Unconsoled, The

Book Description

From the universally acclaimed author of The Remains of the Day comes a mesmerizing novel of completely unexpected mood and matter--a seamless, fictional universe, both wholly unrecognizable and familiar. When the public, day-to-day reality of a renowned pianist takes on a life of its own, he finds himself traversing landscapes that are by turns eerie, comical, and strangely malleable.

Customer Reviews:

A Very Dreamlike Novel.......2007-09-19

In fact it was so convincingly dreamlike that it put me to sleep. That said, read some of this. It reveals what happens when people become so obsessed with artiface that they lose themselves.

unique.......2007-07-21

This review follows my second reading of the novel. The first thing I offer for consideration is the title -- this is a tragedy with comic elements.

The book has very realistic characters, all with foibles, but all very human. I felt compassion for most all of them. I cared what happened to them. And so, while it is impossible to read this novel and not recognize its dream-like qualities, you also want to read the story on a literal level. There is tension throughout the novel, some because you want to know what happens to the characters, some because you want to resolve the issue of what is going on -- how these dream like elements collide with reality like they do.

Now having finished it I have a brief analysis, or suggestion as to how to read the novel. I considered my own dreams. When I dream, I take the dream elements literally, however fantastic they may be. It is only when I wake up a little, that I can begin to analyze, and understand the dream's true symbolic meaning -- "oh, the house represented my early family life" etc..

This story is much like a dream, Ryder's dream that we are inside of, and never fully awake from. In that sense, we take things literally, and it feels symbolic, but we don't directly think of the symbolism.

As the novel progresses, and we get more knowledge of Ryder's history, we gain a little more distance on him, despite him being narrator. It is then that we read the story symbolically -- Stephan is a younger version of himself, Boris is Ryder when he was young. So sometimes we awaken, and interpret Ryder's dream, other times we fall back asleep, and are plunged into it again. And so we go back and forth, realism to symbolism, symbolism to realism.

But you can't really have it both ways at once. Both ways might be something like this: things are really happening in a real world, but then Ryder projects his fantasies, or unconscious material on to them. While you can read some of the novel like this, I think a sustained reading like this is impossible.

For some, this makes the novel frustrating, unappealing. I, however, gained some resolution in another way. Something I had known, but not known explicitly, was revealed in the end. Just as the characters Ryder encounters may be real or symbolic, so too is Ryder.

The novel truly feels like a dream, unlike some other novels that try to mimic dreams. This novel is truly innovative, unlike some others I've read that try to impress with their flash.

This guy can write, and he's in command. Whether you like the product is a different matter. If you like the characters, themes of love, loss, woundedness, past issues influencing present, fathers and sons, failures and attempts to connect, then you will probably like this --if you have a taste for something new.

Haunting, yet overlong.......2007-07-06

There are many fine reviews of "The Unconsoled" here that will give you the range of reactions. I especially liked Charles Kaufmann's.

In my opinion, the book is profound, funny and haunting--something to ponder about for years. That is, IF you finish it. Give it time to work its magic. Accept the fact you as a reader will be manipulated.

On the downside, Ishiguro could have made his same multifaceted and ambiguous points in fewer words by dropping some of the scenes. If one of his points is that we are "too busy" to truly empathize and console others, then we should spend less time reading and writing overblown novels and more time expressing compassion in the human arena.

Finally, I should broach the topic of the novel's Englishness, the cloying courtesies and infuriating failures to call a spade a spade speak volumes on the differences between British and American cultures. American readers, I suspect, will have more difficulty enjoying the book.

Once you understand the underlying premise..........2007-06-08

...then The Unconsoled becomes perfectly understandable. I was surprised that some reviewers did not understand the immensely virtuosic feat this book represents. I don't want to ruin the book for prospective readers, but if you trust that we have ALL experienced the logic that is the armature of The Unconsoled, you'll become as fascinated by it as I did.

Cautionary tale to those who are selfish.......2007-06-01

Without spoiling the book, I will just say this: it is a cautionary tale for those who are selfish - for those who have no time for anyone else but themselves. Read the first chapter over and over until you can see where Ryder is and why the narrative reads like a bad dream...

