South of the Border, West of the Sun: A Novel
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Living in memories
  • Truth often hurts
  • (3.5): A Bittersweet Tale
  • Murakami channels Danielle Steele
  • simple story, told wonderfully
South of the Border, West of the Sun: A Novel
Haruki Murakami
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679767398
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Amazon.com

In South of the Border, West of the Sun, the arc of an average man's life from childhood to middle age, with its attendant rhythms of success and disappointment, becomes the kind of exquisite literary conundrum that is Haruki Murakami's trademark. The plot is simple: Hajime meets and falls in love with a girl in elementary school, but he loses touch with her when his family moves to another town. He drifts through high school, college, and his 20s, before marrying and settling into a career as a successful bar owner. Then his childhood sweetheart returns, weighed down with secrets:
When I went back into the bar, a glass and ashtray remained where she had been. A couple of lightly crushed cigarette butts were lined up in the ashtray, a faint trace of lipstick on each. I sat down and closed my eyes. Echoes of music faded away, leaving me alone. In that gentle darkness, the rain continued to fall without a sound.
Murakami eschews the fantastic elements that appear in many of his other novels and stories, and readers hoping for a glimpse of the Sheep Man will be disappointed. Yet South of the Border, West of the Sun is as rich and mysterious as anything he has written. It is above all a complex, moving, and honest meditation on the nature of love, distilled into a work with the crystal clarity of a short story. A Nat "King" Cole song, a figure on a crowded street, a face pressed against a car window, a handful of ashes drifting down a river to the sea are woven together into a story that refuses to arrive at a simple conclusion. The classic love triangle may seem like a hackneyed theme for a writer as talented as Murakami, but in his quietly dazzling way, he bends us to his own unique geometry. --Simon Leake

Book Description

In South of the Border, West of the Sun, the simple arc of a man's life--with its attendant rhythms of success and disappointment--becomes the exquisite literary terrain of Haruki Murakami's most haunting work.

Born in 1951 in an affluent Tokyo suburb, Hajime--beginning in Japanese--has arrived at middle age wanting for almost nothing. The postwar years have brought him a fine marriage, two daughters, and an enviable career as the proprietor of two jazz clubs. Yet a nagging sense of inauthenticity about his success threatens Hajime's happiness. And a boyhood memory of a wise, lonely girl named Shimamoto clouds his heart.

When Shimamoto shows up one rainy night, now a breathtaking beauty with a secret from which she is unable to escape, the fault lines of doubt in Hajime's quotidian existence begin to give way. And the details of stolen moments past and present--a Nat King Cole melody, a face pressed against a window, a handful of ashes drifting downriver to the sea--threaten to undo him completely. Rich, mysterious, quietly dazzling, South of the Border, West of the Sun is Haruki Murakami's wisest and most compelling fiction.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Living in memories.......2007-09-07

South of the Border, West of the Sun is a good travel read. I liked the title, it seems mysterious. The existence of a yearning in every person, yearning for dreams to come true.. the inexplicable sense of emptiness when you know that there is something more.. but that its left behind or is not in your destiny.. is well elucidated in the book.

But ironically, as in Hajime's life, there is something missing in the book.. I understand the protagonist's feelings in theory, but I dont feel them with him. I can see why he's wistful of the past, but frankly I don't care. Maybe because the language felt so flat. I wonder if its because its a translation. Or maybe I expected some Japanese-ness(?) to the language. A lot of the phrases and words used seem very American, so the characters don't come across as Japanese or of any particular culture. That should probably be a good thing, shouldn't it, to be able to write across borders. But I like to read non-English author's works as it gives a sense of the place, of the people, their culture. I think I had a lot of expectations from the book.
All said, the book is a decent read so I will definitely give a try to one of his more famous books.

For lack of anything more apt to say, this book was just a case of lost in translation for me.

http://ireadokay.blogspot.com

5 out of 5 stars Truth often hurts.......2007-09-01

As always with a Murakami story echoes of the experience reverberate through the mind long after the last word has been read. And the experience is truly mesmerizing. Okay the plot is familiar but Murakami manages to invest it with a timeless quality that illuminates the human condition only too well: we experience the everyday suffering life has to offer when we're full of apparent weakness, hopelessness and despair as well as those transcendent moments that enable us to pull through and ultimately survive. There are no false moments in this short tale that can easily be read in one sitting but however long it takes the time will be well spent since it borders on perfection.

