Astronauts: and Other Stories

Book Description

In this debut collection, Matthew Iribarne writes with astonishing clarity and grace about people trying to make sense of the world that has fallen out beneath them. The sweeping vision of these stories, set mainly on the West Coast, is illuminated by a diverse range of characters, their lives portrayed with compassion and honesty, shot through with emotional nuance and contradiction.

In "Astronauts," the powerfully affecting title story, two brothers -- one manic-depressive and the other just divorced -- drive across the country in a last-ditch attempt at reconciliation. In "Make Them Laugh," a priest is put on parole for crashing his car into a police vehicle, and keeps his tooth in a jar to remind himself what drinking seven glasses of whisky can do. "Ross Willow's New and Used Cars" centers on a used car salesman who loses his son in the Vietnam War, then his family in the aftermath. In "The Clear Blue Water," a San Francisco cabdriver finds himself stranded in the middle of the El Centro desert, meeting his past where he thought he might escape it. "Wedding Dance" introduces us to a family and slowly reveals each member, their individual hopes and aspirations, and the inexorable ties between them.

Rich with truth and imagination, Astronauts and Other Stories startles with its quiet revelations. Humor knocks against sorrow, beauty emerges beside despair, as possibility opens itself in the smallest gesture. Luminous and wise, these stories speak to the heart, never losing sight of the universal human experience that binds us -- our capacity for forgiveness and understanding, all that we are.

Download Description

Matthew Iribarne writes with breathtaking clarity and grace about people trying to make sense of a world that has fallen from beneath them. His stories find beauty in the unexpected: sorrow knocks against humor, and compassion prevails throughout. Set mainly on the West Coast, this collection's sweeping vision is illuminated by a diverse range of characters. Two brothers -- one manic depressive and the other just divorced -- drive cross-country on an impossible quest to begin anew; a used car salesman tries to make sense of his son's death in the Vietnam War; an English professor has an affair the day before his wedding; a wayward priest is placed on parole for drinking and driving. Through his revelatory prose, Iribarne explores such issues as mental illness, what it means to be Catholic in today's world, and the difficulties encountered by those living along the no-man's land of the Mexican-United States border. Filled with imagination and vision, Astronauts and Other Stories speaks to the heart, never losing sight of the universal human experience that binds us -- our capacity for forgiveness and understanding. Iribarne's tales are offbeat yet accessible, and utterly unforgettable.

Customer Reviews:

Astronauts and Other Stories.......2001-09-29

Terrific stories. Of course, I may like them more because I try to look at my own dreams for the odd concrete element like the tooth that the priest kept or the car lighter that glowed and brought the family together. Matthew Iribarne knows about the quirky sacramentals that are always revealing us to ourselves. I hope that he keeps writing and helping us cope with the ephemeral relationships of everyday life.

Beautiful Work, Beautiful Book.......2001-08-11

Take a look around the new fiction section at any bookstore these days and you'll see there's a welcome boon in short story collections. And this wonderful book by Matt Iribarne is sure proof that this trend consists of fine, exquisitely written material. I dare you to pick up this collection, read "Make Me Laugh"-a funny, sad and wise tale about a disgraced priest-and not wish you had a couple of hours to wade through all of this smart and witty new writer's stories. This is the kind of book that reminds you of all the greats-Tobias Wolff, Ron Carlsen, Charles Baxter-and offers fantastic nuggets of originality that suggests the beginning of a long and fruitful career for Mr. Iribarne. Don't miss this one.

Looking Down from Above.......2001-06-22

Recently, I had the pleasure of not only hearing the author read from his debut collection, but talking to him about craft. "I want to hover over these characters," he said, over a pint at the Newtonville Times here in Newton, Massachusetts. He does just that -- observantly, unobtrusively -- and in Astronauts & Other Stories, winds up sending back to earth some radiant, revealing photographs. I'll dispense with the synopses, and say only that the characters are human, the stories inventive, and the tone clear, lyrical, and almost Zen-like throughout. Don't be misled by the author's tenderness. It's genuine, but not without its acknowledgement of sorrow, despair and hurtful behavior. Matthew Iribarne picks up where another of my favorites -- Andre Dubus --left off just a few years ago. Both seems to enjoy a celestial perspective on us. A joy to recommend.

