Amazon.com
Lovers of Victorian-style mystery are no doubt familiar with Anne Perry's two series of novels set in 1880s London. These set the standards of the period piece genre, wooing readers with their precisely calibrated mixture of grubby urban realism (read murder) and the tea and gossip of refined drawing rooms. With The Death of Colonel Mann, the first installment in her new Beacon Hill series, Cynthia Peale takes her own stab at that combination, but on the other side of the Atlantic.
When Colonel William D'Arcy Mann is found shot to death in his Boston hotel, few Brahmins mourn his passing. The Colonel had published far too many of Boston's highest caste's indiscretions in his gossip rag; those who had escaped such public ignominy had paid an equally high price, for Mann was not averse to a spot of genteel blackmail. The cast of suspects is large, and Peale's team of amateur sleuths is perfectly placed to ferret out the murderer. Addington Ames and his sister Caroline can trace their blue-blooded lineage back to the Ark, although their social standing teeters precariously when Addington is so gauche as to actually discover the Colonel's body. And unless Addington and Caroline can solve the crime, their beautiful young cousin Val's engagement (the ne plus ultra for a proper young Victorian woman) will be at risk---her future mama-in-law has a decided aversion to scandal.
Addington and Caroline are an amiable pair, as is their boarder, Dr. John MacKenzie, who plays Watson to Addington's Sherlock when he isn't wondering how to court his hostess. Peale falls short of Perry's narrative mastery, however: where Perry effortlessly blends historical detail, evocative descriptions of the London cityscape, and plot, Peale's setting seems awkwardly contrived; her Boston cobblestones do more to trip up the narrative than to smooth its passage. Despite these flaws, Victorian Boston may yet yield fans for Peale, currently at work on the second Beacon Hill mystery. --Kelly Flynn
Book Description
Victorian Boston is the splendid setting for a deliciously scandalous murder in this seductive historical mystery.
When Colonel William D'Arcy Mann is found shot dead in his Boston hotel suite, there are few to mourn him but many who will feel the repercussions of his untimely demise.
Mann was the publisher of a scurrilous gossip rag in which he exposed the indiscretions, great and small, of Boston's highest caste--unless they paid the hush money he demanded.
By discovering the body, Addington Ames, a resident of Louisburg Square, Beacon Hill, has violated at least two tenets of the Boston Brahmin code of behavior to which he was born--his name has appeared in the newspapers, and he has been questioned by the police. But it's his reason for visiting Colonel Mann in the first place that is by far Ames's greatest concern.
His orphaned young cousin, Valentine, has made a most desirable match, but she has unfortunately been indiscreet, and the love letters she wrote during a failed summer romance have somehow fallen into Colonel Mann's hands. If her fiancé were to discover her indiscretion, he would break their engagement, so Ames must recover the letters to save Val from social ostracism. But the missives in question are not to be found in the inconveniently dead blackmailer's hotel room. Only by finding the killer will he be able to prevent Val's heartbreak and disgrace.
Cynthia Peale, in this first book of her new mystery series, deftly evokes a richly textured portrait of Victorian Boston's high and low society. And she has created a memorable cast of characters. In addition to the dastardly colonel himself, there is the perfectly matched team of amateur sleuths--Addington Ames and his endearing strong-willed sister, Caroline--who are joined by their boarder and friend, Dr. John MacKenzie, an amiable and sharp-witted outsider (with a secret yearning for Caroline) who acts as Addington's Watson.
The Death of Colonel Mann is a tale of passion and terror, a blend of charm, mystery, and suspense in a setting readers will want to return to again and again.
Cynthia Peale, in this first book of her new mystery series, deftly evokes the atmosphere, both physical and social, of Victorian Boston's high and low society--the clatter of carriage traffic on fog-shrouded cobblestone streets, the venerable town houses of Beacon Hill, the conviviality and exclusivity of the private clubs, the strict codes of proper behavior. And she has created a perfectly matched team of amateur sleuths--Addington and his sister, Caroline Ames, whose impeccable pedigree allows them to live in reduced circumstances in their parents' Beacon Hill house without losing a bit of their social acceptance, and Dr. John MacKenzie, an amiable and sharp-witted outsider, who sees far more than he lets on and acts as Addington's Watson. -->
Customer Reviews:
Very nice for a first time reader of mysteries........2005-09-22
I normally don't go for such books, but I'm especially glad this was my first. I read it in a short amount of time and am looking forward to the next by Ms. Peale.
Engaging plot, rich characterizations, atmospheric..........2003-08-17
I really felt I was in Beacon Hill at the turn of the century, and I enjoyed the book tremendously. Very good mystery - reminds me a little of Detective Pitt & his wife Charlotte of the Anne Perry novels, only set in Boston USA! I look forward to reading the rest in the series. It kept my interest throughout the evenings of an exciting vacation. I very much enjoyed the details about the characters involved in the story. So much so that I could read a mystery set in Dr. Mckenzie's background in the military right now!
Wonderful New Historical Series!.......2003-08-14
I am a great fan of Anne Perry so imagine my delight when I found this author and this book. The era is the same as Ms. Perry, but the setting is in Boston, not England. Ms. Peale delineates Victorian Boston very well, and her characterizations are quite good. The proprieties and social consciousness are the same as Ms. Perry, and the evils are just as vivid. This book deals with the death of Colonel Mann who we never meet in the story, but we certainly hear enough about him. He wrote scandal sheets and used information that he gleaned from his many informants to blackmail various people in society. The kind of character that has many people who are happy at his death, but the murder needs to be solved anyway because Addington's nearest and dearest were affected by everything and in danger. I look forward to more Beacon Hill mysteries.
