Pronto! Writings from Rome

Book Description

This is a sensitive yet eclectic mix of stories, essays and poems inspired by Rome and written in Rome by 40 writers on Retreat. Stories deal in great measure with the stuff of Rome: ancient artifacts and their ghosts, the romance that permeates the air, the exquisite food, the Church, the memories of loved ones passed, the stuff of being a writer in such a sensously rich locale. Stories were inspired by the gypsies, nuns, catacombs, pickpockets, the ubiquitous dogs and feral cats, tourists, the open-air markets, the gathering places, the way the ancient ruins coexist side by side with modern architecture. Rome is a place for the imagination to run free. The Invitation: Come to Rome. Leave all expectations behind. Bring only your writing materials, an open mind, and an open heart. The Challenge: To write provocative stories, essays, and poems on demand, on deadline, ready for editing and publication. The Result: Pronto! A smorgasbord of tasty tidbits revolving around an ancient city that breathes life into souls, stirs the emotions, and allows the fanciful to merge with the remarkable. Stories, essays and poems, inspired by Rome, written in Rome, by Elva Adams, Susan Agee, Dorothy Allison, Kathleen Antrim, Olivia Barbee, Mary Ann Brock, Terry Brooks, Joni Brotherton, Carolyn Buchanan, Judith K. Clements, Barbara de Normandie, Phillip Dibble, Robin Gainey, Christopher Haviland, Octavia Hudson, Ann Klein, Adrea Mach, Diana Rowe Martinez, Kathryn Mattingly, Brian Moreland, Larry Mulkerin, Myrna Murdoch, Bill Neugent, David Nutt, John Oglesby, Sandra Loera, Mark E. Prose, Marie E. Reid, Janette Ressue, Sandra Richardson, John Saul and Mike Sack, Jack Smith, Mark Sylvester, Eldon Thompson, Coco Tralla, Leah Tribolo, John Tullius, and Suzanne Tyrpak.

Customer Reviews:

Pure Enjoyment.......2002-10-27

Pronto! Writings from Rome--This collection of eclectic stories is reading entertainment at its best. From the first page to the last, each story taps into some of today's best writing talent. By the time you finish reading this collection of stories, you will feel like you have been right in Rome. This is a great read.

Pronto! Review.......2002-09-26

Pronto! Writings from Rome is a collection of short stories that make you feel as if you are there ... you can share the romance of the characters, setting, storyline. My favorite is "Steps". It is about a women we can all identify with... too much in a hurry to stop and smell the roses. The lesson she learns from strangers in a far away place speak quietly to her heart, calling out the person she truly is. Each piece is unique to itself; an enjoyable read!

A unique and enthusiastically recommended selection.......2002-09-09

Compiled and edited by John Tullius Pronto!: Writings From Rome is a unique and enthusiastically recommended selection of stories, essays, and poems all written by a gallery of distinguished contributors expressly by special request and on location within the boundaries of Rome. Embodying the ancient city of Rome in verse, majesty, sensory impressions and more, Pronto!: Writings From Rome is an impressive, moving and diverse offering showcasing dozens of literary snapshots into the life and lore of this great center of European and World history. Whether you are an armchair traveler who enjoys well crafted travelogues or are planning your own personal trip to the Eternal City, you will enjoy reading Pronto!: Writings From Rome.

Impressive Storytelling.......2002-08-29

This collection of very short stories from, for the most part, fledgling authors, is really quite impressive. In "Little Jewels," we are shown views of an unhappy marriage and a husband's indiscretion through the eyes of the family dog. A devastated woman tries to come to terms with the loss of her mother, and becomes reacquainted with the beauty in life thanks to an "Angel on a Bicycle." A "One Night Stand" in a hotel in Rome turns out to be a most intriguing experience - one that is both painful and pleasurable for a lonely spinster. In "The Invisible Necklace," angels help a woman rid herself of three self-imposed burdens: Exile, Enslavement, and Exploitation, and her thoughts of suicide, as well. A novice writer takes the criticism of her poem and turns it into one of the most skillfully crafted pieces in this book, which I highly recommend.

One Night Stand.......2002-08-15

Exceptional writing with a combination of reality and fantasy that makes you wonder. I especially enjoyed the ending. The whole story has a "twist" that you never even see coming. Bravo!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful series!