Bryan

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Astronauts: And Other Stories
Matthew Iribarne
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8AA8K

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The Dead Astronaut and 9 Other Stories
J. G. Et al Ballard
Manufacturer: Playboy Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KF6UIG

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Out There: The In-Depth Story of the Astronaut Love Triangle Case that Shocked America
Diane Fanning
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Too Late to Say Goodbye: A True Story of Murder and Betrayal

ASIN: 0312949308
Release Date: 2007-10-30

Book Description

Lisa Nowak was dedicated, smart, and courageous—one of the first astronauts to fly a space shuttle mission after the horrific 2003 Columbia disaster. But that was before a fit of pure, primal jealousy landed her in an airport parking lot in Florida, where Lisa had a fateful, near-fatal confrontation with the woman believed to be her romantic rival.

Did Lisa intend to kidnap—or kill—Air Force captain Colleen Shipman because she was involved with fellow astronaut William Oefelein? What was the nature of Lisa’s connection with William: True love or dangerous obsession? As the details of Lisa’s news-making journey unfolded—she donned a disguise, even wore a diaper during her 900-mile car ride to find Colleen—Americans couldn’t help but wonder: Why?

In this captivating account, master crime journalist Diane Fanning goes straight to the heart of the case. Through interviews with key family members, friends, and colleagues, the author reveals for the first time the real story behind the headlines—and casts a light on Lisa’s groundbreaking fall from grace.

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Astronauts and Other Stories
Matthew IRIBANE
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UZREBS

The Village...the Village...the Earth...the Earth and the Suicide of the Astronaut - with Other Stories

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The Village...the Village...the Earth...the Earth and the Suicide of the Astronaut - with Other Stories
Muammar Al Gadhafi
Manufacturer: GCI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Islamic | World | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9959224996

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Mind Expanding, Mind Collapsing

One of Pelevin's lesser work

ALL STAR CAST OF NARRATORS FOR THIS SPIN ON AN ANCIENT MYTH

Very interesting
The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur
Victor Pelevin
Manufacturer: Canongate U.S.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Lion's Honey: The Myth of Samson (Myths, The)

Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams (Myths, The)

Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Myths, The)

The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus (Myths)

A Short History of Myth (Myths, The)

ASIN: 1841957607

Book Description

Victor Pelevin, the wildly interesting contemporary Russian novelist who The New Yorker named one of the Best European Writers Under 35, upends any conventional notions of what mythology must be with his unique take on the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. By creating a mesmerizing world where the surreal and the hyperreal collide, The Helmet of Horror is a radical retelling of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur set in an Internet chat room. They have never met, they have been assigned strange pseudonyms, they inhabit identical rooms that open out onto very different landscapes, and they have entered a dialogue they cannot escape — a discourse defined and destroyed by the Helmet of Horror. Its wearer is the dominant force they call Asterisk, a force for good and ill in which the Minotaur is forever present and Theseus is the great unknown.

The Helmet of Horror is structured according to the way we communicate in the twenty-first century — using the Internet — yet instilled with the figures and narratives of classical mythology. It is a labyrinthine examination of epistemological uncertainty that radically reinvents this myth for an age where information is abundant but knowledge ultimately unattainable.

Customer Reviews:

