Book Description
With over three million copies sold, O'Hara's great novel of America in the first half of the century was made into an acclaimed film starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. It richly chronicles one man's rise to wealth, power, and prominence - and the haunting sense of failure at his heart.
Customer Reviews:
Anybody seen the introduction . . . ?.......2006-11-17
I've only just started reading this book, having just finished O'Hara's flat-out fantastic "Appointment in Samarra" so I don't have a review yet per se (although it's great so far), I just have a question: where the heck is the introduction by Budd Schulberg?? I've worked in bookstores for many years and have flipped through several copies of this book and have never once seen a copy with the introduction in it. I like Schulberg, I'd be interested in what he has to say. Be nice if the publishers would put the thing in one of these days . . . still, I shouldn't complain, I guess, they could've included the introduction and forgot the book.
Once again with feeling, Norma.......2006-02-02
Where else can one learn of the details of early 20th century America than in O'Hara's novels. Much underrated as a writer particularly his short stories. I enjoy his work like the Lockwood Concern so much. He is the Faulkner of eastern PA.
I have seldom read such great dialogue with local characteristics. His conversations between men and women as they explore and fulfill their own sexuality are unequaled. Can run a little long but so enjoyable.
Extraordinary historical novel with relevant themes..........2004-01-16
I discovered this book by looking up a clue in a crossword puzzle and felt intrigued to read it. What I found interesting which I haven't picked up in other reviews is the relevancy of emotional themes to our own lives. The complex relationships Alfred Eaton has with his father, mother, wife, mistress, nearly everyone he has a relationship with could be attributed to an emotionally distant father during his childhood however it's his self-centeredness on his career and social standing that contribute to his miserableness and the sheer lack of appreciation of his family and especially his children is akin to our generation of white-collar workers who are obsessed with material success. Alfred Eaton reminds me of at least half a dozen friends who are in loveless relationships with their spouses, leveraged to the hilt in debt, strangers to their children, and in a word, desperate. As depressing as this sounds, this is an enlightening read.
Entertaining & Cynical View of Successful American 1900-1950.......2001-03-02
This was my favorite book for about a decade, so it is difficult to write this review. I read it four times - all between the ages of 18 and 27. What did I love? It's tough, funny, and creates a vast and quite realistic panorama of northeast Pa. society in the early 1900s, Long Island society in the 1920s, NY investment banking, Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s, Washington during WWII. The writing is sharp, acerbic, extraordinary in its thorough descriptions of people's faces, haircuts, favorite drinks, cars, hats, umbrellas, cufflinks, watches, gloves, and what they signify socially. O'Hara is justly famous for the realism and biting wit of his dialogue, the great and easy flow of his narrative. One feels that there are ALWAYS many characters in his novels and short stories about whom others will say "oh, smart guy, eh?" and "take a poke at him", which is fun. It was all thrillingly adult when I was that age to read these - "ah, so that's the kind of sophistication I have to look forward to".
Elements I've since noticed: - O'Hara seems to feel that to tack on bleak endings for his most-liked characters is to be smart and naturalistic - yet in this case, the (quite vivid) Alfred Eaton character simply seems stronger than this. O'Hara also has a conventional sense of "normal sex", outside of which the reader is to know the character is truly evil (i.e., unable to love). O'Hara packs his novels with coincidence - as an adult, I have been truly disappointed that I DON'T run into acquaintances in restaurants, theaters, trains all the time! Finally, O'Hara's virtuous characters do not come across nearly as realistically.
In summary, O'Hara is limited - perhaps most by his times and his perception of the permanence of what are really quite transitory measures of quality in people. However, he's still very enjoyable to read. I think Updike wrote once that in the Orient, he'd be known as "Old Man Who Loves Writing" and that is perfectly true - the reader feels it. He's VERY readable, intelligent, but perhaps not truly wise in the more abiding of matters.