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Unconsoled 1ST Edition
Kazuo Ishiguro
Manufacturer: ALFRED A KNOPF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PKSVTM

Average customer rating:

Unconsoled 1ST Us Edition
Kazuo Ishiguro
Manufacturer: ALFRED A KNOPF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PZJFT2

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Unconsoled
Kazuo Ishiguro
Manufacturer: FABER & FABER INC @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N78WLY

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Unconsoled P
Kazuo Ishiguro
Manufacturer: VINTAGE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WTML0Q

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The Unconsoled Signed First Edition
Kazuo Ishiguro
Manufacturer: FABER & FABER UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TTLNK8

Amazon.com

In The Border Hostage, a titillating combination of historical detail and breathtaking passion, perennial favorite Henley wields her magic yet again, this time setting her tale along the bloody borders of Scotland and England. When high-strung English beauty Raven Carleton runs into Heath Kennedy, the bastard son of a Scottish border lord, trespassing on her family's lands, she's lucky Heath only divests her of her favorite horse and the shirt off her back. But when Raven runs across Heath again while out riding with her betrothed, she doesn't get off so easily. Taken hostage and held for ransom by the rugged Scot, Raven vows to escape as soon as she can. But Raven fails to reckon with her own attraction to the fiendishly handsome Heath. Erotic visions haunt her as Raven attempts to deny her Celtic roots and the images her heritage brings--dreams of passionate embraces shared not with her fiancé, Christopher Dacre, but with the smug Scot Heath whom she cannot abide. Even worse, Heath's knowing grin makes Raven believe he can read her unruly mind. Machinations of the English court and Scottish loyalists threaten not only Heath and Raven's happiness, but their very lives. Those who wait for each new Henley title will not be disappointed. --Alison Trinkle

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Virginia Henley brings her trademark passion, power, and steamy sensuality to this dazzling work of romance fiction–an unforgettable tale of a headstrong Englishwoman abducted by a Scotsman seeking passionate revenge....

Raven Carleton is every inch the English lady. But on this glorious morning, as she gallops along the seacoast, Raven is thinking about her freedom, not her imminent betrothal to aristocratic Christopher Dacre. Suddenly Raven is forced to draw rein when a man appears directly in her path. Silhouetted against the predawn sky, he is magnificent–a darkly powerful stranger who will alter the course of her life.

When Scotsman Heath Kennedy first glimpses Raven Carleton, he sees a creature of such infinite loveliness, she takes his breath away. But in a land divided, Raven is about to become a pawn in the bitter border wars between England and Scotland. Abducted by Heath and held for ransom, Raven finds herself attracted to him in ways she never could have imagined...and Heath is utterly beguiled by his headstrong captive. Risking the wrath of two realms, the Scotsman does the unthinkable: He offers Raven her freedom. He asks only one thing in return.

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly lively.......2007-01-05

I liked this story a great deal and plan to keep the hardcover copy I bought as part of my collection. It wasn't overly dramatic but at the same time it made you sit up and think. I enjoyed how the heroine became part of what she had been brought into and the way she overcame things. Henley is very clever at weaving a story and I hope to read more of her books in the future. My hat off to you !

Not good.......2006-07-20

I did not care for these characters. The dialogue was so blah that they didn't feel real at all. The secondary characters were more alive than the hero and heroine. In fact, I think that the secondary characters took up more of the plot than Heath and Raven. It was almost as though Virginia Henley was plotting out her next sequel and couldn't decide on which characters she should write about. Too many to keep track of. Through more than 1/2 of the book Raven and Heath weren't even together. Even when you thought they were it might have all been a dream. When they were actually together it was so wooden and boring that there was absolutely no chemistry. I'm sure they deserved each other though. At least they believed that there was a connection. All the magic and earth healing got to be sooooo old. Yuck.

A wonderful sequel to Tempted.......2005-05-04

I disagree with most of the reviews on this book. Having read most of Henley's books, I believe this is one of my favorites. Heath is such a compelling character. I just loved reading about him and wished the book could just go on and on. An added bonus is Ram and Tina. They were so wonderful is their own book, Tempted that I was glad to have them back as secondary characters.

Just bearable.......2004-11-04

This was the first Virginia Henley book I tried reading. I was drawn by the summary at the back of the book, it sounded intriguing and sexy. But after reading the first few pages of this book, I could guess what kind of a story it would be like and how the author was likely to write it out. How can you begin a romance by description of two horses mating? Ms. Henley's choice of words also leaves a lot to be desired. Does everything have to be sexual?

