Set This House in Order: A Romance of Souls

Book Description

Andy Gage was born in 1965 and murdered not long after by his stepfather. . . . It was no ordinary murder. Though the torture and abuse that killed him were real, Andy Gage's death wasn't. Only his soul actually died, and when it died, it broke in pieces. Then the pieces became souls in their own right, coinheritors of Andy Gage's life. . . .

While Andy deals with the outside world, more than a hundred other souls share an imaginary house inside Andy's head, struggling to maintain an orderly coexistence: Aaron, the father figure; Adam, the mischievous teenager; Jake, the frightened little boy; Aunt Sam, the artist; Seferis, the defender; and Gideon, who wants to get rid of Andy and the others and run things on his own.

Andy's new coworker, Penny Driver, is also a multiple personality, a fact that Penny is only partially aware of. When several of Penny's other souls ask Andy for help, Andy reluctantly agrees, setting in motion a chain of events that threatens to destroy the stability of the house. Now Andy and Penny must work together to uncover a terrible secret that Andy has been keeping . . . from himself.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic but grim.......2007-06-20

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was sad, which made it difficult to read at times, but I liked it quite a bit. Also the local color of Seattle (I used to live there) was quite fun to reminisce through. While in Sewer, Gas, and Electric, Ruff made me laugh constantly, I was on the verge of tears a few times in this one. I don't believe people can actually have multiple personalities. Psychiatrists are divided on this, although I'm not a psychiatrist. But I still think it's a fascinating thing to read about in a novel. Although this book isn't fantasy, Matt Ruff is a fantasy writer, and I think it takes one to pull this idea off as well as he does in Set This House in Order.

Great from the first chapeter........2007-06-10

This is one of the few five stars I've given. I loved this book from the get-go. It is the character development, not plot that rules this novel. You can't help but love the main characters -- two MPD victims whose myriad of personalities all have relationships with each other. Fascinating, enjoying, and just plain good!

Finally, a viewpoint we can relate to........2007-05-23

Don't get me wrong - as a novel, this isn't the best book I've ever read. It's clear to me, at least, that Ruff's main purpose here is not to spin us through plot twists but to give us a portrayal of how life can be for a multiple. In fact, the sudden plot turn near the end feels somewhat contrived, as if he wrote it at the last minute out of a sudden fear that the main characters' lives and the interplay between them wasn't interesting enough.

Plot and craft weaknesses aside, though, this is one of the best books I've ever read about multiplicity. I can't possibly express how tiresome it is to read story after story of how "harrowing" and "horrifying" it is to be multiple, what a dreadful condition it is, what a nightmare all multiples' lives must certainly be, since we are, after all, "shattered," "broken," "destroyed" - pick an Adjective of Dread and I can guarantee our lives have been labeled with it. If we aren't written as cringing, manipulative victims of a terrible past, then we're murderers and serial killers With A Difference - and protests to the contrary go largely unheard in the vast, craggy face of the "conventional wisdom" that permeates the genre.

So hooray for Matt Ruff, who did extensive interviews and research among actual multiples who don't fit the stereotype pushed down society's throat - people who actually like being the way they are, regardless of how they got there.

So, what it comes down to is this: as fiction, the book's a decent read, unnecessary plot excitement aside. As a decently accurate alternative to the rest of the multiplicity-related schlock out there, it's one of the most progressive and refreshing books on the subject - fiction or nonfiction - that I've ever had the fortune to find.

Great for fans of Chuck Pahalniuk.......2007-03-26

Ruff seems to have that same twisted veiw of the world with the added bonus of being a better writer. This follows the intersecting lives of two people with DID (disassociative identity disorder), otherwise known as multiple personality disorder. Every other section is written from the others (and their other personality's) point of view. If you have the option, I would suggest reading the first one or two chapters at a book store to guage whether or not you would be truly interested. Personaly, I was hooked after the first two paragraphs. This after having sat on my book shelf for more than a year--I'm glad I finally picked it up.

