Adultery and Other Diversions
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Oh how disappointing
  • Interesting but too breezy, blithe
  • A brilliant turn from a brilliant writer.
  • a sassicaia 85 type of a book, complex ,sensual,has breed.
  • READ IT
Adultery and Other Diversions
Tim Parks
Manufacturer: Arcade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1559705183

Amazon.com

In his essay "Maturity," Tim Parks, reflecting on that notoriously indecisive prince of Denmark, suggests that Hamlet's problem was "not cowardice, or even thinking too much, but rather that thought is his chief pleasure." Indeed, Parks continues, "It is perhaps this that our culture will have no truck with, the idea that the greatest pleasure might come, not from consumption, or action, or doing good or passion, but merely, wonderfully, from the mind's play with itself." Our culture may not appreciate the mind at play, but Tim Parks most definitely does. In Adultery and Other Diversions, he gives his own intellect free rein to cartwheel and skylark among a variety of subjects from the dangerous allure of adultery to the creative power of rancor.

With each essay, Parks begins by grounding himself and the reader in a concrete experience--a bus ride across Europe, for instance, or cleaning his daughter's room, or translating an Italian novel into English--then lets his mind loose to joyously observe, reflect, and comment on what it all means. In "Glory," for example, Parks recounts an arduous hike through the Italian Alps with his two young children and a family friend. Descriptions of the difficult terrain, his own complicated feelings about climbing a particular peak, his friend's preoccupation with the Tour de France, his children's games--all dovetail gracefully to arrive, eventually, at his real point, the nature of their endeavor:

Being an entirely mental quality, surfacing in nothing more concrete than a word, glory tends to be belittled, or viewed with some embarrassment in a world where technique and her accomplice, information, are assumed to hold sway.... And yet despite her new boots--Gore-Tex lined--and all the chocolate and mineral drinks, the creams for sores and plasters for blisters, young Stefi, I know, would never have climbed Monte Maggio on that third day had it not been for the flavour of certain words--Crest-Strider, Peak-Dancer.
Whether he is discussing the Dionysian nature of affairs, or drawing parallels between the society Plato commented on in his Republic and our own, Parks does so with wit, elegance, and the kind of unself-conscious grace that a natural athlete brings to the game. Adultery and Other Diversions is a delight to read, and even better to think about afterwards--exactly the sort of book a certain prince of Denmark would have loved. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

In his essay "Maturity," Tim Parks, reflecting on that notoriously indecisive prince of Denmark, suggests that Hamlet's problem was "not cowardice, or even thinking too much, but rather that thought is his chief pleasure." Indeed, Parks continues, "It is perhaps this that our culture will have no truck with, the idea that the greatest pleasure might come, not from consumption, or action, or doing good or passion, but merely, wonderfully, from the mind's play with itself." Our culture may not appreciate the mind at play, but Tim Parks most definitely does. In Adultery and Other Diversions, he gives his own intellect free rein to cartwheel and skylark among a variety of subjects from the dangerous allure of adultery to the creative power of rancor.With each essay, Parks begins by grounding himself and the reader in a concrete experience--a bus ride across Europe, for instance, or cleaning his daughter's room, or translating an Italian novel into English--then lets his mind loose to joyously observe, reflect, and comment on what it all means. In "Glory," for example, Parks recounts an arduous hike through the Italian Alps with his two young children and a family friend. Descriptions of the difficult terrain, his own complicated feelings about climbing a particular peak, his friend's preoccupation with the Tour de France, his children's games--all dovetail gracefully to arrive, eventually, at his real point, the nature of their endeavor:Being an entirely mental quality, surfacing in nothing more concrete than a word, glory tends to be belittled, or viewed with some embarrassment in a world where technique and her accomplice, information, are assumed to hold sway.... And yet despite her new boots--Gore-Tex lined--and all the chocolate and mineral drinks, the creams for sores and plasters for blisters, young Stefi, I know, would never have climbed Monte Maggio on that third day had it not been for the flavour of certain words--Crest-Strider, Peak-Dancer.Whether he is discussing the Dionysian nature of affairs, or drawing parallels between the society Plato commented on in hisRepublic and our own, Parks does so with wit, elegance, and the kind of unself-conscious grace that a natural athlete brings to the game. Adultery and Other Diversions is a delight to read, and even better to think about afterwards--exactly the sort of book a certain prince of Denmark would have loved. --Alix Wilber