No romantic depth here. And I don't get the ravishing each other in their dreams thing either. There's a lot of sexual teasing in this book, which made it seem more lustful than romantic. I didn't exactly feel like the stones they carried around (phallic for Heath and hag for Raven) brought much weight to the story, it just made it seem strange, not adding a thing to the magical or destined feel.

However, I must say that the storyline and plot are not that bad though. And Heath's character was a definate plus to it since I always enjoy it when the hero falls for the heroine first; I cannot say the same for Raven. She seemed too impulsive and silly most of the time, not a likable heroine. The dialogue between characters is not too well written, it doesn't flow naturally and is not a joy to read their bantering since it is predictable and without humour.

If you don't mind a nit-wit heroine, a hot hero and a so-so storyline then get this book. Otherwise, you won't be missing out on much at all.

Overwrought and sleazy.......2004-07-20

I agree with those who didn't like this book and for pretty well the same reasons. The heroine was naive, too many secondary characters and relatives to keep track of (I hope Raven and Heath aren't related - the family background is convoluted enough they or other key married characters could be). Too much plot and VH's penchant for certain language to describe the male anatomy reminds me of a kid who just discovered a dirty word. It's boring, tedious and hardly sexy.
I also always have a problem with names beginning with the same initials - it gets confusing. Donald, Donal, Dacre,Ramsay, Rob, Raven, Heath, Heron. She's not the worst at it, but I wish authors would think this through - there are 26 letters in the alphabet. Could we also lose the 'lavendar' colored eyes? And how about those exclamation marks - they're the sign of an amateur! The first sentence of the book has an exclamation mark. There are six on page 5, the first page with dialogue. After that, it's exclamation marks everywhere. The dialogue should carry the meaning without any help. I liked the gypsy component, but not the lead characters constant love-making in a dream. That too, got boring. Now, Heath I liked - there was great kindness in him for an alpha male.

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BORDER HOSTAGE
VIRGINIA HENLEY
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M16PMY

COMPLETE Douglas/Kennedy Series: (1) Tempted; (2) The Border Hostage (Set of 2)

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COMPLETE Douglas/Kennedy Series: (1) Tempted; (2) The Border Hostage (Set of 2)
Virginia Henley
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WNT2GS

Dream Lover & Border Hostage & Tempted & Enticed & Seduced & Unmasked & Insatiable ( Set of 7 Books )

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Dream Lover & Border Hostage & Tempted & Enticed & Seduced & Unmasked & Insatiable ( Set of 7 Books )

Manufacturer: Dell Distributing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GS5UA6

Virginia Henley - A Year and a Day, Enslaved, Tempted, Insatiable, The Border Hostage, The Dragon and the Jewel, A Woman of Passion & Seduced

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Virginia Henley - A Year and a Day, Enslaved, Tempted, Insatiable, The Border Hostage, The Dragon and the Jewel, A Woman of Passion & Seduced
Virginia Henley
Manufacturer: Island - Dell Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000TK3V2A

Product Description

Island - Dell Publications. 7 Mass Market Paperbacks: A Year and a Day, The Dragon and the Jewel, Insatiable, Tempted, Enslaved, The Border Hostage & A Woman of Passion.

Book Description

For Alfred Bester, "the Corps was mother, the Corps was father."
But now, his Corps was doomed . . .

Under the ruthless command of Alfred Bester, Psi Corps's reign of terror reached unspeakable new heights--and touched off a civil war among the telepaths. Corps minions fought renegade defectors--a new resistance movement determined to overthrow Bester's monstrous regime. But the tide was destined to turn . . .

Interstellar Alliance President John Sheridan intervenes to stop the bloodshed as a new Psi Corps rises from the ashes. Its first mission: to hunt down and neutralize war criminals, individuals such as Bester himself. Once feared across the galaxy, the dreaded hunter becomes the fleeing prey--with Michael Garibaldi in hot pursuit.

Underground and on the run, Bester builds a new life on the ruins of his secret, sinister past. But as the forces of justice--and vengeance--close in, he must confront the hell he created, choose between surrender or survival at any cost, and prepare to make his final stand . . .