One warning, I read Ruff's Sewer, Gas and Electric trilogy and loved them--if you have read them also, know that Set This House in Order is not similar in the least.

One of the best books I've read this year.

General thoughts on Matt Ruff.......2007-03-11

I can't add much to the other reviews, other than to say Matt Ruff is my favorite fiction writer. The term genius is bandied about far too often these days, but Matt Ruff is definitely a genius when it comes to writing.

Buy and read all of his works, tell your friends about him, someone so devoted to the craft deserves your support.

His prose is beautiful, but it is his vivid imagination in developing such fascinating stories that sets him apart.

Set This House in Order: a Romance of Souls

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Set This House in Order: a Romance of Souls
Matt Ruff
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OA49U8

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Not up to her usual standards

wonderful

This One is A Pleasure From Beginning To End...

Terrific Storytelling.

Loved their time on the island
The Horsemaster's Daughter
Susan Wiggs
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Wiggs, Susan | ( W ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 155166755X

Amazon.com

Setting: 1854 Virginia
Sensuality: 7

Southern plantation owner Hunter Calhoun gambles the success of his Virginia horse farm on an Irish stallion; unfortunately, the animal arrives crazed and unridable after the stormy sea crossing. Desperate, Hunter turns to Eliza Flyte, the horsemaster's daughter, who has inherited her father's gift for gentling horses. Her ability to heal wounded spirits with her compassion and wisdom is amazing, and when Hunter convinces her to leave her isolated island and return home with him, she soon applies that gift to the bitter man and his grieving, motherless children. But what future can a woman raised alone by her father with only the sea, animals, and a few books for companions have with a man who grew up as a rich, upper-class son of the South? It seems unlikely that Eliza could ever fit into Hunter's world and just as unlikely that he would give up his privileged life for her world. It just may take a miracle for these two mismatched lovers to find a way to live happily ever after.

In this novel, centered on the brother of the hero from the bestseller The Charm School, the cynical hero who has nearly given up on life is balanced by a heroine who has enough faith and wisdom for them both. The plot, blessedly free of clichés, is unusual; just when the conclusion seems obvious, Wiggs tosses the reader a curve and with a few deft twists and turns, pulls off a terrific surprise ending. If you're only going to read one historical romance this week, make it this one. You'll be so glad you did. --Lois Faye Dyer

Book Description

She had the power to heal. . . but would that be enough?

A wild horse, a broken man, a family in ruins and a woman with the power to heal. . .

Once a privileged son of the South, Hunter Calhoun is now a widower shadowed by the scandal of his wife's death. He's been more successful at breeding Thoroughbred racehorses than in managing his crumbling estate and in caring for his grieving children. When his prized stallion arrives from Ireland crazed and unridable, Hunter is forced to seek out the horsemaster's daughter.

His only hope is the barefooted girl, who's been brought up far removed from the social world of wealth and privilege. Eliza Flyte has inherited her father's gift for gentling horses, and she agrees to tame Hunter's Irish Thoroughbred. But her healing spirit reaches farther, drawing her to his shattered family and to the intense, bitter man who needs her—as much as she needs him.

Because Eliza understands what Hunter refuses to see -- that love is the greatest healer of all. But can someone from her world teach someone from his what truly matters in life?

Customer Reviews:

Not up to her usual standards.......2006-04-08

I've enjoyed books by Susan Wiggs before (some have even made it onto my keeper shelf), but this one was one that I didn't even finish.

I liked Eliza, the heroine, immensely. Her ability to heal horses and connect with nature was a delight to read. Though she'd lived an extremely sheltered life, she never came across as stupid or immature. She was unique in a very intriguing way. It was easy to see why the hero would fall in love with her.

This wasn't the case with Hunter, the hero. He was quick to leap to conclusions, quick to get put out. At times, he came across as downright petulant. I also found him to be extremely self-centered. He lost his first wife by pretty much not giving a darn about her, and he didn't give a darn about his kids who were left motherless. And they might as well have been fatherless for all the time he spent with them. And he drank. A lot. All the time. I'd even go so far as to say he was an alcoholic, though not a violent one. Maybe this was dealt with later in the book, but I never got that far.