Victorian Ice.......2003-03-13
The Death of Coloney Mann captures the very soul of Victorian Society. Stepping outside of what was considered "proper conduct" would lead to disgrace and risking total outcast by friends and family. Cynthia Peale has depicted this reality so very clearly while weaving an intriguing Mystery! It's a great read!
Mildly entertaining, poorly written mystery........2001-12-19
As someone who works in Boston, I really enjoyed the setting of Peale's book. Also, the character of Addington Ames and his sister Carolyn are fairly well drawn. It is too bad then that the mystery itself isn't more intriguing or the writing better conceived. Although Peale has clearly done some research on 1890s Boston Brahmin social and city life, it almost seems as if she never completely integrated the information into the mystery, making it little more than just a superficial, guided tour of Victorian Boston. The writing was frequently awkward and some of the dialogue jarring. Also, there are many scenes where the POV shifts from one character to the next; something that I have been told by a writing instructor is a definite "no-no" in fiction writing. All in all, I really did want to like this book and it is still diverting enough to be read quickly. However, it does seem to me that it could have been a lot better.
Book Description
Boston governess Nell Sweeney returns in an all-new Gilded Age Mystery
1869: As governess to the Hewitts, Irish immigrant Nell Sweeney belongs to no particular caste--hers is halfway between her Irish brethren and the Boston Brahmin. But now, a double murder involves both maid and mistress--and it will take cooperation by rich and poor alike to solve it.
Customer Reviews:
3rd entry in Gilded Age series another hit!.......2006-07-10
Death on Beacon Hill by P.B. Ryan is the third entry in the Gilded Age series starring governess Nell Sweeney. This is another outstanding book full of great mystery and snappy repartee between Nell and her beau Will Hewitt. In this book, Nell is asked to look into the death of Fiona, the niece of the Hewitt's driver, after she's accused of theft and the murder of her employer, Virginia Kimball, a famous actress. The chemistry between Nell and Will sparks the entire book, and there's a fabulous passage from Nell's view about how closely Will is coming to touch the frosted glass that must exist between them. It's powerfully and beautifully written. Ryan never hesitates to show the darker side of Boston's elite, but she always handles it so tastefully, much like Nell who must navigate the waters of the elite with the curse of an Irish surname and always comes out looking like a lady. Will finds the excuse to let them show some of their feelings for each other in public, but I wonder how long it will last. Of course, at least for a few pages, as in the rest of the books so far, the reader is allowed to believe that Harry Hewitt could have committed the murder, perhaps someday he actually will have. I miss the interaction between Nell and her employer Viola, and I hope that Ryan will make further use of it in future books.
Gentler, but equally satisfying story........2005-12-16
In the last installment of this series, prior to this one, we had some extreme violence and Nell and Will nearly got done in.
This time out, it is a retired actress with an Irish maid who gets murdered. It is the Irish maid, niece of the Hewett's coachman, who draws Nell into investigating the death because the corrupt Boston police are content to let the Irish maid be blamed for the death of both women. The actress supports herself by blackmailing her lovers. Will accompanies Nell throughout this investigation, as it involves many prominent citizens, which his name helps them question. We meet some new and likeable characters, including a Dr. Foster, and Emily Pratt. And the actress had an interesting long-time homosexual friend. I can not recall any gay characters in other period mysteries and think P.B. Ryan was clever to introduce one. I was pleased that the tiresome Hewitt father was nearly absent this time. I read the whole book in one evening and am anxious to read the next and the next, etc.
Big Thanks to P.B. Ryan!.......2005-03-02
I've been eagerly awaiting this book since I finished Murder In a Milltown a few months ago and am happy to report that I did not wait in vain. Death on Beacon Hill is a well-written, entertaining vehicle for the wonderful characters P.B. Ryan first introduced in Still Life With Murder.
Nell Sweeney continues to be one of the most convincing and likeable crime solvers in her genre. She is joined, once again, by Will Hewitt. Will is growing into something quite rare; a loyal, affectionate, well-adjusted, and reformed rake! Well, if any body could do it, Nell Sweeney could do it! And Ryan pulls it off gracefully, proving that you characters don't have to be a wreck to be interesting.
The mystery is solid, well-paced and satisfying. I would have preferred that it involve, in some way, one of the Hewitts or other established characters. Will and Harry were suspects in the first two murders and so the outcomes had more emotional impact. Here the suspect (and I don't believe I'm giving anything away by saying this) is a heretofore unmentioned relative of one of the Hewitt's servants, and she's already dead when the story begins (which takes some of the immediacy out of the guilt/innocence question.)
That said, I gave Death on Beacon Hill 5 stars for the charged camaraderie of it's crime solvers, Nell and Will, and the uncommonly good writing of P.B. Ryan. I can't wait for the next one!
Average customer rating:
- Bold Angel is NO disappointment!
- Should be named the Troublesome Angel
- Your typical bodice ripper romance
- more passion than drama
- Heart Squeezer!
