Plain Language: A Novel

Book Description

Virginia Mendenhall, a Quaker from North Carolina, is thirty-three years old when she travels to the arid plains of eastern Colorado in the mid-1930s to marry Alfred Bowen, ten years her senior. They have met only twice and have come to love each other through letters. Now, on an isolated ranch in the Dust Bowl, they must adjust to the harsh ranching life and the dangers of an untamed landscape, as well as the differences between them.

With an extended drought worsening the impact of the Depression in the West, neighbors turn against neighbors, and secrets from Alfred and Virginia's pasts come back to haunt them. But it is the arrival of Virginia's troubled brother on the ranch that sets off a chain of events with life-and-death consequences for them all.

Plain Language is a beautifully told tale of a man and woman fighting against tremendous odds for their land -- and their love.

Customer Reviews:

Eh........2007-07-16

Not bad, but nothing to rave about. I found Alfred's character more sympathetic than Virginia's, although nobody in the novel felt like a fleshed-out, intelligent adult. This seemed like the next step up from Judy Blume. I thought that large parts of it were contrived so that the author could include "juicy", voyeuristic interludes (in an effort to break the stereotype of Quakers as dowdy prudes, perhaps?). Once again, I don't know why so few modern writers seem to be able to convey character and meaning obliquely instead of just blurting it all out to their readers.

Beautiful Language.......2006-09-27

Barbara Wright's novel of life on the Colorado prairie during the Depression is a beautiful book, well-crafted and sensitive. The title, Plain Language, is a play on words: the heroine, Virginia, is a Quaker and so we have the idea of "plain speaking"; Virginia and her husband
Alfred are simple people, hardworking and not given to flights of fancy, communicating indeed in plain language. Wright's skill is apparent in the fact that Virginia and Alfred meet one disaster after another and yet the reader feels sustained, not drained. Many readers may be startled at how "plain" and filled with drudgery life was in the still-living past -- and yet how spirit-sustaining.

The themes of this book include: the importance of communicating in developing relationships; the love we deprive ourselves of by making judgments; the value of hard work in developing self-esteem. Toward the end of the novel, Alfred reflects to himself "... somewhere along the way you realize the achievement is not the goal itself -- the achievement is the person you've become in trying to reach the goal."

I highly recommend this novel.

beautifully written.......2004-06-23

I couldn't wait to pass this book on to everyone I know--it's beautifully written and very moving. This author gives a very convincing story of 2 people who get to know each other thru hardship and hard work. Also very moving is the story between Viginia and her brother and also his relationship with another woman--portrayed very well and lovingly. The Quaker ideals are nicely woven throughout and add to the beauty of this story. Read this and feel peaceful.............

Where's the buzz?.......2004-01-29

Very good story. Made my wife homesick for her childhood in southeastern Utah. Husband and wife learn to work together as a team through many hardships. Well-written and worthwhile.

Average customer rating:

Novel ties
Norma Marsh
Manufacturer: Learning Links
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00072NY7W

Average customer rating:

Novel-ties
Norma Marsh
Manufacturer: Learning Links
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Pedagogy | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

This is a FUN book, read it as such

good or bad

Great Guide To Forgotten Realms

Just read the review

Pure garbage.
ONCE AROUND THE REALMS (Forgotten Realms)
Brian Thomsen
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Thomsen, Brian | ( T ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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King Pinch (Forgotten Realms: The Nobles, Book 1)

ASIN: 0786901195
Release Date: 1995-04-25

Customer Reviews:

This is a FUN book, read it as such.......2002-07-22

I suppose it would be inevitable given the nature of the Realms and some of its writers that an attempt would be made at such a parody. The Forgotten Realms has more than its share of jokers compared to Greyhawk, only recently "lightened up" by Paul Kidd, or Dragonlance (okay, you can't take kenders seriously, but they aren't really funny if they weren't kenders, if you know what I mean.) From Danilo Thann by Elaine Cunningham, to Giogi Wyvernspur & Olive Ruskettle created by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb, to the various cast of the short-lived comic series - crew of the Realm Master, centaur heroes of Waterdeep and of course, Maskar Wands, the Forgotten Realms has somehow a strong element Wodehouse humour which fitted right in amidst the Elminsters, the Zhentarims and Cyrics.