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Oh how disappointing.......2000-08-31

Having lived in Italy for over 20 yers I am a great fan of Tim Parks. Italian Neighbors, are my neighbors. Down to the barking dog you plan to kill on the first moonless night. Italian Eucation is the story of my beach and my beach club. Down to the juke box mother! Adultery is just such a disappointment. None of the humor. None of laughing outloud. Just dull and overly trying too hard to impress. I have to say I disliked every word of this book. Not vintage Parks

3 out of 5 stars Interesting but too breezy, blithe.......2000-01-13

The English have a tradition of great essayists but modern practitioners such as Parks and Theroux do not have the scope or weight of their predecessors.

Parks is clever and he never rambles on. But his subjects--adultery, cleaning his daughter's room, the transforming power of language expressed in a hike--do not carry the weight of an Eliot or Orwell essay. Maybe that's because most of Parks's pieces appeared in the New Yorker, which has pared back noticeably the length of essays it publishes.

You may find that the essays do not compell repeated readings as, say, Eliot's and Orwell's do.

5 out of 5 stars A brilliant turn from a brilliant writer........1999-07-17

This talented novelist and essayist rarely disappoints, and this book of essays is as understatedly clever as everything Tim Parks write. Especially impressive and thought-provoking is "Charity," a devastating consideration of that famous Italian sportswear's manufacturer's infamous "consciousness raising" ad campagn. That essay alone is worth reading many times. One hopes these smart essays will lead more readers to Parks's superb novels such as "Europa" and "Family Planning."

5 out of 5 stars a sassicaia 85 type of a book, complex ,sensual,has breed........1999-07-15

This is the third book of the author I have read.I run into the Italian Education accidentally,while perusing through the travel section in a bookstore. Later I have read the Italian Neighbours. I recommend these books higly especially for those who are interested in Italian society and who thought that Francis Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun was a tasteless joke. This last book by Parks which comprises of a set of essays strengthened my conviction that,when it comes to making observations and passing judgments on contemporary institutions and social norms he is as insightful and original as anybody, perhaps he is a modern day Tocqueville. These seemingly disparate essays are held together by some common themes:limits of rationality in guiding behavior,arbitrary nature of language,critique of the historical unlearning process which is underway,etc. What is particularly noteworhy in the author's reasoning is that he can start out with a convention or an assumption that reasonable minds will agree(such as "being charitable is a good thing"),then he debunks the widely held conventions by attacking their inner contradictions before(sometimes)reaching a moral conclusion. Fortunately he does this without a dash of pedanticism and with irony and sincere self-examination. The book also becomes a lot of fun to read under the Campania sun when Parks delivers a beautifully crafted personal attack against a literary"giant" and you understand that the man must have been a force to reckon with when he played football(Soccer)in his youth.

5 out of 5 stars READ IT.......1999-02-23

All the joys of being a husband, friend and father are extolled in this book, yet they are rendered with a much deeper understanding of the human condition and the community of life.
ADULTERY AND OTHER DIVERSIONS
Average customer rating: Not rated
    ADULTERY AND OTHER DIVERSIONS
    TIM PARKS
    Manufacturer: Vintage
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
    ASIN: B000OGN0RK

    Reave the Just and Other Tales
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • A very good book
    • Donaldson's magic continues...
    • Best Short Story/Novella Author
    • A return to the past
    • A little treasure...
    Reave the Just and Other Tales
    Stephen R. Donaldson
    Manufacturer: Spectra
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

    Donaldson, Stephen R.Donaldson, Stephen R. | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0553580140
    Release Date: 2000-01-04

    Amazon.com

    Reave the Just marks Stephen Donaldson's return to fantasy. It's been over a decade since his last collection of short fiction, and fans of his Covenant and Gap series have been clamoring for more from their favorite author. This collection includes eight stories and novellas highlighting Donaldson's skill at creating richly defined characters tormented by doubt, pain, and ambition--antiheroes in spectacular and strange dream worlds. Check out this spectacular collection from a master of character and plot.