3 out of 5 stars (3.5): A Bittersweet Tale.......2007-08-27

This is an interesting tale, one that certainly does deviate from what we're used to from Murakami. It's much more "Norwegian Wood" than "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle," in that there lacks a particular fantasy element. But although the strange and absurd is lacking, the same kind of mystery that infuses many of Murakami's books is still present. We are presented with Hajime and follow him from his early childhood through middle-age, watching him go through the growing pains associated with love and friendship. He seems almost mediocre in every way until he marries the right woman and has a string of good luck that results in him living a pretty comfortable life owning and operating two successful bars. Trouble strikes when a girl from his childhood, his first love, comes back and throws his life for a loop.

What impressed me the most about the book is that - and this is more for those who have read a lot of Murakami - you keep thinking that something strange is just around the corner. The mystery is so all-encompassing that only something fantastic would explain everything. Instead, the mystery remains at the end, much as it does in real life.

So why the slightly lower rating? The process of reading the novel was wonderful, but ultimately, I left the book feeling lukewarm or at least unsatisfied. That's merely my opinion. The reading of it was fantastic (4 stars), but the final impression was ok (3 stars).

Read it if you're a fan, try another one of his books if you're new to him.

1 out of 5 stars Murakami channels Danielle Steele.......2007-03-11

There is nothing new about this plot and the writing style is not engaging (? blame the translation?). A quick read, but more suited to the beach in summer, and not literature.

Symbolism is heavy-handed. His life is the desert, and Shimamoto is water. She only appears in his bar when it rains. The author feels the need to point this out to the reader.

When Hajime's wife discovers his infidelity she earnestly proclaims that she only wants him to be happy, and if he wishes, he can take everything, even their children. Right. Even cultural differences do not allow for this over the top male fantasy to be credible.

I don't understand why this book has been so well-reviewed. Maybe it is a romance novel written for men. Guys--there's lots of this stuff out there.

5 out of 5 stars simple story, told wonderfully.......2006-10-28

This is less surreal than some of Murakami's other novels, but just as gripping none the less. Very well written (and translated). It is a simple love story that is hard to forget.
Al Sur De La Frontera, Al Oeste Del Sol / South of the Border, West of the Sun (Andanzas / Adventures) (Andanzas / Adventures)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Al Sur De La Frontera, Al Oeste Del Sol / South of the Border, West of the Sun (Andanzas / Adventures) (Andanzas / Adventures)
    Haruki Murakami
    Manufacturer: TusQuets
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    JapaneseJapanese | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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    ClásicosClásicos | Literatura y ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books | General | Griego | Latino Americano | Medieval
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    ASIN: 8483102501
    South of the Border, West of the Sun.(Review) (book review): An article from: The Review of Contemporary Fiction
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      South of the Border, West of the Sun.(Review) (book review): An article from: The Review of Contemporary Fiction
      Paul Maliszewski
      Manufacturer: Review of Contemporary Fiction
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Digital

      GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
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      ASIN: B00099MJHO
      Release Date: 2005-06-01

      Book Description

      This digital document is an article from The Review of Contemporary Fiction, published by Review of Contemporary Fiction on September 22, 1999. The length of the article is 650 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: South of the Border, West of the Sun.(Review) (book review)
      Author: Paul Maliszewski
      Publication: The Review of Contemporary Fiction (Refereed)
      Date: September 22, 1999
      Publisher: Review of Contemporary Fiction
      Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Page: 168

      Article Type: Book Review

      Distributed by Thomson Gale
      South of the Border, West of the Sun
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        South of the Border, West of the Sun
        Haruki; Gabriel, Philip (translator) Murakami
        Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover
        ASIN: B000OBH364
        South of the Border, West of the Sun
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          South of the Border, West of the Sun
          Haruki Murakami
          Manufacturer: Vintage
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          ASIN: B000OH2CGY
          South of the Border, West of the Sun: A Novel
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            South of the Border, West of the Sun: A Novel
            Haruki Murakami; Translator-Philip Gabriel
            Manufacturer: Vintage
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback
            ASIN: B000QYEK1A

