Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West

Amazon.com

"The men as they rode turned black in the sun from the blood on their clothes and their faces and then paled slowly in the rising dust until they assumed once more the color of the land through which they passed." If what we call "horror" can be seen as including any literature that has dark, horrific subject matter, then Blood Meridian is, in this reviewer's estimation, the best horror novel ever written. It's a perverse, picaresque Western about bounty hunters for Indian scalps near the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s--a ragged caravan of indiscriminate killers led by an unforgettable human monster called "The Judge." Imagine the imagery of Sam Peckinpah and Heironymus Bosch as written by William Faulkner, and you'll have just an inkling of this novel's power. From the opening scenes about a 14-year-old Tennessee boy who joins the band of hunters to the extraordinary, mythic ending, this is an American classic about extreme violence.

Book Description

An epic novel of the violence and depravity that attended America's westward expansion, Blood Meridianbrilliantly subverts the conventions of the Western novel and the mythology of the "wild west." Based on historical events that took place on the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s, it traces the fortunes of the Kid, a fourteen-year-old Tennesseean who stumbles into the nightmarish world where Indians are being murdered and the market for their scalps is thriving.

Customer Reviews:

What's Lies Beneath Man's Thin Veneer of Humanity.......2007-09-19

Mr. McCarthy's 'Blood Meridian' examines the nature of man when the fragile constraints of civilization have been broken. To accentuate that all the horrors in 'Blood Meridian' area contained within each of us, Mr. McCarthy sets his novel in the land of our national myth, the 'Wild West.' Not Hollywood's 'Wild West' mind you, but one recognizable as something closer to what reality must have been. That's the truely frightening part.

As everyone notes, the violence starts early in the book and never lets up. Mr. McCarthy forces the reader to look, forces us to not look away. This horrific violence is the vehicle McCarthy uses to move the novel from on his pages to within our own minds. Once we follow the characters across the societally self-imposed border and left 'civilization' and 'humanity' behind, Glanton and 'The Judge' become OUR king and OUR high priest. As 'The Kid's' humanity slowly withers, we recognize the degradable nature of our own humanity. 'The Kid' is the reader. 'The Kid' is the individual. If we are honest with ourselves, McCarthy tells us that when faced with humanity's ever-present interior horrors (represented perfectly by 'The Judge') we are just as helpless.

That is the true horror of 'Blood Meridian.' Not the blood. Not the guts. Not even the dead babies. The horror of 'Blood Meridian' is that at any time we are a one choice, one action away from 'The Judge' and the constraining force of 'civilization' is tenuous at best. And once that thread of humanity has broken...

Mr. McCarthy's language paints a vivid picture but can be difficult to wade through. His word choice can be archaic and obscure, but no word (or sentence) in 'Blood Meridian' ever seems out of place. 'Blood Meridian' makes you work to understand what's going on. The 300 page book seemed much longer to me. Perhaps its because I reread passages. More likely it was because Mr. McCarthy can construct two or three paragraphs that give you the impression that you've seen every detail of a hundred mile journey, all within half of a page.

'Blood Meridian' is not a pretty book or one that fits within today's 'entertainment' consumer's expectations. 'Blood Meridian' is Hieronymus Bosch, not Claude Monet. Mr. McCarthy has created a novel sublime in its ability to frighten and disgust you. Don't let that dissuade you. It's well worth the effort.

Wordiness galore!.......2007-09-12

I think Cormac McCarthy is one of those authors who write for editors and english teachers more than the reader. How pretentious. There is unnecessary wordiness to this novel. It distracts from the story, which is pretty good. His sentence structure is such that I keep thinking that there are much easier ways to say something, kiddo! One reviewer compared him to Hemmingway, but I must disagree. Yes, they both fancy the compound sentence, but Hemmingway wrote in a simpler elegant style. And you can be a good writer and not have to constantly use obscure nouns and reversed adjectives and odd pronoun usage and...oops, caught myself in a compound sentence.

He's heard this criticism before. And maybe it registered because The Road is much better read. Short sentences aren't bad, mi amigos.