    Book Description

    Stephen R. Donaldson's unique talents have placed his work alongside that of J.R.R. Tolkien and established him as a writer with the rare ability to expand readers' imaginations. Now he presents a magnificent new collection of eight stories and novellas--three of which have never before been published.

    This outstanding volume commences with the fablelike title story, "Reave the Just," which highlights one of Donaldson's favorite themes: the individual's power to overcome adversity. This collection also introduces the morbid, soul-taking hero of "Penance," the mysterious beggar woman in the dark fairy tale "The Woman Who Loved Pigs," and the pampered antihero forced to make a choice between virtue and vice in "The Djinn Who Watches Over the Accursed."

    Boasting exotic settings and suspense fueled by sudden plot twists, Reave the Just and Other Tales is a testament to Stephen R. Donaldson's talent to spin unforgettably spellbinding stories, and the astonishing scope of his mastery of magic and myth.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars A very good book.......2005-05-08

    Make no mistake about it... Donaldson is a dark, dark writer. In this collection of eight short stories, he covers topics ranging from demonic possession to unjust imprisonment to soulless machinery. Some of these stories have been published before, mostly in other science fiction anthologies. Most of them are set in the realm of fantasy; only one can truly be called science fiction. Despite their dark and sometimes disturbing themes, I thought these stories were interesting. This may have been due, in part, to the fact that they were not each a full-length novel. Extended doom and gloom may have been too much, but in short bursts, I found Donaldson to be manageable.

    Quite a few of these stories have an Arabian Nights-type of feeling to them. Many are set in Mid-Eastern or medieval styled countries. I especially enjoyed "The Djinn Who Watches Over the Accursed" and "Penance." Few of Donaldson's stories seem to have unqualified happy endings, but there is usually a lesson to be learned or a point to be made so the ending is usually appropriate, if not always the one the reader might wish for. Donaldson is definitely not the kind of writer who throws his main character into all sorts of trouble and then waves a magic wand to rescue him or her and make things completely better. Instead, there are issues to be worked through and flaws to be dealt with. The main character in Donaldson's tales generally walks away a different person from the individual s/he was initially.

    5 out of 5 stars Donaldson's magic continues..........2005-03-16

    Stephen R. Donaldson is my favorite author: a giant in the world of epic fantasy and SF, who deserves a place right next to J.R.R. Tolkien in the pantheon of the genre. His 1977 book "Lord Foul's Bane" launched the "First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant", a landmark series in fantasy. Since then, he's delighted readers with the lighter "Mordant's Need" books, the extremely dark "Gap" science-fiction series, the "Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant", and this year's "The Runes of the Earth", the first book in the "Last Chronicles".

    Between these epic projects, Donaldson has worked on his "The Man Who..." mystery novels, and two wonderful books of short stories, "Daughter of Regals" in 1986 and this book, "Reave the Just, and Other Tales".

    The stories here run the gamut, from action-packed martial arts tales to deep, thoughtful novellas. The titular "Reave the Just" story is the best short fantasy work I have ever read.

    Anyone who is a fan of SRD probably already owns this book, but for those unfamiliar with his work, "Reave the Just and Other Tales" provides a great introduction to the master's talents.

    5 out of 5 stars Best Short Story/Novella Author.......2004-10-24

    Without a doubt one of the best long-form authors out there (admission: I haven't yet read "The Gap into Power" series), Donaldson is even better in the short-form. Unfortunately, he's not that prolific in the realm of short stories, novellettes, or novellas. What he does produce is routinely magnificent however. As with his first collection of short-form stories, there is not a dog in the bunch. While his first collection was a mix of science-fiction and fantasy, this collection is solely fantasy, but what a collection of well-written, involving, and unusual fantasy it is. Highly recommended.