There is nothing as dangerous as a predator who has been cornered and has nothing left to lose.

The stunning finale to the new epic trilogy that uncovers the secret history of the Psi Corps.

Customer Reviews:

Stayed up too late, Had to know the end.......2005-08-01

This third book about the psi corps is very good because it ties up all the little threads that were in the first 2. Plus it made a monster into a man and you could see the truth of the winners writing history. History would have been very different if Bestor had won. I took a star away from this one because there are still some technical writing errors.

The Fate of Bester.......2005-06-01

Three two prior books in this collection have been outstanding.

This book is no different. It is excellent work, the only thing that may dissapoint you is the continuation from the previous books. The first two books cover the beginning of the resistance and the birth and experience of Alfred Bester.

The third book starts after the Psi-Corps Civil war when Alfred is on the run. A major story-line has been skipped, but not to worry though, there are a few references to the war in this book.

An Excellent Portrayal of Bester - an Excellent Book.......2004-09-16

Alfred Bester, played by Walter Koenig, was one of the best "bad guys" on the TV show. His flat sense of humor showed a darker side to him - a side that we became quite familiar with during his forays onto the station. Yet there was always a sense of tenderness underneath the character, a glimpse of someone whose heart wasn't blackened by the hatred he felt for those who aimed to hurt him. This book explores that side of Mr. Bester. The side that wanted to come out from the dark recesses of his soul, and smile at the simple beauty of life. Mr. Bester is eighty-two at this point in his life, on the run from his nemesis Mr. Garibaldi, and beginning to feel tired at the prospect or repeating his hiding cycles for too much longer. Yes, Mr. Garibaldi is still trying to catch up with Mr. Bester - to visit his endless thirst for vengeance for what Bester had done to him in order to have Sheridan betrayed. The story attacks the plot, initially, from the vantage point of both of these individuals. Towards the end, a police inspector is added to the mix of vantage points - to help play a good old-fashioned morale to the plot. An excellent read and the best of the Babylon 5 novels that I have read to this point.

Be seeing you........2004-02-23

This book, based on an outline from Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski (so you know it's official), covers the period in B5's history detailing the final years in the life of Psi Cop Alfred Bester.

There are many parts of the Babylon 5 story that have only been hinted at throughout the series, the Telepath War being one of the biggest. Not many questions are answered about that in this book, being that it's set after the war and it's obvious Bester was on the losing side. Now hiding out as a literary critic in Paris, Bester actually makes an effort to put all that behind him, but Michael Garibaldi is soon on his trail, not forgetting what Bester did to him long ago and is out to settle the score.

One thing I liked is how grounded on Earth the Psi Corps Trilogy was. There were scenes on other worlds and brief appearances by aliens, the first book briefly touching on Earth's first contact with the Centauri, but for the most part it concentrated on humans, on Earth, and how all the various peoples and factions involved dealt with "the telepath problem." This book wraps up the life of the Babylon 5 villain you just love to hate, and it's a must-read.

"A Must For All B5 Fans".......2003-06-15

This is the story Babylon 5 fans have waited so long for. What happens to the sinister Psi Cop Al Bester. The book went in a different direction than expected, but that's not a complaint. You learn a lot about Bester's character, aspects you'd never expect from someone so vile. First off, he becomes involved with a non-telepath woman while hiding out in Paris . . . and Bester is as bigoted against normal humans as you can get. His love for Louise is real, and makes him re-think his life on the run and all the horrible things he's done. Bester actually showing remorse! Who would have guessed? The man also has a cultured side to him. He loves wine, art and literature, and even becomes a literary critic for a small Parisian newspaper. But just when you think Bester has become an okay person, situations arise that force him to revert to his old ways.

The climax was awesome. I loved the final confrontation between Garibaldi and Bester. There was also a fantastic mind battle between Bester and another P12 telepath. Very descriptive. You could really feel Bester's pain.

If you are a B5 fan and don't have this book, get it.

