Book Description
Stone Song was lauded as the only significant work of fiction on the Lakota Sioux since Hanta Yo by Library Journal. It won the Spur Award for Best Novel of the West, and the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Award for Best Fiction. Crazy Horse led his people to their greatest victory, the Battle of the Little Big Horn, where General Custer fell. Crazy Horse managed to find his way in harmony with the age-old wisdom of the Lakotaand to beat the US Army on its own terms.
Customer Reviews:
Stone Cold Killer Would Be A Better Title.......2005-12-31
I got this book because of all the five star reviews, but I'm rather disappointed with it overall. It's readable, but written in a somewhat juvenile storytelling tone. Curly (young Crazy Horse) goes through the usual vision-quest of all native-american novels of this genre, supposedly follows his vision and becomes a war chief.
Halfway through the book, it occurred to me that it seems odd that in glorifying and writing about the great Crazy Horse (and chopping up a whole mountain in the Black Hills in his honor), we are paying tribute to a man who today would be considered a serial killer who apparently killed dozens of his own race, not to mention his wisacu (whites) enemies. Sort of how Custer used to be idolized before everyone realized what an evil guy he was.
Anyway, in my judgement, this is not one of Blevins best efforts. There's a lot of details regarding Lakota ceremonies and customs, but being that this is a work of fiction, we don't know how much of it is the result of solid research and how much came from the author's imagination. There's nothing really different from many other similar novels to keep you turning the pages and wishing for more.
Blevins does it again.......2001-06-24
This is the second book by Win Blevins that I have read, the first being Ravenshadow. I liked this one immensely. I found it very difficult to put down once I got into the story. From the beginning, with young Curly, who is determined to have a vision quest, but doesn't share what he has seen with his family, it hooks you. Then it takes you through the various times in his life, never letting you forget the conflict that was going on in the country at that time. Blevins did an interesting job of describing the conflicts between the whites and the Indians. He makes you feel like you were actually there. When he described the ones who hung around the forts, you got the impression that you could actually see them in their blankets, waiting to trade for whiskey. In the course of reading this book, I took the liberty to visit the Crazy Horse Foundation website and read the interviews with some of the people who knew him. I'm thinking that Blevins also read those interviews and that may be how he got some of his material. I'm sure he did extensive research before writing this book and to me, it reflects it. I am giving this book five stars. It will make you think and will bring His Crazy Horse (the literal translation of his name) the man to life.
Portrait of a Human Hero.......2001-02-12
In this superbly crafted fictional biography Blevins portrays Crazy Horse from many angles : insecure adolescent, faithful friend, courageous warrior and non-committed lover guided by the need to fulfil his vision and remain true to his spirit guide.Always a man apart from the others, Crazy Horse makes attempts at escaping from his isolation although ultimately in the knowledge that isolation will be his destiny. The author convincingly describes life among the Lakota,their many warring factions, their social customs and the impact that the broken promises of the "wasicu" have on their very existence.There is of course no way of knowing if Crazy Horse felt as described in this novel (a problem from which all fiction based on a historical person suffers). But the beautiful poetic language crafted by Blevins renders his vision thouroughly believable. A major achievement.
inspired a new path in my life.......2000-07-30
This book was purchased off a bargain book table and began a new era in my life. The characters come richly to life and demand your ferverent attention to thier lives and predicament. I saw Crazy Horse in an incredibly human light and it has inspired me to pursue what I believe will be a lifelong study of Native American issues...current and historical. A definite Must Read for those interested in the Oglala Sioux or Native Americans in general!
Learning to know His Crazy Horse.......2000-03-24
I just finished reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel as though I know as well as is possible who His Crazy Horse was. I came to know him and to understand some of the customs of his people. The characters were all very clearly defined and full. The historical aspect of the book put many battles and events I have heard of in sequence. This was a book I felt sorry to finish. It is the second of Mr. Blevins I have read (the first was RavenShadow ) and I truly enjoyed both of them. I will definately read his others.