O'Hara keeps his promise to be a 20th Century chronicler.......2000-06-08
John O'Hara once said that one of his driving instincts in writing was to chronicle the first half of the 20th Century. A great deal of his large body of work does just this. "From the Terrace" is not only one of his best novels, but is sound history as well. We are introduced to poor Alfred Eaton who overcomes a bad childhood to become a success as an adult to become .... perhaps what he was meant to be all along. It's part Man in a Gray Flannel Suit and part Greek Tragedy. As to what it chronicles: the old boy WASP network of prep school / Harvard or Yale or Princeton / club life. One's early life provides networking forever for the fortunate upper class white male in that upper class. One sees how these same males get tapped during WW2 to fill the better positions opening up in Washington thanks to the war effort. O'Hara excels at the tiny details that expand in your mind to tell an entire story. His dialogue (particularly between men and women) sounds true. Given the time in which he wrote, O'Hara got away with a lot of explicit sex. The lead character commits adultery and is all the more happy for it. If you've seen the movie with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, you should know that the book does not end with Paul Newman walking down a Manhattan street happy to be able to marry his mistress. In the book, he marries a second time, his naval career ends, and he finds his life taking a new turn.
Book Description
"Lady, when the clock strikes midnight, you're history!"
To settle an old score, dark and brooding Tripp Calhoun needed a wife for the night. Amber Colton could light up a room in five seconds, and even though her high-society pedigree clashed with his rough-hewn upbringing, she fit the bill perfectly. But what began as a "business trip" soon gave way to an outpouring of pent-up desire and shared dreams. Never before had he let a woman close enough to touch his tormented soul. Would the hardheaded doctor, used to controlling his own destiny, allow his trophy wife to close the deal?
Customer Reviews:
Tripp and Amber-SPOILERS.......2003-10-23
Favorite scene with Amber-
Risking herself when she gets the wife beater arrested and Tripp angry with her for what she did.
Favorite scene with Tripp-
At the wedding and being condemned for something he didn't do.
Together-
At the restaurant to make a good impression before being asked to attend a wedding.
What did you like about Amber-
She loved Tripp for who he was, and only bettered him so that he would get a better chance in life. She was so down to earth and kind to everyone.
What didn't you like about Amber-
She took risks, especially with the wife beater.
What did you like about Tripp-
How much he cared about the kids in his clinic, and not the money or prestige.
What didn't you like about Tripp-
He thought he could protect Amber by letting her go.
:).......2002-03-09
Dr. Tripp Calhoun is one of many foster children that stayed at the Colton ranch. Now back for a rare visit he runs into the very grown up Amber Colton. Amber learns that Tripp is in the running for a very important job. Tripp's problem is that the people in charge of making the hiring decisions are looking for a family man. Amber overhears this and offers herself as a temporary fiancee. Tripp gets more than he bargains for when his feelings for Amber are more than friendly. Amber is attracted to Tripp, but she is having a hard time breaking through the walls he has put between them.
Tripp and Amber make a very interesting couple. In some ways they are complete opposites. She comes from a rich pampered lifestyle and is used to men falling all over her. Tripp's childhood was the complete opposite and he has had to struggle for most of his life. Men are always trying to seduce Amber, so it is a complete shock when she has to play the seductress to get Tripp's attention. Tripp and Amber are also alike in many ways. They are both educated, stubborn, strong-willed people. Both have big hearts and care a great deal for those less fortunate than them. Tripp and Amber give us not only a taste of romance, but comedy as well. The food fight in the Colton's immaculate dining room was hilarious.
The most fascinating thing in this book was that Rand and Emily finally meet face to face with the `real' Meredith. I cannot wait for the next book in the hope that Meredith finally gets to come home and reconnect with the rest of her family. If you have not read the previous books in the series than I encourage you to do so.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-26
An overview of the places, people and technology in the Dune universe. This explains a lot of the detail of things that Herbert just mentions in passing, such as the scientists that invented shields, or space travel, or things like that.
It is very useful to gain a better understanding of all those finer points.
A must for Dune fans!.......2006-10-21
My copy of the Dune Encyclopedia is from 1985 and I remember seeing it on the shelf at the bookstore and purchasing it without even looking at it first!
It gives excellent detail about the technology written about in the series and insight that really adds to the Dune experience.