Obsessive.......2007-08-26

This is only the second Mccarthy novel I have read,I might try one more before I give up.
There's no doubt that McCarhty is a gifted writer, but I don't share his obsession with violence and inhumanity, maybe that's his point, and in truth, looking at the world today I wonder if we've made any progress at all. Nevertheless I can't abide the literary vision here. I think its a waste of my time to read something that tells me what I already know and pounds in the pointlessness of life, as the authour sees it, till I am sick to death of it, I know there's more to life than this, and I quit the book. I couldn't read anymore after less than a hundred pages. I knew the whole thing would be just more of the same so why bother?
I don't think McCarthys a great writer, he dwells too much on the irredeemably demonic in man. He's an interesting writer, his style, his antique knowledge, his ornate vocabulary, but it takes more than this to make a writer with a response to life that is worthy rather than an indulgence in the depths of horror humanity is capable of. If you want the classic depiction of this, but also with reflection and thoughtfulness about man's plight than all you have to do is read, "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad.

1 doesn't begin to describe this waste of time.......2007-08-20

I listened to about half of the audio book and negative adjectives fail. I tried to tolerate it, I tried to give it much more effort than I felt it deserved or would ever reward me with just a experience that was better than listening to my own internal dialogue. The only thing I could even begin to care about was the animals. There wasn't a character that I was even remotely interested in, I certainly wasn't even the least bit curious as to what happened to them, let alone care about even enough to wish their demise. The evil, amorality of the characters hold no interest, no fascination and is very soon boring instead of evocative of anything. There is nothing inventive, interesting or otherwise at all compelling. You don't care about the Kid or the characters that surround him, you don't care about the people they kill, you don't care that the killings are brutal, and often indiscriminate. You don't care if they kill 10, 100 or 1000 Indians, Mexicans, by-standers or who or whatever ever. The violence is not fascinating, not shocking, not even numbing. In the end it's just repetitive and boring.

Read the phone book, read the want ads, don't bother with this, ever, for any reason.

Bloody Hell.......2007-08-13

Ultimately a lot of my problems with this are the same as when I read "Cities of the Plain" recently so I'll just cut and paste from there to save time.

I suppose McCarthy's writing is fine if you enjoy the Hemingway style, which I don't. I'm not sure what's so beautiful about sentences that go "He shaved and showered and toweled off and got dressed." Seems kind of ugly actually. Reminds me of the stories I wrote in junior high. But he has a Pulitzer and a National Book Award and I don't. Take that!

A few of the author's style choices left me more than a little confused. Let's go down the list:

1. McCarthy doesn't use quotation marks so sometimes it's hard to know when someone is talking and when McCarthy is narrating.
2. McCarthy is adverse to using proper names so you end up with confusing pronoun use. In one case he made it sound like wolves had built a fire. This is especially a problem when the author starts out a new section or chapter with "He" and then we have to wait a few sentences to figure out the "He" in question.
3. Most aggravating of all is that a lot of characters speak only Spanish and McCarthy puts their lines IN Spanish. So tough luck if you don't know any Spanish. I wasn't too bad off since I took a few Spanish classes in high school, but some terms still threw me--and I didn't have a Spanish-English dictionary handy. If this were a movie we'd have the benefit of subtitles but in a novel we have to try and interpret the gist of it from the character's actions, sort of like playing charades.

Here's a new one though:

4. The central character (supposedly) is "the kid" but after joining up with "the judge" and Glanton "the kid" steadily disappears until he's just an anonymous part of the gang as they terrorize Mexico and the southwestern United States. A good quarter or more of the book hardly mentions "the kid" at all until he resurfaces at the end for the final confrontation with "the judge."

As the reader I think I really missed out by another of McCarthy's habits of never getting into the character's minds. Since the characters are so opaque and the central character disappears, the final confrontation between "the kid" and "the judge" doesn't make a lot of sense. I never did understand why "the kid" didn't just off "the judge" when he had the chance, a direct result of "the kid" vanishing and never having any idea what he was thinking.

