Average customer rating:
- A memorable work
- A south of the border escape: in more ways than one
- Beautifully Written
- The Road TO Esmeralda
- BLURB-O-RAMA
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The Road to Esmeralda: A Novel
Joy Nicholson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
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Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
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Similar Items:
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The Tribes of Palos Verdes: A Novel
ASIN: 0312268637
Release Date: 2005-05-26 |
Book Description
From the author of The Tribes of Palos Verdes, a compelling new novel about a couple's getaway to a Mexican paradise that goes horribly wrong. The Tribes of Palos Verdes J oy Nicholson's second novel, The Road to Esmeralda, is a dark, seductive story about Americans abroad. Fed up with their L.A. lives, Nick and Sarah decide to head south to Mexico. They are looking for something: Love, self-fulfillment, inspiration, or even just peace of mind. However, as the roads get windier and the jungle thicker, this nave pair realizes that all of the trappings of society-greed, drugs, violence and jealousy -exist even in the remotest of places. Even tiny Esmeralda has a secret agenda.... Whileher prose remains heartfelt and spare, Nicholson, in The Road to Esmeralda, also reveals a political edge. In exploring the prejudices of a small Mexican town, she weaves a harrowing and tragic story of love, devastation, and what it means to be a young, intelligent American in a very angry world.
Customer Reviews:
A memorable work.......2005-12-22
This book found its way into my Amazon.com inbox after *The Tribes of Palos Verdes*, Ms. Nicholson's first novel, came into my mind "out of nowhere," seven years after I read it. I consider long-term memory retention an indicator of a good story.
I bought *The Road To Esmeralda* because I found Ms. Nicholson's style engaging in her first novel. I like to read things in little pieces. I like to be able to put a book down for 72 hours, pick it up again, and resume the dream with minimum brain boot-up time. (I suspect this comes from my own experience as a technical editor.) When I flipped through the pages of this most recent novel, I saw that it is written in the same structured way as *Tribes*. It is also divided into parts, code named by colors of the spectrum as the wavelength increases. Cool! This reminds me, for some reason, of Solzhenitsyn.
The book's main protagonist, Nick Sperry, is a "frustrated male drunk in the tropics." Ms. Nicholson sure got that tune right! (Here is a female author who knows how the male mind works, at least when it is not operating properly.) The other protagonists all have serious problems, too, with the most eccentric of the lot, Karl, evidently the least insane. The interaction among characters is balanced, and flashbacks are well done. As a non-fiction scribbler more comfortable with manipulating equations and generating schematic diagrams than visiting with the muses of fiction, I have the profoundest respect for Ms. Nicholson. She's one of the best authors I have ever stumbled across.
And now, a warning! If you want an uplifting book, this is not it. It starts out dark, and gets darker all the way. Is there a "moral"? Maybe. One might read politics into it; one might see it as xenophobic. The ending goes "over the top." However, it is by no means an impossible scenario in this paranoid new world. But let's not kid ourselves. Many factors contributed to the ruin of Nick Sperry, but alcohol abuse was the root cause. If there is a message here, I suspect it could be, "Stay sober when traveling in foreign countries."
A south of the border escape: in more ways than one.......2005-08-29
Ms. Nicholson does a great job of conveying the tone of a south of the border escape as such it almost is suffocating at times and doesn't let the characters breathe in the opening moments of the book. But as the story progresses, it becomes obvious that the intent of the author is to show the characters and how they are being suffocated by where they are headed, metaphorically, spiritually, and morally.
Well written and one of the most absorbing books I have read in a while.
Beautifully Written.......2005-08-24
This isn't the usual type of book that I would read and in fact I found it incredibly boring for the first hundred or so pages. What kept me reading was the way the book was written rather than the plot itself. Simple sentences had so much meaning and depth, it really made me think. As the novel moves on and some plot finally begins to develop I became intrigued in the characters. Throughout the book I was not able to take sides with one character over another. Yet, I kept reading because I wanted to learn more about each one of their attributes and the reasons of why they did certain things. I was more interested in the character development rather than the plot to be honest. In fact the ending really fell flat.
The Road TO Esmeralda.......2005-08-16
Book Review:
The Road To Esmeralda:
The book begins with what appears to be a simple vacation for a
seemingly happy and contented couple: Nick, frustrated writer, but hopeful idealist, and Sarah, a graphic artist, and the supportive, caring, and emotionally stable girlfriend. Together, they embark on a journey to bring them closer to each other and themselves.
