Oaktown Devil

Book Description

On the streets, crime and violence are part of the daily routine, and revenge has taken the place of stickball. Staying straight isn't easy, especially when one's family is mixed up in gang wars and drug dealing. When Rainbow Jordan's brother Stoney is murdered, he's determined to find the killer—both to avenge his brother's death and prove his own innocence in the murders that follow. Renay Jackson tells his characters' stories in the voices of the streets: the drug lords and their victims; desperate young men and women whose only goal is a better lifestyle and more money despite the consequences; and those who are simply victims of a system that's held them down their whole lives. More than just a page-turner, Oaktown Devil speaks for readers outside the mainstream and offers a voice for an overlooked population.

Customer Reviews:

Buy This Book!!!.......2004-12-16

Oaktown Devil was so good, one of those finish it in a day because you can't put it down type books.

When I first started reading it I was like what in the world? I guess I was expecting a modern urban tale. The main character started the book off trying to describe his mack game but he clearly was not in 2004, more like the early 90s. This was back in the day of thick gold link and herringbone chains, airbrushed jeans and tees, and skypagers. But once I got past that and into the book there was no stopping. This book was funny as I don't know what. Something for everybody. Urban drama with a tiny bit of mystery mix. Oaktown Devil is probably even more of a treat for Bay area residents because of the descriptions of streets and hangouts in their hometown. Even some Too Short lyrics thrown in for good measure.

Just buy this book, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I'll be starting the sequel "Shakey's Loose" shortly. Renay Jackson, you got a fan for life.

keeps up reading.......2004-08-24

this book is so full of adventure & true to life in oakland ca.
mr. jackson has some great books. he doesn"t hold back! i would recomend all his books, i only wish he had more out now.
belle
#1 fan from the bay area

When's the movie???.......2004-08-21

This book was not only written ideal for a blockbuster movie, but it had some EXCELLENT food recipes inside the book that made me hungry! As a reader, I can tell this book was written by an older mature author, but the storylines were hot. It's a book about betrayal, drugs, love and urban drama....I don't want to give away the story, buy the book. It's a read you are sure to enjoy. Book clubs, check this one out!!!...I'll be waiting for part 2 "Shakey's Loose" (which is not yet released) :(

Average customer rating:

Oaktown Devil
Renay Jackson
Manufacturer: LaDay Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0967147204

Book Description

The story of Lancelot is one of striving for perfection in the company of men only to fall short due to the sins of the flesh....but in Lancelot Du Lethe the most famous of the Knights of the Round Table is only partially of the mortal realm. He and Guinevere share a mystical bond of which Arthur can not be a part for they are both of the bloodline of the fey, and are immortally destined to be betrothed. This ensuing war of loyalties and love threatens not just the uneasy peace of the mortal realm, but of the entire netherworld of the multi-pantheons of gods as well.Drawing from Joseph Campbell, and from sources both historical and literary, this is a new take on the story of Camelot's most famous knight as told as only the author of Mad Merlin can.

Customer Reviews:

Loved it........2006-12-12

This book is wonderful. Guinevere, Lancelot and Otherworld take on yet greater roles in the story of Camelot and its King. Here we can understand why the triangle of king, knight and queen had such force... None was greater than the other. Three rulers*** fighting for their worlds and their hearts.

A brilliant Arthurian read.......2006-09-27

It's always a joy to find new Arthurian fiction that isn't a simple rehash of the tales we're all familiar with. This book focuses on a character that's typically marginalized and misunderstood: the oft-criticized Lancelot. The author's take on the character follows very closely with the work of Malory, but breathes a refreshing new life into his tragic relationship with Guinevere by introducing fey themes and magic that is missing in most modern 'ultra-realistic' stories of today.

As the recent 'King Arthur' movie proved, the story of King Arthur, Camelot, and his Knights loses most of its enduring appeal when you remove the mythical and magical elements. Thankfully, the author didn't fall into the same trendy trap with 'Lancelot du Lethe'.

lyric and beautiful.......2005-09-16

This book is so lyrical and breathtakingly - beautiful as to be astonishing. The author must be a poet and artist, as he conjures a series of dazzling, sensual, dreamlike images. The reviewers who do not see this are the poorer for it. The author weaves together a deep knowledge of history and legend with the insight of a philosopher or psychologist about the nature manhood, femininity, love and sexual desire. This book is deeply romantic.