But suffice it to say if you enjoyed "The Road" then this is pretty much the same thing. A group of people going through a bleak wasteland full of blood, gore, and death. Only in this case it's "the kid" and the gang inflicting most of that blood, gore, and death in order to collect Indian scalps--or Mexican scalps will do in a pinch. Pretty much the whole book is them going from place to place killing people or getting chased off by people trying to kill them. If you're looking for anything happy or hopeful or any of that, you better keep on walking.

That is all.

Blood meridian, or, The evening redness in the west (Picador)

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Blood meridian, or, The evening redness in the west (Picador)
Cormac McCarthy
Manufacturer: Pan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

Stunning Caledonia MacNeely fights an unfamiliar shiver when she is offered in marriage to the infamous 'Lord Sin'. Though Callie fears this mysterious knight – less for the dark whispers that damn him than for the burning desire he invokes – she is under order of the English King. And with the fate of her troubled clan hanging in the balance, she has little recourse.

Download Description

Though few can equal her skill with the sword, Caledonia MacNeely fights an unfamiliar shiver when she is offered in marriage to the infamous ""Lord Sin."" Though Callie fears this mysterious, unreachable stranger -- less for the dark whispers that damn him than for the heat of his touch -- she is under the order of the English king. And with the fate of her troubled clan hanging in the balance, she has little recourse.

Banished as a child, ""Sin"" MacAllister learned to despise his Scottish heritage. Yet now, to unmask King Henry's foes, he must return to the hated Highlands -- wedded to a bewitching lass whose flaming red hair matches the fire of her spirit. A cold, hard heart has always been the key to Sin's survival, but this beauty awakens in him a perilous need he's never known.

Customer Reviews:

Loved it!.......2007-09-01

I cried during this story and I don't cry easily. Sin's childhood and his life up to the point where he meets the heroine, sounded so awful, I don't know how anyone could have survived it. And when asked by Callie, the heroine, he was honest about it too. It adds to the bittersweetness of this love story. I loved the moment when Callie finally showed him how much he means to her and what she was willing to sacrifice for him, a man who was rejected by both parents, hated, and feared but who had always sacrificed himself to save someone less stronger than himself. This is, by far, my favorite out of the MacAllister series.

Beyond great!.......2007-07-13

This book has everything a romance should have...lots of humor, tear-jerking moments, and passion. This is the best of the MacAllister series by far! Probably her book period!

Absolutely everything a romance should be.......2007-07-06

This book has got to be one the best romance books I have ever read, I put it up there with some of my all time favorite romances.

Lord Sin has got to be one of the most delicious, wonderful, gorgeous, strong, and yet sensitive tortured hero I have ever come across. Now this is romance right here, steamy without being explicit, moving, deep, meaningful, funny, and just all around perfect!

Caledonia is a strong woman, the kind that Sin needs. And it is a joy and a great pleasure to read and watch as these two are forced to get married by the king and then get to know each other. Slowly Sin's wounds are healed, as Caledonia brings back life and laughter into his life.

And when they at last consummated their marriage, after they had fallen in love, Caledonia asks Sin if it is always this wonderful, and he replies that he doesn't know, because he hasn't done it before,(how beautiful and refreshing).

Suffice to say, and I think you can tell by now that I absolutely loved this book! Highly recommended!

sigh, swoon 5+ stars.......2007-06-27

I love anything MacGregor [or Kenyon] writes. This was my top of the MacAllisters. Don't know why I love a man with a tortured past or a woman so stubborn it's almost a fault. Basically both of them are forced into marriage, stubborn, and trying to keep their lands from war. So many elements make this a wonderful read, that there isn't enough space here to list them all. MacGregor sure knows how to make the characters real in your mind. Please don't stop writing, sherri [or kinley:)]!!!!!

Born in Sin: A Macallister Novel.......2007-06-11

Kinley Macgregor is a wonderful writer and I have loved all the books she has written about the Macallisters. This is just another brilliant book!
Well done Knley Macgregor.