Their road trip takes them to Mexico, which offers them a gateway to creative and emotional freedom. What they find instead is anger and resentment against them, not as people, but as Americans. This bitterness and hostility comes from all angles; fellow tourists and locals alike, are ready to confront the America imperialists who are the cause of all the world's woes.
In an attempt to escape the onslaught, Nick and Sarah travel further and farther away, until they land at a quiet beach-front guesthouse in Esmeralda, a beautiful Yucatan enclave. Their hosts, the Von Tollmans, are German ex-patriots, and committed to living lives which excludes involvement
with polluted people and societies, while living off and tending to their land, which caters to this eutopic lifestyle.
Quickly immersed in the owner's fight to save their land, highly coveted by greedy local and foreign businessmen alike, Nick and Sarah become deeply entrenched in the political forces that will soon destroy their personal undertakings and ambitions. The only problem though, is that Nick and Sarah find themselves on opposing sides.
Al, the guesthouse handyman, has his own questionable and sordid agenda. Al, almost sociopathic, begins finding conflict in his own seemingly non-existent moral makeup, while Nick's morals slowly dissolve in an aborted attempt to save his relationship. Sarah and the Von Tollmans, in doomed attempts to maintain their ideals, become prey to the social and political conspirators.
And there the book takes us: down a windy road filled with intrigue, personal digression, moral conflict and disillusion, that soon involves local thugs and drug smugglers, the Mexican and American governments, and the personal and cultural agendas that ripen the conspiracy plot.
This is a story of disintegration, personal dilemmas and fears,
emotional disillusion, and human ambition, both altruistic and sordid. It is a macrocosm with archetypal characters living in their own personal microcosmic world. Each suffering from their own human frailties, and subject to personal fears, they are lost and disconnected. The characters exemplify qualities that supersede nationalism or xenophobia; they are basic and base, each confronted with their own truths and lies, and the bitterness of their own futility.
A great read. Profound. Layered. A good adventure both inward and outward.
Ellen Vinitsky - August 15, 2005
BLURB-O-RAMA.......2005-08-04
I started the book because I like Mexico stuff. However I discovered shortly that I couldn't bond with the characters. So I eighty-sixed it. It could be a very good book. Or not. What was really cool was the blurbs on the back cover. Jerry Stahl used "riveting," "searing" and "wire-taut" in one sentence. Wow! Stokes Howell used the word "hallucinatory." (I guess since he used it Jerry couldn't.) The picture of Joy in the back reminded me of that girl in the French movie that found that box of old toys. A little older though, obviously.
Book Description
At last, the haunting sequel to Morgan Llywelyn’s phenomenal epic Druids. The Greener Shore unfurls the story of a brave and mystical people who learned to manipulate the forces of nature–in order to control magic.
As druids in Celtic Gaul, they had been the harmonious soul of their tribe, the Carnutes. But when Julius Caesar and his army invaded and conquered their homeland, the great druid Ainvar and his clan fled for their lives, taking with them the ancient knowledge. Guided by a strange destiny, they found themselves drawn to a green island at the very rim of the world: Hibernia, home of the Gael.
Here they would depend for survival on an embittered man who had lost his faith–and a remarkable woman who would find hers. Burning with hatred of the Romans, Ainvar can no longer command his magic. But his mantle falls on unexpected shoulders. In a beautiful, war-torn land of numerous kingdoms and belligerent tribes, Ainvar and his beloved wife, Briga, struggle toward an uncertain future. Their companions include the volatile Onuava, widow of their fallen chieftain; Lakutu, Ainvar’s dark and mysterious second wife; Ainvar’s son, Dara, who seems more drawn to poetry than to combat; and the “Red Wolf,” the young warrior who is as close as kin and is determined to find Ainvar’s missing daughter.
Other forces are at work in Hibernia as well–the spirits that haunt the island, forces older than even the magic of the druids. Through them Ainvar seeks his redemption . . . as Briga seeks her rendezvous with history.
Filled with the deep feeling, stunning detail, and rich characters that made Druids a masterwork, The Greener Shore is a superb saga of an amazing world and its wondrous ways–a much-awaited novel that will delight all the devotees of this admired author.