It was only a matter of time before someone in TSR thought of "Around the world in 80 days" and the realms was the perfect setting for it; since it had the undisputable candidate who was just perfect for the job: Volothamp Geddarm, author of Lonely Planet of Toril. The fact there was already published an Atlas for the Forgotten Realms was probably an added bonus.

It must have been a difficult choice of places and people to include, but I suppose the author must have done all right not to get killed by other authors for not including their respective pet characters - no, I'm not mentioning who were left out.

Anyway, the story needed a premise, or to put it another way, the author needed a good reason to send Volo around the world. In the absence of the Reform Club in the realms (I suppose the Stalwart Club would do too, but they did not really have a readily recognisable character with such inclinations), the author had Volo goaded into the challenge by Khelben.

Of course, a Passpout had to be included, and since the name was so recognisable, Brian Thomsen didn't bother to play around with it very much. Together, the intrepid travellers, or at least, one intrepid traveller and his reluctant sidekick (notice Passpout didn't change very much), sought to cover the world ASAP. Which was not soon enough for Volo when he discovered the pact he made somehow interfered with his magical abilities.

Always the veteran traveller, Volo though sought out every opportunity to hasten his journey, always on the look out for alternative modes of transport.

Along the way, besides picking up a couple of fellow travellers, they encounter a variety of characters from the realms (such as Drizzt) and out of the realms; i.e., characters from other fictions reprising their cameo roles. What was fun for people who read widely was spotting these characters, like spotting "Where's Wally?". Read it and see if you can find characters from Les Miserables (Victor Hugo), Count of Monte Cristor (Alexander Dumas), Around the world in 80 days (Jules Verne if course, gotta pay a tribute to him who inspired this book), and others.

Oh, of course, like the journey of Phileas Fogg, there is something *sinister* involved as well, you know, just to add a little more fun into it.

good or bad.......2001-12-05

I know that most people dont like how Brian M. Thomsen wights or how his chapters are but the main thing that most inportint is the main point of the story. iam just saying that dont pay that much time worrieing about the bad things and just injoy the book.I gave Once Around the Realms an 4 stars because I thought that this book was well wreiten and has a great ending. the only thing that I regrete is that the book hade to end.

Great Guide To Forgotten Realms.......2001-11-21

You can always have a map of a place in Forgotten Realms, but you can't compare it to this book. Once around the realms tells a tale of great journeys and also gives you inside info on the places and people located in FR. Travel with the Great Volo and the Famous Passepout from Waterdeep to Kara-Tun and back.

It's great fun to read even if you all ready now everything about FR.

Just read the review.......2000-08-07

This novel was not meant to be a serious work. Something that could be compared to Chaucer, or Shakespeare. The other reviewers seem to have missed that. Its light, full of bad puns and terrible jokes. A pleasent diversion from more serious titles, Once Around the Realms accomplishes its objective to simply be fun.

Pure garbage........2000-04-23

I don't know if there is enough space to list all of the awful things about this book. Ignoring the fact that the book is written on an elementary school level, and the fact that I have never read another book with more annoying and vapid characters, consider the very real problem of plagiarism. How did this book get published? I can't believe the editors themselves weren't tearing their hair out by the end of the novel. Why does the author feel the need to give two different titles to each chapter (some of which are only two or three pages long)? The author's attempts to be clever are appalling, but that isn't even the worst part. I was disgusted by his unfaithful portrayal of some of the most famous characters in the realms. I mean, the popular Drizzt Do'Urden shown as melancholy and homesick? A paladin helping a criminal escape from jail? I don't think so. I think I am now dumber for having read this stupid book. Save your time and your money for something more interesting--like staring into blank space for five hours.

Book Description

Millennia ago, the Atlanteans were the self-styled mentors to the newborn race known as homo-sapiens. But when a mysterious cataclysm plunged Atlantis and its people beneath the waves, six - and only six - awoke one thousand centuries later to find their island city forgotten and in ruins, their brothers and sisters caught in an unshakable slumber...and Earth devoid of all life. Now the one, simple question that drives them is this: Whatever happened to the human race? Cruz combines the most primal and exciting elements of super-hero comics with imaginative science fiction reminiscent of Isaac Asimov`s Foundation and Larry Niven`s Ringworld.

