Amazon.com
Tristan Egolf's first novel is an unsparing view of life in a town where inbred Appalachia and Middle America overlap and intermingle. John Kaltenbrunner, an only child, is born on the heels of his father's death. At an unusually early age, the boy shows a flair for farming and a desire to be left alone, two things that make people pick on him in increasingly vicious ways. John's life plan is to drop out of school when he hits 16 and mind his own business. But he loses everything, alienates everyone, and through a series of increasingly outrageous mishaps winds up serving three years work-release felony time on a river barge. When he comes home to Baker, no one recognizes him:
John had expected, maybe even hoped for, a little something more to herald his arrival--some burning crosses or lynch mobs on the lawn, a coven of Methodists to picket his re-entry, a banner-wielding committee from the school board, anything at all. But to his disbelief, he found the streets quiet and empty.
The streets don't stay that way for long as the tale truly turns on the garbage strike organized by John and his gang of fellow misfits. As a result, Baker comes apart at the seams and all the citizenry reveal their true natures. In his singular debut, Tristan Egolf demonstrates an unschooled flair for storytelling, which earned him accolades--and even a comparison to Céline--when the novel was published in France. True, his characters are cutouts with few surprises, including dialogue (there isn't any). But there is plenty of room in these pages to admire a wild and imaginative look at a slice of life cut from the underbelly of Middle America. --Schuyler Engle
Book Description
A literary sensation published to outstanding accolades in America and around the world, Lord of the Barnyard was one of the most auspicious fiction debuts of recent years. Now available in paperback, Tristan Egolf's manic, inventive, and painfully funny debut novel is the story of a town's dirty laundry -- and a garbagemen's strike that lets it all hang out. Lord of the Barnyard begins with the death of a woolly mammoth in the last Ice Age and concludes with a greased-pig chase at a funeral in the modern-day Midwest. In the interim there are two hydroelectric dam disasters, fourteen tavern brawls, one shoot-out in the hills, three cases of probable arson, a riot in the town hall, and a lone tornado, as well as appearances by a coven of Methodist crones, an encampment of Appalachian crop thieves, six renegade coal-truck operators, an outraged mob of factory rats, a dysfunctional poultry plant, and one autodidact goat-roping farm boy by the name of John Kaltenbrunner. Lord of the Barnyard is a brilliantly comic tapestry of a Middle America still populated by river rats and assembly-line poultry killers, measuring into shot glasses the fruits of years of quiet desperation on the factory floor. Unforgettable and linguistically dizzying, it goes much farther than postal.
Customer Reviews:
Just too chaotic with too little payoff.......2007-03-01
The tragic hero, devastated by society's treatment of his idiosyncratic nature, is a time honored figure in literature. The struggle of John Kaltenbrunner is an attempt to add to this genre, an attempt that ultimately proves to be unsuccessful. Tristan Egolf has created a compelling character, but leaves him a cipher amidst all the obvious vitriol the author has towards many of the institutions he condemns in the course of this book. Many of Egolf's criticisms are valid, but so much time is spent on attacking these institutions that there is little room for any character development. By constantly introducing chaotic situations that reach no natural conclusions, Egolf loses control of the novel and it becomes too much imagery and not enough story. All the characters here are relatively interchangeable and Kaltenbrunner's valiant efforts to bring down said institutions lead to an inexorable and predictable end. This probably would be more forgivable if there weren't so many other poor choices on the author's part, particularly the lack of any dialogue which turns the book into one long storytelling exercise without any direct character interaction. You end up feeling like you are hearing someone tell you the very long story of someone's life, interrupted by descriptions of garbage mounds and barroom brawls that could have ended pages earlier. It ends up becoming boring and predictable. The shame of it is that underneath all this verbiage there is a good story; it's just so much work to pull it out that it's hard to recommend this.