Customer Reviews:
Historic Fiction.......2007-10-06
This book kept my interest and helped me to understand the many cultures that influenced Irish life before Chrisitanity. Very interesting!
Llyweylyn does it again.......2007-08-07
The Greener Shore, the anticipated sequel to Druids, answers questions and continues the journey. Beautifully written, Llywelyn's style captures the poetry, the music, the tragedy, the heart and the soul of this druid's journey.
A Richly Distillled Tale.......2007-07-26
Whatever I found lacking in this novel's predecessor,Druids, has been aged to perfection in the years since the first novels appearance. This one was so well told and well formed, I can only say I just kept dreading the end. It felt like a story becoming myth as it was unfolding for me. I could go on for pages about what I liked in this book, but surely one thing I ought to mention is how wonderfully Llywelyn weaves the ancient Celtic teachings into the narrative as it is being related. Ainvar proves a worthy vehicle (as a character) to transmit this knowledge. Knowledge still, and perhaps even more,useful to us in the dark days of the 21st century as we come ever closer to paying the awful price for our separation from nature, the greatest teacher of them all.
There is much truth in fiction if you know where to look, and though she does not burden the reader with these gems, they are there to be pondered. Though I rarely say this, this book is too good to be read only once. I really, really hope she continues this tale into the next generation, though that would mean parting with characters to dear to consider having to say goodbye to! Very highly recommended.
THE GREENER SHORE.......2007-01-04
Fantastic! A story told in the Celtic tradition of teaching and entertaining. I'm usually a fast reader, but I had to put this one down a few times just to absorb the spirit behind the words. More than just fiction --- this book/author channels the past to the present.
THE GREENER SHORE Is a Tale Spun By a True Bard!.......2006-11-05
Wow, it's been over 15 years to get a sequel to DRUIDS! I really never expected it; however I'm glad this one finally surfaced.
This novel continues the adventures of Ainvar, High Druid, along with his three wives, Briga, Onuava (widow of great albeit defeated Vercingetorix), with Lakutu and a small contingent of others as they journey to a new land after Caesar destroys their people, the Carnutes of Gaul and their Sacred Grove. They eventually end up in Eire or Hibernia as it's known to travelers. Ainvar and his people discover it's a land of many kingdoms and warlike tribes and struggles to find their own place among them. Ainvar wants their settlement to become permanent and reasons that they are among Celts even though they are different in many ways.
He additionally discovers that the true forces of the land are older than the druid's magic and comes to an understanding with the original inhabitants, the Túatha Dé Dannans, the true spirit(s) of Eire.
Although the story started out slow, it eventually increased to a swift pace and became a genuine page turner until the very end. This novel was penned by a true bard!
Customer Reviews:
ANDERSON HUNTS A PSYCHIC SERIAL KILLER.......2006-08-14
One of the things I've always loved about the adventures of Psi-Judge Anderson is that her stories really could take place in any time period or locale. The fact that they take place in the post-holocaust 22nd century of Mega-City One is often incidental. While the More well known Judge Dredd often deals with high-tech plots, mutants, etc..., Anderson's stories are often tinged with more horror than Sci-Fi elements. This is certainly the case with the second book in the Anderson series from The Black Library, "Red Shadows" which is a terrific serial killer mystery that has Anderson and the rest of the Judges completely befuddled.
William Ganz seems to be killing his victims at random from a list he carries. All he knows is that all of them have a red aura about them. He can see this because he is a powerful psychic, not only able to see people's auras, but because he is also a Tele-Dominant, and able to force people to do his bidding, and to make them see what he wants them to see. The murders become increasingly brutal. Even longtime Judges are shocked by the savagery of the killer. The victims all have their throats cut, some have all their organs removed or limbs hacked off. Clearly this is one very ticked-off murderer. When Anderson psi-scans the dead victims to see what they saw before they died, she has images of a delivery man bringing flowers or candy, yet each time it's a different looking man, and yet surveillance cameras never see any such delivery man.
It is only after several murders that Anderson discovers the man's incredible psychic powers...powers which he uses to murder two Judges, and powers which may be even greater than Anderson's. That's not the worse thing though...the killer has now seen Anderson, and her aura glows with the brightest red he's ever seen. Now he's forgotten about the rest of the names on his list and is setting his sights on Judge Anderson.
