Orange Laughter

Book Description

In this spellbinding debut, crackling with energy and emotion, Leone Ross weaves an intricate tale of love and deception, violence and hate, honor and self-preservation. Weaving back and forth between New York City in the 1990s and North Carolina in the 1960s, Orange Laughter centers around Tony Pellar, a man of former style and fading beauty who now lives in the subway tunnels beneath New York. Tony is fighting madness at every turn, fleeing a terrifying, ghostly pursuer whom he calls the Soul Snatcher, and convinced his salvation lies in the recovery of buried childhood memories.

As Tony delves into his past, the stories of those people ineluctably entwined with his emerge: of Mikey, Tony's childhood friend, who has created his own equally tenuous escape into the guarded confines of academia; and of Agatha, a complex woman with a disfigured face, a painful past, and a future seemingly bereft of options. All three stories barrel toward each other against the eruptive backdrop of the civil rights movement to a heartrending climax that will, like childhood memories and dark secrets, linger in the minds of readers.

Customer Reviews:

Dramatic invisibility versus tragic visibility.......2005-02-07

Ralph Ellison is still alive. This novel is a typical continuation of his themes. One black man entirely locked up Underneath or Below, in the Subway maze of corridors, tracks and blind rooms is the storyteller. He is also locked up in his lost memory that he is going to recapture little by little. And what will come out of it ? A brilliant black woman, Agatha will reveal her mystery. She is the granddaughter of a black minister in North Carolina, but she is the daughter of a white man and her mother was beaten to death by the grandfather of this white man. She will deliver her child in the hands of the brother of this white man. The minister will get a tooth for a tooth, a child for a child, and the brother of the white man, Agatha's uncle, will look after her and then what was to happen will happen, even if it is a blind alley and a dead end. The white man, Agatha's father, will go away and have another child from another woman, this time white. She will die and then the father will die and the child will be entrusted to his grandmother who will come back to the father's town to find his relatives, but she ignores his real name. Fate will bring the white boy and Agatha, brother and sister, together, and the other boy, the black boy Agatha is taking care of and who is our storyteller, will become the friend of the white boy. White and black are so entangled together that they cannot be separated. The whole story takes place in the Civil Rights Movements era and the Ku Klux Klan is all-powerful in this small town of Edene, the badly-named Edene. This will dictate the events and Agatha, her white brother and her black child will get swallowed up in the hatred that goes along with KKK and the emerging Civil Rights Movement. The end will be tragic. Both boys will manage to go to New York and get lost in the Big Apple, the white one successful and the black one rejected or rather dropping out. They will also manage to reestablish a connection, communication and memory, coming back to the black boy, who is now over forty, a door will reopen of a new relation between the two boys, Mikey and Tony. The stuff is heavy, pungent and strong. The novel is interesting and quite easy to read and follow. It shows how guilt, desire and hatred are all twisted out of shape and embedded in all loving postures. Yet something sounds and feels awkward if not out of pace. It is bleak enough to be true, and yet the divided personalities, loyalties and lives are rather well shown on the black side but remain kind of schematic on the white side. The wall standing between the two communities is well rooted in white fear and hatred, but it is insufficiently rooted in the same feelings on the black side. The author seems to be overprudent to describe the hatred, not the fear, the Blacks feel in front of white injustice or rather social and historical injustice. Relations with people from the other side was just as much rejected on the white side as on the black side. This latter rejection is not entirely felt and depicted : it is too much seen as a response to the stimulus of white hatred. It is not only that : the concept of difference, uncrossable difference existed and still exists on both sides, blocking the possibility for America to see that all it represents and it has invented is the result of a constant give-and-take process between the two communities, the result of a cooperation that nearly no one has the courage to show and assume, except maybe Ralph Ellison in the most recent half century. We do not reach the concept of democratic diversity that is emerging at that very period of time (1960s and 1970s) in Ralph Ellisons's writings and thinking. A great book that deals with memory that blocks history in its loss and that unblocks life in its recovery.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Stunning and disturbing.......2004-09-09

I could not put this book down: it is stunning -
beautiful, disturbing, frightening: brilliant and should have won prizes. The language is rich and urgent, the characters and settings compelling, the messages about good and evil and humanity are ones that we all should heed. Read it.

