Book Description
This novel tells the story of a singer and her composer husband and explores their relationships passionate growth in the midst of war. Huong vividly depicts the betrayal she and a generation of Vietnamese artists and writers experienced after the war: the conditions inside re-education prison camps, and the corruption at the heart of the new regime they brought to power.
Customer Reviews:
Tragedy, desperation and sin without redemption.......2007-01-10
Duong Thu Huong's "Memories of a Pure Spring" is not a novel that rests lightly with the reader. Instead, it insinuates itself into your being and sticks uncomfortably in your conscience. It's set in Northern Vietnam, in the aftermath of the "American War," but despite its exotic locale, it grips the heart with a sense of sorrow and exasperation almost too familiar, too painful. This, you know immediately, is not just the story of particular people in a place so far from home and so exotic you can hardly imagine it. Instead, you find yourself immersed in the author's dream, embedded in the life of a family whose center is wobbling inexorably off course, whose love - once thought so pure -- is corroding and dissolving in caustic tears of disappointment, self-pity, alienation and infidelity.
Duong's tale begins in the heady days following the Communist victory in Vietnam. The American War is over and an entertainment troupe, led by composer and director Hung, has returned home after years of danger and death alongside the Communist fighting forces. Hung, a man of considerable talent whose work is well known, fully expects to continue his career in peacetime. Instead, in a purely vindictive act to avenge an insult done years before, he's peremptorily dismissed by the Party boss. His appeals prove fruitless, and he finds himself cut off from the work he loves and from the troupe he formed and trained.
As Hung spirals downward in dejection and despair, his young, beautiful wife, Suong, a singer and member of his troupe, whom he discovered in the countryside and trained, finds her career arching upward. Hung, who had been her hero, her lover, her husband, her teacher and her comrade, diminishes as his problems mount, as dejection and depression seal him in a cell of self-pity. Suong keeps the family intact, but cannot save Hung, whose depression leads to drink and to the collection of "friends" who parasitically exploit him and further alienate him from Suong. Hung's problems mount, and, because of a poisonous trick of fate, he is sent to prison. Through the efforts of his wife and his old friends in the troupe, Hung survives prison and is eventually released, but his rehabilitation comes too late. His sins are never redeemed. The "Pure Spring" of ideological commitment, of love, of family and real friends is only a dim memory, painful when recalled, overcome by the open sewer of his later life.
The author, Duong, had first-hand experience as a member of an entertainment troupe during the war. She suffered all the privations, pain and trials, and watched most of her comrades die. Her dark vision of the Communist apparatus, of the pettiness and vileness of its bureaucrats and party hacks, of the pervasive corruption and the contemptuous treatment of real heroes by unblooded apparatchiks, is unrelenting. Hung is a tragic figure not hounded by the fates, but by the brutal mediocrities in the Party. The Pure Spring of memory was a promise of peace, of a glowing future, of an ascension to security and happiness. Instead, there is only the grey emptiness of a vicious, vindictive world run by creatures without joy.
If Duong's work seems melodramatic, it is, but then life is melodramatic. Even in translation, her story unfolds gracefully; the dialogue rings true. These people of hers, so far way and in such a different place, become immediately familiar. Love and sadness, despondency and hope, the beauty of a consummate artist, the desperate longing to find peace, to create, to find one's soul, are all extraordinary and all familiar. This is a book that lingers and persists, that tweaks the conscience and impales the soul.
Read it.
an impressive writer, but I think that this must be a bad translation.......2006-11-11
I have read other works by Duong Thu Huong, and those works inspired me to pick up this novel. Knowing that her work is banned in her home country was also incentive to check out more of her stuff.
This novel is chock full of social commentary and the brutality of man against man, but I can't help but think that this was a less than adequate translation of her work. Othertranslations I had read of other pieces presented her style as direct and unabashed, revealing the worst and best of her characters in an unfiltered, honest way. There is much of that philosophy in this book, but the sentences themselves became rather convoluted and sometimes just downright poor in grammar. I would prefer NOT sounding like an English teacher when discussing literature, but when the writing can't seem to sort itself out to let the matter within speak, then reading becomes more of a chore than a pleasure.
I strongly recommend many of Duong Thu Huong's work, but I would suggest avoiding this one. Perhaps one day a more competent translation will come out.