"Red Shadows" was a fantastic, and thoroughly grisly story. Be warned that the murders and murder scenes are quite graphic as writer Mitchel Scanlon pulls no punches. For perhaps the first time we see Anderson truly in doubt and in fear. Once Ganz goes after Anderson it's a great game of cat and mouse that Scanlon delivers with the skill of seasoned mystery writer. "Red Shadows" was a thrill to read and I hope to see more from Scanlon.
Reviewed by Tim Janson
Oh Yeah!.......2006-05-08
By the year 2126, atomic war has decimated humanity and the world is a bleak wasteland, inhabited by mutants and freaks. Most people live in vast, walled cities. Boredom, unemployment, and crime is sky high. The authorities must use an iron fist to keep the 400 million citizens in check. Justice is upheld by the implacable Judges. They are empowered to act as judge, jury, and executioner. Radioactivity has given some people dangerous talents: telekinetics, pyromaniacs, telepaths, and more. It is the Psi Division's task to do what the regular judges cannot: deal with supernatural phenomena and hunt mutant psychics down. Its ranks are comprised of telepaths and psychics, able to scan minds, even those recently deceased. Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson is the best in the division.
The Necropolis Event (in "Fear the Darkness") ranked alongside the Apocalypse War as one of the worst disasters to have ever befallen Mega-City One. Judge Edward Weller still has nightmares because of it. It is also why he despises all psychics, even psi-judges. And Psi-Judge Anderson, in Weller's opinion, is the worst, simply because she is the best in the Psi Division. Needless-to-say, Weller is NOT happy when he finds out Anderson is assigned to assist in his case.
Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson hunts a teledominant. This serial killer mentally dominates the minds of other people and makes them believe anything he wants them to. Every time Anderson scans a victim's mind, she sees only what the victim saw. Since the victims saw only what the killer wanted them to, Anderson has no idea as to what the killer looks like. To make matters worse, Judge Weller's prejudice ways keeps him from sharing vital information with Anderson. Yet even when they find out who the killer is, they must still find the person who is pulling the killer's strings.
***** Author Mitchel Scanlon often mentions names some of today's famous people or film characters within this series. They are slight, little mentions that many readers may not even notice. But for big fantasy and sci-fi fans, like myself, you will get a chuckle each time one of them jumps out at you. Other than this, the author keeps his sense of humor under wraps and gives his readers some of the best futuristic fantasies of the year. Author Mitchel Scanlon has a new fan in me! Fabulous! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Average customer rating:
- Thought Provoking and Well Done
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Blue Wisdom: A Dog Named Blue shares daily, simple wisdom
Timothy R. Velner
Manufacturer: Goblin Fern Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Inspirational
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
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ASIN: 1595980059
Release Date: 2005-08-01 |
Product Description
"Blue Wisdom" is a series of daily affirmations about finding God/Inspiration in ordinary life events. The passages remind us that God is often found, not in the complex philosophies of religion, but in the everyday experiences shared by all of us. "Blue Wisdom" is written from a dog's point of view. And it is through this unique perspective that we are invited to recall life's simple beauty, too often overlooked in the busy human world.
Customer Reviews:
Thought Provoking and Well Done.......2005-10-29
I had a tough time adjusting to my new job and thinking "is this meant for me?" "Is this what God had planned out for me?" These are questions we all ask of ourselves, and I found Blue Wisdom to be a great book for making me think about what's going on in my life and how I can relate my faith and spirituality to my day to day life. I found it to be very interesting and am glad I picked it up, I recommend you do the same.
Average customer rating:
- The Real Deal
- Good recipes - bad binding style.
- Great cookbook
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Pacific Grilling: Recipes for the Fire from Baja to the Pacific Northwest
Denis Kelly
Manufacturer: Sasquatch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
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Barbecuing & Grilling
| Outdoor Cooking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
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General
| Outdoor Cooking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
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Northwest
| U.S. Regional
| Regional & International
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West
| U.S. Regional
| Regional & International
| Cooking, Food & Wine
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ASIN: 1570611750 |
Amazon.com
Forget the stove and oven. Once you get hold of Pacific Grilling, you'll never want to broil or fry again. Once upon a time grilling meant Dad slapping burgers and steaks down on the Weber on a warm Saturday night. While a good burger can be heavenly, Denis Kelly explores a range of grill cookery, from Grilled Seafood Quesadillas to Penne with Grill-Roasted Vegetables to Carne Asada with Pear Ginger Crisp for dessert. A Los Angeles native, Kelly (The Complete Meat Cookbook) has gathered 140 recipes, many of which reflect the Asian and Latino influences on West Coast dining. Try Grilled Prawns with Thai Cilantro Sauce, Grilled Pork Chuletas in Lime Tequila Marinade, or a Korean Kalbi Barbecue with a side of Miso-Marinaded Eggplant. A great advocate of spice rubs and marinades, Kelly includes a chapter on the best seasoning for seafood, poultry, beef, lamb, and pork. Quick to assemble, these versatile rubs pop up throughout the cookbook. Kelly also includes information on the hows and whys of grilling for those who are just getting started.