Awesome Aurthurian Adventure!.......2004-07-28

J. Robert King has enlivened and energized a story that has been told and retold many times. As a fan of the fantasy genre in general and Aurthurian tales in particular, I found King's depiction of the love affair between Guinevere and Lancelot bewitching. Perhaps the strongest point of this great book is its language...it is 'high' enough to engage even the most well-read literature buff but at the same time it is 'low' enough for the first-time pre-teen fantasy reader to enjoy. This work of art provided me hours of entertainment and I am positive that it will for you as well!

Fantasy galore.......2003-12-08

As a lover of Arthurian ledgend, I snatched up Lancelot Du Lethe eager to explore the story from Lancelot's point of view. While I found the book an easy and interesting read, I also found it about 50 pages too long. I could easily have enjoyed the story with a few less descriptions of the pixies and gnomes and other woodland creatures of fantasy. They were distracting to the excitement of the story and added a childish twist that was at the very least unnecessary and at the very most - insulting. I knew King's work - having first read Le Morte D'Avalon and knew his propensity toward magic so I should have been forewarned. If you do not appreciate an abundance of spells, time warps and impossible underwater travel - this is not the book for you. With any Arthurian legend there will be some aspect of myth- but King really knocks it out of the park. I wondered if he didn't delve deeply into the unexplainable, because he lacks a grasp of any possible historical aspects on which to base his story. I found this to be a mixture of bits and pieces of the legend which other authors such as Cornwell, Bradshaw, McKenzie and even Miles tell more skillfully. Now -it was a VERY fast read and I did like the perspective. Unfortunately, I found Lancelot and Guinevere well developed while the other characters suffered. I did not read his first book Mad Merlin due to a personal disinterest in the main character. If you are eager to explore King's work - you may want to start at the beginning and see if it carries along from book one to book three.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant and better than the first........2000-05-08

The story line(as usual) is great and simple to follow, the quality of the acting is at the top of the charts and and has the qualities needed for this type of film. It has a great sequence.

Better than the first.......1999-03-28

Navarro's characterization of Eve is more complex and well-rounded than Sil was. There's some feeling in this book that the first seemed to lack, and it really gives the reader more understanding of the tragedy of Eve's life. Kept me up one night with bad helicopter nightmares, so ya know it's got to be pretty good.

A good science fiction story of an alien and humans........1998-07-22

Although, Sil, the alien in Species was never in touch with the humans who were pursuing her on an intellectual and emtional level, Eve, the alien clone in Species 2, is. She is in her captivity cage and talks to the scientists and allows them in her cage. Dr. Baker has emotional feelings for Eve, because she knows she has a human side to her that feels human emotion. And Eve, shows emotion for Dr.Baker. They are communicating as two beings. So the story is more than hunt and chase the alien there is some feeling to it. But Eve's alien feelings seem to be stronger than her human ones and she finally breaks out of her cage to hunt for the infected human astronaut who came back from a space journey infected and with the same mating instincts as Sil,and Eve. Well, in the end, if you read the book, you'll see the bond developed between the aliens and the good humans.

Yvonne Navarro does a great job with this screenplay and turns it into quite an entertaining scienc! e fiction story. A good read that won't disapoint you.

better than the movie.......1998-04-19

honestly, books're usually better than the movies just like the novels about Lost World, Alien: Resurrection etc. this Species 2's no exception. it's not the best book i read but i like the author idea on genetic engineering and extraterrestrial life.

Average customer rating:

Wow! Great Brownie Recipes

sinfully delicious

Where are all the pictures?

Buy "Brownie Points" instead

Fantastic flavors!

