Book Description
The Japanese character for 'Amlie' is the same as that for 'rain,' and in her brilliant and tender autobiographical novel Amlie Nothomb shows how right that is. After she emerges from a prolonged veget-a-tive state, the main character, a two-year-old child,dives into the world with abandon. That world hap-pens to be Japan, a place where children under three are con-sidered gods. The Character of Rain is a portrait of the artist as an infant, as well as a haunting depiction of infancy itself-its terrors, joys, and, most of all, its immer-sions. From the author of the acclaimed bestseller Fear and Trembling, this is a novel about beginnings.
Customer Reviews:
A Story of the Fall.......2005-04-14
"In the beginning was nothing, and this nothing had neither form not substance -it was nothing other than what it was." I read the opening sentence of Amélie Nothomb's, The Character of Rain (Métaphysique des Tubes), and was hooked. I was not disappointed. Using a Japanese belief that children are gods until age 3, at which time they fall and become human Nothomb constructs a brilliant study of infancy. Deeply autobiographical, like all her work, and deeply philosophical, like all her work, what amazed me most was how completely she captured or imagined the self-preoccupation that is early childhood. Any child will believe it is the center of the universe (and why not an infant must be watched and waited on), and yet the same child will experience "the fall," the recognition that he or she is not a god, is not the center of the universe. Nothomb's ability to recognize this essential problem of being a child and tease out of her own experience the joys and pains of existence in a way that is as imminently and entertainingly readable as it is philosophical is where her genius lies. I've never read anything like it.
The Character of Rain, the Character of God.......2005-03-27
The translation of this book into English has been done extraordinarily well and there is seemingly no loss of nuance and feeling in the strangely compelling storyline.
The child protagonist is a mere tot when she starts to tell her story but in the beginning we are treated to her creation when she was a "tube" "a plant" "a vegetable" bought into life by sweet white chocolate and her Belgian Grandmother's hand. Now we all know the best chocolate comes from Belgian and whether the author meant us to realise this (somehow I think she did) we are drawn into the strange world of a child who has the mind of a little God but has the body of a baby girl. She can talk before she is two years old but for a long time she hides it from her family, but fluently speaks Japanese to her favourite Nanny Nishio-San whose simple outlook on life lets her accept without real question this anomaly.
At first the characters in the book are one dimensional, the "little God's" parents and older siblings nothing more than card-board cut-outs but slowly with the turning of each page, everyone gradually comes to life, the two Japanese Nanny's are my favourite characters, one good and loving toward the "little God", the other arrogant and contemptuous of her European ward, all in all a complex relationship between various people and various levels of the mind.
The book ends with the "little God" making a serious attempt to take her own life, she wants to die, and she wants to leave the world before she looses all her "Godhead," but she is saved and in being saved she is lost.
This is a kind of Paradise Lost for the modern world and I would highly recommend it but only for those readers who like to read strange books like myself.
"The Metaphysics of Tubes".......2003-07-04
I have to believe that it was the publisher, and not the translator, who took the wonderful (and easily translatable)title of the French edition and turned it into something that sounds like the title of a police procedural (set in Seattle starring Andy Garcia, that you would avoid if you were to stumble past it on HBO), rather than the original and beautiful thing it is.
This is one of my favorite books. No summary will do it justice.
I went back to the re-read the French edition (currently known in America as "the freedom edition") and found that the important chapter about the character of rain appears two thirds of the way through the book and it is NOT central. The discussion of tubes at the beginning and end of the book (as related to the godlike infant/narrator and to her pet koi) are the meat of the story.
This is a pet peeve of mine (or more correctly, a black beast [bete noire] of mine). Why the prejudgement among American publishers that their readers will react violently against philosophy? Thank god they didn't spot the Kierkegaardian echoes in her "Stupeur et Tremblements" or they would have found something different than "Fear and Trembling" for the American edition. It's not just here and with Scholastic's change of the Philospher's Stone to the Sorcerer's Stone either; there is a general dumbing down of titles when they cross the Atlantic.