Not my favorite.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

I still like the story, but Secca could have been characteri

Too much credit? Not enough credit?
The Shadow Sorceress (The Spellsong Cycle, Book 4)
L. E. Modesitt Jr.
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Shadowsinger: The Final Novel of The Spellsong Cycle

Darksong Rising: The Third Book of the Spellsong Cycle

The Spellsong War: The Second Book of the Spellsong Cycle

The Soprano Sorceress: The First Book of the Spellsong Cycle

Ordermaster (Saga of Recluce)

ASIN: 0765340135

Book Description

L.E. Modesitt, Jr. has developed a wide readership with his popular fantasy novels set in the universe of Recluce. With more than a million copies in print, he continues to build a substantial audience with each new volume. He widened that audience with the first three-volume Spellsong Cycle set in a compelling and imaginative world where music is the vehicle for the creation and wielding of magic. He now returns to that universe for a new cycle of tales starring a new heroine who must face a series of deadly political and military threats.The Shadow Sorceress continues the story begun in the first Spellsong Cycle but focuses on the challenges facing Secca, now a young Sorceress. She is thrust into a position of power and responsibility when her mentor, Anna, the legendary Sorceress Protector of Defalk and the heroine of the original trilogy, dies unexpectedly before Secca's training as a master magic wielder is anywhere near complete. Despite her reservations concerning the skills and strength of her ruler, Secca must immediately take command of all her magical resources to help suppress internal dissension in a neighboring province. Then she must rally potential allies to lift the naval siege laid on Nordwei by the Sea Priests, who bring with them a new kind of drumming magic that threatens the balance of power in the world, portending danger and destruction not imagined for decades.Secca learns to fight battles effectively using sorcerous skills she has never used before, all while leading an army for the first time. She must master diplomacy in order to save her ruler and his kingdom, form alliances with unfriendly potential allies and mediate power struggles among ambitious and disparate societies. At the same time, she discovers the unexpected potential for love and companionship in a world where few men are wise enough to value women as anything more than wives, mistresses or mothers.Coping with it all, Secca proves herself more than just a quick study, but a woman with a limitless capacity for courage, personal growth and fearless commitment to survival and fighting the good fight.The Shadow Sorceress is the first book of the second Spellsong cycle and the fourth book set in Erde, the world of musical magic.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful series!.......2007-01-15

The only disappointment was the lack of happenings with Anna after the first book, but her heir carried on the tradition wonderfuly!

Not my favorite........2006-08-26

This story should have been resolved in book 3 with a hundred or so pages attached. The story is about Anna and the changes she forced in an alternate society.

Most series don't really need to evolve beyond the original characters, and I believe this is one of them. This isn't a bad book, I just don't see the need for it to have been written. The Recluce series shifts gears, but it does so in a much more fluid way than this series does. I just found it a bit awkward.

Modesitt is an excellent writer, but he's not for everyone. I've yet to come up with a way to really define his style, but I'll just say sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

I think this was less than his best effort, but your mileage may vary. If you're a fan, then you should read it and see what you think.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat.......2003-12-19

I am a long-term fan of Modesitt, having read his material from his earlist days. Unfortunately, this novel, while professionally written, is lacking on so many levels that it is difficult to finish.

Yes, Secca is developed as a character... Who is just like the character she replaces, only without the anguish of separation and the difficulty of adaptation.

And the world is still nominally the world that we left in Book 3, advanced somewhat in time, but it has broken down as an independent milieu and vaguely resembles Recluce down to the white ships of Sea-Priests, the building of a steam engine and some editorial errors referencing Recluce...

And we have the obligatory dull romance... Just like the dull romances found in most of Modesitt's books... Only this time, without a central character I cared for, I found it duller and more obviously contrived than in other series'.

If you're a fan of the series, good luck. But don't expect to blown away. This is far from his best work.

I still like the story, but Secca could have been characteri.......2002-10-08

I wrestled over how many stars. The book was well written, but for those of us following the series, it just didn't fit right. For one thing, there was too much missing. We know that Anna's last campaign bought 20 years of peace to Defalk and that during that time she apparently had 10 good years with Jecks before he died, and she also had time to raise Secca, orphaned earlier in the series. But other than that, what happened to all the other people?

Now Anna has died. The powers that were held back peacefully because of fear of her are now unleashed. It is Secca's turn to fight the good fight.

One problem I had was Secca was too much a carbon copy of Anna. If we're going to get a new heroine, she needs to be her own person. For one thing, we all agreed that Anna was one-of-a-kind, and this spoils it!