If you can find a copy of this book it is well worth the read. I am just amazed it is selling for $50.00+ (I paid $10 for mine in 1985) It would be nice to see this come back into print so more people can enjoy an in depth exploration into this wonderful series.
Irony.......2006-09-18
The first time I ran into the Dune Encyclopedia was purely by accident. I was on Morpheus (a P2P downloading site) and I typed down "DUNE" on the search bar, on the generated list was "The Dune Encyclopedia".
It took days for it to download because only one person was sharing it... meaning that not many people knew it existed and not many people have a digital ebook copy of this book.
Once it was finally on my computer I read as much as I could -- sadly my computer was experiencing many problems and crashed.
Sinse then, I've never been able to find another digital copy. I've resorted to purchasing a $30 one here on good ol' Amazon, however, sinse it's out of print and no publishing house is making any money off of it anymore, I say we as fans should force it back into print as an ebook.
Holy Grail found!!.......2005-11-13
Just recently I found a good condition copy of The Dune Encyclopedia at a local used book dealer. I was completely shocked to have found it on the "recent arrivals" shelf in the Sci-Fi section. I grabbed it up and leafed through it to verify its existence. It was real alright. The fact that I bought it for only $4.50 is more extraordinary. Yes, $4.50 !!! They must not have realized what a treasure they had.
So keep looking everyone, there are still hidden treasures out there to be found.
Wonderful compliment to the Dune series, however..........2005-05-08
The Dune encyclopedia should be read by all Dune fans as it provides some answers to the questions raised in the first four books of the series. The book is quite exhaustive in its scope totalling over 500+pages with illustrations. Almost every subtlety here is discussed in depth from Alia's degeneration to the elemental makeup of prehistoric Arrakis.
However, Frank Herbert himself in the forward admitted that while he endorsed the encyclopedia it was by no means a definitive source being that it was a collection of-highly intelligent well thought out- fan conjecture.
And the fan bias/expectations show in some cases.
A few to list are:
*The behaviour of the Duke leto in buying a BG concubine when everyone in the Imperium trusted the Bene Gesserit only in respects to how far they could throw one.
-The fate of Scytale the Tleilaxu face dancer.
-Piter De Vries was the first to create and employ residual poisons, however all of a sudden everyone and their wetnurse in the entire Imperium seems to know about it and utilizes it.
-The only instances of homosexuality(in the whole of the Imperium mind you) showing up in Harkonnen ancestry and descent even with contrary evidence in regards to certain characters. *rolls eyes*
- Modified Duncan Gholas when Leto specified that he only accepted the unchanged, original.
-The involvement of the Bene Gesserit in the Wanna Marcus/Harkonnen/Yueh incident, which only serves to make them look like veritable idiots.
Other points of contention are less the fault of bias but rather assumptions being made about the series before it had concluded with Dune Heretics and Chapterhouse Dune.
The illustrations are also quite helpful in giving one a visual of the characters and some of the technology used in the Dune series.
All in all this compendium of fan enthusiasm should be enjoyed with a grain of salt. It is certainly a better alternative than Brian Herbert's mauling of the mythos. I would suggest purchasing a copy if at all possible only because a reissue of the encyclopedia will be one edited to fit the inconsistencies in the prequals and thus not true to the vision of Frank Herbert and the scholars who created this work in his honor.
Customer Reviews:
Very interesting take on HP .......2007-08-26
I had the pleasure of seeing Connie Neal speak in person a few years ago. I had read her book prior to the event. There was quite a mixture of people in the room: christians, jews, atheists, wiccans, etc. Everyone seemed to find the talk quite interesting despite their differences in religious beliefs. What struck me most about what she said is this: (I'm paraphrasing) in a work this size you can find almost anything you look for. Every religion or political cause could find something to back up their claims. (Kind of like the bible, in my opinion) Does Ms. Neal really think Jo Rowling purposely wrote biblical teachings into Harry Potter? Nah. But, the comparisons are fascinating and there are definately some moral lessons to be learned from the books.
Excellent Resource for Parents and Youth Pastors .......2005-07-27
This book gives parents and youth leaders a way to redeem the Harry Potter stories, while also warning kids about the dangers of real witchcraft and distinguishing between fantasy and reality.
