Average customer rating:
- Good reading
- Great Book
- is illusion better than reality?
- A great read...!
- Amazing book, but you must know your history before reading it...
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Let It Rain Coffee: A Novel
Angie Cruz
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Soledad: A Novel
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Geographies of Home
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Song of the Water Saints : A Novel
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America's Dream
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The Turkish Lover
ASIN: 0743212045 |
Book Description
Angie Cruz has established herself as a dazzling new voice in Latin American fiction, her writing compared to Gabriel García Márquez's by The Boston Globe. Now, with humor, passion, and intensity, she reveals the proud members of the Colón family and the dreams, love, and heartbreak that bind them to their past and the future.
Esperanza risked her life fleeing the Dominican Republic for the glittering dream she saw on television, but years later she is still stuck in a cramped tenement with her husband, Santo, and their two children, Bobby and Dallas. She works as a home aide and, at night, hides unopened bills from the credit card company where Santo won't find them when he returns from driving his livery cab.
When Santo's mother dies and his father, Don Chan, comes to Nueva York to live out his twilight years with the Colóns, nothing will ever be the same. Don Chan remembers fighting together with Santo in the revolution against Trujillo's cruel regime, the promise of who his son might have been, had he not fallen under Esperanza's spell.
Let It Rain Coffee is a sweeping novel about love, loss, family, and the elusive nature of memory and desire.
Customer Reviews:
Good reading.......2007-07-24
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recomend it to anyone who likes south american authors
Great Book.......2006-07-07
As one of the other reviewers I also got this book for my yearly trip to the Dominican Rep. this past Christmas. I began reading it on the plane there and finished it as the plane landed back in NY. This book held my attention, was interesting, made me cry and just feel proud that it was writing not just by a woman but a Dominican woman. Angie is a great writer with a lot of promise. Very different from Soledad but just as thought provoking. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. Keep on with the good job!
is illusion better than reality?.......2005-12-08
i spent nine hours a couple of weeks ago getting into angie cruz's " let it rain coffee" in a brooklyn coffeehouse, only taking breaks when i had to. ms. cruz lives up to the promise she diplayed in her first novel, " soledad " Her writing is equal parts Satire and Magical Realism. Esperanza was charcter who was easy to root for. She wanted a better life for her family, but allowed herself to become blinded by the fantasy, thinking her life would be as glamorous as the Ewings on the TV show " Dallas." The Scene which Esperanza meets Patrick Duffy on the subway train is comic and tragic; duffy shatters the barrier between illusion and reality.
Sadly, many people use television as a means to escape.
The scenes with Don Chan and Miraluz, with the revolution in action definately held my interest. The erotic passages rocked. Ms. Cruz has a way with a sex scene. it was racy, but it was also tasteful and inventive. Angie may be bookish and educated, but you can feel the homegirl ghetto vibe coursing throughout this narrative.
I look forward to reading her next one...
A great read...!.......2005-11-14
I saved this book to read on the sandy beaches of the Dominican Republic - a perfect backdrop to this wonderful book set in the Dominican Republic and New York City. I savored every page and read it in two days while I "baked" in the Carribean sun. As a reader, I was immediately embraced by the Santo family. El Señor Chan, Santo, Esperanza, and her children face enormous personal, emotional, and economic challenges as they struggle to make a better life. A great read...a unique perspective of the Dominican-immigrant experience!
Amazing book, but you must know your history before reading it..........2005-09-18
Before reading this review, you really must learn something about the history of the Dominican Republic. The majority of the flashbacks concerned the Presidency of Trujillo, but there are other aspect of the country's history that are essential to understanding the story. Also, if your Spanish is as bad as mine, you might not know the exact meaning of about 10% of the dialogue, but you can pick it up within the context. Do not let that scare you off from this amazing book. I just finished it in a 4 hour reading spurt and really and truly felt as if I had been caught completely within the Colon family.
*****Spoiler: Santo, Don Chan's son, dies very early in the book, but his death is pivotal to the story*****
The majority of the book revolves around Esperanza and Don Chan, their fractured relationship, and its impact on Bobby and Dallas, Esperanza and Santo's children. Don Chan joins the family in New York shortly after his wife dies in the Dominican Republic. Don Chan and Esperanza have never seen eye-to-eye, as Esperanza remembers the Dominican Republic (the D.R.) as a dirty, foul, poor country to attempt to scratch out a living. She is addicted to the drama "Dallas," and is determined to live the life of the Ewings. To that end, she is is ducking calls from collection agencies about her credit card bills and working double shifts as a home-care nurse in order to make ends meet and provide for the family. To do so, she must leave her children in the care of her father-in-law, Don Chan, who is elderly and beginning to suffer from Alzheimer's.