Along side mouth-watering recipes are essays about San Francisco's Chinatown, the World's Most Expensive Chicken, and an old friend's grilling tips, among others. He recalls road trips to Baja as a youth where he would "point to what [he] wanted and the asadero would shell it or cut off a steak or fillet, sprinkle it with lemon, chile, and salt." A lover and chronicler of the grilling culture, Kelly will win you over with his warm, nostalgia-tinged prose and succulent, easy-to-follow recipes. --Dana Van Nest
Book Description
Denis Kelly celebrates the unique grilling traditions of the West from cowboy campfires to California beach fire, and including Mexican, Asian and Italian grilling recipes. Grilling is different in the West according to cookbook author and food authority Denis Kelly. With these 125 recipes for the grill from Alaska to Baja, and all points in between, he charts the multicultural grilling scene that includes Mexican/Latino marinades and salsas; Pacific Northwest alder smoked salmon; and Southern California spiny lobster on the coals of a beach fire. Kelly brings a cupboard full of spice rubs, flavor brines, and other tantalizing preparations to the grilling of seafood, poultry, meats, and vegetables.
Customer Reviews:
The Real Deal.......2001-01-01
Friends, this is a fine book. I have five grills and a couple dozen barbecue books at home and this book's at the top of the pile. If you're looking for something slick, written by a "celebrity" lightweight with a ghost writer, then buy Bobby Flay. If you want an authoritative guide to grilling written by an engaging companion, this is it.
Although I have to agree that this is an inexpensively published book, the content is extensive and very strong. Kelly's discussion of technique is first rate and his essays on grilling culture are delightful. Better yet - the recipes are delicious. This book deserves a wide audience and a place on every serious griller's shelf.
Good recipes - bad binding style........2000-11-11
Good cookbook, but the binding is bad for a cookbook. Can't lay it down and work from it without cans of vegetables on open page to hold the book open. If you press the book then you break the binding and pages fall out.
Great cookbook.......2000-09-07
I have used this cookbook and found many wonderful recipes. The recipes are very easy to follow. The only negative to the book is that there are no pictures to go with the recipes. If that doesn't matter to you, go out and buy this book. It is great!!!
Book Description
The essential reference guide for glass collectors and devotees of the fluorescent art glass known as Vaseline is now in its second edition! Text and color pictures of over 690 different pieces show over 60 patterns and discuss of the history of this unique style and how to know it from look-alike pretenders. Ms. Davis brings together information that is expert, concise, informative, and clear. The photos are beautiful and instructive.
Customer Reviews:
Very well done. .......2006-02-20
This book is great for all the people who have Vaseline glass and are not sure the value. The pictures are the best quality I've ever seen. Very good book for people who are thinking of collecting this type of glassware.
Average customer rating:
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Eco-Interiors: A Guide to Environmentally Conscious Interior Design
Grazyna Pilatowicz
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
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General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
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Environmental
| Building Types & Styles
| Architecture
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General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
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General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
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General
| Nature & Ecology
| Science
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General
| Ecology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
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General
| Arts & Photography
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General
| Interior Design
| John Wiley Architecture Store
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Similar Items:
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Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
ASIN: 0471040452 |
Book Description
Macromedia Flash is fast becoming the Web's most widely used platform for creating rich media with animation and motion graphics, but mastering Flash isn't easy. Most entry-level books teach through simple examples that concentrate on either animation or scripting, but rarely both together. To get the most from Flash 8, you not only need to be proficient in programming/interface design, you need the creativity for story telling and the artistic insights to design fluid animation.