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Bold Angel
Kat Martin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Martin, Kat | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312953038 |
Book Description
They were enemies in a divided land....Saxon beauty Caryn of Ivesham longed to escape the chill gray cloisters of the convent to which she'd fled-but not in marriage to the towering, feared Raolfe de Gere, the Norman knight they called Ral the Relentless. Even though he had once saved her from a fate worse than death, she could not forget he'd raised the grim battlements of Braxton, keep on her dead father's lands or that his men had dishonored her sister. If she wed him to bring peace to her people, he would have to lay siege to her bed.But their destiny was more powerful than the clash of swords.The darkly handsome warlord's blood coursed with desire for Caryn's burnished crimson lips, and his passion would not be denied. But in the wild ecstasy they shared. Ral feared more than his heart was in danger. Could his rebellious bride be a traitor deadlier than the wolves and brigands prowling deep in English forests?A magnificent tale of intrigue, vengeance and soul-searing love, Kat Martin's newest romance is her most irresistible to date!
Customer Reviews:
Bold Angel is NO disappointment!.......2003-01-04
If you're a fan of medieval romances, you'll love this book.. of course, it's no "Knight in Shining Armor", but the characters, dialouge, plot.. there'll all top of the line. Kat Martin shines in this book and brings her characters to life. This book paints 11th century England like NO other I have ever read, and in that aspect, I strongly recommend it.
Should be named the Troublesome Angel.......2002-09-30
This book starts off with the promise of excitement and doesn't let you down. From their first meeting, Raolfe de Gere, a knight for King William, and Caryn of Ivesham, are at odds. He's a dreaded Norman knight plundering the Saxon lands, and Lady Caryn is an unwilling victim. Events thrust them together as Lady Caryn faces one dangerous encounter after another, and seems to always be at odds with Raolfe.
The plot is good and believable and there are plenty of subplots that keep your interest and add more excitement to an already good story. The dialog is good and believable, as are the characters' actions. The descriptions are good, and the scenes all fit nicely within the story. The good characters are very easy to like and the bad ones are ... well, sleazy. And, to keep the reader off track, there are a few characters whose loyalties you'll come to question.
In sum, this is a very good and enjoyable historical romance. There's always something going on. And just when you think the romance between Caryn and Raolfe is about to blossom into a deep, trusting and long-lasting love, something happens that tears them apart. At times I wanted to shake both of them to make them see the light. Thankfully, there were characters in the book that did the task for me. Bottom line, this is a book I would recommend.
Your typical bodice ripper romance.......2002-09-18
I know I'm in the minority here, but I just didn't think this was all that great. It was just like any other romance. I may be a bit biased since I had just finished reading my 5th Gaelen Foley romance when I started this and it's difficult for any romance novelist to compete with her works. However, I just couldn't find anything that special about this novel. It is like so many other romance novels that it doesn't stand out. I'm not saying it was "bad," but it just wasn't special enough to rate 5 stars. In fact, it was so typical that I became bored with it and didn't bother to finish it.
more passion than drama.......2002-08-25
"Bold Angel" is the story of Caryn, the daughter of a slain saxon lord in an Noram conquered england, and Ral, a Norman lord who now holds Caryn's father's land. Caryn was living in a convent when she's taken by lord malvern, Ral's rival, to Ral's holdings. Ral proposes that she marry him to save her from Malvern and so the story goes.
Caryn is a fiery herione who follows the mold of petite leading lady for the bigger than life hero. It's an endearing match that leads to some interesting problems. This story is laced with conflict but it's more the emotional kind than any real actions.
I found myself agreeing with both reviews that said this was a great book and those that said it had little action. Though Ral is a warlord of sorts the story mostly centers around Caryn and her relationship with Ral. This actually reminded me of a julie Garwood story in that respect. But this absence of violence didn't really detract from the story. Ral and Caryn's relationship is entertaining enough in itself with each one fighting desire for the other and both turning out to be passioante caring people.
The secondary characters are compelling and are there to move the story along and add perspective rather than detract from the story or set up a sequel...though i would love to read Odo's story, ah well can't have everything.
This is a nice work that is an enjoyable read...check it out but don't expect some sweeping war drama it's a little bit more fluff than that...it's a romance work. you know love and opptimism and all :)
Heart Squeezer!.......2001-06-13
Whew! This book will definitely play with your heart... It's an emotional topsy-turvy book you wouldn't want to miss!
I have never read a book such as this one. The story centralized on the hero/heroine's relationship with each other, which initally formed out of an obligatory deed then advance to the undeniable emotions of LOVE. There is nothing simple about this book though as Ral and Caryn's attachment to each other didn't come easy. There was lots of challenges: adjustments, learning and accepting each other's flaws, that needed to be overcome. Oh and how they have prevailed! Each obstacles that Ms. Kat Martin created here will make your heart ache. Yikes! I don't want to ruin it for other's who haven't read this book yet so I will hold myself back from mentioning a scene or two. You'll have to read it to find out. It will be more of a heart squeezer if you read it unprepared just as I have been. You will feel the pain and the relief as u read through it. Of course, like every other books, there's also some external conflicts such as villains, traitors, malady's and etc... but Ms. Martin uniquely compacted this novel more of internal clash that makes you thoroughly convinve of the character's love for each other. I love Caryn's spunk and innocence. The way she speaks her mind, her biting words when she is hurt... awww! Ral is just as great. He is strong yet gentle. He is firm yet forgiving. In the end, this book will make your heart soar with so much love for both Ral and Caryn.
The secondary character's are as well formed and develop as the hero/heroine. I wish Ms. Martin will create a book for the mysterious Sir Gareth. Sequel for this novel is definitely A MUST.
Do yourself a big favor and read BOLD ANGEL... I'll just hope you'll enjoy your day with a soaring heart just as I have :-)
Average customer rating:
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Bold Angel
Kat Martin
Manufacturer: Lin Po Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KF35W0 |
Average customer rating:
- Super Reader
- Better than Xena, Warrior Princess
- Not my favorite Vernor Vinge book...
