Strange Fits of Passion: A Novel

Book Description

A turbulent, tragic story of domestic abuse from the bestselling author of The Pilot's Wife.

Everyone believes that Maureen and Harrold English, two successful New York City journalists, have a happy, stable marriage. It's the early '70s and no one discusses or even suspects domestic abuse. But after Maureen suffers another brutal beating, she flees with her infant daughter to a coastal town in Maine. The weeks pass slowly, and just as Maureen settles into her new life and new identity, Harrold reappears, bringing the story to a violent, unforgettable climax. A labyrinth of a tale with an ingenious structure, Strange Fits of Passion is also a powerful portrait of truth and deception.

Customer Reviews:

Title of book is not what you may anticipate it to be.......2007-09-13

Anita Schreve is one of my favorite authors-- commencing the day I read The Pilot's Wife--there was no way that I could have anticapated the ending of that book--a complete surprise. Following that read, I purchased her book Fortune's Rock's --another great read
Strange Fits of Passion was so good that I had difficulty putting it down.
I highly recommend it.

A new discovered author.........2007-05-31

I just discovered Anita Shreve and so far all of her books are great!

intriguing.......2007-04-20

Domestic violence stories are so difficult to read. Anita Shreve is such an outstanding writer, and she presented Maureen/Mary's plight in a wonderfully compassionate manner. I was on the edge of my seat reading the events as they unfolded and was saddened that Mary didn't receive the justice that she deserved. I think had this been in current times instead of the 1970's, the outcome would have been different. An excellent, thought-provoking novel from one of the best authors of our time.

A Story that Stays With You.......2007-04-05

This book is much more than a battered wife story. The terror of the woman's experiences will stay with you long after you've put it down.

Couldn't wait to finish it.......2007-03-16

Anita Shreve has a gift for capturing the complexities of each character she writes. This book is especially rich in local color, its primary setting being a small town in Maine. From the first page to the last, this book held my interest more than any other Shreve novel. Excellent.

Average customer rating:

Strange Fits of Passion: A Novel
Anita Shreve
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

Born a wealthy French heiress but betrayed into bondage, Brigitte de Louroux swears she will never be any man's slave.

Rugged and powerful Rowland of Montville sees only a beautiful enchantress in peasant's rags –– a wench to serve his every need. Defenseless against his unbridled passions, Brigitte is forced to yield her innocence to desires the warrior lord arouses in her heart. But her surrender will vanquish the handsome knight – awakening within him a love as mighty and relentless as his conquering sword.

Customer Reviews:

Wasn't my favorite.......2006-10-30

I'm a huge fan of Ms. Lindsey's books but this one did not do it for me. The only exciting part was almost toward the end. The heroine drove me CRAZY and the hero wasn't to much better. Overall it was not one of her best in my opinion.

Things are not always as they appear.......2006-06-03

Lady Brigitte de Louroux is trapped in her fief with an aunt determined to steal what is hers and no hope of escapse. Her brother, the Baron de Louroux, is believed to have been killed in a war with the Saracens. Her aunt, Druoda, has come to act as her guardian, but forces the gently-bred Brigitte to work as a servant while she schemes to find her a husband who will let Druoda have free rein of the fief.

Rowland de Montville is a hard man who has been trained in the art of war. He has never known tenderness and was taught at an early age that he must fight his way though life. When his life is in danger and is saved by a Frenchman who asks one small favor--to tell his sister that he was not murdered in a war after all--Rowland feels that it is his duty to indulge him. Little does he know that on the way to deliver his message he will meet a haughty servant who claims to be a lady and be saddled with her for the rest of his journeys.

While this story is unconventional at best, it bears repeating that it was written in 1983. Yes, the first love scene is virtually rape which is unacceptable by today's standards, but at that point was a key technique in romantic fiction. Lindsey does no more than fall in with what other writers of the time were doing and had been for years.

