In Search of Klingsor: The International Bestselling Novel

Book Description

In his international bestseller In Search of Klingsor, Jorge Volpi takes us from the Institute of Advanced Study to the heart of Hitler's Germany, where the line between truth and lies is all but dissolved.Mysterious, seductive, and immediately engrossing, this startlingly accomplished thriller explores the nexus between science and human nature and how they shaped the world in the aftermath of World War II.

In 1940, Francis Bacon, a brilliant young American physicist, is invited to join the prestigious institute at Princeton, the world's foremost physics research facility. But a series of personal indiscretions forces him to accept a different, more sinister, assignment: uncover "Klingsor," Hitler's top adviser on the scientific work in the Third Reich, including the race to create the first atomic bomb.

Bacon's efforts to expose the truth lead him to Gustav Links, a survivor of the attempted coup against Hitler. With Link's help, he continues researching postwar Germany -- in an era when a secret was really a secret and a lie wasn't necessarily a sin -- and falls into a complicated relationship with an alluring woman. His search for Klingsor, an ominous and seemingly omnicient adversary, is part mystery, part psychological puzzle, part witty intellectual game. In Search of Klingsor places real people in speculative historical fiction, combining the ingenuity of a scientific investigation with the suspense of a great espionage novel.

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Novel with an Academic Flavor.......2005-12-28

This is my first Volpi book. And although I never heard from Volpi before, I am very impressed after finishing this novel. It is just a wonderful mix of good writing and science -mostly physics. Bravo, Volpi.

It will be particularly interesting to those in physics, math, and even economics. Volpi walks reader through complex concepts in an intuitive and simple way, and builds the story around the development of the atomic bomb.

The main plot is simple. Once WWI is over, a seemingly naive American scientist goes to Germany to find the brains behind the Nazi scientific initiatives. His mission allows him to meet famous scientists: Einstein, Von Neumann, Borh, Heisenberg, Godel and Schrodinger. Slowly, the main character puts all the pieces together and offers interesting details of the last days of the Nazi regime.

The last chapter closes the story brilliantly. So even if it feels as if the story is not going anywhere for a short while, keep reading, it only gets better!

Quantum Who Dunnit.......2004-07-13

A fairly well written work on a young physicist's search for the enigmatic Klingsor, an alleged physicist in Nazi Germany who worked on the atomic project (a plutonic Parsifal perhaps). The 'romantic' sub-plots got to be rather mechanistic, tedious after awhile but the plot driven premise will keep you reading. I just let my eyes go out of focus during the so called love scenes and then re-focused them when I'd come across names such as Heisenberg, Pauli, et. al. and this seemed to help somewhat seeing that I have a fetish for indeterminacy above all other things.(...)

Hmmmm................2004-07-01

I'm not too sure about this book. It certainly lacks any real subtlety, and many of its points are laboured. Too often I winced at the way Volpi's thoughts are hammered across. It could be the English translation though, I suppose. The inelegance of this book really frustrated me.... maybe I've been reading too much Hemingway again...

For thinking and curious people.......2002-08-16

The plot of this novel is as dark as the history of 20th century. It is hard to classify its genre (historical fiction? suspense? thriller?), for it presents many genres rolled into one story.

It is a novel for thinking people. The narration moves fast, but it does not prevent the novel from being quite philosophical. The main idea sounds like this: there is no absolutely accurate History, for History is subjective. Any major historical event, if examined closely, is no more than a sum of selfish acts, committed by ordinary and extraodinary people. The most of people are motivated by weakness, fear, love, loyalty, ambition, insecurity or power. The participants in History can never remember the past in dispassionate, completely honest way. That's why there is no objective History: it all depends who tells it.

The book is a true gift for curious people, for it contains a very lively story of the 20th century science with its major players (Einstein, Von Neumann, Godel, Bohr, Plank, Schrodinger, Heisenberg, etc) and its major discoveries (quantum theory, theorem of incompleteness, game theory, etc). The book is a one of those rare cases, when reader can learn many mind-puckering things with pleasure.

I reread some pages two, three times - for pure joy of reading difficult things written with unique grace and lucidity.
First-rate novel, no doubt.