Brownies to Die For!
Bev Shaffer
Manufacturer: Pelican Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cookies | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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The Cake Book

A Passion for Ice Cream: 95 Recipes for Fabulous Desserts

Brownie Points: Over 100 Outrageously Delicious and Easy Variations on North America's Favorite Dessert

Chocolate and Vanilla

Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook: The Best Recipes from Southampton's Favorite Bakery for Homestyle Cookies, Cakes, Pies, Muffins, and Breads

ASIN: 1589803825

Book Description

Stop and smell the chocolate with over 100 brownie recipes, from the traditional to the decadent.

Written by award-winning chef, culinary instructor, food columnist, and bakery director Bev Shaffer, this tasted-and-tested collection spans the brownie spectrum. In addition to a history of brownies, baking basics, and useful information on chocolate, the recipes collected here include everything from classics like Deluxe Brownies with Caramel Sauce and Swirled Brownies to more adventuresome suggestions like Raspberry-Mascarpone-Filled Brownies, Kahlua Brownies, Macadamia-Nut White Brownies, Cappuccino Brownies, and much more. A chapter on "Brownies as Art" will encourage you to dip, dunk, and layer your once-basic brownies, and another chapter on frostings and glazes will further inspire you to make that special brownie even more irresistible.

Presented in the humorous and down-to-earth style of author and radio and television personality Bev Shaffer, this book invites you to join in her passion for food, baking, and fun. Specializing in creating uncomplicated recipes and calming food phobias, Shaffer includes her usual measure of tips, techniques, and encouragement with each tablespoon of chocolate.

Bev Shaffer is an author, food writer, and culinary instructor, as well as the director of Mustard Seed Market and Café Cooking Schools in Akron and Solon, Ohio. She is a columnist ("Ask Bev") for the Cleveland Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine and her weekly radio spot on Akron, Ohio's WAKR's "Morning Drive Time" program features quick and easy seasonal recipes with tips.

A member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Chefs Collaborative, and Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, Chef Shaffer is also a founding member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, Cleveland-Northeastern Ohio Chapter.

Customer Reviews:

Wow! Great Brownie Recipes.......2007-02-19

My sister brought this book home from the library and it looked wonderful, so I made up the Kahlua brownies right away. Can you say Fab-u-lous! Since we had to return the book to the library, I bought the book so as never to be more than an hour away from a brownie treat.

The next batch of brownies I made (cream cheese layered) were better than the first batch. This book is a solid home run. If you love brownies, you will love this book.

sinfully delicious.......2007-01-04

Many recipes call for a basic brownie to start with, and others are far-fetched variations on a theme, but there are enough excellent twists (and great instructions) to make the book a worthwhile addition to the library of any decadent brownieholic.

Where are all the pictures?.......2006-08-20

Great recipes, but I have a tendency to want to know what the finished product is going to look like, especially on the more complex recipes. Very little pictorial representation is the only drawback that I can find to this book.

Buy "Brownie Points" instead.......2006-06-08

I searched three different bookstores on my last day in the US, so desperate was I to have this book. Just when I was about to give up, I was able to procure the last copy that they had at Barnes & Noble.

I read this on the 15 hour flight back home, and I must say that I prefer Lisa Slater's Brownie Points. While Brownies to Die For! has a more captivating title, and is hardbound, I'm a little wary of the photos, which I feel are very amateur for a published book, especially one by a food writer and recipe developer. Reading the past customers' reviews about wayward recipe cooking times only increases my trepidation of whether this book was worth my fervent search for it. Save yourself the grief and buy Brownie Points instead.

Fantastic flavors! .......2006-05-04

With patience and an understanding that not all ovens are the same, I waited with great anticipation as my first batch of brownies from this book emerged from the oven. A little moist, I simply continued to bake just to the right point...let them cool and devoured them with friends. Can't wait to try the rest of the recipes and get copies for gifts!