Orange Laughter - A literary marvel.......2004-07-17

Orange laughter will stay with you long after you've read the last page. Ms. Ross's journey into the main character's deranged mind is riveting. The journey down the tragic road of the segregated south turns out to be a surprising love story that I simply could not get out of my head for days...

Excellent.......2004-02-03

This is a wonderful and moving book. I read an extract from it once, and made a point of getting it...and I'm glad I did! The characters are all so unique and intruiging and the writer brings you right into their world. My favourite character would probably be Mikey, the young, overweight friend to the main character Tony, due minly to his innocence and kindly ways.The story takes you round many different corners and back again without leaving anyone behind. And as with many great books, the secrets unravelled throughout will no doubt bring a smile to your face or tears to your eyes.
Thank you Leone Ross for this chapter in my life of books...

Thank You.......2002-04-17

I just finished Orange Laughter. I can't explain why, but something abut the book edified my soul, haunted me, made me want to write, made what I know seem real ... If that makes sense...

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Orange Laughter
Leone Ross
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTLSJO

Average customer rating:

Wow.

That's Amazing

A leisurely walk to Bruenor's ancient home

Good book - great series
Streams of Silver: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Part 2 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book V)
R. A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Salvatore, R.A. | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Crystal Shard: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Part 1 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book IV)

The Halfling's Gem: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Part 3 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book VI)

Sojourn: The Dark Elf Trilogy, Part 3 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book III)

The Legacy (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book VII)

Exile: The Dark Elf Trilogy, Part 2 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book II)

ASIN: 0786937629
Release Date: 2005-07-14

Book Description

The fifth in a series of premiere hardcover editions of Salvatore's classic dark elf tales. This new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel continues the tale of Salvatore's signature dark elf character Drizzt' Do'Urden™. Although this was the second title actually published about Drizzt, it has now been placed in its proper chronological order as fifth in the series. Each title in The Legend of Drizzt series showcases the classic dark elf novels in new, deluxe hardcover editions. Each title features all new cover art and new introductions written by those who have become familiar with Salvatore and Drizzt over the years.

Customer Reviews:

Wow........2007-09-02

Wow. This is the best fantasy since Lord of the Rings and way easier written. Though Tolkiens world is undeniably the best ever written it is much harder to read. Streams of silver by R.A. Salvatore takes you in depth in a world written in layers of imagination. Drizzt's unending strugle of who he is go's to the extreme whence he meats a shadow of who he might have been. This book is a must have for fantasy readers.

That's Amazing.......2007-08-19

First of all, i'd like to say this saga is the best one I have ever read. To begin with the adventure, the companions who set off for the mithral halls were wonderful, and Drizzt is more powerful than never before.

The landscapes are gorgeous as well as the Salvatore's descriptions. I'd follow the back cover advice: "If you read only one fantasy novel in your life time. Let it be this one"

Amazing story

A leisurely walk to Bruenor's ancient home.......2007-07-27

Streams of Silver is a very entertaining tale about Drizzt and his friends searching for Bruenor's mountain home. As is expected, they encounter all kinds of enemies and monsters along the way. There is also someone very dangerous who is stalking one of the companions...looking for his master's stolen property. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the re-release of The Halfling's Gem: The Legend of Drizzt, Book VI (Forgotten Realms) so I can continue the adventure.

Good book - great series.......2006-05-01

RA Salvatore has created his own cult following in the world of D&D with his culture of the drow and Icewind Dale, the glacier community in the Forgotten Realms. This book picks up right where "Crystal Shard" left off, with Drizzt Do'Urden and pals fulfilling their promise to help dwarf Bruenor Battlehammer find his lost homeland, Mithral Hall. But! Regis the Halfling, always in trouble, is in the worst of his life, and an evil assassin is on his trail. Salvatore treats us to a new hateful-but-seductive villain in Artemis Entreri.

