Giovanni's Light: The Story of a Town Where Time Stopped for Christmas
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Giovanni's Light
  • the gift of time.....
  • a glowing ember; an antidote for harried times
  • An absolute gem, one for the ages
  • How to Spark Your Christmas Spirit
Giovanni's Light: The Story of a Town Where Time Stopped for Christmas
Phyllis Theroux
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
LiteraryLiterary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Christmas | Holidays | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743244338

Book Description

Ryland Falls wasn't paradise, but there was a certain storybook quality about the town that made visitors catch their breath. As in a book, the order of the stories never changed. On December first, the Chamber of Commerce always hung out the "Yuletide Greetings" banners, the plastic Santa Claus went back on the top of the firehouse roof, and grumpy Diane at Elwood's Market started wearing her set of imitation reindeer antlers.

Yet on this particular Christmas, there were signs that the order of things would change. And when it did, the people in Ryland Falls never celebrated Christmas the same way again.

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in this inspiring story about the redeeming power of the imagination and the true nature of compassion.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Giovanni's Light.......2006-02-23

A beautifully written, engrossing story of Christmas in a small town where a heavy snowstorm changed the course of events and the lives of many. Theroux paints vivid endearing characters and a portrait of a town I wish was my own home town.

5 out of 5 stars the gift of time............2002-12-30

What does it take for some people to stop their harried pace and take a look at their lives and then, to put a better perspective on what is important and what can wait? In this case it takes a blizzard to force people's lives to a slow crawl and give them the precious gift of time, to clearly see what is taking place in their lives that needs to be re-examined and fine tuned. This is a beautiful, thoughtful tale that encourages you to adjust your priorities to those with real value before something "big" or even tragic has to happen to force you to do so. Phyllis Theroux wisely shows that time is a priceless gift and that to live a fuller, richer life, time should be spent wisely, not nickled and dimed away.

5 out of 5 stars a glowing ember; an antidote for harried times.......2002-12-15

Leaving my cold weather roots with the outside temperature at 70, I never dreamed I'd be able to be deliciously snowed in for the holidays cozying up for a fresh winter storm so vividly brought back to life in "Giovanni's Light". Holed up with me, to my delight, were Ms. Theroux's richly endearing cast of characters who one by one are given the chance to revisit the essence of the holiday spirit. I was at home in Ryland Falls eagerly awaiting each turn of events. A great solo read but just as much a wonderful family read-a-loud. It allowed my sun-bathed clan to experience the magic and wonder of a Christmas where nature's snowy blanket sets the town residents on a new course. A warm glow of a book I have continued to buy more copies to pass on to frenzied, frazzled friends who are all begging to find a way to slow down and experience the true gifts of the holidays. "Giovanni's Light" is just the answer.

5 out of 5 stars An absolute gem, one for the ages.......2002-12-11

When I finished reading this absolute gem of a book, I was astonished to find myself sitting there, feeling my heart chakra open, and on the verge of shedding tears of joy. This is one of those small rare treasures of literature that quietly opens the readerÕs heart and lets in a gentle flood of light and warmth and love. A short story written with a deft touch and without a shred of pretense or saccarine embellishment, GiovianniÕs Light displays the effortless mastery of the craft, evoking Guy DeMaupassantÕs classic explorations of life and the human heart. Take time to savour every word. Phyllis Theroux has truly written one for the ages.

5 out of 5 stars How to Spark Your Christmas Spirit.......2002-11-23

What a charming Christmas fable--it draws you in with its tales of various residents of Ryland Falls and leaves you filled with the wonder of this special season. The appreciation of communities, families and individuals lingers, along with more intangible appreciation of what binds all of us together. This is a treasure!

Lost Lands of Witch World (Witch World Chronicles)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • One of my favorite fantasy trilogies
Lost Lands of Witch World (Witch World Chronicles)
Andre Norton
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Norton, AndreNorton, Andre | ( N ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0765300524

Book Description

n the 1960s, Andre Norton's career took a fateful and important turn. Having written adventure science fiction for almost thirty years, she turned to something new, science-fantasy, with Witch World. This unique world of sorceresses and the many others who fight such adversaries as the Kolder, the Hounds of Alizon, and other threats, has proven to be Miss Norton's most beloved and popular creation. Three Against the Witch World, Warlock of the Witch World, and Sorceress of the Witch World, the fourth, fifth, and sixth novels in the series, have long been recognized as novels that along with the first three novels complete the core of the series. Today, almost four decades after their first publication, these novels of adventure, excitement, and daring remain as fresh and original as when they first appeared. For the first time they are now available in a single volume for new readers of all ages to discover, and for fans to rediscover in an attractive, durable new format with a special introduction by Mercedes Lackey written just for this volume.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of my favorite fantasy trilogies.......2005-01-13