A wonderful story of love, war, peace, and sadness. .......2006-06-11
The story takes place shorty before the Vietnam war. Suong, a gifted singer follows her dream to become the "nightingale with the crystal voice". Her story is one plagued with hardships that never seem to go away. Her husband Hung is the leader of Vietnams premier troupe. Together they work to entertain Vietnam during the war. The storyline is delivered in a Quentin Tarantino style format. Chapters being and end on key parts of the past, present and future. An entertaining epic with the soul of Vietnam at heart.
A Wonderful but Tragic Story.......2003-05-02
This story combines ill fortune and personal tragedy that bring a noble soul to sorrow or ruin. In modern literature, tragedy like this is rare. The hero must live and prosper because Hollywood heroes always do. Not tragedy, but romance always reigns. Memories of A Pure Spring is a tragedy in the classical sense. Huong will take you through many tragedies in this story, but the way that they are told makes you want to keep reading.
Huong takes us on an emotionally intense journey, both in a political sense and a personal sense. The political sense appears throughout the entire story as it takes place during and after the Vietnam War. Suong, a young singer, marries Hung, a theater director older than she. Hung is removed as leader of the artistic troupe in a demonstration of the pettiness of arbitrary political power. Then we are brought to the political mess in the heart of the re-education camp. As you read, you begin to feel pity for the characters, but it is not the type of story that depresses you because you find yourself wondering what will happen next. Suong's attempt at suicide, Hung's addiction to alcohol and drugs, and Hung's constant struggle for artistic success all make the story more interesting to read. Sure the story has a few good things that happen, and although they create some happy moments, the emotions that the characters go through and the emotions you as the reader feel, are all inspired more by the tragedy that the characters are experiencing.
This book is written beautifully with lots of imagery and description. As you read, Huong's words constantly make you see or feel something, for example the sea: "It had no country, no fatherland, no nationality, that the sea was free...that belonged to no one else, that answered to no one, that was no one's slave"(99). Hung, the director, is inspired by the sea, and this description of the sea is now how Hung must write his music: "in a different light, in the howl of the sea, of freedom." Huong could have chosen to simply explain how Hung was now free from writing for the troupe. Instead she uses the beautiful metaphor to explain it. She uses metaphors and similes like this throughout the entire story. For example, she uses a neat simile to describe happiness. "It was a small, modest happiness, like a drop of honey that you spread on the tongue of a newborn babe." We are not just told that someone is happy, we are also told the type of happiness and to what extent. These descriptive words and metaphors throughout the entire book make it much more fascinating to read. The tragic events that are occurring are explained with such beauty that they create images and feelings within you that keep you wanting to continue to read.
The only weakness that I find about the story is that it has shifting time periods. Throughout the entire story we shift from past to present quite often. The shifts do not take place just at the beginning of chapters, but everywhere. They are not marked or distinguished in any special way. Sometimes you do not even realize you have shifted until you have read a few paragraphs. Huong, however, did throw in a big hint that helps at times which is the use of symbols. One symbol that is especially helpful is the ylang ylang flower. Huong uses the flower at different times in the story to symbolize a memory one of the characters is having. This is helpful at times and is a neat hint, but it does not occur at every time shift. These time shifts do cause confusion but they in no way ruin the story. They just make the story more challenging to read. The text is written in a way that is very easy to understand. The story is not at all difficult to read as long as you can work through the shifts from past to present. This is the only weakness that I discovered throughout my reading and most people might not even call it a weakness, but a challenge.
I really enjoyed reading Memories of A Pure Spring. Any reader who enjoys a book about love, and life after war, will enjoy this story. Of course not many people enjoy reading about tragedy, but the way it is written helps you to get past the tragedy and enjoy the story. It does not have the action-packed excitement of a horror story, but the beautiful description and whirl-wind of love and tragedy keeps you reading and wanting to know what more could happen next. This is not a story that I would normally read, but I am glad that I did and I would recommend it to anyone.
Amazing flap copy!.......2000-03-03
Gripping and intriguing. Never would have thought to pick it up were it not for the amazing flap copy. Well crafted and rich, it captured my interest right away. Kudos to the editor who wrote that!