That aside, Rowland is an arrogant bastard who refuses to admit for a second that he could be wrong about anything. And Brigitte is a willful innocent who refuses to leave well enough alone. Both of them got on my nerves at points with the stubborn refusal to admit that things are not always what they appear. That being said, this wasn't a bad book by any means and certainly helped to pass the time.

hated it.......2005-08-21

I've read several Johanna Lindsey books. I've only been able to finish a couple of them. Usually, I get tired of her books and stop. I finished this book (by skimming it) probably because I hated the "hero" so much and wanted to see what would happen when he found out the heroine- who he had been raping and abusing throughout the entire book because she was a servant and he felt that he could- was actually a Lady. Not surprisingly, I was disappointed. This was one of the few books where I did not want the heroine to end up with the "hero". So if you want to read a book where the hero has no respect for the heroine and treats her like dirt then read this one.

Let us examine the facets of this book shall we??.......2005-07-25

I wish someone would explain how this is romance. The first sex scene is rape. Then ,later, he beats her and tells her she made him do it. She says very clearly "NO" on more than one occasion. She says "I hate you" just before he rapes her on the next occasion. She says "If you ever touch me again I will kill myself." The hero is crude and rude and stupid...not to mention a rapist. And to top it all off this book is poorly written. Rape does not equal Love.

A classic by Lindsey too good to pass up!.......2004-10-07

I'm an avid Lindsey reader and am almost ashamed to admit that I passed by _So Speaks the Heart_ numerous times throughout the years without so much as a glance. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for as long as I can remember. I only pulled it out this time to pass the time on a *very* rainy day. Boy, was I surprised when I realized what an excellent book I'd found!

The first thing that pulled me in was the setting. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was set in France. Having seen unlimited books that take place in England, this was an enjoyable change.

Not only is the setting wonderful but the characters are vibrant, well developed, and engaging. Brigitte is brave, noble and kind and you feel quite sorry for her as she desperately tries to prove her identity. You become just as frustrated as she when Rowland refuses to believe who she is, especially since everyone else that meets her knows right away that she is of noble birth.

Rowland, having been raised in an abusive household is arrogant, blind and domineering. You feel sorrow for the boy he must have been before his life was changed forever through the violence of his upbringing. He is unsure of how to respond to any kindness and in his ignorance of such soft emotions, lashes out at Brigitte as she doggedly tries to introduce him to love. You'll grow to love Rowland as you see him change into a kind and gentle man as Brigitte's love washes over him.

And the surprise at the end will bring tears to your eyes! _So Speaks the Heart_ is a glimpse of Ms. Lindsey's work at the beginning of her career and her talent and mastery are well showcased. If you've been like me and looked over this gem of a book, please reconsider -- you won't be sorry!

Asi Habla El Corazon/So Speaks the Heart

Average customer rating:

Asi Habla El Corazon/So Speaks the Heart
Johanna Lindsey
Manufacturer: Javier Vergara-Argentina
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Johanna Lindsey - 4 Book Set - When Love Awaits, Secret Fire, So Speaks The Heart, & Until Forever (Historical Romance)

Average customer rating:

Johanna Lindsey - 4 Book Set - When Love Awaits, Secret Fire, So Speaks The Heart, & Until Forever (Historical Romance)
Johanna Lindsey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WPNOHE

Product Description

Set of 4 historical romances by Johanna Lindsey: When Love Awaits, Secret Fire, So Speaks The Heart, & Until Forever.

Average customer rating:

So Speaks The Heart
Johanna LINDSEY
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0552123056

So Speaks The Heart (Zebra Historical Romance)

Average customer rating:

Book Description
A hot steamy romance, You feel like your in a Sauna!

So Speaks The Heart (Zebra Historical Romance)
Joyce Carlow
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0821757857

Customer Reviews:

Book Description.......2006-05-23

LOVERS FOR A MOMENT IN TIME...
Amid the exotic wonders of the Byzantine empire in 523 A.D., the beautiful healer Leandra is set apart. Her dreams foretell the future and see the truth. And the truth she sees about Alexander, a dashing charioteer, is that he will be her beloved -- and her doom ... as they are swept into royal intrigues and erotic interludes, where nothing matters but their love, and nothing can stop it, not even death....