"Lost Lands of the Witch World" is a reissue of the very fine Escore trilogy, featuring the adventures of Kemoc, Kyllan, and Kaththea, the three children of Earth-born warrior, Simon Tregarth and his witch-wife, Jaelithe. The three novels combined in this volume are "Three Against the Witch World"(1965), "Warlock of the Witch World" (1967), and "Sorceress of the Witch World" (1968).

Kaththea Tregarth, born one of three triplets, could link telepathically with her birth-brothers, Kyllan and Kemoc. At an early age, she was forcibly separated from her brothers and taken to the Place of Silence to be trained in magic by Wise Women of Estcarp.

In "Three Against the Witch World" narrated by Kyllan, the warrior brother, the triplets escape from witch-ruled Estcarp to the magical land of Escore. There, they accidentally destroy the false peace that had long abided between the great powers of Light and Dark. "Things awoke and gathered, and the land was troubled..." and the three learn that they must fight with the forces of Light, or be utterly annihilated by the Dark.

Unfortunately, in "Warlock of the Witch World" narrated by Kemoc, the wizard brother, Kaththea is wooed by the fair-seeming Dinzil, who is actually a creature of the Great Dark Ones.

Kemoc sets out to win allies against the Dark among the Krogan, who made their homes in the lakes, rivers, and waterways of Escore. When he returns from this failed mission, there are many other battles to be fought in the now-troubled land. During one such engagement, Kemoc is wounded and is almost captured by minions of the Dark, but is saved by the Krogan maid, Orsya. When Kemoc finally returns to the safety of the Valley of Green Silences, he discovers that his birth-sister Kaththea has ridden off to the stronghold of an apparent ally, Dinzil.

Off he goes on another quest into the magic-troubled land, where he meets with the gnarled Moss Wives, and Loskeetha of the Garden of Stones, Reader of Sands. Loskeetha shows Kemoc three separate futures--all which end in the death of his birth-sister, Kaththea, twice by his own hand!

Finally, she who was once a powerful witch is rescued by her brother, Kemoc, but because of her near-alliance with the Dark, Kaththea is stripped of her magic. No longer can she communicate mind-to-mind with her brothers, nor perform the simplest spell of healing.

A witch without her magic is a very dangerous thing to be in Escore: a vessel waiting to be filled by the Dark. In "Sorceress of the Witch World" narrated by Kaththea, the witch sister attempts to return over-mountain to Estcarp to seek help from the Wise Women, but is caught in an avalanche and then captured by a tribe of nomadic hunters.

Andre Norton is a scholar of Amerindian history and lore, and has incorporated her knowledge in many of her novels, e.g. "Sioux Spacemen" (1960), and "The Beast Master" (1959). The dog-sleds and temporary dwellings of the Vupsall, the people who capture Kaththea, are yet another example of Norton's borrowings from history and anthropology, although this particular Escorian tribe also works metal (maybe a touch of Finno-Ugric, rather than Amerindian).

At any rate, this author's careful attention to detail will bring to life the dimly-lit interior of Utta, the Wisewoman's tent where Kaththea begins to reacquire the magic that was her birthright.

The Dark receives a very satisfying thumping at the end of this fine fantasy trilogy, which does not suffer in comparison with Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea books. In fact, my own personal preference is for Norton's Witch World.
LOST LANDS OF WITCH WORLD
Average customer rating: Not rated
    LOST LANDS OF WITCH WORLD
    Andre Norton
    Manufacturer: NY
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
    ASIN: B000N6K6UK

    Appointment at Bloodstar (Family d'Alembert #5)
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • Princesses, spaceships, blasters, and pirates.
    Appointment at Bloodstar (Family d'Alembert #5)
    Edward E. ("Doc") Smith , and Stephen Goldin
    Manufacturer: Berkley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0425058212

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Princesses, spaceships, blasters, and pirates........2006-04-23

    And a circus. Yes this really does have it all. Swashbuckling, daring rescues, evil conspiracies, and the silent band in the Service Of The Empire or SOTE - super-secret protectors of the imperial family. The good guys (and gals) are teeth-achingly good, so of course the bad guys (and gals) don't stand a chance.

