Book Description
In another enthralling bestseller by "master yarn spinner" (Chicago Sun-Times) John Dunning, rare book dealer and relentless private eye Cliff Janeway unravels a deadly plot marked by stolen classics and stable secrets.
When wealthy horse trainer H. R. Geiger dies, Denver bookman Cliff Janeway encounters the legacy of the man's wife, Candice, a true bookwoman who left behind an assortment of rare first-edition children's books. Sent to assess the collection, Janeway soon finds that several titles are missing, replaced by cheap reprints -- while other hugely expensive pieces remain. Why would a thief take one priceless book and leave an equally valuable volume on the shelf? Suspecting foul play, Janeway follows the trail of Candice's shadowy past to California's Golden Gate and Santa Anita racetracks, where he signs on as a racehorse hot walker. Eavesdropping on the chatter among the hands, he doesn't like what he hears. And when he goes to the house where Candice died to look for answers, Janeway finds much more than he bargained for.
Customer Reviews:
Bloodstock & Books.......2007-10-02
Somehow this Cliff Janeway title does not quite make the scene of either the horse-world or book-world. An accidentally pass-up of a John D. McDonald, which is gone when Cliff returns is the substance of the bibliophile theme readers have loved in Dunning's tales.
The plot staggers alone with dominate father, disappointing son's, murder and greed, but never quite comes together. Is Dunning trying to wrap up an intriguing series?
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and TRAVELERS.
OK, but not the best in the series.......2007-08-29
I have read all of the Janeway books and have really enjoyed them. However, this one was a disappointment. I found it meandered and felt the pacing of the story was very slow. I had a hard time not skipping sections or reading ahead. (I am also getting a little frustrated by how 'perfect' Janeway is, every woman loves him, he can beat any man in a fight, etc.)
In short, this books is 'good enough' to keep reading, and is 'good enough' not to give up on the series, but I would not recommend it to someone unfamiliar with Janeway/Dunning.
My least favorite Cliff Janeway book.......2007-08-29
I have really enjoyed all of the previous Janeway novels but this one just wasn't as good. I'm not much of a horse person either so the setting didn't promote my interest. I also felt like he backed himself in the corner with who the killer was... jeez I guess all of the logical suspects have been eliminated so lets just bring in a new guy.
In any case I do think John Dunning writes well - this just isn't his best work.
Snow in Modesto???.......2007-08-08
I loved this book. My only gripe is that when Cliff escapes from the burning car, he finds himself lying in SNOW??? Outside of MODESTO??? He's just driven from Idaho, where the horses are being exercised with no mention of snow, so you know it's not deep winter. Believe me, if there's snow on the ground in Modesto, hell would be a bit frosty!
Does this irritate anyone else?.......2007-08-06
I ran onto it in the first chapter: it occurs four or five times. Maybe it doesn't bother anyone else: it's just a grammatical absurdity. Why does he use a colon (:) when a semi-colon(;) is what's called for? I've never run into this before. Does he not know, or does he not care? I had to decide if I wanted to read the other 35 chapters, enduring this, or dump it. I did read them all, and it is a pretty good story: but why does he do this to us grammaticians?
Book Description
Miss Sarah Blount, better known as Sally, has come to Wolfe to plead for his help with her father's case. Matthew Blount is charged with poisoning a man to death at the Gambit Club, and all evidence points to his guilt. Sally knows that her father is innocent, but doesn't trust his lawyer, who seems too interested in her mother. Despite the lack of cooperation by Matthew Blount or the lawyer, Wolfe takes the case, trumping the police with a list of four suspects. But when one of those suspects turns up dead, Wolfe is forced to retrench, so unnerved that he forgoes a fabulous lunch and ignores his treasured orchids. Sally's increasing interest in Wolfe is only one of many trials he faces in this witty, cleverly plotted tale.