    4 out of 5 stars A return to the past.......2003-06-27

    Stephen Donaldson finally returns to fantasy writing after a ten year break. It is a truly a welcomed return after his uneven "Into the Gap" science fiction series. Once again Donaldson writes with passion and wonderful characters. Most of the characters are flawed, but that makes the stories even better. The book is very serious in tone and captures his mood very well. There is only one clunker in the mix, although the various stories will not be for everybody. My personal favorite is "Reave the Just" who deals out "justice". An added bonus is donalson writes a note to his readers what has happened to him and why he dissappeared for so long from the literary world. The reader also finds out his writing was also a part therapy for him and does explain why so many of the stories are brooding in nature. This is an excellent collection and should not be missed. If you are a Donalson fan, shame on you if you missed this set of stories. I hope he writes more along these lines.

    4 out of 5 stars A little treasure..........2001-09-12

    ...this is a little treasure, because it holds some great stories told in short stories and they hits right into the heart. There is one about a wizard who have been turned into a pig and a pig that has been turned into a man, and one about a necromancer that buys souls and my alltime favorite, the one about a land where martial artists fight on the same side as the Black Wizard to save evil from being destroyed by goodness...

    It really makes you think...

    Enjoy it greatly!
    Reave the Just & Other Tales
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Reave the Just & Other Tales
      Stephen Donaldson
      Manufacturer: BANTAM BOOKS
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover
      ASIN: B000VRU24Q
      Reave the Just and Other Tales
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Reave the Just and Other Tales
        Stephen R. Donaldson
        Manufacturer: Bantam Books
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover
        ASIN: B000K1FD5G
        Reave the Just and Other Tales
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Reave the Just and Other Tales
          Stephen R. Donaldson
          Manufacturer: Bantam
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          ASIN: B000VAP6J4

          Psi-Man 03: Main Street D.O.A. (Psi-Man)
          Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
          • Psi-Man : Main Street D.O.a (Psi-Man, 3).
          Psi-Man 03: Main Street D.O.A. (Psi-Man)
          Peter David
          Manufacturer: Ace
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

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          ASIN: 0441007171
          Release Date: 2000-04-03

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          Psi-Man-on-the-run Chuck Simon takes refuge in a sprawling amusement park. He just wants peace and quiet. Instead, he's found a warzone....

          #3 in the electrifying series!

          Customer Reviews:

          3 out of 5 stars Psi-Man : Main Street D.O.a (Psi-Man, 3)........2000-05-05

          I enjoyed yet another book in this series. Would suggest this series to anyone who enjoyes reading about the power of the mind.
          3 Sci Fi PBs by Peter David, PSI Man 1-3: Mind-Force Warrior, Deathscape, Main Street D.O.A. (PSI Man)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
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            Peter David
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback
            ASIN: B000TB0NNE

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              Manufacturer: Diamond/Charter
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              PSI Man Main Street D. O. A.
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                The Return of Pahana: A Hopi Myth
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                  Cooking In Paradise: Culinary Vacations Around the World
                  Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
                  • Save Your Money
                  • Don't Waste Your Time
                  • Cooking in Paradise : Culinary Vacations Around the World
                  • Cooking in Paradise :
                  • THE BEST OF TRAVEL AND OF COOKING!!!
                  Cooking In Paradise: Culinary Vacations Around the World
                  Joel Naftali , and Lee Naftali
                  Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

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                  ASIN: 0312242972

                  Amazon.com

                  What better way to learn about a culture than to spend a few days huddled over a stove with a local chef cooking the region's specialties? Cooking vacations--which become more popular with each travel season--are the perfect way to not just visit a country, but to really experience it, and even bring part of it home. If you've ever dreamed of sautéing in Sicily, mincing in Morocco, or stir-frying in China, Cooking in Paradise, Joel and Lee Naftali's practical guide to cooking vacations around the world, will show you how to get there.