    This is fifth in Doc Smith's little-known Family D'Alembert series, a 1970s successor to his earlier Lensman and Skylark space operas. These aren't quite so technologically whiz-bang as the earlier books, and not so mired in the stereotypes of the Eisenhower era ideals. Unfortunately, Smith and Goldin never manage to regain that melodramatic sense of straight-faced, goofy heroism that makes the earlier books so memorable. What's new, compared to the older series, is a post-Neolithic view of women and a flailing attempt at emotional depth. The latter tops out around high school level, though, based on soured sibling rivalries and girl-fights to see who gets the boy.

    The only reason to read this is A) a nostalgic attachment to Smith's earlier work, in the vain hope that the magic could be rekindled, B) you're stranded on a desert island with only this and a parrot, and you've already read the newspapers in the bottom of the cage,or C) you're a nine year old boy and want something more sophisticated but without all that mushy stuff.

    //wiredweird
    APPOINTMENT AT BLOODSTAR
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      APPOINTMENT AT BLOODSTAR
      E. E. "Doc" Smith , and Stephen Goldin
      Manufacturer: Jove
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Mass Market Paperback
      ASIN: B000FPHHFG
      The Family D'alembert #5.  Appointment At Bloodstar
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The Family D'alembert #5. Appointment At Bloodstar
        E.E. Doc Smith
        Manufacturer: Jove
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback
        ASIN: B000UUKL2M

        Naughty Cakes: Step-by-Step Recipes for 19 Fabulous, Fun Cakes
        Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
        • Great!
        • Amazing cakes, mediocre recipes
        • Super fun!
        • Fabulous
        • Great Book!
        Naughty Cakes: Step-by-Step Recipes for 19 Fabulous, Fun Cakes
        Debbie Brown
        Manufacturer: New Holland
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        CakesCakes | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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        5. Celebrate With A Cake!: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating 15 Memorable Cakes Celebrate With A Cake!: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating 15 Memorable Cakes

        ASIN: 1843309815

        Book Description

        These playful, naughty and just a bit risqué confections are sure to get the party started! Simple directions and 110 color photographs make recreating all 20 cakes at home a snap, and each of the designs can be further modified for endless variations. Decorators get instructions for making and using their own sugar glue, edible modeling paste, icings, and sugar support sticks in original designs which emphasize humor, rather than shock value. The designs are suitable for both men and women, and include a Hunky Firemen cake, the Almost Full Monty, Tunnel of Love, Pole Dancers, and Roly Poly Strip-a-Gram cakes, all sure to create quite a memorable impression at the next stag or bachelorette party, college graduation, or birthday celebration.

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Great!.......2007-07-20

        This book was perfect for some of the adult parties that I get. I love diversity in my business so I try to attract all sorts of clients. This book is a great compliment to Vondre and Andreaetta from Sell Cakes Like Crazy on the Internet.

        4 out of 5 stars Amazing cakes, mediocre recipes.......2007-06-18

        Yes the designs are fun and gorgeous albeit mostly for advanced decorators but the cake recipes at the beginning of the book are not tasty at all. When I do make the cakes I use my own recipes and they come out tasting as good as they look. AS a cake designer my foremost priority is to make cakes that not only look good but are delcious too. They're equally important in my opinion. This book is all about the look. That's not a big handicap if you've got recipe files of sure-fire delicious cakes. But for beginners who may need details about what cakes are good for carving, which cakes for stacking, etc, they may not have the option of substituting better recipes.

        Still I would recommend this book if only for the ideas and step by step techniques for creating naughty yet classy cakes.

        5 out of 5 stars Super fun!.......2007-05-29

        I also bought this book for my daughter and her and I had a blast exploring the ideas in here. What a great idea to set your cakes apart. She even got an order for a Bachelor party cake the other night! This is a great compliment to her favorite site www.sellcakeslikecrazy.com, where she also gets tons of tips!

        5 out of 5 stars Fabulous.......2007-02-20

        Fun and tasteful adult cake ideas. I purchased it for my husband who's a pastry chef and he loves it. Plus, it gives good tips on how to make people.

        5 out of 5 stars Great Book!.......2007-01-25

        This is just another awesome book by Debbie Brown. I love it!