            The Dragon Chronicles: The Lost Journals of the Great Wizard, Septimus Agorius (Dragon Chronicles)
            Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
            • Fun with great pictures
            • Awesome images.
            • Re: Book Has Changed
            • Dragon Chronicles deserves 5 stars
            • Warning - Book Has Changed!
            The Dragon Chronicles: The Lost Journals of the Great Wizard, Septimus Agorius (Dragon Chronicles)
            Malcolm Saunders
            Manufacturer: Courage Books
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

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            ASIN: 0762420774
            Release Date: 2004-08-17

            Book Description

            This recently discovered journal will prove irresistible to any devotee of historical fantasy. It's a carefully executed reproduction of the illustrated diary kept by the Great Wizard, Septimus Agorius, detailing his incredible attempts to hunt down and slay four malevolent dragons in accordance with the wishes of his dying king. Beautifully drawn, with amazing illustrations executed by some of the world's leading fantasy illustrators, THE DRAGON CHRONICLES features a unique laminate cover with distressed artwork and gold foil lettering, adding to this journal's unique, evocative appeal.

            Customer Reviews:

            5 out of 5 stars Fun with great pictures.......2007-01-18

            This is a great story of dragons and adventure accompanied by spectacular pictures. Not much else to tell.

            5 out of 5 stars Awesome images........2006-05-25

            I love this book. Honestly, I haven't read it. I've only stared at the images and drawn the dragons from the book. I LOVE drawing them.
            Perhaps I should read it some time too!

            4 out of 5 stars Re: Book Has Changed.......2005-12-24

            Buyers should know that the various editions of the book are substantially the same. In an effort to get what I thought was the "original" book, I ordered a British copy, published by Pegasus Publishing in 2002 and 2003. I also bought both the Courage and Running Press editions. I was hoping the British edition would have (as other reviewers have described) pages like parchment or old vellum, text that looks like handwritten script, etc. It didn't. Still, all three editions are beautiful; it's just my expectations which were unrealistic.

            5 out of 5 stars Dragon Chronicles deserves 5 stars.......2005-06-03

            This book deserves five stars. If you love fantasy, you'll love this book. It's written as if it's an authentic reproduction of an actual wizard's journal. The artwork is spectacular, and the entire book is extremely well done. In the book the actual author isn't listed (Malcom Sanders is just one of the artists), so it makes the book seem even more authentic. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age who loves fantasy. Top of the line.
            ~L. L. Luther

            4 out of 5 stars Warning - Book Has Changed!.......2005-04-12

            I purchased this book in December of 2004, but it wasn't shipped to me until April 2005. Apparently in the mean time, the book was republished in a very different format. Previous reviews describe the book as having a cover that "looks like leather with metal hinges and locks". They also describe the pages as being "made to look like parchment" or "are like old vellum", and "the text looks like ancient hand written script". One reviewer said the book contains "a dried pressed specimen of a dreaded 'Dragnette' a kind of flying piranha". Overall the book "looks and feels like something that has been lying in a vault, forgoten for centuries".
            This was all true of the original version, but is no longer true. The cover is now a standard hardcover (very servicable, but hardly looking like leather with metal hinges and locks). The paper is smooth, glossy paper - high quality, but not parchment. The "hand-written script" has been replaced with a standard computer calligraphy font that looks nice, but does not look hand-written at all. Finally, there is no longer a dried speciman of a Dragnette. Needless to say, I was very disappointed with the book when it arrived. I guess the publisher found they could not make money selling the original version. (The originals are probably collector's items now.)
            On the positive side, my 13-year old son liked the story, and the pictures are stunning as others have said. It is a good book, just not what it was originally.

            The Sand Wars, Volume 2: Alien Salute/Return Fire/Challenge Met (Sand Wars omnibus)
            Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
            • Amazed by the other reviews.
            • I hope you read it with enjoyment
            • Enjoyable novels -- great value.
            • Good
            • An Awsome Book
            The Sand Wars, Volume 2: Alien Salute/Return Fire/Challenge Met (Sand Wars omnibus)
            Charles Ingrid
            Manufacturer: DAW
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

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            ASIN: 0886779723
            Release Date: 2001-02-06

            Book Description

            Long out of print, The Sand Wars is Charles Ingrid's classic saga of military science fiction. This special omnibus edition includes the first three books of the series-Solar Kill, Lasertown Blues, and Celestial Hit List-together for the first time.