OR FOREVERMORE?
Centuries later, in a France swept by plagues and battles for power, a beautiful handmaiden to the king's sister is haunted by dreams she cannot explain. And somewhere in this war-torn land a man is searching for her, driven by a vision of his own. Her name is Leona, and she and Philip de Valor, her king's bitter rival, are part of a destiny begun hundreds of years earlier. Now they meet as enemies, yet are consumed by a passion so reckless and forbidden it could cost them their lives. Or give them one last chance to change history itself as they join their hearts in a union that is unbreakable and, perhaps this time, everlasting....

A hot steamy romance, You feel like your in a Sauna!.......1998-05-22

This book was exciting at first, but then you get more and more bored of it. I had to force myself to read the boing parts so I could get to the steamy romantic parts. After I was finished with it. I felt like I finally finished like my homework or something. When you get to the romanctic parts its like WOW! but other wise its like okay whatever.

Average customer rating:

So speaks my heart
Roxie Lusk Smith
Manufacturer: Barber Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

So Speaks the Heart
Johanna Lindsey
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000OKTW3C

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A very nice version of this book that again has the Justice League in conflict with the Crime Syndicate. Travelling to each other's worlds, both groups realise that they can not long alther the basic tendencies of reality on their respective homes.

One Earth tends towards the League's ideology, and the other towards the Syndicate's, and never the twain shall meet.

One of Morrison's best superhero stories.......2006-10-09

When it comes to Grant Morrison, he's the Alan Moore of the modern age. He breathed new life into the X-Men for Marvel, as well as Animal Man and Doom Patrol for DC/Vertigo, and of course, JLA for DC. Earth 2 finds Morrison once again writing DC's superteam as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter get their world rocked when Alexander Luthor makes a visit. On his alternate world, he's the only hero, and the JLA's evil alter-egos, the Crime Syndicate of Amerika, have total control. In response to Luthor's pleas, Supes, Bats, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern plan to overthrow the evil empire, but as they soon find out, things aren't so easily done in this alternate world. Morrison has taken the classic pre-Crisis Earth 2 world and used it brilliantly here, making Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring some of the most evil and coloful villains you'll ever see. Morrison's longtime partner in crime Frank Quitely provides his usual superb art here, so longtime Morrison fans know what to expect here. All in all, Earth 2 is one of, if not the, best JLA yarns you'll ever check out, and it's easily one of Morrison's best superhero stories.

I enjoyed it!.......2006-05-28

It's nice to see the bad guys of earth 3 again. Growing up and reading comics from the 60s, I miss the different Earths (1,2,3,Prime,etc). Morrison must miss those times as well as you can tell he likes writing for characters that don't get attention.
The story is alot of fun and the art is good. Me, I'm more of a Alex Ross, Ditko, Kane or Perez fan, but the art doesn't distract and, at times, adds to the story. Enjoy!

I remember the original Earth-3 Crime Syndicate.......2006-01-30

This is not a "must-buy" by any stretch of the imagination, but if you remember the Original Earth-3 Crime Syndicate, you might enjoy how they flesh out Ultraman, Night Owl, Superwoman,etc. It's also fun to have a world where Lex Luthor is a hero. I hope they revisit them again. . .

Some good stuff........2004-06-20

This is a terrific OGN. I find myself coming back to it repeatedly. But, alas, I am a big Morrison fan.

Amazon.com

What's next--The Girl Scouts: The Untold Story? How could anybody write a debunking book about Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity order? Well, in this little cruise missile of a book, Hitchens quickly establishes that the idea is not without point. After all, what is Mother Teresa doing hanging out with a dictator's wife in Haiti and accepting over a million dollars from Charles Keating? The most riveting material in the book is contained in two letters: one from Mother Teresa to Judge Lance Ito--then weighing what sentence to dole out to the convicted Keating--which cited all the work Keating has done "to help the poor," and another from a Los Angeles deputy D.A., Paul Turley, back to Mother Teresa that eloquently stated that rather than working to reduce Keating's sentence, she should return the money he gave her to its rightful owners, the defrauded bond-holders. (Significantly, Mother Teresa never replied.) And why do former missionary workers and visiting doctors consistently observe that the order's medical practices seem so inadequate, especially given all the money that comes in? (Hitchens acidly observes that on the other hand, Mother Teresa herself always manages to receive world-class medical care.) Hitchens's answer is that Mother Teresa is first and foremost interested not in providing medical treatment, but in furthering Catholic doctrine and--quite literally--becoming a saint.