- this guy can write
- Worth reading for Vinge fans
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Tatja Grimm's World
Vernor Vinge
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
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ASIN: 0765308851
Release Date: 2006-01-24 |
Book Description
Tatja Grimm grew up among stone-age primitives, but she always knew that she was destined for something greater. When she starts working on the fabulous barge that circles her world publishing magazines, she begins to discover how very much she never knew. Exposed to new technology, to reading, to people who have experienced the wider world, she finds wonder in all of it. Rising through the ranks she proves far more special than anyone could have known. Before she is done, the world will know that her intelligence is matched only by her insatiable appetite for more, which makes conquering her world less an end than a beginning . . . . Unavailable for more than fifteen years, this exciting science fiction adventure is filled with colorful action and the unique ideas that have made Vinge one of the acknowledged masters of the field, and will delight his many fans.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-09-01
Vinge tells the story of a girl that is born in an aboriginal culture that is very low tech. An opportunity arises for her to enter the society of a floating city and become more educated. She is hyper-intelligent, and ascends swiftly to a position of power and influence. A look at whether her origin will make her act differently in such a situation. With a few SF magazine jokes thrown in here and there, as one of the elements of the story is a publication of that type that has been running for centuries.
Better than Xena, Warrior Princess.......2007-08-09
Tatja is a barbarian girl from the interior of a massive continent. Her world is poor in metals and civilization is mostly restricted to the island fringes. The mainland is mostly for barbarians.
Tatja is also much brighter than everyone else she encounters. Desperate to find people who are not "stupid", she wanders to the coast impressing everyone she meets with both her intelligence and her ruthlessness. Upon arriving at the coast, she is at first delighted to find a civilization roughly analogous to the Renaissance but is soon disappointed that everything seems to be the result of centuries of slow progress. She expected to find geniuses and instead had to settle for normal people.
Even so, she has a master plan. She believes that there is life "out there" in space and there she might find people with who she is comfortable. Putting her plan into action though will require some groundwork, like taking over the most powerful kingdom on the world.
It turns out that Tatja is right and that is frightening because the outsiders are quite sinister and have their own motives.
This story reads well most of the time but there are occasional lapses when it is not always clear what is happening. Even so, it was a fun book to read. It is one of Vinge's earlier works and his later ones are better but, even so, this one is still worthwhile.
Not my favorite Vernor Vinge book..........2007-04-18
This started off really well. Then it took some very fast twists and turns that left me wondering if I wasn't reading a book that was missing some chapters. This was an interesting idea for a story, but eventually you begin to consider Svir and Cor as the protagonists and Tatja is just an annoyance. By the end, you are depressed because the characters you've come to care about most (including Anchu) have been killed off and Tatja's future is - well - Grimm.
Too disjointed and too depressing for me. I only give it two stars. My favorite Vernor Vinge book so far is A Fire Upon The Deep.
this guy can write.......2007-03-09
fabulous story from begining to end...Vernor is a great writer and this is a "guaranteed" dont put me down read...A true scince fiction story.
Worth reading for Vinge fans.......2007-01-04
The book is a rough work, not very easy to follow. Definitely worth reading for people who already love Vernor Vinge, but I wouldn't buy it otherwise.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Perfect!.......2007-09-24
I oredered more books for my ladies Bible Study. I also made it more difficult by ordering one at a time on the same day (two extra women signed an hour between each other) I thought, "they will be confused by this I'm sure!" They confirmed my crazy order in minutes and I received my books as quickly as I possibly could. They were used books but I found them to be in good shape and ready to use. Thank You again for the quality service I received. I don't go anywhere else for my book orders! Arleen Liotta
A Heart Like His by Beth Moore.......2007-07-09
I rec'd the book I ordered in excellent condition in just a couple of days. Thank you Amazon.com!!
excellent book.......2007-05-27
This book as been a great study. I have learned much from it. The questions are clear and easy to follow. Makes a good group or as a single study. It has been very satisfying. Beth Moore does an excellent job of keeping your attention.
Right on time.......2006-07-20
I received my study books quickly and efficiently. I would order again! Thanks.
Truly a woman of the Word.......2000-10-17
Anyone who desires to know more about the Word of God and develop and intimate relationship with Him should read this wonderfully written and insightful look at how God communicates with us. Through a study of David, you will learn how to hear the Word of God and apply what He teaches us to our everyday lives. She is truly an annointed follower of Christ and has a gift that she herself claims is for us, not herself, because it is His will for her life. Anyone that reads this study will be changed and their walk with Christ strengthens right before their eyes.
Book Description
When you come home after a long day at work, wouldn't you love to have a delicious dinner ready and waiting? With a slow cooker, you can. Not only do these recipes require little preparation time, but each has an incredible marriage of flavors that results only from lengthy cooking. And, they're low in fat and sodium, too! You'll get simple instructions on how the equipment works so that you'll feel like a real chef as you whip up such mouthwatering temptations as Italian Tomato Soup, Grecian Beef Stew, and Winter Vegetables with Cheddar and Croutons.
"The healthy recipes in this cookbook require little preparation time but the results are extremely flavorful."--Country Almanac
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Illustrations, Simple Recipes, BUT................2004-01-25
I was very excited about dusting off my crock pot and simplifying my life! This is a beautifully illustrated cookbook that is nicely organized. The recipes are easy to follow. Unfortunately, the results are something else. The "Country-style Chicken Stew Provencal" had a great aroma but the chicken was overdone, the potatoes underdone, and the stew had far too much garlic to be palatable. The Portobello mushrooms turned everything a muddy color. I hope others have had more success with this very attractive cookbook.