My only complaint about this book is Salvatore's persistent use of the Irish brogue for his characters, which quickly becomes annoying to read (Even though I share the Celtic heritage, PLEASE just say he has an accent, and write normally!), and his seeming attempt to make a PC statement by focusing so heavily on racism. Written at the beginning of the PC 1990s, Salvatore repeatedly refers to the drow as "black elves" in this book rather than Drow, which he doesn't do in any of the other books in this series. Seemed a bit pandering to me, although Drizzt is definitely a victim of prejudice in the drow-hating Realms. Highly recommend as this is a fabulous adventure series!

Average customer rating:

Not for the common reader

Kafka on Prozac

a perfect work of art

Enter the labyrinth...

not a good book by Lem (who is a great writer)

Memoirs Found in a Bathtub
Stanislaw Lem , Christine Rose , and Adele Kandel
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Eastern European | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Lem, Stanislaw | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

Fiasco Fiasco

Mortal Engines

His Master's Voice

The Futurological Congress: From the Memoirs of Ijon Tichy

Tales of Pirx the Pilot

ASIN: 0156585855

Book Description

The year is 3149, and a vast paper destroying blight-papyralysis-has obliterated much of the planet's written history. However, these rare memoirs, preserved for centuries in a volcanic rock, record the strange life of a man trapped in a hermetically sealed underground community. Translated by Michael Kandel and Christine Rose.

Customer Reviews:

Not for the common reader.......2007-07-19

My first thought on the book is for a reader to wait until the end of the book to read the introduction. This book is not for the intellectually weak. The allagorical and symbolic meanings of this book are not easily analyzed nor determined and it takes a few readings just to get the plot straight. Dispite these negative characteristics, "Memoirs Found in a Bathtub" is a great story, dedicated to satirizing the flaws of a buearocratic society, among many other issues. For English majors looking to analyze this as a part of course study, not much has been written on this particular work, and the articles I have found negate their arguments within the first 200 words. I recommend this book for people who liked the following books, but are looking for something a little more difficult: Nineteen Eighty-Four The Giver or any other dystopian piece of literature.

Kafka on Prozac.......2007-04-14

Memoirs Found in a Bathtub by Stanslaw Lem follows the adventures of an agent-in-training as he wanders in search of a mission through the vast bureaucracy of a purposeless intelligence agency.

The agent is anonymous. But we can call him K - because the story, the style, and the absurdist message are drawn directly from Kafka (esp. The castle]. K is an everyman, and his agency is an allegory for society. Ostensibly, the agency is the post-apocalyptic remnant of America, but it feels entirely European.

The theme of the Memoirs is that one's search for individual identity (i.e. the mission) is distracted by reflections of the self in other people. Social interaction discloses layer upon layer of identity (like the numberless floors of the agency's building) but no essential purpose. Such a search wraps the individual tighter and tighter in a web of conformity.

In the end, K can no longer imagine leaving the building. He becomes incapable of even attempting a mission, should he ever find one. Even his human rebelliousness turns into tragically reflexive conformity.

Lem's narrative style conveys serious ideas using a simple narrative prose and pervasive, but understated humor. In this respect, Lem writes like Kafka on Prozac - with clearer ideas, faster pace, and more fun. For me, this is the best aspect of the book.

The worst aspect of the book is the introduction. I advise the reader to skip it; with the intro included, my recommendation drops by at least one star. It places the Memoirs in a sophomoric (and entirely unnecessary) SciFi context and draws the connection with America. I speculate that the introduction was added to satisfy censors in 1961 Poland.

a perfect work of art.......2005-03-16

Hilarious bureaucratic master-work reduces every paranoid cliche to the realm of the absurd. After a brief prologue (explaining the current state of the world), the memoirs take over the book and create an environment both instantly insane and memorabley accurate. Lem was always the funniest of the sci fi writers- he makes you think, the same time he causes you to laugh out loud. (it's like Kafka mixed with the Marx Brothers.) The un-named narrator will have you rooting for him from the first sentence. Even the final stark scene is somehow uncomfortabley amusing.