                  The book covers a wide range of cooking programs--from budget to extravagant, from half-day classes to three-week programs--in Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, and Morocco. The authors provide extensive information about each program, including its history, information about the region and its cuisine, the instructors, and a play-by-play of how you can expect to spend the time. You can choose whether you want the glamour of cooking with a famous chef (from Jacques Pepin to Marcella Hazan) or the informal fun of cooking like a native (many programs are taught by enthusiastic and knowledgeable home cooks). You might spend five days cooking with Patricia Wells in her Provencal home kitchen, which boasts a La Cornue range, rotisserie, and wood-fired bread oven. There you'll prepare traditional Provencal dishes like Saumon Entier Roti en Papillotte, Soupe au Pistou, and Tarte Tatin. Or you might prefer to spend a week cooking in the kitchens of Tutti a Tavola, a friendly Tuscan cooking school run by four women who open their homes to groups of students so they can experience four distinctly different Tuscan kitchens.

                  As authors Joel and Lee Naftali write, "If the heart of a home is the kitchen, then the soul of a region is the cuisine." --Robin Donovan

                  Book Description

                  COOKING IN PARADISE is a rich, definitive guide to hands-on gourmet cooking vacations around the world.Ever dreamed of sauteeing in Sicily?Or having a master divulge the secrets of perfect patisserie in Paris? How about mincing in Morocco?COOKING IN PARADISE will show you how to get there and scores of other places with over 150 listings for cooking vacation programs around the world (and a handful right here in the United States too).The Naftalis give details about famous courses--like Patricia Wells' "at home" in her eighteenth century Provencal farmhouse--but have also unearthed truly unusual fare, from a Kosher cooking course in Tuscany to an Australian country house gourmet retreat to a Mexican cuisine class held at a working hillside farm in Oaxaca.COOKING IN PARADISE provides all the information you need to book a cooking vacation today, but with its evocation of far-flung locales and over 50 unusual recipes from the schools included, it's perfect for the stay-at-home chef as well.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  1 out of 5 stars Save Your Money.......2001-08-04

                  Having attended several cooking schools throughout Europe, I was really looking forward to "Cooking in Paradise". I'm sorry to say that I was very disappointed. While the descriptions of the cooking schools make the reader want to hop on the next plane, the prices of the schools reviewed are prohibitive. I doubt that the average home cook would want to spend $2,500 for a 5 day cooking school, not including international airfare. I had hoped that there would be classes in all price ranges listed, but the majority were very high end. The book is dull in that it has no photographs. There are many glaring errors in the book such as; in one paragraph a school is listed as Devina Cucina (which is incorrect) and in the next Divina Cucina. About two years ago I attended the Podere Le Rose cooking school listed in the book. I noticed that the address listed for the school was an address that was old, the school had moved at least 3 years ago. Of the 5 schools in the book that I decided to research on the internet, 3 of them had incorrect websites and addresses. Did anyone really go to these schools or was this information just pinched from the internet many years ago? The recipes in the book are average but many of the ingredients listed are ingredients which are not readily found in the United States. This book might be enjoyable reading for those readers who are not seriously planning on attending a cooking school, but for those who are looking for a reliable source of information this is not the book for you.

                  1 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Time.......2001-08-02

                  Having attended several cooking schools in Europe, I was eager to read COOKING IN PARADISE. I am sorry to say that I was very disappointed in this book for several reasons. First, the majority of the schools listed were way out of my price range. Most of the courses started at $2,500 for five days not including airfare. I don't think that the majority of average recreational home cooks would be willing to spend that type of money for a short cooking course. While the descriptions of the courses and their locations was enticing, the cost of most of the classes listed was certainly a turn off. The second major fault I found with the book was its inaccurate information. Two years ago I attended the Podere le Rose cooking school listed on pg. 87 of the book. The description was fairly good but then I noticed that the address listed for the school was incorrect as they had moved at least three years ago. I found this odd since the book was printed a short time ago. I assumed that this was the only glitch and continued to read the book. Of the five schools listed in the book that I decided to research on the internet, three of them had incorrect websites. I know that websites do change but I think that the authors of this book did not follow up and check their information before having the final version of the book printed. There are many spelling errors, one school is listed as Cucina Devina (which is incorrect) in one paragraph and in the next it is referred to as Cucina Divina. There are no photos in the book which leads me to wonder if anyone really visited these schools. Photos would have been a wonderful addition. The recipes in the book were average and some contained ingredients which would not be readily available in the United States. If you are not seriously considering attending a cooking school and simply want to read about what they are like then you might enjoy this book, but for those of you who are looking for a book with solid useable information then this is not for you.