        The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions
        Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
        • site your source, prof!
        • Superbly researched and written
        • Very poor
        • OK as a Guide/Resource Book
        • Great book!
        The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions
        Stanley Coren
        Manufacturer: Free Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        Care & HealthCare & Health | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: 0743280873

        Book Description

        How Smart Is Your Dog?

        If you've ever wondered what is really going on inside your dog's head, here is your chance to find out. In this revised and updated version of this perennially popular book, psychologist and prizewinning trainer Stanley Coren provides a startling view of the intelligence of our oldest and closest animal companions.

        Do dogs really think? Are they conscious in the same way humans are? What is the nature of canine memory? Can dogs communicate with us -- and, if so, how can we understand them? Do they have feelings such as guilt, loyalty, and jealousy? Do they experience joy and sorrow?

        Drawing on scientific research that has stood the test of the past decade, interviews with top breeders and trainers, and his own personal observations as a lifelong dog lover, Stanley Coren speculates on these and many other fascinating questions about man's best friend. He offers practical tips on how to evaluate your dog's body language and understand the sophisticated "language" of a dog's bark, and how to tailor a training program to suit your dog's special needs. Here, too, are the famous, controversial lists and rankings of more than 100 breeds for obedience and working intelligence, as well as for specialized tasks such as hunting, home security, and companionship.

        Rich in wit, wisdom, and anecdote, The Intelligence of Dogs is a book that will bring you a greater understanding and enjoyment of the habits, antics, and abilities of your dog.

        Customer Reviews:

        2 out of 5 stars site your source, prof!.......2007-09-28

        I have a BIG problem with this book...

        Dr. Coren fails to include any citations or references to most of his original claims...There is a "suggested reading" section, but rarely any references or citations beyond vague references to "experts" and "authorities".
        As a result, when information is presented, I simply don't know how to respond... take Dr. Coren at his word or be skeptical? Even "experts" are known to disagree with each other... so when he says that he consulted "14 top experts" on the subject to arrive a a conclusion, I can't help but wonder, why no name dropping? Aren't such associations something to brag about and don't "experts" like getting credit for their work?

        As for the test he developed he says, "All the tests are based on formal labratory and field testing procedures modified so that they will be fairly simple to administer and will not require much in the way of equipment..." This is how he explains how he developed the test... though in the suggested reading section he does give a clue as to how he came up with his tests by listing the materials that inspired him... he seems to admit that he just modified a bunch of pre-existing tests based on his knoweldge of two theories of HUMAN intelligence and at times I sense SUPERFICIAL knowelge of dog intelligence... Uh oh...

        In conclusion, I am not agreeing or disagreeing with any of his claims or his credentials, but many seem like recycled facts and tidbits from other books mixed in with human pop psychology (sort of pseudo child psych testing)/classic experimental psych 201 - - thrown in with tests meant to evaluate candidates for various working dog programs. - - As for assessing the intelligence of dogs... obedience yes, but as for "thoughts, emotions and inner lives" - - did I fall asleep during those chapters?

        Ironically, while I was reading the book, I thought he reminded me of a very good Psych 101 professor... only with an interest in dogs. - - Searching the net, it turns out that he is indeed a PSYCH 101 teacher at his university(!)

        In the end, I'm left wondering: Is a HUMAN PSYCHOLOGIST the best person to assess the intelligence of dogs? (Psychologists definitely are in a position to offer insight, but usually people involved in multi-disciplinary research rely on data provided to them by collegues in other fields... these collegues in term are traditionally named.)

        Reminds me of the time I had a lot of stress and decided to see a counselor in Japan who claimed to be fluent in English, but spoke NO ENGLISH... and was surprized when I terminated the session. - - DOGS do speak a totally different language than our own... and I'd hope that if some expert is going to rate their intelligence, its going to be someone who realizes that sometimes foreigners look stupid because their ways are different and we can't communicate with them so well...

        Instead of this book I suggest McConnel's FOR THE LOVE OF A DOG... Not saying I agree with all her claims (or disagree with all his) but she cites her sources so you can explore them for yourself.