Amazon.com
This brutal tale starts in a bleak, brutal European any-war. Abel and Morgan live in a forboding castle, alone and isolated, until the conflict intrudes on their numb lives in the form of a cruel mercenary lieutenant and her violent, ravaging men who take up residence. From there, the tale disintegrates into darkness and atrocity, punctuated by Abel's memories of earlier joy and pain. Iain Banks pushes the story steadily downward, dragging the morbidly fascinated reader into the depths of human despair. Gang rape, torture, and incest are seen through Abel's uncaring eyes--this book is not for the squeamish. And although Banks strives for a Passion play in the end, what's missing is even the tiniest kernel of real redemption. Fans of The Wasp Factory and Banks's other non-science fiction works will find familiar details here, but A Song of Stone stands alone as a fable of hopelessness. --Therese Littleton
Book Description
A European nation not unlike Bosnia: armed forces roam the lawless land where dark columns of smoke rise up from the surrounding farms and houses. The war is ending, perhaps ended. But for the castle and its occupants, a young lord and lady, the trouble is just beginning.
Fearing an invasion of soldiers, the amorous couple takes to the road with the other refugees, disguised in rags. But the brutal female lieutenant of an outlaw band of guerrillas has other ideas. Just hours into their escape, the fleeing aristocrats are delivered back to the castle, where, now prisoners in their own home, they become pawns in the lieutenant's dangerous game of desire, deceit, and death.
A Song of Stone demonstrates Iain Banks's unique ability to combine gripping narrative with a soaring, voyaging imagination. This noir fable confirms his reputation as the master of things dark and debauched. Singular, haunting, and viciously wry, A Song of Stone is a tour de force of contemporary fiction.
Customer Reviews:
Limited Appeal.......2007-05-26
I don't review many books here but the thought that a little effort on my part would save someone else from having to read this awful book made up my mind to do so.
I loved the author's "Consider Phoebus", and decided to buy some more of his work. If I had read "A Song of Stone" first, I would have avoided him like the plague.
If you like first-person narratives from whiney, incompetent protagonists who spent half their time spouting trite, sophomoric philosophy, then you may just enjoy this book. If not, don't waste your money.
Ready, Willing and Abel.......2006-08-15
Iain Banks first novel, "The Wasp Factory", was published in 1984. In the years since, he's won critical acclaim, topped best-seller lists and has even written Science Fiction books under the cunning nom-de-plume 'Iain M. Banks'. He's also seen this book, "The Crow Road", adapted for television by the BBC in 1996. "A Song of Stone" was first published in 1997.
The book is set in the aftermath of what appears to have been a long and devastating war - though at no point is any indication of its causes, or even who was fighting. While the war itself may even be over - it's hard to tell, with no real communication between different parts of the country - it's left anarchy behind : food and fuel are scarce, while there are regular skirmishes between a number of roaming factions. The story is told by Abel, an aristocrat with a title - albeit, apparently, a minor one. As the book opens, he and his beloved Morgan are abandoning their castle - hoping to avoid the sort of people it would probably attract. Unfortunately, they are captured early in their journey by a band of partisans who - as Abel feared - viewed the couple's home as an excellent base of operations. Abel and Morgan are taken back to their home - now, as trapped by the castle's walls as they are protected by it.
The book is told entirely from Abel's point of view - "I wonder at the lieutenant and the history of her men". Gradually, hints of his former life are given, much of it involving the development of his relationship with Morgan. Little, on the other hand, is told of the lieutenant or her men - even their real names are withheld. The language and style used is very descriptive at times, lyrical and nearly pretentious in places. For all his attempts to romanticise his thoughts, his feelings and his past, however, I found Abel to be an increasingly dislikeable character : for a member of the nobility, there was very little noble about him. In fact, as the book went on, I wasn't even convinced Morgan felt any real warmth towards him. For someone who hasn't read anything by Banks, I'm not sure I'd recommend this as a starting point - "Whit" and "The Crow Road" would possibly be a better introduction. However, "A Song of Stone" is certainly worth reading.
Verdict: Dull, wordy, pointless. Not for me........2003-10-14
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I'll make no attempt to avoid SPOILERS in the following.
In a future, post-apocalyptic Britain, wrecked by gang-wars, a band of irregulars led by a female Lieutenant hole up in an old castle. They make the Lord and his mistress into half-prisoners, half-pets. The Lord has endless, pointless, boring, amazingly windy memories/internal monologues of what went before. He (strict first person) addresses the memoir to Her, in second person, which works about as well as this usually does, which is to say, a weak, poor and distracting device. Did I mention the brutal, pointless killings, there to demonstrate that post-apocalyptic Gangwar is Hell?