Book Description
This digital document is an article from World Literature Today, published by University of Oklahoma on March 22, 2001. The length of the article is 608 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: Memories of a Pure Spring. (Vietnam).(Review)
Author: James Banerian
Publication:
World Literature Today (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2001
Publisher: University of Oklahoma
Volume: 75
Issue: 2
Page: 327(2)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
All thanks to her brother, Mariah Thorncroft-and her dowry-have been offered to the notorious rake Lord Haverstone. Ensconced at his estate against her wishes, Mariah finds herself drawn to the handsome devil, but wonders if she can truly trust him with her heart.
Customer Reviews:
Eagerly awaiting another book from Rhonda Woodward.......2006-06-19
This is another one of Rhonda's master pieces.
In this book we get to meet Maria
who's family reminds me in an opposite situation kinda sorta way of the Bennets (Pride and Prejudice) especially the mother.
Maria mother is a social climber and it not the least bit subtle about wanting a title for her daughter. They are wealthy (from trade, which is often looked down upon by the aristocrats)it's still not enough for mother Thorncraft.
Anyway, Maria's brother witnesses an Earl at his club loosing a large some of money on gambling and he assumes a win win situation for the family, he assumes the Earl loosing so much money most be broke and that he can marry Maria to give her a title while he (the Earl) can benefit from Maria generous dowry. For the Earl, this is not the case but he entertains Maria's brother (he's amused by his assumptions) and invites them to his house party.
To Maria's continual mortification (of her family's behaviour also) when they get to the Earl's estate, he has forgotten he invited the "nobodys" but is as civil as he can possibly be, since it'll be rude to turn them away.
This novel is a page turner literally, the characters are well developed, with plenty of Humor and well developed for the story line.
It's a pity the story ended so soon.
Two thumbs way up, this is one of the books I rate very high in my collection!
Wonderful, engaging romance.......2005-05-06
Ms. Woodward has a great feel for her genre. I loved this book! Her characters are very believeable. Their conflicts are real and kept me involved in the book from start to finish. I could not put it down. Mariah and Stone are the perfect couple, even when they did not know it themselves. I immediately purchased her other books and am now reading "The Wagered Heart."
Amusing Regency, Though Hardly Perfect.......2004-12-24
Mariah is an exceedingly pretty girl with a pleasant personality and a substantial dowry...very substantial. But, after several seasons, she is still unmarried due to the fact that her family has gained its fortune from trade.
One night at his club, Mariah's brother witnesses an earl lose a large fortune at the gaming tables and later approaches the lord and hints as to the size of his sister's dowry. The earl finds the pup amusing and invites him to a houseparty, thinking the fellow might be good for a few laughs. The earl promptly forgets the invitation...and is surprised when the whole family lands on his doorstep.
Mariah is mortified. Her family has practically crashed the earl's houseparty and, to make matters worse, Mariah's mama is throwing Mariah at the earl's head every other second. The rest of the time, dear mama is hinting as to the vastness of their wealth. All Mariah wants to do is leave as soon as may be...until she has an encounter with the earl by moonlight...
Overall, I found it to be an amusing and refreshing regency. There were a couple of parts that I felt dragged a bit near the end, but the chemistry was so nice between the hero and the heroine I was able to overlook that and still finish the book with a satisfied feeling. Four stars.
Average customer rating:
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Moonlight Mischief (Witch-in-Training)
Maeve Friel
Manufacturer: HarperCollins UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 000718526X |
Book Description
A seventh magical adventure about everyone's favourite witch-in-training, ideal for younger readers. Everyone's favourite Witch-in-Training is back in a whole new magical adventure! Jessica is off to the Witches' Games at Coven Garden to compete in the Witch-in-Training Championship Hurdles, but she soon discovers the other witches are determined to win - and will even use trickery if they have to! With high jinks and low tricks, the seventh book in this sparkling series is sure to please mischievous young magic fans everywhere.
Average customer rating:
- Red meat for Known Space/MKW fans
- Outstanding!
- Great story, one BIG (har!) biology flaw
- Best known space novel in years!
