Death of a Romance Writer and Other Stories (Five Star First Edition Mystery Series)

Customer Reviews:

Ok, I haven't read the whole book.......2002-04-11

But, Death of a Romance Writer is wonderful. I'm giving the book 5 stars because that story alone merits the rating. I won't give away the plot, but it involves a romance novel character who is tired of the boring, restrictive roles she keeps having to act out, and what she does about it. The way the story is written is, well, nothing short of brilliant.

Customer Reviews:

A Free Bards Tale.......2001-07-21

This is the third book in a series about the Free Bards. It takes place after book two, "The Robin & the Kestrel." It is desirable to read the earlier books first in order to understand the setting. Contrary to the advice of an earlier reviewer, you should not skip this book as it sets the stage for the following book. The king has outlawed street busking, causing the Free Bards and other street musicians to become creative in finding places to perform. By chance, Duke Arden of Kingsford is forming his own theatre company which presents an opportunity for Raven, Magpie, and their friends. However, an unknown enemy is trying to use sorcery to destroy the theatrical production. Various heroes and villains emerge as the story progresses. Lady Ardis, Justiciary Mage from book one ("The Lark and the Wren"), is reintroduced (she also appears later in "Four and Twenty Blackbirds"). The story reaches a blazing climax as various people are brought together by tragedy.

Disappointing.......2000-02-07

This book wasn't actively BAD, which is why I didn't give it one star, but it wasn't that great either. Most of Lackey's other stuff is much better. (Haven't read much Sherman, so I can't judge whether this is low-quality for her or not.) If you want to read about the world and conflicts of Alanda, I'd recommend skipping this book and reading the first 3 books of the Bardic Voices trilogy (skip Four And Twenty Blackbirds, it's a very flat last book.) If you really want good Mercedes Lackey, read the Valdemar series, especially the Last Herald-Mage trilogy. A Cast Of Corbies does have some good parts, and it's nice to know what happens to Raven, who was a minor character in the Bardic Voices books. Unfortunately, though, it seemed like the authors weren't really trying with this one; the villains don't have a real motivation, and the good guys seem to mostly stumble around, except for Raven and occasionally Magpie. It's interesting to watch the dynamics between them, but the end is kind of predictable, and most of the book just seems really flat. Not what I'd expected from this series and this author. I'd skip it unless you want a nice, quick, somewhat shallow YA read.

Wow!.......1998-12-03

I did not expect to like this book, and though I wasn't as drawn to it as I was the Valdemar books, I was soon trapped in a world of Bardic Choices. A great book full of magick, and the knowledge of what is allowed to happen when any one force tries to be in complete control.

Average customer rating:

A Cast Of Corbies
Mercedes; Sherman, Josepha Lackey
Manufacturer: Baen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S9OIOC

BARDIC VOICES: Book (1) One: The Lark and the Wren; Book (2) Two: The Robin and the Kestrel - and - BARDIC CHOICES - Book (1) One: A Cast of Corbies

Average customer rating:

BARDIC VOICES: Book (1) One: The Lark and the Wren; Book (2) Two: The Robin and the Kestrel - and - BARDIC CHOICES - Book (1) One: A Cast of Corbies
Mercedes; Sherman, Josepha Lackey
Manufacturer: Baen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NRXC28

Average customer rating:

CAST OF CORBIES (BARDIC CHOICES)
LACKEY / SHERMAN
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000Q5W3SQ

Average customer rating:

A good time travel adventure for young readers.

Brilliant book; exciting, beautifully written & illustrated

About a young girl and her aunt who travel through time.

Kat and the Emperor's Gift
Emma Bradford
Manufacturer: Bt Bound
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Arthur | Books on Cassette | Classic Books on CD | Classics | Dr. Seuss | Early Reader Series | General | Picture Books | Pokémon | Read-Aloud | Staff Favorites
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Kat and the Secrets of the Nile (Stardust Classics)

Kat the Time Explorer (Stardust Classics : Kat, No. 1)

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Laurel and the Lost Treasure (Stardust Classics, Laurel No 2)

ASIN: 0613167287

Book Description

Kat and Jessie join Marco Polo at the court of Kublai Khan in ancient China. Niece and aunt try to help a princess who's being forced into a terrible marriage. At the same time, they hope to convince the Khan to let Marco finally leave China after 17 long years. But the two travelers discover they're trapped too when a medallion that powers the time machine is stolen! Full color illustrations throughout. Ages 7 and up.