Rex Stout's literary creation, Nero Wolfe, is one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time. And, as always, Archie's assistance as the perennial wise guy and legman complements Wolfe's devotion to orchids, gourmet meals, and his specially constructed brown leather chair. Together, Archie and Wolfe make an entertaining odd couple.
Customer Reviews:
Review for People Looking for Chess Fiction.......2007-04-12
The other review is quite thorough - but I will review this book from the theme of chess literature. I am an accomplished chess player and life long devotee to the game. I gave this story three stars because it did flow pretty smooth. The mentionings of chess are okay and accurate. The setting was pretty much a murder that takes place at a chess club and Nero Wolfe and his sidekicks are responsible for solving it. This was my first Stout book, so the colorful characters really did catch my interest and I would read Stout again in the future. However, I had a little bit of a tough time with Stout's style. He uses had had and that that so much and even in the dialogue of the characters. Yuck! Still, from a chess fan point of view and seeing how chess fiction of any type is quite scarce - I do recommend this book even though it is average in quality.
Not Stout's Best.......2005-04-11
Michael Pritchard's typically outstanding reading of "Gambit" cannot overcome an often-repeated comment about this book: that Rex Stout in the 1960s was on the way down in creative powers.
Gambit was written in 1962 and contains intriguing contemporary references: Bobby Fischer, television news, the cold war. These are always fun, and revealing of Stout's attitudes toward contemporary society. However, some elements of Stout at his best are conspciuously absent.
For one thing, he has Wolfe accepting a case largely because a pretty woman appeals to his vanity concerning his detecting ability and genius. It verges on Wolfe becoming a stereotypicaly dirty old man, and is not satisfactory. Then, the interplay between Cramer and Wolfe portrays Cramer in an uncharacteristially mean-spirited and even loutish manner. The Cramer we know is better than that.
Perhaps worst, though, is the absence of the wise observations we've come to expect from Wolfe. In this one, he gets peevish (not necessarily a bad thing) but also skittish - not like him at all. He shows an indecisive streak which is so inconsistent with the "better Wolfe" that the faithful wonder whether Wolfe should consider nursing home care.
Finally, the plot. If Stout has to have Wolfe explain what a gambit actually is, you can sense trouble coming. The plot outline seems rigged-up and contrived, and the characters seem to have some trouble sticking to it.
Must mention, though, the typically wonderful job Michael Pritchard does with this one. But for that, the audio version would be worth only 2 stars, not three...
Customer Reviews:
Wolfe wins the chess match.......2007-09-27
A man is poisoned during a chess match, and Wolfe gets called by the daughter of the arrested suspect to clear her dad and find the real killer. Naturally, Wolfe must do this while staying firmly ensconsed in his Manhatten brownstone, while Archie Goodwin does his legwork. The story quickly develops a natural suspect after an initial series of interviews of all the people surrounding the death. But it also takes an interesting twist when another dead body is found. I enjoyed that just enough clues were left in the story to allow me to figure out who the killer was just before Wolfe announced it. Here's a hint ... the method of murder was a little different than you may originally think it is. Enjoy!
Available on Audio CD.......2006-12-15
For some reason the Amazon listings don't include the audio CD version of this outstanding book.
Michael Prichard's reading style is ideally suited to this great story about chess players and the "perfect murder." The variations in personalities at the Gambit Club prefigure the chess stars of the 70s.
From a view of character study, this one is really, really good (and great to listen to also).
A fine, satisfying read.......2006-08-16
My 5th Nero Wolfe book, and I loved it. I caution new readers that the Nero Wolfe books are an acquired taste. For women the Wolfe character is edgy. But, this puzzle of who poisoned what, etc. really grabbed my attention, and I dreamed about it for days (a good sign for me). I can tell that I'm finally getting into these books because I envy Wolfe's life. He's a recluse, and that's my big goal in life -- a recluse with lots of help to do my chores. It'll never happen, and that's why reading these books is satisfying a longing in me.