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Part of the whole Cross-Gen stable, this story is about the Fall of Atlantis. Some protectors volunteer to stay behind, and are awakened far into the future. These people are endowed with superhuman abilities by a mysterious figure, and must search for what is actually going on, and what they can do about the cataclysm.

One of Crossgen's Best..........2003-03-27

A very under-rated book, while other Crossgen titles seem to get more press, this one truly delivers. Atlantis, long grist for any dreamer's mind, is given a fresh look here. This isn't the Submariner's Atlantis, blue-skinned people living in a fantastic underwater city in the depths of the ocean, but rather people actually dealing with the calamity that destroyed their island, as well as adjusting to life some 100,000 years in the future. Alright, it isn't very realistic, and the parts that deal with Atlantean society are, for me, anyway, the most interesting, but one has to keep in mind that it's a comic book. It would have been nice to see them awaken to this time, when opinion seems to be evenly divided whether Atlantis is fact or fiction, but setting it faroff in the future also gives it an ironic twist to it, where they are left wondering what kind of civilization we may have once had. Honestly, the book doesn't even need all it's superhero team trappings, it succeeds just on at it's terms of being a book about Atlantis and it's characters, but, being a comic, one has to realize that much of that comes with the territory. Mark Waid is a great writer who's words often seen in a comic book, and his characterizations are dead on, a very literate comic book writer. Steve Epting has long been one of the most under-rated artists in comics, in my view one of comics's best, and his work on the Avengers a few years ago was one of the high points of the industry during the nineties. Anyone sick of the current Japinese anime art style will love his work here, few artists can master actual human expressions as Steve Epting does. Anime may have some strengths, but expression certainly isn't one of them. As I said, I would have preferred a little more of Waid and Epting's take on Atlantis, Atlantis Rising is good enough that it doesn't need to cater to the typical comic book conventions, but it is an intelligent, well written book that should keep people hooked, not only to the mystery of what happened to Atlantis, but the rest of civilization.

Earth and Atlantis ...Where it all Began.......2002-12-27

At the time of this review Crux and Negation are my personal favorite Crossgen titles. Crossgen has done a wonderful job of creating a very fascinating universe. It's our universe and Crux's events take place on Earth, albeit many millenia in the future. Not without cause is this title named Crux for Crossgen has promised Earth and the story told here will be...well, the crux of the Crossgen universe.

We are introduced to Atlantis and 9 key figures - the 7 Atlanteans, one human and a mysterious stranger who awakens them from stasis but refuses to tell them why. The stranger grants them an orange sigil-mark (in marked contrast to the yellow and red sigils of characters in other CG comics). And thus the mystery begins. Why did Atlantis drown? What happened to the other transitioned Atlanteans? Where has homo sapiens - the race the Atlanteans were mentoring in its infancy - gone? And why are they being attacked by strange bug-like creatures?

I agree this book is the one to give to a comics-reader who likes team superhero books as in one sense Crux is such a book. That is, it features characters wielding powers not available to ordinary humans even though these characters wear normal clothes (no spandex or capes here). Of course, by that broad definition the majority of Japanese Anime also falls into the superhero genre. Nonetheless, this team doesn't go around fighting crime. There is a depth to the story as hints are dropped of a larger epic storyline which is a feature that runs through all of Crossgen's comics. You do not need to read any other comic or graphic novel in the Crossgen universe if you don't wish. Crossgen has taken care to make sure each story can be understood and enjoyed alone. But if you choose to read some of their other comics or trades (I HIGHLY recommend Negation) a story-arc on the scale of an Epic emerges (and I do mean Epic with a capital "E").

In one sense this very coherent world has some of the same elements that make me love Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. As the story unfolds in Crux you begin to see true depth to the history, myths and legends that shaped the Atlanteans, Earth and interest is piqued in the mystery of missing humanity. Characterization is particularly strong. I got a very distinct sense of each members own personality, likes, dislikes, etc.

Here is the chance to see one conception of the beauty and history of Atlantis (the art is breathtaking - Atlantis definitely looks "Atlantean") with fascinating characters struggling in a world that has drastically changed from the one they knew. Any fantasy or science-fiction fan should give this graphic novel a shot.