Average customer rating:

Born in Sin (A MacAllister Novel)

Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0739431641

Product Description

Though few can equal her skill with the sword, Caledonia MacNeely fights an unfamiliar shiver when she is offered in marriage to the infamous "Lord Sin." Though Callie fears this mysterious, unreachable stranger -- less for the dark whispers that damn him than for the heat of his touch -- she is under the order of the English king. And with the fate of her troubled clan hanging in the balance, she has little recourse.Banished as a child, "Sin" MacAllister learned to despise his Scottish heritage. Yet now, to unmask King Henry's foes, he must return to the hated Highlands -- wedded to a bewitching lass whose flaming red hair matches the fire of her spirit. A cold, hard heart has always been the key to Sin's survival, but this beauty awakens in him a perilous need he's never known.

Customer Reviews:

Well-balanced humor enhances a solid story.......2005-10-28

There's a fine line to be walked with respect to writing humorous fantasy; how much of the formula should be simple light-hearted situational humor, and how much of it should be given over to blatant punnery? In my estimation, it's more difficult to take humor "seriously" when internal logic and consistency are pushed aside in favor of too much of the latter (though I'm not sure which is worse; a writer who tries to mitigate his punning and fails, or one who abandons all restraint and builds his entire milieu on a foundation of puns). There are puns in Jason Cosmo; however, Dan McGirt limits them to the names of places and people, and thus his puns, rather than defining his world, are simply influenced by it. This leaves the way open for the reader to fully enjoy the novel's true humor, which is to be found in the situations, the interaction between Jason and Mercury, and the skewering of fantasy archetypes.

McGirt's world has politics (the nations and their past and present relationships are inherent to the plot), extrapolitical intrigue (two warring factions of wizards), history (the five ages), and mythology (the relationships between, and powers and limitations of, the gods and demons)-in other words, the major factors that contribute to a well-crafted fantasy world. On top of all this, McGirt overlays likeable characters (the titular Jason Cosmo, in particular), self-aware archetypes (He Who Sits On The Porch, a version of the classic wizened soothsayer), and offhand references to odd legends (an all-powerful race of pink bunnies), making this tale of destiny and divine providence into a little something more.

It isn't perfect by any stretch; I found isolated bits to be a little clumsy and heavy-handed. In particular, the sisters Sapphrina and Rubis seem to have no motivations of their own, other than to be dragged along behind the heroes (though, cleverly, their names suggest their status as simple adornments); Sapphrina's constant fawning over Jason Cosmo is a little overdone as well (at least to this reader). Likewise, the portrayal of the goddess Rae is just silly; I understand that she is supposed to be a caricature of contemporary "sun-worshipper" culture (especially of the 1980s, when this was written), of course, and one expects vanity from goddesses, but not unrelenting vapidity.

All in all, it's quite good for a first novel, especially a first novel that falls within that most treacherous of terrains called "humorous fantasy," a subgenre that proves challenging even for experienced writers. Despite some missteps, Jason Cosmo provides an entertaining few hours, which is all that we have the right to ask from any novel. I must echo the sentiments of other reviews and lament the fact that this novel (and its sequels, which I have not read) are no longer in print. McGirt's website (http://www.sff.net/people/mcgirt/) makes a vague reference to a "relaunch" of the series, and provides sample chapters of new adventures, but is vague on details and offers no timeline for the release of any of it, nor what form it will take. If you're interested, it's probably best to grab any copy you happen across.

I laughed until I hurt!.......2005-02-02

I loved this book. As an adult I could appreciate the wit of the writing, and still "get" the childishness of the jokes. I laughed until I was actually asked to leave my residence until I could act like "an adult" by my roommates. This is a very fun read and I highly recommend it.

The most read book in my library..........2002-04-15

I first read this book when I was in 9th grade (1990), and I can still pick it up today and find some new slice of humor that I didn't get the first, or the second, or the third time that I read it. Dan is an amazing writer, and I just can't tell you how many bad weeks have ended in laughter because Jason Cosmos was there to cheer me up. It's a shame that it's out of print, because it really is a gem. Hey, I feel so strongly about this book that I'll lend you my own signed copy if you can't find a used one!