An Excellent Cookbook.......2003-03-10
I borrowed this book from a friend and loved it. I totally disagree with a previous reviewer who said these meals were involved, contained ingredients that were hard to find and not very appetising. I stay at home with two very young children (both under 4), so trying to do anything complicated in the kitchen is out of the question. Thank God for crock pots. So far I have made the Meatball/Bow Tie Pasta soup, the Chicken Stroganoff, the Chicken Casserole with Swiss Cheese and the Cheese Tortellini soup and they have all been hits. Based on how well I liked this book, I'm going to buy Munson's pressure cooker cookbook.
Bought on a Clearance Rack.......2003-01-22
I bought this cookbook locally and I got it very cheaply. It is worth that, but I would not buy it full price. It has some good recipies in it, but many that are either very invovled, call for obscure ingredients, or aren't appetizing at all. but there are some that are a little different, and a good variety of more up-to-date recipies for slow cooker meals.
'Ultimate' is a gross overstatement!!.......2002-02-18
I have tried two recipes from this book and liked the results of neither. The Asian Stir-Fry Stew was no substitute for a stir fried dish and a waste of good scallops. The Hearty Corn Chowder with Peas looked nothing like the accompanying photo and tasted so bad, that it went from the crock pot directly to the garbage disposal. The book has many beautiful illustrations but I am reluctant to waste good ingredients (and money) on a book that is long on promise, touting itself as the 'ultimate', but short on results. For people wanting to create a delicious meal with a short preparation time, 'Crock-It' is a better choice. For those of you who have the time to create more gourmet meals with your slow cooker, 'The Slow Cooker Ready and Waiting Cookbook'is an excellent resource.
Sophisticated easy recipes!.......2001-09-28
I really like this slow cooker cookbook. It's easy and has a variety of recipes that are healthy and low in fat. Nutritional analysis is provided for each recipe. There are a lot of creative recipes, not just your usual slow cooker fare. There are also a lot of beautiful photographs. This book is better than a lot of other slow cooker books I've seen. I'm sure there is something for everyone in this book!
Book Description
Kachina dolls are carved from cottonwood by Hopi artists in Arizona to represent the many spirits of their religion. Old examples are preserved at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and most of the important Indian museums nationally. Today, modern Hopi artists continue to make exquisite Kachina dolls, and they have become very sought after by a growing number of collectors world-wide. The reader of this new book is able to grasp the art of Kachina wood carvings, and enjoy knowledge behind each doll, through the carvers who make them. The book beautifully illustrates contemporary Kachina dolls with over 150 exquisite color photographs, and delves into the lives of the carvers who make them. Twenty-five of today's important Kachina carvers have been interviewed personally for a first-hand glimpse into their work. Discussions with Cecil Calnimptewa, Von Monongya, and Loren Phillips, to name just a few, bring to life the essence behind their carvings. All who are interested in Southwestern crafts and art in general will appreciate these beautiful art works carved by such interesting people.
Customer Reviews:
Kachina carver talk about their art and the meanings behind.......1999-09-19
This is really one of the most unusual Kachina art books out there. Besides the exquisite photography of Gene Balzer, Theda Bassman delves into how the new carvers who adapted to all wood carving feel about their craft and what it means to them to be a carver. One gets a real sense that the artists themselves come alive and in this way, bring their art alive. They demonstrate a trust in talking with Ms. Bassman, who has a long history of working in the Southwest Indian contemporary art world. In this way, this book transcends the typical art book.
Book Description
Inspirational guidebook offers clearly worded instructions and reusable patterns for 10 pairs of exciting patchwork designs. Beginners and advanced quilters can create such colorful motifs as Cat and Mice, Snail Trail, Air Castle, and Broken Dishes simply by repositioning patches of color.
Customer Reviews:
Simple and Great.......2007-08-23
Just got this book four days ago and can hardly wait to start making puzzle quilts. This book really turned my mind around and pointed my brain in a whole new direction. The patterns are totally simple and clear. The concept is startling. EX: Block #1A is solid triangles. Block#1B is also solid triangles but totally different in appearance due to the use of Light, Medium, and Dark colors. Nothing complicated except the results. This book has changed the way I think.
Pretty Neat!.......2002-04-06
I wouldn't recommend this for true beginners. As you might be able to guess from the sample pages, the "instruction" section of the book is given the short shrift. My favorite thing about this one though is the plastic templates. They make things SOOOO much easier, and are marked for both hand and machine piecing. The focus of this one is on color, and not on pattern design, so this is best for those who are already comfortable with the basics and want to move on to the finer points. There is a neat "coloring book" kind of feature,as well, so you can see what your designs will look like. For Beginner to Intermediate quilters, I really recommend "Complete Idiot's Guide to Quilting" by Laura Erlich, which is FABULOUS, to accompany this one.
Book Description
A Well-Kept Home re-creates the natural rhythms used by earlier generations to manage their homes, offering a wide range of practical advice with over 120 traditional recipes and tips that are still highly appropriate in a modern setting.
The frantic quality of modern life and our increasing reliance on technology and on manufactured goods to ensure the smooth running of our homes has submerged our awareness of the inherited and seasonal patterns of effective domestic household management. A Well-Kept Home revives the more natural methods used by our forebears to run their homes, reflecting on the traditional way that earlier generations cooked, cleaned, decorated, groomed and gardened.