In Search of Truth.......2002-07-31

The key statement of this book, and the key discovery made by its main character, is that we will never truly know what really happened in the Second World War and its aftermath, when the United States, victorious against one enemy, suddenly had to start fighting another. History is a plastic, porous thing that defies the sort of objective study that the protagonist brings to the story.

This novel was a fantastic read, thoroughly engrossing and filled with fascinating detail, though I must admit that I am not historian enough to speak to its veracity. It would seem to present a vivid and believable picture of both university life in America during the Second World War and of life in Germany immediately following. Personalities such as Werner Heisenberg, Neils Bohr, Kurt Godel, John von Neumann and Albert Einstein are pulled out from their equations and biographies and made into fleshy, fully-human characters, each of whom plays a crucial role in one man's search for truth and another's attempt to reclaim his past. This novel reminds us, in the same manner as Sylvia Nasser's "A Beautiful Mind," that scientists are not cold and unfeeling robots in the mere pursuit of knowledge, but rather that all of them are acutely aware of the moral, social and emotional implications of their work as it impacts society on every level from the global to the personal.

Mr. Volpi has created a beautiful, sprawling, rhapsodic work that begs the questions, what is science? what is history? what is duty? what is love? He has placed all these in a strikingly relevant context that pulls the reader along. As to the question of cliche stated above, I would suggest that the examples cited would serve to inform the reader of certain information of which Mr. Volpi chooses to have the protagonist remain unaware. In all, one of the best books I have read this year.

Amazon.com

In Sometimes the Magic Works, author Terry Brooks mixes advice on writing with stories from his personal experience in publishing. A seasoned fantasy writer with 19 books under his belt, including the New York Times bestseller The Sword of Shannara, Brooks began his second career in middle age when he gave up his law practice to pursue writing full time. His move was fueled by an obsession with writing, ("If I don't write, I become restless and ill-tempered"), inspiration from J.R.R. Tolkien, and constant encouragement from publisher Lester del Rey. Some of Brooks's advice is specific and useful, such as the chapter he dedicates to the importance of outlining. However, the lessons he tries to tell through his own adventures tend to be self-serving. Still, Brooks's experiences could be particularly interesting and valuable to fans of his fantasy novels--and aspiring authors of their own. --Lacey Fain

Book Description

In 1977, the New York Times Trade Paperback Bestseller list—back then the exclusive province of self-help guides, cartoon collections, and any number of cat books—played host to its very first work of fiction: The Sword of Shannara, an epic quest through a mythical land, by first-time author Terry Brooks. Nineteen New York Times bestselling novels later, it would be easy enough to just say: “. . . and the rest is history.” But when it comes to quests, everyone knows that getting there is half the fun. Now, Terry Brooks tells the story of how he got there—from beginner to bestselling author—and shares his secrets for creating unusual, memorable fiction.

Writing is writing, whether one’s setting is a magical universe or a suburban backyard. Spanning topics from the importance of daydreaming to the necessity of writing an outline, from the fine art of showing instead of merely telling to creating believable characters who make readers care what happens to them, Brooks draws upon his own experiences, hard lessons learned, and delightful discoveries made in creating the beloved Shannara and Magic Kingdom of Landover series, The Word and The Void trilogy, and the bestselling Star Wars novel The Phantom Menace.

In addition to being a writing guide, Sometimes the Magic Works is Terry Brooks’s self-portrait of the artist. Here are sketches of his midwestern boyhood, when comic books, radio serials, and a vivid imagination launched a life long passion for weaving tales of wonder; recollections of the fateful collaboration with legendary editor Lester del Rey that changed not only the author’s life but the course of publishing history; and an eye-opening look at the ups and downs of dealing with Hollywood, as a writer of official novels based on major movies by both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

“If you don’t think there is magic in writing, you probably won’t write anything magical,” says Terry Brooks. This book offers a rare and wonderful opportunity to peer into the mind of (and learn a trick or two from) one of fantasy fiction’s preeminent magicians.

Customer Reviews:

Easy to read, insightful.......2007-08-07

I find most of Terry Brooks's work to be hit-and-miss, but this one was a definite hit. He lets us in to his head during the creating process. While there is nothing particularly ground-breaking here, his style is very conversational and easy to read. He doesn't get bogged down in mechanics but tries to convey that writing is a process and a craft, not just a hobby.