Don Chan, on the other hand, remembers the DR as a country of promise and expectation, especially after the fall of Trujillo. During Trujillo's reign, Don Chan was an "Invisible," working underground against Trujillo and his regime. But when Trujillo is killed and Dona Caridad dies, Don Chan loses his will to fight, preferring to impart his wisdom on the next generation and wonder about what could have been. Left to care for his grandchildren, he laments Santo's death and the fact that Santo chose to follow Esperanza to New York rather than work for change in the DR.
As the book progresses, Santo's death creates new meaning for all the members of the Colon family, the realization that they must stop believing that life owes them something (whether it is an 8-bedroom ranch, a leather jacket, or a democratic government) and instead embrace life as an opportunity, a chance to change their situations and embrace the future. This realization is hardest for Esperanza, as she has lived all her life with the goal of being just like the Ewings (off "Dallas") but when she comes face-to-face with J.R. Ewing, she finally begin to see life as it is instead of the way she always assumed it would be handed to her. Her actions and behavior sets the stage for the final, moving pages of the book, were it becomes clear that Santo's death, more than his life, has finally inspired his family to move forward and change their lives.
I can't write much more without giving away the entire book, but I can say that for every student of Latin American culture, this book should be required reading. Angie Cruz should be commended for this excellent addition to the fiction bookshelves, not just the Latin American fiction bookshelves.
Book Description
Discover passion in the city that never sleeps . . .
#1 New York Times bestselling author
NORA ROBERTS presents the passionate heart of the city that never sleeps, in these two complete novels . . .
LOCAL HERO
His trade was creating heroes, but comic book writer Mitch Dempsey had never seen himself as one. But something about Hester Wallace, the shy single mom who moved in upstairs, made him long to protect, honor and love her forever. . . .
DUAL IMAGE
Playing Booth DeWitt's cruel ex-wife was pushing Ariel Kirkwood's acting career in the right direction -- but pushing sexy Booth away. She wanted to be his leading lady -- for life. Could she convince Booth to see her for the woman she truly was?
Customer Reviews:
Light-hearted romance and fun!.......2005-09-12
Even though these are reprints, I had not read them the first time around so they were new to me! I also love Nora Roberts longer novels and mysteries and her JD Robb novels of Eve and Roarke.
"Local Hero" is a wonderful look at both the joys and problems of single parenting (Hester and her 9 turning 10 year old son Radley) and a great look at a man with a vivid imagination who is not afraid to still be a boy. Hester is so conservative and uptight at first compared to Mitch Dempsey who is basically a slob. Mitch is a comic book writer who just happens to write about one of Radley's favorite heroes. He also has a big lazy mutt of a dog, Taz, who also has a part to play. Hester is a bank manager and has been struggling to support her family and be a good mother to her son since her husband just up and left them over 6 years ago. Her ex-husband, Allan, has only contacted her briefly a few times over the years. Allan does not care about his son at all -- an unnatural father! Mitch likes the boy and volunteers to watch him each day after school. This is the begininning of a wonderful series of happenings in which Mitch "falls in love" with the son and also the mom, Hester. Hester feels she likes maybe loves Mitch but just isn't ready for more than a temporary thing. How Mitch makes himself her "hero" to fully win her love and commitment to marriage is a wonderful tender tale.
"Dual Image" is about a very compassionate soap opera actress, Ariel Kirkwood, who is auditioning for a part in a made-for-TV movie written by Booth DeWitt. The screenplay Booth wrote very closely parallels his own real life falling-in-love, marriage and break-up with the very scheming actress, Elizabeth Hunter. When Booth meets Ariel he cannot believe she is going to audition for the part of Rae (ie Elizabeth Hunter) as she appears warm, loving and friendly. Booth is astonished at her first audition how she can turn into Rae right before his eyes. He believes at first that make her just like Elizabeth. How Ariel falls in love with Booth as she sees that he needs her love and warmth and convinces him that she is who she appears to be and not his ex-wife is a very warm and tender story.
Both stories are fun reads for what they are!