Mind Expanding, Mind Collapsing.......2007-08-21

I came to Amazon to read other folks' impression of the content of the book, but, alas, found no posts, so I'm starting one, unwinding Ariadne's thread, as it were, so others would follow it with me. I'm basing my views on the Russian original here. I wanted to understand The Helmet very much. It feels vaguely portentous and significant in some way, and I found myself giving different accounts to authorial metaphors upon rereading it. Is Thesius the programmer while the others are stuck in VR? Are they WWW AI or real human beings? Whose is the independent reality? Is it theirs? Is it Thesius's? Was there a minotaur or are they the minotaur and were all along? Or perhaps they became the minotaur when the previous minotaur was massacred? It's like the literary version of Donnie Darko, and like Donnie Darko, it is a paradoxical entrapment, a fairly amusing jumble while it lasts that unravels to nothing. After all is said and done, the ultimate purpose of The Helmet is not to enlighten at all. It is to deconstruct. To destroy: your mental comfort in spirituality, social order, psychological adjustment, idealism, optimism, hope. When viewed through the prism of Pelevin's literary corpus, the metafictional aspects of The Helmet become clear: it is to show how existential "discourse" is a form of mental agony or onanism, if you will, created out and by nothing for no one's benefit. All is meaningless is the message here. In fact the very discourse is the helmet of horror as is the brain creating it, and as one tries to substantiate and justify the existence of the other, both fail miserably. The entirety of The Helmet (the book), therefore, with all its airs and profundity, with all implications of significance and allusions to higher planes of being, is an onanism, a pure escapist onion in metaphysical skin. Not unlike Pelevin.So why the four stars? During the reading process, you expect some sort of a revelation, a mind-expanding experience, while by the end the story world collapses, and you are left with no more with which you'd started. It isn't a failed expectation either. It's clear that the subject of the book and the book itself are intended to be of no existential consequence, which is, in fact, the lesson. It is that solipsistic speculation -- the author's signature and beloved cash cow -- is a barren womb. Once the concept is understood in a remedial philosophy class, it will yield no more meaning than the minimum number of words required to bring it home. All the literary effluvience and writing mastery in the world will not add weight to it, as anything times zero is zero. Solipsism is self-annihilating, however much it may be true. A book, any book, on this subject is too long. Nothing is easier than cynicism and criticism, gospodin Pelevin, stop it already! Grow up and give us some substance.

One of Pelevin's lesser work .......2007-04-16

The computer screen as stage and instant messaging as action in this lesser work by Victor Pelevin. Certainly no match to his "Buddha's little finger" or "Omon Ra"

ALL STAR CAST OF NARRATORS FOR THIS SPIN ON AN ANCIENT MYTH.......2006-07-11

Audiobook aficionados will think they've stumbled upon nirvana when listening to this update on the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur as read by eight of the best and brightest narrators to be found. Not only are they all first rate voice performers with wide ranges of experience but they're also award winners - far too many to mention here.

Russian novelist Victor Pelevin who was named among the Best European Writers under 35 is anything but conventional. Here, he takes an ancient myth and puts a today spin on it by creating eight characters, all assigned pseudonyms, who sign on to a chat room to discuss philosophy. We may remember that the Minotaur lived in a labyrinth and these characters find themselves in a virtual one.

The story opens with Ariadne writing, "I shall construct a labyrinth in which I can lose myself together with anyone who tries to find me - who said this and about what?" This thread is responded to by the other characters who are all in separate spaces, places of which they are not sure - where are they?

This is a sci-fi story which some may find puzzling and others enthralling as two of the characters struggle to find each other and others labor to explore their shared predicament.

- Gail Cooke

Very interesting.......2006-04-24

I found this book very intriguing. I can't say I "enjoyed" it -- Pelevin is one of those genius authors, like S. Lem, that I feel I should like, but actually find very difficult. It is like there is a joke and I don't understand the punchline. And maybe I get all the facts of the joke wrong, too. At any rate, this is a retelling of the Theseus/Minataur myth, and is a part of the incredibly wonderful series retelling the old myths by contemporary top authors. I have loved each book in the series, so far (I especially liked Weight, the retelling of Atlas). Pelevin's book sets the labyrinthe as a computer chat room, with the "thread" followed by various people who find themselves each trapped alone in an identical room. Well, we are all in traps, and we all have illusions, etc. So I recommend this interesting book as a part of the series. I'm going to have to work on my understanding of Pelevin, however.

The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur

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The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur
Victor Pelevin
Manufacturer: Vintage Canada
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

A cyber-age retelling of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur from one of Russia’s most exciting young writers.
Labyrinth (noun): An intricate structure of intercommunicating passages, through which it is difficult to find one’s way without a clue; a maze.

They have never met; they have been assigned strange pseudonyms; they inhabit identical rooms which open out onto very different landscapes; and they have entered into a dialogue which they cannot escape – a discourse defined and destroyed by the Helmet of Horror. Its wearer is the dominant force they call Asterisk, a force for good and ill in which the Minotaur is forever present and Theseus is the great unknown.