Enter the labyrinth..........2003-12-23

These memoirs are presented in the foreword as the last remnant of a dead civilization, and its twisted hierarchical organization and jargon justify the archaeologist of the future in thinking that this is the artifact of a bizarre religion. As such, it is a religion that radically cut itself from transcendence: its Temple is a shadowy museum of illusions and deceptions, with no hope whatsoever of receiving the light of order; pseudo-heresies are created by their unknowing priests, revelations are elaborated at will only to be contradicted soon after. This is the world that the book's nameless hero must brave - he experiences several 'signification crisises', going back-and-forth between allegory as a universal rule and a complete negation of sense. The Building in which all the events take place is a sort of fiction-generating machine (like Lem's book itself), perpetually spinning tales, intrigues and conflicts. What makes the book powerful is that Lem equates his reader with the main character, both sharing an elusive mission; the work starts smoothly, until reader and agent are completely immersed in this world of mirrors, crypted informations and thwarted enigmas. The desire to understand remains, but there is nothing to understand as the personal quest (the agent's and the reader's) becomes more and more convoluted and drowned into a complex string of half-truths. A maze of a novel.

not a good book by Lem (who is a great writer).......2002-11-19

I'm a big fan of Lem but I have to admidt he has churned out some bad books. I have read all but two all of Lem's books and this is among his worst (along with Chain of Chance, Eden, the Investigation). Its boring, short, and no way worth [that much money] Instead start out with one of his 5-star books: His Master's Voice, Star Diaries, Fiasco, or Pirx the Pilot.

The Chain of Chance (Katar), 1975 / Investigation, 1959 / Memoirs Found in a Bathtub, 1961 / (All in Russian Language)

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The Chain of Chance (Katar), 1975 / Investigation, 1959 / Memoirs Found in a Bathtub, 1961 / (All in Russian Language)
Stanislaw Lem
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All Russian Books | Russian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 5170111797

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Memoirs Found in a Bathtub

Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Memoirs Found In A Bathtub
Stanislaw Lem
Manufacturer: Carlton Books Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPZAU6

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Memoirs Found in a Bathtub
Stanislaw Lem
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GRSQ4O

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Memoirs Found in a Bathtub
Stanislaw Lem
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJKT26

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She is my witness, my eyes, my evidence.

Blessed to have read it...

I found this book extremely dissapointing

His eye is on the sparrow. . . .

Beautiful, soul reaffirming story...

The Love Song of the Universe
Mary Sparrowdancer
Manufacturer: Hampton Roads Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Personal Transformation | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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The Uncovering

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The Gospel of Judas

Path of Empowerment: New Pleiadian Wisdom for a World in Chaos

Mastering Astral Projection: 90-day Guide to Out-of-Body Experience

ASIN: 1571742107

Book Description

In the pre-dawn hours of September 12, 1988, a woman named Mary was awakened by a bright light shining upon her. Mary's book, The Love Song of the Universe, documents what Mary saw when she opened her eyes and what took place after she walked into the Light with the Being of Light. This, however, is an NDE like no other - the Beings of Light are leaving physical objects as affirmation of their true presence. Mary now has thousands of the physical objects (including ancient pottery, white stones, shells, beads, feathers, and other artifacts) in her possession. This extraordinary and ongoing event has been studied and written about by numerous professionals, including Melvin Morse, M.D., author of "Closer to the Light," a neuroscientist who is on the cutting edge of new research.

Customer Reviews:

She is my witness, my eyes, my evidence........2006-12-11

This extremely important book has been deliberately removed from the public's access, and the author is hoping to have it available again in January, 2007. Stay tuned, and never forget that the eyes of truth are always watching you.