Customer Reviews:

A good time travel adventure for young readers........2005-07-10

This is the second book about Kat in the Stardust Classics series. The Kat books are about a ten-year-old girl and her aunt who have adventures traveling through time.

Kat and her Aunt Jessie are on another time travel adventure. This time, they have arrived in 13th century China, and have met Marco Polo, who is living there at the court of Kublai Khan, ruler of the land. Marco Polo takes Kat and Jessie, whom he believes to be travelers from Europe, to the court of the Khan, who has an interest in foreign visitors. However, a mistake leads the Khan to believe Kat and her aunt have magical powers. Because of this, the Khan's two favorite astrologers having bitter feelings towards the Kat and Jessie. Kat does make a friend at court - Chin, a teenaged princess. Chin was to marry the ruler of Persia. However, the astrologers interfere, and to gain power, one of them convinces the Khan to have Chin marry a governor of one of China's provinces instead, a man who is known to be cruel. And now the Khan is preventing Marco Polo and his two relatives from leaving China, but Kat knows from history books they were supposed to leave at this time. Can Kat and her aunt fix the problems they have caused for Chin and the Polos and prevent history from being changed?

This is a charming book that is sure to be enjoyed by young girls who like to read time travel adventures or historical fiction. This book teaches a lot about what life was like in 13th century China, and also a bit about the travels of Marco Polo. Kat is an appealing character, and I look forward to reading the two remaining books about her time travel adventures.

Brilliant book; exciting, beautifully written & illustrated.......1999-06-23

I bought this book for my 7 year old daughter while on vacation in California. Once we started reading it together we could not put it down. It has really interested her in the history of the period-13th century China- and the book has a very useful appendix called "The story behind the story" which explains what is known about Marco Polo. This stimulated a discussion about how much was real and how much was fiction in the book itself. Not many books have provoked such insights! The other big plus is that it is not overly sentimental or soppy but still managed to engage my daughter with its combination of suspense and magic. We've ordered all the other books by this author.

About a young girl and her aunt who travel through time........1999-03-03

I really enjoyed this book. It showed a nice, loving relationship between aunt and niece. I liked the way the author stayed true to the time period and was conscious of not changing history. The author presents all female characters in positve manner. I feel this important to the young girls who will be reading these books.

I have recommended this series of books to my nieces and so far they have enjoyed the ones they have read.

I have included them in my children's book collection right next to the American Girl series and the Magic Attic Club.

Average customer rating:

Not his best

Designer's book is a flop

All About Working With Party Planners

Fabulous!

Fantastic Book

A Passion for Parties: Your Guide to Elegant Entertaining
David Tutera , and Laura Morton
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743202287
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Amazon.com

With a client list that ranges from corporate heavyweights Morgan Stanley and Marriott Hotels to style-setters Tommy Hilfiger and Kenneth Cole to Elton John and the Prince of Wales, David Tutera's party-planning prowess is indisputable. A Passion for Parties, his first book, reveals the secrets of the Tutera touch, so now partiers of all stripes can benefit from his decadent aesthetic. In 10 chapters that cover everything from choosing the date and the invitation to design concepts and the icing on the cake, Tutera distills his years of creating gloriously unrestrained events into practical advice for artful entertaining.

Whether planning an intimate dinner for four, a formal wedding, a New Year's Eve gala, or a Memorial Day clambake, the key to a successful party is, of course, passion. Tutera addresses the basics of organizing and hosting various types of parties, and throughout shares colorful anecdotes and "Tutera Tips" that vary from the obvious ("If you use open flame candles, make sure you keep the flame away from flowers, tablecloths, and other flammable materials") to the conscientious ("Leftover food from your event can be donated to a local homeless shelter soup kitchen"). Menu ideas, flower arrangements, table settings, and more are discussed in detail, and photographs from Tutera's occasions demonstrate his special flair and provide plenty of inspiration. If Martha's too New England and Colin Cowie too L.A., Tutera's touch could be just right for you. --Rebecca Wright

Book Description

Truly great parties cast a powerful spell. They delight the senses, lift the spirit, and enchant their hosts as well as their guests. No one wants them to end, and in fact they never do, as the best ones live on as cherished memories. But how exactly do you produce one of these magical gatherings?