This wonderful book deserves its real title.
metaphysical autobiographical tale.......2003-04-16
In the beginning before there is an Amélie, God exists as a tube eating, breathing, and excreting. However, the creators are a bit unhappy that this baby behaves more like a vegetable so these parents nickname the tube "la Plante". However, two years later la Plante abruptly moves and cries. Then the Tube's Belgium grandma arrives with the most devastating poison known in the universe, white chocolate. The Tube tastes the sweetness and a new conscience has metamorphosed. Life in the tube has turned quite sweetly though the awakening of Amelie makes her realize that paradise will be lost.
This unusual autobiographical tale first is told in the third person until the pivotal moment in history, the infamous chocolate incident, when the plot is written as a first person narrative. Not everyone will want to read this metaphysical story, but those who do will find a clever, witty, and intelligent tale that even makes the earliest of days come across realistically. Except for the title, fans will appreciate Amelie Nothomb's work that does not miss a beat in the translation from the original French MÉTAPHYSIQUE DES TUBES.
Harriet Klausner
Where's the character?.......2002-10-21
The authors use of diction in juxtaposition with his syntax creates a linguistic reality all religious people should worship. Amelie shines with luminous beauty creating a colorful rainbow in her novel, The Character of Rain, as the stunning end becomes more rewardfull than any pot of gold. I recommend all fall to their primitive desire to make sense of this world, and worship the rain, because it can be incredibly refreshing after many a dry book.
Average customer rating:
- Simple
- Greek Boxer
- A salt and pepper mystery
- Awesome.
- Enjoyable if you like Character-Based Mysteries
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Right as Rain: A Novel
George P. Pelecanos
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
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ASIN: 0316695262 |
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George Pelecanos's Washington, D.C., is a far cry from the upwardly mobile, tourist-attraction-speckled enclave of Margaret Truman (Murder at the National Cathedral, Murder in Georgetown). Pelecanos's capital is a haunting terrain of drugs and death, a no man's land of posturing dealers and skeletal warehouses that shelter their buyers:
A rat scurried into a dim side room, and a withered black face receded into the darkness. The face belonged to a junkie named Tonio Morris. He was one of the many bottom-of-the-food-chain junkies, near death and too weak to cut out a space of their own on the second floor; later, when the packets were delivered to those with cash, they'd trade anything they had, anything they'd stolen that day, or any orifice on their bodies for some rock or powder.
When PI Derek Strange is hired by Chris Wilson's mother to find out why her son, a black cop, was killed by a white cop, Terry Quinn, on a dark night in that no man's land, Strange figures that the answer is painfully clear: a typical case of mistaken identity, fueled by the assumptions and preconceptions of Quinn's innate racism. But what Strange finds is a tentative kinship with Quinn, who is desperate to proclaim himself "color-blind." Kicked off the force and convinced that there's more to his own story, Quinn asks to join Strange in his investigation. As the two pry into the past, drifting through the neighborhoods both men have known all their lives, they find themselves enmeshed in a tangle of cold-blooded competition and heated personal enmity.
Pelecanos generally has a light touch with the treacherous quagmire of -isms, veering only occasionally into sententious meanderings about the consequences of an economically and racially divided society. His wry humor, particularly in his descriptions of Earl and Ray, the heroin middlemen who bring the concept of white trash to a depressingly low level, leavens the novel's noir bleakness. And Strange himself is a compelling character: a middle-aged black man who has seen more of life's callousness than he cares to admit, and whose jitteriness about personal commitment speaks volumes about his own expectations for happiness. A strong character and a good read--Pelecanos fans can settle in and look forward to Strange's next appearance. --Kelly Flynn
Book Description
The mother of a young police officer killed by another cop hires Derek Strange to clear up the lingering doubts surrounding her sons death. After Strange interviews the accused cop Quinn, he joins the investigation, even though in part he is investigating himself and whether his own prejudices led him to pull the trigger.
