Hope in a Nutshell

Average customer rating:

I didn't think an "underground novel" would impress me, but this one did just that

Well this must..

I was Asked

A Lot of Fun

Superb New Novelist

Hope in a Nutshell
Keith Cymry
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1413485979

Customer Reviews:

I didn't think an "underground novel" would impress me, but this one did just that.......2007-08-10

Keith Cymry can rest assured that he has written a pretty impressive novel because he managed to impress this reviewer despite the fact that his worldview could not be more opposite than my own. Hope in a Nutshell is described on the cover as an "underground novel," which means, just as I suspected, that it is a novel borne of a counter-culture mindset seemingly imported from the 1960s. Fortunately, though, there is much more to this story than a litany of attacks against most of the things I hold dear.

Much in the same vein of a trickster god, Cymry critiques modern society with a sort of impishness that keeps the story lively and fun no matter what is happening. This is clear from the very start, as he dives into a philosophical, allegorical discussion of the walnut, which actually manages to set the tone for the story to follow. It's all about finding and cultivating hope in even the worst of situations - and the importance of always questioning authority and refusing to conform for conformity's sake. The book's main character, Uriah Freestone (Stoney), is certainly a non-conformist, a modern-day vagabond who quit school because of a dress code, embraced drug use at a young age, went on to become an honors student-athlete who studied ancient languages at Cardiff, spent some time writing tunes for a gypsy blues band, and is now hitchhiking across the country with an extraordinary raven. When Mary Beth Donovan gives him a ride one fateful night, she could never have dreamed that this man would some day become a wanted terrorist who would revolutionize the entire world with technology gleaned from a walnut shell. She is actually the key to the whole adventure, though, for she is the one chosen to receive the extraordinary walnut - and the mystifying Mayan medallion it contains. The unique artifact is a gift from the god Cernunnos who, along with Danu, Buddha, the Hindu Triumvirate, and several other gods is challenging the authority of the Yahweh, Jesus, Lucifer, Allah alliance in the City of Forever. Billions of souls hang in the balance as Stoney and Mary Beth attempt to understand and utilize the extraordinary gifts the medallion and its walnut housing offer. With gods meddling in human affairs, industrialists anxious to get their hands on the mysterious medallion, and the government eventually targeting Stoney as a terrorist using drug money to finance a dangerous new technology, things get pretty complicated pretty quickly. Oh, there's also a deadly plague threatening to wipe out a good portion of humanity.

The more I write, the more I realize how impossible it is to give anything resembling a decent description of this story. The gist of it, though, is the fact that Stoney is deemed a terrorist for the breakthrough technology he develops using the secrets of the encoded walnut, especially after he sells it to the Russians. Its purpose is to provide abundant energy for very low cost to the entire world, but the government and many an industrialist label it a weapon of mass destruction. How does all this end? Somewhat anti-climactically, actually - and not without a few loose ends still blowing in the breeze. At its heart, though, this book represents a unique journey toward spiritual enlightenment, and the journey is more informative and certainly more entertaining than the final destination.

The author does like to interject his own personal opinions into the story. That's okay, normally, but his use of a self-proclaimed intrusive narrator gets a little tiring after a while. He is all too eager to poke fun at political conservatives, big business, and every major form of religion on Earth. I disagree with him on virtually every count, but that's okay - it's certainly his prerogative, after all. I do think he goes overboard at times and does more harm than good to his own message. His idea of freedom seems to include the right to grow, use, transport, and sell marijuana, for example. He compares modern America to the Soviet Union in its heyday, even going so far as to attack the Constitution as an instrument for actually endorsing slavery in the form of jail time for lawbreakers. Worst of all, though, he says Americans are defined by their own ignorance. Now, where I come from, calling the good folks of the US of A ignorant isn't going to win you any friends. It is regrettable that Cymry sometimes takes the Moveon.org Highway because such brash tactics tend to diminish some of the arguments and social critiques he proves himself well equipped to address constructively.

As I said, though, I still found Hope in a Nutshell to be an impressive novel, one that is filled to the brim with powerful ideas and satirical juggernauts. The fact that I'm a staunch conservative saying this just goes to show that Cymry's literary eloquence is quite capable of bridging the largest of political and social divides among readers. This novel is a rare mix of science fiction/fantasy, allegory, politics, and philosophy, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone of an intellectual bent who enjoys being challenged even as he/she is entertained.