- Awesome
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Destiny's Forge: A Man-Kzin Wars Novel (Man-Kzin Wars)
Paul Chafe
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Contemporary
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Niven, Larry
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Niven, Larry
| ( N )
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Man-Kzin Wars XI (Man-Kzin Wars)
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The Draco Tavern
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Man-Kzin Wars X: The Wunder War (Man-Kzin Wars)
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Man-Kzin Wars IX (Man-Kzin Wars)
ASIN: 1416555072 |
Book Description
For fifty thousand years the Kzinti Patriarchy thrived on battle fought for conquest. Against all odds the humans stopped them, and for five wars kept on stopping them. With its violent expansion checked internal strains have built up within the Patriarchy, and now they threaten to tear it apart. When the ambitious Kchula-Tzaatz makes a bid for ultimate power the established order comes tumbling down, and the flames of war burn hot in Destiny's Forge. Hammered on that Forge are;
Major Quacy Tskombe, battle hardened warrior turned diplomat. His life is duty, his mission takes him to the Citadel of the Patriarch in a last ditch effort to avert war. When it all falls apart he's forced to choose between love and loyalty, with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.
Captain Ayla Cherenkova, starship commander. As talented as she is beautiful, her hatred of the Kzinti has driven her to the top. Her space combat genius is unmatched, but when she's trapped alone in the jungles of Kzinhome her survival will depend on a whole new skillset.
Pouncer, First-Son-of-Meerz-Rritt, heir apparent to the galaxy's most powerful empire, now a nameless fugitive with the collapse of his father's dynasty. Survival demands escape, but honor demands vengeance, and the price of his Name will be paid in the blood of worlds.
Paul Chafe presents a masterpiece in the grand tradition of epic science fiction. No fan of Larry Niven's best-selling Known Space series can miss Destiny's Forge.
Customer Reviews:
Red meat for Known Space/MKW fans.......2007-10-09
Paul Chafe provides red meat for Man-Kzin War fans, and for that matter, fans of Known Space. At 963 pages, this is clearly the longest of the series, but in my view the best. Chafe weaves all previous MKW stories with the Known Space history convincingly, while setting up the coming Man-Kzin peace and the Ringworld series. Chafe establishes himself as the premier writer of the MKW series.
Outstanding!.......2006-10-17
Larry Niven may have invented the Kzin, but Paul Chafe has revealed them. There is more brilliant imagination and invention in this novel than I have seen in almost any other story in the MKW series. The story starts fast, then picks up speed. I usually read novels in fits and starts, often taking weeks to finish them; this one I completed in less than a week, making preferential time for it over other reading and tasks. And I was sorry to see it end.
And Mr. Chafe, among other fine touches, draws in an element from the work of Cordwainer Smith. Bravo, Mr. Chafe! I am envious of your talent.
Highly recommended for any SF reader.
Great story, one BIG (har!) biology flaw.......2006-09-11
Funny how the previous reviewer mentioned Robert Saxtorph - Paul Anderson is my least favorite contributor to MKW series, and I find all of his MKW characters implausible in the context of when the stories take place (although Saxtroph is not the worst).
OTOH, Paul Chafe's characters and setting are superb, and his insights into Kzinti society are excellent. I am giving the book 4 stars because despite Chafe's attempts to justify it (see Prologue), Kzin ecology, and particularly tuskvors, are just plain impossible. No amount of photosynthesis will support herbivores THAT large and in THOSE numbers. In most books that would be a minor oversight, but in "Destiny's Forge" tuskvores are a large (pun intended) plot point, and spoil the book somewhat.
Best known space novel in years!.......2006-08-05
This book is great...it's back to the quality the very best novellas from the Man-Kzin series. It gets into Kzin psychology as only the best of the M-K stories have. And it is a full novel length! And it is on the Kzin home world! And there are compelling new characters! (I got really tired of Robert Saxtorph)
And in addition while it fills in some holes and invents a few new concepts, it is not gratuitously re-writing the Known Space concepts as I felt some of the M-K stories were.
A great new book!
Awesome.......2006-08-03
I have long loved the Man-Kzin stories but they developed a sameness about them in recent years. This book blows that away. It was compelling from the very first page and it takes a closer look at the Kzin than any previous work. It is a masterpiece of the series.
Most of the book takes place on the Kzin home world and the heir to the patriarchy is one of the central characters. His ancient dynasty has been undone in a coup and his only chance at restitution lies with the primitive Kzin who are assumed to have nothing to offer and a few human diplomats caught on Kzin at the wrong time. One of the human diplomats is a naval officer who hates the Kzin. Her attitudes change over time, though, and she becomes a hero of the Patriarchy.
This book fill in a lot of background but, mostly, it is fun to read. It is worth all 5 stars.