Loved the cover art.......2004-08-10
The stories were okay for me but I am not much of a romance reader. I do like her suspense stories. But I did absolutely fall in love with the cover art. I looked all over the book to find the name of the artist and couldn't find it anywhere.
Gapstow Bridge in Central Park in the spring done in a slightly Monetish way. Very nice.
definitely not her best.......2003-11-17
Don't get me wrong. I am a big Nora Roberts fan but this was the only book of hers I could not finish. I believe this book is a reprint so she has come along way. It is so different form her usual engaging character development and witty dialog that I still can't believe it is her work. Enough said.
Excellent read!.......2003-07-13
During a weeklong layoff earlier this month, I read a lot of books, but this one was easily one of my favorites. The first story, Local Hero, was kind of an emotional rollercoaster. I found myself smiling thinking of Hester, Rad and Mitch playing in the snow together in Central Park and a lump in my throat at the end (which I won't give away). Five star story
Like other reviewers I found Dual Image a little harder to get into, but I am a lot like Ariel, so I just had to see what she was getting into! Booth is definitely a piece of work. The twist at the end of this story will knock you for a loop. Four stars.
No surprises here, but very enjoyable.......2003-03-26
In another compilation of two of her earlier works, "Truly Madly Manhattan" delivers all the elements a Nora Roberts fan has come to love -- sensitive men, strong women, and happy endings.
Of the two books I preferred "Local Hero", the first, largely because Mitch Dempsey, the comic-book-writing hero, takes so closely after one of his own characters. There's a danger inherent in creating a "too-good-to-be-true" character like Mitch, and that is the possibility of completely alienating your core audience (women) who just can't relate to the guy in these pages. However, Mitch is SO endearing, so persistent in his plan to win over Hester, that this character somehow manages to win over the reader as well.
Product Description
5 massmarket paperback Titles By Nora Roberts - Reef - Time and Again - Truly Madly Manhattan - Carolina Moon - The Villa
Product Description
Vinage paperback novels by Nora Roberts, Truly Madly Manhattan - The Reef - Genuine Lies - The Villa
Average customer rating:
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Truly, Madly Manhattan
Manufacturer: MILLS & BOON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GWFWWS |
Book Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the passionate heart of the city that never sleeps, in these two complete novels . . .
Local Hero
Comic-book writer Mitch Dempsey creates heroes, but he's never seen himself as one -- that is, until Hester Wallace moves into the apartment upstairs. When Hester's son, Radley, finds out his new neighbor is the brains behind his favorite superhero . . . well, Mitch might as well be Commander Zark. He can do no wrong as far as Radley is concerned, but Hester isn't as easy to win over. Still, there's something about the shy, single mom that intrigues Mitch . . . and makes him long to love, honor and protect her forever.
Dual Image
Playing Booth DeWitt's cruel ex-wife in his semiautobiographical film is a dream come true for actor Ariel Kirkwood. Not only is it a giant boon for her career, but she also gets to work with Booth -- and since she's gotten to know him, Ariel can't get the aloof, sexy screenwriter out of her mind. She wants to be his leading lady for life, but Booth seems more distant with each passing day. Now Ariel must convince Booth to see her for the woman she truly is, not the one she was hired to portray . . .
Book Description
In the vast galactic empire of the thirty-third century, bureaucracy rules–and brains and beauty are the keys to success. Now one governmental bombshell will have to use her every resource to stop a planetwide mutiny.…
Dexta
Inside the Department of Extraterrestrial Affairs, Gloria VanDeen is a low-level bureaucrat. But she is no faceless cog. The stunning, cunning beauty happens to be the current Emperor’s ex-wife and sometime playmate–a distinct advantage when disorder erupts on one of the small planets she oversees. For Gloria’s personal life has catapulted her into the limelight, and an off-Earth assignment is just what she needs to get back to work. But the situation may be trickier than she imagines.…
For decades, the docile creatures of Mynjhino have been dominated by the humans of the corporate giant GalaxCo. Now a rebellious few have gotten hold of antique semiautomatic rifles–and are mowing down their Imperial overlords. Gloria has given her body and soul to Dexta, to great effect. But when trying to broker peace with the Myn, even that may not be enough....
Download Description
C.J. Ryan is the pseudonym of an author who lives and works in Philadelphia. This is his first science fiction novel.