Well this must.........2007-03-01

be good. MY (Keith who's this?..That'S ok..) ego sores up whEn I think oF Keith, but he's a good guy..TrAnsFoRmatIon!

I was Asked.......2007-01-04

to review this by the author, and he would'nt let me do it in a way until I'd finished the book! But that is not how reviews work. I offended him enough to not be his Amazon friend perhaps. Ya know, the book goes off on many subjects with no bringing them back to the original one. I'm happy tp revise Reviews, But I do know I don't have to read ANything all the way untiL I review it. This guy picks out people who seem stupiD..He's right in that I review pretty much anything that I like only. Check out how Many Amazon (He's FULL of advice as well...Keith..) friendS he has..He invites people to read the book and review..Why? I don't know..

A Lot of Fun.......2006-03-14

This story is skillfully plotted. Although many characters are introduced during the course of events, each one makes sense. The leading characters are Stoney Jones, an educated society drop out who is chooses to rejoin society in an attempt to solve the world's energy problems over the course of the novel. The leading lady is a party girl named Mary Beth Donovan who cares about people and manages to motivate the hero to return to society and all its problems. Both are part of a plot by the gods to gain influence and power in their own realm of existance.

The devise of the Gods in this story seems to be used ambiguously. That is to say that they can be interpreted in the sense of a simple Greek comedy/tragedy, or they can be interpreted as an allegorical representation of modern religious institutions. I tend to interpret the story in the latter sense.

The narrative voice frequently rails against conservative politics and the loss of individual freedom. This is fine by me, but some conservatives, particularly Catholics and Evangelicals, may not wish to hear some of the disturbing historical evidence of violence the author lays out before the eyes of the readers.

Despite the serious issues, the novel offers a tone that is not only mocking of conservative institutions, it is mocking of itself and its own intrusive narration. In this way, the novel questions all form of authority and essentially asks the reader not to trust anyone who claims to know everything, including the book's author. As a whole, this novel is mostly a playful nudge a those who take themselves too seriously and a very enjoyable tale, so long as it is taken with a grain of salt.

Superb New Novelist.......2006-03-07

This is a compelling introduction to Keith Cymry's unique wit and satire. From the first page to the last, this books entices you into its strange locales and playful story involving no small amount of satire aimed at the world's religious institutions and their manipulations of society. Each character is charming and funny in there own way. Stoney tends to be witty. Mary Beth is a bit of a delightful goof. The bird, Rocker, is pure slapstick. Mixed with the satire and circular plot, I found the book supremely entertaining.

The random style of this writer is very difficult to achieve and reminds one of the late Douglas Adams. People of my generation seem to want to make order out of chaos; however, chaos is what we have in the real world. And, one should at least consider writing about the world one has to actually live in rather than about the world one would like. The author frequently criticizes the world in which we live with an insightfulness that borders on Orwellian. Excellent work!

Book Description

Second in a new series that melds the magic, romance, and vengeance of the gypsy culture with the silk trade, ghostly spirits, and a true love which is repeatedly thwarted. The Silken Shroud revisits the mythical kingdom of Tyrrhia, where religions rise, governments fall, and the only thing more powerful than a gypsy's passion...is a gypsy's curse.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful fantasy.......2004-04-07

In 1684 on an alternative earth, religious wars extend over the continent and the Catholic Church does what it can to spread the faith by whatever means possible. Only Tyrrhia welcomes all religions because they are a philosopher state, the only place where the Rom can call home. In return, much of Tyrrhia's wealth comes from the magic silk which the Rom cultivates and is in much demand all over Europe.

Trouble has come to this peaceful country in the form of Cardinal delle Torre, a fanatical Jesuit, who has formed a secret cabal within the church that hunts witches and kills them in defiance of the law of the white king and queen. He is also responsible for the death of the Romani Princess Alessandra who was Fairy Blessed. He has taken her body to an undisclosed location and uses her essence to cast darker and more powerful spells. Maggiore Mandero di Montago, Alessa's love and fairy wed husband, is ordered by his king to break the Cardinal's hold on the people. He also intends to avenge the death of Alessa while following his orders given to him by the king and his council.