Victor Pelevin has created a mesmerising world where the surreal and the hyperreal collide. The Helmet of Horror is structured according to the internet exchanges of the twenty-first century, yet instilled with the figures and narratives of classical mythology. It is a labyrinthine examination of epistemological uncertainty that radically reinvents the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur for an age where information is abundant but knowledge seems ultimately unattainable.

From the Hardcover edition.

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Not Free SF Reader

Futuristic Drug War

Not bad

Very easy read, and isnt too bad...

Can't act, can't sing, now we know Shatner can't write

Tekwar
William Shatner
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Shatner, William | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0441802087

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Tekwar was almost passable. A futuristic story based around a conflict between drug dealers of the substance Tek, and the detective/cop types that try and stop them. With very human androids, to boot.

A cop that had been framed for such a drug deal is reactivated out of his statis prison and given a mission to find a missing man.

Futuristic Drug War.......2006-02-13

William Shatner paints a bleak picture of what the future might be; full of crime bosses, corrupt law enforcement, and rundown living arrangements. Amidst this backdrop, he presents us with Jake Cartigan; an antihero's hero. His situation is similar to the Demolition Man; awaking up from a cryogenic sleep. How's this for a twist? He soon discovers that his wife has divorced him whilst he was frozen. He has been released from his prison sentance in order to end a war that was started several years ago and for which he became ensnared in the process. The aply named drug known as Tek is the future's version of LSD except the user controls the elctronically generated fantasy. Jake must try to stop this war while at the same time deal with his former wife, protect a professor's daughter and regain his former reputation. The novel is fast paced and quite colorful in the language department. The idea of highly advanced androids acting as suicide bombers is original and the discovery that the daughter is only an android herself is a bit of a shocker. It is a farely decent literary work and scifi fans should pick this one up. Just don't use the "new" Spanish phrases you'll learn along the way.

Not bad.......2005-10-07

This is a decent sci fi story, and add a half star if you like william shatner.

Very easy read, and isnt too bad..........2005-05-31

I find this book mildly interesting... it isnt enough to be able to not put down, but I do find myself wishing I was reading it when I am working or something.
you could say, Very decent book.
Well worth the 2 bucks I paid at a used book store.
I plan on getting a sequel or another Shattner book... just for the fact it was Shattner, I almost gave it a 5... but... it isnt fair to all the other authors.
It is defineatly good... if he wasnt famous from acting (or, I mean, act-ing... SPOCK!)... (sorry, I had to.... I AM OUT OF MY VULCAN MIND (yes, that was bones... but I dont care)) he would still be a talented author.

Can't act, can't sing, now we know Shatner can't write.......2005-03-20

Keep trying Bill. One of these days, you'll find your niche. Have you considered a job that doesn't involve an audience?
OK, I should be embarrassed to have read this. I'm going to claim the "train wreck" defense and say I just couldn't avert my eyes. But it really is awful. Even rabid trekkies would have a hard time wading through this I think.

3 PBs by William Shatner: Tekwar, Tek Money, Quest for Tomorrow Delta Search

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3 PBs by William Shatner: Tekwar, Tek Money, Quest for Tomorrow Delta Search
William Shatner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SWTI9O

Product Description

Paperbacks

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Tekwar
William Shatner
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GRIQ76

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Tekwar
William Shatner
Manufacturer: Ace Putnam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O5U1XM

3 Book Set of Science Fiction by William Shatner; Tekwar, Tek Vengeance, Tek Secret

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3 Book Set of Science Fiction by William Shatner; Tekwar, Tek Vengeance, Tek Secret
William Shatner
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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TEKWAR
William Shatner
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K5MUKI

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TEKWAR
William Shatner
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K5PP82

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Not a bad debut from Captain Kirk

Tekwar

Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customer Reviews:

Not a bad debut from Captain Kirk.......2004-06-28

William Shatner, best known as Star Trek's Captain Kirk, provides his first literary effort here in Tekwar, and truth be told he does a pretty good job. This isn't an amazing novel, or a particularly deep one, but it's a fast paced story with lots of great action set in, shocker of all shockers, the future.

Jake Cardigan, detective extraordinaire, is jailed after being framed for dealing the mind altering drug known as Tek. Four years later, long before his sentence has expired, he is released from stasis/prison under mysterious circumstances. The terms of his parole entail his going back to work searching for a missing scientist and his beautiful daughter, with all sorts of adventure and mishaps along the way.