The Loot and her soldiers slaughter a rival gang, and take their Big Gun. This is symbolic. The soldiers have a big victory party, get drunk, rape the girls, wreck the Lord's castle, and humiliate him. The Loot has sex with Her Mistresship, a mute, milquetoast boring cardboard 'person'. The Loot shoots the Lord, but he gets away, and (sort of) kills her. Her troops tie him to the Big Gun: in the Lord's words, "For I too am tied, in Mezentian hyperbole, a puppet of [sic] before the cannon's mouth." You know, a little Mezentian hyperbole goes a long, long way, but it's here by the hundredweight, page after page after page... "It is my estimation that, unless one's involvement is peripheral, nobody survives a war; the people who come out the other side are not those who went in." Good God.
It's hard to believe this sad, purple, preachy, windy book book was written by our beloved, Orbital-smashing, Drone-riding Iain M. Banks -- but I've had pretty poor luck with his non-SF novels. There was a violently-nihilistic spy thriller (Complicity??) that I liked pretty well, but I found The Bridge dull and tendentious, and now this... So I guess I'll stick to the Star Smashers of Special Circumstances, thank you very much, and leave the literary stuff to, well, the literariate?
If you'd like a *good* book about post-apocalyptic Britain with castles and gang-wars (kinda), I recommend Edward P. Hughes' fine, underrated Master of the Fist , which will run rings around this sorry POS. Trust me.
Cheers -- Pete Tillman
PS: This review sparked an interesting discussion on Usenet at rec.arts.sf.written. Google Groups (search my name and title) will find it for you.
But something else.......2003-08-31
I bought this book when I was visiting my parents in my native Scotland. After I read it I left it with them rather than bother keeping it for future reading - make up your own mind on my enjoyment of the book.
The prose was convoluted to the point where you often had to reread passages several times to get the meaning. This is something I expect to need to do if I am reading a book on Calculus, not if I am reading for entertainment.
I really didn't care whether the main character, Abel lived or died. This is probably because of his total incompetence in trying to rescue his wife, when he did fortuitously break free of his captors. I found the whole writing style tedious and pretentious.
The positives would be the character Loot, who I found the most interesting in the novel, due to her swings from benevolance to total malevolance; and the author's general characterization of war as pointless and anarchaic.
My disappointment was such that I may not bother with this author again - however it would appear that the general opinion of the reviews are that this is a rare mistep and that novels like the Wasp Factory may have been a shrewder choice for me.
Very Rocky.......2003-07-16
A SONG OF STONE (my introduction to the esteemed Iain Banks) presented me with a dilemma, and I'm not quite sure how to describe my thoughts concerning this novel. I liked the narrative voice, I enjoyed the writing style, and I was occasionally intrigued by the characters. But I'm not sure I liked the book. It has some fascinating pieces, yet it also contains portions that I would describe as pure dreck. It contains some shocking pieces of violence and the cruelty of humanity, but they aren't directed in any specific way. The blood and the gore just ends up feeling gratuitous rather than purposeful, and after a while I just could make myself care about it.
The book is mostly based upon its setting and two main characters. The setting is an unspecific country (it feels vaguely European) ripped apart by a war, the exact cause of which is irrelevant to the story. The first character of note is the narrator, and the second is a female solider. Both almost reach the point where they feel like real people, yet somehow manage to remain cartoonish. The book relies very heavily upon the strength of its characters, but they aren't quite tough enough to carry the load. They make a lot of speeches and, while some have genuine insight, they just tend to ramble on about life, the universe and everything. When Banks has something to say, the soliloquies work. But when the speeches are there merely there to give the characters something to do, the results can be utterly uninteresting.
The plot is rambling. It goes off in several directions, and doesn't really seem to have a coherent structure. People do things because the author makes them do things, but I couldn't quite grasp what anyone's motivation was. The story is basically just a load of small set pieces bound together by the characters' experiences on the fringes of the war. There's nothing inherently wrong with any of them, but there are just too many places where the sledgehammer of the metaphors just become too painful and unappealing. Ultimately, the book seems to think that it is far cleverer than it actually is.