I couldn't really see why Eliza should fall in love with Hunter. I kind of felt that she was only attracted to him because he was the first man to spend lots of time with her since her father's death. As she'd lived pretty much isolated for her whole life, I felt like she only fell for Hunter because he happened to be around, not because of anything real.

Still, the romance was developing at a nice pace when the author suddenly had them start having sex. I felt cheated by this, as it was way too early in the book. They hardly knew each other, which made me feel kind of dirty. I couldn't muster up any desire to finish the book after that. I didn't like Hunter, and not liking the hero (or the heroine) is the kiss of death for a romance novel.

I will continue to read Wiggs' work, as I've enjoyed her books in the past. But I will no longer be shelling out full price for them. I would recommend this as a library read only, not a book you pay money for.

wonderful.......2006-02-13

I loved the heroine, didnt like the hero at first but he then grew on me. The story is absolutely wonderful and engaging. I loved it.

This One is A Pleasure From Beginning To End..........2006-02-06

This is the second book by Susan Wiggs that I've read. Previously, I read "A Summer Affair" (excellent story). I selected these books as I'm always looking for a new author, an interesting plot and passionate characters that stay with you long after a book is finished. That's not an easy order to fill. Fortunately, I feel like I've struck gold with this author and another book, "The Horsemaster's Daughter". I read them out of order as this latest one dealt with the father and step-mother meeting and the first book was about the son after he grew to manhood. They are both so well written they can stand alone but, of course like all series, they probably work best in order.

This author is so talented when it comes to putting down her thoughts, feelings and descriptions on paper. She brings not only the locations and actions to life but, the characters as well. You feel like visiting the places she creates and becoming friends with the people she develops. You know an author has done a great job when the story pulls you in and you hate to see the end come. The same happened in both of her books I read so far.

The setting of Flyte Island, the initial meeting of Hunter and Eliza and the gentle re-training that the mad horse Sir Finnegan had to go through to come back to the real world were all beautifully told. I'm not a horse person but, the descriptions of Eliza learning to tame the animal back to sanity, learning to trust and re-entering the world of racing was dramatically written and really pulled you in. Hunter felt drawn to Eliza as much as the horse and it showed. I like that SW never makes her characters conventional. No perfection in our hero and heroines here. They always have very human flaws and weaknesses but, as soon as they over-come these deficits, their beauty and strength shine through. Both Hunter Calhoun and Eliza Flyte fit this bill perfectly.

It was so easy to dislike Hunter for pulling away from his children after his wife died, drinking to drown his loss and sorrows of bankruptcy, loosing most of his estate and possessions and being a man very much down on his luck. But...the tenderness of his heart, the giving in his ways, his struggle to be a better man and father all warmed you to him. You couldn't help but, believe that with the right hand of guidance and touch of love (Eliza) he would come back one day. And he did. Eliza in turn was a sheltered girl who lived almost alone on a remote island all her life with no family, friends or social skills. Yet...she had the dignity and class of the highest bred woman and the heart of a saint. She took what life gave her and simply made more from the littlest of things. She found joy when others missed it. Her innocence was part of her beauty. Hunter and Eliza were from worlds apart yet...attraction, common interests and something close to destiny drew them together.

I enjoy this author further as she finds a way to make real emotions drive this story - rather than sexual attraction and intimacy. Most authors resort to passion and sex to lock in a reader and hold their attention. This author is a master at having intimacy scenes that are so gently and warmly and affectionately written that it becomes a very minor part of the book. Instead...the bonding between Hunter and Eliza is a spiritual and emotional connection that far surpass the physical side of things. Their struggle to come together in a modern world that puts up many barriers (class, economics, race and more) is appealing in many ways and you can't help but, hope they can find a way to create a world of their own if the current society won't accept them as is.