                  5 out of 5 stars Cooking in Paradise : Culinary Vacations Around the World.......2001-06-18

                  Great book! It lists hundreds of culinary vacations, from gourmet five-star resorts, to living on a farmhouse learning traditional country cooking. Many of the vacations are in France and Italy, but there are also many in Mexico, Asia, England, --and a couple in Brazil, Turkey, Greece, Morocco, etc. Descriptions are really good--you get a very strong feeling for the place. It's not only for experienced chefs or serious students, either, but for anyone who loves cooking and travel (I found it in the travel section, actually, and don't know what's better--the cooking or the activities, like visiting local markets and horseback riding and spa treatments and language classes.) Plus, I made the Pad Thai (the books has a recipe every four or five pages--I'm going to try the 'Fried Milk,' a strange-looking dessert from Basque Country in Spain, next), which turned out to be easier than it looked, and delicious!

                  5 out of 5 stars Cooking in Paradise :.......2001-06-18

                  Great book! It lists hundreds of culinary vacations, from gourmet five-star resorts, to living on a farmhouse learning traditional country cooking. Many of the vacations are in France and Italy, but there are also many in Mexico, Asia, England, --and a couple in Brazil, Turkey, Greece, Morocco, etc. Descriptions are really good--you get a very strong feeling for the place. It's not only for experienced chefs or serious students, either, but for anyone who loves cooking and travel (I found it in the travel section,actually, and don't know what's better--the cooking or the activities, like visiting local markets and horseback riding and spa treatments and language classes.) Plus, I made the Pad Thai (the books has a recipe every four orfive pages--I'm going to try the 'Fried Milk,' a strange-looking dessert from Basque Country in Spain, next), which turned out to be easier than it looked, and delicious!

                  5 out of 5 stars THE BEST OF TRAVEL AND OF COOKING!!!.......2001-06-14

                  I found this book to be so helpful in planning my vacation. The listings are comprehensive, the descriptions fun and substantive, and the recipes are spectacular! Even if you don't want to take a cooking vacation (but I'm betting you will after reading this book) you will still enjoy taking a mental vacation as you read it. Cooking in Paradise combines the best of travel and cooking writing in a unique, creative way. Great gift for those planning a honeymoon or a romantic getaway, too. The food of love!

                  Modern Beretta Firearms
                  Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
                  • buy it if your interest is very focused on the model 92
                  • Decent reading, but less than one might expect
                  • Gene Gangarossa Does It Again!
                  Modern Beretta Firearms
                  Gene, Jr. Gangarosa
                  Manufacturer: Stoeger Publishing Company
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

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                  Similar Items:
                  1. The World of Beretta: An International Legend The World of Beretta: An International Legend
                  2. Gun Digest Book Of Beretta Pistols Gun Digest Book Of Beretta Pistols
                  3. Beretta Pistols: The Ultimate Guide Beretta Pistols: The Ultimate Guide
                  4. Gun Digest Book of SIG-Sauer: A Complete Look at SIG-Sauer Pistols Gun Digest Book of SIG-Sauer: A Complete Look at SIG-Sauer Pistols
                  5. The Walther Handgun Story: A Collector's and Shooter's Guide The Walther Handgun Story: A Collector's and Shooter's Guide

                  ASIN: 0883171740

                  Book Description

                  The focus of this book is confined to those Beretta firearms that were developed after Pietro Beretta took over the firm in 1903, an event which, as related in Chapter 1, marks the real beginning of Beretta in the 20th century.