Book Description

Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, feted by politicians, the Church and the world's media, Mother Teresa of Calcutta appears to be on the fast track to sainthood. But what, asks Christopher Hitchens, makes Mother Teresa so divine? In a frank expose of the Teresa cult, Hitchens details the nature and limits of one woman's mission to the world's poor. He probes the source of the heroic status bestowed upon an Albanian nun whose only declared wish is to serve God. He asks whether Mother Teresa's good works answer any higher purpose than the need of the world's privileged to see someone, somewhere, doing something for the Third World. He unmasks pseudo-miracles, questions Mother Teresa's fitness to adjudicate on matters of sex and reproduction, and reports on a version of saintly ubiquity which affords genial relations with dictators, corrupt tycoons and convicted frauds.

Customer Reviews:

appeals to the basest in man.......2007-09-26

There is an urge in most of us to find the "clay feet" of great people. We cannot stand greatness, especially moral greatness, in others. Why? Because it is a reproach to us. It reminds us of what we are not. Let us just step back and ask ourselves: has Hitchens ever worked among the poor, let alone dedicated his whole life to them? No. He sits in comfort, aiding neither the poor, nor really anyone else. Has he invented anything? Come up with a useful theory? Brightened anyone's life in any way? Has he even uncovered truth as a journalist? No. He is just an angry opinion monger. When he has made even a single life happier, then he will have earned the moral right to judge Mother Teresa.

Good, but needs more work.......2007-09-22

Firstly I will point out that I have been an atheist as long as I have been able to decide over such matters. I group a belief in religion in the same box as Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.
At only 98 pages, this is more a short story or pamphlet than a book. That said, it is very good at exposing the fairly obvious hypocrisy of Mother Teresa and the religious organizations that surrounded her.
Christopher Hitchen's makes particular issue of the fact Mother Teresa used her influence with several world leaders to raise funds for the catholic church. I think where the book lets itself down(and could have been expanded), is that she was only keeping the company of those who engage in similar acts of breathtaking hypocrisy themselves. I'd like to think the reader would realize this, but a reminder would be useful. It's probable most of the leaders she met knew this anyway, but were more interested in being associated with the cult of Mother Teresa, and for her part, the motive was the same.
Mother Teresa was a dedicated catholic (I'm loathe to use the word `good' in any religious context) and her mission was to support and spread Catholicism so her views on abortion and birth control are hardly a revelation. The book does expose the fact that the amount of money received would have easily kitted out several decent hospitals. Hitchen's rightly points out that the Mother Teresa cult was more about creating a catholic monument to the suffering poor than relieving suffering. The catholic church came first, the poor a distant second, but then I don't think this was kept a secret by Mother Teresa. It was the cult surrounding her that seemed to elevate her status as helping the poor. Was some suffering relieved? Yes, but nowhere near as much as was possible and suffering was also made worse.
As regards her likely sainthood, again this is really just the catholic posthumous version of the Congressional Gold Medal or knighthoods etc around the world. Though the catholic church assigns a god or goddess status to those given a sainthood, my own view that this is just nonsense anyway, particularly as the recipient is dead, and wasn't really something I could get hung up on. I know Christopher Hitchen's has petitioned against her becoming a saint, but I hope this was just to highlight to those who perhaps weren't aware of the hypocrisy surrounding this. My own concern is that he perhaps gave the sainthood process far more credibility than it was due. My own view is that this is just a cult within a cult.
I give this book four stars as he has taken on a subject that needed tackling but, like Richard Dawkins books, a revised and expanded version to combat some of the criticisms both here and elsewhere is long overdue.