In this exquisitely illustrated book, Laura Fronty draws on her own grandmother's life experiences in the home and the garden, providing helpful tips and natural solutions for effective food preparation, cleaning methods for clothes and the interior, restorative beauty treatments and basic approaches to gardening. She emphasises the satisfaction gained from even the most mundane of tasks and offers indispensable tips for activities that cover a variety of domestic themes. They range from making bitter orange marmalade or instant shortcrust pastry, lighting a wood fire, treating wooden floors with wax, protecting clothes from mothballs, mixing ivy water for cleaning delicate fabrics, pruning rose bushes, to preparing lily oil as a face moisturiser.
A Well-Kept Home transforms our approach to the daily chores surrounding the upkeep of our home. The practical advice and natural recipes make it possible to take real pleasure in those essential household duties, while at the same time evoking the atmosphere and spirit of a time gone by.
Customer Reviews:
Warning -- Same Book, Different Title.......2004-07-16
I only gave this book three stars because it is the same book as "Secrets of Good Housekeeping" also by Laura Fronty -- same content, lovely photo's, etc., only difference is the title.
Pictures are best component.......2003-10-02
Disappointing content. Pictures are nice but not worth more than a quick browse.
Disappointing.......2002-07-28
This book is nothing but a hardcover magazine. Gorgeous pictures, useless content. These are not the memories of a French grandmother so much as a big... ad for you to buy a whole lot of products, try out some weekend project that never ends, give up and go out and buy more useless products. There are much better books on this topic for people who are serious about the running of their home but are mostly, unfortunately out of print.
Not very useful or safe........2002-04-06
About 50% of this book offers advice that is either useless or dangerous. A few potted geraniums on your windowsill will NOT keep away mosquitoes. You do not make "Homemade soap" by squashing together the remains of previously-used soap. Ditto for "Homemade cheese". Anyone who tries to "save" rancid butter by massaging in a few tablespoons of baking soda and water is just asking for a bellyache. Do you have any "Spanish White" around your house? Neither do I. If I'm going to make a special trip to "any local hardware store" to pick up a tube of Spanish White and a vial of "methelated spirits" so I can blend them into silver-polishing paste, why wouldn't I just snap up a cheap tube of silver polish and save myself the added expense and mixing effort? The worst advice in the entire book is this: "Give your apricot, plum or cherry jam an almond taste by cooking a few crushed fruit stones, enclosed in a small muslin bag, at the same time as the fruits." That almond taste you've just added is CYANIDE, a deadly poison found concentrated in fruit pits and usually used to execute gas-chamber prisoners in a really horrible way. Do you really want to add that to your jam? Wouldn't you rather use an inexpensive and non-poisonous almond extract, almond milk or even marzipan paste instead? And for those of you who argue that a little can't hurt - how much arsenic or lead do you usually like to add to your food? Cyanide is MUCH worse. How much is too much? The authors certainly don't say. They don't even mention that it's poison.
If anything, the photographs in the book are exquisite, and if you study them for decorating ideas, gardening ideas and color combinations, the book is certainly worth a dent in your credit or library card. The prose, however, needs more than a little tightening up and perhaps some fact-checking.
A breath of life from an older time.......2001-11-14
A little of everything...cooking, cleaning, beauty products, garden lore. Lovely photographs.
If you're interested in "old ways" or in France, you might also enjoy REALLY RURAL, a book by Marie-France Boyer.
Book Description
The Big Book of Boat Canvas is a thorough revision and updating of Karen Lipe's two popular earlier books, Boat Canvas Cover to Cover and More Boat Canvas, combined with a whole new section on below-decks sewing projects. In this latest volume Lipe ranges well beyond the boundaries of traditional canvas work to create a comprehensive guide to fabric work on board. You'll find dozens of traditional canvas projects--sail covers, awnings, duffel bags, dodgers, and Biminis, wind chutes, winter covers--all with clear, step-by-step instructions, generously illustrated. You'll also find dozens of not-so-traditional fabric projects to add comfort and a touch of elegance to your below-decks spaces: custom interior cushions, fitted sheets and daycovers, privacy curtains, lee cloths, even a tablecloth to fit your varnished table. Lipe offers a veritable minicourse in interior yacht decoration, dozens of useful sewing tips, a careful detailing of materials nad tools needed for each project, and an extensive discussion of modern fabrics appropriate for exterior and interior use. In short, this handy book covers everything you need to know to sew comfort, utility, and style into your boat.
"A treasure of functional and fanciful projects you can sew yourself."--Multihulls
"You'll find this book of the utmost practical help."--The Ensign
It passed what is for me the acid test of a how-to book: The Big Book of Boat Canvas made me want to get at some long-neglected projects and even to try some that I never thought I could manage."--SAIL
Customer Reviews:
No Help.......2007-06-23
I bought this book because I need to make a bimini top for the used boat I just purchased. (The old canvas is gone.) Unfortunately, this book's instruction on how to make a bimini top boils down to: "It's hard to make bimini tops, so you should use your old one to make a pattern for the new one." No help whatsoever if you don't have an old one! Buyer beware.
Not what you think.......2007-05-01
I was pretty disappointed by this book. Anything with "Big Book" in the title should be very comprehensive, instead this is an out of date, amateur attempt that has somehow lasted all these years, probably the title.
If you need a serious technical book on how to layout canvas detailing the complex process required to ensure a professional quality result, this is not the right book. If you want to build canvas duffel bags and other meaningless items, then maybe.