CrossGen's superheroes (admit it, guys...).......2002-12-12

Although CrossGen Comics has made a point of not doing any "superhero" comic books, Crux is definitely the book to give to your average superhero fan. It has all the elements of a superhero team -- a diverse group of people, each with a unique super power, thrust together into harrowing circumstances with the fate of the world resting on their shoulders.

Of course, like everything CrossGen does, this book has a twist. The "superheroes" in question are survivors of the lost city of Atlantis. Millennia ago, half of the Atlaneans underwent some great transformation while the rest went into cryogenic sleep on Earth to guide the developing race of humans. In the far future, seven Atlanteans are awakened to find Earth deserted, its final fate being some sort of galactic amusement park.

The question is, what happened to mankind, what happened to the other Atlanteans and what are these strange monsters called the Negation that attack the remnants of Earth?

As far as high-octane superhero mystery goes, you can't beat it. The characters are distinctive while never falling into stereotypes -- twins bicker but their powers are only strongest when together, the muscular "tough guy" of the group is really something of a pacifist. And as the title implies, this book seems to be where the keys to unlocking the mystery of the CrossGen universe lie. It also ties in very closely with another CrossGen book, "The Negation," which is also a spectacular read.

Average customer rating:

The Gluten-Free Kitchen

FANTASTIC

Great Cook Book

No Rice? Very Nice!

wonderful

The Gluten-Free Kitchen: Over 135 Delicious Recipes for People with Gluten Intolerance or Wheat Allergy
Roben Ryberg
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Healthy | Special Diet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Natural Foods | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Gluten-Free | Special Conditions | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0761522727
Release Date: 2000-04-13

Book Description

From French Toast to Fried Chicken, Delicious Gluten-Free Foods!
Think you have to give up bagels, biscuits, and breads just because you're on a wheat- or gluten-restricted diet? Think again! If you suffer from wheat or gluten allergies, inside The Gluten-Free Kitchen you'll discover a world of foods you never knew you could enjoy—foods such as cornbread, cinnamon rolls, and coffee cake; or even pancakes, pizza, and pumpkin pie! Both novice and experienced cooks will enjoy such tantalizing dishes as:
·Sour Cream Breakfast Muffins
·Blueberry Cobbler
·Ham and Cheese Pocket Pies
·Onion Rings
·Fried Chicken
·Simply Sinful Chocolate Cake
·And much, much more!
"This book offers a wealth of tips and helpful hints for successful gluten-free cooking . . . including recipes most of us grew up enjoying." —Cynthia R. Kupper, C.R.D., executive director of the Gluten Intolerance Group
"An excellent source of gluten-free recipes that taste good and are easy to prepare." —Suzanne R. Curtis, Ph.D., R.D., Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland

Customer Reviews:

The Gluten-Free Kitchen.......2007-10-09

This book is of absolutely no use to me. I can't believe she uses cornstarch as a substitute for flour in all of her recipes when there are other combintions she could have used. I'm allergic to corn and never use cornstarch even as a thickener....there are other means for that also.

FANTASTIC.......2007-06-30

Finally a gluten-free cookbook that has "taste good" recipes, and uses ingredients already in the kitchen.--except for three basic gluten-free ingredients - potato starch, xanthan gum and/or guar gum. No more gritty rice flour pancakes or cookies. The author has given us a list of gluten-free suppliers, and information about gluten-free ingredients and hidden gluten. This book is a must in every kitchen.

Great Cook Book.......2007-05-10

Everything I have tried has turned out wonderful. Her Snickerdoodles are wonderful and her Carrot cake you would never know was gluten free. Plus her ingredients are easy to use and usually already in my kitchen. Don't forget to try the Pot Roast with gravy YUMMMY!!!

No Rice? Very Nice!.......2006-12-22

As a recently diagnosed Celiac I ran into the problem that most Gluten-Free cookbooks rely on the use of rice flour to make an adequate tasting product. Unfortunately, I find my body intolerant to rice of any king leaving me out in the dust in most cases...luckily this wasn't one of them.

A new friend on a Celiac discussion forum pointed me in the direction of this book and for that I'll be eternally grateful.

Unlike many other authors on the market Roben doesn't try to impress you with "flash in the pan" recipes you'll only use once or twice but instead opts to go for mainstays you'll use in everyday life...fried chicken, pancakes, pastrydoughs and pie crusts, and even donuts. I can honestly say out of the entire book there are maybe 5-10 recipes I'll never use which is saying alot considering my family and friends call me a picky eater.