The first thing you do is consult David Tutera's A Passion for Parties. One of the world's premier event planners, Tutera produces extraordinary parties for such disparate luminaries as the Rolling Stones, Tipper Gore, and the Prince of Wales. Now, in this lavishly illustrated entertaining guide, he reveals his trade secrets and helps you stage your own unforgettable event.

As inspiring as it is informative, A Passion for Parties is a comprehensive guide to planning any kind of party, on any size budget. Tutera begins with the basics: how to find a location; select the invitation; choose a theme; and make decisions about menus, table settings, music, lighting, flowers, and decor. Then he shows you how to apply those basics to a variety of events: intimate gatherings, birthday parties, weddings, formal celebrations, and holiday entertaining. For the major events, he guides you through the technical details -- what to know if hiring a caterer, live band, valet parking, or tenting service -- and pulls in specialists like wedding cake expert Sylvia Weinstock and culinary master Wolfgang Puck.

Best of all, Tutera identifies the key elements of all parties, large or small, and offers a dazzling array of possibilities to make each party special. Throughout the book you will find dazzling photographs that bring all of his ideas to life. So whether you are planning a romantic fireplace picnic, a ladies' breakfast, a tented bat mitzvah bash, a New Year's dinner party, a Memorial Day clambake, or the wedding to end all weddings, David Tutera helps you throw the party with your own personal flair.

As lighthearted as it is invaluable, David Tutera's A Passion for Parties is sure to become your party bible.

Customer Reviews:

Not his best .......2007-05-07

It's not as well-edited as his other books, it has lots of text with smaller pictures & is more technical & focuses on the parties of his zillionare clients - not really relevant to anything I would do. Some of the theme ideas at the end were fun.

Designer's book is a flop.......2003-12-30

Being heavily involved in producing large events, I would have expected a much better book. The ideas offered were mediocre at best. Better you focus on decor ideas by companies such as Avi Adler or Preston Bailey (their work is of better quality) and consult real caterers for food. Both Avi & Preston are much more creative and versatile than anything offered in this book. I can tell you this from first hand experience.

All About Working With Party Planners.......2003-10-17

I expected a book on how to plan your own parties, nice doable tips - not at all what this book is about. If you want tips on hiring a party planner or other party services, this is for you. If you like to do things yourself, ie. cook, plan, decorate, look elsewhere.

Fabulous!.......2002-09-13

This book is great!

It offers many helpfull suggestions for anyone who isnt sure how to throw their next party.

The tutera tips are great, they are straight to the point, and even have some humor.

The photography is spectacular, I wish I could do what he does...I look forward to another great book by David Tutera!

Fantastic Book.......2002-09-13

I usually do not review items, but this book, A Passion for Parties, I felt I had to. I saw David on "The View" several times and decided to order his book. I am sure glad I did.

This is one book I have absolutely enjoyed from page 1. David gives great advice for planning an event. He covers all the finest details on throwing a party from invites right down to how much liquor to order according to your guest count.

He also adds humorous stories from his experiences in the industry and very informative tips throughout the length of the book.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who throws a party. I can only hope that Mr. Tutera is working on another book to keep me updated on the latest trends.

Average customer rating:

Best Book You Can Buy For Goldfish

Good info, Great Pics

The Best Goldfish Book Out There!!!

Fancy Goldfish: a Complete Guide to Care and Collecting

The best goldfish care book

Fancy Goldfish: Complete Guide To Care And Collecting
Erik L. Johnson , and Richard E. Hess
Manufacturer: Weatherhill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Guide to Fancy Goldfish (Fishkeeper's Guides)

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ASIN: 0834804484
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Book Description