Interesting for sure..........2007-09-14

Christopher Hitchens' dissection of Agnes Bojaxhiu, aka Mother Theresa, is certainly an intriguing read. He raises valid points throughout regarding, for example, her mercenary attitude towards accepting monetary donations, even from blackguards and scoundrels like Haiti's "Baby Doc" and the financial sheister Charles Keating. He likewise discusses at length her strange views on the holiness and spiritual value of suffering versus the value of actually giving people material comfort in this life. Indeed, this work is at its strongest when Hitchens is skewering Bojaxhiu's seemingly rather daft moral philosophy. The testimonies he has collected from former associates and sisters of her order are also very thought provoking.

Sadly though, this work just doesn't feel...finished. Weighing in at a little less than a hundred pages and not citing nearly as many direct sources and I'd prefer, this book may not be worth the rather high (for its length) list price. "The Missionary Position" will certainly get you thinking, but it doesn't quite satisfy completely.

especially important now.......2007-09-12

there has been a renewal of interest in Mother Teresa recently, what with the tenth anniversary of her death and the publication of her private letters. with all the high words of praise that are bandied about, it seems important to consider the beliefs and actions of the woman. there has been very little focus on what she believed in, besides helping 'the poorest of the poor.' this book may be obviously skewed to a particular point of view (aka an atheist one), but it does look at what she actually did. it also considers the opinions of people who worked directly with the nun and her organization and had a less than rosy picture of what her institutions were like.
there are some aspects of her life that are extremely contradictory - I think especially of the tremendous efforts that went into treating her as her health deteriorated in her old age, compared to the refusal of basic treatments to patients in her clinics - and I think that the Catholic Church should consider carefully before elevating her to the status of sainthood. Mother Teresa was a reactionary, and there's no other way to look at it. Her almost fanatical opposition to abortion, or indeed any form of birth control, was evidenced in the speech that she gave when accepting her nobel peace prize (I still don't quite understand why she received it). The reluctance with which useful treatment is employed in her clinics is (to my mind) ridiculous. God may want us to suffer, but does God really want us to die of an easily cured disease?
perhaps most damaging to her reputation is the evidence of tremendous amounts of monetary gifts which her organization has received over the years, yet the apparent lack of use to which this money is put. if needles are used in her clinics even after they are dull, where is the money going? I would never imply that she would have used such money in an immoral way, but it does seem that it hasn't been utilized as fully as it could have been, at least during her lifetime.
one final note involves the personal letters which were published so recently. Mother Teresa mourns that she had to live so long without the presence of Jesus, and notes that if she ever became a saint it would be as a saint of darkness. I thought that being a saint meant you wouldn't think that you could become a saint. isn't this a sign of hubris that is inappropriate in a candidate for sainthood?

LAUGHING!!!.......2007-08-31

I serve the poor, alongside the Sisters. This book ould make a Great gag gift!
NOVEL idea...because the book is a Novel.
nice try, Hichens! try serving alongside the Sisters and then write a (factual) book!

Average customer rating:

Delicious recipes

Even Sherbets need sugar.

nice book to read

From Your Ice Cream Maker: Ice Creams, Frozen Yogurts, Sorbets, Sherbets, Shakes, Sodas (Nitty Gritty Cookbooks) (Nitty Gritty Cookbooks)
Coleen Simmons , and Bob Simmons
Manufacturer: Bristol Publishing Enterprises Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Cheese & Dairy | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Cookbook: Enjoy Homemade Ice Creams, Frozen Yogurts, Sorbets, Sherbets, and More

The Best Ice Cream Maker Cookbook Ever

The Ultimate Ice Cream Book: Over 500 Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, Drinks, And More

Making Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt

ASIN: 1558671056
Release Date: 1994-09-01

Product Description

Over 120 recipes for ice creams, gelatos, frozen yogurts, sorbets, sherbets, shakes, sodas and composed ice cream dishes combine to form this treatise on America's favorite dessert. Healthy choices are just as tempting as ultr-rich selections.

Customer Reviews:

Delicious recipes.......2002-03-28

I have had this book for about 5 years and I have used it and looked at it so much that it is falling apart. I love that it has all of the recipes divided in sections by their fat content. I have to admit, I haven't tried them all, but the ones I have tried were all delicious. Buy this book, you won't be disapointed.