Power!!.......1998-08-08

It's got life.. humor, tragedy, love, action.. it's the greatest fantasy book ever. Of course if you're as fun and easy going as me, and love the simple things in life and love to laugh.. this book is for us.

The best humorous fantasy book I have ever read!.......1998-01-01

Yes, believe the author, this is truly the funniest fantasy book I have ever read! The whole trilogy is great too. Do you like Esther Freisner's Gnome Man's Land and Harpy High? Those are great books, but I honestly think Dan McGirt's works are funnier. I would recommend these books to anyone, fantasy fans or not. I hope he writes more books, and soon!

Book Description

Calcium is essential for health, but it actually works best with magnesium to build strong bones, maintain a healthy heart, improve mood, and reduce uncomfortable premenstrual symptoms. The User's Guide to Calium & Maganesium explains the health benefits of this nutritional team and how you can use them to enhance health

Customer Reviews:

Bones need both calcium and magnesium........2002-11-22

Most Americans are probably aware that our bodies need calcium to make healthy bones. But many people may not be aware that a lot of Americans don't get enough calcium in their diet. And few people seem to know that healthy bones need magnesium as well as calcium. Unfortunately, magnesium deficiency is even more common than calcium deficiency. No wonder so many Americans suffer from arthritis and osteoporosis. Please read this book and be sure to get enough of the nutrients required for healthy bones.

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Just like Grandma's cooking...

For Taimi Previdi! Contact me at

TAIMI YOU ARE GREAT!

TAIMI YOU ARE GREAT!

Good solid recipes of good solid food

The Best of Finnish Cooking
Taimi Previdi
Manufacturer: Hippocrene Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
European | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Scandinavian | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Finnish Cookbook (International Cookbook Series)

Fine Finnish Foods

A Finnish Christmas Cookbook: Recipes and Traditions from the Old Country

Living in Finland (Living In...)

Beginner's Finnish (Hippocrene Beginner's)

ASIN: 0781804930

Customer Reviews:

Just like Grandma's cooking..........2005-08-14

I have tried for years to duplicate my Finnish grandmother's cooking. Asking for her recipes is hopeless...in her mind she just throws things in a pan and they come out that tasty. (She is constantly telling me it is not worth my time because her only secret is that Finnish cows, chickens, and fish are much happier and treated nicer than American animals, and therefore taste better.) This book is the first (and only, so far) Finnish recipe book I've found that carries many of our family's traditional recipes. It is easy to follow and I have had success with every recipe I have tried.

For Taimi Previdi! Contact me at.......2000-02-29

"New" E-Mail:jtymon@hotmail.com Love to hear from you.Your Book is Great! Jane T.

TAIMI YOU ARE GREAT!.......2000-01-18

Hi Taimi! It's been 40 Years, since we arrived from Our Homeland "Finland" to this land of Opportunities. I never knew you could Cook. Congratulations to Your Book. (Old Room-Mate Jane) If you get this, E-Mail me: jtymon@4link.net

TAIMI YOU ARE GREAT!.......2000-01-18

Good solid recipes of good solid food.......1999-08-25

Pity there's no pictures, but the food is filling and tasty. I expect almost all sales will be to Americans of Finnish and part Finnish descent, like my wife, but I'm not and I can tell the rest of you - Finnish food is good! And these recipes make it easy to cook.

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Favorite Recipes from our Best Cooks
Finnish Lodge Social Club (United Finnish Kaleva Brothers and Sisters)
Manufacturer: Circulation Service
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MOZQJO

Product Description

A book of favorite recipes compiled by the Finnish Lodge Social Club (United Finnish Kaleva Brothers and Sisters) of Brush Prairie, Washington.