Customer Reviews:
Simple.......2007-05-09
Terribly simplistic book. The only redeeming qualities are that it is a very fast read and it is always interesting to read books based in DC which do not involve politics. The story was weak and simplistic and the characters were right out of a cereal box. If only I could get/understand all of the music references, maybe that would have made the book more solid. In my opinion, find a different crime novel to read, maybe even another Pelecanos book.
Greek Boxer.......2007-03-03
Since I discovered Pelecanos, he is my favorite crime writer. (Rankin still writes my favorite cop stories though, followed by Connelly.) GP's style is unique: ethnically mixing Greeks with Blacks, in his subjects mixing ordinary, but explosive crime stories with sharp descriptions of social reality, in his main characters building on empathy with the good, the bad and the ugly. He wrote a series of related stories involving his Greek creations Nick Stefanos and Dimitri Karras, respectively their family history over several decades of DC history.
Right as Rain builds up new characters, a black and a white ex-cop, again both very contradictory and complex, involved in DC crime economics: drugs, prostitution, race conflicts...
As there is no Greek main character involved this time, at least the black hero with the strange name Strange (Strange Investigations, what a great company name!) has a dog named Greco.
Strange and his Irish pal Quinn keep dancing around race issues like a pair of Greek philosophers in a Platonian dialogue.
Great stuff, and right as rain.
A salt and pepper mystery.......2007-02-01
The only detective series featuring a black detective I know of besides this one is Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins novels. In my humble opinion, this one is better.
Derek Strange is a more well-rounded character for one thing. He's fifty-something years old, an ex-cop who retired from the force thirty years before. When on duty, he carries a Leatherman, a buck knife and advanced technology such as Night Vision goggles. He does not shy away from a fight. On the other hand, he goes to church and he visits his mother in a convalescent home. He also has commitment issues. He's in love with his secretary and would like a family, but he keeps several girls on the side and often visits massage parlors. He also has a love for old records, many of which are vinyl and secretly collects theme music from old western movies.
This is also a salt and pepper mystery in that Derek's sidekick in this yarn is Terry Quinn, another ex-cop who quit the force after being accused of shooting a black officer. Derek is hired by the victim's mother to rehabilitate her son's name. When Derek interviews Quinn about the case, they bond. For one thing, Quinn is addicted to western novels. Eventually the case revolves around the drug trade in Washington D.C., including Columbians, redneck middle men, and the heroine-addicted sister of the black officer Terry mistaken killed. Quinn is also conflicted as he's not sure the shooting wasn't racially motivated. This eventually affects his relationship with his black girlfriend, Juana.
Washington D.C. is an integral character in this narrative as Strange maneuvers his vintage car through avenues and streets named after states and the alphabet. This is modern noir with much of the action going down in the seedy sections of D.C.
Most detective series worry little about the personal lives of their protagonists. The story in RIGHT AS RAIN will remind you of Rockford File episode, but Pelecanos's emphasis on the personal lives of Strange, Quinn and the city of Washington D.C. brings it to invigorating life.
RIGHT AS RAIN was my first Derek Strange, but I'll definitely be reading him again.
Awesome........2006-08-18
Pelecanos is a great write no matter. But if you have any experience in DC then its all the more sweet. A tight, gripping novel and great characters and descriptions. Nice plots also. All of his novels are good and they are a great read. I happened upon his a an airport bookseller. It was a GREAT change of pace from the standard rubrick of NYPD Cops, International Spys, or War novels so frequently found around. If you're looking for an action-packed- but very well written novel then definitely pick up one by Pelecanos.
Enjoyable if you like Character-Based Mysteries.......2006-07-27
I ultimately enjoyed this novel, which is the first I've read by Pelecanos. If you read crime fiction, Pelecanos is often held up as the most underappreciated crime writer in the business. The critics adore him (as well as writers such as Michael Connelly, Elmore Leonard, and Dennis Lehane), but his books have never been bestsellers.