ElizaBeth Gilligan is a bright and shining star in the fantasy firmament, an author who creates characters, both real and magical who appeal to readers who like complexity and honor in their heroes. The villain is a fanatic who does vile things to influence the monarchy and make Catholicism the religion of the state in which he is the ruler. Like the prequel MAGIC'S SILKEN SNARE, THE SILKEN SHROUD is a book that deserves to be put on the keeper's shelf.

Harriet Klausner

Average customer rating:

A rather weak and biased offering, filled with glaring omissions and errors

For the novice like myself- a good book

scififan310

Why Bother?

Could have been good, but it ain't

The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (Mammoth Books)

Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
History & Criticism | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0786708875

Book Description

From Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Arthur C. Clarke to Chelsea-Quinn Yarbro and Roger Zelazny, from science fiction authors worldwide to the directors of sci-fi films for movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and television series like Star Trek, from the magazines that publish the writers in this exciting and extraordinarily inventive field to the Hugos, Nebulas, and other awards that annually honor them, this encyclopedia offers the most concise, clear, and comprehensive guide currently available to one of fiction's most popular and intriguing genres. In an A-to-Z format, augmented by an ample index and helpful cross-references, this richly informative volume presents science fiction as it appears in film as well as in the print media, including entries on important illustrators, and covers both the modern developments in the field and the classic landmarks. Furthermore, each author entry ends with an "Also see" section that directs readers to related topics, and all entries provide full bibliographies. Equally invaluable is the opening chapter, which gives a brief history of the genre and traces its evolution from origins that long precede the twentieth century.

Customer Reviews:

A rather weak and biased offering, filled with glaring omissions and errors.......2007-08-19

I had high hopes for this book, when I grabbed it (on a whim, off the discount rack). However, although it had some helpful information on some authors I'd never read before, I found it suffered from a number of major flaws:

SHORTCOMMINGS:

1) AUTHORS: As luciusmichael mentioned on 22-Aug-2001, this book is almost as noteworthy for which authors it omits as it is for who it includes.

2) BIAS: This book is noticeably biased towards British SF, and against American SF, which I found unhelpful and, at times, both annoying and naive.

3) ERRORS: This book is chock full of them ... almost as if many of the entries were written off the cuff from half-remembered snippets, with little or no independant review/editing. Case in point: in his description of the movie "Forbidden Planet" (which he correctly identified as an adaptation of Shakespeare's play "The Tempest"), he gives a completely incorrect ending to film (note to author: they did NOT bombard the planet from orbit ... they rigged the planetary reactor to self-destruct before launching). Ditto for the movie "Predator" (note to author: "Dutch" did not kill the alien with a hand grenade ... the creature engaged a self-destruct `baby-nuke' device on it's forearm after getting fatally pinned in a dead-fall). There are lots more egregious errors, but this is enough to give people a clue of what to expect.

4) QUALITY: Rather than being written by a professional editor or author with long experience in the field, it was written instead by a fan ... and it really shows, given the rampant omissions, personal bias, and inaccuracies that occur throughout.

So, what's good ?

A) ORGANIZATION: I like how it's organized. It starts with a brief historical overview of SF, then provides an A-Z listing of authors and list of bibliographical highlights, followed by a listing of noteworthy science fiction movies, and lastly by glossary of terminology for the genre. The author could (and should) have written a lot more in the historical overview section up front ... but that's where we get into the differences between fan-authors and experienced professional writers/editors in the field.

B) COMMENTARY: The commentary is mostly hit or miss, and it definitely has an unhelpful and distracting British bias (as already mentioned), and is filled with errors in places, but some of the career retrospective comments on some of the authors are moderately interesting and helpful.

Overall, I recommend people save their money. I found this to be a weak offering that killed a lot of perfectly good trees.

For the novice like myself- a good book .......2006-01-24

I am not a big science- fiction fan, and do not know the Literature well. Other reviewers on Amazon who do seem to know it quite well, are very disappointed in this work. They find that it omits many major authors, that its focus is too British, and scants the Americans, that it contains errors, and that there are better comparable products on the market.
As a novice I was attracted to one of the sections of the work primarily. There are Chapters on ' The History and Origins of Science Fiction' 'Science Fiction on the Page' ( which talks about tens of writers) 'Science Fiction on the Screen' 'Terms , Themes and Devices in Science Fiction' 'Societies and Awards'.
What interested me was the 'Terms Themes' chapter as I wanted to learn more of the vocabulary of the Genre. And this especially as I find that in certain scientific questions ( A recent discussion of ' the end of the world' in 'Best American Science Writing 2005' highlighted this) where there is no real ' scientific answer' scientists tend to go for the fictional and most imaginary scenarios they can think of.
I am in the midst of reading the 'Terms Themes' section and finding it of great value. Concepts are traced from their origin to their emergent meanings.
So on the whole I believe that this is a good book from which it is possible to derive a lot of information.