A fun little mystery (4.5 stars).......2006-03-07
For anyone unfamiliar with Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe mysteries I'd highly recommend this novel. While it is not my favorite of Stout's Nero Wolfe stories, it is a nice introduction to to Nero Wolfe and his confidential assistant Archie Goodwin. Wolfe is a 285 pound orchid collecting genius of a detective who almost never leaves his office for work. he can be cranky and avoids work whenever possible. Archie is a sarcastic ladies-man who's job is to do the leg work for Wolfe as well as keep him focused.
The opening sections of the book illustrate the quirks of the main characters and as I said make a good introduction for new readers.
The mystery itself is interesting and full of the twists and turns that I have come to expect from a Nero Wolfe novel. It is written in Stout's signiature sytle and kept me guessing for much of the book. In the end, Stout does a good job of tying everything up and showing the logic behind the solution and how Wolfe and Archie got from point A to Point B to the solution.
Death by Cocoa.......2003-11-10
A Review by Alex
Jerin is playing the usual twelve players with messengers running in a room with Jerin alone telling the layouts of each board. A man had come in with some hot chocolate for Jerin. The man's name was Blount. Later that night, Jerin dies and Blount is thrown in jail because they all think he did it. Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin have to solve the mystery and see to it that Blount is innocent. The only way they can solve it is the use of his daughter, Sally.
I really love and enjoy the fact that this book makes me think and makes it so I use my brain a little. It is a mystery, so therefore I have to be smarter than Archie. I was always trying to figure out if it is someone or not and when I read to find out it's not one person I try to guess who it could be. This book also gave me suspense, I got so excited when they were about to do questioning with someone like Sally or the mother. I always find out something new and clues of the killer. This book was also a perfect read when it came to pages, only 137 pages and the text was a bit on the small side but still made it a perfect size. Not too quick and not too long. This book always gave me a surprise.
This is a great mystery for those who love to use their brain figuring things out. Gambit is a really exciting book to discover new suspects and an unexpected murderer. You will dive into the book and not want to put in down caused by the eagerness to read about who did it and why.
Book Description
With Michael Allred's Madman: The G-Men from Hell series hitting the racks like a polkadot napalm balloon, now comes the atomic dessert, the long-awaited Complete Madman Comics Vol. 3, collecting Madman issues 11-15, including the four-part "The Exit of Dr. Boiffard," the epic Madman maelstrom that still has comics readers young and old asking, "How do you pronounce Boiffard?" Plus: "The Truth About Everything And All The Rest," a Madman title so long only a state-of-the-art trade paperback can hold it! Plus: the usual cosmic landfill of guest-artist pinups, galleries, beany copters, giant talking brains, and those cool little hors d'oeuvre swords! All in spectacular Mad-orama color by Laura Allred. You can't handle the truth!
Customer Reviews:
Great style, great fun.......2003-01-17
Allred's artwork is simple, strong and compelling. Madman is one of the more fun, albeit quirky, books that you will read. All of the collected Madman works are worth checking out, but this one, along with the 4th collection: G-Men From Hell are my favorites.
Fans of Allred's work on X-Force will definitely want to check this out. Madman lacks the cynicism and underlying complexity of X-Force, but Allred's optimistic, light hearted, hero shines in the Madman books.
