and who killed her. There are people who would prefer Scott stay far away from the investigation. As he starts to uncover clues, he finds that Lisa was not who she appeared to be. Will Scott discover the motive for the crime and the identity of the killer before the culprit eliminates him from the equation?

SKYTRAIN TO MURDER is a brilliantly written novel. The author,Dean Barrett, a resident of Asia, delivers firsthand knowledge of what it is like to live and work in this fascinating country. Sprinkled throughout the book are funny accounts of the different bar patrons and their interactions between themselves and the locals. Scott is a well developed character and the reader has a rapport with him and his plights, even the uncomfortable ones he brings on himself.

The mystery of SKYTRAIN TO MURDER is detailed and intriguing, and will keep readers guessing until the exciting climax where all is revealed. I take it as a sign of a good mystery when I can't figure out the identity of the villain, and this novel delivers a well-crafted surprise. The dialogue is fresh and fast-paced, full of Thai cultural references, both funny and shocking at times.

One criticism I have is that a few of the things referred to in the book are unfamiliar to me, and may be unfamiliar to other readers. It would have been helpful for some commonly mentioned things to be defined, such as "bargirl" and "muay-Thai."

Overall, SKYTRAIN TO MURDER is one of the most fascinating mysteries I have read in a long time. The exotic locale coupled with captivating suspense make for a winning combination. I definitely recommend this book for all mystery lovers on your holiday shopping list--and buy a copy for yourself as a treat!

Courtesy of www.AllAboutMurder.com

The Real Deal.......2003-12-01

A very well written detective novel set in Bangkok. A down and out American detective and his martial arts trained Thai girlfriend and lots of bizarre characters both Thais and foreigners living there. The author obviously knows the place. For example: "Thais are the nicest people in the world. Until they're not."

A great read and I learned a lot. If this book doesn't make you want to go to Thailand, nothing will.

Book Description

This fast-paced tale, set in an imaginary world of wizards, warriors, and kings, deals with a boy who discovers that he must fulfill a prophecy that is thousands of years old if the world as he knows it is ever to survive. To accomplish his task and fight off the Dark One, this boy must unite every country on the continent before they are to stand together and face the evil forces that are gathering. To do this he must battle between his conscience and his sense of duty, and then decide on whether or not it is just for him to wage war --if need be-- in order to bring about unity throughout the world and save the lives of millions. This epic novel of war, treachery, and magic is full of surprises and will provide the reader with an unforgettable experience into the world of fantasy.

Customer Reviews:

what in the world of middle earth?!?.......2004-04-03

This self-indulgent pittling of paper makes me sad for the future of fantasy writing. The author writes like a child who stumbled upon a very short thesaurus. Mr. Vargas must have started this on the way home from watching The Lord of the Rings. It apprears as though he's trying to create something he obviously has little to no understanding of. This is a gluttonous expansion on what shouldn't be more then a short story. Not a good one at that, or one even worthy of that irretrievable few days of your life you'll spend toiling with this offensively atrocious mess of borrowed fiction. Frodo, i mean Thomas, and the rest of this claptrap mistitled a novel are utterly contrived. The whole mess is artisticly and linguistically offensive. I pity those who have wasted time, energy, and hard earned currency on this base dreg. I'm going to attempt to cleanse myself of this...by reading something worthwhile, not juvenile and disrespectful to the English language. Perhaps some real Tolkien...

GOOD READ.......2004-03-27

I enjoyed reading this book. I strongly recommend it if you like to read fantasy,and adeventure, lots of it. Nice ending.

A GOOD READ.......2004-03-24

The plot of this novel was excellent and it developed flawlessly. The adventures are fit for people of all ages, whether they are interested in good vs. evil or in romance ... .If you're looking for something entertaining to read this is the one book that you seek! I highly recommend it!

Book for all ages.......2004-03-24

This is a book of adventures. Very nice and innocent, something you can't easily find in our time, it's such a nice story. You will be involved with the plot and find a nice message at the end of it.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK.......2004-03-19

I did not enjoy reading this book at all. I felt it was very poorly written, and unprofessionally put together. The plot at times was at times ruff edged, and the authors ideas did not have a flow to them. Along with the poor plot, the homosexual references throughout the novel were ill called for and, at times, unfound. The sheer length of the book was totally unnecessary, for a boring story like this could be told over a fire in less than 10 minutes. This is a story that belongs around the camp fire, instead of selling (or not selling rather) for $25, paperback at that. I do not recommend this book, no doubt written will running from boarder patrol, to any innocent fantasy story seeker, or educated novel reader.
4 shizzel

Average customer rating:

Stealth Health is Great!