Goldfish come in a range of sizes and looks that is truly amazing. Fancy Goldfish is the most encompassing and thorough treatment of the fancy goldfish hobby to date. With photographs, essays, and instructions from a variety of experts, this book will provide readers with all they need to embark on the fascinating hobby of raising fancy goldfish. Fish veterinarian Dr. Johnson writes extensively on goldfish health and disease, including microscopy techniques, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the full span of goldfish diseases. In a helpful and accessible "frequently asked questions" format, Richard Hess provides a general introduction to all aspects of the hobby, from selecting the best fish, aquarium setup, maintenance, feeding, sexing and breeding, and keeping fish healthy. Jackie and Louis Chan, major exporters of fancy goldfish from China, discuss the tradition of goldfish appreciation in China, and a chapter on Japanese goldfish describes the history and standards of uniquely Japanese varieties and the techniques and secrets of Japanese breeders. Izhak Kroshinsky, a leading breeder of Ranchu in America, describes his methods for cultivating a superior strain over the last twenty-five years. With over 100 color photographs of beautiful specimens and rare varieties by Fred Rosenzweig, this book is a stunning visual reference as well.

Customer Reviews:

Best Book You Can Buy For Goldfish.......2007-05-12

Not much to add to the title. The book is written by experts and has more information than any other book I've read on Goldfish. The author also has a website with even more information. The illustrations are beautiful. If you intend to raise or just have pet Goldfish, this is the only book you will need.

Good info, Great Pics.......2007-05-07

I pretty much agree with everyone else, this is a very good resource for the experienced or newbie goldfish parent. There's probably more info here than I'll ever need (I don't plan on performing biopsies or even buying a microscope any time soon), but it's well-written and interesting stuff. The basics are covered just as thoroughly, and most of the questions I came up with were answered within a few paragraphs. The photography and production are amazing. An index would have been nice, but it's not necessary as the layout is straight-forward and everything is where you would expect it to be. I don't think I'll ever buy another goldfish book!

The Best Goldfish Book Out There!!!.......2007-03-17

My Fiance and I have six goldfish in a 55gal tank and when we started out (with 2 goldfish in a 5.5gal tank) we knew nothing about goldfish. This book has been our lifesaver. It has taught us how to properly care for our fish and has enlightened us to breed differences, breeding processes, and other outside information. It is an excellent resource that most thoroughly encompases goldfish care and I highly recommended it to anyone who has goldfish and wishes to keep their beloved pet healthy and alive. Since owning this book, our fish have doubled or tripled in size and we have been able to cure them of their diseases, instead of having to flush them sadly away.

Fancy Goldfish: a Complete Guide to Care and Collecting.......2007-03-09

This book did contain the information I was searching for, both visually and in written form. It was off-putting to have the book begin with the diseases, abnormalities, hazards, etc. before it ever got to "what are fancy goldfish". Would still recommend.

The best goldfish care book.......2007-02-20

This is, in my opinion, by far the best goldfish book ever written. It is the only book you will ever need to understand the requirements to keep your goldfish healthy. The book dispels many myths regarding goldfish care and is based on scientific observation. The book does not cover aspects such as setting up of a tank in detail but is devoted mainly towards caring for the species. It is a book for the advanced aquarist but can be helpful to the novice if read in conjuction with other books regarding the basics of aquarium equipment and setup procedures.

Book Description

This newly revised book presents a factual discussion of the wide variety of colorful and popular plastics housewares made between 1945 and 1960. Wonderful advertisements that announced to the world what new designs were possible with this experimental material are shown. Many color photographs of today's highly collectible plastics objects demonstrate the variety of colors and useful forms that were manufactured. Vinyl, Lucite, Melamine and Formica, to name but a few, have become common household names since their introduction in this era. Here are chairs, tables, dishes, cups, radios, lampshades, draperies, cooking containers, car interiors, floors and more-all made of plastics. A very useful Collectors' Guide, providing information about all the major manufacturers and trade names, is organized by product types for easy reference. For 1950s families with small budgets and small homes, the "magic" of plastics chemistry promised unprecedented practical benefits mingled with the glamour and drama of sleek modern forms. At last, plastics had stepped out of the kitchen and bath to enter almost every area of home design. In a single decade, plastics had won favor among an astonishingly diverse group-from dimestore shoppers and young marrieds to gifted designers and prestigious proponents of affordable good design. In tracing plastic's whirlwind rise from wartime sham to postwar miracle, this book explores not only the history of an important segment of 1950s collectibles but also the history of a culture redefining its way of life.