Wonderful Book!.......2007-02-07

"Sometimes the Magic Works" is a wonderful book for aspiring authors and fans of best-selling fantasy author Terry Brooks alike. Mr. Brooks has created a truly delightful blend of personal memoir and writing guide that offers a rare peek behind the curtain at the life of a successful writer. In revealing what it takes to "make it" in this incredibly competitive field (discipline, perseverance, creativity, and LOTS of luck, among other things), Mr. Brooks provides the kind of invaluable advice and insight that any young writer would consider themselves lucky to happen upon.

Not all there........2007-01-03

Five or six chapters in, I doubt I'll finish. It's probably interesting to Terry Brooks fans, but...

The opening chapter goes into some detail about how he's "not all here," explaining that his attention is usually in the world of his writing instead of on his "real" world surroundings. Unfortunately, he's not all here in the book, either. It feels amazingly superficial, like Brooks was severely distracted while writing it. I can barely remember each chapter by the end of it.

Several pages, I've simply skimmed, looking for something worth reading and coming up empty. I expect I'll "finish" it that way, if at all.

By contrast, I found King's "On Writing" to be inspirational, instructive, informative, and engaging. I sincerely wish I could say the same for this book.

Sometimes the magic really does work.......2006-06-01

I picked up this book when I was doing research for my own book about writing - I wanted to learn what other writers thought of their crafts, what pearls of wisdom or insight I might be able to glean for use in my own work.

Terry Brooks has written a gem with this book. The back cover tells us that "in addition to being a writing guide, Sometimes the Magic Works is Terry Brooks's self-portrait of the artist." This is precisely true. The book gives the reader a sense of what it is to be a writer - the excitement and joy of getting swept up in a story as you create it, the frustration of doing a book signing event to which nobody shows up, and the sheer pleasure of doing professionally something that you enjoy so much.

This book is also invaluable to writers - the ideas and techniques that it describes are priceless, and the way in which the text flows with the reader is the perfect example of the concepts that the book describes.

More than anything else, though, the book shows the reader how exciting and enjoyable writing can be. Brooks shows us that - for writers, at least - sometimes the magic really does work.

Danny Iny
Author of "Ordinary Miracles - Harness the power of writing and get your point across!" (ISBN 1-4116-7252-6)

A great memoir, but a little lacking in advice for aspiring writers..........2006-04-11

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked reading about the transitions Brooks made from a imaginative child to a part-time writer and finally to the celebrated author he is today. There is a lot of autobiographical information in short anecdotes about his family and his friendship with the del Reys (his publisher). Many of the anecdotes relate how some of his novels came together or how his opinions on writing have matured as he gained more experience in the field.

I don't think every fan of Brooks' novels will enjoy this book- only those who are interested in him as a person and his approach and opinions of the writing life. Aspiring writers will find a limited amount of advice. The advice presented is sound, but also should be common sense (You do know you need to use an outline, right?). If you are looking for a more technical book on the subject, check out Orson Scott Card's How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. But if you would like a glimpse into the man behind Shannara, this is a great book.

Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life

Average customer rating:

Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVZH5S

Customer Reviews:

The Thrawn Trilogy continues in another excellent novel.......2005-09-26

Dark Force Rising (1992.) A Star Wars novel by Timothy Zahn. Book two in a three-part series.

INTRODUCTION:
The Star Wars film series is, without question, the greatest science fiction series of all time. George Lucas captured the minds of people young and old across the world. But as anyone knows, there are only a limited number of films, and for many people, this just wasn't enough. And thus, the Star Wars Expanded Universe was born. The Expanded Universe consisted of comic books, video games, novels, and other media. Many of the stories focused on the characters in the films, many focused on unknown characters from the same universe. Among the authors who tried their hands at creating Star Wars novels was Timothy Zahn. He was a fairly notable science fiction author, and in 1991, he released the first truly-successful Expanded Universe novel - the classic Heir To The Empire. It was book one in a three-part series, followed by the sequels Dark Force Rising and The Last Command. Read on for my review of the second book in Zahn's trilogy, and see if it lives up to the hype!