Gospel?.......2005-07-19
What a disappointment, and from someone trying to claim Christianity. Not only is this book rubbish, Jesus must weep at the thought of such garbage.
Rick in Orlando
Book Description
Crazy quilts are back, and they are more popular than ever! Through examination of several vintage crazy quilts, the author reveals the love and care with which the makers imbued their handiwork, as expressed in embroidered initials, dates, illustrated scenes, souvenir ribbons, and other mementos.
Customer Reviews:
I think it is a lovely book.......2006-12-09
I enjoyed seeing the beautiful antique quilts and reading about the makers. There are some nice close up of them as well so you can enjoy examining the details of the embellishments. Also included is instruction on how to make your own Crazy Quilt the old fashioned way.
Good how-to.......1999-06-18
Good photos & how-to. A detailed pattern for the crazy quilt in the movie "How to Make an American Quilt" is included. The text reads rather like a museum catalogue. There's also a fan quilt that was inherited by the author, but it isn't a crazy quilt so its inclusion here as a feature quilt is inappropriate. Like another reviewer I think Patty McCormick should have been acknowledged.
limited interest.......1999-05-31
it is unfortunate ms. dabbs did not list patty mccormick as the author of "pieces of an american quilt" when she listed the book as a reference source in the back of her book.
Customer Reviews:
ID yes value guide -- zero.......2002-08-14
There was nothing in this book but pictures and values of those pictures. The chances of having those exact pieces I would feel are about zero to zip. I thought this book would give you some idea what to look for and the value of collecting costume jewelry. I put it up for resale as soon as it arrived. I only wish I would of taken the time to read the other responses and then I would not of lost my money on this item.
A Useless Guide To Collecting Costume Jewelry.......2000-01-30
I found this to be such a useless guide to collecting costume jewelry that it astounds me that this book is currently in its third edition. The only positive is that the photos are in full color. However, only a very limited range of pieces is illustrated. I found the selected pieces to be mediocre and totally uninteresting examples considering the range of vintage jewelry now available on the internet. Harrice Simons Miller's guide has mostly black-and-white photos but is a far more useful tool to the serious collector and a far better value for the money.
Okay..........1999-08-21
This book provides nice color pictures with a fair variety. However, I found that some of the values seem inaccurate, usually too high.
Customer Reviews:
It covers everything!.......2000-06-03
I'm a cosmetology student and was supplied with this book by the school I attended. If given the choice now I would choose the same one myself. I have learned more from this book than I even knew was out there. It's easy to read, understand, and comprehend. It supplies many definitions and also covers everything on the state exam plus more. It's a must read if you're even thinking about cosmetology. You will then know if this career/hobby is for you.
Book Description
In home centers across North America, lighting sections are expanding in response to consumer demand. This book will help people use lighting more effectively.
Select the best lighting for an area and a particular task:
Use different light sources effectively:
From chandeliers to spotlights, full-color photos and step-by-step illustrations demonstrate how different lighting choices change the aura of a room:
Customer Reviews:
Better Homes and Gardens wins again!.......2006-02-25
Made planning some good lighting ideas for a new construction house a whole lot easier. Clearly explains some needed basic principles and considerations. I was able to communicate with our electrical contractor on a more informed level than I ever would have been without first going through another winner from the BH&G lineup of home related books.
Book Description
They twinkle as brightly as on Christmas night--but minilights aren't just for holidays anymore! Economical, safer than candles, and available in many styles, they produce beautiful effects indoors and out. The vast decorative possibilities spring out at you from each page, presenting everything from traditional white and rainbow strings to large gleaming, flickering orbs. Light display shelves to show off collections; bring the garden in with a star-kissed bower of glimmering plants; or give a young girl a pretty princess canopy over her bed. Illuminate windows with lights and lace, or make a patio shine. Kindle romance with an enticing Valentine's Day table for two. Go through the year with seasonal sensations, from a spring wedding arbor to a spooky Halloween House. Every lighting idea is brilliant!