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous book - super fast delivery - Thanx!!.......2007-04-10
Great book for anyone! A wonderful historical and spiritual look at a man who captured the hearts of Italy and then the world. A real pleasure to read!
A LIFE-CHANGING BOOK!.......2005-10-02
Reading this book has been one of the most beautiful gifts that a human being
can receive. I was delighted reading it from the beginning to the end. The whole time I read it, I was overcome with thoughts of Padre Pio throughout my day. The book was beautifully written. It made me cry and it made me laugh. Padre Pio is the most loving man, priest, a true holy and faithful follower of Jesus Christ. What a life Padre Pio lead. It is amazing the relationship he had with Jesus and Mary, even with his Angels. Reading this book has been a healing, a transformation, and kind of a retreat for me, allowing me to see life with true faith, hope and love. Somehow it humbles you and brings you a feeling of peace; I even felt Padre Pio's presence while I read this book. Renzo Allegri deserves the Nobel prize for having taking the time to accomplished all the documents and information to write this wonderful book. Indeed he did a great favor to those who want to learn from Padre Pio. You will not be sorry to read this book. This book changed my life.
Absolutely Amazing!.......2004-10-25
Padre Pio is a modern day saint. With the exception of Mother Teresa, no other person in the religious life has commanded so much respect in recent times. Rather than focusing on the controversies, Renzo Allegri focus on the man in Padre Pio: Man of Hope. It is truly an inspiring read.
Padre Pio is the most recent man to bear the stigmata or wounds of Jesus Christ. The mystery of the stigmata alone makes Padre Pio's life compelling. Padre Pio lived the life of a monk in Italy. Even in his youth, Padre Pio experienced visions which made his relationship with God different. With the stigmata came the pain the that he suffered in his unique relationship with the Lord. The pain of this burden was also a blessing. His relationship with God allowed him to perform miracles and healings that are documented in the book for skeptics. To witnesses and believers, this is testimony to the power of God.
This is truly an amazing story. I would hope believers and non-believers alike are inspired by this book in the same way I was. Knowing of this amazing man, I will think of him in my prayers and works. I will hope Padre Pio would guide me in my work.
Un buen libro, sobre un buen hombre.......2002-12-05
De todos los libros que he leido sobre el Padre Pio, este es de los mejores. Está escrito en un lenguaje muy sencillo, y fácil de entender para aquellos que no tenemos el inglés como primer idioma. Contiene hechos de la vida del Padre que desconocía, principalmente de su niñez y adolecencia. Es una excelente herramienta, tanto para los que conocemos sobre la vida y obra de Padre Pio, como para los que quieran conocerle por primera vez. Lo recomiendo a ojos cerrados.!!!
The discovery of a Saint.......2002-11-23
This book will fill your heart with astonishment, respect and true love towards a 20th century Saint. If more people were to read this book, a significant change in faith would occur. Man of Hope may become a personal discovery of God or for those that have already discovered God, the discovery of a true Saint
Amazon.com
Homemade soup--there's nothing like it. Recognizing that most of us would prepare it more often if we knew the basics, How to Make Soup offers a succinct tutorial. In fewer than 100 pages it provides illustrated, step-by-step instructions for preparing favorite soups and chowders--recipes, tips, and information that all cooks can use.
Stating that soup, which seems the improvisatory dish, has its own rules, the book then offers chapters on soup-making fundamentals and a wide range of soup recipes, from chicken, beef, and French-onion formulas to those for puréed brews, chowders, minestrone, and more. Core recipes are presented with variations--for example, readers learn how to make an exemplary chicken noodle soup, then how to recast it with orzo and spring vegetables, or with shells, tomatoes, and zucchini. Throughout, underlying techniques are explored and illustrated (such as preparing tomatoes for cream of tomato soup), and sensible tips abound (save Parmesan rinds for making minestrone, for example).
A true primer, the book is part of the Cook's Illustrated Library series. Like the magazine, the books are dedicated to presenting tried-and-perfected recipes and cooking techniques in a concise, approachable way. --Arthur Boehm
Amazon.com
Stews warm and comfort, but are too often carelessly made. To the rescue comes How to Make Stew, a concise guide. In fewer than 100 pages it provides illustrated, step-by-step instructions for preparing perfect meat, chicken, seafood, and vegetable stews--recipes, tips, and information that all cooks can use.