STORYLINE:
The Thrawn trilogy begins five years after Return of the Jedi, meaning this trilogy takes place after The Courtship Of Princess Leia, but before the Jedi Academy Trilogy. Essentially, Han and Leia are now married, and Leia is pregnant with twins. Luke has received visions from Obi-Wan and Yoda that inspire him to want to train new Jedi Knights. Unfortunately, the Empire, while in a weakened state, is still a threat. Grand Admiral Thrawn has taken charge of the remnants of the Empire, and has joined forces with the clone of a Jedi Master believed to be long dead. The New Republic's military must do everything in its power to deal with Thrawn's threat, because if they don't, they could lose everything they have fought so hard for....

OPINIONS:
Star Wars novels, much like Star Wars video games, are hit and miss in their execution. Being the first wildly-successful Star Wars novels, I had my doubts that authors would have gotten it all together yet (after all, pre-1991 stores like Splinter Of The Mind's Eye and The Lando Calrissian Adventures were godawful.) Boy, was I wrong. There's a reason the Thrawn Trilogy is so popular. Zahn excellently captures the personalities of the characters we know and love, while adding in plenty of new ones, and doing a good job with them as well. If you're a Star Wars fan, this is a must-read. If you've never read a Star Wars novel before, this series would probably be a good place to start.

EDITION NOTES:
This remains one of the most widely loved and popular Star Wars novels. With its popularity remaining constant as the years pass by, it's likely to remain on store shelves for years to come. You shouldn't have to look hard - pretty much every bookstore has this one.

OVERALL:
Timothy Zahn was the first Star Wars author to create novels that were this excellent, and it's not hard to see why. If you're at all a fan of Star Wars, even if you've never read any of the novels before, you should greatly consider reading the Thrawn Trilogy. I really doubt any fan of the franchise will be disappointed with it.

Average customer rating:

Easily available ingredients, easy to follow instructions, decent results

Good cookbook

Not inventive, Truly Just for Egg Allergist first timers. Not practical.

Bakin' Without Eggs

Excellent cookbook

Bakin' Without Eggs: Delicious Egg-Free Dessert Recipes from the Heart and Kitchen of a Food-Allergic Family
Rosemarie Emro
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Healthy | Special Diet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Natural Foods | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Low Fat | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Food Allergies | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

What's to Eat? The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook

The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook: Two Hundred Gourmet & Homestyle Recipes for the Food Allergic Family

The Parent's Guide to Food Allergies : Clear and Complete Advice from the Experts on Raising Your Food-Allergic Child

The Kid-Friendly Food Allergy Cookbook: More Than 150 Recipes That Are Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Egg-Free, and Low in Sugar

How to Manage Your Child's Life-Threatening Food Allergies: Practical Tips for Everyday Life

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0312206356

Book Description

Finally, delicious recipes for cookies, cakes, and other baked goods that use no eggs!Millions of people-- including 5 percent of all American children-- have a food allergy, and eggs are one of the most common culprits. In this easy-to-use collection of recipes, Rosemarie Emro presents more than one hundred crowd-pleasing desserts and other treats that contain no eggs. These are delicious cakes, cookies, breads, muffins, brownies, bars, pies, and cobblers with all the flavor, texture, and delights egg-allergic families have been longing for. Everyone who wants to avoid eggs can now rediscover the joys of baking.

Customer Reviews:

Easily available ingredients, easy to follow instructions, decent results.......2007-06-19

One cannot expect desserts that look and taste like those with eggs in them. That said, this is a handy baking "manual" for beginners in egg-free baking. Very, very simple to use. I found all the ingredients in the local grocery store, no need to run to a specialty health food store and spend a ton of money! My favorites so far - elegant orange raisin bread, and chocolate cream cheese layered cupcakes! Yumm!

Couple of things - One, wish it had a detailed table of contents. How many pages can one bookmark?! Two, get silicone baking pans vs metal/glass. What a relief!! Three, for recipes calling for baking powder use non-aluminum based ones (I ordered Rumford brand online since it was the only thing in this book not available in my local store). I understand that its healthier and improves the taste.

I am getting this book for friends and family. Will look forward to more from the author!

Good cookbook.......2007-05-15

I really like this book. It has many great recipes. My son is allergic to eggs, so I thought this would be great. I can finally bake something he can eat. The only problem is that he's also allergic to milk and nuts, so we can't use all these recipes. Some we can still use by making additional substitutions. It has great ideas even though I don't usually follow the recipes exactly, but it's a good starting point. It's even given me ideas on how to adapt some of our favorite recipes to be egg-free.