Thumbs TOTALLY down.......2006-11-15
Unless you are someone who gets twisted gratification out of completely destroying a town, I cannot understand why anyone would 'honestly' like this book. In my opinion the story goes no where and Egolf has to rap it up by overloading his text with unwarranted self-appreciation and importance. I find it hard to believe that reputable publications compare Egolf's style with the likes of Pynchon and Toole. These were brilliant writers - Egolf was not. In fact, do yourself a favor: before buying this load of boring crap, pick up a copy of Toole's Confederacy of Dunces. Or, if you have already read that masterpiece, check out Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. They put Lord of the Barnyard to shame. Insightful readers know.
Great Work with Many Loopholes.......2006-02-01
Written with a unique narrative resembling Steinbeck's East of Eden. It's the story of one John Kaltenbrunner, a kid, possibly autistic, who is as much of an outcast as possible, but brilliant in his own way, absorbed in his own busy life of meticulous details in running a farm after his father has deceased and breaking down every general rule of his backward country community. The entire thing has more caricatures than characters: a vibrant cast of a gun toting leather jacket wearing pissed off kid (Kaltenbrunner), wetbacks (Mexicans working the worst jobs), trolls (the general population of Baker - the town everything takes place in), the River Rat people (a population of Neandertal-like inbred forest people), evil theiving Methodists driving MethodistMobiles, a chicken slaughterhouse, and finally the city garbage collectors, whom Kaltenbrunner eventually leads in a strike against the town, and against the persecution of outcasts in general. It's an engrossing, wildly vivid account told with a dead serious manner even through much of the bizarre, unrealistic, even grossly loophole ridden story. But much of it is quite believable, because of the depths which the narrator takes you through to explain each step of the way. The book eventually becomes the decomposition, breakdown and destruction of an entire community, narrated through the actions of it's main perpetrator and our protagonist, John Kaltenbrunner. A sweeping, epic tale told through a simple narrative, it's biggest flaw is some of the unrealism, such as the account of the basketball game at the end. For all of Egolf's talents, it is out of pure laziness and not ignorance that the end of the story unravels to the dead end that it does. The end of the story is, literally, a flop, when considering the prose preceding it. The basketball game in particular is insulting not only in its blatant disregard for actual basketball language (there are penalties and 'red flags' instead of fouls, interceptions instead of steals, clocks counting upward instead of down, measurement in yards instead of feet - to which, the only reason I can understand is that Egolf put this in here mockingly, as a personal statement to show his disdain for professional sports) but also its narrative tongue (poorly written) and placement (poor, poor climax.) It's strange, but some of the best storytelling, including both language and events, happens during a twenty page stretch immediately preceding this. Anyways, if reworked a bit it was a potential classic, and still is on my bookshelf, but the problems are a few too blatant.
A Unique Voice.......2006-01-22
So sorry to learn that this author is dead. I have enjoyed his books tremendously, this one in particular. He had a unique voice and great timing. It's ironic that when I first read this book, I was reminded of A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, another young and inspired author who ended his life young.
Rest in peace, literary warrior!.......2005-05-16
Tristan Egolf, a very French pen name, maybe, is dead. Suicide at age 33. But: There might be a bit of PR hype going on here. The French website says
that Patrick Modiano's daughter by complete chance saw Egolf busking
in the streets of Paris on a cold and rainy day and she later invited
him to have coffee with her. One thing led to another, presumbably,
and he showed her the manuscript.......which he just by
coincidence had with him in his busking bag....and she at once fell in
love with......it.....and went home and showed the manuscript to her
dad the famous novelist Patrick Modiano who exclaimed, wow, this is
some find, we must get the guy published before 70 other publishers in
the USA who already rejected it give it a second thought...so he
showed .....it..... to the editorial board at his publisher....who
immediately read it in English, had it translated into French and
voila, the novel appeared first in French in Paris, after the sad dumb
stupid USA rejected this genius 70 times, repeat, 70 times.....and
then with partner Picador in the UK, an English edition was born, and
them the dumb stupid innocent childish USA which had rejected said
manuscript 70 times, repeat, 70 times, finally Grove Atlantic, which
is a cut above the rest, picked it up for US readers. But it all began
on a cold and rainy November day in Paris when Marie Modiano by pure
chance saw Tristan playing his guitar on the street and invited him
home for coffee. Now does anyone really believe this PR hype that
might have even contributed in some way to the writer's early death ?