And yet, there are hints of a fabulous book lurking beneath the oppressive and incoherent surface. The hell that every person is going through is well realized -- from the physical drain that accompanies the conflict to the mental and emotional scarring that it inflicts. The inability to escape is a theme that keeps being brought home, and for the most part it is effective. Had the rest of the book been as successful as these sections, I think I would have loved this book (and indeed I found myself thinking very positive thoughts towards it at the very beginning). Unfortunately, the quality is not sustained throughout.
I doubt I'll ever be bothered to read A SONG OF STONE again, yet I cannot say that I completely hated the experience of reading it once. It's certainly unpleasant, but that's mostly a deliberate choice. Still, by the end of the story, I just couldn't find myself caring about the characters or what happened to them. Sometimes the imagery and metaphors are inspired; other times they are just banal. It feels as though it was written on autopilot -- as though a good author just couldn't get around to putting his full effort into this one. Given Banks' impressive reputation, I suspect that he has written better books. And although this one left a faintly bad taste in my mouth, I think I will end up giving Mr. Banks another try.
Customer Reviews:
The Nadir of the Conan Series.......1998-07-18
This books shows the latter-day Conan series at its lowest ebb, with Green writing almost on auto-pilot. I don't even think he knows what's going on in the story, and I certainly don't care.
Amazon.com
Japanese food was virtually unknown in many Western cities in the 1980s, when Shizuo Tsujii wrote Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art. M.F.K. Fisher's introduction eloquently sets the stage for Tsujii's classic work. It may be the most thought-provoking piece ever written about Japanese food for non-Asians, pointing out how food and even the physical act of eating differ from what they are in Japan. Tsujii's writing is clear and educational. He talks specifically to a Western, non-Asian audience, demonstrating far more awareness of our culinary preferences and prejudices than most Westerners have for his. Following the preface (which should not be skipped), an arrangement of color photos of key ingredients and dishes sets the scene. Next, part 1 provides a thorough explanation of techniques for Japanese cooking and instructions for making all the basic elements of dishes. These "lessons" cover cutting vegetables, steaming, grilling, and deep frying the Japanese way, and even how to make sushi. Recipes cover Basic Vinegar Salad Dressings, Sushi Rice, and Teriyaki. To prepare Vinegared Octopus, a complete series of drawings clearly demonstrates each step.
Part 2 consists solely of recipes. Gather together fresh ginger, soy sauce, the sweet wine mirin , sake, and rice vinegar and you can make many of them. Beginners might start with Deep Fried Chicken Patties, Steak Teriyaki, Tortoise Shell Tofu, simply bathed in a tasty sauce, and Asparagus Rice, a light and colorful dish. Because of its combination of background information, comprehensive recipes, and excellent instructions, Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art will always remain an important book for learning about this simple yet complex cuisine. --Dana Jacobi
Book Description
US: Available in April 2007
Since its release twenty-five years ago, Shizuo Tsuji's encyclopedic and authoritative work has been the acknowledged "bible" of Japanese cooking. Unrivaled in its comprehensive explanation of ingredients, tools, and techniques, the book guides readers through recipes with clear prose, while technical points are made understandable with deftly executed line drawings.
Much more than a collection of recipes, the cookbook is a masterful treatise on Japanese cuisine. In his preface, the author (who was truly a Renaissance man of Japanese and world gastronomy) discusses the essence of Japanese cooking, with its emphasis on simplicity, balance of textures, colors, and flavors, seasonal freshness, and artful presentation.
M. F. K. Fisher's introduction to the 1980 edition is a not-to-be-missed work of food writing. A new foreword by Ruth Reichl and an additional preface by Tsuji Culinary Institute president Yoshiki Tsuji provide culinary and historical context for the 25th Anniversary Edition. Eight pages of vibrant new color photographs illustrate over seventeen finished dishes.