Not inventive, Truly Just for Egg Allergist first timers. Not practical........2007-03-04

I have had this book for a while and it is basically insulting. The recipes are no different than any normal cookbook. Just substitute the one ingredient...Eggs. Which can easily be done with any cookbook. Plus these recipes are definately not a healthier way to cook. Most recipes rely on a heavy amout of butter and sugar. So this book is exactly the title, only. For healthier great tasting recipes or combination allergist, I recommend.."What's to Eat, the Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook", plus "The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook".

Bakin' Without Eggs.......2007-01-05

This cookbook has many excellent recipes for those who cannot eat eggs. Each pages is laid out well with the ingredients on the left and the instructions on the right so that it is very eary to follow. The plain butter cookies were excellent and retained their freshness for many days.

Excellent cookbook.......2006-11-03

This cookbook has made our life so much easier. When my daughter was diagnosed with an egg allergy I did not know where to begin. Someone suggested this book and we love it! The recipes are delicious and easy to make. We are always getting asked for the recipes and people can't believe they do not have egg in them. It is my favorite cookbook out of the 3 I purchased. It is perfect for a family that only has to avoid eggs. We plan on purchasing one for both Grandmothers for Christmas because they are always asking for the recipes. I wish Rosemarie Emro would publish a second book.

Average customer rating:

Excellent resource

content unoriginal

For the beginner...

Good bird

Solving behavioral problems in Parrots

Good Bird! A Guide to Solving Behavioral Problems in Companion Parrots
barbara Heidenreich
Manufacturer: Avian Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Birds | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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The Parrot Problem Solver

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The Second-Hand Parrot

Parrot Training: A Guide to Taming and Gentling Your Avian Companion (Pets)

ASIN: 1895270278

Book Description

Training is a form of teaching. The subject learns when the trainer positively reinforces or rewards each small step the subject takes towards the desired behavior. In this book the author describes some typical problem behavior scenarios then offers a step-by-step explanation of how to address these problem behaviors using training techniques based on positive reinforcement. Chapters include Preparing the Companion Parrot Owner, Screaming, Biting, Bonding to One Person, Cage Bound Bird and Feather Picking.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource.......2007-01-30

This book, along with Ms. Heidenreich's other book, The Parrot Problem Solver, are the best books I've come across dealing with companion parrots. If you understood why your bird is behaving as it does, you can deal with it more effectively. Kindness and reward go far with a companion bird (and, even though Ms. Heidenreich didn't mention it, 11-12 hours of covered cage/darkness a day does, too) than all the reprimanding in the world (which a parrot does not understand). A parrot, much like a cat, is not going to do anything he doesn't want to do, but unlike a cat, you can convince a parrot to want what you want, too. Tell him he's a good bird when he's quiet. Give him a reward when he says something nice. Understand you are his teacher, not his mate and not his slave. Punish him by turning your back, reward him by giving attention and praise. Parrots are a lot like toddlers - they need to be constantly taught how to be good and their companions need to be able to recognize the behaviors (sometimes extremely hard to see) that signal overexcitement, frustration and anger. Excellent book I'd recommend to any bird "owner."

content unoriginal.......2006-11-02

Although the arrival/condition of the book was perfect, the content was very limited. I learned nothing new and feel I wasted my money. My parrot is still obnoxious. I had so hoped I would learn techniques to change his behavior.

For the beginner..........2006-08-18

To preface, I'm a bit biased as I am seemingly more in-tune with my birds than most folks are with theirs. Most birds seem to like me, and the behavior solutions in this book are mostly second nature to me. A good book for the flustered who need reassurance to follow the right path.

Good bird.......2006-03-22

This is a good book for advanced bird owners. Its not really clear enough alot of the time to understand from a beginners perspective. I would highly recommend this book to someone who already has some knowledge of companion birds.

Solving behavioral problems in Parrots.......2006-03-09

A must read for all parrot owners. The advice in this book works. Barbara Heidenreich is one of the very best behavioral consultants in the world. Get this book so you can have the best relationship possible with your companion parrot.Even if you think the relationship is good now, it will become better after you read the book.