Product Description

Books in Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals series present basic information on a wide variety of pets for new or soon-to-be pet owners. Advice and instruction cover proper feeding, housing, health care, training, grooming, protection against hazards, and much more. Texts emphasize basics and are easy for all readers to understand, but most titles in this series also present facts that even experienced pet owners and breeders havn't encountered before. Each manual has been individually written by an expert?many of them professional breeders or veterinarians. All volumes are filled with full-color photos of the highest quality and with instructive line drawings. Paperback / 80 Pages / 6 1/2 x 7 7/8 / 2000

Customer Reviews:

Jack Russell Owners Review.......2007-05-16

My family recently got a Jack Russell Terrier as a pet. Having owned other dogs before, we were in for a suprise when it came to training and behavior. Jack Russell's are very high energy dogs that require either a lot of room to run or people to play with them. This book was very helpful in detailing certain behaviors that my puppy exhibited and how to deal with them. The book goes into details of the breed, explaining the history and attitudes that are commonly displayed. Well worth the price, I have read it twice and it has helped the rearing of my puppy tremendously.

cool book.......2007-03-17

full of useful advice. no your not the only one with a crazy pup

Great little book about a great little dog.......2007-03-08

This is a very helpful book, well organized so it is very easy to find what you are looking for.
Like the book says, Jack Russells aren't for everyone. They are brilliant. That means they can think of much more trouble to get into. They will never bore you. But if you don't like excitement, get a cocker spaniel.

jacks.......2007-01-09

i bought this book because i would like to get a jack russell terrier and thought id look into it first and this book has lots of infromation and will be helpful

Jack Russell.......2006-08-20

Very good, concise book. Includes essentials like character, grooming and living with a jack russell.

Average customer rating:

I'm In (Baseball) Heaven!

Very Cool Stuff

Nice Presentation of Baseball History

A must hast for all baseball fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I liked it a lot, very interesting and informative

The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia
Sotheby's
Manufacturer: Sotheby's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Sports Memorabilia (besides cards) | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books
Catalogs | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0962258873

Amazon.com

"By pursuing his avocation with the ferocity and determination of Ty Cobb stretching a two-base hit into a triple, Barry Halper assembled the world's largest and most significant private collection on baseball, an achievement that should be ranked with the great American collections of the American century...." This quote from Sotheby's auction catalog underscores the importance of Barry Halper not only to the sports-memorabilia world but also to baseball history. During a 50-year stretch, Halper gathered over 100,000 items from the great game, including a 1912 World Series program signed by "Smokey" Joe Wood and President Woodrow Wilson, a ticket stub from the Lou Gehrig memorial game, and Mickey Mantle's 1956 Triple Crown Trophy. The entire legendary lot will be offered in two separate auctions: one live at Sotheby's New York headquarters (September 23-29, 1999) and the other via the Internet at www.sothebys.amazon.com. (For more information, visit our section detailing the auctions and the collection.)

The handsome, slipcased catalog includes three volumes highlighting the event. The first two contain over 2,000 photographs (most in color), plus detailed descriptions and estimated auction prices of the items; the items are divided into 16 sale sessions arranged chronologically and by theme. The third volume examines the history of baseball and includes a timeline of the sport's past as well as essays written by Yogi Berra, Ted Williams, and others. An essential resource for bidders, this catalog also makes an outstanding addition to any sports fan's library. --Andy Boynton

Book Description

The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia will not be seen together anywhere except in this limited edition three-volume, slipcased catalogue of the auction which is to take place at Sotheby's in New York in late September 1999. The catalogue has over 2,000 photographs, most of them in color, and detailed descriptions of each lot with auction price estimate. The catalogue also has personal commentary on the Collection by Yogi Berra and Ted Williams.

This catalogue is more that just a detailed record of the Halper Collection. It is a comprehensive volume documenting the rich history of our national pastime, and has been designed to be an essential addition to any baseball library. As a piece of baseball history, the Halper catalogue is a collection in itself and will not be reprinted once the initial supply is gone.

Customer Reviews:

I'm In (Baseball) Heaven!.......2001-12-27

If you're a die-hard baseball fan, then you'll love this auction catalogue featuring Barry Halper's unique collection of baseball memorabilia. If you can't make it to Cooperstown, this book is full of some of the most incredible pieces of baseball history short of the Hall of Fame. From the first baseball ever used, to Babe Ruth's last will and testament, each page brings you closer to baseball heaven. The ultimate guide to baseball lore and a must for the "can't wait till spring training" baseball fan.