Where Roben excels in this book over other authors is her recipes use corn and potato flours...no weird flours you'll have a hard time pronouncing or spelling here.

For all the Celiacs out there I highly recommend this book. For all those who just want to eat healthy and naturally I recommend it also.

wonderful.......2006-11-12

This cookbook is the one I use most often for our gluten-free cooking, the foods taste more like gluten (regular foods). We are enjoying this alot.

Amazon.com

It's every pet owner's nightmare: suddenly your four-legged friend isn't breathing. What to do? There is no 911 for pets, so it's up to you to save a life. The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats is a straightforward guide that covers both major problems--CPR, heat stroke, and strangulation--and minor ones, such as swollen tails, ingrown nails, and flea allergies. Beginning with simple tests and explanations of general care issues like dehydration examinations and triage, this guide then moves on to an alphabetical listing of every possible situation, from arrow wounds to worms.

The individual sections are good for both general reading and instant assistance. Each one starts with a notice of when to call the vet--immediately, the same day, or as needed. It also lists what items from your pet's medicine chest will be needed, which may include anything from corn syrup to towels and panty hose. The information that follows this simple checklist is divided into "do this now," "special situations," "follow-up care," and "the best approach." Whenever necessary, simple sketches are included to help show proper technique, such as fashioning an instant muzzle from a pair of nylons, or how to cover a dog's head in case of an ear-flap injury. Relying frequently on common household items like antihistamines, turkey basters, Gatorade, and plastic wrap, this guide assumes most of us won't have special medical training or supplies and focuses on very specific and simple methods of helping your pet achieve the best possible care. Even more importantly, many suggestions are included on prevention of accidents--isn't it easier to get that window screen repaired than to rush your kitty to the vet after a bad fall?--Jill Lightner

Book Description

Is there an animal doctor in the house?Most likely, the answer is no. And when an accident or other emergency threatens your pet, every minute counts. Don't be unprepared! Open The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats and learn:* Basic first-aid techniques, such as cleaning a wound, making a splint, and performing CPR-- step-by-step!* Which over-the-counter human medications can help-- or harm-- your dog or cat* What to keep in your pet's medicine chest (many essential items are probably in your house already!)* How to quickly pinpoint what's wrong with your pet, using the First-Aid Symptom FinderPlus, you'll discover a comprehensive A-to-Z guide to more than 150 common-- and not-so-common-- injuries and conditions, including:* Abscesses (page 60)* Bites from Animals (page 90)* Car Accidents (page 117)* Choking (page 131)* Gunshot Wounds (page 224)* Heatstroke (page 237)* Hot Spots (page 245)* Jellyfish Stings (page 269)* Poisoning (page 311)* Snakebites (page 350)Each at-a-glance entry tells you when to call the vet, which supplies or medications you'll need, what immediate action you should take, and what you should do as follow-up care.By knowing what to do in an emergency and then acting quickly and confidently to take the proper steps, you could save your pet's life. The next time medical help is not quickly available, reach for The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats. It's a pet owner's second best friend.

Customer Reviews:

Superb !.......2007-09-06

This is a wonderful movie. Exquisitely executed in period costume, with a world class orchestra. It was delightfully free of uneccessary verbage and saturated with eroticism. Sandra

I found this book a must-have for pet professionals.......2007-07-12

I own Animal Companions pet sitting service in Houston, Texas, and I found this book a must-have for pet professionals. Laid out in a format similar to a Physician's Desk Reference, you may easily and quickly (and time is always of the essence with a sick pet!) look up information based on presenting symptoms.

It is an amazing supplement to hands-on first aid training. I immediately purchased a copy of this book for myself and each of my employees, to keep in our cars right next to our pet first aid kit. I also picked up a copy to keep at home, for my own furry loved ones.

An Outstanding Mini-Encyclopedia of Pet Care.......2007-07-03

There is so much useful information in just this one volume. What's more, there is a symptom finder, allowing a quick overview of possible causes of given symptoms among dogs and cats. There are two tables of poison hazards, including one which tells what human medications should never be given to cats (although veterinarians advise that no human medications should ever be given to animals without checking with them). The animal conditions that can be helped by first aid range from life-threatening situations to such usually-minor things as constipation in cats. There are many helpful diagrams. One of them shows how to make a homemade Elizabethan collar and another one shows how to restrain a seriously-injured animal for the trip to the vet.