Book Description

This book will take you on a trip down memory lane. Remember those cards your mother saved when you were born? Collecting Vintage Childrens Greeting Cards begins with those first baby cards and takes you from first birthdays to the teenage years. There are chapters on Christmas with Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph. Youll find cartoon characters, cowboys Indians, dogs, cats, wild animals, and fairy tale and nursery rhyme cards, including boxed sets. There are cards by artists Charlot Byj, Marjorie Cooper, Angela, Mabel Lucie Attwell, and others. The book covers cards from the 1930s through the 1960s, with the main focus on the 40s and 50s. Included for each card is information on size, date, series, name of card, and current collector value. There are tips on where to find cards, what to look for, and how to care for your collection.

Collector Books.(Fenton Art Glass: Hobnail Pattern Identification and Value Guide)(Spring- Loaded Fish Hooks, Traps and Lures)(Collecting American Paintings ... Review) : An article from: Library Bookwatch

Average customer rating:

Collector Books.(Fenton Art Glass: Hobnail Pattern Identification and Value Guide)(Spring- Loaded Fish Hooks, Traps and Lures)(Collecting American Paintings ... Review) : An article from: Library Bookwatch
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Online Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Holiday Greeting Cards | Formats | Books

Home & Garden | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Library Bookwatch, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2006. The length of the article is 434 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Collector Books.(Fenton Art Glass: Hobnail Pattern Identification and Value Guide)(Spring- Loaded Fish Hooks, Traps and Lures)(Collecting American Paintings Identification and Values)(Celluloid Dolls Toys and Playthings Identification and Value Guide)(Collecting Vintage Children's Greeting Cards Identification and Values)(Antler Bone and Shell Artifacts Identification and Value Guide)(Book Review)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Library Bookwatch (Newsletter)
Date: March 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: NA

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

COLOUR FROM THE HEART

Must see!

Panic Attack

My Favourite Quilting Book

An inspiring workbook for any quilter!

Color from the Heart: Seven Great Ways to Make Quilts with Colors You Love
Gai Perry
Manufacturer: C&T Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Color Magic for Quilters: Absolutely the Easiest, Most Successful Method for Choosing Colors and Fabrics to Create Quilts You'll Love

ASIN: 1571200711

Book Description

Stressing how to give equal importance to color and fabric personality, the projects in this book use simple combinations of squares and triangles for striking results. Diverse lessons show how to incorporate forty unrelated fabrics in one small quilt; how to make a two-color quilt, adding enrichment colors without changing the integrity of the original scheme; how to sew a nine-patch quilt following easy techniques artists use in paintings; how to plan a quilt color scheme inspired by a favorite photo, painting, or decorative object.

Customer Reviews:

COLOUR FROM THE HEART.......2006-11-10

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PUBLICATION. MY WIFE WAS ABSOLUTELY THRILLED WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS VERY INFORMATIVE BOOK

Must see!.......2004-09-10

This is the only book that teaches color lesson in quilting. Easy to follow concept and lots of fun too! The quilts here are pretty small and easy to finish. Very stater level. And the color lessons are wonderful. When I was reading this book, I keep saying 'so that it is.' It is just like someone helps you to say what you already know but can't find a way to express. The best thing is these lessons are for everyone with different color preference and taste. I loved it!

Panic Attack.......2003-11-13

You've come to my rescue. This was the first quilt book I purchased 2 1/2 years ago when I decided to take the plunge into quilting. I absolutely adore this book!

It was very interesting and applicable. I immediately began to make each project (completed 4 or 5 of 7) before moving on to some other projects.

Somehow, over the intervening months, I've managed to lose (probably merely misplace--so I'll be selling or giving away my extra copy when I find it) this book. I've searched several quilt stores, not remembering where I initially bought it. Decided to go on line, and finally found it here. I can't understand why it's not the first book listed when you do a search on "quilts" and "color." I believe it is the definitive book on the subject. Easy to read, easy and fun projects to do; you actually "play" as your learn. Would love to see other books by Ms. Perry.