Very Cool Stuff.......2001-11-28

This is filled with great photos of some of the most amazing baseball memorabilia that you'll ever seen. The book can be really, really expensive, so try to find it used.

Andy.

Nice Presentation of Baseball History.......2001-03-29

Very nice indeed. Photographs of sale items, which have distinct value. What I loved most was the inclusion of lot numbers and their final sale prices. Millions of dollars spent on what, at that time, were just some trinkets and a hobby.

Very well presented and I really like what I continue to see.

A must hast for all baseball fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......1999-10-19

This collection is a history of the great game of baseball. The Babe Ruth collectables alone are stunning, add in the Joe DiMaggio and all of the photos! Wow! To spend a few hours browsing this set of books is magic! I can't say enough (can you tell).

I liked it a lot, very interesting and informative.......1999-09-18

This book is great. The pictures are beautiful, the descriptions informative--an all around great piece of work for sports lovers. It's well worth the money.

The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia (3 vol in slipcase)

Average customer rating:

The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia (3 vol in slipcase)
Sotheby's
Manufacturer: Sotheby & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IEFJ8G

Average customer rating:

Halper's collection
Wonderful pictures and attention to detail
Incredible Pictoral History of the Artifacts of the Game
Indispensable for the true baseball memorabilia collector

Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia
Peter Golenbock , and Yogit Becca
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Sports Memorabilia (besides cards) | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

History | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Home & Garden | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Sports | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
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Smithsonian Baseball: Inside the World's Finest Private Collections

ASIN: 0810967049

Amazon.com

"By pursuing his avocation with the ferocity and determination of Ty Cobb stretching a two-base hit into a triple, Barry Halper assembled the world's largest and most significant private collection on baseball, an achievement that should be ranked with the great American collections of the American century...." This quote from Sotheby's auction catalog underscores the importance of Barry Halper, not only to the sports-memorabilia world but also to baseball history. During a 50-year stretch, Halper gathered over 100,000 items from the great game, including a 1912 World Series program signed by "Smokey" Joe Wood and President Woodrow Wilson, a ticket stub from the Lou Gehrig memorial game, and Mickey Mantle's 1956 Triple Crown Trophy. The entire legendary lot was offered in two separate auctions in 1999: one live at Sotheby's New York headquarters and the other via the Internet at http://www.sothebys.amazon.com.

Book Description

"This is a collection of holy icons and sacred documents, amassed by one of the game's high priests. This is no mere 'baseball memorabilia.' It is baseball's heritage."

-Peter Golenbock Last September, Sotheby's held an auction of the greatest private collection of baseball memorabilia ever assembled-the Barry Halper Collection. With most of the nearly 2,500 items selling above the high estimate-including the 1920 signed agreement selling Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees ($189,500), the only signed Ty Cobb jersey ($332,500), and Mickey Mantle's glove (purchased by Billy Crystal for $239,000)-the sale earned a record-breaking $21.8 million. This spring, in time for baseball season, Abrams is proud to offer Sotheby's elegant, slipcased three-volume catalogue of the Barry Halper Collection at a special low price. Originally sold by Sotheby's for $80.00, this deluxe set includes more than 1,500 color photographs of the finest, rarest mementos from every era of baseball, each individually described, a wealth of anecdotes and historical information, and the final auction price list. This is the ultimate dream book for any baseball fan. Three volumes, slipcased. 1,623 illustrations, 1,573 in full color, separate price list, 8 x 10 5/8" PETER GOLENBOCK is a best-selling sportswriter whose books include Dynasty: The New York Yankees 1949-1964 and Wrigleyville: A Magical History Tour of The Chicago Cubs. YOGI BERRA and TED WILLIAMS are both members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. SELBY KIFFER is senior vice president of the Department of Books and Manuscripts, Sotheby's New York.

Customer Reviews:

Halper's collection.......2005-08-05

The pictures are indeed magnificent, however, I must demur about the accompanying text which does not provide appropriate, tightly written or in some instances, historically accurate information.