Easy Steps to Better Living

This book has changed my life!

Stealth Health

Plenty of Good Ideas

Stealth Health: How to Sneak Age-Defying, Disease-Fighting Habits into your Life Without ReallyTrying
Reader's Digest Editors
Manufacturer: Readers Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Healthy Living | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Stealth Health: 100 Delicious Recipes and 1,000 Tips for Eating Right in Spite of Yourself

30 Minutes a Day to a Healthy Heart

Eating on the Run

cut your cholesterol

1801 Home Remedies

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0762106484

Product Description

Discover The Everyday Health Plan - the simplest program available to enhance your health by promoting weight loss while increasing your energy level and strengthening you immune system. This east-to-use plan contains more than 1,200 tiny modifications to make you healthier. the ideas are fresh, unusual, simple, fast, and thoroughly researched and doctor-approved.

Customer Reviews:

Stealth Health is Great!.......2006-08-25

Stealth Health includes simple solutions to living a healthier life. I've already incorporated many of the tips given in this book and I feel that I'm not missing out on anything. It includes tips on improving your overall health, including stress and time management - not just eating habits. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in wanting to live a long, healthy lifestyle!

Easy Steps to Better Living.......2006-06-27

I really like the idea that small changes can add up to make a difference in your health. After reading the author's tips for improving your eating, I added fresh green peppers and onion into our jar of spaghetti sauce to get more veggies in our diet. A little thing, but easy to make the change.
The author suggests mixing ground turkey breast in some recipes to cut down on fat (for instance 1/2 ground turkey & 1/2 extra lean ground beef for chili). "No one knows the difference," she explains.

This book has changed my life!.......2005-09-27

I thoroughly recommend buying this book. Its simple, easy to read guide is well organized and thought out. I've been easily incorporating the changes it recommends in my life without overwhelming me. This is a must read for anyone who wishes to de-stress their lives and add health with ease. Judea Eden

Stealth Health.......2005-09-25

I found Stealth Health to be an excellent book to get practical information on a variety of topics that can help to change bad habits and form more healthy habits. Not only does the book provide healthy information but it also gives good practical suggestions on changing small areas of your life that has a posive effect, like doing shaving in the shower when your skin is already wet rather than standing at the mirror with a dry face or legs. I also found a recipe for conditioning your hair using avacado and egg that had really made my hair have more body. The fact that you can pick the book up and read for a few minutes and come away with a new idea is great.

Plenty of Good Ideas.......2005-08-13

This is a great book, organizing ways to improve your life into categories ranging from better sleep to high blood pressure to exercise and diet. I've enjoyed reading it, and hope to use some of its suggestions!

Average customer rating:

Wow.

The Seafood Cookbook: A Complete Guide to Choosing, Preparing and Savoring the Bounty of the Sea
Jean-Paul Grappe
Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Seafood | Meat, Poultry & Seafood | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1552094014

Book Description

This eminently useful volume offers valuable tips on how to purchase and store fresh and frozen seafood, optimal methods of preserving seafood, various cooking methods, and a complete chapter on how to make over 40 sauces and other essential ingredients commonly used in seafood dishes, such as Court-bouillon and beurre blanc.

Chef Grappe discusses the various kitchen utensils and equipment that make cooking seafood enjoyable. In step-by-step color photographs, he also shows the basic techniques, including how to fillet sole, prepare halibut and salmon, butterfly lobster, and clean and open shellfish and mollusks.