scififan310.......2005-07-25

There is so much wrong with this book its hard to put it in a short review. Let me keep it objective and give just a few of the many, many inaccuracies that fill its pages. First, this pompous tome refers to the movie "When Worlds Collide" as being based on the pulp fiction of the 1930's, when as everyone else knows it was based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer (the book is not even mentioned in the description of this classic film). Another example of a clear disconnect with the material it claims as subject is the entry which describes the milieu of the film "Silent Running" as being in the "throes of a post-apocalyptic nightmare" ruled by an authoritarian government. This movie never makes reference to any such thing. In fact the society is described by some of the characters as being idyllic. But for me the last straw was the entry describing one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made,"The Thing from Another World". It states that the movie is set in Antarctica, when actually it is (again, as the rest of us know) set in the Arctic (North Pole). The entry then goes on to tell us that the researchers "thaw" the flying saucer when they accidentally blow it up, and that the Thing is found in the saucer (after it was thawed, of course), not in the ice.

My advice is that if you have not bought this book, don't! If you have, throw it away. It is worse than no good. This book gives the term Encyclopedia a bad name.

Why Bother?.......2005-06-22

There is little in this volume that isn't covered more completely (and objectively) in the John Clute/Peter Nicholls Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. If you only have the space or money for one book, this isn't the one.

Could have been good, but it ain't.......2004-09-29

This book, both by title and description, purports to be a reference source on the genre of science fiction. In some ways, it is exactly that, but unfortunately, it has such glaring omissions that it is more of a novelty than a good source of information.

On the plus side is the organization of the book, which is essentially broken down into four sections: a brief history of SF, a listing of authors and their major works, a listing of significant science fiction movies and a glossary of key topics in the genre (aliens, robots, etc.). This format makes the book easy to read either end-to-end or just randomly (although an end-to-end read will be diminished a bit by redundancies). In addition, the author is a decent enough writer to make this a relatively pleasant read.

Unfortunately, the omissions in this book are so apparent that they make the reader question the author's true knowledge of the genre. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the section on authors, where such prominent science fiction names as Piers Anthony, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Keith Laumer and Clifford Simak (one of the legends in the field) are missing while much more obscure authors get space. This is not a judgement on the quality of the authors either mentioned or forgotten, merely their level of contribution to the genre. In addition, there are cases where plot descriptions are inaccurate.

While an interesting read, the flaws in this book are so significant and obvious that it cannot rate any higher than two stars. While this might give a reader a glimpse into the world of science fiction, it is a distorted glimpse, like through a piece of flawed glass: you can get a lot of the details, but the overall picture is a mess.

Average customer rating:

The only Hors d'oeuvres book you'll ever need

Excellent

This is a terrific recipe book...

Beautiful but not perfect

very happy with this purchase.

Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook
Martha Stewart
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Entertaining

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ASIN: 0609603108
Release Date: 1999-03-30

Book Description

No one knows better how to give a party than Martha Stewart--and as she proves in this comprehensive and visually dazzling handbook, great parties begin with great hors d'oeuvres. Three hundred all-new recipes, each photographed in full color, show why Martha Stewart is still America's style authority and most trusted party host.

It was fifteen years ago that Martha Stewart first turned her creativity and talent for teaching to this subject, when she defined the look and flavor of party appetizers for professionals and home cooks in Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres. Since then, America's tastes have evolved and Martha's own approach to food has expanded to encompass flavors from around the world, seasonal ingredients fresh from the garden, and innovative preparations all presented with an unsurpassed eye for beauty.