            Jack Storm was one of the last Knights-a soldier abandoned by his own people to fight a battle he couldn't possibly win. His only defense: a suit of armor that has been altered by his alien enemies...armor that could, if worn too long, transform him into an inhuman killing machine....

            But Jack Storm is not a machine. He is a man-on a one-man crusade of vengeance....

            Customer Reviews:

            1 out of 5 stars Amazed by the other reviews. .......2006-01-07

            I see the glowing stars and wonder if we were reading the same book. I don't see it holding up to the battle genre. Machavelli might have thought it a good read. I is almost all poorly crafted first year politisci.

            The thing that amazes me is I finished the trilog--as I have thrown aside better books. I kept hoping this obtuse universe would take on some substance and it just never happened.

            The idea for this book was a great one and it could have been so much more. Sadly, it ended up being way less.

            It isn't my nature to post rips on Amazon. On this one I just couldn't help myself.

            5 out of 5 stars I hope you read it with enjoyment.......2005-05-10

            Charles Ingrid's six SAND WARS stories can also be found in two omnibuses. If you've not yet experienced Mr. Ingrid's fun to read style, you will need to begin with SOLAR KILL, followed by LASERTOWN BLUES and CELESTIAL HIT LIST.

            In ALIEN SALUTE, the first third of Volume Two, Jack Storm and the other survivors from the skirmish on Bythia return home. Yet it's not just Jack's hatred of coldsleep that keeps him out of the cryogenic bay, the Thraks are angry now and Jack believes open war is certain. He's right, too. "When the freighter erupted out of subspace and began braking for Malthen, the Thrakian warship flared into being beside them, tractor beams on full, and the two ships shuddered as they made contact." During the encounter, however, a third ship arrives, speeds past them, and irradiates the nearby Thrakian controlled planet of Opus. The powerful Ash-farel kill Thraks and humans with equal fervor. Things are heating up on the political side as well. Factions within the populace threaten rebellion. Winton, Jack's personal enemy from the first three books, has a successor (Baadluster), a man every bit as dangerous and with the same appetite for the throne and desire to destroy Jack Storm as his predecessor. Emperor Pepys makes Jack the commander of his knights, but it is a difficult command because Jack is still fighting his elusive past as well as the alien parasite growing in his battle armor. There's dangerous battles with the Thraks. And an emperor who cannot be trusted to make the best decisions for his people.

            In RETURN FIRE, Jack has deserted his command and engages in a search for proof that the Dominion Knights have been betrayed by their emperor's new scheme. Now allied with the Thraks against the Ash-farel, humans have little choice but to accept the incursion of Thraks into their society. Invasion by peace treaty is how Jack sees it, and it is an invasion he cannot tolerate. He seeks humans in rebellion against the emperor, a dangerous journey that separates Jack from his armor and brings him into direct confrontation with the emperor.

            CHALLENGE MET concludes the series. Jack gains hard evidence against the Thraks and their hidden motives. Saint Collin learns some very painful truths about the Ash-farel. Amber endures the nightmare of Minister Baadluster's greed. Meanwhile, Jack cannot help his friends because the emperor and his minister broke his mind while he was recovering from battle wounds. Jack is the kind of man who never gives up, however, and his persistence keeps the pages turning. It was the kind of conclusion that brought an unconscious squeal from my lips [do you ever do that? People around you stare, wondering what on earth you must be reading!].

            This is a good story, recommended for all space-fantasy fans--start with SOLAR KILL to maximize your enjoyment.


            5 out of 5 stars Enjoyable novels -- great value........2003-01-18

            Not just for fans of miltary sci-fi, these adventures of Jack Storm, the last Dominion Knight, are enjoyable stories of adventure and a quest for justice. I applaud Daw Books for releasing these novels in this 3-in-1 paperback format that is a true bargain in these days of corporate greed. And it is a pleasure to be able to re-read these tales in order, as the individual books have been out of print for some time.

            The universe created here by Charles Ingrid may not be filled with many new or novel scientific angles, but the very familiar feel of "The Dominion" and even of their foe "The Thraks," has a very comfortable feel. It is like picking up a well thumbed old Robert Heinlein novel, where the characters and their plots are different, but all else feels very familiar.