Hunter's children Blue and Belinda were also charming and appealing and so very easy to enjoy and care about. Other side characters like Hunter's brother Ryan and his wife, towns folk, cousin Charles and his son Noah and others rounded out an appealing and deep cast. Everyone added to the story rather than detracted from it. If you haven't read Blue's story in "A Summer Affair" definitely do so. It is as enjoyable as this book was.

I've already ordered a few other books by this author and can't wait to read further. Her books have a historical slant in terms of time frame but, it's not steeped in any kind of Dukes, Viscounts, Marquis, Prince, Princess, Kings or Queens...you'll be pleased not to find European royalty anywhere and not miss them at all. So far her books have focused on the US and American style characters and that's been a plus. She is able to make history appealing and romance even to us hard nosed and unromantic Americans. Do read her books, I'm sure you'll be pleased. They are rich in content and so memorable you're bound to keep them in your own library for years to come. I would give 4 1/2 stars if I could...it was great...just shy of excellent which is why no 5 stars. Really, really close though! Enjoy!

Terrific Storytelling........2005-08-23

What a great story! This was my first journey into Susan Wiggs' world and what a trip. If this is Wiggs' normal measure, well welcome to MY revered author's list Ms. Wiggs, for THE HORSEMASTER'S DAUGHTER is first-class entertainment!

Hunter Calhoun is a shattered man with a shattered family. His life is in turmoil. He was born into the privileged world of the south - the south before the Civil War. His world was wealth, breeding and good manners, but that world shattered the day he inherited Albion Plantation; the day they read The Will; the day the creditors came calling. Oh, how well he remembered that day and the day he told Lacey his dream - his dream to turn Albion into a Thoroughbred breeding and racing farm. He remembered his lovely, young wife weeping and begging him to reconsider. Painfully, he remembered how his delicate Lacey left him. How she left his home and their marriage. How she left him with a daughter to raise, a son to cope with, and a dented whiskey flask to hide in.

Hunter Calhoun's last chance was the devil himself. A devil hiding inside an Irish Thoroughbred - a prized stallion called Finn. Could Hunter Calhoun grasp this last chance, could his stallion lose its demonic evil? Only if the rumors were true - a 'Horsemaster', living on a remote marsh island, had a gift!

Eliza Flyte is a natural, unrestrained, untainted woman. Her simple joy for life is infectious. Raised by a mysterious man, in the middle of nowhere, Eliza Flyte is a gentle creature who lacks the refinements of a well-brought up lady. She is a woman who dresses poorly and speaks oddly. Yet, she is the most compelling woman Hunter Calhoun has ever met. She makes him feel new again. She makes him believe again - to believe that love is the greatest healer of all.

THE HORSEMASTER'S DAUGHTER is a wonderful romance filled with understanding and compassion. Although there is not much heat by way of passion and lust, Wiggs' manages to iron and smooth out this unimportant wrinkle through her great storytelling ability.
Grade: A

MaryGrace Meloche.

Loved their time on the island.......2005-03-08

Very likeable heroine, Eliza. Hunter was OK as the love interest, but not steamy hot. The time on the island was my favorite part of the book because it reminded me of some of my favorite books in my youth like ISLAND STALLION by walter farley, DOCTOR DOLLITTLE, and a tiny bit of SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. I enjoyed her talking to the animals and relating to them, and I enjoyed the way he responded to her. The horse "Finn" was great as he came around to Eliza. Eliza was a genuine character, but Hunter wasn't too compelling.

But the rest of the book was OK. A nice little mystery with Blue was resolved strangely indeed. And the matter of Eliza's parentage was really a quick wrap-up. The ending was decent and left me wanting a sequel in California.