Why ? Because playing fast and loose with the facts just for PR hype
and marketing hype -- the new Americaine genius ! -- might have played
into Tristan's battles with living an honest life....
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Review of Contemporary Fiction, published by Review of Contemporary Fiction on September 22, 1999. The length of the article is 1636 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Lord of the Barnyard: Killing the Fatted Calf and Arming the Aware in the Cornbelt.(Review) (book review)
Author: James Crossley
Publication:
The Review of Contemporary Fiction (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 1999
Publisher: Review of Contemporary Fiction
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Page: 170
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
- Another Chance to Dream
- Slowly told romance, average historical
- The best Kurland Book, I think...
- Emotional but Great
- This was a great, fun read!
|
Another Chance to Dream
Lynn Kurland
Manufacturer: Berkley
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon.com
Heiress Gwennelyn of Segrave falls in love with landless knight Rhys de Piaget when she is a child of 10 and he's only 14. Unfortunately, her father has already betrothed her to Alain of Ayre, the spoiled, mean-natured son of a neighbor. Nevertheless, Gwen is determined and once she learns that Rhys loves her in return, she refuses to bend to Alain's will. All seems lost when Alain forces Gwen into marriage but despite the obstacles thrown in their way, Rhys and Gwen's love and commitment holds firm. The path of true love is strewn with seemingly impossible setbacks as the two lovers struggle to find a way to be together. In the end, Rhys and Gwen must risk everything they hold dear in a final attempt to claim a love forbidden by king and church. Another Chance to Dream mixes humor with pathos and English medieval grit with gallantry in a charming historical tale of a love to last a lifetime. --Lois Faye Dyer
Book Description
With neither title nor land, Rhys could not win the hand of Gwennelyn of Segrave--though he would always have her heart. But Gwen was betrothed to another man, and Rhys feared he would lose her forever. But then a surprise offer came his way--bringing Rhys and Gwen a second chance at love...
Customer Reviews:
Another Chance to Dream.......2007-09-03
This book was a delightful way to spend the afternoon, much better than the movies. The story was heart wrenchingly touching. It was not like other books where you know pretty much where the story is going and you just go along for the ride. This book produced twists and turns that I was not expecting. Deffinatly a must read for Lynn Kurland fans. Bravo for Ms. Kurland, who knows how to create a good love story with passion and desire, while at the same time keeping it suprisingly clean.
Slowly told romance, average historical.......2007-03-02
A great deal of this romance was very well written (the beginning few chapters were exceptional), but in the long run, I found it simply tedious. The plot could have moved along much more quickly and with a great deal more action. There was a great deal of "mooning" between Rhys and Gwen, and a lot of "thinking" and "talking", with precious little actual "doing". There was way too much "rolling of the eyes", which had me rolling MY eyes by the end of the book. It was simply annoying. One more "roll" and the book would have met the wall. For the most part, the author avoided any majoy historical missteps by keeping the historical background sufficiently vague to duck major criticisim. However, she did make a major stumble in referring to Eleanor of Aquitaine's divorce from King Philip of France, when Eleanor was actually married to and divorced from Philip's father, Louis. An inexcusable flub.
Bottom line: Another Chance to Dream is definitely more romance than historical. If you're looking strictly for the former, the book was okay. If you're looking for a read including any actual historical "meat" on the bones, look somewhere else.
The best Kurland Book, I think..........2006-10-20
I loved this story of Rhys and Gwen. I actually read This is All I Ask (Chistopher and Gillian) first, which had Robin as one of the characters. Then I read If I Had You (Robin and Anne) which had Rhys and Gwen. Rhys and Gwen's love story was the best one yet, as it started out when they were 14 and 9 and continued until they finally had their happily ever after, of course after all the travails, etc. I loved that Rhys waited for Gwen practically his whole life. I really like Lynn Kurland's stories intertwining all over the place. I want to see a story on Nicholas and Amanda - do they end up with each other (they're not blood related after all)????