Good reading, good addition to your medicine cabinet........2007-02-07

We had dogs bitten by a rattlesnake. I had a dog with an allergic reaction.

What do you do? Sure, you can google up an answer, but it's nice to have this book on hand for quick reference.

It is well written and you can actually just read it cover to cover. I learned a lot.

Excellent source.......2006-11-08

I got this book to better care for my adult and senior dogs. I love that the book not only focuses on First Aid but prevention as well as recommendations for when to call the vet. The injuries and illnesses section covers everything you can think of and provides lots of background information as well as treatment. My favorite feature is the recommended medicine chest as well as dosing.

The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats: What to Do Now, What to Do Later, over 150 Everyday Accidents and Emergencies, Essential Medicine Chest, At-A-Glance Symptom Finder, How to Prevent

Average customer rating:

Outstanding Mini-Encyclopedia of Pet First Aid
Worth every penny!

The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats: What to Do Now, What to Do Later, over 150 Everyday Accidents and Emergencies, Essential Medicine Chest, At-A-Glance Symptom Finder, How to Prevent
Amy Shojai
Manufacturer: Rodale Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Small Animal Medicine | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats (Prevention Pets)

ASIN: 1579541976

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Mini-Encyclopedia of Pet First Aid.......2006-07-11

There is so much useful information in just this one volume. What's more, there is a symptom finder, allowing a quick overview of possible causes of given symptoms among dogs and cats. There are two tables of poison hazards, including one which tells what human medications should never be given to cats (although veterinarians advise that no human medications should ever be given to animals without checking with them). The animal conditions that can be helped by first aid range from life-threatening situations to such things as constipation in cats. There are many helpful diagrams. One of them shows how to make a homemade Elizabethan collar and another one shows how to restrain a seriously-injured animal for the trip to the vet.

Worth every penny!.......2004-02-07

Quick story: A few months ago I was driving and saw a dog running beside the road and when I was only a few feet from him, he was struck by a car. I rushed him to the vet hospital but sadly, he passed away. I went straight to the book store and picked up this book on pet first aid, learned about treating a pet who is going into shock and now keep an animal first aid kit,
blanket and copy of this book in the trunk of my car. This was the only book I could find that addressed the issue of helping an animal who is struck by a car. It is such important information and I was thankful to find it.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic, easy to execute quilts with GREAT samples!.......1999-04-26

Out of the many quilting books available, this is by far the most articulate, intelligent and attractive book. It's down to earth.

Book Description

At the end of the twentieth century, the sophisticated are turning from steel, plastic, and nylon to old rustic pans and pottery, furniture and textiles, tastefully displayed in urban apartment or second home in the country. There remain areas in France, far from the big cities and the tourist trails, where the realities of the old rural way of life can still be found, though it is fast disappearing. Marie-France Boyer, with her sensitivity for the extraordinary in the everyday, has traveled widely to seek out these interiors of genuine French country working life. She presents them, and the people who live in them, in a series of wonderful photographs--most taken especially for this book--of kitchens and stove corners, living rooms and bedrooms, odd souvenirs and family mementoes. The country people who follow the old traditions are now in their seventies and older. They use the bowls, baskets, and smoke-blackened pots that their parents and their grandparents used before them--they still call these objects by old local names, now forgotten by those who left the land. Their homes are working interiors, functional and mostly very frugal. Ancient family tables and wardrobes jostle with refrigerators and televisions, and plastic lace and fifties-style wallpaper are as popular as the traditional striped mattresses and flowery eiderdowns. Next to the family clock, candlesticks stand with oil lamps, both replaced by electric light in the 1940s. A fascinating record of old rural French ways of living, the book also provides information on places to buy the traditional furniture and objects, and on the regional museums that commemorate this disappearing lifestyle.