Big Disappointment.......2006-06-09
What a disappointment! This is not a book about boat canvas, this is a book about sewing arts and crafts in canvas on a boat. Projects include "A simple duffel bag", a "Life Jacket Bag", a "Bicycle Bag"; and under "Interior" are projects like "Sheets and Quilts" and "Curtains". There is some discussion of exterior boat canvas, but the information is cursory and focused on sailboats. If you want to increase your knowledge of boat canvas before laying down a few thousand dollars to have new canvas made for your boat, this book will not help you.
A Big Disappointment!.......2004-04-10
Just another book of projects with very little detail. If you are looking for a book that explains the hows and whys of sewing boat canvas, this is not it.
At least I bought it used.
Good starter book.......2002-01-01
This is an excellent book for the aspiring canvasworker. Covers everything from the basics of tools and materials to step by step directions for projects of all sorts. You can save a fortune by doing canvas work for yourself, and this is a great way to get started.
Book Description
Over 100 ingeniously constructed designs form dazzling optical illusions and geometric shapes, offering ample opportunities for imaginative and inventive coloring. This compilation consists of 4 volumes that are popular with colorists of all ages: Geometrical Design Coloring Book, Visual Illusions Coloring Book, Optical Illusions Coloring Book, and Dazzling Designs Coloring Book.
Customer Reviews:
Hours of coloring fun........2007-06-12
I'd give it five stars but some of the designs are just too complex. You can sit there for hours trying to find 'the pattern' to color. The majority of images are outstanding and a blast to color. The few you may skip or come back to later when everything else is done don't really detract from the value (both fun and monetary) of this gigantic coloring book. There's SO much to color you won't run out anytime soon. Well worth the money.
I like this book!.......2007-03-09
I have quite a few coloring books and this one is definitely in the top two. I especially like the variety in the book. The concentration to focus on coloring the shapes is very stress-relieving for me.
Great Book at a Great Price.......2005-03-25
This is 4 books in one. Designs range from simple to extremely complex. I find the complex ones to be a challenge, but I really enjoy them. If you like coming up with color schemes applicable to designs, then this is a great book. It is a form of relaxation for me, and each one can be a work of art. Can't go wrong with this one.
Book Description
The Big Book of Color is a hard book to top––one of the all time best selling titles in its field––but this companion edition does just that! The New Big Book of Color features a huge new crop of recent designs, creating a deluxe, full–color volume packed with numerous superior designs.
This reliable, one–stop resource shows the best work of top graphics designers from more than five hundred firms across the United States. A treasure trove of inspiring ideas and ongoing reference for anyone concerned with logo design for corporations, retail establishments, restaurants, entertainment venues, and organizations of all kinds, this book also definitely belongs near the drawing board of any student who is seriously preparing for a graphics design career.
The New Big Book of Color examines projects in even greater detail than The Big Book of Color with commentary from David E. Carter oh why each piece works well, as well as color formulas for print and web. Some projects also include commentary from the designers on what their ideas when creating the piece.
The sections are based on descriptions of the color combinations used on a given piece.
Complimentary
Contrasting
Feminine
Masculine
Childlike
Lively
Peaceful
Hip
Cool
Warm
Natural
Retro
Fun
Classic
Monochromatic
Customer Reviews:
A disappointment.......2007-06-12
I expected more from this book. The addition of the RGB formulas and the comments are welcomed! Other books -like Color Design Workshop from Rockport- do not feature the CMYK/RGB formulas for the pieces presented.
Firstly, the designs chosen are disappointing! The book has 384 pages, and out of those roughly 190 are poster designs! One web site, a few logos, some brochures, some editorial designs and some product designs + A LOT of posters. That's what this book is. Should be called "The New Big Book of Posters"... What a waste of my money.
Secondly, quite a few pictures shown (usually brochures) are low-resolution and look quite ugly (like they've been photographed with a cell phone camera).
And finally, the number of pieces shown from a firm is way too high! 26 pieces from Yee Haw Industries Letterpress, 24 pieces from Calori & Vanden-Eynden, 24 pieces from Tom Fowler Inc, etc result in a limited variety in terms of design style.
If you're a new media/web designer skip this. Stick to books from Taschen of Pepin Press.
Book Description
Now available in paperback, The Big Book of Color in Design focuses on color as a tool to create moods and symbolic images.The book is categorized into 30 different sections, such as “classy,” “hot,” “regal,” or “corporate.” Each section features current graphic design projects that fit into these moods.
For each of the featured projects, a “color chip” appears, with the CMYK formula for creating a similar tone. In all, hundreds of examples of use of color in brochures, ads, logos and other categories of graphic design appear in this breakthrough book.
Customer Reviews:
Important resource for designers and marketing professionals.......2005-01-31
David Carter's Big Book of Color in Design is an important resource for both the design community as well as anyone
interested in making the most of their marketing dollars.
Although there are hundreds of graphic design books on the
market, and only a rare few really are genuinely useful and worth the cost of acquiring them.
The Big Book of Color in Design is different from similar
volumes in that it not only offers numerous palettes (or
combinations of colors that "work" together to project a
desired image, but the palettes are accompanied by large and
easy to learn from illustrations of completed projects
created with the palettes.
Because of the book's tight editing, large size, and quality
reproduction, you can see at a glance how colors relate to
image in theory as well as practice.
There's no "theory" here; just genuinely useful examples. Carter's formula works better than many "palette books"
because often only the palettes are shown, not projects
completed within them. Carter's mastery of color also comes
through in his choices which are both restrained and appropriate.