                  The story of Beretta's firearms of the 20th century leads naturally to an overview of all the Beretta-made weapons, both old and new. It takes us beyond Italy, to nearly a dozen countries where Beretta-designed military firearms have been built, and to other nations where these fine weapons have been put to use. This book delves into the Beretta story and discovers how remarkable events and personalities shaped Beretta firearms as they are today.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  3 out of 5 stars buy it if your interest is very focused on the model 92.......2002-01-17

                  The book justifiably centers on the current flagship of Beretta products, the model 92 and all it's variations. but for a book focused on "modern" beretta firearms it's unfortunate to buy an edition 7 years out of date. This wouldn't be anything to count against the book except that in this instance there has been several interesting new developements. Those somewhat familiar with Beretta firearms should be aware that the Model 8000 series and the model 9000S series as well as the subcompact Tomcat are not featured which might not be overtly stated by it's 1994 publication date. However, the superb coverage of the model 92 including detailed information on proper 9mm cartridges and holsters makes this a good buy if your interest is very focused on the model 92.

                  3 out of 5 stars Decent reading, but less than one might expect.......2000-11-09

                  This volume was preceded by the works of J.B. Wood (1985) and Marco Morin / Robert Held (1980) on Beretta firearms. The prolific US gunwriter Gene Gangarosa, who previously had authored a similar popular monography on the German Walther P 38 pistols, judiciously qualifies his book as a treatment of "modern" Beretta firearms. This title must be taken literally, as a clear indicator of content limitation. The absolutely central part of the book - and ist most valuable one, too - is the extensive in-depth treatise on the Model 92 pistol series and notably the trials and tribulations which, through various stages and retractions, finally led to its acceptance by the US Armed Forces as new service pistol and successor of the venerable Colt .45 Government Mod. 1911 A 1. On 174 pages alone (!), the author retraces and relates the various army and air force trials, the competitors and the maze of brazen incompetence and sham which surrounded these proceedings. Anybody who is interested not just in Beretta pistols, but in modern military handguns and their selection procedures in general, should thoroughly study this treatise, which alone would be be worth the book's price.

                  Far weaker, however, are the other sections of the book. Long arms (shotguns and rifles) are treated very superficially with a few general comments, with hardly any substantial facts and information. Target pistols are barely outlined. And while the much-collected pre-1951 pistols of Beretta are indeed covered succinctly, this is not done in any scholarly or well-researched manner; neither the wartime sub-varieties, nor productions figures, nor foreign contracts have been listed. Totally lacking is any indication of sources (the author has included many Beretta factory photographs, but older archival material seems not to have been used), and even a slight hint of a bibliography - zero. The volume is thus not a collector's handbook, nor a scholarly study; it is a coffee-table book which gives well-readable general information arranged around a weighty central essay (Model 92 pistol).

                  Gangarosa's style is easy-going and clear, and - appreciably - it is not as over-enthusiastic and glowing as in J.B. Wood's previous work, which showered its subject with superlatives on almost every page, regardless of how much or how little the covered various pistols might have deserved it actually. In contrast, Gangarosa remains quite sober. Illustrations are decent (black-and-white), but lack explosion drawings, parts lists or marking details; the book is thus of very limited use for the gunsmith or collector. The final, "definitive" handbook on Beretta firearms therefore still remains to be eagerly awaited...

                  5 out of 5 stars Gene Gangarossa Does It Again!.......1999-12-04

                  This is a very well written and documented book regarding the oldest firearms manufacturing firm in the world.

                  Gangarossa presents very useful information in detail about the firm and the excellent firearms the firm produces, including the famed Beretta 92FS, other Beretta pistols, shotguns, rifles and even machineguns. Rather than simply listing their characteristics, Gangarossa explains their design origins, their development history and their miliary, police and commercial uses in great detail. He also provides his view of the successes and failures of Beretta's arms.

                  Also worthy of mention is the most complete history of the M9 handgun trials (the US military trials to select a handgun to replace the aging M1911A1 Colt) and subsequent developments, which dispel many myths and misconceptions about how the Beretta 92FS became the M9.