John

Blessed to have read it..........2006-09-15

I just finished reading Mary Sparrowdancer's book for the second time. It has without a doubt turned my life around and once again I face the direction of light. Her remarkable way of telling her story of unfoldment under the tutelage of the Being of Light, is inspiring to say the least. The process for her was one of trust. Trust in herSELF and trust in the remarkable beings that she encountered throughout her journey, not always an easy task it appeared. After meeting Mary and having conversations with her, I find her to be delightful and genuine and believe without a shadow of a doubt that what she has and is experiencing is true. There are so many directions that this review could go in. I could speak about the encounters with Indians of times passed that have come to correct misinformation. I could speak of the miracle of the tenth moon of Jupiter. The absolute faith in trusting the signs of presences seen and unseen for the author, and all of us open to this phenomenon. Of realizing that this wonderful Being of Light is here, now, walking among us and always has been. We only have to open our hearts for our eyes to see and our ears to hear. The most powerful teaching He seems to want to impart is that we are Divine in origin, we have just lost our way as Gnosis gave way to confusion and chaos designed by the followers of the god of war. But, as the book says, "But while mankind might have interrupted the Divine plan while it was in progress, interruptions are only temporary setbacks. Divine countermeasures were taken." I feel that one of the these countermeasures is "The Love Song of the Universe." A guide for reminding us that there is a path of Love and Light and Hope. He said that there is always hope - that we are hope. It is time to evolve into that song that is being sung in our very DNA. Another very profound sentence for me is found at the very end.."He's back and he's standing closer than you might think."

I found this book extremely dissapointing.......2006-07-31

I just finished reading this book and found it very childish and
written like novel as I do not believe anything written in the book.
Anyone who has done a thorough research of ancient teaching knows
that the egyptians taught the true spiritual teachings of Isis and Osiris and Amun-Re that the christians stole and changed them to suit their belief systems.Most of them were pagan teachings and the jews adopted what they wanted from them and set up a god named jehovah who was a very jealous vicious being.
Anyone who crossed him was destroyed.Sure doesnt sound like a peacful being to me and as the bible claims I and the father are one I would guess that would apply to jesus also.
As for the indians,they originally had the true teachings until the christians came to convert the heathens.
Comparing this book TO books by Robert Anton Wilson is a joke.
I dont know if the author is delusional or schizaphrenic but the book is a fairy tale.
I am sorry I wasted my money on this book.I have been reading books on sprituality for 30 years and this one I found to be very misleading.

His eye is on the sparrow. . . ........2006-07-21

Please read this book if you ever suspected that this is an important time in history. . . Read it if you have ever had unexplained or mystical events happen to you. . . . And above all, read it if you think that Love might be the most profound and basic Reality. . . There is something so harmoniously intuitive, humble and unassuming about the author and the way she tells her story. Before you know it, you, along with her, are accepting what the rational mind has no place for, as simply the natural order of things. And you definitely want to share the experience with others. Read, and be blessed to receive something quite genuine, and of indisputable value. It is all about a very personal relationship which goes way beyond the usual limits.

Beautiful, soul reaffirming story..........2006-03-27

I had high expectations for this book....waiting for it to come in the mail, and I have not been let down. When I have coincidences in my life that get my attention, I tend to *pay* attention. This book was part of one of those coincidences. Mary Sparrowdancer has a wonderful way with words and is very believable. I read this book in one sitting and enthusiastically plan on sharing it with all my friends and family.

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THE LOVE SONG OF THE UNIVERSE
Mary Sparrowdancer
Manufacturer: Alibris
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WTDV8W

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Love Song of the Universe

Manufacturer: DEEP BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GLZF7Q

Book Description

Whether at the pub, a wedding, a funeral, or over Thanksgiving dinner, toasting your fellow man, women, or occasion is a tradition as old as fine wine. Toast is a collection of past and present favorite toasts, commiserations, ministrations, salutations, homages, epithets, and drinking poems for all occasions. A wide range of sentiments are covered, including toasts to love, marriage, men, women, friendship, wisdom, death, and patriotism. After reading this book, one will never again stumble for the right words during those important occasions. Cheers!