My Favourite Quilting Book.......2003-03-01

I absolutely love this book. Originally a painter, Gai Perry really delivers in Colour From The Heart with her 7 step formula for understanding and working with colour and quilts. There are dozens of colour photos throughout the book - I can't stand quilt books that don't include lots of photos - so you can really get a feel for what Perry is communicating. Her approach to quilting is also quite refreshing; she prefers a few basic tools and supplies, a contrast to the perhaps overly technological quilts being made today in the 21st century. I feel completely inspired and confident about using her ideas and my favourite colours effectively in my next quilt!

An inspiring workbook for any quilter!.......2001-01-17

I love this book! It's an important one for beginner quilters, and also for quilters who need confidence in putting colors and textures together in a quilt. Do you have a sizeable stash, buy the fabric medleys you see in magazines but freeze up when it's time to use them? Can't walk out of a fabric store without a sack of fabric in your hand, yet it turns into one more project on your to-do list because, mmmm, maybe those fabrics you bought don't go well together after all?

I have another book that deals with color theory, fabric texture, pattern and theme. I'm supposed to cut little pieces from my precious stash and paste them in the appropriate boxes in the book. I just couldn't do it! I like Color From the Heart because the author sets up seven lessons during which you actually make a little quilt in each lesson. Lesson One focuses on Spontaneity. You'll be asked to make a little postage stamp quilt. This was a fun exercise, and yielded some interesting surprises for me. Lesson Two turns to Color Enrichment, and so on. In each lesson there are colorful photos of quilts made that reflect the quilter's individual choices.

The author spends just a few pages giving you background on color theory. That's fine with me. You can get more on that elsewhere. Her purpose in the book, as I see it, is on teaching you how to expand your knowledge of fabric color, design, texture etc. and how the fabrics interact and influence one another. All this so you learn to trust your color instincts.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Art, Bad Text....

Beautiful original comic art.

A "must" for all Boris Vallejo fans.

Different touch!

Titans: The Heroic Visions of Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell
Boris Vallejo , Julie Bell , and Nigel Suckling
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell: The Ultimate Collection

Mirage Mirage

Fantasy Workshop: A Practical Guide

ASIN: 1560252731
Release Date: 2000-10-28

Book Description

Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell have joined together for the first time in bringing us never before published original paintings of our favorite superheroes from the Marvel Comics. A must-have for fans of this well respected couple whose names rank highest among fantasy artists of the world. Coinciding with the much anticipated summer 2000 live action movie The X-Men, comes Titans, a collection of awe-inspiring original artwork created by husband and wife team Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell. Along with using a classic sense of style to create and master sensuous full color oil paintings, Boris Vallejo is best known as the visual creator of Conan the Barbarian. Combining strength with sensuality and infusing the human form with incredible power and motion, fantasy artist Julie Bell continues to use her "metal flesh" trademark to produce dramatic works of art. This collection overflows with superhuman characters captured in the act of saving the world, destroying evil protagonists and battling dark beasts. Featuring fantastic figures such as Spiderman, Captain America, and the X-Men, these paintings represent the best of Boris and Julie.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Art, Bad Text...........2003-03-11

Titans mainly covers the art Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell produced for the Marvel Masterworks trasing card series in the mid-80's, with a few covers and misc. art thrown in for good measure. While it's nice to see the art at a larger size, the limited variety of poses gets old after a while. Boris and Julie use each other as models, so most of the faces look alike; The ones that don't look like them are based on bodybuilders, so the female characters have a very hard look to them, facially speaking. The colors are gorgeous, though. The real problem with the book is the text, by Nigel Suckling, who manages to live up to the first syllable of his last name. The book is riddled with spelling errors (Ogum, instead of Ogun), characters have the wrong names attatched to their paintings (Mariko and Yukio's names are transposed, as well as Yukio being called by the wrong name). The text passages show that Suckling didn't bother to get more than a passing familiarity with the comic characters; He describes Spider-Man as being bumbling...? His passages about Boris & Julie's views on time-travel & Geography are hilariously bad.

Titans is a nice book for fans of Boris & Julie; I would have liked more information on their techniques, and their opinions of the pieces, though. Anything to save me from Suckling's turgid prose....

Beautiful original comic art........2001-12-20

I didn't buy this book for the big names of Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell. I bought this book because of the art of the comic book characters. I have been extremely pleased with my purchase.