After introducing ingredients and utensils, the twenty chapters that make up Part One consist of lessons presenting all the basic Japanese cooking methods and principal types of prepared foods—making soup, slicing sashimi, grilling, simmering, steaming, noodles, sushi, pickles, and so on—with accompanying basic recipes. Part Two features 130 carefully selected recipes that range from everyday fare to intriguing challenges for the adventurous cook. Together with the recipes in Part One, these allow the cook to build a repertoire of dishes ranging from the basic "soup and three" formula to a gala banquet.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book if you are serious about food........2007-05-30
This book explains everything, and is actually an enjoyable read.
Indispensable.......2007-04-28
This is an indispensable book to any cook's library. The original edition was written in an era of mystery. Japanese food was not known to many. In this light (or darkness) the author painstakingly explains the nuances of japanese cuisine. No other author takes such an effort.
We live an era of globalized cuisine where sushi is served at cafeterias, oriental ingredients are available everywhere, and almost every species of fish is available regardless of origin. Despite our growing familiarity with the cuisine most of us are still ignorant about what makes a meal japanese. This book has served as an introduction to cooking japanese food to most serious cooks. It is unfettered by all of the attempts at fusion japanese (cream cheese and salmon sushi, spam musubi etc.) and is strictly focused on classical cuisine. Most new cookbooks about japanese cuisine stray from the classical cuisine and lack authenticity. Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art belongs beside Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Jacques Pepin's La Technique, and Richard Olney's the Good Cook series. The only other way I know of learning the proper way of cooking japanese food is to work for a great japaese chef.
Fun and Easy To Use.......2007-04-17
My son went to Japan a few years ago and wanted me to learn to cook some Japanese dishes. As anyone who has ever tried a new cuisine can tell you, it's a frightening experience. And to the Japanese, the whole cooking process, including the preparation and presentation are key to the whole experience.
This book made the process easy and fun. The directions were easy to follow and concise. I also liked the pictures as they gave me something to compare my dishes to.
Now I try to cook something from this book when my son comes home from college.
More than sushi.......2007-04-12
I bought the first edition some decades ago and it has proved a "standby". This was the first Japanese cookbook which I purchased, by comparison, others have never matched it. In the past 10 years, I have been to Japan a number of times and sampled many different regional cuisines and specialties; food often not available or served in the West. This books does justice to them. If you are going to buy a cookbook on Japanese cooking .... this is it!
What a Wonderful Book!.......2007-04-11
Interesting, Beautiful to look at, Can't wait to start trying "new" things...Thanks
Book Description
The landmark The Healing Touch: The Proven Massage Program, now updated and revised.
Distinguished veterinarian and animal psychologist Dr. Michael W. Fox shares his pioneering 6-step massage technique through detailed illustrations, photos, and easy-to-read instructions, and provides information on how to understand your dog's's anatomy, develop a massage routine, use massage to diagnose illness, and integrate it as part of overall care for your dog.
Utilizing his proven massage program and holistic philosophy of animal well-being, Dr. Fox teaches you basic dog psychology, how massage can help your dog, how to create the best massage routine, how to diagnose illnesses, and even how to keep your dog in shape. 40 b/w photos, resources, index.
Customer Reviews:
dogs healing touch.......2007-10-05
This is a great book with wonderful massage therapy for dogs and it gets specific to the problems the dog is having. It is also very easy to read and understand. I have not read it all, but did read the parts I needed right away and it helped a lot. A dog who had not been walking for several weeks is now able to walk again. I won't say it is all due to the therapy, but it certainly did contribute a lot. Well worth having in your book collection if you own dogs.
I Went From Feeling Helpless to Empowered .......2004-11-28
My beagle suffers from hip dysplasia and arthritis. The medication the vet prescribed helped, but my dog was still in a lot of pain. Out of desperation I decided to check out books on dog message and canine acupressure. The techniques outlined in this book worked miracles. My dog is now able to move with greater ease and with a lot less pain; in fact, at times he has the energy and stamina of a puppy again. I highly recommend this book for any one who can't sit back and watch a loved one suffer. It is a common sense, easy-to-understand approach to canine health.
Book Description
Secrets Of The Gem Trade is the first comphrehensive gemstone grading manual. The book divides into two parts. Section I describes the criteria used to quality grade faceted gems, cabochons, pearls, opals, star stones and Catseyes.