Average customer rating:
Final Reckoning: The Fate of Bester
Gregory J. Keyes
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OV8AMA

Book Description

Contents• Shibboleth: For Paul Celan• “A Self-Unsealing Poetic Text”: Poetics and Politics of Witnessing• Language Does Not Belong: An Interview• The Majesty of the Present: Reading Celan's “The Meridian”• Rams: Uninterrupted Dialogue—between Two Infinities, the PoemThis book brings together five powerful encounters. Themes central to all ofDerrida's writings thread the intense confrontation between the most famousphilosopher of our time and the Jewish poet writing in German who, perhapsmore powerfully than any other, has testified to the European experience ofthe twentieth century.They include the date or signature and its singularity; the notion of the trace;temporal structures of futurity and the “to come”; the multiplicity of languageand questions of translation; such speech acts as testimony and promising, butalso lying and perjury; the possibility of the impossible; and, above all, the questionof the poem as addressed and destined beyond knowledge, seeking to speak toand for the irreducibly other.The memory of encounters with thinkers who have also engaged Celan's workanimates these writings, which include a brilliant dialogue between twointerpretative modes—hermeneutics and deconstruction. Derrida's approach toa poem is a revelation on many levels, from the most concrete ways of reading—for example, his analysis of a sequence of personal pronouns—to the mostsweeping imperatives of human existence (and Derrida's writings are alwaysa study in the imbrication of such levels). Above all, he voices the call toresponsibility in the ultimate line of Celan's poem: “The world is gone,I must carry you,” which sounds throughout the book's final essay like a refrain. Only two of the texts in this volume do not appear here in English for the first time. Of these, Schibboleth has been entirely retranslated and has been set following Derrida's own instructions for publication in French; "A Self-Unsealing Poetic Text" was substantially rewritten by Derrida himself and basically appears here as the translation of a new text. Jacques Derrida's most recent books in English translation include Counterpath: Traveling with Jacques Derrida (with Catherine Malabou). He died in Paris on October 8, 2004. Thomas Dutoit teaches at the Université de Paris 7. He translated Aporias and edited On the Name, both by Jacques Derrida.

Customer Reviews:

An intensely scholarly text for advanced students of philosophy and literature.......2006-02-08

Written by one of the most influential philosophers in modern history, Sovereignties In Question: The Poetics Of Paul Celan evaluates the work of Paul Celan, a Jewish poet writing in German who offers a vivid scrutiny of the European experience in the twentieth century. Resonating with complex interplay to a degree that simulates a clash of stubborn wills, Sovereignties in Question covers such subtle issues as the notion of the trace, the temporal structures of futurity and "to come", the multiplicity of language, the significance of speech acts such as testimony, promising, lying, and perjury, and much more. An intensely scholarly text for advanced students of philosophy and literature.

Book Description

Appealing to the amateur wine lover as well as the aspiring professional taster, The Simon & Schuster Beginner's Guide to Understanding Wine is written to be eminently readable. Michael Schuster's expertise is combined with a well-developed sense of humor, which allows him to avoid -- and have fun with -- the snobbery and occasional absurdity of tasting and understanding wine.

This beautiful and accessible guide progresses in three sections. The first explores the techniques of wine tasting -- from knowing what to look for to describing and recording a judgment. Readers are encouraged to experiment and develop their own tasting methods.

The second section discusses the major grapes and their wines. The author explains how to discern between wines considered to be "classic" and those that are not, what to expect from the different grapes and their blends, and the different wine-producing areas. He suggests specific wines to taste for comparison and as examples of style and quality. He tops off this section with a chapter covering fortified wines, Cognac, Armagnac, and malt whisky.

The final section of the book is devoted to the practicalities of wine and wine drinking: handling, serving and decanting, storage, and record-keeping. An extensive, original index provides an at-a-glance identification chart of the grapes used in all the major wine names.

The Simon & Schuster Beginner's Guide to Understanding Wine is a friendly, lavishly illustrated introduction to the fundamentals of wine appreciation.

Customer Reviews:

Instant ticket from neophyte to knowledgeable.......2002-01-11

This is the best introduction to wine appreciation that I've seen. Schuster begins with tasting (well, actually with glassware and looking), which defines the terms you see in most wine reviews (such as concentration, acidity, body, tannin, balance, finish, nose, etc.) and shows you how to apply them by suggesting a series of relatively inexpensive comparative tastings (including of non-wine items like lemon or sugar or coffee). There follows a grape-by-grape breakdown of white and red wine varieties, including a description of typical instances of the varietal for different geographical regions in terms you just learned. Included along with the wine profiles is a description of the wine-making process and variations, including champagne, fortified wines such as port, and even brandy.