A single book can never compensate for the lack of a design
education, but Carter's book comes as close as any book can- -
and closer than most color books.
We can only look forward to a future book from Carter focusing exclusively on web color.
Book Description
500+ Top-selling Plans from award-Winning Designers and architects With more than 500 plans included, readers will find more styles, more designers and more options here than anywhere else. This fabulous compilation profiles ten top designers and reveals dozens of their most popular home plans. Find informative editorial and exquisite plans that ensure each reader will find the plan they are looking for, no matter where they live or what style they prefer.
Book Description
TITLE:Strawberry Shortcake Life is Good. DESCRIPTION:Big best book to color. Pages of coloring fun.
Book Description
This is a book that many have described as a must have for every designer's bookshelf. Finally available in paperback, this invaluable compendium offers more than 900 examples of graphic design projects of all kinds -- promotional materials, letterheads, editorial layouts, exhibits, packaging, posters, annual reports, T-shirts and more -- culled from the work of leading professionals in every area of the graphic design field.
Customer Reviews:
an excellent reference.......2004-11-16
This is a must-have for any graphic designer. It is an excellent visual reference, full of inspiration and professionalism. There is a great mix of creativity and originality as well as logos we are familiar with already. If you ever feel stuck for ideas, this is an awesome book to get you out of a designer's block. It is very-well put together, both in design and layout... as well as the book itself. Definitely not a book that is going to fall apart, very sturdy and printed on good paper to really bring out the quality of the art.
Eye candy for the graphic designer.......2004-09-12
The Big Book of Design Ideas is eye candy for the Graphic Designer. This oversized book is packed to the gills with nearly 400 pages of examples of graphic design from around the world and is the perfect book for solo-brainstorming. There is no text in the book at all, other than in the designs themselves and in a short caption under each design that details the designer/design team. The book is organized into 24 sections, each one containing designs from a particular type of print; books, catalogs, menus, Music CDs, letterhead sets and more. Every design is in full color. The reader can easily find a section dealing with what he/she is working on and get inspiration for their design or they can just simply flip through the pages for the shear enjoyment of it. One should not expect to learn graphic design from this book, but then that is not really the purpose of the book to begin with. Once one has a good foundation in the basics of graphic design, this book becomes more valuable as an inspirational tool. The book is a good addition to the library of any one in graphic design.
Excellent Layout.......2003-07-11
Beautifully done. Tons of categories. Extreme Picture book. Is nice enough to be a coffee table book even for those that aren't excited about graphics as much as I am. This is a great book to get some fresh ideas from. Nice reference book for any graphic artist. I loved this book so much that I bought it for one of my clients in the UK so they could have it, too. This would also make a great gift for any type of artist since it covers everything from corporate logos, letterheads, brochures, and even displays. It has much more than that because all the little color boxes on the front of the book are actual sections in this book. This is something that I wanted to have in hardcover.
The "No Design" Design Book.......2003-06-12
This is what it should be called. It has many images of so-so to excellent design. However, all of the images seem to be thrown around on the pages with no regard to the layout of the page or the sections of the book.
The section headers were so faint that you almost missed them. Some of the images were bled off the page in such a way that you could not appreciate what was being illustrated. On other pages the examples were so close to the binding you almost have to rip the book in half to see them.
It was hard to find what you were looking for or to focus on the designs themselves as the design of the book itself was so poor.
Its OK to have a book with minimal text, but the design should be strong enough to support that.
Very big but short of ideas.......2003-06-04
I ordered this book hoping it'll give me some fresh and new ideas for designing. I am very dissapointed, because what I've got is not more than 330 pages of outdated, temporary designs. Pretty much 330 of its 374 pages are filled with the same of what I call "typical american design from 90-95". So if you look at it that way, this book is way overpriced for 40 good pages.
Customer Reviews:
Great overview of house plans.......2007-08-01
This book is a great start if you don't know what kind of house you want to build. However, the pictures are small and there a very few interior pictures to complement the lay-outs. It does provide an online link to the houses that gives you more detailed information. Overall, it's worth the money, but I think the website is easier to navigate through.
Average customer rating:
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Big Best Book to Color: Heroes of the Bible
Manufacturer: Dalmatian Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Reference & Interpretation
| Bible
| Christianity
| Religions
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Coloring Books
| Activity Books
| Sports & Activities
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1403702926 |
Customer Reviews:
We LOVE Veggie Tales!!.......2003-04-26
My 3 year old daughter grinned from ear to ear when I gave her this coloring book! She said,"Mommy can I color it?". She adores the Veggie Tales' characters and has learned so much about various Bible characters and stories through this amazing series. The coloring book is fun and has great scenes from the various videos. Not in any way is it "preachy" or overbearing. Extremely wholesome and biblically sound entertainment!
Average customer rating:
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The Importance Of Being From Oshkosh: Looking Back At The Great Depression, World War Ii And The Cold War Years
John Livingstone
Manufacturer: Authorhouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Midwest
| Regional U.S.
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Personal Narratives
| World War II
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1418455083 |
Books:
- The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye: Five Fairy Stories
- The Faeries of Spring Cottage
- The Faithful Gardener: A Wise Tale About That Which Can Never Die
- The Game Chose Me
- The Gift Of Asher Lev
- The Good Times Are Killing Me: A Novel
- The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told
- The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel
- The Ground Beneath Her Feet: A Novel
- The Hummingbird's Daughter: A Novel
Books Index
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