Customer Reviews:

A great source for 50's collectors.......1999-07-13

Collectors of 50's kitsch and pop culture will love this book. The pictures are great and the text informative. I would highly recommend this book!

Average customer rating:
The Woodworker's Guide to Shop Math
Tom Begnal
Manufacturer: Popular Woodworking Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Woodworkers' Essential Facts, Formulas & Short-Cuts: Figure It Out, With or Without Math (Woodworker's Essentials & More series)

Technical Shop Mathematics

ASIN: 1558706216

Book Description

Woodworkers can put an end to shop math frustration once and for all. This easy-to-reference guide puts all of woodworkings' integral formulas, conversions, and measurements right at thier fingertips.

Book Description

In this provocative look at Victorian America, Kenneth Ames explores the minds of Victorians by examining some of their most distinctive and fascinating creations. Featuring five once-prominent home furnishings, he reconstructs a vanished culture and demonstrates the centrality of the artifact to historical understanding. Richly illustrated with photographs of surviving objects as well as images from a wide variety of period sources, the five essays discuss specific pieces—hallstands, sideboards, embroidered mottoes, parlor organs, and seating furniture—within the context of broader cultural issues and concerns. Ames reveals not only the major outlines of Victorian culture but also the conflicts and tensions deep within that culture.

An extraordinary proliferation of goods characterizes the Victorian world. Throughout the study, Ames considers the relationship of some of these household objects to issues of class, gender, and place. For example, the importance of public image was dramatized by the rituals of the front hall in Victorian homes: its placement within the house, the massive hallstand with its receptacles for calling cards and umbrellas, accommodations for temporary and usually uncomfortable seating. The dining room was a shrine to the notion of "man's" dominion over nature—each elaborately carved sideboard displayed a frieze of slaughtered game and harvested vegetation. Parlor organs, a blending of the sacred and the profane, provided an occasion to display feminine accomplishment and to symbolize the role of the bourgeois Christian lady. Ames also discusses how the prevailing class and gender hierarchy was echoed in the posture of seating furniture and its arrangement.

The author is one of the premier interpreters of Victorian culture in America. His witty, provocative, and irreverent commentary on the "quaint" fixtures of the Victorian household will fascinate scholars, antique buffs, and collectors on nostalgia.

Customer Reviews:

Looking beneath the surface . . ........2003-10-04

As teenagers, a friend and I used to play a "game": We'd walk into different environments (e.g., restaurant, upscale men's store, hippie headshop, etc.) and pretend that we were standing inside someone's brain. Then we'd make cracks about the personality, motivations, priorities, etc. of the "person," based on our material surroundings. That's really what Kenneth Ames does here -- using each room in a Victorian house.

A few years ago, when we moved into our own 1875 rowhouse, I began buying (indiscrimately) books on Victoriana. This one I picked up in shabby condition at a yard sale -- and for awhile, treated it accordingly. But in the time since, it has become one of the favored anchors of my collection. I find myself quoting it at odd moments for the simple reasons that (1) it offers lots of curious observations (e.g., that Victorian women "rocked" in rockers, while men "tilted" in chairs) that (2) can sometimes be seen as antecedents to behaviors today.

The author variously presents himself as both thoughtful essayist, and avid cataloguer (as when listing all the embroidered expressions--like "Home Sweet Home," "Peace, Be Still"--of Victorian needlework). Economically written--with an eye for the telling detail--and reasonably illustrated with photographs of the period.

More of a book about furnishings and their history.......2000-05-12

This is an interesting book and an indepth history of household furnishings and the reason they were important to folks at the turn of this century.

Chapter One is "First Impressions" which deals at length with entry foyer furniture and how it was used. Hall racks, card stands and hall chairs are all discussed in this chapter.

Chapter Two is "Death in the dining room" - which gets it's name from the slain game often depicted on victorian dining room furniture - such as side boards and buffets.

Chapter Three is "Words to Live by" - Samplers, wall hangings and other embroidered or metal stamped messages.

Chapter Four is "When the Music Stops" which covers the societal importance of pump organs and how music was very important to a Victorian woman.

Chapter Five is "Posture and Power" - a chapter about living room (parlor) furniture.