Sometimes silly, but totally filled with action, Tekwar is a solid first effort from a multitalented entertainer. It's a fun cross between a mystery and flat out sci-fi adventure, and succeeds because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Worth a read, and thoroughly entertaining.

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TekWar.

Manufacturer: Putnam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HYZWGQ

Customer Reviews:

I want it in book form, not CD.......1999-10-01

I have had this in book form, not CD and gave them as new baby gifts, but can't find them anymore. Any suggestions as to where I can get them?

Fascinating! An exciting achievement. One of a kind........1998-06-19

Wow! What a wonderful book for kids . . . and adults! For the first time, I'm finally beginning to connect the Bible and world history in a meaningful way. I never knew that popcorn was around when Noah was on the ark, that Jesus ate cookies and ice cream as a child, or that Daniel was a contemporary of Aesop and his fables. This book helps me and my children put the Bible in its world context and, therefore, to understand many of the customs and habits of people in the Bible. An enlightening experience! Great for homeschoolers, Sunday school teachers, private school teachers, and kids of all ages. Get it!

Customer Reviews:

A very good, no-nonsense Thai cookbook.......1999-08-16

This book doesn't have the gloss of some other Thai cookbooks, such as Keo's, but it has a good number of well-explained, tasty recipes. It isn't big on substitutions for hard-to-find Thai ingredients, which may be its biggest drawback for beginning cooks. Still, I recommend it highly.

Book Description

Presented here in lively text and over 650 color photographs are the toys that have been played with and collected by ardent fans of George Lucas' Star Wars trilogy for twenty years. The action figures, accessories, playsets, and spacecraft of the Rebellion and the Empire are displayed in a colorful and easily referenced format. The gaming equipment, model kits, playthings, promotional items, puzzles, and weapons produced from 1977 through 1997 are examined as well. Not stopping there, this sweeping survey includes an overview of the most popular items from the rest of the ever-expanding Star Wars collectibles universe. Newly revised prices are included in the captions; listings for toys both loose and mint-in-the-package are provided whenever appropriate. Rounding out this practical guide are a short history of science fiction films, an examination of action figures, and a bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

A nice GENERAL overview of Star Wars Collectables.......2004-06-29

Overall, I'd give this book very good rating (three-and-a-half stars... but I rounded up to 4). It was fun to flip through, and includes a nice sample of full color pictures (including several that may be difficult to find elsewhere). It also shows you a sample of items from a wide variety of categories. It is very heavy on figures (a plus), and also covers a wide variety of other items including plush toys, glasses/mugs, games, cereal boxes, cards, comics, and even stained glass sun catchers. However, the book is not exhaustive/comprehensive in any one area. For example, it doesn't show you every vintage figure ever made... or the various card variation. Nor does it show you every vehicle or playset ever made... or their boxes. The same is true for comics, cards, etc.. Further, there is NOT a lot of information/text/description. Finally, there is a picture of a 1977 Luke figure with a BLUE light saber very early on in the book (this really bugged me, and unfortunately made me question the accuracy of some of the other pictures). Overall, this book provides a nice overview of Star Wars collectables (i.e., if you want to know a little about everything, this may be the book for you). It would also be a good backup book if you already have a good primary source on a given area. However, this book is not for the person who wants in-depth information/photos from any one area (i.e., if you want to know a lot about JUST cards, comics, or figures, there are probably other books you might consider buying first).

Great book.......1999-11-30

I really should not review this book because most of the stuff photographed in it is mine. But I saw this book and loved it so I will share a little bit with you. This is a really great book with a large varity of Star Wars Toys and other Star Wars items. The pictures are all in color and very large. Every toy with the exception of 4 from the original Kenner 3 3/4 line are displayed in the book. Most toys from the new line are displayed also, along with everything from cereal boxes to the command tower swing set. This is a great book to use as a referance for collectors new and old.

great informtion.......1998-10-14

greAT

Book Description

Unlike any other fashion designer at work today, Paul Smith has managed to combine a flair for eccentric, subversive detail, a dedication to the highest standards of craftmanship, and a business and marketing sense that has made him simply the most successful designer in British history. But this publication is not a fashion monograph; it is not a catalogue of suits. Rather, imagine Paul Smith's brain on a page: cleverly original and often humorous thoughts and ideas, perfectly executed, not just on the back of a man or a woman, but in shop windows, in advertising campaigns, in toys, photographs, and souvenirs brought back from travels throughout the world that became the inspiration for the look of a season. Words and images crash together in striking contrast to reveal the passions and amusements of a designer committed to both modesty in his pursuits and stunning innovation. Designed by Alan Aboud, Art Director for Paul Smith for more than a decade, and with a slipcase designed by Jonathan Ive (famed designer of the iMac), this publication will bring together observations, images, and, in its own unique design and production, all of the extraordinary qualities possessed by Paul Smith himself.