Book Description
In this remarkable new book, Dr. David Schnarch, world-renowned sex and marital therapist and author of Passionate Marriage, offers a groundbreaking approach to resolving sexual difficulties and the relationship problems they cause. By showing couples how they can turn their worst sex and relationship disasters into personal growth and spiritual connection, Dr. Schnarch offers couples the best sex of their lives.In addition to taking an unflinchingly honest, realistic, and erotic approach to sex, Dr. Schnarch reveals the complicated emotional interactions hidden within couples' most private moments. Resurrecting Sex speaks of compassion, partnership, generosity, and integrity in adult sexual relationships, offering hope to millions of people -- golden-anniversary marriages, newly formed couples, and singles alike -- who are struggling with sexual difficulties.Uplifting, provocative, and heartfelt, the book is organized into four sections:
- A crash course in sex
- Explanation of how sexual relationships really work
- Medical options and bionic solutions
- Vignettes of couples changing their sexual relationships
Resurrecting Sex addresses all major sexual issues, including male erection problems such as rapid orgasm and delayed orgasm; women's problems with arousal and lubrication, difficulty reaching orgasm, and low desire; full coverage of Viagra (for both men and women); and other sex-enhancing drugs and medical options. Rather than dwelling on sexual techniques, this sympathetic book shows how to cure the rejection, hostility, and emotional alienation that often accompany sexual problems. Its unique method helps couples develop the love, affection, and commitment that prevent divorce and strengthen families.Generous of spirit, enlightened, and insightful, Resurrecting Sex is destined to make the world a better place to fall in love.
Customer Reviews:
very disappointed.......2003-06-06
this book was absolutely awful. i have read several self-help books and this is the first time i've felt so strongly about it that i felt compelled to write a review. this author is totally full of himself. i was very frustrated when reading this book for two reasons. first, it was very vague. he kept telling you what he was going to tell you next, then never really got to the point. second, i felt as though he was talking down to me, which was probably because of his big ego. another thing i found particularly disturbing was his reference to using illegal drugs to improve your sex life.
very disappointed.......2003-06-06
this book was absolutely awful. i have read several self-help books and this is the first time i've felt so strongly about it that i felt compelled to write a review. this author is totally full of himself. i was very frustrated when reading this book for two reasons. first, it was very vague. he kept telling you what he was going to tell you next, then never really got to the point. second, i felt as though he was talking down to me, which was probably because of his big ego. another thing i found particularly disturbing was his reference to using illegal drugs to improve your sex life.
Golfer's Guide to Sex.......2003-05-07
It's clear from an initial reading that Resurrecting Sex is much like resurrecting the golf game. In fact, there are many similarities to the the anxiety reported by golfers when they suffer from performance anxiety in their swings, or on the green, most of which is caused by the inability to focus on their strokes, the feel of the game, and the concentration required to address the strategics of the game. Since that occurs with both experienced golfers as well as with newer players, male or female, it is a universal phenomenon that can benefit from relaxation and enjoyment rather than the intense overwork that often results in heightened stress and more failure. Much like the right club and the right angle, the right approach in golf or in sex makes a difference. Choke holds on the club don't often work in either golf or sex. Having always been a "gentleman's game," sizing up the green as well as the partner can make the tee-for-two-time as comfortable as the regular tee time. The difference between the right woman and the one who isn't may have more to do with the similar difference between the champion challenge courses and those that are easier, but less challenging courses. It is a matter of taste, after all, in love or in golf.
Transcending Sexual Self-Help to Greater Marital Intimacy.......2003-02-24
This is not simply an excellent self-help book about improving your sexual relationship. It is also an extremely wise book about relational intimacy. *Resurrecting Sex*, David Schnarch's third book, attempts to translate for the layperson many of the essential concepts elucidated originally in his groundbreaking *Constructing the Sexual Crucible*(1991).
As probably the most influential writer in the field of sexual/marital therapy today, the author further bridges the gap between sexual problems--as they have traditionally been viewed in terms of individual dysfunction--and such problems as they can much more fruitfully be perceived as reflecting an individual's (or relationship's) level of development and differentiation.
Unlike virtually all other writers in the field, Schnarch's objective is to assist people not simply in having less problematic (or anxiety-ridden) sex, but in creating the kind of physical connection achievable only through learning how to successfully *confront* one's personal anxieties--namely, through better developing the capacity for self-soothing and self-validation.
Although the book is quite readable, with lots of practical information and suggestions, it is also quite challenging. For readers are inevitably encouraged not only to take more responsibility for what may not be working in their relationship (both in and outside the bedroom), but also to go out on a "relational limb" and be with their spouse in a way that requires considerable emotional courage and self-regulation.