This book is certainly well written, but the plot is very slow paced. Pelecanos writes the stories as a series of vignettes involving a lot of different characters. You really don't understand how all these different characters relate to one another until you're about halfway through the novel. At that point, things begin to gel together and you understand what Pelecanos is getting at.
In short, this novel requires a certain amount of patience. This really isn't a thriller or a suspense book at all. It's more of a character-based crime drama. A lot of the characters in this book are in bleak situations and are not very attractive. Even the heroes have severe flaws. There's some humor in this book, but not a lot like Elmore Leonard's books. There also isn't a lot of action in this book until the last 50 pages or so. If you're looking for an entertaining beach read, this book probably won't satisfy you.
Still, I think the writing and dialogue in this book are top-notch. I therefore recommend this book to people who prefer crime novels that are darker and more literary in flavor. I'm glad I stuck with it to the end.
Book Description
Mannheim, 1777. The four Weber sisters, daughters of a musical family, share a crowded, artistic life in a ramshackle house. Their father scrapes by as a music copyist; their mother keeps a book of prospective suitors hidden in the kitchen. The sisters struggle with these marriage prospects as well as their musical futures-until one evening at their home, when 21-year- old Wolfgang Mozart walks into their lives.
No longer a prodigy and struggling to find his own place in the music world, Mozart is enthralled with the Weber sisters: Aloysia's beauty and talent captivates him; Josefa's rich voice inspires him; Sophie becomes his confidante; and Constanze comes to play a surprising role in his life.
Eighteenth-century Europe comes alive with unforgiving winters and yawning princes; scheming parents and the enduring passions of young talent. Set in Mannheim, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna, Marrying Mozart is the richly textured love story of a remarkable historical figure-and four young women who engaged his passion, his music, and his heart.
Customer Reviews:
Mozart personified....romantic, not romanticized!.......2007-07-05
This is a brilliant novel! Romanticism of the 19th Century perpetuated myths surrounding Mozart's genius along with an extreme laudatory tone that deemed him a distant, God-like entity. Just as 20th Century scholarship addressed fallacies pertaining to Mozart's education, compositional methods and so forth, Stephanie has opened the door to Mozart's personal life for us, so that we may take a glimpse! We are transported to 1777, beyond musical notation into the insights of a young man who is witty, charming, flawed and sometimes without valor. As a coloratura soprano and dedicated Mozartian with substantial research to her credit, Stephanie gives us an historically informed fiction which fills in the blank pages from Mozart's earliest associations with the Weber family to his quest for marital bliss within its confines. Stephanie's narrative often focuses on the relationship between the Weber sisters, which reminds me dearly of "Little Women." Struggles and hardship co-exist with moments of felicity. The story is romantic, but not romanticized. In a word, it is scrumptious! Tears, laughter, frustration...it is an emotional investment worth every page. Her knowledge as both historian and vocalist make this novel a very special adventure for all who indulge. Highly recommended!
A promising beginning, but ultimately a painful read.......2007-02-22
I'm frankly a little surprised to see so many positive reviews of this book. I was intrigued by the story at the beginning, but as it unfolded, the characters seemed more and more wooden and the dialogue became laughable. If I had to hear Mrs. Weber call her daughters "my little fleas" one more time, I vowed to stop reading. I finally ended up skimming the last 50 pages to end my misery, as I really didn't care what happened to the shallow characters. I think Stephanie Cowell has the potential to be a good descriptive writer, but somehow this story fell painfully flat. Kudos to her for the underlying idea, which was a creative approach to telling the tale of Mozart. I would not, however, recommend this book to those who desire a more lyrical--and believable--read.