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
An Out of this World Mystery........2007-08-11
Dexta may be set in the distant future, but nothing much has changed, especially not humankind. A touch of the erotic, the ugliness of a gray corrupt corporation, the allure of distant planets-it is just part of the excitement of this galactic mystery.
Beyond Bad.......2006-11-04
One of the other reviewers gave this two stars and said he was being generous. He was very generous. If I could, I'd give it a negative 5 stars. Unfortunately, Amazon won't let me give it less than 1 star. The saddest part is that the plot itself is pretty good, but the writing is so bad, it completely negates anything else. If the constant comments concerning clothing (or lack thereof), sex, thoughts, of sex, and attempts to get sex or use sex as a weapon had been eliminated, the book would have been about 60 pages. Maybe not even that.
Sex, lies and blood........2006-08-23
Dexta by C. J. Ryan is a character driven story set in the 33 Century, where the Empire of man has spread itself over thousands of planets and hundreds of light years. While the Emperor might seem powerful the true power is the bureaucracy who, even with all their rules and codes, keeps the Empire running. Like a well oiled machine the Empire has been tickling away for centuries.
Then one day, on the planet Mynjhino, the peaceful natives decide to start blowing the humans away. Gloria VanDeen, a low-level bureaucrat of the Department of Extraterrestrial Affairs and the Emperor's ex-wife, must try to stop the rebellion and get to the bottom of it. Why are the natives doing this and where did they get the weapons to start the fighting in the first place? After all, the planet in question happens to be one of the many she is in charge of - if she fails millions may die!
Lots of sex, treachery and backstabbing.
A waste of money and time.......2006-01-04
The problem with this book is that it fails on every genere it's trying to work. It's a lousy science fiction novel, a non-erotic erotic novel and an unromantic romance novel.
Look, if the erotic writing was at least detailed enough to arouse then it could be lumped in with Spaceways and have done with it. But it fails. It's all description of skimpy outfits and cuts to the next scene.
As for adventure Even Spaceways had more action, heck, even The Alien Trace (an eroto-sci-fi work in the 80s) beats this.
I don't know why a sequel was published, but I hope somebody sat down with the author and said:
"These are your choices: read a few penthouse letters and do better with the erotica, read science fiction and try to be original, or go actually have sex or an adventure so you can write about both or either with some authenticity"
Do not buy this book.
If it were at least fun, it wouldn't be so bad.......2005-11-14
Alas, it is no satire. If it were satire, Our Heroine would not be right Every Single Time (even when she's being stupid), and the author would be sniggering at her instead of with her. It's amazing how well she can bend other people to her will with only a single speech, or a single flash of her nipples.
It's also amazing how often Our Heroine is both average and extraordinary. She's a mid-level bureaucrat AND the Emperor's ex-wife. Everyone who's anyone is beautiful AND she's gorgeous even by those standards.
What we have here is not satire but Mary Sue. And a badly written one at that.
Average customer rating:
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Fordson Dexta 957E's, 1957-64 (Classic Tractor Special)
Allan T. Condie
Manufacturer: Allan T Condie Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Classic Cars
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ASIN: 0907742718 |
Book Description
From Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sulak Sivaraksa comes this look at Buddhism's innate ability to help us change our world. Conflict, Culture, Change explores the cultural and environmental impacts of consumerism, nonviolence, and compassion in the post-9/11 world. Special attention is given to such ideas as the integration of mindfulness and social activism, the use of Buddhist ethics to confront structural violence; globalization's threat to traditional identity; and the example of the recent transformation of Thailand.
Book Description
Celebrated in this gorgeous volume is the fruit known since ancient times as a “gift from the gods”—the olive. At last, the rest of the world can embrace what seasoned gourmands in the Mediterranean have known for centuries: olives and their oils are essential to robust eating and healthy cooking. More than just a simple recipe book, OLIVES is an exploration of the variety of uses for this ancient, versatile food as well as a source of concise information on the olive industry and production around the globe. With advice on choosing the appropriate olive and oil for any culinary pursuit and a directory of olive and olive oil sources, this book is destined to become a delightful addition to all food lovers' libraries.