As idealistic as, finally, Schnarch's approach is, it is also exceedingly practical. Totally up-to-date, it covers all the most important sex devices and drugs that can, in particular situations, help with arousal and orgasm difficulties. It also discusses the various techniques that can enable people (both men and women) to overcome their sexual problems (from dyspareunia and vaginismus, to low sexual desire, erectile dysfunction and early ejaculation). But much more important than this, it focuses on how individuals can realize their potential to profoundly change their relationship to their spouse; and by doing so, help the relationship to evolve to a higher, and much more satisfying, level.
This is a book that can transform your sexual relationship from one that is conflicted, indifferent, or just barely positive, to one that is truly innovative, passionate, intimate--and even spiritual. Moreover, if readers earnestly strive to incorporate the author's challenging ideas into their lives, the book has the potential to change them at a profoundly personal level: to alter how they see themselves--not only in the context of their relationship, but from deep within as well.
Ultimately, sexual gratification and fulfillment have to do not just with the sensory stimulation a person receives--or their body's ability to respond optimally to this stimulation. It has to do with achieving an emotional bond with one's partner that itself can contribute to an improved sexual functioning that in the end becomes indistinguishable from the deepest expression of intimacy and love.
Another Jewel in a collection of priceless gems.......2002-12-17
First Constructing the Sexual Crucibal, then Passionate Marriage and now, Resurecting Sex. These writings are all rich with a higher knowledge of learning to know ones self, and become a much fuller person and relationship partner. All of these books will change how you see yourself, life and each other and your sexuality. And yes, his ideas really work. Really Really. David's insightful brilliance and humility is a gift to humanity from God...
Customer Reviews:
Alan Dunn ,Floral Wedding Cakes and Sprays.......2005-08-30
Ordered this book on the 10th July, am still waiting for it.
Why I rated it 5 stars is that I have seen the book and it is fantastic for the cake decorator who appreciates a book that can show one how to make the beautiful flowers that Alan Dunn creates.
DIFFERENT OPINION.......2003-03-11
Sorry to see the review saying that the cakes and flowers in this book are not acceptable.
Alan Dunn is a very talented sugar flower designer and his books are sold around the world. If the reader was expecting fresh flowers then this book was not the one to buy -- that being said it just goes to show that Alan's ability to create stunning lifelike sugar flowers fooled the most discerning critic.
Please remember this designer resides in England and the cake styles are somewhat different to those seen in the United States. His cake design is normal fare in the UK and probably seen at 80% of weddings. The use of rolled fondant in the United States is currently gaining in popularity (evidenced in all of the cake layouts in bridal magazines) and it is my opinion that it will continue to do so in the future.
Beautiful flowers - Detailed instructions.......2001-03-06
This is my favorite author for gumpaste flowers by far! The flowers are very beautiful and life-like, and the instructions are detailed with step-by-step photos, unlike some other books I've seen. It would be a wonderful resource for beginners and experienced sugar artists alike. His arrangements are a bit too big for my personal taste, but are easily scaled down, and of course the cakes themselves are English style rather than American, but the focus and value is the information on the flowers themselves anyway. A must-have if you are interested in gumpaste flowers!
An Awesome experience.......2000-01-20
Wow, Alan Dunn does it again! The gumpaste flowers in this book are so lifelike and the instructions so clear, that he makes learning new flowers an enjoyable experience. A must have book for the professional decorator or for the cake show enthusiast.
Another "must have" book for a gumpaste enthusiast.......1999-10-24
As a professional cake decorator, I found Alan Dunn's new book a necessity in my library. His attention to detail and ability to instruct through writing makes the book a bargain. The book is open and in use more often than not.