Even Sherbets need sugar........2001-04-26

From Your Ice Cream Maker by Coleen & Bob Simmons. > >The first recipe I used from this book was Raspberry Sherbert on page 70. >It not only says it makes 3 cups when, in fact it makes much more but it >omits any sugar. My husband made a double batch of this for guests at our >home, ruined 4 packages of frozen raspberries and it was not edible. My >first clue was when a four year old spit out his first bite. I am afraid to >try any more recipes in this book because it was obviously not proof-read. >I will not take any more chances. I will also tell my friends not to >purchase this book.

nice book to read.......1999-10-06

I like the book. is it very useful to me

Average customer rating:
Randall Military Models: Fighters, Bowies And Full Tang Knives (Randall Military Models)
Robert E. Hunt
Manufacturer: Turner Publishing Company (KY)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Firearms & Weapons | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Randall Fighting Knives In Wartime

Randall Made Knives: The History Of The Man And The Blades

The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives, 14th edition (Official Price Guide to Collector Knives)

ASIN: 1563119536

Amazon.com

Even if you're not particularly craft-y, you'll have tons of fun with your kids trying out any of the hundreds of ideas here. Perhaps the best part about crafting with kids is that it also frees the adults--it's not about making perfect projects; it's about fostering creativity and having fun together. And it's also not about construction paper and pipe cleaners. There are directions for working in wood, metal, leather, plastics, bread dough, clay, glass, and much more. Each project is labeled for skill and age level, and the margins are filled with loads of tips, trivia, definitions, and advice. In fact, you don't even have to work with kids to enjoy this book--it's a great primer for beginning crafters of any age. --Amy Handy

Book Description

You're no idiot, of course. You can fold a napkin, sew a button, and even hammer a nail. But when it comes to making enjoyable projects with your kids, you feel like you're all thumbs. Time to get a grip! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Crafts with Kids shows you hundreds of fun, easy crafts you can create with your children. Feel confident about using paper, wood, clay, beads, and other inexpensive materials to make beautiful crafts and gifts with your kids--while helping them unleash their creativity and have fun, too. In this Complete Idiot's Guide you get:

Download Description

Customer Reviews:

Not what I expected.......2000-08-31

I thought that since this book was for idiots it would be very basic have many easy crafts. Instead I found many of the projects to be a little intimidating. I never took shop, so I'm not into building birdhouses, and I have no interest in cutting metal with a three year old. The drawings and lack of color weren't too inspiring either. Many of the craft require equipment that I don't have, nor do I wish to purchase.

I found Family Fun Crafts by Deanna Cook to be a much better book for smaller children (and for me) - colorful, fun, and as easy or as difficult as you care to make it.

Average customer rating:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Crafts With Kids

Manufacturer: Alpha Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H0Z1A2

Average customer rating:
Complete Idiot's Guide to Crafts with Kids (The Complete Idiot's Guide)
Georgene Lockwood
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O95MBO

Average customer rating:

More samples needed

Table Inspirations: Original Ideas For Stylish Entertaining
Emily Chalmers
Manufacturer: Ryland Peters & Small
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Tablesetting | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Table Settings: Stylish Entertaining Made Simple

Tabletops: Easy, Practical, Beautiful Ways to Decorate the Table

Suddenly a Centerpiece: Assemble These Clever Table Designs in No Time at All

The Perfect Setting

The Simple Art of Napkin Folding: 94 Fancy Folds for Every Tabletop Occasion

ASIN: 1841729183

Book Description

Bring a dash of originality to any occasion with Emily Chalmers' ideas for stylish entertaining. Emily first shows how to select the right elements for adorning the table, then she showcases over 20 themed occasions, from children's parties to Thanksgiving dinners, and from a week-night dinner with friends to a sophisticated cocktail party.

Customer Reviews:

More samples needed.......2007-06-04

I'm a visual learner, and therefore, I found this book needing more photos of "table inspirations". Chalmers is a wonderful author, and has written other books, but this book lacked "something" (for my personal taste).