            4 out of 5 stars Good.......2002-01-16

            Very well thought out, however you really have to pay attention to keep track of everything that is going on. I'm the kinda guy that reads for awhile and sets the book down, it was hard for me to remember what was going on.

            5 out of 5 stars An Awsome Book.......2001-04-26

            I remember reading this the first book many years ago, and now its finally back! I must admit thats its even better the second time around. I rank The Sand Wars up with my other favorite series. Hats off to Charles Ingrid fro creating this masterful series.

            Sacred Beat: From the Heart of the Drum Circle
            Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
            • Let the drumming begin
            • Really Great book!
            Sacred Beat: From the Heart of the Drum Circle
            Patricia Telesco , and Don Waterhawk
            Manufacturer: Red Wheel
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

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            ASIN: 1590030303

            Book Description

            The beat is universal--drumming as a way of communicating with other people, spirits, and self exists around the world and throughout time. And contemporary drumming is thriving! In the neo-pagan community, the most popular festivals and workshops are those that feature drumming circles. In healing centers, nursing homes, women's centers, and schools across the country, people are forming drumming circles. Sacred Beat honors and explores every aspect of drumming--historical, contemporary, and practical.

            Customer Reviews:

            5 out of 5 stars Let the drumming begin.......2005-02-21

            Amazing book!!! It has some of everything that I was looking for: the first part talks to the history, myths and spiritual aspects of drumming. It looks at all sorts of cultures too - Egyptian, Chinese, Native American, African, and others. It's a great overview that gave me ideas of areas where I might want to learn more. Wonderful poems and quotes are sprinkled throughout the book as well. Following this there's a practical section that helps you select a drum that's right for you and there's info on how to care for your drum. My drum had lost some of its tightness during the humid time of the year but there's a paragraph that addresses that specifically so I knew it was normal. The next section talks about drum circles and the different points in the circle. Really neat. It's my first introduction to drum circles. Lots of great lore and history throughout this book.

            4 out of 5 stars Really Great book!.......2003-08-14

            You ever wanted to know why drums are so important in a pagan circles?. You ever wonder why pagans use drums to reach to the God/Goddess?. Ms. Telesco's book "Sacred Beat" has really filled in the gap of the "why?"..the beat is important to many pagans. A lot of great info and history. A must read for all wiccan/pagans alike, and one of Ms. Telesco's better books on the market today. Well worth the money and time!

            The New Orleans Saints: 25 Years of Heroic Effort (Book 2)
            Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
            • The New Orleans Saints: 25 Years of Heroic Efforts
            The New Orleans Saints: 25 Years of Heroic Effort (Book 2)
            Christian Serpas
            Manufacturer: Acadian House Pub
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            ASIN: 0925417114

            Book Description

            The New Orleans Saints (Book 2) deals with the 1988 thru 1991 seasons -- the winning years -- highlighted by the team's winning of the NFC Western Division Championship. Chapters include: - "The Dome Patrol," the fast-moving, hard-hitting linebacking corps made up of Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling. - Dalton Hilliard's 18-touchdown season. - The Saints' fiery quarterback, Bobby Hebert, "The Cajun Cannon". - "The Great Dane," place-kicker Morten Andersen.

            Customer Reviews:

            5 out of 5 stars The New Orleans Saints: 25 Years of Heroic Efforts.......2000-03-31

            A terrific book for any Saints fan that has edured the trials of the last 30+ years. We have few things to be excited about in the history of our beloved franchise, and this book kept me reading. It very skillfully details the 88-91 seasons and let me as a saint fan re-live our "Glory Days". This is a must for any Saint fan.

            The OPG to Hockey Cards, 5th Edition (5th ed)
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              The OPG to Hockey Cards, 5th Edition (5th ed)
              House Of Collectibles
              Manufacturer: House of Collectibles
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback

              GeneralGeneral | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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              ASIN: 0876379714
              Release Date: 1995-10-24

              Book Description

              THE UNBEATABLE BECKETT GUIDE WITH MORE THAN 30,000 PRICES LISTED!