Shallow and pulpy.......2007-02-14
Mozart is one of history's many mysteries. Many have tried to solve the puzzle that is this genius - the man composed his first music at the age of five, for god's sake - but it is still a wonder how he managed to pour his soul into his art and become immortal. Unfortunately, Stephanie Cowell's novel is not interested in that.
Cowell decides to approach the enigma that was Mozart through the women in his life, the Weber sisters. This could have worked very well (after all, every great artist has his muses), but what this novel turns out to be is a pulpy, nauseously romanticized beach lit. It seems that the author was more interested in the atmosphere than its characters, which leaves the reader wanting more, especially if one is not particularly interested in the lives the 18th century women led, the make-up they used and marriage opportunities they thought were agreeable. It is very shallow, despite some of its rare emotionally intense moments. If you are really looking for some historical fiction, switch to Tracy Chevalier. However, if you are off to Hawaii, and need something to both entertain you and enlighten you on a high school level, look no further - you'll find Stephanie Cowell's "Marrying Mozart" most satisfactory.
Excellent!.......2006-06-07
Very well-written. The dialogue in particular is very believable for the time and place (aside from a few scenes at the beginning where the characters tell each other things they already know). It's obvious that the writer knows a lot about music. The story is both fun and serious. I enjoyed this book a lot, and if you love historical fiction, you will too.
The Perfect Novel for the Mozart Anniversary Year.......2006-06-06
As Mozart turned 250 this January 27th, I was rereading Stephanie Cowell's elegant and humorous novel for the third time. If you're weary of the vulgar and immature Mozart portrayed in the film "Amadeus," this book will warm your heart while correcting the biographical details. In Ms. Cowell's sumptuous version of Mozart's story, the young composer meets the four Weber sisters (Aloysia, Constanze, Josefa, and Sophie), and quickly falls in love with Aloysia, a temperamental diva who became one of his leading interpreters. When the soprano runs off with another man, however, Wolfgang comes to realize that the aptly named Constanze may be his "unsung" true love, an epiphany and plot twist that Ms. Cowell handles with extraordinary grace and charm. The author was an opera singer, and her prose sings with a rhythm all its own. She excels at depicting both the complex family relationships in the Weber household and Mozart's musical struggles as he began to write and produce his first operas. "Marrying Mozart" shows the human side of genius and in that way it is more compelling than many Mozart biographies I've read. I enjoyed this book so much, I may read it for the fourth time before the Mozart year is over.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best books I have ever read!.......2000-03-20
I have to agree with the other review. The people are to real. I base most of my beliefs and my life on this book and the other books about the people. It has helped me with raising my children and with handling all of lifes issues. A must for all to read!
The People is US - we've just forgotten ourselves........1998-11-26
I have devoured every one of Zenna Henderson's books on the People, with the nagging conviction that there was very little "fiction" about it. It seems to me the abilities of the People are abilities we might well have had in the past, and forgotten. Perhaps with the raising of consciousness that is occurring now, we may just be able to remember. For the sake of the world, I hope so. I believe it was her books read as a young teenager which started my own explorations into what being 'Human' means and what we might really be capable of if we try.
Book Description
The publisher says this book "exposes the political forces around the world that are cooperating to unite the people of this planet under a New World Order. Some of the most recognizable names in America are on this list!"
Customer Reviews:
Side-Splitting Entertainment.......2007-02-02
I read this book thinking that it was based in international relations, though Mr. Kah's credentials as listed on the back of the book (two instances of "Who's Who" mailing list presence) and online (Middle East Trade Representative for the state of Indiana) weren't promising.
It's not really worth mentioning that the entire book is geared toward a certain crowd of people who will already believe what he says before he says it-- whether it's the contention that watermark space on international money is going to be used for a seal when the world switches to one international currency, or the idea that the breeding ground for the antichrist movement is health food stores-- so it's better to skip right over that criticism.
Let's concentrate on something else-- the writing is terrible. Exclamation points are used to giddy excess, multiple-page quotes abound, and lists names and references are used mid-chapter. This makes it difficult to read, despite the entertaining parts.