Asserting the importance of cooking any stew at temperatures below the boiling point, the book then provides useful data on ingredients and equipment. Chapters based on the main protein ingredient, or on vegetables, follow, with master recipes and variations. Thus "Meat Stews" provides a basic blueprint plus recipes that include Beef Stew with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Pearl Onions; Irish Stew; and Pork Stew with Prunes, Mushrooms, and Cream, among others. Seafood lovers will want to try Sicilian Fish Stew and vegetable fans will love Spring Vegetable Stew with Fennel and Asparagus, one of a number of delicious vegetable-based recipes. Throughout, underlying techniques are explored and illustrated (useful charts depict the provenance of various animal cuts), and sensible tips abound (avoid packaged stew meat, which may be made up of irregularly shaped end pieces from different muscles, for example).
A true primer, the book is part of the Cook's Illustrated Library series. Like the magazine, the books are dedicated to presenting tried-and-perfected recipes and cooking techniques in a concise, approachable way. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
An illustrated step-by-step guide to beef, lamb, pork, chicken, seafood, and vegetable stews
Customer Reviews:
Go For it!.......2000-10-28
I've had this book for awhile, and finally decided to try it out. I followed the recipe for Beef Stew with Mushrooms, Bacon, and Pearl Onions ( and yes I tweaked it some, cause I can...), and it still came out great.
This book offers sensible information about the qualities that make a stew a stew. It offers a general format for making a stew, and I found the recipes to be flexible. I added some extras to the above recipe, and still enjoyed my end-product very much.
I initially made this purchase, because of the quality of product and information that Cook's Illustrated has provided me over the years. I find that the information is precise and simple enough to improve anyone's cooking level. C.I. will help you simplify the choices made in purchasing items ranging from cookware and appliances, to cookbooks and various food items/products. Thank you.
Book Description
This is the first American book to consider the history and development of the tobacco-smoking pipe as an art form and is an illustrated guide for pipe collectors. Here the author has assembled fact and fancy, history laced with humor, and a chronological collection of pipes. The accompanying text explains pipe styles, materials, and values. Besides present-day briars and corn cobs, pipes can be found made of meerschaum, porcelain, ivory, amber, silver, gold, semi-precious stones and rare woods. Craftsmen have combined imagination, whim, and fantasy to create pipes of fine artistic value.
Customer Reviews:
General pipe collecting.......2006-08-09
Ben Rapaport has achieved supplying a valuable book for the average pipe collector which covers a wide spectrum of pipe styles. Personally this book will spend a lot of time travelling the world with me.
M McKelvie
Book Description
More than 30 easy-to-make projects. Using paper bags, pens, water, glue, and toothpicks, make African tribal beads, Indian Shisha mirror vests, Mexican serapes, and Native American painted buffalo robes. Each project is prefaced with historical information and gives students a greater understanding of different cultures.
Customer Reviews:
Great ideas in a small book!.......2003-02-10
This little book is wonderful. I have used the Aborigine Bark Cloth lesson in my 6th grade student teaching. The children loved it. The end product was very rewarding for both teacher and students. The book is easy to follow, gives nice little histories on each project and beautiful visuals. I recommend this highly to parents and teachers alike.
a how-to book for classroom multi-cultural studies.......1998-09-07
At last a how-to book by someone who's actually had classroom experience! Designs from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Meixco, the U.S., Polynesia, and Native America fill the pages. Beautifully illustrated with multicultural artifacts and filled with illustrations of brown bag suggestions. The humble brown paper bag becomes a work of art! A gem of a book!
Book Description
Your personal consultant for creating the perfect home work space Here is all the information you need to create a comfortable, efficient home office custom designed to meet your personal and professional needs. In this book, architect and home office design expert Neal Zimmerman shows you how to plan, design, and equip the home office that's right for you. He helps you decide when to do the work yourself and when to hire professionals; and his numerous floor plans, photos, and examples provide countless design ideas and solutions to virtually every problem you encounter. This practical and inspiring guide provides
- Clear, step-by-step instructions for planning, organizing, and designing your home office space
- Simple tools for controlling costs and ensuring that you get the results you want
- Extensive coverage of workstation design
- Hundreds of photos, floor plans, and drawings to inspire the imagination and solve problems
- A broad range of design options to fit every budget
- Surveys of equipment, furnishings, and accessories available to help make your home office a better organized, more comfortable place to work
- Guidelines for those who are considering extensive renovations
- A section on planning for the desktop video era
- Charts, diagrams, planning methods, and inventory sheets to streamline the planning and design process
Customer Reviews:
Mostly Obsolete Info.......2005-12-01
I was sadly disappointed in this book. I was looking for lots of photos of typical home offices from which I could get ideas from. Instead, I got lots of pictures of dated commercial computer and home office furniture from the 1990s that are no longer germaine to the more modern, compact computer equipment and peripherals of the 21st century.