Wonderful pictures and attention to detail.......2001-01-01

This is an incredible reference, especially for uniforms. The pictures and detail are amazing, and you can generally tell what people thought was real, and what people did not from looking at the prices. The attention to detail in the descriptions is really helpful in identifying stuff today. I wish there were more photos, and sometimes I wish there was an acknowledgement of some of the controversey surrounding some of the items. I really am in awe of the folks who put together this beautiful book, and the incredible pictures. I think this is a great starting point for anyone collecting seriously.

Incredible Pictoral History of the Artifacts of the Game.......2000-08-17

Only one word describes the catalog set.....INCREDIBLE. As a life-long baseball fan, collector, dealer, etc, this set of catalogs, pictures in beautiful crystal clear color, many of the artifacts of America's National Pasttime. Many people were upset at Halper for breaking this collection up. Contratry to that opinion, I believe breaking the collection up allowed SO many people to share in the history of the game. Five million dollars worth of collectibles were purchased by MLB for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Twenty two million dollars worth were auction in the Sotheby's auction and an unknown amount on amazon.sothebys.com. These catalogs contain relics from every facet of the game......baseball cards dating back to the 1880's.....team and individual photos dating back even farther.....uniforms, bats, balls, gloves from nearly every hall of famer......personal trophies like triple crown, Cy Young, MVP and so much more. Nowhere will you find such a book that illustrates why Baseball is woven through the fabric of America than this catalog. The lot descriptions are carefully crafted to be both a history lesson and a thought (and pocketbook) provoking snapshot of baseball. Never again will there be such a collection amassed. No one has the access to players and probably the funds to acquire such a collection....you get a glimpse at everything important about baseball. Everything good about baseball.....you forget about the strike of 1994, you forget about the high paid cry babies of today and remember the guys that played the game for one reason.....the love of the game. There was team loyalty, work ethics, and so much more that baseball and America as a whole is sometimes seriously lacking today. Spend the bucks.....you won't regret it......

Indispensable for the true baseball memorabilia collector.......2000-04-26

This is the Hall of Fame of baseball memorabilia, without equal. Halper had put together a collection of almost every baseball-related item that could be collected, and these catalogues display most of that collection, including lots of items that you never would have thought even existed. The pictures of the items are terrific, and are worth the price just by themselves. But in addition, this post-auction printing also includes the final bid prices for items in the auction, so it seves as an excellent "price guide" for rare and unusual material - memorabilia you certainly won't find in Beckett's guides or other more generic price references. And, for those of us that think of some of the final bid amounts in terms of hefty mortgages rather than hobby expenses (e.g., $305,000 for a Lou Gehrig jersey!) the book is great fodder for dreams, however unattainable they may be...

Average customer rating:

Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia
Sotheby's
Manufacturer: Sotheby's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QXYDMC

Average customer rating:

Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia
Sotheby's
Manufacturer: SOTHEBY'S
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000R0HTYS

Customer Reviews:

Glorious Journey in Hand Papermaking.......2005-04-02

Those of us who worship at the vat in the wet who love to create from pulp a dry and shapely somethings, hold this book as almost sacred text. How-to, becomes what to, becomes, be... a way of being as well as a way of creating is the journey in this book.
It's out of print. I own one and cherish it, and refer to it with regularity, like the Lillian Bell book.

Personable and well-written account of Japanese tradition.......1998-07-10

I stumbled across this book in my local library, but would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Japan or aspects of craftsmanship in any medium. Timothy Barrett's book was completely enjoyable to read, even for a non-papermaker like myself. He humorously and accurately describes the process and the culture associated with making paper in Japan. I liked how he included his own presence in the book - instead of a dry description of how paper is made, he tells about his own encounters with the people in Japan who make paper.