In conclusion, this book supports a dangerous idea rather than exposing one. The idea that working to undermine nationalism is the path to apocalypse is a great way to prevent a one-world government. Wouldn't it be much more ideal to continue to have ultranationalists and ethnic conflicts? Wouldn't that be great?
En Route to Global Occupation, Gary Kah.......2006-05-29
This book depicts a great conspiracy in which the people (pawns)of the world are lead like sheep into a satanic one world/one religion scenario. Where the European and world's elite resurrect the anti-christ through "occult" religions at the same time establishing their ubiquitous control over the world. The only way to stop this diabolical plan is of course through (say it with me now people) Jesuuuus Chriiist. Every time Mr. Kah presents evidence or a point of fact he taints it with born again rhetoric and biblical quotes as if they were a factual counterpoint This book is clearly a recruiting tool for the religious right in the same vein as the Turner Diaries are for the more radical sects of the right. It is truly a shame that world events can be manipulated and reduced to part of a christian fear campaign. I don't know which is worse, Mr. Kah's force feeding of christian belief upon government and every aspect of daily life or his representation of knowledge making him a veritable modern day Nostradamus.
Solidly researched, very well put together........2006-03-04
Gary Kah really puts it together very well in his book. He takes disparate pieces of the puzzle and puts it together to show the big picture. He connects the econonomic, political, religious/New Age, and other links and puts it all together convincingly. .Sometimes the perspective of a true insider makes all the difference. Kah is truly an insider. He provides impeccable credentials, as well as thorough footnotes and documentation of the facts. Case closed. This is a book that insiders dont want you to read.
Very well done. This New World Order thing is a lot further along than some people might think.
Bunker Buddies in Tighty Whites.......2005-12-23
Several observations.
1. Are their folks up to no good in the world-YES
2. Is the world headed towards a one world government- YES
3. Is this one world government being head up by forces of EVIL, beyond human understanding (Satan)- YES
4. Does this book help anyone, who doesn't already believe the previous statements, come to that belief.-NO NO NO
The book is poorly written, poorly researched and printed in a way that would make you think it was vanity press.
A Warning That Should Be Heeded!!!.......2004-08-23
My mom bought and sent this book to me in the mid-90's. As I would later find out, Gary Kah is a talented public speaker, radio talk personality and author. According to Kah, he has undergone much personal & professional distress because of this book and his beliefs.
After first reading this book, I'll admit I was skeptical about his conclusions. Then it occurred to me that (1) that pyramid on the dollar bill is spooky (2) In God We Trust--which god are we talking about here? (3) A global currency would benefit big business interests (4) why would Kah go through so much if this was all bunk?
The book is a blistering read and well worth considering whether you believe as he does or not.
Book Description
Bargain Books are non-returnable.
Along with the recent surge of attention to Eastern European cultures and traditions comes a renewed interest in indigenous Polish cooking. From appetizers to desserts, this comprehensive little volume includes recipes for such favorites as Herring with Sour Cream, Veal Soup with Rice, Beetroot and Horseradish Salad, Partridges and Red Cabbage, Pierogi, Roast Duck with Apple and Caraway Seeds, Pears in Caramel, and Krupnik (a smooth honey vodka flavored with orange and vanilla).
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, and Acurate.......2001-02-22
I'm Carribbean, but my husband is Polish-American. The recipes are so Autentic that I even impressed his Grandmother. What I loved most about it was that it included enough but not too many recipes so that it was easy to plan a full menu from it.
Book Description
This newest book by Margo Rana is an identification and price guide to all of variations of BARBIE play and collector dolls which were manufactured by Mattel in the decade of the 1980s. Also included are versions of Ken, P.J., Whitney, Midge, Christie, Skipper, and other Mattel favorites. The 80s were also a prime period for wonderful Black, Hispanic and Asian versions of the BARBIE family. In almost every case, the different variations of each type of doll is shown and described. 450 color photos. 160 pages.