This book is a collection of some of the most breathtaking art images of comic book characters. Most of the pictures are of Vallejo and Bell's work on Marvel and DC's masterpiece trading card collections. There are also some miscellaneous art pieces added, but these are also of the comic character nature. Since the pictures are much larger, you can appreciate the detail much better than anything you'd see on a little trading card.

The book is bound well, with thick high gloss pages. Most of the pictures are accompanied with a brief description by Vallejo or Bell. The book is also split into chapters to try and give a logical order to the collection.

Titans is a must for any comic book enthusiast as the art brings much more life to the characters. I would imagine that this would be a good book for any Vallejo or Bell fan as well. However, I have not seen much of their work outside of comic paintings. So, I cannot speak much on the comparative aspects here.

A "must" for all Boris Vallejo fans........2001-01-05

Titans provides original paintings of superheroes from Marvel Comics, gathering the complete collection of these artists' paintings under one cover. Fans of either the artists or Marvel Comic scenes will consider this indispensable for a fantasy collection; packed with full-color and full-page fantasy images in all their drama. Highly recommended: a fine gift choice.

Different touch!.......2000-11-04

Boris and Julie have sucessfully give the superheros a different touch, unlike what we see in the Mavel style. A great book with very expressive in the style as it was drawn. A huge break through from the usual Boris's and Julie's kind of work. A must collect for X-man collectors.

Book Description

The Blind African Slave recounts the life of Jeffrey Brace (né Boyrereau Brinch), who was born in West Africa around 1742. Captured by slave traders at the age of sixteen, Brace was transported to Barbados, where he experienced the shock and trauma of slave-breaking and was sold to a New England ship captain. After fighting as an enslaved sailor for two years in the Seven Years War, Brace was taken to New Haven, Connecticut, and sold into slavery. After several years in New England, Brace enlisted in the Continental Army in hopes of winning his manumission. After five years of military service, he was honorably discharged and was freed from slavery. As a free man, he chose in 1784 to move to Vermont, the first state to make slavery illegal. There, he met and married an African woman, bought a farm, and raised a family. Although literate, he was blind when he decided to publish his life story, which he narrated to a white antislavery lawyer, Benjamin Prentiss, who published it in 1810. Upon his death in 1827, Brace was a well-respected abolitionist. In this first new edition since 1810, Kari J. Winter provides a historical introduction, annotations, and original documents that verify and supplement our knowledge of Brace's life and times.

Customer Reviews:

life and travails of an early slave in the North.......2005-03-29

The biography of the slave captured in Africa in the 1700s begins with his capture and goes on to cover "his adventures in the British navy, travels, sufferings, sales, abuses, education, service in the American war [of Independence], emancipation, conversion to the christian religion, knowledge of the Scriptures, memory, and blindness." Prentiss, who wrote down the slave's story, was a Northern abolitionist. It's impossible to say how the slave Brace's story is colored by this. In the Introduction, Winter points to some known omissions. Brace's Christian faith and knowledge of the Bible seem to begin too early in his story; and with long passages from the Bible liberally and somewhat arbitrarily inserted in the text, intrude to a questionable, and certainly unnecessary, degree. Prentiss was attracted to Brace's life story because of how it could promote his abolitionist views rooted in his Christian faith. Brace was a decent person caught up in events far beyond his understanding or concern. He enlisted to fight in the Revolutionary War mainly to gain his freedom. After being freed for his service, he moved from Connecticut, where he was owned by a cruel slavemaster, to Vermont, where he continued to bear physical and financial difficulties. The facts of Brace's colorful, moving tale can be readily sifted out from Prentiss's extraneous matter--leaving a rare, memorable biography of a slave in the North, whose circumstances and options were considerably different from slaves in the South. The circumstances of Brace's capture in Africa and his time in Vermont in the last years of his life are of particular interest.

The Blind African Slave Or Memoirs Of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace

Average customer rating:

The Blind African Slave Or Memoirs Of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace
Kari J. (EDT)/ Prentiss, Benjamin F. (EDT) Winter
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORZS6U

The Blind African Slave: Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace

Average customer rating:

The Blind African Slave: Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace
Jeffrey (Author) Winter, Kari J. (Editor) Prentiss, Benjamin F. (With) Brace
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OS1WNM

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