Customer Reviews:
Looking for a good reference on Olives?.......2000-04-16
I work in the gourmet food trade and was looking for an excellent reference on the topic of olives. The Gourmet Trader in NYC has a reference chart of Olives that contains pictures from this book. This book will tell you about the kinds of olives (with excellent pictures). This book also covers topics of interest related to these fruit such oil production and the cultivation of olives. Not to mention that it contains recipes! This is the book to get if you are seeking a great reference on olives.
so far, so great.......2000-03-17
I tasted an olive tapanade at a party and went crazy! I had to have the recipe! My friend loaned me the entire cookbook and I have had great success with the other two recipes I've tried, as well as soaking up information about the different kinds of olives and their strengths in dishes. I'm now buying the book for myself, as well as a few extra copies for gifts along the way.
Amazon.com
Todd Wilbur has baked, boiled, digested, fried, and tested--all in the name of duplicating some of America's favorite convenience foods. He now shares 41 of these naughty but nice gastronomical delights in Top Secret Recipes. If you've ever craved a McDonald's Big Mac at 3:00 A.M. on a Sunday morning, then Wilbur has just the recipe for satisfying your junk-food desires. Even better, no cordon-bleu expertise is needed for this particular clone--just simple frying and chopping skills! Simplicity is the key to all of Wilbur's replicated recipes--all are composed of rudimentary ingredients available at any store, needing only minimal preparation. These recipes are fun and fast--two dozen Snickers Bars in less than 10 minutes (plus cooling time), a delicious Orange Julius in less than 60 seconds (that's considerably quicker than waiting in line for the real thing)! These culinary creations are organized in alphabetical order by manufacturer or restaurant, and illustrated with simple pencil drawings. Top Secret Recipes is a chatty and informative guide to recreating the burgers, candy bars, and cookies of your strip-mall dreams. --Naomi Gesinger
Customer Reviews:
Non Fiction.......2007-09-03
A fun book that looks at how to make your own home made facsimile versions of some famous junk food. At least famous in America, some of them some other people probably will not have heard of. If you want some cooking silliness, this one is definitely for you, or to throw a version of something passable by way of some of those mini-humans.
Fun recipies.......2007-02-01
I've had a lot of fun with some of the recipes in this book. People have asked for the recipies of items I've taken to potlucks and BBQ's. There are a few items that don't quite hit the mark, but overall it's a good cookbook.
Hit and miss oversimplified clone recipes.......2006-10-21
I bought this book out of intrigue to find out the secret sauce behind famous recipes. While there are a few select recipes where the secret sauce is let out, there are dozens of others where the recipes are plain oversimplifications and superficial replicas. What should be an exciting book is mostly common sense.
The book was frustrating because the clone recipes produced average mimics at best. Detail is replaced by simplicity as most recipes seem embarassingly easy and unrefined, lacking the clarity that makes a famous fast food recipe truly unique. I didn't buy this book to be told that a Quarter Pounder with Cheese recipe requires 1/4 lb ground beef and a Kraft cheese slice. Each recipe comes with pointless engineering diagrams showing the assembly, with notes showing the reader to place the cooked hamburger patty in between the top and bottom of the bun.
The book does contain some interesting fast food history with each recipe. However, 95% of the recipes are common sense that could have been derived by the most casual of cooks. For a book that appeared to have a lot of promise, it hasn't turned my hamburgers into Big Macs or my milkshakes into Blizzards.
AWSOME cookbook!.......2006-01-02
I love to cook, hope to go to college at the Culinary.
My sis' Laura, got this for me for Christmas.
The book is sooooo cool!
The hint on it was 'no more fast food!!"
LOVE IT!!!
I will let everone have my e-mail; svgypson@yahoo.com
Todd Wilbur is KING!.......2002-11-19
I made my own Twinkies and Reese's cups!! They were pretty darn close, that's good enough for me because everything was delicious!! (My hips aren't crazy about the book.) It's fun to impress people as well as make their mouths water when you tell them what you have accomplished. If you like to have fun in the kitchen, this book will not disappoint you. Then again, I do not know you. Enjoy!! :o)
Amazon.com
Todd Wilbur, the master of fast food replication, is back, and accompanying him are 37 new recipes. More Top Secret Recipes follows triumphantly in the footsteps of his first tryout with kitchen clones, Top Secret Recipes. Included in this new collection are recipes that fans steadfastly demanded--including A&W Root Beer and an easy concoction for creating the perfect Oreo in less than an hour. All that's needed for this magical cookie is cake mix, shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Simplicity is the key to success for all of Wilbur's duplicates--nothing more than simple ingredients and basic cooking skills are required. Other culinary clones include Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls, Little Caesar's Crazy Bread, and a divine recipe for Bailey's Original Irish Cream. Quirky diagrams of these tempting bites illustrate the book throughout. Snack time has never been this much fun! --Naomi Gesinger
Customer Reviews:
Awesome!!!!.......2007-04-06
What a great book! I actually had it before and lost it in a divorce. I really missed this book.