Customer Reviews:

Appalling book design.......2004-01-09

A very fascinating, original book with a thoughtful text and illuminating photographs. It was definitely not intended to help you design your French Country summer house! I would have given it five stars, except that I've never seen a book designed so poorly that it was almost impossible to read. The photographs and their captions were nowhere near the corresponding text. Often it was difficult to tell what caption went with what photograph. Some photographs were missing captions. I spent a lot of time flipping back and forth as I read, trying to find the photographs being described in the text or vice versa. There were several pages where the text was in a light color over a background of a photograph, only readable with a very strong light or a magnifying glass. A great deal of thought had obviously gone into the writing, the translation, and the selection of illustrations; it was a shame that the material was handled this way. I am surprised at Thames and Hudson.

Not depressing...at all!.......2003-09-12

Despite previous reviews, this book proved to be a lovely and heartwarming insight to French Rural Life. Beautifully illustrated, with enchanting essays, this book offers a glimpse into a life far removed from the everyday American existence. Part coffee table illustrations, part loving essay, this book captures a way of life totally alien to what most of us call day to day life. This is a lovely collection of life in rural France and is sure to make you smile and anticipate your next adventure there. Read it and be Happy!

Refreshingly Real.......2001-01-07

It is a sorrow that the reader from McLean, Virginia, was disappointed with this book. I found it to be a valuable connection to the past and a welcome reality check for the future. While we benefit from select technology, this book reinforced to me that not all modern "conveniences" have necessarily enriched our lives. This book is a look back to a time when the world moved more slowly; when the physical demands of country life sculpted muscular bodies, when a stubborn farm animal was more unforgiving than any personal trainer and when we could nestle into our beds at the end of the day to enjoy sound, unmedicated slumber. This book beautifully illustrates that "keeping it simple" is not just a magazine title or a lifestyle choice; that daily life woven in and around the rhythmic renewal of the seasons brings with it the unspoken awareness of one's place and one's purpose in the universe. This is not the urban, armchair tourist's source for "decorating ideas," nor the suburban, weekend farmer's guide to garden planning - you will not find the items celebrated within at Smith and Hawken. You will find an insightful look into the real lives of real people, all of whom I found to be far more dignified than depressing. Further, the respect that these people afford the animals and the land they depend on for their sustenance is a model we would all do well to study - no genetically-engineered or altered food on their tables. "Free-range" food before it was trendy. Making "your own" absolutely everything before Martha Stewart made a billion bucks off of selling the concept just for the bragging rights. I am grateful to the people who agreed to be interviewed for this book. In the society we live in now, experiencing simplicity without an agenda made this book a delight.

Either you'll love it or cry reading it..(see reviews below).......2000-05-12

Rural France is a perfect complement to "cafés" from the same author. Marie France Boyer is one of the most sensitive authors that I know. Her books are the best documented you might ever search for (see her book about Marie-Antoinette in Versailles asin:0500016909 ). She is a reference in terms of elegance, good taste and french etiquette. Most of all, she really loves people. If you really love people, you'll really love "Really rural". If your roots are rural or if you think your grand-grand mama came from a tiny village in Europe, buy this book. You might cry looking at these old women posing close to their Aga cooker in the center of their kitchen/living-room/bed-room. The most exciting feature of this book lies in the fact that you can still meet thousands of people and interiors like this in France, and spend good time with them. These peasants will allways be happy to meet you. You might be the only person who will have visited them since months. Within ten years, most of these houses and people will have disappeared. Because of new security regulations, all the items that make these interiors warmful will be removed: coal heater, wood chimneys, candle lights, dwells in the garden. Cheese will never be made anymore on the sink of the kitchen. Come and take pictures. Then send them to your new friends from France. They will frame them and fix them on the wall above the fireplace. Near Bois-Briand (Nantes) where we live, you can discover many of these wonderful, inspiring interiors and people. Come and visit us.

charming view of rustic life.......2000-02-17

The "review" below made me laugh out loud! Obviously the reader has the "french poodle" view of rustic life in France and little familiarity with the real thing. This is a fine book displaying an exquisite level of detail and an authentic view of agricultural life on ancient soil. Very, very nice, indeed, and a solid reference.

Book Description

The Italian Quattrocento, particularly in Florence, was a period of increasing prosperity and the steady progression and dissemination of the ideals of humanism that were beginning to take root. This period of Florentine history, under the reign of the infamous Medici family, produced great masters of the visual arts and men of letters beyond compare, crafting not only a rich society but laying the footwork for the Italian and European Renaissance and great leaps in Western thought. This volume brings together over fifty sources from this period (many translated into English for the first time), which contributed to the emergence of a particularly Florentine civic ideology.