Chapters in The Seafood Cookbook are divided into types of seafood, which include:

Flatfish (turbot, flounder, halibut and more)
Gadidae (cod, haddock and whiting)
Salmonidae (salmon, char and trout)
Sea bass and other families (grouper, perch and more)
Scombridae and Clupoeids (mackerel, tuna, herring)
Freshwater fish (yellow perch, pickerel, pike and more)
Crustaceans (crab, shrimp and lobster)
Shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams)
Seaweed (sea lettuce, arame, nori)

An additional chapter lists the best choices of wines to accompany seafood. Some of the over 150 creative, simple yet daring recipes found in The Seafood Cookbook include:

Tea-Steamed Weakfish with Almond Milk Butter
Poached American Shad with Aromatic Garden Herb Cream
Avocado with Snow Crab Stuffing
Atlantic Cod Fillets with Red Peppers and Capers
Haddock Steaks with Cucumber
Coho Salmon Mousseline with Smoked Eel Rillettes
Yellowfin Tuna Fillets with Minot Cider
Hot Oysters in White Wine with Mushrooms

Customer Reviews:

Wow........2002-08-10

This has excellent color illustrations of each fish and/or sea"food" it lists along with characteristics, where it's from, latin name, and recipes for each. Consider this a manual on fish! I'm impressed every time I browse through it. Definitely a keeper, now to find some fresh seafood!

Average customer rating:

Impressive Introduction to the Potteries of North Carolina

North Carolina Art Pottery Identification and Value Guide
A. Everette, Jr. James , Everette James , and Rodney L. Leftwich
Manufacturer: Collector Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Pottery & Ceramics | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
North Carolina | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

North Carolina Pottery: The Collection of the Mint Museums

The Potter's Eye: Art and Tradition in North Carolina Pottery

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Raised in Clay: The Southern Pottery Tradition

ASIN: 1574323083

Book Description

Pottery from the Catawba Valley, mountain pottery of Western North Carolina, the Coles, Nell Cole Graves, the Cravens, Jugtown, M.L. Owen, and even rare and unusual pieces are discussed. Signs, stamps, shapes, and symbols used are given coverage, as well as the implications of condition of the pottery. Family tree charts in this book are reprinted from The Traditional Potters of Seagrove, NC, copyright 1994, Robert C. Lock, Inc. AUTHORBIO: Everette James is an honors graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke Medical School, and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He taught at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, University College (London), and Vanderbilt. He has published over 500 articles and 20 books including: American Art: Thoughts of a Collector; Essays in Folk Art; Tales of the Dismal Swamp; and North Carolina Art Pottery 1900-1960. Dr. James and wife, Dr. Nancy Farmer, live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. REVIEW: Collectors have been waiting for a complete guide to the pottery native to the beautiful state of North Carolina, and this book provides a thorough look at the challenge of collecting these delightful pieces. The transition from utilitarian to art pottery is discussed, as well as pottery from Western North Carolina, Nell Cole Graves, M.L. Owen, and much more. No other book on the market can touch this one; it's the most in-depth volume available on the subject.

Customer Reviews:

Impressive Introduction to the Potteries of North Carolina.......2007-08-25

I own a number of books described as "Collector's Guide"s and "Pottery Identification and Value Guide"s and most of them have a short history section and then some combination of catalog pages and photographs of examples, lines, and marks. Useful but limited.

However, this book contains evidence of substantial research into the history and aesthetics of various potteries and potters of North Carolina. He discusses various clay sources and, most important of all, offers numerous photographs of the bottoms of the illustrated pottery pieces. He also discusses the quite striking glazes used.

I was surprised to discover that certain unmarked pieces I had bought over the years in the Ohio Pottery area were in fact from North Carolina potteries.

Very recommended.

Edited just to add that Dr. James (his name is A. Everette James, Jr. not James A. Everette, Jr.) and his wife Dr. Nancy Farmer were awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Governor of North Carolina for their service to the state.

Book Description

Fifty projects, showcasing an incredible richness of shapes and styles, will appeal to turners who have mastered the basics and long to expand their range of techniques. Among the highlights: graceful teardrop, Japanese lantern, skep or beehive, onion-top, and Mosque boxes. Each design comes with a working drawing (usually full-size) and color photographs. Bonus: a gallery of works by leading turners.

Average customer rating:

Review: Doug's Rooms

Solid Decorating Information

fabulous find

Doug's Rooms Makes Do It Yourself Design A Breeze!

I Did It -- With Doug's Help!

Doug's Rooms: Transforming Your Space One Room at a Time
Douglas A. Wilson
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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$100 to $1,000 Makeovers: Maximizing Your Decorating Dollars (Trading Spaces)

Trading Spaces: Color!