Check the table of contents first!.......2006-10-19
I LOVE this book simply because I've been trying to recreate popeye's fried chicken on my own and failed miserably! I checked the table of contents and found it was there and that alone was worth the $9 investment. I'm not going to make everything but its fun to see how you could make Mary Jane's. :D
Check the table of contents first, then if there's a recipe you would like, take a chance. Most times, its pretty good!
Oh and the chicken recipe? Its not exactly right but it's pretty darn close and makes really good spicy fried chicken!
Thrallz.......2006-03-13
This is a very cool cook book, lots of fun recipes to try and of favorites. My husband and I had fun just flipping through it when it first arrived planning what we could fix.
The Olive Garden Alfredo is yummy and so close to the original chain version.
Are Charles Holcomb and Melissa actually Douglas Hensley (and Pattie Hensley's husband)?.......2006-01-07
A reviewer, "Charles Holcomb", has reviewed all the books written by Douglas Hensley and Pattie Hensley. Reviewer "Melissa" is also now curiously reviewing the same list as "Charles Holcomb". He has also reviewed several competing books -- such as this one -- and used those reviews as an opportunity to mention the "superior quality" of the book written by Douglas Hensley or Pattie Hensley. The Hensley titles are as follows:
- "Lost Stories From Hell" by Douglas Hensley
- "Magic Voodoo Spells" by Douglas Hensley
- "Hell's Gate: Terror at Bobby Mackey's Music World" by Douglas Hensley
- "Automobile Sales Training and Tips From The Pros" by Douglas Hensley
- "Book of Dreams & Dream Interpretations" by Douglas Hensley
- "Bloody Bones" by Douglas Hensley
- "Grandma's Cook Book and Recipes" by Pattie Hensley
- "Grandma's Country Recipes" by Pattie Hensley
- "Copycat Restaurant and Bakery Recipes" by Pattie Hensley
My Wife says pass on this one.......2006-01-01
JUST OK. My wife says to look under COPYCAT RESTAURANT RECIPES or COPYCAT RESTAURANT COOK BOOKS here on Amazon to find a better selection.
Book Description
America's triumphant Queen of Junk homes in on where the heart dwells--in the kitchen--with vintage treasures that add spice to life and cost next to nothing
In the effervescent yet practical style of her American Junk and Garden Junk, Mary Randolph Carter tracks down and rescues kitchen gems everywhere from thrift shops to tag sales to country auctions. Kitchens are often the source of our earliest memories--eating oatmeal before school, lingering over a cup of hot chocolate. If the kitchen is old, with appliances that challenge decorative instincts, or characterless and crying out for touches of nostalgia (old Tupperware is more and more in demand), the answers lie in Kitchen Junk.
From the era of "good housekeeping" come bib aprons and blue feather dusters, wooden ironing boards and handcrafted scrub brushes. Dinette sets, gingham notepads and oilcloth picked up coast to coast for $2 to 10 cents...vintage cookbooks and old milk bottles...a porcelain-enamel table top and sentimental kitchen samplers...midcentury calico roosters and white granite-ware pitchers a hundred years old but timeless...the stoves, toasters, and clocks of yesteryearall contribute to the author's signature arrangements and inspire readers to create their own. Before and after photographs, prices, and hints on junk hunting and haggling mingle with tips on cleaning old linens, avoiding rust on baking pans, and much more. With an extensive Junk Guide that lists flea markets and other "junking sites" countrywide, Kitchen Junk is the reference for thrifty, evocative, eclectic furnishing of the hub of the house.
Customer Reviews:
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!.......2000-11-09
Whether we call ourselves collectors, buffs, aficionados or even pack rats, let's face it - we like stuff! One need only to note the proliferation of garage sales or the thousands who cram flea markets to know that we're a nation of accumulators, and Mary Randolph Carter, author of "American Junk," now hones in on the heart of our homes and serves up Kitchen Junk, the ultimate guide to everything culinary that's fun to hunt, costs a pittance, and will give a kitchen retro charm.