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The Horsemaster's Daughter

Manufacturer: Mira Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 073940590X

9 - JOAN WOLF - THE HORSEMASTERS- BORN OF THE SUN - DAUGHTER OF THE RED DEER - THE REBEL AND THE ROSE - THE ROAD TO AVALON - SUMMER STORM +++

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9 - JOAN WOLF - THE HORSEMASTERS- BORN OF THE SUN - DAUGHTER OF THE RED DEER - THE REBEL AND THE ROSE - THE ROAD TO AVALON - SUMMER STORM +++
JOAN WOLF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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HORSEMASTER'S DAUGHTER
SUSAN WIGGS
Manufacturer: MIRA Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000Q5UJQY

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The Horsemaster's Daughter
Susan Wiggs
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000QYGXME

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The Horsemaster's Daughter
Susan Wiggs
Manufacturer: Mira Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NUGUMY

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The Horsemaster's Daughter
Susan Wiggs
Manufacturer: Mira Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S1K4ZW

Book Description

It is difficult growing up in the shadow of heroes revered throughout the galaxy. But that is the lot of young Khorii—daughter of the legendary Acorna and her lifemate, Aari—who must now follow her own destiny through a fantastic universe of wonders and perils.

Khorii became a hero in her own right as she fought to save the universe from a mysterious, deadly plague that not even the healing powers of the Linyaari could stop.

Now, confined with the rest of the survivors on Paloduro, the home planet of the disease, it seems as if the danger may be fading, and Khorii and her friends may be able to stem the tide of death and disease . . . until ominous signs indicate that the perpetrators are near and that the epidemic is only beginning. As old enemies reemerge and a shocking family secret is revealed, Khorii must unlock the malevolent mysteries of the deadly pestilence with the aid of her android "brother" before their unknown foes complete their covert mission to cripple the entire star system.

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Second Wave : Acorna's Children
Anne; Scarborough, Elizabeth A. McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Harper Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0552152919

Download Description

Beloved by millions of readers, Anne McCaffrey is one of science fiction's favorite authors. Writing with award-winning author Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, she has created the bestselling Acorna series focusing on the adventures of the brave unicorn girl.

Now the exciting saga of the next generation begins.

First Warning

Khorii, daughter of the near-mythic Acorna and her lifemate, Aari, must contend with an overwhelming legacy to forge a path of her own through a universe filled with new adversaries and adventures.

A simple journey home to visit her parents turns into a race against time when Khorii happens upon a derelict spacecraft drifting in space, its crew dead in their seats. But this gruesome discovery is only a dread harbinger -- a deadly plague is spreading across the universe and not even the healing powers of the Linyaari can slow its horrific advance. Khorii, one of the few unaffected by the outbreak, must find the nefarious perpetrators and a cure before the disease consumes all in its path -- including her beloved parents.

Book Description

B.Alan Wallace, widely recognized as of the clearest facilitators of the dialogue between science and Buddhism explains the methods and exoeriences fo those Tibetan practitioners and compares these with investigations of consciousness by Western scientists.

Customer Reviews:

extremely misleading title.......2007-08-09

Had this book been called something like "A Scholarly Analysis of Tsongkhapa's 'Small Exposition of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment,' With Accompanying Discourse on Diverging Streams of Quiescence (Whether Complementary or Mutually Exclusive) in the Eastern and Western Traditions", it might merit 4 or 5 stars, for it is certainly a first-class academic (if pedantic) treatment of that topic. Of course, one can see the problems that the publisher of such a title would have selling more than 2 or 3 copies, unless it could be marketed as a college textbook. And so someone with questionable scruples (I doubt it was the author) decided to title the book to make it look like a practical guide to "Balancing the Mind" within the framework of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The blurbs on the back jacket describe the book as "[a] spectacular cross-cultural presentation of techniques for achieving meditative states", and "[t]he most important book on Buddhist meditation to appear in over a decade." These claims are ludicrous; the book has little if no pragmatic value for persons seeking to achieve balance and quiescence in their own lives. It may have some value as an historical account of Tsongkhapa's life and thought; it may serve some purpose in elucidating the Buddhist view of life as an ephemeral dream (although "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" got there first); but unless I'm gravely mistaken, it will help precious few readers to actualize its misleading, borderline fraudulent, title. For a better treatment of this subject, I'd recommend "Happiness" by Matthieu Ricard, "Ultimate Healing" by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, each of which presents a much fuller treatment of the spectrum of Tibetan Buddhist practices and beliefs, or even "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn, which approaches the subjects of mental balance and quiescence from a contemporary Western perspective. Let me make it clear that I do not wish to disparage B. Alan Wallace or spread malice or ill-will about the man or his work by submitting this review; I do, however, want to protect would-be purchasers of this book from spending their money without knowing exactly what they're getting for it.