Emotional but Great.......2006-09-11
Another Chance to Dream is the first in Lynn Kurland's series about the de Piaget family. This is the story of Rhys de Piaget a knight in the army of the Ayre family and Gwennelyn of Segrave, the young lady that Alain of Ayre is betrothed to as children. When Rhys and Gwennelyn first meet in their youth they fall instantly in love and Rhys vows he will win land and monies enough to claim Gwen for himself. He leaves determined to be back in time to stop the wedding of Gwen and Alain. When Gwen and Alain's parents die, Alain's evil brother Rollan convinces him to move up the wedding so that he can take over Gwen's dower properties early. Rhys and Gwen hope to escape but are unable to get away, Gwen sneaks into Rhys room and gives him her virginity on the eve of her wedding. She knows Alain can be cruel so she vows he may force her into marriage but her heart will belong to Rhys. Rhys is blackmailed by Alain to remain as Gwen's guard on the basis that at the end of 2 years he will give him his own keep and property. After the two years are up, Alain goes back on his word and refuses to give him the land. Rhys leaves vowing to raise money to win back his land, bribe the king into giving Gwen a divorce and to take Gwen and her young son Robin as his own. Gwen flees to her mother's keep to wait for Rhys, but Alain visits there and leaves her pregnant with daughter Amanda. Rhys is delayed but eventually returns and together he and Gwen fight to be together. During all this time, Alain's brother Rollan plots to kill Alain and Rhys and take Gwen and all the property for himself. Eventually all works out and after many heartbreaks the two wind up together.
Lynn Kurland delivers some of the best developed characters of any author out there. At the end of her stories, you are intimately aware of what makes each character think and act as they do. She does not ever write explicit love scenes and mostly leaves the sex to your imagination. I have never been bored with any of her books and the characters are always perfectly delightful, humorous and real.
This was a great, fun read!.......2006-08-20
I really dislike reading all of the "a reader" reviews on Amazon. Who are these people? This was a great book that I really enjoyed! Great lead & secondary characters the whole way through!
This was a fun read that held my attention without all of the graphic sex (that I am getting really tired of).
Customer Reviews:
Great adventure for kids (and kids at heart).......2004-02-27
...
Bruce Coville knows how to capture a childs mind and make them feel like they are actually the character in the book. It helps so much if you start from the beginning of the series, because you are able to identify with the characters and how they feel and how they see things. He does a fantastic job of this in each individual book as well. Every kid who like sci-fiction, boy or girl, that I have recomended this book to- and others of the series- has loved this book. This series alone brings to mind several kids that hated to read- then loved it. Fantastic job.
I can't express how wonderful this book is...........2001-06-09
take: action, adventure, Rod, Seymour, Snout, Madame Pong, a few new characters, and add suspence, closure (EVERY loose end tied up) as well as a possiblility (a small one) of possible Albright stories in the future.
Coville is a GENIUS! Don't miss this one!
That's the end?.......2001-02-13
I /loved/ this last book. It was as enthralling as the previous three, if not more so. The only problem I had with it was that I didn't feel that the issue of Missing Atlantians was ever resolved.
Other than that, it's a great read. I'm 18, and like his Bruce Coville's other works, they're just as good to read as an adult as they are to read as a child.
The best concluding book!!!.......2000-03-23
I think this is the best book to conclude this series. READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Introducing one of the Best Children's Books in Years.......1999-09-13
An excellent book for the reading child. My daughter loved the charachers. From the grouchy captain Grakker to the diplomatic Madame Pong they all go looking for a snotty little villan named BKR.