An unlikely candidate for "Queen of Junk," Ms. Carter is the Vice President of Advertising at Polo/Ralph Lauren. With her husband and two sons she maintains homes in New York City and Duchess County, New York, where, as she says, there's too much junk. Nonetheless, she abides by her motto "Never stop to think, do I have a place for this?"
With over 400 lush colored photographs and a state by state guide for junking forays, Kitchen Junk is the ultimate guide for shoppers. Helpful information offered includes a dress code and tips on haggling: "Most dealers worth their junk expect a bit of a tug-of-war."
One of the most appealing chapters, "A Checkered Life," is devoted to red and white checked items. These pages are replete with tablecloths, napkins, dish towels, aprons, gingham, oilcloth, mitts and even a rooster in those trademark all-American colors. Ms. Carter demonstrates how to set a table with these items and create an atmosphere based on "the fantasy of the farmyard."
Such aprons you have never seen - a bib apron embellished with a picture of a young girl cleaning her plate, a half apron fashioned of a cloth decorated with kitchen tools, a "Some Like It Hot" barbecue apron for him, a strawberry pattern for her. Prices of the items and where they were found are also noted.
Stating that 50% of kitchen time is spent at the sink, the author spruces up that area with an enamel soap dish found for $3.00 at a New York flea market, French agatewear bowls - a steal at $10.00 per, and vintage cut glasses discovered at garage sales for an average of 50 cents each.
Everyone knows what the staff of life is and bread boxes abound from "A hinged lift-top bread box decorated with a frieze of teapots and kitchen ware. It beckoned from a yard sale in Virginia for $3.00." to a "1930s English enameled bread bin."
Few how-to's and where-to's are overlooked in this enthusiastic paean to collecting. With Kitchen Junk in one hand and a Mapsco in the other many will prove the old saw that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Happy hunting!
The Martha Stewart of Junk..........2000-04-26
Anyone who can make REAL junk look this good is a friend of mine! As a casual collector of things old with a special place for kitchen collectibles, I found this book fascinating not only for its content - such a wide variety of items - but also for the excellent photography, creative displays, and down-home narrative style. While you won't find this useful as a pricing guide, you can still get a feel for values of some everyday items you might find. This was my second book by Mary Randolph Carter and they have become my "coffee table" books. (I now have all 3 of her Junk books.)
The difference between junk and junque is..........1999-12-05
... junk is stuff you should throw out and junque is what it becomes through Mary Randolph Carter's eyes. Yes, this makes a trio of "junk" books, but her approach is infectious, humorous and fun. She is clearly setting up faux scenarios, not telling us how to live with old rusty flour sifters! There's food for thought among the frolic. If you believe the keys to understanding a civilization are in its flotsam and jetsam, you will learn a lot about 20th century America here. And there's plenty of good advice about flea marketeering, how and where, etc. In fact, after lapping up each chapter, it's all I can do to keep from hitting the road! P.S. Thank you, Mary, for not finding MY favorite junque spots!
A Trip Through Time and Space.......1999-11-27
Ms. Carter's book was true journey thru the past.Who would not want to be reminded of our youth and members of families and oour friends who did not just collect this stuff but actually used it in their kitchens and homes. Thank you Mary Randolph Carter for your beautiful book and for bringing me back to years gone by. You must be a swell girl.
Am I a Junk-e?.......1999-11-22
My wife and I loved the first two Junk books. When we saw Kitchen Junk we thought Ms Carter might be milking a good thing. But, we found it just as fascinating and maybe even more fun. The photography is great, the "negotiating" tips are priceless; if you have even the slightest interest in what has to be the greatest way to spend leisure time...flea market hopping...you'll love this book. We did.
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Cheating the junk-pile,: The purchase and maintenance of household equipments,
Ethel R Peyser
Manufacturer: E.P. Dutton & co., inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B00086NRLK |
Book Description
"Recipes for making potpourri sachets, scented candles, [and more]. . . Many good suggestions for decorating. . ."-- Library Journal.
"This delightful little book is for all flower lovers, rose gardeners, herb fanciers, and all who love the sweet smell of spring. Included are recipes and instructions for making enchanted scented concoctions-things like potpourris, sachets, incense, pomander balls, toilet water, and other flowery things"-- The South Carolina Gardener. Selection of the Better Homes & Gardens Family Book Service. 209,000 copies in print.
Customer Reviews:
Not for Incense.......2003-11-14
As a general book for people wanting to work with fragrant materials it has some contribution, but I couldn't recommend the techniques on making incense, or for someone looking for books on natural aromatics. That just isn't what this book is about.