              [ ] COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE. Complete listings from 1951 to 1996, featuring prices for full sets and individual cards--plus the current market values, including:

              BOWMAN

              DONRUSS

              FLAIR

              FINEST

              FLEER

              LEAF

              LEAF LIMITED

              O-PEE-CHEE

              O-PEE-CHEE PREMIER

              PARKHURST

              PINNACLE

              POWER PLAY

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              PRO SET PLATINUM

              SCORE

              SELECT

              STADIUM CLUB

              TOPPS

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              UPPER DECK

              UPPER DECK SP

              BACK COVER (cont'd) HOC: HOCKEY DECEMBER 1995

              [ ] WRITTEN BY AN EXPERT. Dr. James Beckett is the leading sports card statistician.

              [ ] THE YEAR IN REVIEW. Who was hot and who was not, plus what to expect in the coming year--the vital statistics of the hockey card market.

              [ ] CLEAR IDENTIFICATION. Every hockey card is identified by year, manufacturer, size, format, and player.

              [ ] VALUABLE TIPS. Expert advice on buying, selling, caring for, and storing your cards.

              [ ] HOCKEY CARD HISTORY. The fascinating story from early issues to today's high-tech versions.

              [ ] CONDITION GRADE PRICING. Each listing includes prices for each of the three different condition grades.

              [ ] FULLY ILLUSTRATED.

              HOUSE OF COLLECTIBLES

              Serving collectors for more than thirty years

              Alphabets & Samplers: 40 Cross Stitch and Charted Designs
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Alphabets & Samplers: 40 Cross Stitch and Charted Designs
                Brenda Keyes
                Manufacturer: David & Charles UK
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover

                Cross-StitchCross-Stitch | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                Textile ArtsTextile Arts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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                2. The Sampler Motif Book The Sampler Motif Book
                3. Cross Stitch Antique Style Samplers Cross Stitch Antique Style Samplers
                4. Small Scale Embroidery: In Cross Stitch and Other Techniques (Crafts) Small Scale Embroidery: In Cross Stitch and Other Techniques (Crafts)
                5. Elizabethan Cross Stitch Elizabethan Cross Stitch

                ASIN: 0715399837

                A Gracious Welcome: Etiquette and Ideas for Entertaining Houseguests
                Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
                • Alice in Yuppie-land
                • A Few Useful Tips
                • Beautiful Book!
                A Gracious Welcome: Etiquette and Ideas for Entertaining Houseguests
                Amy M. Nebens
                Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover

                GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
                TablesettingTablesetting | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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                1. Permission to Party: Taking Time to Celebrate and Enjoy Life Permission to Party: Taking Time to Celebrate and Enjoy Life
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                4. Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home

                ASIN: 0811840832

                Book Description

                They're coming for how long? This utterly charming guide brings together inspiration and advice for planning a visit that's relaxing and enjoyable for guest and host alike. From invitations no one could refuse to advice on furnishing a cozy guest bedroom and stocking a well-appointed bath, A Gracious Welcome is a refreshing approach to sharing the home turf with family and friends. Ranging from luxurious craft projects such as handmade bath salts to simple additions like a bedside bouquet of sweet-smelling flowers, here are pages of ways to make every guest feel welcome. Whether home is a bungalow in the 'burbs, an uptown pied-a-terre, or a roomy weekend cabin, hosts will find plenty of useful inpiration, plus ideas for easy meals. Chockful of tips for clever outdoor activities and day trips to please all ages, and adorned with delightful photographs throughout, A Gracious Welcome is an invaluable helper when loved ones come to stay.

                Customer Reviews:

                2 out of 5 stars Alice in Yuppie-land.......2007-03-02

                I agonized for months over whether or not to buy this book. The review that suggested borrowing it from the library was very influential, but not quite influential enough. I bought the book. Flipping the pages made it look interesting enough, but then I read the text. I'm not sure who the target audience is for this book. The author writes in an almost child-like tone. Some parts of the book seem like she's suggesting a tea party for dolls, and other parts sound like an upscale teenager doing a Martha Stewart imitation at a Sweet 16 ski party. The snacks or appetizers suggested-brie, guacamole-are so cliched it's embarrassing. The "crafty" ideas like making journals for children and guestbooks for adults to jot down daily remembrances is tiresome. And most of the ideas include the hostess playing tour guide or beach bunny all day and then going home and providing a memorable dinner and games night afterword. Doesn't the author think the host/hostess has anything else to do? Lip service is paid to older visitors, or relatives, but no ideas are ever suggested.

                A much more enjoyable, helpful book is "Guests Without Grief" by Paula Jhung.