Section II applies the grading criteria to 35 of today's most important gemstones. The book covers diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, tourmaline, garnet, pearl, agate and opal
The book inludes 1st person travelogues from Mr. Wise's trips to the major gem bearing areas of the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia and South America.
Customer Reviews:
~~~Secrets Revealed~~~.......2007-09-16
This excellent book goes deep into the specifics of how to correctly identify gemstones. Also has accounts of the authors travels around the world searching for such stones. Highly recommended.
Well Worth it........2007-08-09
This could be the book that pushes me to follow my dream of becoming a gemologist...
Secrets.......2007-06-27
This book has lots of interesting and little known facts. It is a great read.
New approach to the gemstone book.......2007-05-24
Surprisingly this book is totally different than other book. If you looking for a gemstone valuation, identification, etc. - you will not find it here. However, the book is discuss every member of the family gemstone with very easy to read and understand. Love it so much.
Try Reading Before You Try Trading.......2007-03-14
This is a very well written book with great photos. Easy reading detailed information on specific gems mixed in with interesting tales of travel to exotic lands. Made me realize my thoughts of international jem trading had better be prepared with years of experience. For thousands of years neophytes have been seperated from their money by professional,usually generational traders. This book saved me alot of money just by convincing me to continue as a hobbyist, albeit a better educated one now. If you are interested in colored stones, I highly recommend "Secrets Of The Gem Trade"
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Beautiful photos but..........2000-03-31
For the collector who dreams of owning some of these exceptional pieces this book is one to dream with... if you're someone just looking for information and approximate prices on Grandma's old jewelry you'll be let down. This is a coffe table book... beautiful to look at but lacking in substance.
Book Description
Wristwatches is an indispensible source of reference. Practical and informative, it is the ultimate connoisseur's guide to the best in wristwatches.
Customer Reviews:
Good Overview.......2004-02-24
This is a good overview of watch history and availability. Highlighted are 55 of the major collectible watch companies with good photo selections from each. The detailed pages on the companies is good and informative. Not bad for the coffee table, either.
Pretty pictures- Scant value.......2000-11-10
This is an OK gift book with nice photos of watches, but it fails as a "connoisseurs" guide. There is scant history of the various brands and almost no technical information. No connoisseur would seriously consider a Timex watch, but Timex is presented along with the finest Breitlings, Bulgaris, Breguets et al. In the section on Bulgari, the author describes in detail a watch given by Count Galazzo (sic) Ciano to a friend, but there is no illustration to go along with the description.
A watch collector or connoisseur should not waste his or her time with this lightweight giftbook
Nice but shortý.......2000-06-23
Nothing much to learn from this well illustrated book, at least nothing more than what can be found in "wriswatch annual". For newbies only.
Concise interesting overview of actual wristwatches producer.......1999-08-30
Accurate and concise history of time keeping, with a brief history of the technical evolution as well as a generical presentation of the main 50 makers and their actual products. Good photos.
For coffee tables, not collectors.......1999-01-27
Great pictures but short on content. The layout is first-rate, and the author was able to shoot some historic timepieces, but the company index reads more like a well-worded ad than an explanation of what makes good watches great. Also leaves out mention of some interesting or odd collectibles. Could also use some diagrams of working watches. Otherwise, it's too technical. A beautiful book, nonetheless. One which will get picked up by non-collectors as well.
Average customer rating:
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Gems and Jewels: A Connoisseur's Guide
Benjamin Zucker
Manufacturer: Overlook Hardcover
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Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia
ASIN: 1585674206 |
Book Description
Gems and jewels have, since the beginnings of civilization, been prized as tokens of love, as symbols of wealth and social status, or as objects endowed with magical or religious significance. In Gems and Jewels, internationally renowned gem expert and dealer Benjamin Zucker reveals much of the history and mystique surrounding these precious objects.
Divided into chapters devoted to rubies, sapphires, emeralds, white diamonds and colored diamonds, pearls, amber, lapis lazuli, jade, turquoise, opals, and garnets, Gems and Jewels features compelling descriptions and insights into the chemical composition of these stones, the methods and styles of cutting them in different periods, discussions of outstanding specimen stones-such as the Tiffany diamond-and comparisons of key differences in shades of color within one type of gemstone-as in the case of opals from Australia and Mexico, and sapphires from Kashmir and Ceylon.