        5 out of 5 stars Superbly researched and written.......2007-06-03

        This book was not written to teach you how to train your dog. Rather, it's by far the most authoritative book available on what your dog senses and how he's likely to process and remember what he sees, hears, and smells. It gave me for the first time an understanding of why dogs react as they do and why successful training methods work. As Coren points out in one of his books, almost half of us share our homes with dogs at one time or another, but what we learn about in high-school biology is salamanders, sharks, and the platypus, creatures we never encounter personally. This book addresses that disconnect so well that I think it should be included in basic life-science curricula. Even for someone who has no intention of ever including a dog in his or her household, this book can provide an interesting new slant on understanding animals. That is to say that it has great value for its academic content as well as its practical applicability. I give Coren my highest recommendation among authors writing on the subject of canine psychology.

        1 out of 5 stars Very poor.......2007-05-04

        This is an absolutely awful book. It trades in on common misconceptions with dogs, and then goes on to make generalizations about breeds that have no business circulating. Thanks to this fine author, people can parade around their poodles and say they have the second smartest dog in the world... Never mind that they are tethered to a puppy mill inbred. Generalizing that Border Collies are smarter than Poodles are smarter that Rottweilers is just plain asinine. What was the sample size? (I believe it was like 5 dogs.)

        Maybe this book was supposed to make some owners feel better or something... Beats me. Read the Wiki on "Dog Intelligence"... Coren's only barometer for "intellect" revolves around the dog's willingness to please, which he still hasn't recognized because he's too busy believing the "Alpha Dog" myth.

        Save your money and buy your lil' man some bully chews.

        3 out of 5 stars OK as a Guide/Resource Book.......2007-02-25

        Well, I was not that impressed. The book is a rather dull read, not terribly informative, although it gives some pertinent facts about dog barks, growls, sounds and positions as to what they mean. I learned quite a lot from this particular section. I don't know if I totally and quite agree about which particular breed of dog is the absolute most intelligent, as Coren points out, intelligence takes many forms---in dogs as well as in people. The book was all right. It has some good facts, but I was not overly impressed as I said above. He has many stories and tales about different breeds of dogs that underscore his points throughout the book. Again, it's all right, and if anyone wants to buy my copy really cheap, let me know. The book is not a keeper. That's my review of The Intelligence of Dogs!

        5 out of 5 stars Great book!.......2007-01-11

        This book is fabulous! Stanley Coren really has a way of bringing it down to the dogs level, giving you a deeper understanding of dog behavior.
        The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions
          Stanley Coren
          Manufacturer: Bantam Dell Pub Group
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          ASIN: B000OKVT1A
          The intelligence of dogs: A guide to the thoughts, emotions, and inner lives or our canine companions
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            The intelligence of dogs: A guide to the thoughts, emotions, and inner lives or our canine companions
            Stanley Coren
            Manufacturer: Braille International
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Unknown Binding

            GeneralGeneral | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: B0006QSMSA

            Close Encounters With Antique Furniture: A Restorer's Story
            Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
            • Comments by Deborah Lambert
            Close Encounters With Antique Furniture: A Restorer's Story
            David Hawkins
            Manufacturer: Rhodes & Easton
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

            GeneralGeneral | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
            How-to & Home ImprovementsHow-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Buildings & Construction | Carpentry | Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating | Decks & Patios | Decorating | Design & Construction | Do-It-Yourself | Electrical | Estimating | Furniture | Green Housecleaning | Hand Tools | Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning | Home Repair | Household Hints | Masonry | Outdoor & Recreational Areas | Plumbing & Household Automation | Power Tools | Reference | Remodeling & Renovation | Roofing | Security | Small Appliance Repair | Swimming Pools | Woodworking
            ASIN: 1890394130

            Customer Reviews:

            5 out of 5 stars Comments by Deborah Lambert.......2000-04-23

            Deborah Lambert is the Senior Academic Consultant for Christie's Education in London, England.

            There are many books on the history of furniture and its styles; there are many important documents that provide information about furniture makers and the periods in which they lived. But however valuable these may be, to me they only tell part of the story. the other part is told by the pieces of furniture themselves. I have been privileged to have had the opportunity, over the last 20 years, to listen to David Hawkins talking about antique furniture and watching him work. Most of what I understand about how period furniture was made I have learnt this way, and questioning and sometimes arguing a point. There is no doubt that David is a masterly restorer, but he is much more than that. One of the most remarkable things about this book is that it is like having David in the room with us. He works and talks, as it were, in front of us making us see, making us think, and telling anecdotes that prove a point or enhance knowledge. He claims there have been many people with similar skills, but despite his protestations I find this quite hard to believe. He mixes practical common sense, and sound commercialism, with an innnate feeling for what is right, he probes and questions, showing all the time a deep respect fot those from whom he learnt his trade, and for those that taught them, and the traditions of the workshop. But perhaps more than anything, he is passionate about it all. The practises and conventions of the workshop that were responsible for the production of all the furniture we now collect, the tradition to which David belongs, no longer exist. By sharing his life time's experience and knowledge he has helped capture it for us and for the future generations. It will I am sure, change the way many of us look at and think about period furniture by opening our eyes, sometimes to the obvious. With or without any practical knowledge, anyone with a serious interest in antique furniture will find this book fascinating.