I also expected Jimbob (aka Robero) would grow up a little more mature. Just like Secca had that realization "oh-oh, it's me in the driver's seat" I expected a similar realization from the heir of Defalk. Secca is running around from country to country putting her life and others' lives on the line on a daily basis, while Robero sits at home and plays king. I think in Secca's place, I would have defected half way thru the novel!

I would have been impressed if Secca discovered something new about sorcery, that got the impossible done quicker. Perhaps by going to Sturin. I actually expected her to start playing around with drums... maybe even dance. Possibly discovering a whole continent and new world with new problems, new trade potentials on the other side of that world.

Well, there's still Richina. I have hopes for Richina!

Too much credit? Not enough credit?.......2002-09-19

It seems to me that what Modesitt has been engaged in during both the Spellsong Cycle and the Recluse Cycle are some extended meditations on different levels about the use of power. To this end, he uses fantasy settings and magic power to make his point.

_The Shadow Sorceress_ seems to underline this mission by abruptly removing the character to whom we had become attached in the first three books and replacing her with her young student. It is as though he is pointing out that it is the tapestry and not the thread that matters. Knowing the rest of Modesitt's books, that could very well be the case.

The character encounters similar situations with a new set of powers and responsibilities and generally has to hold a complicated kingdom together to the best of her abilities. If it sounds familiar, it should.

Perhaps I am giving Modesitt too much credit here, but it is difficult for me to believe that such an obviously talented writer could engage in such a blatent disregard for character and character development unless it were on purpose. Don't know.

On the other hand, there's the "not enough credit" argument. I have been complaining about the exact same points in all the books since book 1, and yet I am still reading the darned things. As a reader, I *like* character. I was interested in Anna/Secca far more than I was in the fate of Defalk. All the same, I buy and read these as soon as they appear.

I know of no current fantasy writer stronger than Modesitt in terms of his ability to make the details real and to make the writing compelling.

Anyhow, I will keep reading, and probably also keep complaining.

Customer Reviews:

The Lord of Damnation, a dissapointment........2003-03-22

I must admit that Daemonifuge: The Lord of Damnation, was a disappointment. The story is good (although a bit fast forward, with some holes), but the art was far from what I expected. When I purchased this graphic novel, I expected it to be illustrated by Kevin Walker, but it appears he has taken a back seat to the art and concentrated on the story for book II of the Ephrael Stern saga. Walkers movie like graphics were brilliant in the first book, but book II appears as a mere copycat attempt at the style from book I. I found the new art to be "sketchy" and lacking. Towards the end of Book II, the art changes style towards a more pencil drawing look. Although the art of this part is very well done, it becomes an unwanted change. I can only hope that book III takes a turn for the better and that Kevin Walker himself sits at the artistic helm.

Book Description

Rarely accessible to the general public, Ojibway mythology is as rich in meaning, as broad, as deep, and as innately appealing as the mythologies of Greece, Rome, and other Western civilizations. In Ojibway Heritage Basil Johnston introduces his people's ceremonies, rituals, songs, dances, prayers, arid legends. Conveying the sense of wonder and mystery at the heart of the Ojibway experience, Johnston describes the creation of the universe, followed by that of plants and animals and human beings, and the paths taken by the latter. These stories are to be read, enjoyed, and freely interpreted. Their authorship is perhaps most properly attributed to the tribal storytellers who have carried on the oral tradition that Johnston records and preserves in this book.

Customer Reviews:

very pleased.......2005-09-11

I recieve the book in a timely matter. It was in good shape and it was how it was described.

Ojibway Heritage.......2000-05-13

I read this book for an essay and I LOVED it. Johnston's use of stories beautifully revealed the spirituality of the Anishnabe-so much so that I discovered my own spirituality and place in this world by reading it. I wish to get my own copy to share with my children, which is what led me to search this website for the first time.I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the sacred worldview of the Ojibway, whose simple ,honorable views of all things is quite universally held by most N.American First nations groups.This book is extremely readable and I would recommend it for all age groups!