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Nineteenth Century Wooden Boxes (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Arene Wiemers Burgess
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Antique Boxes-Inside and Out: For Eating, Drinking and Being Merry

Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies, & Society 1700-1880 (Schiffer Book for Collectors,)

Neat and Tidy: Boxes and Their Contents Used in Early American Households

ASIN: 0764303198

Book Description

Pandora would have had the best of times between these two covers. For those who just can't resist a peek under the lid, like the author, there's endless full-color satisfaction inside. An intrepid collector and antiques scholar and dealer, Burgess gives the inside scoop on every manner of containers, from apple boxes to their zinc decorations. Inside empty boxes, she finds the hopes that filled brides' chests, weaves a story about the sewing chores of housewives of yore, gives you a taste of what snuff the men were made of, and sheds light on where candles once awaited nightfall. Inside boxes ranging from Shaker plain to the outrageous constructions of wooing gentlemen, Burgess takes the lid off life in the nineteenth century.

Book Description

Splendid treasury of 456 vintage vignettes depict chicks emerging from eggshells, birds perching amid blossoming fruit trees, strutting roosters, wide-eyed owls, plump ducks, doves and storks; peacocks and pheasants sporting magnificent plumage, and a host of other avian creatures. Perfect for the varied needs of graphic designers, collagists, decoupeurs, and paper crafters alike.

Book Description

Of critical interest to anyone considering a major furniture purchase, this guide seeks to make consumers experts on buying residential furniture. Focusing on informed purchasing and shopping for value, not simply price, it covers topics such as differentiating between two seemingly identical pieces of furniture at vastly different prices and recognizing the features comprising a quality piece of furniture. Open stock items, the differences between bona fide sale prices and everyday pricing, and discounters in North Carolina are addressed. Comparisons between several name brands are also provided.

Customer Reviews:

Illustrates an industry begging for an overhaul.......2007-07-30

I thought the book was good regarding the descriptions of how good furniture is made. So, I would recommend it for a person who would like to learn the basics of how furiture is constructed, and what to look for from a quality standpoint and what the difference in upholstry is. Ironically, the author then goes on to recommend buying from many low-end retailers who rip off the public with huge margins, which has been typical of the furniture for decades, I guess, maybe longer. He does make a very good explanation about what 'furniture sales' really are, and why they aren't usually a bargain. Given what he claimed was his favorite store in Chicago, I guess he hasn't shopped here in 15 years.

Maybe this is a little harsh, but I don't think a retailer deserves a 150% profit or more on goods that are never on a showroom floor or held in inventory. Furniture retailers do not add 150% to the value of the product. I think by accident, the author just pointed out, by protecting the retailer part of this supply chain, why so many good American furniture manufacturers have gone out of business; most furniture is overpriced due to the retailers.

Good Guide for the uninitiated.......2006-07-03

I knew nothing about the details of furniture construction before I read this book. I now feel confident in shopping for all types of furniture. I can now look for signs of quality construction and ask the right questions to let the salepeople know I'm not willing to buy just on looks. The details of how certain pieces are made is important for longevity. Highly recommended read!

Excellent.......2006-04-08

Great resource if you are planning on purchasing furniture. Len catagorizes the major furniture manufactures by quality, what kind of quality cues to look for and what some of the best furniture stores are. He'll also answer your questions by email!

A wonderful book, and a great help........2005-11-09

I wish I could give this book more than five stars. I have made lots of furniture mistakes over the years, and now I can begin to see why. The next best thing to this book would be having Leonard Lewin by your side when you shop for furniture! He takes you through the basics (wood, wood veneer, wood finishing, shopping for wood, basic furniture construction and pieces, upholstery, leather, personal style, going to stores, dealing with sales personnel and designers, interpreting advertising). What's more, he lists brands and stores to think about and visit, by area, name and volume). This book will be extremely useful to me, and I plan to reread several of the chapters before buying any furniture. The tone of the book is easygoing and informative, never dull. Most of all, his philosophy that while being an expert helps, all of us can do enough homework to understand what we need to bring to the furniture buying experience. I highly recommend this book, and plan to go back to it in the future (maybe even keep it in the car, since I wouldn't be able to hide it in the store).