            5th August 1999

            Tassels: The Fanciful Embellishment
            Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
            • TASSELS AS ART AND WHIMSEY
            • Visually beautiful but instructions incomplete
            • Great ideas from tassels on clothes.
            Tassels: The Fanciful Embellishment
            Nancy Welch
            Manufacturer: Sterling
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            CrochetingCrocheting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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            Interior DesignInterior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Decorating | Decoration & Ornament | Floors | General | Lighting | Painting & Wallpapering | Professional Reference | Style | Upholstery & Fabrics | Windows
            GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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            ASIN: 188737423X

            Book Description

            “A coffee table picture book, a reference book for handwork historians, and an inspirational how-to book for those who love the art of embellishment.”—The Creative Machine Newsletter. Simple projects inspire limitless possibilities for making decorative knots, cords, and braids.

            Customer Reviews:

            3 out of 5 stars TASSELS AS ART AND WHIMSEY.......1999-09-02

            The subject of Passementerie (pronounced: pahs-mahn-TREE) is little known in the U.S. and nothing of significance has been writen on the subject in English until some recent efforts. Tassels are the major expression of this art form and this book takes up where the historic trade catalogs of the "Trimmings Makers" at the Library of Congress and the Winterthur leave off. It reflects the resurgence begining in the early 1980s of the taste for things ornamental, and tassels and their kin (fringes, galloons, pompons, ornamental cords [but not "gimps" for these are actually components of other trims]) are on a great upswing in popularity--if one can meet the stiff prices.

            Mr. Welch's book was originally to be a total survey of global passementeries (fiber trimmings), as opposed to mere casual tassels found everywhere, but her publisher constrained her to a virtual global tour for these fiber (and non-fiber!) delights. The comercial photos from the professional passementiers (trimmings makers) provide glorious views of some of the acme of this art form, but others are merely color shots of the more idiosyncratic forms found in far off corners of the earth. Whether these constitute art is up the the reader, but the author certainly tries to make you feel so. Therefore, in this book one must take the term 'tassel' to its very broadest interpretation, and see the book as an international junket, not a craftsman's manual.

            While it may not be a manual, the volume does feature four chapters devoted to more modest creations possible at home by means of extensive line drawings and photo examples. They will not enable you to duplicate the exquisite creations of the 'fabric houses' such as Scalamandre, Merwitz, and especially the French masters such as Houles, but you will be able to copy a few casual tassels to answer that creative call.

            The target market for the book is women in fiber arts, and for them its somewhat superficial treatment of the historical aspects is probably sufficient, and one could not rightly expect a full thesis within the alloted 160 pages. The book is lavishly illustrated with over half of its photos in color. It does have an Index, a Bibliography (the reference there to "Once A Week" magazine refers to the London edition and to its March 1861 article: "Trimmings and Trimmers", a rare insight indeed!) and a Resources section which will appeal to those of international tastes.

            Mrs. Welch may be more of a travel writer than a 'passementier', but she did develop one of the first books on this neglected subject within its broadest definition, and if one is content with unusual and casual tassels, it is worth the price. She hoped to issue a sequel entitled: 'Tasselmania' to cover fine tassels in passementerie. We can only hope she will succeed with a more willing publisher.

            A previous reviewer wanted to know about "the neck wraps on the cover": those on the green and the red tassels are actually "lashings" over "wrapings" of true gimp, the wider ones being leather strips wrapped with silk and the tiny round ones below them being silk or cotton cores also wrapped with flat silk trame. The only book to cover such passementerie technique is entirely in French, but maybe Amazon can locate it for you: "La Passementerie" by Pierre Boudet and Bernard Gomond, Paris, 1981; its 416 illustrations will act as a manual even if you don't speak French!