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OJIBWAY HERITAGE
JOHNSTON BASIL
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPXSYG

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Ojibway Heritage
Basil Johnston
Manufacturer: University of Nebraska Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MB7IO8

Average customer rating:

I use this book all the time

i CAN do it

The Cookbook I Reach for First

The Girl Can't Cook: 250 Fabulous No-Fail Recipes a Girl Can't Be Without
Cinda Chavich
Manufacturer: Whitecap Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Quick & Easy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Bento Boxes: Japanese Meals on the Go

Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats--A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners (A 30-Minute Meal Cookbook)

ASIN: 1552855260

Book Description

Chefs are becoming celebrities, and there are more cooking shows and cookbooks available than ever before. So why do so many people still declare, "I can't cook!"? Complex recipes, hard-to-find ingredients, and glossy food photography can intimidate and frustrate beginner cooks. Cinda Chavich feels your pain and gives you over 250 no-fail recipes you will love to make. Divided into three sections -- Sustenance, Decadence, and Observance -- recipes range from after-work supper ideas such as Easy Thai Chicken Salad, and Barbecue Pork Tenderloin to party menus such as Fondue Party, the PC Vegetarian Feast, and Baby Shower Buffet. The Valentine's Day Dinner with Seared Scallops in Champagne Sauce and Lamb Chops with Mustard Rub lets you pull out all the stops for that special someone. A perfect gift for the young-and-not-so-culinary-inclined, The Girl Can't Cook is the cookbook for fabulous kitchen goddesses in training everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

I use this book all the time.......2005-04-04

This is the ideal book for people who love and don't love to cook. The recipes are straight foward and the ingredients are easy to find (or substitute.) I have not had a bad recipe from the book yet and have bought copies for friends and family. Unlike most general cook books The Girl Can't Cook has a touch of elegance but nothing to be intimidated by. Every recipe is simple and fail safe. A must have in any cook book collection.

i CAN do it.......2004-09-30

My Dad bought me this book as a joke because, as the title says, "this girl can't cook". To my surprise I found tons of easy recipes that I can accomplish. And the fact that they are interesting and not common makes me actually look forward to throwing these recipes together. And surprise of all surprises... they're edible!! I'm right proud of myself.

The Cookbook I Reach for First.......2004-09-22

While the title of this cookbook might appeal to the novice cook, I can confirm that the recipes will suit a more experienced chef and delight the palates of all. Happily, this is achieved with a minimum of time spent by the cook. Helpful cooking tips (useful even for this seasoned cook) are found on many pages. From Chavich's new book I have prepared numerous dishes from the simple, perfect shrimp cocktail to the excellent tiramisu. Everything from North American classics to East Indian specialties and other trendy ethnic foods are included. When preparing food for a dinner party, a brunch or a meeting in my home, this is the cookbook I now reach for. The lively illustrations by Kirsten Horel contribute to the light, optimistic quality of this volume.

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Warman's Zippo Lighters Field Guide

Warman's Zippo Lighters Field Guide: Values And Identification (Warman's Field Guides)
Robin Baumgartner , and Dana Baumgartner
Manufacturer: Krause Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cigars | Pop Culture | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Americana | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Zippo Lighters: An Identification and Price Guide (Identification and Value Guides (Krause))

Zippo Companion

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The Big Book Of Cigarette Lighters: Identification & Values

Collectible Lighters (Collectibles)

ASIN: 0896893626

Book Description

-More than 4 million people collect Zippo lighters

-Capitalizes on the cultural shift from smoking accessory to hot collectible

-More than 400 million Zippo lighters have been produced since the company began 73 years ago

Like Elvis, James Dean and Levis 501 jeans, Zippo lighters defined the meaning of cool for several generations. For readers familiar with the signature "click," the world's most dependable lighter is more than a tool for smoking. It has become one of the hottest collectibles in the world today. This pocket-size guide to the most dependable little lighter includes:

-Vintage Zippo advertisements sure to bring back memories of days gone by

-Current market prices and identification codes to help collectors inventory their collection

-More than 400 color photos that illustrate the character of each lighter

This new addition to the wildly popular Warman's family of field guides is sure to be a hit with all generations of Zippo fans.

Customer Reviews:

Warman's Zippo Lighters Field Guide.......2007-01-11

The book was well researched and very well presented. The photography was excellent. For the money, this is a great book and a must have for all Zippo lighter collectors.