Book Description
Dive into tantalizing, eye-catching objects dubbed "teapots," but be warned, serving tea is not necessarily their purpose. Though many artists are making functional, traditional teapots; other artistic adventurers are brewing up whimsical sculpture. Explore unique designs and materials. With the usual image of a ceramic or silver teapot in one's minds eye, how do you confront a teapot made with holes around the body? Or one made of woven fabrics, of silk with lace and buttons, wood, and coins? You do so with tongue in cheek and an intellectual, fine art sensibility. Dona Z. Meilach tackles the burgeoning activity of teapot making and collecting with over 450 dazzling color images of teapots from 227 artists in fourteen countries. She begins with a short history of why teapots evolved as late as the 1500s, when tea had already been consumed for generations. She introduces artists and talks about collectors, what they buy, where to buy, and ideas for displaying collections. And she plumbs her vast knowledge of artist's techniques and materials and produces an electrifying compilation that will keep you turning pages and coming back again and again. With teapot collecting escalating so rapidly, this book is a must for private and corporate collectors, decorators, and museum curators to learn who is doing what, where, how, and why.
Customer Reviews:
Hundreds of full-page color photos and discussions of unique designs, materials, crafts.......2005-10-06
Dona Z. Meilach's Teapots: Makers & Collectors covers all the new teapots from whimsical and non-functional works of art to practical and collectible teapots. Much more than a price guide alone, however, Teapots: Makers & Collectors packs in hundreds of full-page color photos and discussions of unique designs, materials, crafts. Artists in 14 countries are represented in a review which produces both a history and a guide for contemporary collectors.
Wow!!.......2005-08-16
Dona Z. Meilach has done it again! This prolific author has created a spectacular book on a very hot topic...a must-have for teapot makers and collectors. The variety and creativity of the artists creating these exquisite designs are inspiration for those in any medium. Teapots of ceramics, metals, mixed mediums, fibers, fabric and beads! Terrific photos...beautiful book!
Customer Reviews:
Designing Quilts.......2004-06-25
This book has inspired me to get all those scraps together
and start cutting and sewing. I'm trying to find any other book Suzanne Hammond has written.
Easy quilts that look difficult.......2000-07-09
The quilts in this book are easy to construct, but have the look of more complicated designs, because of the use of color. If you want to learn how to use color value to make secondary patterns, this is a good starting point.
Book Description
A unique collection of original and inspirational trompe l'oeil motifs and practical step-by-step projects to embellish your home.
Murals and trompe l'oeil paintings are a unique way of adding personality to any part of the home. From the French term 'to trick the eye', they can create a particular atmosphere, enlarge a small space or create a focal point. Trompe l'Oeil Design Library contains everything you need to create the scene you want, from a country pitcher on a shelf or climbing wisteria, to curtains surrounding a window or a Greek landscape glimpsed through a marble arch. Each section contains two full-scale projects, one large-scale and one smaller, illustrated in step-by-step detail showing how the picture is built up. A wide selection of templates extends the theme, offering countless more designs. The tools, materials and techniques sections are comprehensive and easy to follow.
Customer Reviews:
Good Visuals.......2007-07-04
Good book to help beginners to professionals. I used some great tips from this book to paint one of my doors.
Bible an exaggeration.......2007-02-02
Calling a book a "bible" is an affectionate term usually reserved for highly regarded works that many professionals turn to for help and/or inspiration. Like Ralph Mayer's "The Artists Handbook".
This book is not a "bible". It is more like a primer suitable for beginners and hobbyists. Very disappointing to find it so elementary.
Great instructional book.......2006-07-03
If you want some trompe l'oeil tips along with photographs of finished work, this is a great book. Step by step instruction of many illusions.
uninspiring.......2006-03-23
The book lacks both technical details and inspirations. Contains several basic boreing projects so meticulously drawn line after line as for to be copied. The "trompe l'oeil" title is too ambitious either. Sorry to admit but very like other books offered.