This book is written for absolute beginners, but it's not an "easy read". The information is packed densely, and there are many invaluable practical "exercises". It reads more like an undergraduate intro textbook than like a breezy magazine article. Think of it as a wine equivalent of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and you'll be in the right ballpark.

More than any other book, this one changed my perspecitve and took me from a struggling beginner level to where I can engage in wine discussions with experts. I found this book far more thorough than Hugh Johnson's pocket book, How to Enjoy Your Wine. If I was shopping for such a book now, I'd have to consider Jancis Robinson's "How to Taste", because she's one of my favorite wine writers; but I haven't read it.

After this book, I'd suggest getting Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson's World Atlas of Wine, and the Jancis Robinson edited Oxford Companion to Wine.

Not a beginner's guide.......1999-12-28

If you have little or no knowledge of wine, this is not the book for you. The author oscillates between the basic information and over-your-head wine snobbery. Start with something simpler and move to this book later.

Average customer rating:

Detailed American Character Book is Wonderful

doll book

To Order An Autographed Copy

High Marks from a Contributor!

A must have book for the collector

American Character Dolls: Identification & Value Guide
Judith Izen
Manufacturer: Collector Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Dolls | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Collector's Guide To Ideal Dolls: Identification & Values (Collectors Guide to Ideal Dolls Identification and Values)

Collector's Encyclopedia of Vogue Dolls: Identification and Values (Collectors Encyclopedia of Vogue Dolls)

Arranbee Dolls: Identification & Value Guide

Collector's Guide to Dolls of the 1960s and 1970s: Identification and Values, Vol. 2

Dolls And Accessories of the 1950s (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

ASIN: 1574323415

Book Description

Sweet Sue, Betsy McCall, Tiny Tears, Little Ricky, Whimsies, Toni, Toodles, and Tressy, American Character's most popular dolls, are known for their high quality construction and beautiful clothing. Over 1,000 full-color photos cover the entire line of over 100 dolls produced, from composition to vinyl. Dolls and their fashions are depicted, with captions listing the year the doll was produced, marks, description, and current collector value. A brief history of the company is included, as well as a helpful index. AUTHORBIO: Judith Izen is the author of two bestselling doll books, Collector's Guide to Ideal Dolls, now in its third edition, and American Character Dolls, and is the co-author of the Collector's Encyclopedia of Vogue Dolls, now in its second edition. REVIEW: This book is the first on this subject ever to be published. Author Judith Izen is well known for her knowledge in the doll field, and this book is one of her best yet. A thorough history of the company is included, along with hundreds of color photographs.

Customer Reviews:

Detailed American Character Book is Wonderful.......2007-08-06

This is a great detailed book featuring many of the beloved American Character dolls! It has helped me tremendously with my doll collection.

doll book.......2007-06-28

Very nice book & lots of information i have been looking for these past few years.

To Order An Autographed Copy.......2005-01-13

You can order an autographed copy directly from Judith by going to: www.americancharacterdolls.com

You cannot buy an autographed copy through Amazon.

High Marks from a Contributor!.......2004-04-30

A most comprehensive and well-researched book! Having contributed to the Tressy section of the book (look for pics from my collection!), I must say that this guide is a must have for Tressy collectors as well as for those who collect other American character dolls.

A must have book for the collector.......2004-01-16

Judith Izen has written another wonderful book! For collectors of American Character dolls, it's a book that needs to be on your bookshelf. It's well written and researched with great photographs. We can only hope that Ms. Izen will continue to share her love and knowledge of dolls with more books.

Average customer rating:

Nice Pottery Overview

The Complete Home Potter: A Practical, Accessable Course in Pottery Skills and Techniques Including Wheel Throwing and Hand-Building; over 800 photographs and 30 step-by-step projects
Josie Warshaw
Manufacturer: Lorenz Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Pottery & Ceramics | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Reference | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Wheel-Thrown Pottery (DIY): An Illustrated Guide of Basic Techniques from the Hit DIY Show Throwing Clay (DIY Network)

Thrown Pottery Techniques Revealed: The Secrets of Perfect Throwing Shown in Unique Cutaway Photography

Simply Pottery: A Practical Course in Basic Pottery Techniques

The Complete Potter's Companion

Decorating Techniques (Ceramics Class)

ASIN: 0754815323

Book Description

A highly practical, accessible approach to creating bezutiful ceramics.