Book Description

The Berkey and Gay furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, became one of the leading nineteenth century furniture manufacturers in America. Furniture in the Gothic Revival and Eastlake styles by Berkey and Gay became well known for their high quality, and two Neo Grec chamber suites by Berkey and Gay won recognition of high merit at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Over 300 photographs of Berkey and Gay furniture from company catalogs are presented with value ranges for today's market in this useful reference book for furniture historians, dealers, and collectors.

Customer Reviews:

answer.......2006-01-28

B&G went out of business in 1948 so stock is worthless except for maybe collectible value

need more info.......1999-10-01

we found stock cert. dated 1946 with berkey and gay furniyure co. wondering if there is any value to these? Where are they now?

Average customer rating:

A little disapointing

For the military vehicle modeler

Intermediate Military Vehicle Modelling (Modelling Manuals)

Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Models | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Basic Military Vehicle Modelling (Osprey Modelling Manuals Volume 3)

Advanced Military Vehicle Modelling (Modelling Manuals)

Airbrush Painting Techniques (Modelling Manuals)

Modelling Soft-Skinned Military Vehicles (Osprey Modelling Manuals 11)

Armour Modelling (Modelling Masterclass)

ASIN: 1902579062
Release Date: 1999-11-15

Book Description

This is the fifth title in the series and is intended to be a companion volume for Volume 3: Basic Military Vehicle Modelling and Volume 4: Advanced Military Vehicle Modelling. This title helps to complete the reader's knowledge of the skills and techniques required in military vehicle modelling. It covers such methods as scratch-building, superdetailing and the use of new materials including liquid plastic and photoetched details. These new techniques are vividly explained through a highly-illustrated, blow-by-blow guide to building a variety of kits, the M24 Chaffee, SdKfz 7/2 and 7/1, Bergepanther and many others.

Customer Reviews:

A little disapointing.......2002-01-04

I was a rather disapointed with the information given about how to paint these vehicles. Sure, it tells you all about how to add super-detailing elements that no one will notice, and how to convert kits, but the actual text about paitning techniques is nonexistant. If you're looking to learn paitning techniques, be prepared to look at lots of pictures and make lots of observations without any written aid. The title seemed to me to be a little decieving.

For the military vehicle modeler.......2000-06-01

Finally a modeling book directed at those who have advanced beyond simple kit assembly. This book is directed at the assembly/building of your models. Painting and diorama are just briefly covered. An over abundance of color photos guide the modeler through beginner use of Photo Etched Brass detailing kits. Also introduces the modeler to resin kits and resin detail kits. The largest fault I find with this book is the overuse of detail kits (Photo Etched and Resin) vs scratch built detail. Personally I have problem spending more for a detail kit than what I paid the original model (yes I am a fugal model shopper). But never fear; the chapter on detailing the Kettenkrad is pure scratch built using plastic, wire, putty, and thin metal. Two more Chapters conversions show both techniques in detail together. Over all I am happy with my purchase and will be using this book as I work on my models. I recommend this book for any modeler looking to take their military vehicles beyond the simple assembly, painting, and display level.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book For Anyone in the Product Business.......2005-07-14

This outstanding book is said to be aimed at design students, professionals, or anyone else who could benefit from af uller appreciation of the design process. And yes, I have to agree, it is.

More important to me however is the presentation in this book of the essence of what design is all about. This is the kind of book that the financial people behind a new big hotel should read. It is the book that a product development engineer should read before he starts working with his industrial designer. This is the book that nearly any business manager from marketing, to engineering, to sales, should read.

The first time I travelled to Scandinavia I was struck with the simple elements of design that they do so much better than we do in this country. Simple things like the design of hotel doors, no more expensive than what we do here, just better.

And the sub-title, 'why there are no locks on the bathrobe doors in the Hotel Louis XIV' -that's a great story, it makes such eminent sense. A special problem, a great design, see page 179.

Great introduction to the meaningful aspects of Design.......1998-11-27

A must have for all Designers interested in understanding how products are ultimately judged within their context-by thier effectiveness and usefulness.The six levels of Design Caplan outlines is a great measuring stick for all disciplines of Design and Engineering.