ASIN: 1400050154
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Book Description

You marvel as Doug Wilson races against the clock to create stylish, over-the-top rooms on Trading Spaces, and you dream of inviting him into your own home to do his thing. Now your dreams have come true. Here are Doug’s insider secrets, tips, and pointers for creating high-impact interiors, with easy step-by-step instructions for duplicating many of his projects and effects. Complete with special “Kick Start” sections that show how you can use any item (even your favorite handbag or a souvenir from your last vacation) to inspire a new look in any room—Doug’s Rooms will help you design spaces that will make your friends turn green with envy.

Customer Reviews:

Review: Doug's Rooms.......2006-06-26

Loved this book. Had many of his "Trading Spaces" rooms and was full of other ideas and detailed instructions on how to accomplish them.

Solid Decorating Information .......2006-04-07

This is a rarity; a decorating book that you'll read cover-to-cover instead of just looking at the pretty pictures. Doug Wilson walks you through rooms he decorated (about 10 pages per room). He explains his thinking for solving different problems in the room and meeting the owner's needs. You really get good tips this way and it opens your mind to new possibilities.
The show piece rooms are very sophisticated with innovative paint treatments. Even though the results are not something I would copy, the way of thinking and getting ideas is quite useful.
The last 30 pages tells you how to do some of the effects (tissue paper walls, no-sew window valance, stenciling curtains, covering a dresser in fabric, making a padded headboard).
Wilson has a way with words, besides being Richard-Gere handsome and familiar to many from the TV decorating shows. I'm glad this wasn't just a quickie HGTV fan book. It really delivers some solid decorating information.

fabulous find.......2005-12-15

Doug Wilson's book is amazing. It has really helped me tackle some problem areas in my house. I have incorporated life and color in rooms that were once dull and unused. I'm looking forward to a sequle.
Thanks Doug - keep em' coming.

Doug's Rooms Makes Do It Yourself Design A Breeze!.......2005-11-22

I have always enjoyed leafing through design books and seeing the amazing interiors of other people's homes. Until I read Doug's Rooms, I never attempted any do-it-yourself type design projects. However,in major need of some window treatments (and unable to find any to fit my large dining room window), I attempted the "no-sew window valance." The step-by-step instruction in Doug's Rooms made it a breeze, and everyone who visits my condo comments on how wonderful they are, asking if I had them custom made! Doug's Rooms is a must-read!

I Did It -- With Doug's Help!.......2005-11-17

As a young single male in my very first apartment, I had no idea where to begin when it came time to decorate it. With the holidays and guests' arrivals fast approaching, I needed some guidance and direction -- fast! A friend, who happens to be a decorator that I cannot afford to pay for help, suggested that I pick up "Doug's Rooms." All I can say is -- THANK YOU DOUG! His positive, can-do attitude really inspired me! I was so energized by his use of exciting colors -- I knew I would have to do the same in my own space. I was completely clueless about accessories! Doug's suggestions really gave me perspective on this complicated task, and with his help, I never knew I could get so creative on my own! I strongly suggest that anyone and everyone pick up Doug's book. Whether it's your first apartment or your home could use some freshening up, look no further than "Doug's Rooms" for the inspiration to get your project moving! Thanks Doug!

Book Description

An outrageous mix of indie cool, punk-retro aesthetics, camp, and kitsch, the concert posters of the 1990s became so wildly popular that they took on a life of their own, sometimes outshining the rock bands they were created to promote. Not only are they avidly collected today, but an annual two-day convention known as Flatstock now exists to celebrate the works of the leading artists and designers. Exploding with color and bold graphics, this awesome collection of the best rock posters of the decade is the only book in print that examines and illustrates this important movement in graphic design.

Teeming with more than 250 posters by over 50 designers, Swag is a groundbreaking introduction to the world of concert poster art, and a look at the cutting-edge music it was created for, from Nirvana and Pearl Jam to Sonic Youth and the Velvet Underground. The visionaries of the genre are all here, including Frank Kozik, Coop, Jermaine Rogers, Stefan Sagmeister, and Brian Ewing. An insightful foreword by Art Chantry, Seattle's iconoclastic genius of rock poster design, accompanies this collection of visually arresting images compiled by noted author and designer Spencer Drate. Together, they honor the free-thinking politics, angst, and imagination of rock culture of the past decade through the present day.