A gorgeous illustrated book for lovers of gems and jewels and an important volume for professionals, this unique volume also provides the vital clues that enable the expert eye to distinguish between natural and synthetic stones, and between natural and cultured pearls, and also supplies guidelines on methods of grading and on relative market values.
Customer Reviews:
Good book but dated!.......2004-04-16
When Gems & Jewels was first published twenty years ago it was the first book to approach breaking the gem trade's taboo against telling the consumer anything that would help him to develop connoisseurship in gems. I say approached because although an excellent gemological geography book Zucker approached but never really revealed the truth about quality grading. Whenever he came close and he often came frustratingly close, he would take refuge in statements such as "finer jewelry stores have traditionally provided guidence..."
As of 2004 the text is dated and color imaging technology has passed this book by. The photos are mushy and dull compared to newer texts.
Interested in developing connoisseurship? I recommend a new book entitled Secrets Of The Gem Trade, The Connoisseur's Guide To Precious Gemstones. The author, Richard Wise, delivers on the promise contained in the title, it truly is a connoisseur's guide filled with fabulously accurate color photographs of the exceptional examples of the 35 gemstone varieties covered in the book.
Average customer rating:
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Jewellery and Gemstones: An Investor's and Connoisseur's Guide
Claude Mazloum
Manufacturer: Gremese
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ASIN: 8873010059 |
Book Description
A richly illustrated book featuring information to recognize the quality and cuts of various jewels.
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Wristwatches - A Connoisseur's Guide
Frank Edwards
Manufacturer: Apple
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ASIN: 1850767521 |
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Merry Mse Christmas
Priscilla Hillman
Manufacturer: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0385155964
Release Date: 1980-08-19 |
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Merry ABC (Wee Pudgy Board Book)
Bettina Paterson
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0448405539 |
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On the Beliefs of the Greeks: Leo Allatios and Popular Orthodoxy (Medieval Mediterranean)
Karen Hartnup
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 9004131809 |
Book Description
This book deals with popular Orthodoxy during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, approaching the material from a historical and anthropological perspective. The discussion takes as its starting point a letter of Leo Allatios, the seventeenth-century author and scriptor of the Vatican Library. The early chapters of the book focus on Allatios and the western intellectual background in which the work was written, while later chapters consider popular beliefs and practices surrounding childstealing demons, revenants, spirits of place and popular healing.
This book provides the first detailed treatment of a major source for post Byzantine popular Orthodoxy, offering valuable insights into the relationships between laity and clergy, Orthodoxy and Catholicism, religion and natural philosophy during the seventeenth century.
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Tipografia Creativa
Marion March
Manufacturer: Editorial Gustavo Gili
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 8425214076 |
Customer Reviews:
i cried so many times..........2007-01-23
this is such an amazing book that really flips the perceived norms of race. so many things happened to this boy as he was growing up that it is a miracle that he was sane enough to write a coherent memoir. there were so many times that literally moved me to tears. i emphatically recommend this book, you won't regret it.
One of the best books I have ever read.......2006-12-27
Life on the Color Line should be required reading for every American, especially anyone who wants to put their life's problems in perspective.
This is the most moving book I have read in a long time and I read a lot! William's account of his childhood truly woke me up to how fortunate I am to have the life I have, despite losing my mother at age 20. No one should have to endure the painful struggles of racism, poverty, rejection, parental neglect and abandonment that Williams did, as well as a dysfunctional family to top it off. Whether Williams dated black girls or white ones, he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.
Life on the Color Line contains many harrowing scenes. One that stood out for me was when William's white maternal grandmother refuses to pass along her daughter's messages to her children after she has left the family. She calls her own grandchildren "niggers" and refuses to let them live with her in a nice section of Muncie only a few minutes away from the black ghetto where they reside with a family friend Miss Dora.
One question that remains unanswered after reading this book is why William's mother only took her younger children with her when she left her husband. Why did she leave Gregory and Mike with their alcoholic father? It doesn't make sense that she would take some of her children to safety with her, but not all of them. The only explanation I can come up with is that Greg's mother figured her older boys were mature enough to fend for themselves. Towards the end of the book, their mother's inability to understand what kind of life she left her boys to leave left me wanting to throw rocks at her and give that woman a good beating.