Interesting and Insightful, But By No Means Easy.......2007-01-26

If you are a beginning meditator, this book will be very difficult to digest. It is a scholarly examination of Tsongkhapa's exploration of quiescence, an advanced approach to refining attentive powers. It is well written and very well sourced and represents a wealth of information for the advanced meditator, but you have to be willing to study this book. It took me almost 6 weeks to read, but it was worth the effort.

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Delicious, if high end, mexican food

High-Flavor, Low-Fat Mexican Cooking
Steven Raichlen
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0670883883

Book Description

Steven Raichlen's newest addition to his sophisticated, bestselling High-Flavor, Low-Fat cookbook series reinvents Mexican cuisine deliciously and healthfully

Steve Raichlen has taught millions of Americans how to transform low-fat cooking into culinary triumph by using intense flavors and savvy cooking techniques, and if there was a cuisine in need of an healthy makeover, it's Mexican.

Did you know that beef and cheese nachos can pack as much saturated fat as ten Dunkin' Donuts? Or that chile rellenos contains as much fat as twenty-seven slices of bacon. Raichlen-style help is at hand. This revolutionary cookbook seizes on the cuisine's splendidly heart-healthy vegetables, explosively flavored chiles and herbs, fresh-made tortillas, and an incredibly diverse array of grains and beans. The result, in more than 200 mouth watering recipes is some of the healthiest eating on the planet! Steven Raichlen's High-Flavor, Low-Fat Mexican Cooking, colorfully packaged, comes just in time for guilt-free holiday meals and everyday dinners, and for healthy gift giving.

Customer Reviews:

Delicious, if high end, mexican food.......2000-03-27

I love this cookbook -- it is beautiful and realistic. Tamales, enchiladas, sopa pias and even chips are transformed tastily. This food is simply low fat, there is no skimping on salt or seasonings. The recipes are also flexible == you can add or detract naughty items like cheese and lard. The soups are SPLENDID, and the book is worth buying for the chicken and lime soup recipe.

My only negative comment would be that some of the ingredients are hard to come by, particularly the mexican cheeses and latin style chocolate. And I live in New Mexico!

Customer Reviews:

Stories.......2006-07-20

This is not a book on haunted locations in California. Instead it is a collection of stories that occurred to people in California. You won't find the Queen Mary in here or Alcatraz or the Hotel Del Coronado or any other location that you can physically visit. Instead you will find stories that happened to real Californians in their homes, businesses, etc.

If you're looking for interesting real ghost stories, this is a book for you. It is an interesting read, and the stories are entertaining. If you're looking for detailed information on specific visitable concrete locations within California this is not the book for you.

Excellent compilation of true haunting cases.......2004-07-13

Preston Dennett is a UFOlogist and author of such classic books as UFO's Over Topanga Canyon and One in Forty: The UFO Epidemic. His latest work strays from the territory of unidentified flying objects and delves straight in to a more ethereal realm: true cases of hauntings in the state of California.