There are a zillion interesting little factoids about life at the turn of this century. And it does give you a good feel for etiquette and expectations and the rules back then.

And it answered questions for me - like "Why was parlor furniture so uncomfortable and rigid?" Because Victorians placed great emphasis on the importance of self-control as an invaluable discipline. Comfortable furniture suggested mental laziness. (My paraphrase)

So it does give some insights into why things were the way they were. Lots of history there.

But when I picked it up, I thought it was a book on old houses, not old furniture. I thought the title was an allusion to the fact that 100 years ago, funerals were held in the dining room, which is the reason many old house dining rooms have an entry door - so the visitors could graciously and easily leave the house after the viewing. It is not that kind of book. But I still enjoyed reading it.

It is a large book with one or more pictures of antique furnishings on every page. A good resource for someone who wants to recreate a historic interior.

Rose Thornton
author, The Houses That Sears Built

The Victorian Dining Room (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Photos but not much more......Not worth the co$t.

The Victorian Dining Room (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Brian D. Coleman
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Tablesetting | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 076431792X

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Photos but not much more......Not worth the co$t........2007-06-27

This is a beautifully photographed book of what appears to be the author's collection. Many of the items featured are shown in multiple photos. The "Price Guide" looks like an afterthought - shown as footnotes on some of the pages, not all items. The prices are wild and what I would call "WISHFUL THINKING"!

Pretty pictures, but not much substance - Don't waste your money.

Annie's Plastic Canvas Victorian Fashion Doll Dining Room Set

Average customer rating:

Annie's Plastic Canvas Victorian Fashion Doll Dining Room Set
Potter; Annie
Manufacturer: Annie's Attic LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KK6EP0

Book Description

This 1998 Editor's Choice Award winner of the Independent Publishing Association quickly sold-out the first printing of 10,000. It is a lively biography on American pin-up artist Gillette Elvgren, a commercial advertising artist of the WWII era. Told by the son of the artist, included are art techniques, pin-up paintings and a behind the scenes personal view of this legendary artist who inspired servicemen worldwide.

Customer Reviews:

Weird Religious Spin on this Otherwise Decent book.......2005-11-15

This is a really beautiful book, with nice photos of Elvgren's work and some of his model shots. I was impressed at the layout and the see through tissue paper like illustration designs on some of the chapter headings. But I was very disappointed about a number of things in this book.

Though there are many great pictures of models and many names are listed in the text, the models are not identified in their photos.Worse than this, it seems that this book, co-written by Elvgren's son, Drake Elvgren, has a religious right spin to it which is strange for a number of reasons.

There are many references to Elvgren's "Shame" at his pinup art. Drake (and Collins?) write "If Janet (Elvgren's wife) was bothered by her husband's mildly sinful way of making a living, it created few if any ripples in their Rockwellesque family life." The book also talks about how Elvgren expressed "regret at not doing fine art".

The book also makes a point at talking about how Elvgren became converted at the end of his life to Christianity and this surely seems to have influenced him in his pinup art and life, or so Drake would have us believe.

The overall emphasis is that Elvgren was never alone with his models (being so would have been a sin), that he was a perfect father (except for his "lapses" when he didn't attend some of his kids schooling events), only drank a little (even though he was irritated that when his wife became a Christian she would only drink iced teas at parties or that he seems to have had a reputation as being a "man's man" and a good drinker), and was highly conservative (even though he painted pinup).

The duo also seem to buy into the whole lowbrow/highbrow hierchy that "The Great American Pin-Up" Book (the bible on the genre) tries so hard to dispel. The duo write aboutthe distinction between Elvgren's paintings and Art Frahm's series of pinup paintings which feature women losing their underpants in a series of embarrassing circumstances and how Elvgren would never have "sunk so low" to do such "caricature like paintings".

I am sure Elvgren was a classy and decent man, and a man of his era (so he is excused to a degree for a number of the now non-PC-like paintings he did) but how is it not a caricature when Elvgren typically painted woman in lingerie and high heels doing things that they would be idiotic doing in such clothes. For example, why would a woman be bent over a flaming grill with hardly nothing on? Or why would a obviously grown women in heels and lingerie again, who is crouching on a chair, be scared of a wind-up crocodile toy?? Are women so stupid that when they paint the floor, they paint themselves into a corner? Well, if you are an Elvgren painting, it seems so. But that is what pin-up artists of their day did. They did caricatures. Women were seen as child-like (needing men to take care of them, "of course") and the pinup genre in general is for men to look at them in all their (my) glorious male gaze.