                  All in all, I recommend this book highly for firearms aficionados and historians. I also recommend Gangarossa's other books.
                  Modern Beretta Firearms
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Modern Beretta Firearms
                    Gene, Jr. Gangarosa
                    Manufacturer: Stoeger Publishing Company
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover
                    ASIN: B000MBM93I

                    Willowood: Further Adventures in Buttonhole Stitch Applique
                    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                    • Willowood - Jean Wells
                    • Not your usual designs
                    Willowood: Further Adventures in Buttonhole Stitch Applique
                    Jean Wells
                    Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Publications
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback

                    AppliqueApplique | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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                    ASIN: 1571200266

                    Customer Reviews:

                    5 out of 5 stars Willowood - Jean Wells.......2000-05-18

                    Great book, easy to follow instructions for beginner or advanced.

                    5 out of 5 stars Not your usual designs.......2000-05-16

                    I am not a big fan of buttonhole applique. This book has changed my mind and that if a few of my students. Jean Wells has created some beautiful, sophisticated designs. Her use of fabrics is inspiring. My favorite is the Forest Friends Quilt, which is shown in two different colorways, each giving it a whole new look.

                    Design Strategies in Architecture: An Approach to the Analysis of Form
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Design Strategies in Architecture: An Approach to the Analysis of Form
                      Geoffrey Baker
                      Manufacturer: Spon Press
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback

                      GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                      Study & TeachingStudy & Teaching | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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                      All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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                      5. Precedents in Architecture: Analytic Diagrams, Formative Ideas, and Partis Precedents in Architecture: Analytic Diagrams, Formative Ideas, and Partis

                      ASIN: 0419161309

                      Book Description

                      Baker outlines the current perceptions of science, art, and philosophy that have impinged upon architecture. This discussion compares Futurism, Constructivism, Suprematism, High-Tech, Deconstruction and the attitude of the Avante-Garde with the phenomenology of Bachelard and Heiddeger.

                      Design Strategies in Architecture: An Approach to the Analysis of Form
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Design Strategies in Architecture: An Approach to the Analysis of Form
                        Geoffrey H Baker
                        Manufacturer: Van Nostrand Reinhold [International] Co Ltd
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Paperback
                        ASIN: B000R9P4JQ

                        Adobe Indesign 1.5 - Curso Completo En Un Libro
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          Adobe Indesign 1.5 - Curso Completo En Un Libro
                          Adobe
                          Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback

                          GeneralGeneral | Graphic Arts | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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                          ASIN: 9702600375

                          Angels, Ants and Elephants: A riveting account of the psychic experiences that have shaped the author's philosophy and beliefs (N)
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            Angels, Ants and Elephants: A riveting account of the psychic experiences that have shaped the author's philosophy and beliefs (N)
                            Anne Dawson
                            Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Paperback

                            New AgeNew Age | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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                            WomenWomen | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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                            Personal TransformationPersonal Transformation | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                            ASIN: 0595329985

                            Book Description

                            Set against a background of pre-war and wartime England, followed by twenty-five years in Africa, Angels, Ants and Elephants is an authentic account of the author's life and the many psychic experiences that have had a profound effect upon her philosophy and beliefs.

                            The narrator of this true-life story first heard the voice of her Guardian Angel when she was fourteen years old. The experience was scary and inexplicable--and the warning received was utterly devastating.

                            Throughout a long and often difficult lifetime, she has come to know her Guardian Angel intimately. There have been times when she has heard a gentle voice speaking inside her mind--and times when she has felt strongly influenced to make certain decisions that marked important milestones in her life.

                            This is the story of the close spiritual relationship they have shared throughout the author's life journey--a relationship that exists to this day.

                            Books:

                            1. ALL THAT IS GONE
                            2. An Outline of the Republic : A Novel
                            3. Astronauts: and Other Stories
                            4. Best of Tin House: Stories
                            5. Beyond Summer Dreams
                            6. Bloomsday: Ulysses in Boston
                            7. By the Grand Canal: A Novel
                            8. Circling Eden: A Novel of Israel in Stories
                            9. Circus of the Grand Design
                            10. Despistes y Franquezas

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