I am in awe of the author's maturity, courage, and sheer will power that enabled him to overcome all these obstacles. His experiences put my own life in perspective.
I borrowed this book from the library, and now that I've reached the last page, I will definitely be buying it on Amazon!
To Read and Talk About.......2006-11-01
I learned about this book in an article in the Baton Rouge newspaper. LSU has assigned it as summer reading for many of their students and a group is working to get others in Baton Rouge to read it as well. At our church's partnership group with a local African-American church we decided to read it as a group project, and I'm glad we did. Williams' memoir tells the fascinating story of a young man who is born into the lower-middle class white world of suburban Virginia only to learn when he is about six years old that his father is the son of a mixed-race couple from Muncie, Indiana. Circumstances resulting from this news takes the boy, his father and his brother to Muncie where they live among their African-American (or colored as they were called in the 1950s) family. Billy's (or Greg) father Tony (or Buster) is an alcoholic, which makes life no less difficult as he's scorned by his white classmates and, with his white skin and Caucasian features, standing on shaky ground in his own colored community. A good-hearted woman named Dora raises the two boys as her own, as their birth mother spurns her now-black children. Dora's kindness and Greg's determination to do more than survive are inspiring.
In the flesh, the man is a wonder........2006-10-02
I had the unusual pleasure of hearing him speak at a public function when this book first came out. In fact, that's how I got my free copy. The story of this man's life is simply amazing. That came through in his honest and heart-felt reflection of the hardships he's had to overcome growing up. I've lived in San Francisco most of my life, attending public school with the normal cross section of the city's diverse ethnic crowd. I can say with a degree of certainty that I'm culturally aware of the African American experience. So it is with a bit of sadness that I regret not having met more people with Williams' ambition and determination when I was younger. To be fair, the circumstances in which his life unfolded would probably be hard to duplicate in this day and age, especially in San Francisco. But regardless, I truly believe young blacks of today, regardless of where they may live can draw inspiration from his story. We all still face a huge amount of inequality and injustice in our society today. With such polarization along political and religious lines in our national conscience as I'm writing this, it is critical to remember that race still matters. The other day, the biology department chair at my school presented a slide show of New Orleans where here Alma Mater was severely damaged by Katrina a year ago. She's a parasitologist with a Ph.D from Tulane University. The contrast between the French quarter/downtown and the poorer residential areas are striking. Those who've read Williams book would immediately draw parallels with the stark geographic division along racial lines of Muncie, Indiana - where Williams grew up. How many other cities in America are New Orleans waiting to happen? If something unthinkable should happen in Muncie today, how will the citizens of that city fare today? Will the impoverished blacks of Hunter's point/Bayview in my own city suffer the same fate as those of the lower 9th ward when the "Big One" strikes California? If more of my fellow black San Franciscans can aspire to be like Williams and strive to lift themselves and their community out of poverty and strife, we just might have a chance at doing better. One can hope.
GREAT READING FOR MANKIND.......2006-07-28
GOT TO MAKE THIS A SHORT REVIEW. STILL READING. CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!!!! ALSO READ "COLOR OF WATER" AND IT WAS GREAT READING!!! BACK TO WORK. CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO "LIFE ON THE COLOR LINE".
I DON'T READ A BOOK MORE THAN ONCE BUT THESE ARE WORTH READING OVER AGAIN. I THINK THEY WOULD MAKE GREAT MOVIES!!!
Books:
- The Adventures of Lucky Pierre: Directors' Cut
- The Big Book of Bible Bloopers: A Lighthearted Look at the Misquotes, Misconceptions, and Misunderstandings of the World's Bestselling Book
- The Book of Proper Names: A Novel
- The Complete Enderby : Inside Mr. Enderby, Enderby Outside, the Clockwork Testament, Enderby's Dark Lady
- The Crimes of Charlotte Bronte: The Secrets of a Mysterious Family : A Novel
- The Curve of the World : A Novel
- The Description Of A New World Called The Blazing World
- The Devil's Blind Spot: Tales from the New Century
- The Everlasting Story of Nory
- The Fire Gospels: A Novel
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