In this book, after laying out the basic foundations and techniques, Martha presents chapters on different hors d'oeuvre categories that are brimming with new ideas--Layered and Stacked; Wrapped, Rolled, Filled, Folded, and Stuffed; and Skewered and Threaded. Whether a classic cocktail party food reinvigorated with her wit and style--chicken salad tea sandwiches turned on their sides and encrusted with sesame seeds, for example--or deliciously decadent dips for crudités and seafood updated with Indian dhal or white beans and mustard greens; tiny toasted breadboxes filled with Welsh rarebit; or savory sips of soups in edible cups, these impeccable jewels are as exciting as anything Martha has ever invited her readers to serve on the buffet or tea table or pass among guests.

Reflecting Martha's favorite way to entertain now--informal and relaxed--there is also Bites and Pieces, a chapter packed with simple recipes for parties that please the guests without undoing the host. Marinated olives, spiced and seasoned nuts, handmade cheese crackers, and spicy cocktail ribs can be prepared quickly and easily in advance and arranged before the doorbell rings. Even the drinks have been provided: classic and contemporary cocktails, imaginatively garnished, are accompanied by a guide to stocking the bar and serving champagne.

Everything about Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook has been considered to create a book that is easy to use. The size was chosen to comfortably fit in the hand, in the cookbook holder, or on the kitchen counter. Color photographs in the front of the book help cooks select which hors d'oeuvres to combine for their own parties; the cross-referenced recipes in the back have been tested in Martha's own kitchen and in the test kitchens of Martha Stewart Living; and two place-marking ribbons keep track of both picture and recipe. And every detail has been covered--tips on techniques and ingredients, serving ideas, menu suggestions, recipe variations, advice on party planning, and even a glossary of equipment, special ingredients, and supplies, with a guide to finding them. With its range of recipes, its wealth of ideas, its lavish photography, and its innovative format, Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook is simply the most instructive, inspirational, and indispensable guide to hors d'oeuvres ever compiled.

Amazon.com

With Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook, Stewart, along with Martha Stewart Living food editor Susan Spungen and photographer Dana Gallagher, has created not just a handbook but a dream book. The first 225 pages consist entirely of beautifully photographed, exquisite nibbles, tastes, and bites--and the following 270 pages give you the recipes and instructions to re-create them at home. Pink and orange ribbons bound into the book allow you to easily mark photos and recipes. Only Martha and her staff would come up with something so beautiful and practical.

You can browse the photos for inspiration, or dive right into one of the chapters, all organized by presentation, such as "Layered and Stacked"; "Wrapped, Rolled, Filled, Folded and Stuffed"; "Skewered and Threaded"; "Bites and Pieces"; and "Sips and Drinks," just to name a few. Having a few friends over for cocktails before the show? How about Crispy Asparagus Straws, a delicious combo of asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and phyllo and sprinkled with Parmesan? The sophisticated flavors belie the ease of preparation. Have a little more time to prepare? The Jicama and Green Papaya Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce are tasty and beautiful.

As gorgeous as this cookbook is, don't dismiss it as coffee-table cooking--several helpful photos show technique as well as finished product, and Martha's tips and notes are sprinkled throughout the text. For example, a lengthy sidebar on purchasing and preparing shrimp shares how to buy shrimp (the high quality of flash-frozen shrimp these days makes it perfectly acceptable), how to cook it (use kosher salt in your cooking water), and how best to peel and devein the little treasures. Similarly, reading the note on preparing phyllo will encourage even a novice cook to try her hand at Phyllo Triangles with Feta and Spinach or Curried Walnut Chicken. If you're planning a party and need fabulous finger food, you needn't look any further than Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook. --Rebecca A. Staffel

Customer Reviews:

The only Hors d'oeuvres book you'll ever need.......2007-05-07

I found all the images very inspiring and every time I've had a cocktail party and used the recipes from this book I received ohs and ahs from guests who were wowed! All in all, a great book to have.

Excellent.......2006-12-29

I got this book out from the library so many times that I had to buy it.
I like the fact that every dish has a photograph so that you can see the how the finished result is meant to look, plus there is a wide range of simple through to fancy hors d'oevres for every occassion.
This book is just full of ideas, and is well organised into different categories. Some people have mentioned that they find the layout annoying as the first part of the book has the photographs, and the second the recipes, but I actually qute liked this as you can flick through the photos and imagine how the hors d'oevres will look, plan the menu, and then get the recipes. For very visual people, this layout works well.
Thoroughly recommended, a must have for every party host for elegant and impressive hors d'oevres.