Book Description
In the wise and often witty Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose, Brian Mahan considers the question of how it is possible to create a meaningful spiritual life while living in a culture that measures us by what we have rather than who we are. Drawing on nearly two decades of teaching experience. Brian Mahan shares stories of personal struggle and triumph that demonstrate how those who seek meaning and purpose have recalimed their authentic selves by resolving the inevitable tension between personal ambition and spiritual vibrancy.
Customer Reviews:
Selfless ambition.......2004-10-31
This is no ordinary book. As author Brian Mahan says his in preface, `reading this book is not a spectator sport.' In many ways, this is just like life - we have to get into the mix (or, to take another example from Mahan's introduction, join in the dance) for it to become meaningful, worthwhile, and all the other positive words one would normally insert here. This is a book that invites active engagement. Mahan does not argue so much as persuade, and even then, it is more of a presentation than a direction.
Mahan developed this book out of a course he taught at the University of Colorado, and later Emory's seminary and high school advancement programme - the course has always been popular, Mahan states, but it isn't always clear why. Mahan attaches some of the popularity to the presence of the word `ambition' in the course title (which is also part of the subtitle of this book) - the focus of the world is often on success, and rising high school and college students are often ambitious in various ways. However, it is not the kind of political/corporate ambition, or the kinds of ambitions that make soap operas interesting to watch sometimes, that Mahan develops here (although these types are not disconnected from what Mahan writes). Mahan is looking more directly at the ambition toward self and self-fulfillment.
Mahan develops ideas of paradox throughout the text. How can we honestly pursue self-abandonment if the very pursuit shows an attachment to self? When can success end up being a failure, and how is failure often a success? Mahan uses personal stories and experiences as well as the tales of those around him to illustrate the various points - he also draws on history, sometimes the lesser known bits. For example, to highlight the failure of success, Mahan draws upon the curious dinner between film star Rudolph Valentino and curmudgeonly writer H.L. Mencken - Mencken was ostensibly consulted on how to deal with the press, but figured out later that what Valentino really sought was validation and direction in how to turn his failure of a successful career into something with true meaning.
This is perhaps the heart of Mahan's text as a whole - the search for meaning in life. What is point of success if it has no meaning? Meaning requires more than simple (or even elaborate) gratifications of the ego, the flesh, the persona. It requires an honest appraisal of who we are as individuals, how we relate and fit in to our communities (large and small), and how our lives are responding to the vocations, the `higher callings' if you will, that have been given to us.
Mahan is a Roman Catholic layperson, so many of his stories draw from this tradition. However, Mahan's text is drawn broadly enough to incorporate people from all faith traditions, or those with no particular tradition or affiliation. Mahan's story about sneaking into heaven is a good example - as a child, Mahan had experiences with a particular convent in Boston, and he felt in many ways he found a way to commune with God there that was if not directly at odds with the officially line, at least in some ways apart from how one, as a good Catholic, would get into heaven. Mahan's image of God being one who does not just stand among the alabaster and marble statues, but also works in the kitchen (where `you could have cooked maybe a hundred turkeys at once and the mashed potatoes to go with them').and welcomes even the not-quite-so-good children in the back door.
Each of the chapters comes with suggested practices (remember, Mahan is a teacher!). These are spiritual practices that can be deceptively easy. They are truly worth engaging in long-term and introspective ways. They are practices that may come forward again and again, and do not constitute a set of `been-there, done-that, moving-on' kinds of activities to simply get through. The reader who takes the time to engage herself or himself fully in these practices will find a transformation taking place.
One of the key differences between ambition in the more worldly sense and the type of vocation and ambition that Mahan discusses is the connection to others. Mahan quotes James Fowler's summary of vocation, including the observation that those in vocation are `augmented by others' talents' rather than finding them a threat or competition (often the case in politics and corporate models of ambition). We also see our limitations as important as, if not more important than, our gifts and strengths.
Mahan writes about the differences between occupation and preoccupation, saying that vocational awareness has more to do with the latter. Fitting into a life of our true vocation requires awareness of who we really are, as opposed to what it is we are doing. We also need to be flexible and allow for change (something often more easily done in our preoccupations than our formal occupations).