Good book but more out there.......2006-01-26
Good book but I have found a good site that offers free online tutorials for Trompe L'oeil at http://www.creativeevolution.net/school/howto.php
Average customer rating:
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TROMPE L'OEIL BIBLE
Sue Dove
Manufacturer: Interweave Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MC4ET4 |
Average customer rating:
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Trompe L'Oeil Bible
Manufacturer: DAVID & CHARLES
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GRFQ2E |
Customer Reviews:
All one might want about M. C. Escher.......2007-05-14
This is a major compilation of the work of the intriguing graphic artist, M. C. Escher. Remember seeing depictions of events that seem plausible but, under closer analysis, involve impossibilities? That describes some of Escher's most interesting works.
The book provides just about everything Escher produced (appearing in the "Catalog" section of the book), including his earliest works compiled during his teens. Among the most well known (and fascinating) include "The Waterfall," "Ascending and Descending March," "Convex and Concave," "Liberation," "Synthesis," "House of Stairs," and so on. The catalog section is fun, for one thing, simply to trace the evolution of his art.
But there is more to this volume than the works themselves. The volume provides context, with a brief description of his father's life as well as a more detailed analysis of Escher's life, from his birth in 1898 to his death in 1972.
There is also a most useful chapter labeled "The Vision of a Mathematician" (featuring the thoughts of mathematics teacher Bruno Ernst). It begins by noting two periods in the work of Escher--(page 135): ". . .pre 1935, in which landscapes predominate, and post 1937, which is characterized by a marked mathematical tendency." Ernst describes the mathematical principles in some detail (for those interested in this, a fascinating discussion). The textual portion of the book concludes with an essay by Escher himself on "The Regular Division of the Plane," including his reflections on his art.
This book has been around a while, but it is a valuable backdrop to getting a sense of the art of M. C. Escher.
Wonderful With Great Explanations.......2007-05-13
I love everything Escher. I have several books, numerous calendars, as well as large jigsaw puzzles, T-shirts, magnets and mini jigsaw puzzles. Because of the detail in this book, I will never need to add another book to my collection. I especially appreciate the explanations. I am nowhere near smart enough to figure out what Escher was doing in each of his artworks. The detailed lesson on what each piece means is much appreciated by an art fan who is not an art scholar. I think this book would be great for any Escher fan, but I feel the need to tell you it is very large. Make sure you have room for it.
Essential for the Escher fan.......2006-08-13
And c'mon - if you've seen his work, you're a fan.
The great thing about this book is not just the extensive and readable biography, but the complete (so they say) catalog of his graphic works. Even people very familiar with Escher's ouvre will be surprised by some of the entries here. They go back to work he did at ages 18 and 19, and show the devleopment of the Escher that has become so famous. It's just a little disappointing that the catalog is printed only in black and white, when so many of his works used color. The catalog reproductions are just that - a listing of his work, not a gallery, so the quarter-page size of most pieces is adequate for recognizing a piece, if not for appreciating it fully.
It is fascinating to see Escher's style develop though his (and the twentieth century's) twenties. Various influences early on suggest Beardsley (cat. 49, 67), Picasso (cat. 51, 58), or the pervasive Art Deco of his time (cat.34). Even then, some of Escher's later fascinations begin to emerge, including hands and reflective balls (cat. 88 and 80), symmetries and tilings (cat. 61, 65), and complex interactions of many figures in a repeating structure (cat. 90). The lesser-known parts of his work also start to emerge by the time he's 30, including delicate lithographs (cat. 129, 132). As much as I love his visual paradoxes and flirtation with the infinite, the lithos and mezzotints are the pieces that truly move me. "Snow" and "Blowball" (cat. 278 and 330) have an eloquent simplicity. "Eye" and "Drop" (cat. 344 and 356) demonstrate his classical sense and his perseverance with the demanding medium of mezzotint.