Zippo Lighters: An Identification and Price Guide (Identification and Value Guides (Krause))

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ZIPPO COLLECTORS GUIDE
Not the Best!
Zippo Lighters Book-The Facts PLEASE

Zippo Lighters: An Identification and Price Guide (Identification and Value Guides (Krause))
Russell E. Lewis
Manufacturer: Krause Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cigars | Pop Culture | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0873496973

Book Description

First manufactured in the early 1930s, Zippo windproof lighters now represent one of the fastest growing categories in the world of collectibles. They have become an American icon--James Dean cool, Corvette sleek, and as American as apple pie. Reliable, historical, and highly collectible, Zippo lighters are sold and traded by thousands of enthusiastic fans from nearly every continent.

Over 325 million windproof lighters have been produced and over the years, few changes have occurred. This full-color identification and price guide tells the complete story of the lighter; offers complete identification and dating information, and gives values for the most collectible lighters on the market today.

* Includes 750 full-color photographs for quick and easy identification * Provides complete story of the Zippo windproof lighter * Features current market values for highly collectible lighters

Customer Reviews:

ZIPPO COLLECTORS GUIDE.......2007-03-08

Excellent book but not good to have alone. This is more of a supplemental.

Not the Best!.......2005-01-13

Nice pictures, but author knows nothing about Zippo! Captions don't fit the pictures, prices are way off, but its nice to look at. Would not use as a reference book.

Zippo Lighters Book-The Facts PLEASE.......2004-09-03

While the book has some interesting information on the subject of Zippo lighters, I feel too much space is used to show old magazine ads for Zippo lighters. This space could have been used for more pictures of actual Zippo lighters and updated pictures from inside the Zippo factory. The pictures of the plant itself show workers putting Zippos in the old flame boxes which were only used until 1976. The other main issue of my dissapointment was the apparent lack of research that went in to the writing of the book. There are many errors in the style names of lighters shown in the pictures as well as the values. The biggest error that stuck in my head was where they said Zippo manufacturing cleans the lighters before they return them to the customers after they go through the repair clinic.
It is unfortunate that Mr. Pope didn't have the opportunity to finish the book he started, perhaps more research of facts would have been done before publishing.
While the book that David Poore wrote years ago is a bit outdated on the values, it is a very valuable piece of reference material for the novice and seasoned Zippo collector. I would strongly encourage anyone thinking of buying a book on Zippos that they consider Mr. Poores book instead.

Book Description

This volume is an illustrated anthology of 300 pieces surveying the work of Christopher Dresser, known as "the father of modern design." Like William Morris he believed that beautiful design should be available to everyone, unlike Morris, he thought that mass production was the best way to achieve that, and this dichotomy neatly represents his place as a bridge between the Arts & Crafts movement and industrial design. This book looks at all aspects of Dresser's career including wallpaper design, a wide variety of metalwork (most notably tableware and teapots), textile design, pottery, and glassware. His fascination with Japanese art and design gave his metalwork in particular a clean, minimalist look that seems to anticipate much of modern design from Bauhaus to Michael Graves. Well known and respected in his lifetime, his reputation suffered in the years after his death, and it is only in the last few decades that interest in his work has been revived. As a result, his pieces can be found in the collections of art museums nationwide and continue to sell well at auction. A long overdue look at one of design's most influential figures, this book will be a welcome addition to any design lover's library.

Christopher Dresser: People's Designer 1834-1904

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Christopher Dresser: People's Designer 1834-1904
Harry Lyons
Manufacturer: Alastair Carew-Cox
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 095328011X

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Christopher Dresser, 1834-1904
Stuart Durant
Manufacturer: Academy Editions Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KP8UIO

Christopher Dresser, 1834-1904--pottery, glass, metalwork: An exhibition 3 October to 27 October 1972;

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Christopher Dresser, 1834-1904--pottery, glass, metalwork: An exhibition 3 October to 27 October 1972;
Christopher Dresser
Manufacturer: Fine Art Society Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0903685019

Truth, beauty, power: Dr. Christopher Dresser, 1834-1904 : exhibition October 15 to December 19, 1998

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Truth, beauty, power: Dr. Christopher Dresser, 1834-1904 : exhibition October 15 to December 19, 1998
Christopher Dresser
Manufacturer: Historical Design
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Scotland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Decoration & Ornament | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006RV1DM

Book Description

Nostradamus. A name many know, but how much do you know about the man, and the story behind his prophecies? The Treasure of St Remy digs deep into the world of Nostradamus, studying his native France, and the belief systems that helped form the man and his ideas. From the Classics to Druidism, numerology and shamanism, find out more about what made this amazing man tick. The Treasury of St Remy is a must for anyone interested in Nostradamus and his mysterious and amazing prophecies.

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