The spirituality of Merton is very present; the spiritual sense that infuses many religions is on every page. This is a great book for the seeker, those longing for direction, and those who want more out of life in the most meaningful of ways.
More Than Five Stars!.......2002-05-03
This is a fantastic book, not so much because it tells you how to resolve the tension between ambition and vocation, but because it accompanies you on the journey of working through these preoccupations yourself. You will not find any "5 Easy Steps to Success" here nor will find any "How to Find God's Will For Your Life." Rather you will find a philosopher who walks with us the razor's edge between our desire to get ahead in this world and our desire to live a meaningful life. Mahan is not sanctimonious in his approach to this all-too-human struggle. He does not condemn or issue platitudes. Rather, he invites the reader into a introspective, somewhat guided, tour of his or her deepest convictions regarding both "mere success" and "true success."
In a sense, Mahan's book is an extended meditation on Thomas Merton's call, "If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I think I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the the thing I want to live for."
However, this is not an "easy read." In parts, it gets a bit dense. (I found myself reading certain passages several times to get at Mahan's point.) However, I do think it would be a great book for audiences as diverse as college students who are trying to figure out what to do with themselves, mid-career executives who are struggling to move form "success to significance," as well as anyone striving to find some order in their lives as they pursue both their ambitions as well as their vocations. Heck, this is a book for all "baby boomers" who at one time felt they had been called to "change the world" in the name of "love,peace and justice" only to find themselves becoming precisely what they, at one time, detested.
The book includes a number of wonderful "practices" reminiscent of Walker Percy's "Lost in the Cosmos."
I encourage anyone who asks how to live a meaningful life in a world that forevers seeks to drain us of life to read this book.
I would give it more stars but Amazon only allows five.
Best Book on Vocation.......2002-01-24
I absolutely adore this book. I've grown tired of books on vocation that have a "pie in the sky" approach to living a spiritual life, as if everyday working people have the financial resources to devote themselves to a life of good deeds. Brian Mahan has a great way of bringing two worlds together---the need to pay the bills and the need to make a positive contribution to the world. Turns out you can do both!
I also like his "spiritual retreat" approach. He incorporates spiritual exercises at the end of each chapter which really help to focus attention on living a life of integrity. Finally, this is a practical and inspiring book---but a book with a humorous edge---that unites compassion and ambition in a fresh, new way.
Read this book!
Book Description
"With this new edition of Ice Carving Made Easy, Second Edition, Joe Amendola shares with all present and future ice carvers the resurgence of this historic art form. This book will guide and inspire thousands of chefs and artists to enjoy the artistic fulfillment, professionalism, and camaraderie of the exciting art of ice carving." —Larry Malchick, President, National Ice Carving Association "The information on the history, tools and accessories, different methods, types of ice blocks, and the safety and precautionary measures in ice carving will be of tremendous help to many young enthusiasts in their goal to become professional ice sculptors." —Hiroshi Noguchi, C.E.C., A.A.C., Executive Chef, Stouffer Orlando Resort Here is the first new American ice carving manual to be released in ten years! Written by a culinary master, Joe Amendola, it addresses current developments in the field of ice carving. It emphasizes American and European subjects and designs in an attempt to offset the exclusivity of oriental designs in available Japanese books. The organization of Ice Carving Made Easy, Second Edition allows for carvers of every proficiency to use the book with success—each stage of creating a carving is discussed, from manufacturing of ice to the final presentation. Such introductory topics as the handling of ice, hand and power tools, and templates are described in as much detail and given as much attention as the more complex sections about carving faces, fusing, and developing multiple block sculptures. Each of the 34 ice sculptures that Amendola presents is supported by step-by-step instructions that allow the novice and expert alike to create show-pieces that will add a special touch to banquets, buffets, and special events.