A good how-to book for making fragrant things........2002-01-01
This is about the only book on the market that I've been able to find on making aromatics that isn't just stuffed with useless "new age" tripe, especially on making incense. Incense is more than 5000 years old. Wicca and the literary works it is based on have been around at most 200 years. The use of incense in Christian services alone predates the wiccan use of it by at least 1800 years, yet every reference available bombards you with the nonsensical "modern" reinterpretation.
Rubbish.
The antiquity of incense is well established, and in all that time, the process for making it has changed little.
If you are looking for a simple book on making incense, potpourri and other fragrant things, without all the odius drivel, this is the best I've been able to find to date.
Customer Reviews:
My favourite for weekend projects or more.......2001-04-24
This really is one of my favourite books for helping me do new projects. It's just great, as it covers all kind of effects that are good not only for walls but anything you can think of. It helps you plan, prepare, execute and then admire your achievement. With easy to follow instructions for stenciling, wood work or what ever you want (you'll find it in here). It teaches you what products are used for what, how to achieve an effect. You will learn fast HOW TO what ever you want to work on. This book is highly recomended for beginers or those who are still not pro's.
Book Description
A print is a pictorial image that has been produced by a process that enables it to be multiplied, and many of the best-known works by some of the world's greatest artists are prints. Yet little is understood about this popular art form. Now Antony Griffiths provides an excellent introduction for anyone who wishes to acquire a basic understanding of prints and printmaking. In succinct and lucid language, he explains the different printmaking techniques and shows both details and whole prints to demonstrate the effects that can be achieved. Woodcuts, engraving, etching, mezzotint, and lithography are among the many processes explained, illustrated, and placed within a historical context.
This fully revised and updated edition of the highly praised 1980 British publication is available for the first time in the United States. With its complete glossary, index, and helpful illustrations, Griffiths's book is the essential foundation for an intelligent appreciation of the printmaker's art.
Customer Reviews:
Great introductory reference.......2007-07-11
If you've just started your love affair with fine prints, you're sure to want a better understanding of just what this thing is and how its unique character came about. Griffiths's book would work well as your first guide to the technique and history of printmaking.
The tour starts with the major categories of technique (relief, intaglio, litho, and silkscreen), then discusses the extensions needed for printing in multiple colors, followed by a summary of photo processes applicable to each technique. This isn't a how-to for the aspiring printmaker or an academically meticulous history. Instead, it's just enough to let the new printlover know what the words mean and what the differences are, along with a sketch of the major who and when in printmaking innovation. I fault it only for under-representing the incredible art and technique of the Japanese woodcut masters.
Illustrations abound, demonstrating nearly every point that Griffiths brings up. The bibliography by itself is worth attention - it not only lists sources of information, it categorizes them by areas of interest and adds other comments about each one. Very few bibliographies in any field offer that kind of help to the reader. And, as the beginner might hope, it ends with a list of common abbreviations and a strong glossary. This book is a great way to introduce new printlovers to the object their of affection.
-- wiredweird
Very useful book.......2002-08-27
This is an excellent book for anyone trying to learn more about the various kinds of printmaking techniques. It is very useful for identification of prints. Lots of great pictures and text that explains the techniques and history very well. I highly recommend it.
What is printmaking?.......2000-04-17
Have you ever tried to explain to an art student what is printmaking? Better. Have you ever tried to explain to an art student why it's still important? You can try to do a very long speech about how it was and still is important for artists. You can say that print was for an artist like Rembrant a way of thinking. And you could even explain how the techniques used by the artists were connected with their subjects. But you can't only talk you must show some pictures. That is exactaly what this book does. The autor was very sucesfully in showing us the value of printmaking since the "unknow masters" to our century. He can explain without being boring how etchings were doing and I believe he could do so because the pictures were sharpily choosen. Without doubt no art teatcher can miss these piece. And it's essential to any print lover.
Average customer rating:
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James Stewart: The Hollywood Years
James Pickard , and
Roy Pickard
Manufacturer: Robert Hale & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Actors & Actresses
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ASIN: 0709061137 |
Book Description
People just liked him said director John Ford after working on three movies with Jimmy Stewart. It remains the simplest yet most accurate summing-up of the appeal and talent of an actor who for nearly 60 years has remained one of Hollywood's most
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