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Fabric All Through the House: Window Treatments, Pillows, Bed Coverings, Tablecloths, and More

Manufacturer: Leisure Arts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Style | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Upholstery & Fabrics | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Sew a Beautiful Window: Innovative Window Treatments for Every Room in the House

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The Curtain Book: A Sourcebook for Distinctive Curtains, Drapes, and Shades for Your Home

ASIN: 1574862987

Book Description

Whether you're decorating a new home or sprucing up your existing dcor, you'll find loads of invaluable facts and tips in Fabric All Through the House. Professional decorators take you from the beginning stages of learning about fabrics and colors through the final stages of creating and displaying gorgeous fabric accessories that fit your personal style. Learn to make window coverings, pillows, tablecloths, lampshades, seat cushions, canopies, cornices, and more!

Book Description

The Cultural Revolution in China produced thousands of powerful social and political posters exhorting the Chinese people in a sweeping transformation of Chinese society. These brilliantly colorful images of cultural celebration, industrial development, agricultural production, and revolutionary heroes were displayed in homes and public spaces across the country. Chinese Posters collects more than 150 of the most striking of these posters and offers background on their social and political context and production. An essay by Ann Tompkins provides a personal account of living in Beijing during the Cultural Revolution.

Book Description

An autobiography about a businesswoman who had it all, yet she wasn't happy and had to know The Answer. She consulted a globe, strapped on a backpack, donned a pair of orange socks and left on a Nomadic Goddess journey. She discovered the most amazing, bizarre, and incredibly simple answer to The Big M - The Meaning Of Life. It looked nothing like what she thought it would. She went from being a Yuppie to a Yogi and discovered meditation is for fairly normal people. It can be used in everyday life even business. Orange Socks is about how to become king over your mind and claim your right to self-sovereignty. Rich in humour, it also demonstrated an ease and simple honesty in tackling topics traditionally seen as deep and mysterious, like "Who Am I?" and "Who Is God?"

Customer Reviews:

Valerie is really a genuine person.......2002-01-16

Valerie Simonson is true blue. Her book only give a smattering of her qualities.
I and my departed wife read the origional manuscript before it went to the publisher.
There are a few things that we thought were important in the book that were taken out.
I hope some day Val will add these to another book so that the readers will not feel that there is something missing
My departed wie used to baby sit Valerie, and loved her dearly. When we found out that she was trying to promot her new book I went on line around the world telling people about it, because we new that was a TRUE story and an adventure that only a couragous and desperate woman could do. Valerie is contagious...if you were to ever meet her you would never forget her. She radiates. Keep up the good work Val ....We LOVE you --- Bill and Olive in Mexico,

Orange Socks-How a Yuppie Goes Yogi.......2000-07-14

The book helped me a lot in my spiritual journey. I would like to write to the author to discuss some details of the book ( it is about Baba, Valerie)

Orange Socks How a Yuppie goes Yogi.......2000-05-13

This book is not what I expected. I was hoping to learn why Yoga became so important to the author. Rather the book focused on a journey of self discovery. The connection between the two, to me, was tenuous. The concept was interesting but it missed the mark.

The great value of the Raja Yoga disipline........1999-10-11

The book isn't realy about wearing an 0RANGE COLORED pair of Sox, but the value of discovering RAJA YOGA and learning to meditate with it. I was so impressed with the book that I'm now in Calgary and had TEA with valerie last evening. Today she left for INDIA TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF Raja Yoga for their annual conference. Valerie still teaches the disipline here in Calgary as a volunteer. She related that her parents (slowly and reluctantly) took up the practice and it has really transformed their lives as it has hers.

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