By Design: Why There Are No Locks on the Bathroom Doors in the Hotel Louis Xiv, and Other Object Lessons

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By Design: Why There Are No Locks on the Bathroom Doors in the Hotel Louis Xiv, and Other Object Lessons
Ralph Caplan
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSZNG4

Book Description

Art Chantry's contrarian ways have placed him in the pantheon of great modern designers. Some People Can't Surf: The Graphic Design of Art Chantry is the first survey of this visual iconoclast, who also designed the book and packed it with hundreds of his vibrant images. Gritty, funny, and refreshingly low-tech, his award-winning work has promoted countless bands, social causes, and non-profits. Tracing Chantry's career from his covers and layouts for the seminal music magazine The Rocket, to album covers for such cult bands as Mudhoney, the Reverend Horton Heat, and the Fastbacks, Some People Can't Surf is a comprehensive look at his creative evolution. Complete with commentary on the unusual origins and unorthodox processes behind his work, as well as providing context for his oft-copied look, Some People Can't Surf is a much-anticipated exploration of this idiosyncratic design master.

Customer Reviews:

Great design book!.......2006-11-10

Nothing can beat the "raw power" of Art Chantry. This book is a must in every graphic designer/student bookshelf!...

wow.......2004-09-09

i really wasn't too familiar with Art's work before getting this. i've only seen mentionings in random other books about how influencial he is. but after seeing this i can see why. he combines the rough aesthetic of punk and shows that it can be acceptible in mainstream graphic design. it shows that there's hope for punk rock artists like myself.

The sad irony..........2002-10-02

...is that Art Chantry's groundbreaking artwork (and yes--unlike some snooty traditionalist art-weenies--I DO consider graphic design to be "art"!) is more often than not gobs more compelling than the work of the people who have directly benefitted from his work (i.e. most of the so-called grunge bands from the Pacific Northwest). Yet almost nobody outside of Seattle, Tacoma or underground graphic-design circles knows who the hell he is, even though almost everyone has seen his work in one form or other (The Sub Pop logo is one example that immediately comes to mind).

In early 1991, I discovered and became obsessed with underground garagepunk & instro-surf music, the most exciting of which was coming out of the Pacific Northwest, and specifically Estrus Records, in Bellingham, Washington. It was the Estrus label that started my appreciation, and later, reverence, for Art Chantry's ir-reverent style of graphic design. When Nirvana's "Nevermind" was released later that year, the wall that previously kept mainstream riffraff from crashing "our" underground party came crumbling down, and as a result, grungy Northwest music had become suddenly (and inexplicably) marketable. The sudden onslaught of new bands inspired by this alleged "rebirth" of punkrock quickly caused the quality of Estrus' releases to assume an inversely proportional relationship to the quantity of records they put out (well, that's MY theory, at least...). Simply put, the really good music on Estrus soon became a rare commodity. Thankfully, what didn't change was the brilliant package design that thier slabs o' vinyl and silver frisbees were encased in. Art Chantry was responsible for the bulk of these designs, and is the only reason why a big chunk of my record and CD collection isn't fermenting in some used-record store somewhere. His artwork transcended the actual product it was emblazoned on, and made it worth keeping even if the music it promoted was supremely lame.

Chantry's work led me to notice and gain an appreciation for artists such as Stealworks' John Yates, Frank Kozik and even Roy Lichtenstein. But as great as those artists are, Chantry's work is the perfect amalgam of irony, humor, subversion, obnoxiousness and kitsch, and no one that I'm aware of has yet to outshadow him in this regard, even though he is without a doubt a man with many imitators. In fact, many people directly point the finger at him for popularizing the now passè movement in "grunge" design and layout. Whether this is actually true or not is debatable (although it certainly makes sense), but "Some People Can't Surf" is interesting in that it showcases a non-"grunge" (god, I hate that term) side of Chantry that most people would be very surprised to see. The same man responsible for some of the most outrageous and iconoclastic posters and album covers in music history was at the same time designing nondescript logos and brochures for boring, faceless corporations--biotech companies, architectural firms, airlines, etc.--and it's extremely interesting to see this real-world dichotomy brought to light in this book.