Clear tips on judging value and prices.......2005-04-06

Locate furniture which fits into budget and home and understand the basics of its construction and marketing using the second updated edition of Shopping For Furniture: A Consumer's Guide as your personal advisory. Leonard Bruce Lewin has sold furniture to stores and consumers for over 35 years: his background provides insider's advice on everything from distinguishing sales prices from daily prices to understanding newspaper ads and big-store sales approaches. Now in a fully updated second addition, Shopping For Furniture promises lasting library reference value, with its clear tips on judging value and prices.

Shopping for Furniture on the Internet: What You Must Know Before You Buy

Average customer rating:

outdated info and links- beware!

Shopping for Furniture on the Internet: What You Must Know Before You Buy
Leonard Bruce Lewin
Manufacturer: Linden Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Internet Games | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Furniture | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Consumer Guides | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0941936589

Book Description

Making a major furniture purchase on the Internet can be both daunting and risky without the proper knowledge. This guide to buying furniture online reveals ways to get the best prices, products, and customer service without entering a showroom. Important aspects of shopping for upholstery and wood furniture are discussed, as are issues concerning local and state taxes. Shipping, returns, and warranties are explained, and the best ways to pay for furniture from a Web site are covered. Also included is a glossary of furniture terms, an assessment of online furniture sites, and a discussion of the changes in the furniture trade caused by the Internet.

Customer Reviews:

outdated info and links- beware!.......2005-09-09

Interesting that a book advertised to help you navigate the internet and avoid rip offs is the biggest rip off itself. All of the links are to search engines or are outdated and the authors email is no longer valid. All the other info you can find yourself. Save your money and dont buy this book!!

The Fine Furniture & Furnishings Discount Shopping Guide: Why Pay Retail?

Average customer rating:

Very outdated! Bad information!
The best money-saving book I've ever read
Buy it BEFORE you buy furniture

The Fine Furniture & Furnishings Discount Shopping Guide: Why Pay Retail?
M. Katherine Gladchun
Manufacturer: Resources Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Directories | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0963870122

Book Description

The Fine Furniture and Furnishings Discount Shopping Guide is the tool for consumers to find drastic discounts on almost everything for the home. The book's 392 pages answer every possible question -- what to buy, where to buy, who to talk to, and what to expect. Consumers have praised author and publisher, Kate Gladchun's effort to educate the public about the savings available from North Carolina merchants. Retailers haven't been as enthusiastic, fearing the impact this knowledge might have on their bottom line. Gladchun thinks too many people pay more than necessary for furniture. And the producers on the Oprah Winfrey Show thought the topic was perfect for their edition of "America's Smartest Shoppers" show. Gladchun appeared as a guest and discussed all aspects of shopping through North Carolina, from telephone sales to shopping by mail and even going to North Carolina and shopping in person! The book covers everything on these topics.

Seventy percent of the furniture in the U.S. is made within a 200-mile radius of Hickory and High Point, North Carolina. Being located so close to hundreds of manufacturers allows North Carolina merchants to sell at discount prices, substantially below regular retail prices.

Gladchun started off with a small interior design business of her own and in 1991, found the perfect Henredon sofa, with a $3,000 price tag at a local retailer. Using her interior designer 40 percent discount reduced the price to $1,700. Before buying, Gladchun contacted a few furniture resources in North Carolina. As a regular consumer, she could get the same sofa delivered to her home for $1,400.

Discovering such an incredible savings prompted Gladchun to share the secret. The Fine Furniture and Furnishings Discount Shopping Guide, now in its fourth edition, reveals the secrets of finding the best deals through the hundreds of furniture resources located in North Carolina and other states. The top two secrets are: (1) Be willing to do the research and the legwork and (2)Find a good salesperson(s). These two main secrets, along with many other tips and instructions, are covered in full in the first 68 pages of the book. Following the instructional section is the real meat of the book: Hundreds of discount resources with very specific information, such as address, phone numbers, email addresses, toll-free numbers, etc. Along with that, each listing lists the resource's shipping and return policies, if they take credit cards, how many designers and/or sales consultants they have on staff, what the resource's specialties might be -- like manufacturing their own upholstered goods or being a manufacture-owned outlet, and many other specifics. Another important element is a listing of the manufacturers that the resources carry. This if very valuable information if you're searching for a specific name-brand manufacturer. A thirty-page index at the back of the book lists thousands of manufacturers and where they're sold by thediscount resources.