Customer Reviews:

Memory Lane.......2007-01-19

this book would make a wonderful gift for anyone who was active in the live music scene during the 90's. i have given this book to two people as gifts and they both loved it. you could seriously spend hours looking at this book and talking about all of the shows you remember going to. i highly recommend it.

Visual overload - in a good way!.......2003-12-12

I just got this book and love it. There is so much great art in this thing that I can't stop looking at it. Tons of big, colorfull images and artists. I had no idea how huge the world of rock posters had gotten in the last decade or so. Now I want to start collecting them and see them for real. All the poster artist's represented are excellent, but I especially liked Ames Design, Chantry, Coop, Dean, Emek, Ewing, Gink, Hampton, Scrojo, and Sutton. The forward by Art Chantry is a really interesting short history of rock poster art. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes rock posters. Or even art or music in general.

The only reason I didn't go with 5 stars is that I wish it had just a few more pages. But it was definitely worth the price. Buy it - you won't regret it!

I guess it was a nice try?.......2003-11-20

Alot of people have been waiting for this book to come out. I am one. The book "looks" great, high quality design, printing, etc. The Chantry essay in the begining is excellent (but that is to be expected). But after that, it's all down hill. First glaring problem here. "Rock Posters of the 90's" is the title. Then why are half the artists in this book little known artists who never even MADE posters in the 90's? It's like putting out an album of "60's Rock Classics" and half of it is Leo Sayer and Doobie Bros. Another big problem with this book is it seems like there was absolutely NO RESEARCH done in it's making. Old Artrock catalogs are more informative. There are LOTS of artists who are not in here, and should. As there are lots of artists who are in here, that maybe shouldn't. And then big important artists like Mark Arminski, who is truely a pioneer of the poster world only gets one page??? Judging by the reviews of the "45 Cover" book by the same author, you can probably get them both for $5 after the holidays on the "cheapy" table, I now wish I waited to buy this. It is interesting that all of the probelms with the "45 cover" book, are evident in this book too. Sorry. Big let down. Save your money for the Electric Frankenstein book of all of their posters/cover art, and the Art of Modern Rock, which I think will rule!

Book Description

This collection contains the best songs from both of Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion albums, arranged for piano. Included are the mega-hits 'November Rain ' and 'Don't Cry,' plus nine more.

Customer Reviews:

Frederick Johnnie.......2005-10-31

I have the music book and now I'm a geart piano player because of this book. Must buy for any piano players out there.
Guns N' Roses Rock!

Frederick Johnnie

Not a good book to jam with your band.......2003-05-02

This book is only good for those people who wants to play the whole tune with the piano. If you have a vocalist, a guitarist, a bassist and you want to accompany on piano then this book is not recommended. It doesn't provide you much on the background piano as what you have heard from the album. Not even 20% of it. But you can use this book as a guideline to find the exact background piano played on the album.

Sick of Playing for your parents?.......2001-07-29

Are you sick of playing the piano for your parents? Don't want to practice anymore? this book is the ultimate cure.. Get back to those days when playing the piano was FUN! with titles like November Rain, 14 Days, Don't Cry.. and more this book is EXCELLENT! As soon as I got it, I went to my friend's house, picked up the guitar, my friend came over, and we played songs from this book over an hour. Thank you Guns N Roses and Thank You Mark Phillips who made this book fun and easy to use.

Song List:

Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Live And Let Die
November Rain
Don't Cry (Original)
Yesterdays
Dust N' Bones
You Ain't The First
Civil War
14 Years
So Fine
Estranged

P.S guitar solos are arranged for the piano

GUNS N' ROSES -Use Your Illusions to play Piano.......2000-08-06

This book is VERY good. Although not stricly what is played on the albums, it does have the solos transcribed for piano so you don't have to be playing with Slash! Also has that f@*king great piano solo that Axl plays in Estranged!!

If you play the piano you must buy this book, regardless of whether you like GN'R or not.

very good but lack some details.......1999-10-17

The book is pretty good but there are some details it doesn't cover like the piano background solo in civil war

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