Japanese Papermaking: Traditions, Tools, Techniques

Average customer rating:

Japanese Papermaking: Traditions, Tools, Techniques
Timothy Barrett
Manufacturer: Floating World Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1891640267

Book Description

This most comprehensive book on the subject sheds light on every facet of a time-honored craft and offers complete instructions on how to duplicate its exquisite results in the West. Part 1, The Craft in Japan, draws on the author's experience learning to make paper in Japan and documents Japanese papermaking as it has been practiced for centuries. Part 2, The Craft in the West, gives step-by-step instructions for the two methods of Japanese papermaking. Every aspect of papermaking is explained in depth, including cultivation of paper mulberry in the West, weaving the flexible mold surface (su), and evaluation of the finished paper. A chapter on variations answers many common question asked about the process, covering watermarking, making laminations with leaves and other natural materials, using Western equipment in Japanese processes, and making paper for printmaking, book conservation, and other specific uses. A substantial bibliography and glossary further supplement the text.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Journal of the American Oriental Society, published by American Oriental Society on July 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1190 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Flight and Freedom in the Ancient Near East.(Book Review)
Author: Mark W. Chavalas
Publication: The Journal of the American Oriental Society (Refereed)
Date: July 1, 2003
Publisher: American Oriental Society
Volume: 123 Issue: 3 Page: 649(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Amazon.com

This study of the visual horror genre from Dr. Caligari to Dr. Hannibal Lecter starts with a discussion of Diane Arbus's photographs of freaks. David Skal then suggests that he will seek to "explain why the images resonated in the culture ... [and] why so much of our imaginative life in the 20th century has been devoted to peeling back the masks and scabs of civilization, to finding, cultivating, and projecting nightmare images of the secret self." Whether or not you agree with his thesis that horror is a symptom of society's ills (war, disease, poverty), you will find much of value in this thorough, highly readable history--especially the detailed accounts of the work of filmmaker Tod Browning, and of how Frankenstein and Dracula made their way from books to plays to films. The book is handsomely designed (hardcover has dust jacket by Edward Gorey), with illustrations, footnotes, and index.

Book Description

Illuminating the dark side of the American century, The Monster Show uncovers the surprising links between horror entertainment and the great social crises of our time, as well as horror's function as a pop analogue to surrealism and other artistic movements.

With penetrating analyses and revealing anecdotes, David J. Skal chronicles one of our most popular and pervasive modes of cultural expression. He explores the disguised form in which Hollywood's classic horror movies played out the traumas of two world wars and the Depression; the nightmare visions of invasion and mind control catalyzed by the Cold War; the preoccupation with demon children that took hold as thalidomide, birth control, and abortion changed the reproductive landscape; the vogue in visceral, transformative special effects that paralleled the development of the plastic surgery industry; the link between the AIDS epidemic and the current fascination with vampires; and much more. Now with a new Afterword by the author that looks at horror's popular renaissance in the last decade, The Monster Show is a compulsively readable, thought-provoking inquiry into America's obsession with the macabre.

Customer Reviews:

Non Fiction.......2007-09-03

David J. Skal's The Monster Show manages to strike a balance. It is reasonably interesting and indepth, but it is not so dry that you are wondering about how that paint is doing in the bathroom. So, a bit of entertainment here in his reasonably broad coverage of the genre of horror entertainment and media.

An insightful must-read for anyone interested in pop culture and the history of horror.......2006-07-15

Horror historian David J. Skal is the rare combination of an authoritative voice with a truly entertaining and readable writing style. His in-depth insights into everyone from Bram Stoker to Tod Browning are fascinating, and his combination of little known facts, biographical details, rarely seen photographs, and analytical insights into the broader social context of each major horror phenomena makes The Monster Show a must read. Highly recommended.

A minor masterpiece!.......2005-09-07

'The Monster Show' plays to David J. Skal's strengths - specifically the genesis of early-twentieth century Hollywood Gothic - and the results are a book that belongs on the shelf of any serious fan of the genre. Well-written and riddled with original and interesting research, Skal treads what will be a familiar path to many horror fans, but crucially places it in context and finds a few truly novel angles on the topic. Not everybody will agree with all of his analysis - I certainly didn't - but 'The Monster Show' manages to be provocative in just the right measure.