Customer Reviews:
Great cover picture....that's about it!.......2007-02-08
I am just thankfull that I personally didn't have to cough up the forty someodd bucks paid for this. The title should read "Money from an Ice Carving Book - Made Easy". Some nice pictures, but zero substance. Most of the template drawings are not even in the proper ratio for a 300lb carving block. And how about this for step by step instruction: 1. Prepare your graph 2. Lay the ice on a piece of Styrofoam. 3. With a saw, remove any ice not required. 4. Shape out the tail and wings. 5. Smooth out the detail. 6. Finish the base. That's it! No kidding! Real helpful eh?! I guess the best way to learn to carve ice is to just get ice and practice. This book certainly isn't going to give you any help, tips or secrets - that's for sure!
ice carving made easy.......2000-12-20
From a realistic point of view, the book doesn't help a whole lot. Unless you are a japanese master, you will struggle with the vague instructions. The pictures are very nice, but that's about it.
nice pictures, vague descriptions.......2000-10-10
The author makes good use of templates and photographs, however the written instructions are very vague and not very helpful.(i.e. carve the head, shape the wing, etc.)
Book Description
From Toby jugs to tiles, Meissen to Moorcraft, ceramics is one of the most popular collecting areas. But how can a newcomer begin? The range of available items can be baffling—but this authoritative guide in the popular Facts at Your Fingertips series explains this rich subject in a simple, approachable manner. It covers more than 70 of the major European, British and American factories as well as East Asian, Islamic and Russian ceramics, and explains such factors as the difference between hard paste and soft paste porcelain and earthenware and stoneware. Special features include historical background on the craft and buying tips—with advice on pitfalls to avoid.
Customer Reviews:
An Invaluable Resource for Collecting Pottery & Porcelain.......2000-06-09
As a new collector of pottery and porcelain, I have been overwhelmed with the confusing array of producers, history, makers and their marks, background, etc. that surround the vast world of collecting. This is the first book that I have read on the subject that gives me a framework to hang all the details on... exactly what us "big picture" people need to make sense of it all!
The book is organized into 4 parts. "Part 1, Buying and Selling Pottery and Porcelain", describes how to get started with collecting and/or selling. "Part 2, Caring for Your Collection", tells you how to handle security, display, cleaning, restoration, and handling ceramics. "Part 3, Identification", helps you determine what it is that you actually have! This part is extremely helpful to the novice, as it first tells you the different ways to classify ceramics; the differences in pottery, stoneware, porcelain, bone china, etc. and describes different kinds of glazes, the different methods of decoration, the different marks (and fakes!)and how to identify them.
Finally, we get to the meat of the book, "Part 4, Ceramic File". No one could possibly write a book that includes everything that there is to be known on this subject, but this one gives an excellent overview, first by world region (Oriental ceramics, European ceramics, etc.) and then further subdividing each region into different major makers. Each subdivision and maker is described and the history given.
I can't say enough good about this book... everyone interested in collecting pottery and porcelain, novice or expert, should have a copy. The descriptions are accurate and detailed enough without being overwhelming, the photos are supurb, and the choices for illustrating the categories are excellent. Take my advice and buy it!
Book Description
16 costumes make up the wardrobe of this aristocratic couple of the Gothic era (c. 1150–1450). The young nobleman's garments include robes with long, full sleeves, parti-colored hose, a suit of armor, footwear, and headgear. His lady can be dressed in silk gowns, fur-trimmed robes, and a variety of elegant headdresses.
Book Description
Acclaimed art consultant and style writer Barbara Guggenheim shows how she decorated a home using eBay, and provides all the information you need to create your own unique home.
When art consultant Barbara Guggenheim took on the project of decorating a sample house for KB Home, a premier builder of home development, she wondered how she (or anyone else) could juggle the project with her full–time job and other daily duties. EBay offered the perfect solution–all–hours convenience and an easy and affordable tool for finding just the right thing–and some unexpected things, as well! The result was a fantastic four–bedroom home, completely decorated on a budget using eBay.