            3 out of 5 stars Visually beautiful but instructions incomplete.......1998-10-06

            While the book is historically interesting and beautiful to look at, I was frustrated by the lack of instructions on details illustrated in the book, i.e. the neck wraps on the cover.

            3 out of 5 stars Great ideas from tassels on clothes........1998-07-22

            Very nice photos and many interesting ideas. Inspired from tassels and trim from clothing around the world. FYI, it doesn't give detailed instructions on making tassels for decorating your home.
            Tassels, The Fanciful Embellishment
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Tassels, The Fanciful Embellishment
              Nancy Welch
              Manufacturer: Asheville, North Carolina: Altamont Press, 1992
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover
              ASIN: B000NVCDQ0

              Fusion Interiors: The International Design of Andrew Martin
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Fusion Interiors: The International Design of Andrew Martin
                Martin Waller , and Dominic Bradbury
                Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Publications
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover

                GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                ResidentialResidential | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                Decorative ArtsDecorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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                2. The Elle Decor Home The Elle Decor Home
                3. Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style

                ASIN: 0823016420

                Book Description

                This beautifully illustrated atlas of design is a virtual travel book for the house, each chapter offering a new geographic experience and suggesting recipes for elegant living, fusing ideas from many different cultures into eclectic, exciting, and unique home interiors. People and places, architecture and landscape, are juxtaposed with the ways in which ideas taken from these many compass points can be applied to our own living spaces. Every page celebrates the constantly alluring idea of discovering and blending flavors and ideas from around the globe. Continually emphasizing style through diversity-one of today's hottest trends in interior design-the book suggests myriad ways to combine influences, colors, fabric, art, and objects from diverse cultures and bring them together cohesively and with high style. Ideas are drawn from all areas of the world, including spots as vastly different from one another as the exotic Orient, cosmopolitan Manhattan, Africa, Western Europe, and ancient Incan culture.
                Andrew Martin's Fusion Interiors
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Andrew Martin's Fusion Interiors
                  Martin Waller , and Dominic Bradbury
                  Manufacturer: Pavilion Books
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                  All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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                  1. Fusion Interiors: The International Design of Andrew Martin Fusion Interiors: The International Design of Andrew Martin

                  ASIN: 1862055939
                  Fusion Interiors: The International Design of Andrew Martin
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Fusion Interiors: The International Design of Andrew Martin

                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover
                    ASIN: 064153650X

                    Product Description

                    Synopsis This beautifully illustrated atlas of design is a virtual travel book for the house, each chapter offering a new geographic experience and suggesting recipes for elegant living, fusing ideas from many different cultures into eclectic, exciting, and unique home interiors. People and places, architecture and landscape, are juxtaposed with the ways in which ideas taken from these many compass points can be applied to our own living spaces. Every page celebrates the constantly alluring idea of discovering and blending flavors and ideas from around the globe. Continually emphasizing style through diversity -- one of today's hottest trends in interior design -- the book suggests myriad ways to combine influences, colors, fabric, art, and objects from diverse cultures and bring them together cohesively and with high style. Ideas are drawn from all areas of the world, including spots as vastly different from one another as the exotic Orient, cosmopolitan Manhattan, Africa, Western Europe, and ancient Incan culture.

                    Packaging Design-Dutch Design 2000-2001
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Packaging Design-Dutch Design 2000-2001

                      Manufacturer: Gingko Pr Inc
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Hardcover

                      GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Graphic Arts | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                      ASIN: 907200762X

                      Book Description

                      This volume showcases the latest work of design agencies like Coleman Millford, Keja Donia, Aestron. Dutch packaging design promotes an stonishing high level of innovation which is seldom sees in this discipline. The introduction discusses the main issues in Dutch packaging design today.

                      Single Square Picture: A Korean Adoptee's Search for Her Roots
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Single Square Picture: A Korean Adoptee's Search for Her Roots
                        Katy Robinson
                        Manufacturer: Tandem Library
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Unknown Binding

                        GeneralGeneral | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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                        MemoirsMemoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
                        ASIN: 1417712007

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                        1. Granta 72: Overreachers (Granta: The Magazine of New Writing)
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                        3. Harmony of the World: Stories
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                        6. I am Your Sister
                        7. It's Me Again: Volume Three of the Bandy Papers
                        8. Iterature (Eastern European Poets Series)
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                        10. Kokopelli & the Butterfly

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