Florence and the Renaissance: The Quattrocento

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Florence and the Renaissance: The Quattrocento
Alain J. Lemaitre , and Erich Lessing
Manufacturer: Stewart, Tabori, & Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Renaissance | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

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Florence and the Renaissance: The Quattrocento
Alain J. LEMAITRE
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NDOV72

Simile alla natura: Die Darstellung exotischer Tiere in der Florentiner Malerei des Quattrocento

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Simile alla natura: Die Darstellung exotischer Tiere in der Florentiner Malerei des Quattrocento
Susanne Konig-Lein
Manufacturer: VDG
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

German | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Arts & Photography | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 3932124286

The Bottega of Apollonio di Giovanni and Marco del Buono;: A reconsideration of form and content [in] Cassone painting of the Quattrocento in Florence. Art history honors, Oberlin College May, 1966

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The Bottega of Apollonio di Giovanni and Marco del Buono;: A reconsideration of form and content [in] Cassone painting of the Quattrocento in Florence. Art history honors, Oberlin College May, 1966
Barbara Anne Bernhard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Florence and the Renaissance: The Quattrocento

Manufacturer: Terrail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HJI2NQ

Guida agli artisti del Quattrocento a Firenze

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Guida agli artisti del Quattrocento a Firenze
Alessandro Conti
Manufacturer: Octavo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Arts & Photography | Italian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All Italian Books | Italian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 8880301306

Studies of Florentine Quattrocento portrait busts

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Studies of Florentine Quattrocento portrait busts
Jane Schuyler
Manufacturer: University Microfilms International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006Y97HC

Book Description

The first black to hold a Republican Party leadership position, Congressman J.C. Watts shares his inspirational story as well as hopes and plans for the future of America.

Customer Reviews:

Good Read.......2005-08-19

This is overall, a good read. The book gave me a different perspective of J.C. Watts and resulted in more respect for the former Congressman. My only complaint is the numerous football analogies: too many. It became overkill after a while and I was annoyed by his constant references to the game. Other than that, I enjoyed reading the book.

Another example of dishonest conservatism.......2005-08-17

Watts, football player turned politician, indicates his obsession with racism and politics by trying to defend political conservatives as non-racist even when it's obvious that these were the same lunatics in both parties that allowed the racism wackiness to spiral out of control in the south back in the 1960s and still does today nationwide albeit more subtely. The only reason rural voters in his area ever kept the guy in office was because he was a corporate conservative who enjoyed the art of bait and switching voters on culture hot button issues such as guns and abortion all the while keeping the economic mess as silent as possible. Sorry Mr. Watts, but good conservatives would never have sucked up to your cultural bait and switch tricks if it weren't for political in-correctness. You know you're just a neoconservative radical and not a honest conservative and you're not fooling most African Americans anyway.

Great Book.......2005-08-03

I think that this book is a great book but always keep an open mind

Congressman's Watts Ideology.......2005-06-13

This is a very good book. Congressman's Watts sets the record straight and doesn't care how or what the "Black" liberals think of him. This is a man who served his country and did it with dignity and aided all Americans in moving closer to a united front. Congressman J.C. Watts caught a lot of flak from the Democratic liberals especially the "Black" liberals, never the less Congressman Watts still strived to change the office of politics during his tenure and did infact make a difference for all Americans while he served his country. let the record show that I'm a Black American and I encourage all Black Americans to read Congressman's J.C. Watts book. You will definitely be inspired and motivated by Congressman's Watts Ideology.

Unbelievable Story!.......2004-07-20

This book changed my life and allowed me the courage to stand up for what I REALLY believe, despite popular opinion. JC Watts, Jr. is hugely courageous and open the doors for many conservative african americans who have elected to reject "victimization," and embrace true independence through education, hard-work, faith, and family.

What Color Is a Conservative ?: My Life and My Politics

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What Color Is a Conservative ?: My Life and My Politics
J. C.; Winston, Chriss Watts
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF5Z1A

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What Color is a Conservative?
Chriss Winston J. C. Watts
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEPVM4

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