Mr. Dennett wastes no time in calculating absurd theories like most authors who litter the store shelves with their outrageous scribblings. He jumps straight in to the facts, giving the reader everything he or she needs to know in order to come to their own conclusions. He even reports on a well known haunting related to the Charles Manson family murders in the late 1960's, something eerily reminescent of the Amityville case. As all of Mr. Dennett's case presentations take place in California, hence the title of the book, it is undoubted that readers who dwell in the Golden State themselves will find this book particularly interesting, though the locale does not diminish interest for those outside the area. It is extremely well written and the cases are presented in a straight, factual manner; Preston does not offer preposterous claims of knowing the secret to the ethereal realm and the basis behind the all-too-often mention White Light. This is not his business. He is an investigator and leaves it up to you, the reader, to draw your on conclusions based on the facts that he presents.

An excellent compilation of true haunting cases and a welcomed edition to any reader who is interested in this aspect of the paranormal.

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Basics for home sewers

Beyond the Pattern: Great Sewing Techniques for Clothing (Threads On)
Threads Editors
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fashion | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1561580945
Release Date: 1995-03-03

Customer Reviews:

Basics for home sewers.......2000-10-12

This book has some great basic instructions for people who make clothes at home. I think it covered the most used areas like zipper insertion, buttonholes and bias cuts. It has good visual aids. I wish that it had covered more of the fine points not just the highlights which is why I only gave it 4 stars.

Book Description

Synonymous worldwide with the fantasy and creativity of film and television, it's no wonder that Los Angeles is host to a cornucopia of cool shops, each featuring an incredible array of displays and interior design. Whether it's laid-back grunge, international designer chic, or quirky eclecticism, they're all represented here. This hip guide to what's hot and happening on L.A.'s retail landscape selects the best of what this Southern Californian metropolis has to offer. From Melrose Place to Rodeo Drive, if it's stunning and for sale in the city of angels, you'll find it here.

Book Description

Small Graphics provides hundreds of ideas for making effective design use of even the smallest spaces. See how designers have successfully chosen their graphics and words to maximize impact in tiny places. This book contains more than 200 examples of logos, business cards, hats, premiums, identity systems, direct response marketing, point-of-purchase material, stamps, and packaging. There's even a Web site billed as the "world's smallest," along with all sorts of promotional materials from design studios around the world. These projects are sure to inspire creative ideas so you'll never have to wonder what could've been possible if you only had more space.

Whoever said "size doesn't matter" never tried to fit a logo, company name, contact name, title, address, phone, fax, mobile number, e-mail, and Web site address onto the front of a 3-1/2" x 2" (9 cm x 5 cm) business card. The fact is, size does count, more so when you're faced with designing a sizeable message and yet you're short on space.

Small Graphics is a reference guide and an idea book for designing when space is at a premium. See how expert designers make the most of the space they have, creating small graphics that communicate in a big way.

How do some of the best designers around the world gain maximum impact in a limited amount of space? This collection of small designs provides plenty of examples. Included are small graphics that are interactive, expansive, and elaborate, while others are minimal in their design. Several use photos to communicate, while others use illustrations. Some examples are beyond description. Learn how to maximize the impact of the message in keeping with its size-no matter how small.

When you need to make a big impression but don't have a lot of space to do it, Small Graphics is a book you'll want to review time and again.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent reading.......2000-10-02

Daniel O'Brien's book on Robert Altman is a fascinating insight into the workings of the director's films. I found it particularly interesting the way O'Brien leads the reader through the journey from Altman's beginings in television through to his more commercial successes. For the first time, I could understand what it's like to start from nothing and make your way as a director. Hope for all us film students. I thouroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to film students and anyone interested in the film industry. Excellent.

A great but flawed director, a severely flawed bio.......1999-07-30

Daniel O'Brien puts together an outsider's version of the great director's life in film. O'Brien is obviously a faux-critic/fan of the director that can get no closer to his subject than to have seen each of his films repeatedly. Basically this amateurish drivel reviews each of Altman's films with a weak eye while dropping vague and incidental biographical info along the way. The first edition that I unfortunately labored through featured numerous misprints and spelling errors to boot. This book delivers no insight or clear perspective on the enigmatic director whatsoever.

Average customer rating:

Robert Altman, Hollywood Survivor
Daniel O'BRIEN
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RJS2UY

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