The text is also thorough and enjoyable - a good thing, since it takes up half of this heavy book, including its own set of illustrations. I admit that I have only skipped around this section, which starts by describing Escher's father. It's small wonder that his father was an engineer and that his son Arthur studied geology. Although an artist to the core, Escher had fruitful contact with mathematicians and crystallographers. He is one of very few artists that have successfully incorporated hard science into their artistic vision at such a visceral level, and the scientists appreciated that as much as anyone.
Although out of print, this book is available inexpensively on the used market. It's one of the best bargains around; if you've read this far, you'll probably find it well worth having.
//wiredweird
M.C. Escher.......2003-10-31
Definitely the first book every Escher fan should purchase. It's helpful in getting to know about the man himself as well as his brilliant artwork. It may seem pricey, but it's totally worth it, being hardcover (at least the one I got), and high quality photos of his work. It also shows his lesser known works (ones never released apparently), as well as photos of himself and his family. A very informative read and a quality edition.
A Complete look!.......2003-05-20
I haven't even had a chance to go through all of this remarkable book yet, but I am so impressed with it so far I cannot burble enough about how delighted I am with my purchase. This is a beautifully produced, designed, and wonderfully complete book. Many tales of the personal life an vision of the artist, countless, cleanly reproduced graphics, many works I have never seen or heard of before. Terrific! Can't recommend enough!!!
Average customer rating:
- Great book about MC Escher
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The Magic Mirror of M.C. Escher/a Revealing Look into the Life and Work of the Most Astonishing Artist of Our Time
Bruno Ernst
Manufacturer: Parkwest Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0906212456 |
Customer Reviews:
Great book about MC Escher.......2006-12-22
Probably the best book written about dutch graphic artist MC Escher (by Bruno Ernst, an admirer of Escher that would become a close friend). Not only the book contains a great deal of graphic material, but there are also details about Escher's life not known elsewhere. The books covers a great deal about his early life, his travels to Italy in the 1920s, his life there, his exile into Switzerland after the fascists imposed uniforms on his children, his return to the Netherlands right before the Second World War. Remarkably, this artist revered by mathematicians for his representations of different types of symmetry and mathematical concepts, knew little math himself. He was a rather introverted artist, who had an ambivalent opinion about his own work.
Average customer rating:
- Marilyn by Moonlight: A Remembrance in Rare Photos
- excellent photo book
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Marilyn by Moonlight: A Remembrance in Rare Photos
Manufacturer: Dream City Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0970567413 |
Book Description
This exquisite array of over 140 previously unpublished photographs is interlaced with Marilyn Monroe's own reminiscences of her life. It features exclusive photos from the collections of Marilyn Remembered, the Los Angeles fan club with many members who actually knew Marilyn-her photographers, hairdressers, fellow actors, foster sister, and stand-in. Through the wonders of digital technology, these images have been restored to their original luster and are beautifully interwoven with the star's own words about her life as transcribed from interviews recorded shortly before her death.
Customer Reviews:
Marilyn by Moonlight: A Remembrance in Rare Photos.......2003-03-14
It is just a little difficult to state; at the risk of sounding completely redundant, however, "beauty is beauty". When it came to Marilyn Monroe, she was synonomous with the word. This book was written by one of Monroe's fan clubs, (Marilyn Remembered Club). It presents to the reader previously unpublished photos of her during her childhood thru the last days of her life. The book features truly enjoyable and memorable photos from some of her most significant films. Some even show her posing candidly with fans off the set in her "Sugar" Kovalschek costume, from "Some Like It Hot". "Marilyn By Moolight: A Remembrance in Rare Photos", should be a must have addition to any serious Monroe fan as well as any person who enjoys viewing a person who in my opinion personified,(and still does), what feminine beauty is all about. I heartily endorse this book. It is a proud addition to my extensive "Marilyn Monroe" collection.
excellent photo book.......1998-10-11
This book is written by the Marilyn Remembered Fan Club with Quotes by Marilyn Monroe and containes some of the most beautiful digitally restored photo's of her. This is one book to own if you are looking for a MM book.
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