This book follows Barbara on her personal journey, from looking for inspiration, to planning a concept for each room–from the Tiki Loft to the Adirondack–style guest room. It also shows how she navigated the pitfalls of eBay and learned to maximize its advantages, from search and bidding tips to transforming imperfect items. Filled with creative and practical ideas, Decorating on eBay is certain to appeal to the wide audience of young people on a budget–many of whom are already familiar with eBay. This lush four–color book will come alive through the glorious photographs of Jim McHugh of Architectural Digest, and through Barbara's warm, accessible, pithy tone, which will encourage readers everywhere that they, too, can achieve their dream home without the outrageous price tag.
Customer Reviews:
Such an inspiration! Great ideas!.......2007-06-10
I have returned again and again to this book for new ideas. I feel I now have a new way of looking at decorating! Using eBay is such a great way to grab some bargains to get the look you're after! You'll be glad you have this book, it's fun to see how she did an entire house! Great detail shows how she did it step by step! You can plan your own house project or just get quick update ideas for a room. Enjoy!
Decorating on eBay.......2007-03-17
A superbly produced book - with visually warm, personal and enticing colors, graphics and text, and beautiful photographs. Indeed, what can be done on Ebay at its finest. And one more thing...I loved the soft sock monkey touch.
How to decorate an entire house using eBay.......2006-03-19
You can decorate on a budget and stay in the range without even going to thrift stores and flea markets - not if you have a computer at home and DECORATING ON EBAY FAST AND STYLISH - ON A BUDGET in hand. Author Barbara Guggenheim is an art consultant who needed vintage items to decorate her Malibu beach house: she decided to try decorating an entire house using eBay and DECORATING ON EBAY chronicles her experiences. Tips include how and where to search within the sight, from locating furniture and fabrics to obtaining collectibles, and how to develop a personal decorating style on a budget. Her course in mastering ebay goes all the way from basic site navigation to winning bids and understanding the entire process. A 'must' for any decorating on a budget who wants to take full advantage of ebay listings; especially for those new to the auction/bidding process.
Taste and Style on a Shoestring and in your PJ's.......2006-01-19
This is a book to pick up and kick back with, to scheme and dream effortlessly with, to have fun reading, giving, sharing, talking about. Ultimately, it will lead you to having a house embellished by your hobby, thanks to tips, hints and fun how-to's from Dr. Guggenheim, who is one of the few true art history scholars around who not only actually writes in readable English, but shares easy to use practical advice that can enable ordinary mortals to enjoy a good, rich slice of culture pie, anytime they feel like it. Having attended her art history lectures in the past, I always hoped she would start writing this kind of book, which like her teaching, makes us all not only believe, but know, that we can be true art collectors: that it's not about the size of our pocketbooks, it's about each of us giving freedom to our own very individual, very powerful imaginations.
Great Information Source.......2006-01-18
Barbara Guggenheim's book was invaluable when decorating a home my wife and I recently bought in East Hampton, NY. We never had thought about using eBay for furniture and other home items, but following Barbara's guidelines ended up buying pretty much everything from sofas and beds to even rugs and curtains, and all while saving almost 30% of our estimated budget. The book is a MUST for anyone looking to redecorate, furnish, or replace items in a home. Also a great tool for any eBay hobbiests!
Average customer rating:
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Eight and a Half by Eleven
John Esguerra , and
Dustin Hostetler
Manufacturer: Gingko Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Museums & Collections
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Arts
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1584231556 |
Average customer rating:
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Alejandro Garc'a Caturla: A Cuban Composer in the Twentieth Century
Charles W. White
Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Classical
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Ethnomusicology
| Ethnic & International
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Composition
| Theory, Composition & Performance
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0810843811 |
Book Description
CD included
Books:
- Memories of Pure Spring
- Music for Torching
- Never Go Home Again: A Novel
- Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All: A Novel
- Once Were Warriors
- Pages for You: A Novel
- Peder Victorious: A Tale of the Pioneers Twenty Years Later
- Philadelphia Fire: A Novel
- PIGTOPIA
- Postcards from the Edge
Books Index
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