Flash 8: Projects for Learning Animation and Interactivity teaches Flash design rather than simply Flash itself. With a standalone series of walkthroughs and tutorials for Flash beginners coming from a graphics field, this book teaches Flash in the context of real-world projects. Rather than learn a Flash tool for the sake of it, you learn which areas of Flash are important, and which are less used, simply by seeing how typical content is actually created. And rather than a text-heavy approach, this graphically rich book leads you through hands-on examples by illustration.
Each project in the book starts with goals and broad sketches before moving to design and scripting. This helps you understand design intent-the why of the process-rather than just learning the interfaces and the how of it all. Along the way, you'll create Flash content that includes traditional animation techniques (as seen in full-length animated features), and ActionScript-based interactive animation, such as custom web site interface designs. You also learn how to combine both traditional animation techniques and ActionScript to create feature-rich Flash assets from the ground up.
Co-authored by educational developers with years of experience creating compelling content, interfaces, and applications, Flash 8: Projects for Learning Animation and Interactivity offers a content-driven approach that is also inspiration-driven. You learn because you're accomplishing something tangible, not because you think you need to know how a tool works.
If you want to understand how various features of Flash come together to create a final end design, this book provides you with both the insight and the know-how.
Customer Reviews:
Look Ma! I can Animate! And Interact!.......2007-04-19
I like this book. It's easy. It's clear. It reminds me of the wise words: "Keep it Simple Stupid!"
I used this book to teach a class of teenagers about Flash and it was great. I gave it to a marketing guy who professed an interest in making some stuff in Flash and it was great. And I've used it myself. Again, great. The authors have filled the book with practical mini-projects that explain various concepts in Flash.
This is a book about the basics for beginners. It covers the basics of a whole range of methods and techniques. And it touches upon more advanced concepts briefly and helpfully. All the way from the drawing tools in Flash to using some action script and bit map effects. It has a very clear explanation of what a conditional statement is, for example. And also exaplins variables and scope succintly and accurately. It also tells you how to make a roll-over button in Flash. Awesome! (Hey... remember the first one you made? I still get excited about swapping images on the fly with code, so I can dig it.)
If you know somebody who has NO CLUE - and I include myself in that category at times, obviously - how to: center something on the stage (Align), undo to ten steps ago (History), make a photo move around (Importing, Tweening), have a cartoon character walk believably (Walk Cycles), display only part of a photo (Masking), make a volume knob for your own web radio station (Sound Control), let people email them from their Flash website (Form Data)... Well, then! This is the book for them.
This is great for the beginner.......2007-04-18
Flash 8 Projects for learning Animation and Interactivity
By Rich Shupe & Robert Hoekman, Jr.
Publisher: O'Reilly
Copyright 2006
IBSN: 0-596-10223-2
Review by: Linda Weller
The books learning style is organic. They pair topics with goals. You learn by doing. Shortcuts are highlighted. Self teaching is encouraged by allowing you to expand on the projects using what you have learned. Sample files are available online or on the CD Rom.
They try to spoon feed you a little ActionScript in the sidebars of the book. Then you get to the chapter on creating a form and wow your using somewhat complex ActionScript and a PHP form. I hope you have a server installed that allows PHP for this one.
This book is filled with lots of special little tips. For example they tell you the difference between object level undo's and document level undo's. I bet you thought it was just ctrl +z.
Some of the Flash 8 features that are covered are Object drawing and Merge draw and when to you each one, metadata fields to make your Flash files search engine friendly, copy to grid assistant and, the distributed duplicate assistant.
Productivity tips are covered using the align panel, timeline effect assistants and the history panel. Have you ever needed to change a symbol's registration point after it is made? Go to the Info window.
Usability is covered. The author's show you how to add an active content bar to your menu buttons so the user knows where they are in the menu. Also, using the anchor from the label type drop down menu which is like an HTML anchor enables the back and forward buttons to work when navigating browsers.
There is information on all the basics: making an invisible button, tweening, shape tweening and, masks. How to work with assets is discussed. They show why we use PNG format in Flash with a rather graphic example. You can access round trip editing with a program of your choice.
Chapter 7 is loaded with lots of animation techniques such as using shape tweening to have a house draw itself, gradient masks, enabling bitmap caching with ActionScript on the mask and masked movie clips. There is a whole exercise to help you learn to decide when you would use scripted and when you would use timeline animation.