An odyssey into dodgy cultural analysis.......2005-07-15

This is simply one of the worst books on horror I've ever read.

Before you purchase this book, know what you are getting: the first half of the book focuses on the horror films of the twenties and thirties, and is embroiled (as would be expected) with anecdotes, stories and information about people like James Whale, Tod Browning and Bela Lugosi. This is all highly interesting, but unfortunately the author makes some very far-reaching conclusions about the cultural place of horror films in the 1930s, and especially about Frankenstein and Dracula, the two subjects to which he devotes the most time. In the second half, the book starts collapsing under the weight of its own grand conclusions and impossible correlations. Gradually, almost unnoticeably, facts and figures are entirely replaced with dodgy social and cultural analysis.

Mr. Skal completely fails to mention Jesus Franco, Ruggero Deodato, Lucio Fulci and other famous Italian horror directors. Hammer Horror has less than a page devoted to it. Roger Corman is mentioned in passing in a rambling two-page essay about "Masque of the Red Death". Even Dario Argento, who should be known to all but the least knowledgeable cinephiles, is not mentioned at all in this book. Instead, Skal spends 80 pages discussing AIDS, vampirism and Anne Rice. The author reaches conclusions that are drawn from a set of banal connections: for instance, in the chapter "Bad Blood", Michael Jackson is made out to be a modern-day Lon Chaney. The connection? That both practiced physical transformation (Jackson is a pop star with plastic surgery, Lon Chaney was a make-up pioneer film-star. The connection is superficial at best). Horror icons are constantly made out to be "christ figures".

This book is full of holes when it comes to the subject it's supposed to be a "comprehensive" study of: Italian/Spanish horror, Indian horror and Asian horror are not mentioned at all, and neither is the VHS revolution in the 80s. To add to insult, the cultural analysis is weak and contrived, delivered in hyper-eloquent, grandiose prose and takes up about half of the book. Go with Steven J. Schneiders "The Horror Film and Psychoanalysis: Freud's Worst Nightmares" instead, which covers much of the same subjects in an infinitely better package.

Frightfully good.......2004-08-06

Wonderfully witty and well written, this is a cultural history that well deserves its name. The first half plays up to Skal's strength as a film historian but the second half, which detours into comic books, Stephen King, monster models, the Adams Family, etc. is marred with passages of psychobabble and strained analysis. Mostly however this is an entertaining and near definitive exploration of things delightfully horrible. And the illustrations are great!

Customer Reviews:

great collection.......2005-07-25

This book and its companion from the library of america, have everything that Hurston wrote - except some unedited manuscripts, and some articles and short stories.

Her interest in language, folklore and ritual, and the cult of local color comes through in all of her works. The personalities and struggles, failures and victories of all of her characters become real for the reader.

She is writing earlier in the 20th century, when people were starting to buy radios and automobiles -- she saw a lot of the south, and north, rapidly transform into the beginnings of the consumer culture we know today.

When I read Hurston, it is like I feel an anxiety to preserve. I sense a underlying insight, that she probably had, that within a couple of generations, the rhythm of life would radically change.

I think she saw that a lot of the folk traditions and rituals in North America would disappear, so she did what she could to demonstrate a vibrant african american cultural life, as she knew it, and interpreted it.

The two collections of Hurston's work show the span of her writing, over her lifetime. These pieces reveal how many of her imagination and many of her themes and character-types evolve over the years.

I recommend the two volumes.

Any Hurston writing is worth the reading.......2000-07-08

The debate of whether Ms Hurston was a true Harlem Renaissance writer is does so little justice to her contributions to that scene that I spent an entire semester debating it. Of course she was and she was one of the writers who helped give it its significance. Just the scene in Jonah's Gourd where she is talking about the physical features of the male protagonist is important enough. Her "peope" are real and you wonder if she had interacted with them in real life because they are your neighbors, relatives and friends...they are just that touchable. Her pain in life comes through all her books but you are so busy savoring her prose that you only wonder about it after you are done. The best thing to do is to gather several authors from that period and read them all. She is among the genius of the era but you will see how far she stands out from the brilliant.

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