Customer Reviews:
Barbie Collectors will love this one!.......1998-06-25
Chock full of full-color photos, descriptions and values, this latest book from Hobby House Press is a great reference for any Barbie collector. Covering the years 1980-1990, author Margo Rana has described each doll in detail, depicting each with clear color photos, often several to a page. Boxes and fashions are also pictured. This is a book no serious Barbie collector will want to be without.
Book Description
Everybody's knitting these days, and this practical handbook speaks to the popularity of that meditative, fulfilling craft. It features basic patterns for mittens, scarves, socks, hats, and bags, plus a reference for techniques, designs, sizing, pattern modifications, yarns, die-cut needle gauge guide, and gauge ruler. From graph paper for plotting dimensions to a nifty needle inventory page at the end, we've thought of everything a knitter needs to be organized. Special sections were designed for documenting works in progress, keeping track of completed projects, and future creations.
Customer Reviews:
Take your knitting to the next level.......2004-08-22
What do you do when you've learned the basic skills of knitting -- casting on & off, knitting, purling -- and are looking to expand your skills and become a better knitter? The answer is simple: buy this book. Lisa Myers, owner of Rosie's Yarn Cellar in Philadelphia, has been in the yarn business for years and is an experienced writer and teacher. She shares her hard-earned knowledge in this book, designed to take novice knitters to the next level (although even experienced knitters can learn a lot and will appreciate the charts and technical info). She gives practical advice for picking yarns, selecting stitch patterns, and incorporating design techniques for a variety of garments: mittens, hats, socks, and so on. There are helpful illustrations and plenty of tables and other information to help you make sense of it all. Don't spend the rest of your life blindly following other people's patterns: become a thinking knitter and make the knitted garments YOU want to make.
Take your knitting to the next level.......2003-10-31
The fall chill is setting in, and Christmas is just around the corner -- so now's the time to curl up in front of the fireplace (or maybe just the TV) with a cup of hot chocolate, a pair of knitting needles, and a big ball of yarn. Knitting, after all, is cool again -- it's not just for old ladies anymore.
Once you've learned the basics, and you've mastered basic, boring scarves (every member of my family and every one of my friends now owns at least one hand-knit scarf), you're ready to go out on a limb a bit. In The Joy of Knitting Companion, Myers, a yarn store owner who's been knitting since she was eight, gives all kinds of insight into the craft. In the pages of this book, you'll find tips on selecting the perfect yarn for a project, basic patterns for hats, socks, scarves, mittens, and bags, and a few refreshers of the basics. You'll also learn how to read charts and make your projects even more personal -- by designing your own patterns.
The Joy of Knitting Companion is chock-full of instructions for new stitches and patterns and suggestions that will even make you excited to knit boring old scarves again. Myers also includes graphs for designing your own patterns and pages for filling in information about various yarns, the projects you've completed, and more.
This book is definitely a must-have for any knitter -- every page is full of information that you'll want to refer to over and over again.
Good for beginners.......2003-05-10
I think that this book might be good for someone just starting to knit. If you have done much knitting, this probably isn't the book for you. I got it because I hope it will be helpful for beginning students. It does give some suggestions and formulas which will be helpful. I would probably recommend checking it out of the library instead of buying it.
Book Description
New ideas for the most decorated rooms in the house.
Photos, budget-stretching advice, and how-to instructions allow readers to create the bed and bath of their dreams.
Nurseries and kidsÂ' rooms feature the latest styles and paint colors.
Master suites from classic country to contemporary styles.