Customer Reviews:

Nice Pottery Overview.......2007-09-19

This is a very nice overview of a variety of techniques and some rather complex projects. While it is well illustrated, it isn't for the beginner. I've been turning and hand-building for a couple years (spare time hobby) and there are many projects in this book that I admire but don't quite have the skill set to try to emulate.

I do come back to this book every few months, and always learn something new from it.

If you have other Warshaw pottery books, you may notice the same photos/projects appear in this volume.

Book Description

Everyone has clutter in their home—but what we don’t realize is the huge impact it can have on our lives, and how energizing it is to clear it away. Drawing on years of professional experience, Dawna Walter explains how to get to the heart of why clutter has built up around you—then shows you how to deal with it. Packed with valuable advice, practical exercises, and a questionnaire to help you identify your problem areas, Dawna will guide you every step of the way, motivating you to let go of the things you’ve collected but don’t use. And once you’ve started to take control of your possessions, you can follow Mark Franks’ advice on turning your junk into cash. Practical, inspirational, and liberating, this is the ultimate guide to de-junking.

Customer Reviews:

Ok, but not the best in the field.......2007-05-03

I have not watched the Life Laundry TV programs, but am generally interested in organizing. I'm not overwhelmed by clutter but see areas of improvement around my home (mostly out of guests' sight). The book is nicely structured and easy to read, with exercises at the end of every chapter to get you thinking about your own situation. (Did I do them? No. I didn't feel they applied, really...)
What I liked the best were the arguments trying to persuade the reader why to let go of the various things that are just taking up space in our homes but that we hold on to for various reasons (these were also addressed). I also enjoyed the "case studies" with before and after photos from some of Walter's clients.
I found this book more down-to-earth than the author's other book "How to do everything and still have time for yourself" which I did not like particularly well. But my conclusion is nevertheless: If you are still wondering, buy Marla Cilley's "Sink Reflections: Overwhelmed? Disorganized? Living in Chaos? The FlyLady's Simple FLYing Lessons Will Show You How to Get Your Home and Your Life in Order--and It All Starts with Shining Your Sink!" instead! It goes to grip with the source of the problems and how you can handle de-junking your life without a TV crew, little by little, day by day.

Customer Reviews:

Speedy graphics.......2007-08-21

'Streamline' was originally part of Chronicle Books Deco series and I'm surprised its not been reprinted since publication in 1995. What makes the book unique is the excellent coverage of American print graphics from the Twenties to the early Forties.

The eight chapters gave a flavor of Deco, Moderne or Streamline print (and packaging) that anyone could have seen in their homes or Main Street across the Nation. The inclusion criteria tends to be rather relaxed with a few items though: page thirty-one shows a 1926 Arrow shirts package with plenty of curlicues around the design, hardly streamline. I would have liked to have seen more advertisements especially those put out by the Austin Company in Cleveland, they designed and build plenty of streamline factories and offices and their monthly ads in Fortune all through the Thirties captured the essence of the style.

The book's design is first class (Chronicle editor Bill LeBlond always put out a quality product) and with the other Deco books in the series it makes a comprehensive reference library to this vibrant art form. You can get a compilation of other books with Euro Deco: Graphic Design Between the Wars containing an amazing two thousand print illustrations.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

Book Description

Alfred Hitchcock is a fascinating look at the life of one of the most influential filmmakers in the world -- a man known for his portly profile and distinct, leery voice almost as much as for his groundbreaking movies. From Hitchcock's first film, Blackmail -- the first British movie with sound -- to his blockbuster Hollywood successes, Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window, and Vertigo, Alfred Hitchcock chronicles the Master of Suspense's close working relationship with his wife, Alma, who was an integral part of his filmmaking process, and the struggle to gain full artistic control over his work. With illustrations throughout and sidebars showcasing Hitchcocks techniques and directing style, Alfred Hitchcock reveals how some of the greatest films ever created came to be through the life and work of one of the most admired filmmakers ever.

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