The chapter on sound give you some great tips on trimming unused portions of your sound and using short loops to optimize your files. They even tell you of a free sound editor. You create an MP3 player and a video player with ActionScript as well as creating players using the components.
All the new Bitmap caching and filter effects are discussed. You make bevel filters using ActionScript 2.0 classes.
They close off the last chapter with lots of web resources and tips. For example for file optimization purposes you can go to "file--save-- compact new" this totally removes deleted files from the system and reduces file size.
VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!.......2006-10-10
Are you a beginning Flash user who wants to bring their project ideas to life? If you are, then this book is for you. Authors Richard Shupe and Robert Hoekman, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that includes everything you need to get started in Flash.
Shupe and Robert Hoekman, begin by showing you how to use Flash's vector drawing tools. Then, the authors describe how you can set up your work environment the way you feel most comfortable. The authors then show you how to use a few essential techniques to create your first animated Flash movie. Next, they show you how to give your audience some control through the use of buttons and ActionScript. The authors also show you how Flash can work with other applications to help you meet your project needs. They continue by showing you how movie clips allow you to create animations that play independently of one another. Then, the authors show you how to create an animated advertisement for the sale of a home; as well as, other experience with some of these techniques. Next, they show you how to work with sound. They continue by showing you how to add video to your projects, with and without Action Script. Then, the authors describe how you can composite bitmap and vector assets on the fly and learn how to inject a heightened sense of expression into your files with real-time filter effects. The authors then show you how to use text. Next, they focus on solving one problem: Keeping initial download times to a minimum without compromising too much quality or creativity. The authors also show you how to use a template and components to construct a three-question quiz about what you've learned so far. They continue by exploring two slightly less conventional distribution methods for Flash content. Finally, they show you a few projects that demonstrate some of Flash's less common uses.
Several techniques are used in this most excellent book to help you better understand and retain the information you are given. More importantly, the preceding approach is what makes this book more effective learning tool than other books on the shelf.
Learning Flash animation for beginner.......2006-08-13
The Flash 8 projects for learning Animation and Interactivity book is a good resource for beginner to learn animation. It takes you step by step using practice examples to teach you basic animation techniques. The title of the book show two issues the first one is learning animation and I think the writer covered this part very well for beginners. The second issue is Learning Interactivity, which is covered along with the animation. The chapter that causes confusion for me is the 13th chapter. As it talks about e-learning in Flash, which is a very big issue that can not covered in one chapter, even for beginners. I think this part needs another book to cover deeply and give the beginner a strong beginning step in the field of e-learning.
Regardless the 13th chapter I see the book focused well and this helps the beginners to grasp the idea of the animation in Flash.
A Good Channel through which to learn Flash interface and action script.......2006-05-17
As the title states, this project-based approach to learning Flash 8 covers everything from becoming familiar with the interface to using both vector graphics versus pixilated images to the power of writing action script.
For the beginning Flash 8 user, this book starts from scratch on how to draw objects. It begins by having the reader draw a simple box; by then end of the third chapter, what started as one object has become a movie, complete with alpha effects, motion effects, and even a first stab at action script. The remainder of the book builds off these core aspects of Flash. As a beginner, the book made it easy to follow through the step-by-step processes required to make Flash 8 work as desired.
Not only does the book walk Flash users through the step-by-step processes, it also includes very useful sidebar notes and separate comment boxes (not to mention the wide sidebar space that just happen to be perfect for note-taking). These features are helpful in understanding how Flash `thinks' about the commands given in the projects. Also, the side notes will oftentimes refer the reader to the chapter in which a process is discussed in more detail to aid those more experienced users who have skipped around rather than reading the book cover-to-cover. Another handy feature of Flash 8: Projects for Learning Animation and Interactivity is the appendix titled "Tips and Resources," which lists some optional websites to extend Flash 8s possibilities; there is also a list of sites to practice with more tutorials.
One potential downside of working through these projects comes with any book that uses the project-based approach: time. It takes time to work through the examples, even the ones that start out with some of the background work already done for you. However, this approach also gives a more thorough understanding of Flash 8 and should be beneficial to anyone who prefers a hands-on approach to learning the software. As such, it may be best suited for beginning users, but definitely has some information throughout that all semi-experienced Flash users should know.