Average customer rating:
- An intriguing book of erotic art
- Skintight Erotica
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Skintight: The Art of Marcus Gray
NA , and
Marcus Gray
Manufacturer: SQP
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Art of Jon Hul
ASIN: 0865620601 |
Book Description
Marcus Gray has created his own distinct "retro-futuristic" style. Unique, sensual works created by a fusion of gouache and colored pencil, Gray's work highlights sexy women in fetish themes. Gray has obviously been influenced by a variety of artists: Sorayama, Olivia, Cartagena and even Yoshitaka Amano and Alphonse Mucha, each of whose style he melds into his own intoxicating vixen. Works are printed in full color, full-page on glossy paper.
Customer Reviews:
An intriguing book of erotic art.......2005-11-27
Marcus Gray is undoubtably, a very talented artist. I have never seen someone who can render their subjects with such layered looks. His art manages to convey the subtlty of transparent material over the human form. He makes it look easy. His models are beautiful, his subjects erotic, and his artwork amazing. Truly a treat.
Skintight Erotica.......2003-05-09
I first saw Marcus Gray's work in the fetish magazine, Marquis, and it was a treat recently to come across this collection of his illustrations. There are so many fantasy/fetish artists around who churn out the same standard slick airbrush stuff, that this book of genuinely erotic images stands out as a breath of fresh air. Marcus has a wonderful painterly style which looks deceptively loose and free, but actually nails the essence of his subject far more realistically than any amount of airbrush detailing. His ability to render texture and form with the simplest of brushstrokes is exquisite. An excellent collection to be enjoyed again and again.
Average customer rating:
- WAITING FOR THE SEQUEL......................
- Interesting and enjoyable you don't want to put it down
- It shows the high and lows of acting.
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Surrender the Jealous Mistress
Shawn McAllister
Manufacturer: Star Group International, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1884886019 |
Book Description
Constantin Stanislavaski, father of the Method School of Acting at the Moscow Art Theatre in the Nineteenth Century, described the theatre as a jealous mistress. By that he meant that once she seduces you, she will dominate you, and demand 110 percent of your attention and devotion with no guarantees in return. Surrender the Jealous Mistress is the autobiographical story of Shawn McAllister's theatrical life.
Customer Reviews:
WAITING FOR THE SEQUEL.............................2000-06-17
I really enjoyed this book. The honesty and forthrightness in which it is written allowed me to experience the many ups and downs of Mr. Mcallister's life and reminded me how vulnerable we all are. Surrender the Jealous Mistress is truly entertaining . It is one of those books that you don't want to end or at least you want a sequel to find out what is happening with the main character in the next chapters of his life.
Through the stories told in this book, I was able to understand the passions that persons involved in theater and other venues of acting share. The many antidotes about well know celebrities told from an insiders point of view were entertaining. I was intrigued by the vanities of some celebs and the humbleness of others.
Thanks for creating a book that is candid and provides immense entertainment. I waiting for the sequel...............
Interesting and enjoyable you don't want to put it down.......1999-08-03
While reading this book it gave me the insight of what it is like to be an actor. I enjoyed it very much. It showed a love for a father and how far one would go to get his approval. One thing I can say is once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Being from Florida for many years and religion being a big part of my life I only wish I had the pleasure of hearing him read or perform in person. If he is as good as his book it would be a wonderful experience I'm sure.
It shows the high and lows of acting........1999-07-27
The book tells of how hard it is to get into the acting profession. It tells of all the things you have to give up and how hard it would be to give it up. It tells you of the addiction to the theater and acting through a mans eyes. While centering mostly on his acting he tells only some of his life leading to the decision to be one. He also shows that as a true proffessional even personal tragadys come second when it is time for the curtain to go up or for the cameras to roll. I enjoyed it very much.
Books:
- The Collected Stories of Richard Yates
- The Dancing Girl of Izu and Other Stories
- The Epicure's Lament
- The Future Homemakers of America
- The Girl Who Played Go: A Novel
- The Hazards of Good Breeding: A Novel
- The Infinite Plan: A Novel
- The Loss of Leon Meed: A Novel
- The Lost Get-Back Boogie
- The Lucky Gourd Shop
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