The fact is that caricatures of women are the basis of pin-ups. Shameful? Why yes. Of course, but that was another time and place. The problem with this book is that the authors try to put Elvgren apart from the rest of the pack (maybe because of Drake's christian bent?) even goes on to say how Elvgren would often change the models to by saying he would not "pu himself" so lowly as to do caricatures like artists like Frahm. However, the book also discusses how Elvgren himself elongated his models torsos, shrank their noses, and put 15 year old faces on adult women bodies. Why set apart Elvgren from Frahm by saying one did caricatures and one did not. Why not just say Elvgren was the best at these caricatures and did them classier?

I love Elvgren art. He was a wonderful artist and the best pinup artist of his time. I wish the book would have been more about the art itself and based in more facts of Elvgren's life instead of an obviously skewed retelling by a born again son. I respect Collins truly hope in his next book he won't allow his common sense to fail him again when co-authoring a book with a family member of the subject. I wonder how different this book would have been if he had done this alone? Drake's personal memories of his father could have been kept in without Drake's obvious biases working to "save' his father from what I am sure Drake must see as some sort of minor sin by hios father (thankfully saved by Elvgren's getting reborn 6 months before dying-as the book makes sure to point out!). Drake's characterization of his father is almost nauseating.

Needs Improvement.......2004-10-24

I don't want to be too nasty about this book beacause it does have more information than the other Elvgren books. The book also provided some of the paintings Elvgren did for Coca Cola which I had not seen. However, I agree with the reviewer that stated the captions were inane. Every model was described as "beautiful" or "stunning" or some other compliment when they clearly weren't. Also, all the books say that Elvgren only used really young models and some of the pics clearly show older women with wrinkles! And most importantly, why wasn't the intriguing and disturbing Harem/Still Life/Bowl of Fruit discussed? This painting is clearly VERY different than the pin ups that he did. The main reason I bought this book was to see if there was an explication of this painting and it wasn't there. Was it a commissioned painting? Did he paint it for fun? Was it a reference to a book? It certainly looks like it could be an illustration from a novel. If anyone has any information about this painting please email me at wilsonlgw@yahoo.com
I hope someone writes a biography of Elvgren without his son involved. He made a point to say he was a born again Christian and attended an Assembly of God church, which is all very nice, but not very relevant to Elvgren's art.

Most comprehensive collection of Elvgren'w work.......2000-05-03

This fabulous volume is surely the most comprehensive collection of Gil Elvgren's work ever assembled in book form. It should go far to establish Elvgren, along with Petty and Vargas, as a master of the American pin-up.

The biographical information is complete and well written including Elvgren's personal, commercial and artistic endeavors. The information on his associations with other pin-up artists of the time is especially interesting.

The importance of Elvgren's models is emphasized, although he painted from photos rather than the live model. In many cases the model's photo and finished painting are side by side showing Elvgren's ability to capture form and expression.

The book includes about 200 of Elvgren's paintings in vibrant full color and covers his advertising work for Coca-Cola and others as well as his famous calendar pin-ups. It is a great source for the pin-up fan, or art historian.

Elvgren is Great, This Book is Not.......2000-03-14

As an artist and long-time admirer of Gillette Elvgren's illustrations and pinups, I was thrilled to discover this book because until recently, there has been so little published about him. It's interesting to see the photographs he worked from alongside the paintings. It's very annoying, however, that so many of the reference photos are "flopped" (turned in the opposite direction from the painting). Why they did this makes no sense, because you can't compare them. Also, the captions are centered rather than justified. The book gives the impression that amateurs put it together. It doesn't do justice to the great illustrations that Elvgren produced.

Elvgren is Great, This Book is Not.......2000-03-14

Average customer rating:

Elvgren: His Life and Art.
Gil] COLLINS, Max Allan, & Drake ELVGREN. [ELVGREN
Manufacturer: Collectors Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OG1PLI

Book Description

Jack Olsen's Last Man Standing is the gripping story of Geronimo Pratt, war hero and community leader, who was framed by the FBI in one of the greatest travesties of justice in American history.