Another notable section of the book recalls the time when Art creatively attempted to get around a draconian 1994 Seattle anti-postering ordinance by posting up 'zine-like tabloids to telephone poles instead, ostensibly daring the city to attempt to fine him for what is fundamentally a First Amendment issue. As someone who firmly believes that graphic design and traditional "art" are not mutually exclusive, I found it refreshing to read this shining example of how designers can use their talent to actively influence and challenge the cultural status quo, instead of simply generating pretty pictures for passive consumer consumption.

When I first saw Art years ago in the documentary film, "Hype!" (which I also HIGHLY recommend), talking about the early Northwest music scene, and then proceeding to chop up his super-rare (and super-expensive) posters with a paper cutter, it completely validated what I always thought--this man is an ironic and wonderfully irreverent genius. "Some People Can't Surf" bolsters this fact even further, and I enjoyed reading this book's narrative at /least/ as much as looking at all the cool, full-color images of his brilliant work. I highly recommend this to any graphic designer who is tired of all the c.r.a.p. that tries to pass itself off as "cool", "grungy" or "retro" nowadays.

The Art of Art.......2001-12-01

In a similar manner to Paula Scher and Charles Anderson, one of the main themes of Art Chantry's work is to take old images and give them a twist. While you can see an echo of this look in almost every graphic design award annual today, Chantry has been working in this style since the late 70's. And while many have borrowed his approach, few have been able to imitate it with the same sense of grit, humor, color and power.

True to the title of the book "Some People Can't Surf" there isn't one website design to be found, but that may not be a bad thing as Chantry is a master within his medium. A very large body of work that spans three decades is showcased which includes everything from his very first poster design for a school concert to promotional work for major Hollywood record labels. One pleasant surprise is seeing quite a bit of logo design work which involves the charm and craft of hand lettering. In end Chantry reminds one of a later day Milton Glaser with a punk rock point of view.

At some points the book can become too crammed by trying to jam several posters onto a page by shrinking them down to matchbook size, however the work holds up pretty well under the strain. This volume would be valuable to any graphic designer looking for inspiration or anyone who is a fan of the Seattle music from the 90's.

Genius........2001-06-21

Thee-anti-cool-subversive-godfather-backroad-bar-b-que shack-genius. If you are in school but this book. If you are over 50 buy this book. If you are successful buy this book. If you are struggling-steal this book.

Some People Can't Surf The Graphic Design of Art Chantry

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Some People Can't Surf The Graphic Design of Art Chantry
Julie Lasky
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7I9W6

Average customer rating:

Some interesting anecdotes, but leaves you hanging.

Best bio of Preston Sturges

Between Flops: A Biography of Preston Sturges
James Curtis
Manufacturer: Backinprint.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Writer-director Preston Sturges set a new standard for creativity in Hollywood. Three volumes of his screenplays have been published, and he is acknowledged as one of the grand masters of screen comedy. Between Flops was the first full-length biography of this great American humorist.

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Customer Reviews:

Some interesting anecdotes, but leaves you hanging........2003-04-16

The first part of this book was mildly interesting for the anecdotes relating to Preston Sturges' fascinating early life & career(s). But as it proceeeds through his Hollywood period & beyond it gets thinner & vaguer. When it ended, I wasn't even sure what happened to Mr. Sturges, he just seemed to disappear & the book just stopped. Or was my edition missing a chapter?

Best bio of Preston Sturges.......2002-11-21

An outstanding biography. Though concise, this is much better written than longer biographies of Preston Sturges. Curtis provides all the essentials, and does so in a well-structured and well-written style. Takes less time to read than the bios by Spoto and Jacobs, but the reader comes away with a much more vivid portrait of Sturges.

Between Flops a Biography of Preston Stu

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Between Flops a Biography of Preston Stu
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BETWEEN FLOPS : A Biography of Preston Sturges.

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BETWEEN FLOPS : A Biography of Preston Sturges.
James. SUBJECT: Preston Sturges. Curtis
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