                4 out of 5 stars A Few Useful Tips .......2004-11-18

                I'd suggest borrowing this from your local library. It's a nicely packaged book with pastel pages, high quality photos and a sampling of hostess tips. The text probably equals 2 or 3 magazine articles, so I'd hate to pay $19 for it.
                It gives guidelines for preparing the guest room (add hangers to the closet, flowers on the bedside table, etc.) and a sampling of recipes for impressing your guests. They are lovely sounding (cranberry scones, strawberry iced tea, peanut butter s'mores)and the photos look good enough to eat. Note the Martha Stewart touches like the chocolate chip cookie photo showing a well-loved teddy bear with the cookies and milk.
                Along with these are some craft ideas like stamping your initial on your cocktail napkins or layering colored bath salts in a jar for the guest bath. It even includes a couple of pages with instructions for playing charades and twenty questions.
                All the ideas are pleasant enough, but overall it seems skimpy at 120 small sized pages.

                5 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book!.......2004-07-13

                A wonderful book from a former Martha Stewart editor with many ideas for entertaining guests in your home. The pictures are beautiful and the recipes and ideas are creative and easy to implement.

                The  Step by Step Art of Decoupage (Step-By-Step Craft Series)
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  The Step by Step Art of Decoupage (Step-By-Step Craft Series)
                  Cheryl Owen
                  Manufacturer: Whitecap Books
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Graphic Arts | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                  ASIN: 1551102153
                  The Step by Step Art of Decoupage: How to Use Paper Motifs to Create over 80 Designs
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    The Step by Step Art of Decoupage: How to Use Paper Motifs to Create over 80 Designs
                    Cheryl Owen
                    Manufacturer: Smithmark Publishers
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

                    GeneralGeneral | Home & Garden | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Papercrafts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                    ASIN: 0831749962

                    Thank You, God
                    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                    • Great book
                    • great book to read to your kids...
                    • We love it!
                    • One of our FAVORITES!
                    • This is a wonderful book!
                    Thank You, God
                    P. K. Hallinan
                    Manufacturer: Candy Cane Press
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Board book

                    Board BooksBoard Books | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    ChristianChristian | Fiction | Religions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    Ages 4-8Ages 4-8 | Christianity | Religions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    Look Inside Children's BooksLook Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
                    Look Inside Religion & Spirituality BooksLook Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                    Ages 4-8Ages 4-8 | Christianity | Religions | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                    ChristianChristian | Fiction | Religions | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                    All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                    Similar Items:
                    1. I'm Thankful Each Day I'm Thankful Each Day
                    2. My Mommy and I My Mommy and I
                    3. Let's Share Let's Share
                    4. How Do I Love You How Do I Love You
                    5. My Daddy & I My Daddy & I

                    ASIN: 0824954572

                    Customer Reviews:

                    5 out of 5 stars Great book.......2007-10-18

                    This is one of our favorite baby books. It has such a sweet message and great rhymes too. Highly recommend for Christian households.

                    5 out of 5 stars great book to read to your kids..........2007-03-09

                    I really liked the illustration and I found it really useful to introduce my child to learning about God.

                    5 out of 5 stars We love it!.......2006-08-06

                    I just got this book for my 8-month-old the other day, and I can barely get through it without my eyes filling with tears! It is so sweet, and such a perfect little "prayer book" to start out your young children with. Especially as a Christian, I love the child-like references to eternal life, and to Christ's birth and sacrifice for us.

                    5 out of 5 stars One of our FAVORITES!.......2006-07-31

                    This is such a great book. I bought one for several friends we loved it so much. It is very sweet and perfect for a young child.

                    5 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful book!.......2004-10-11

                    I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to teach their children about the wonderful things God has done for us all. It is easily understandable, pictures are bold and the text easy to read and understand. My baby loves looking at the pictures and loves the rhyming text.

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                    1. Spring Flowers, Spring Frost: A Novel
                    2. Supermale, The
                    3. The Auld Sod: A Novel
                    4. The Blue Afternoon
                    5. The Foundation Pit
                    6. The Gift Bag Chronicles: A Novel
                    7. The God Who Begat a Jackal: A Novel
                    8. The Inquisitor's Guide: A Medieval Manual on Heretics
                    9. The Journey of Ibn Fattouma
                    10. The Laws of Invisible Things: A Novel

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