If you can pay a very low price for this book, then that's OK, but if you're paying full price, then you'll be a bit disappointed.

Book Description

Cinema 4D is known worldwide as one of the most powerful and diverse animation and rendering applications available. Cinema4D R8/8.1 is a major upgrade, with a multitude of new functions and modifications that can be dizzying to get through. With The Cinema 4D R8 Handbook, however, you'll get up to speed quickly. The book has been completely updated to cover the major new functions and provide hands-on methods for analyzing the many new tools. Using a project-based approach, you'll be creating impressive projects as you learn. Beginning with the general tools and tool layout, you'll learn how to customize the tools to create a work environment conducive to your workflow, including where to start, how to start, and when to finish. Then the real fun begins with the modeling tools. Modeling is covered, from primitive methods and NURBS, to object creation, polygon creation, and NURBS editing. Next you'll put C4D's powerful texture capabilities to work and discover how they function, when they should be used, and what types of effects can be created with simple textures. From there, the all-important issues of cinematography and how to control the camera within C4D are explored. In the same chapter, you'll learn about the often ignored area of lighting and lighting theory, by using lessons from the areas of photography and theatre. Moving along, you'll explore the complex and powerful animation tools, including timeline, F-curves, tangents, and Beziers. You'll find out how to use new timeline tools as well as when, where, and why to use them. Young or old, novice or experienced, amateur or professional; The Cinema 4D R8 Handbook will provide you with the tools, techniques, and tricks to increase your productivity, workflow, and the quality of your work with C4D.

Customer Reviews:

Other ratings unfair.......2005-09-05

While no book is perfect, I feel the other reviewers were overly harsh. If anyone is expecting to be spoon fed the required information on any 3D program they should consider a new occupation.

3D modelling and animation is, by its very nature, all about problem solving as no two projects are alike. However, for those willing to invest some time and effort to STUDY the book's concepts and content then a reward can be found. The previous reviewers were correct in that often a complete set of instructions were left out. However, I feel this was Adam's teaching strategy, and by applying the basic skills with my own problem solving abilities I was able to produce not only the tutorial projects, but also my own uniquely concieved ideas and models.

Again, if you don't like thinking for yourself and expect a 'how do I have a succesful career?' book, then perhaps this one isn't for you. If, on the other hand, you enjoy applying what you learn you'll get as much out of this book as I have.

Stay Away!.......2004-08-01

One would be better off using on-line tutorials..... I hold this volume in the most minimal of high regard...

Avoid.......2004-07-26

Having used Cinema 4D for 3 years on and off, read and reread the (excellent) manuals and a number of tutorials on the web, I was looking forward to a handbook of tips and tricks from the Cinema 4D gurus. I was sorely disappointed. This book is largely a rehash of the manuals and some of the online tutorials, is badly written, poorly organised and illustrated, and in places even inaccurate. Avoid.

You're better off making origami cranes from the pages........2004-04-27

I took a beginners Cinema 4d class and unfortunately this book was required. Thank God I didn't pay full price! First of all, reading comprehension is downright atrocious. When you're finished wading through this muck of a book, you'll find you know a lot about WHAT things do, but very little about HOW TO use them. If you haven't bought this yet, turn away quickly and save yourself! You'll learn more on your own by playing with the software, online tutorials or a completely different book (and author?). If you're already stuck with it like me, make about 500 or so origami cranes and you're halfway to being lucky enough to winning your money back in the lottery!

3d is complex enough as it is..........2004-03-29

I am currently taking a 3d class for cinema 4d, with a focus on character animation. This book has some tutorials on using bones and weighting along with some IK and expressions to set up the rig for animaiton. The "step by step" instructions that are given leave out important details, are incomplete, and disorganised. Too bad this is the only other reference besides the manual on cinema 4d. Too muddy for a beginner, because if you follow the directions he gives in the book, you end up with more problems than before. Don't trust all of the images either, because they are sometimes not the one the caption is refering to!

Book Description

As you unfold the pages, and read of The Calypso Nightclub, you will glow with vibrant laughter at the language used by some of the characters. Some of the names have been changed to hide the identity of the people involved.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books