This is a terrific recipe book..........2006-08-03

Gorgeous photos, as most of the previous reviewers have indicated and if you take your time, they can look this way for you too! I have used this recipe book for many occasions/events...Granted, I really enjoy cooking, but have primarily used this book as my source for hosting wedding showers, personal cocktail parties and private family affairs. Most of the individual recipes are easy to prepare and, together, the recipes can be used to offer a substantial meal for many people. Their beautiful presentation absolutely makes for a professional, elegant appearance. A drawback....a lot of the recipes have to be prepared or assembled "day of" or "minute of", which makes it extraordinarily difficult to get multiple plates of food out at the same time, unless you have multiple people helping ...Overall, would recommend for purchase....

Beautiful but not perfect.......2006-05-13

We come to expect Martha's books to be perfection. Although this book comes close, and the recipes are certainly gorgeous and inspiring, the layout of the book is a little complicated and smacks of being thrown together in a hurry.

All the recipes' photographs are jammed into the front section of the book on glossy, and the recipes are relegated to the rear on matt, giving it a wee bit of a "cheap" feel.

Although I quite like the way the hors d'oeuvres are divided, quite creatively, into subheads like "layered and stacked" and "skewered and threaded", I'm not sure that this is overly helpful. And the constant references to "recipe on page such-and-such" make for reader frustration and reluctance that even the most inexperienced layout designer should know to refrain from. The photography is beautiful but not deliciously stunning. Martha's Baking Handbook has far better design and layout elements.

Nonetheless, this is some tome, and worth owning if you love to entertain. The recipes are worldly, glamorous, accessible, comprehensive and gorgeous.

A must-have, despite its small flaws.

very happy with this purchase........2006-02-17

this book is full of great ideas as well as a building blocks section - very helpful when coming up with your own variations. Presented very well with two silk ribbon page markers - one for the photo in the beautiful photo section and one for the recipe in the recipe section.

Martha Stewart's Hors D'oeuvres Handbook

Average customer rating:

Martha Stewart's Hors D'oeuvres Handbook
Martha with Spungen, Susan Stewart
Manufacturer: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KITATO

Customer Reviews:

Prepare to Create!!!.......2003-11-05

This overlooked book is a treasure-trove of dolls, teddys, and toys to make. Not for the abject beginner but more for the intermediate dollmaker and crafter. The pictures are luscious; the patterns are full-size; the materials lists are excruciatingly detailed; the 'how to' directions are definitely for the more experienced. The original $25 price tag must have driven this book off shelves and into storage. Get a copy while you can. Once you have it, you won't want to share it, except with the lucky child who receives your creation if you can bear to part with it. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

OLD-FASHIONED DOLLS AND TOYS
Better Homes and Gardens Books
Manufacturer: Publisher Unknown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WQP5RK

Average customer rating:
Conservative chic: The 5-step program for dressing with style
Amelia Fatt
Manufacturer: Times Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 0812910419

Book Description

Nina Campbell's interiors are luxurious yet comfortable, practical but elegant, and her clients include many of today's most influential individuals and organizations. In this fabulous book, Nina breaks down interior style into its component parts and spotlights each of them in turn. By identifying how you can work on each element, room by room (from Kitchens and bathrooms to dining rooms and drawing rooms) and topic by topic (from lighting to window treatments), she explains how you, too, can create the right mix of traditional and modern in your own home, to suit your family and your lifestyle. - Essential advice on choosing and using wallpapers, fabrics, and paint colors. - House and Garden wrote: "There's no finer ambassador of contemporary British style than Nina Campbell. Put together and what have you got? "Class plus dash." - Inspirational photography by Tim Beddow

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Pierre Mendell's work is characterised by elements which are often missing in much contemporary graphic design: vibrancy, communicative force, poetry, and humor. His cultural posters and corporate design identities--including his designs for Vitra and Siemens, for which he is probably best known--are timeless yet contemporary. The success of his designs demonstrate that the strength of all graphic work depends on an overarching concept, not on current fads. Pierre Mendell: At First Sight aims to encourage designers to trust in the power of the idea and the impact of simple forms, as well as to see their work as a cultural expression of the wider society in which we live.

Average customer rating:

Pierre Mendell: At First Sight

Manufacturer: Lars Muller Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9992417943

Book Description

Richard Flusser and the After Dinner Opera Company tells the tale of a little opera company that could.

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