Packed with more than 360 home furnishing resources, The Fine Furniture and Furnishings Discount Shopping Guide, takes readers step-by-step through the entire buying process, from pre-shopping and ordering to shipping.

"If you're willing to do some extra homework and footwork, you can buy what you need at deep discounts -- as much as 70 percent below retail prices," said Gladchun, author and publisher. "The American consumer will no longer sit back and pay the high prices that have gotten out of control in the home furnishings industry."

Gladchun believes that smart educated consumers get the best buys. Since uncovering one of shopping's best kept secrets, Gladchun has made it her mission to teach others how to start saving.

"Consumers are getting smarter," said Gladchun. "They are not willing to pay full-blown prices when they realize there is an alternative. Everybody's entitled to find a deal. Many people know about North Carolina, but they aren't aware of all the products that are easily available to them."

"There are many people who prefer shopping and researching before they make a major purchase like furniture," Gladchun points out. "They consider the pursuit of the deal part of the process. Their satisfaction comes from the savings, and knowing they have received real value for their money. Others don't care. They just pay the big price on tag and never ask questions."

Customer Reviews:

Very outdated! Bad information!.......2003-01-23

This book has not been updated since 1998! That's five years ago! Most of the numbers in here are for companies that are out of business! I'm sorry, but I just did not find this book useful at all!

The best money-saving book I've ever read.......1999-03-08

When I first read this book I wasn't sure it would really work the way it says it will. But I have been able to save hundreds of dollars already and am planning a three-day trip down to North Carolina because I already know I can save much much more. The author is to be commended for her time and research on this subject. She has enabled many other like myself to furnish and decorate our homes in an affordable way, and still have the high quality we want. I heartily recomment this book to anyone shopping for furniture!!!

Buy it BEFORE you buy furniture.......1998-11-24

This book is a must-read for anyone planning a major furniture purchase. It proved invaluable to me as I prepared to visit the furniture stores of North Carolina - I saved over $1,200.

The Furniture Shopping Guide : A Consumer's Guide to Buying Upholstered Furniture

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The Furniture Shopping Guide : A Consumer's Guide to Buying Upholstered Furniture
Victor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0974202304

Book Description

Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) is considered one of the most inspired portrayers of human figures. He was fascinated by life around Montmartre, whose cafés, cabarets, dance halls, and bordellos he captured vividly but without flattery. His paintings, lithographs, and posters offer a masterly and timeless image of the age.

Toulouse-Lautrec: Spanish-Language Edition (Artistas serie menor)

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Toulouse-Lautrec: Spanish-Language Edition (Artistas serie menor)
Matthias Arnold
Manufacturer: Numen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Museums & Collections | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Artists, Architects & Photographers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Despite his physical handicap, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) became one of the great portrayers of the human figure. Fascinated by life in the cafés, cabarets, dance halls, and bordellos around Montmartre — "the theater of life" — Toulouse-Lautrec captured the belle epoque's dizzy pursuit of fleeting pleasure like no one before or since in the paintings and posters featured in this Spanish-language study of the artist's work..

Book Description

journey into the tragic consequences of US policy

Choose Love: A Jewish Buddhist Human Rights Activist in Central America.(Review): An article from: Journal of Ecumenical Studies

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Choose Love: A Jewish Buddhist Human Rights Activist in Central America.(Review): An article from: Journal of Ecumenical Studies
Richard B. Pilgrim
Manufacturer: Journal of Ecumenical Studies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Ecumenical Studies, published by Journal of Ecumenical Studies on March 22, 1997. The length of the article is 660 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Choose Love: A Jewish Buddhist Human Rights Activist in Central America.(Review)
Author: Richard B. Pilgrim
Publication: Journal of Ecumenical Studies (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1997
Publisher: Journal of Ecumenical Studies
Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Page: 267(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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