Book Description
Through five releases of Macromedia's industry-standard Web graphics software program, James Mohler has become the indispensable resource for those looking to master the power of Flash. Flash:8 Graphics, Animation & Interactivity delivers Mohler's widely praised hands-on approach to learning for the newest version of Macromedia® Flash. Exercises and examples in the book, and the on back-of-the book CD, combined with step-by-step explanations, provide the best of both worlds-not just telling you how flash works, but showing you as well. For those new to flash, there are plenty of exercises designed to quickly get users up to speed quickly. Intermediate and advanced Flash users will find new exercises that demonstrate the latest features of version 8 as well as a valuable series of examples that illustrate some of the more complex elements of the software. The book features chapters on graphic techniques, bitmap graphic integration, typography and text, symbols, libraries, sound, animation, interactive techniques-plus an essential introduction to Flash's internal scripting language, Action Script.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for experienced software users trying to pick up Flash.......2007-09-23
After working through many "do something right now" tutorials - I felt like I could butcher my way through simple Flash projects and action script, but wasn't really using the software the way it was designed to be used.
I think this book is an ideal read if you've been through Flash tutorials that show you how to use the program, but don't walk you through an overview from top to bottom, explaining the idiosyncrasies, gotchas and tips along the way. While the lessons are not particularly project oriented (like Classroom in a book style), you get a framework for continued learning.
For a programmer / experienced software user who wants to learn Flash, I would recommend reading this book and finding tutorials online to go in deep on areas relevant to your specific project.
Worst software book ever.......2007-07-12
I had the misfortune to buy this book for an online class on VR. We were supposed to work our way through the book chapter by chapter, as we took the class online. Admittedly, the online class did not support the flash part of the instruction in any way.
Having said that, I found this book to be the worst book ever for learning a software. The progression of the lessons was clunky and the files that were included as a support for each lesson were hard to use and sometimes impossible to understand. Instead of giving projects to work on, the book focused on explaining each and every button and menu item. One problem with this was a button or pallett or menu item would be mentioned in the text with no graphic to show where to find it. Often you could get lost in trying to find what the heck was being discussed. In fact, the book was very short on graphics, period, which is bad since the program itself is very visual.
I would never recommned this book to anyone who wants to learn flash.
Amazon.com
Flash MX can be an intimidating program for the beginner. Multiple windows, an array of tool palettes, and remarkable depth make it a rich and powerful tool, but with a steep learning curve. Derek Franklin, however, in this updated version of his popular Flash MX Creative Web Animation and Interactivity, has managed to make Flash not only accessible, but relatively painless to learn.
Written for the serious developer new to Flash, this 900-page volume serves as both an introductory course and a handy reference volume for going much deeper. Parts 1 and 2 focus on learning the language of Flash: the interface, menus, and working paradigm. Part 3 begins the production process and mastering of all the features that Flash has to offer. Going beyond Flash's graphic capabilities, Franklin has allocated 200 pages to ActionScript, the internal language of Flash that opens up all the bells and whistles to the developer.
For users with some Flash experience who have yet to dive into Flash MX's new features, there are Flash MX "alerts" scattered throughout. Some are no larger than small sidebars, while others span pages. There are six sections containing a total of 21 chapters, but perhaps the book's best feature is the set of video tutorials on the CD-ROM. The full-screen tutorials, complete with full color and sound, illustrate many of the concepts in the book; following these is akin to sitting in a classroom listening to a real instructor.
It's important to note that this book covers Flash animation but isn't written specifically for animators. There is no information here on lip synch, talking characters, or cartoon methods, but the book does cover Flash MX features and development of complex interface design using Flash. The Web animator looking to make cartoons and squeeze the most from the medium might not find what he or she needs, but the developer looking for a solid, well-rounded book on Flash MX will find it here. --Mike Caputo
Book Description
Derek Franklin is back, with his fully updated and expanded
Macromedia Flash MX Creative Web Animation and Interactivity, one of the best-selling guides to Macromedia Flash on the market. This book will provide you with the skills and inspiration you need to make creative use of Macromedia Flash MX to produce your own visual and interactive masterpieces. Whether you're a beginning Flash user or an advanced-intermediate user,
Macromedia Flash MX Creative Web Animation and Interactivity provides you with a thorough reference to Flash MX's features, as well as step-by-step video, text-based tutorials, and hands-on exercises that will teach you to use Flash in the real world. Within its pages, you'll find everything you need to master Macromedia Flash MX, from basic drawing to complex interactivity.
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