Average customer rating:
|
Graphic Idea Resource: Paper: Building Great Designs with Paper (Graphic Idea Resource)
Lesa Sawahata
Manufacturer: Rockport Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Reference
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Commercial
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Arts
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Papercrafts
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
| Adult Coloring Books
| General
| Paper Dolls
| Paper Models
ASIN: 1564965147 |
Book Description
The Graphic Idea Resource series is a collection of graphic design works selected by designers for designers. Each book in the series is dedicated to a specific area of graphic design, creating an affordable library of design inspiration.
Graphic Idea Resource: Paper is a guidebook to the ways paper influences graphic design. Learn how the professionals choose and use the right paper for the job; how the paper enhances the final product; and the power of paper as a tool in graphic design. Features: --Work selected for its innovative use of paper --Brochures, packaging, annual reports, identity packages, and more --Beautiful papers that influence and enhance the product or design solution
Book Description
"He's a marvelous storyteller: gossipy, candid without being cruel, and very funny. This vivid, entertaining book is also one of the most penetrating works to be written about the theater." - Publishers Weekly
Customer Reviews:
Bravo for the late, great Bobby!.......2004-09-25
I studied acting with Bobby Lewis back in 1978, which was a great experience. This book is the next best thing resurrecting Bobby. Bobby didn't write about his personal life in this book. It is subtitled "The Theatre in My Life" and that's what the book is about. Bobby was small of stature, but was a giant of the American theatre. He was an original member of the innovative Group Theatre of the 30s and then co-founded (with Elia Kazan and Cheryl Crawford) The Actors Studio. He acted and directed on Broadway and in Hollywood (during the "golden years" of both) as well as abroad. He had some big hits as a director (BRIGADOON and THE TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON, to name two). But perhaps his greatest gift was that of teaching. (He taught Anne Bancroft, Maureen Stapleton and Meryl Streep, among many others.) His lectures on acting that he gave for an invited audience in the 50s were published under the title METHOD OR MADNESS and became perhaps the most influential book on acting for a whole generation. Bobby was great at using stories to make a point and this book is full of them, some of them hilarious, others unsettling. This book covers Bobby's very long career, which lasted more than fifty years. There is the usual parade of celebrities that appears in theatrical memoirs. This one has some great stories about Chaplin, Tallulah, Brando, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, among many others. But the best parts of the book, for me, were those dealing with his philosophy of the theatre and what it ought to be. If you're serious about acting, get Bobby's METHOD OR MADNESS and ADVICE TO THE PLAYERS, too.
This book had been on my shelf for about ten years, but I had never gotten around to reading it until now. What took me so long? It was very hard to tear myself away from this book and in a way I'm sorry it's over. Bobby was a great storyteller and I found his book mesmerizing. His was a great theatrical mind and this book is probably best appreciated by people who work in the theatre or seriously desire to do so. If you fall into that category, this book will remind you why you went into the theatre in the first place.
Books:
- Getting What She Wants: Ellora's Cave
- Grimus: A Novel (Modern Library Paperbacks)
- Growing Up Ethnic in America: Contemporary Fiction About Learning to Be American
- Growing Up Nigger Rich: A Novel
- Guess Again: Short Stories
- H.M. Pulham, Esquire
- Had a Good Time: Stories from American Postcards
- Hell's Bottom, Colorado
- How to Quiet a Vampire: A Sotie (Writings from an Unbound Europe)
- I Cry Gray Mountains On the Moon
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Making Books That Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist & Turn: Books for Kids to Make
- History: Fiction or Science
- Electrical Double Layers in Biology
- EPR of Free Radicals in Solids: Trends in Methods and Applications
- History: Fiction or Science
- History: Fiction or Science
- Dreidelcat
- A Community of Angels: Los Angeles 2002
- Deconstructing the American Mosque: Space, Gender, and Aesthetics
- Face Down Beside St. Anne's Well: A Mystery Featuring Susanna, Lady Appelton, gentlewoman, herbalist
A Rage to Live (Modern Library Classics)
BUtterfield 8 (Modern Library Classics)
Appointment in Samarra: A Novel
Selected Short Stories of John O'Hara (Modern Library Classics)
Gibbsville, PA: The Classic Stories