The book did briefly discuss office layout at its most basic level, but only in the most generic sense. I think the largest section was on out-of-date office furniture and ergonomic chairs.
Very disappointing.......2005-06-21
I had hoped for the promised "hundreds of photos, floor plans, and drawings to inspire..." but instead got a book with grainy black and white photos of office equipment and individual pieces, with woefully few design layouts or floorplans to consider. If you are looking for an interminable discussion of chairs and lighting, then perhaps you won't be disappointed, but if you are looking for DESIGN, you will be very disappointed.
The ultimate.......2001-12-08
This is the ultimate book for planning an office at home. These practical suggestions will inform and inspire. The examples pictured spaces are so inviting, you'll enjoy looking at this book even if you work elsewhere! Highly recommended.
Useful if you're starting from scratch.......1999-01-21
Lots of good suggestions for the bewildered home office novice. New ideas for the seasoned office dweller as well. See also ERGONOMIC LIVING for some truly surprising insights on this subject.
Average customer rating:
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The Nabis and the Parisian Avant-Garde
Manufacturer: Rutgers Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Exhibition Catalogs
| Museums
| Museums & Collections
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0813513804 |
Book Description
The fall and the rise of rock's greatest band.
Customer Reviews:
Aerosmith kicks ass!.......2006-03-10
I have at least two other biographies on the band, and this one is different. I don't think the author has even met the band. It mostly contains quotes from interviews over the years from magazines, MTV and even Howard Stern's show. But I liked it. The photos are great, but the writer is still a mystery to me.
A good start.......2006-03-02
If you're only mildly interested in Aerosmith, this book makes a nice place to start. A fairly breezy and quick read through the band's turbulent history. If you read this and decide you want more, "Walk This Way" might be the next step for you.
Great Book for a Great Band.......2003-04-17
I read "Aerosmith: The Rise and Fall of Rock's Greatest Band" It was fabulous. Not only does it help me understand the band and what they went through, but it also helped me learn so much about them. The chapters went in perfect order, and the book actually made me want to read more about Aerosmith. The book was awsome, and very educational. I give it a great reveiw and hope more people read it. ^A^ rocks!
Pretty good, but not the greatest.......2002-04-11
I liked this book overall, but it was just "ok" after reading Stephen Davis' book on Aerosmith. That book has a lot more info. Some people are actually interested in the childhood of Steven Tyler, more background info, ect. This book brags about not having it.
THE GREATEST ROCK BAND'S LIFE STORY.......2002-04-10
THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT HOW 5 YOUNG MUSICIANS DESRIRED TO BECOME STARS CAME TO LIFE. IT STARTS OUT TALKING ABOUT STEVEN TALLARICO (TYLER'S REAL LAST NAME) AND HIS CHILDHOOD AND HOW HE MET JOE PERRY. ABOUT ALL THE TURMOIL THE BAND HAD IN THE LATE 70S WITH DRUGS (ESPECIALLY JOE AND STEVE). HOW THEY REFORMED IN 1984 FOR THE BACK IN THE SADDLE TOUR AND RE-JOINED FOREVER.
Customer Reviews:
Aerosmith is the best!.......2006-03-12
This is a pretty good biography because the band contributed to it. The author interviewed them (especially Steven) numerous times. It ends with their album, "Pump". Very good pictures throughout and also quotes from other artists about them. What I did find a little interesting was in the thank you list (in the very beginning of the book), was that their former manager, Tim Collins, tried to stop every avenue of research. The author even wrote it in full caps! Because, they didn't let him go until 1996. At least six years before this was published. Personally, I would've picked a different picture on the cover of Steven and Joe (or a band photo). This is a pretty good bio.
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