Geronimo Pratt did not commit the murder for which he served twenty-seven nightmarish years. As a UCLA student, though, he had led the Los Angeles Chapter of the Black Panther Party, and became a target of the FBI. Here is the spellbinding saga of Pratt, his heroic lawyers, Johnnie Cochran and Stuart Hanlon, and the Reverend James McCloskey, who overcame all the odds to bring the truth to light and free Geronimo.

Customer Reviews:

can't completely review this item yet as I haven't finished reading it, but so far it's good........2007-02-22

I wanted to know the real scoop for years on the Geronimo Pratt case. Although I'm not yet finished reading the book, it is very obvious that Mt. Pratt got screwed, like so many others caught up in the "good old USA" system. Obviously this one is a case of racial prejudice, but it could have just as easily been some other kind of prejudice. It is clear that the concept of "innocent until proven guilty" is just a nice theory that should be strictly adhered to but rarely is. The presumed guilt is clear from the get go on the part of the police. It continues on to the top with lies and deception on the part of the police to get a conviction at any cost, especially with regard to the truth. It's frightening and a relief to know it's not me. But next time it could be me, or anyone who gets targeted by individuals in a position of power, who have no integrity, and don't give a hoot about the constitution of the US.

Tragedy and Triumph.......2006-04-20

This is certainly one of the best books I've ever read. Jack Olsen did an outstanding job of weaving together all the facts in a highly readable narrative of one of the most blatant chapters of injustice in 20th century legal history.

I already had considerable knowledge of the case before I read this book. In the early 1990s, the case was being publicized again. I was a reporter for Wave Newspapers in Los Angeles and journeyed with a co-worker to the state prison at Tehachapi where Pratt was then being held and we interviewed him. I then wrote several stories about his situation.

Pratt was imprisoned for 27 years for a crime he clearly did not commit. The prosecution was part of the FBI's notorious COINTELPRO operation-essentially a war against numerous dissenting groups in the 1960s including the Black Panther Party. As Olsen makes clear, in Pratt's case this also involved LAPD and the L.A. County District Attorney's office.

Pratt was convicted of the December 1968 Santa Monica tennis-court murder of school teacher Caroline Olsen. There was considerable doubt about the credibility of key-witness Julius Butler, who had a previous falling out with Pratt, and was later proven to be an informant. (When I was a reporter, I actually contacted Butler. He yelled that he was "tired of this" and hung up on me.) Plus, numerous other Panthers could have confirmed he was at a meeting in Oakland the day of the murder but most wouldn't testify because of a severe split in the ranks.

Appeal after appeal was turned down despite more and more evidence being discovered pointing to Pratt's innocence. In all probability the crime was committed by two low-level Panther members to obtain money for drugs.

That ties in with the only complaint I would make about Olsen's book. He really glossed over the fact that the FBI and police campaign against the Panthers (which I am not defending) was not just because of their militant political rhetoric. They had a lot of criminal types within the group.

Regardless, this is an extraordinary book about another era and the governmental abuses of that time. Johnnie Cochran redeemed himself in my eyes by getting Pratt released. That was after he was involved in a travesty of justice, himself, by getting O.J. Simpson off. But that's another story.

The Cure for Your Despair.......2004-12-01

The courage and essential goodness of Geronimo Pratt, in spite of receiving a life sentence for a crime he did not commit, is truly inspiring. This is a wonderful book.

Amazing book, Amazing man.......2003-06-15

Geronimo Pratt had one of the most honorable and incredible lives I have ever heard of. This book documents his entire life, from is Morgan City childhood to his unjust incarceration for the murder of Caroline Olsen. I literally had trouble putting this book down. It is a great read for anyone interested in the judicial system, the FBI's COINTELPRO, the Black Panther Party, and racism in general. READ THIS BOOK!!!

One of the Best books I ever laid my hands on.......2003-02-20

This book should be mandatory reading for every black person when they turn 15 years old. To read what the gov't put this man through was utterly shocking. After you read this book read "The Judas Factor - The Plot to Kill Malcolm X." You'll be numb after reading these two books back to back.

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