Lost Between Houses

Book Description

Lost Between Houses is about a turbulent year in the life of Simon Albright, a fifteen-year-old private school boy struggling to be his sophisticated mother's best friend, the rebel his girlfriend adores and the son his father respects. Which is a hard act to pull off when your mother is distracted, your girlfriend too beautiful and your father in and out of a mental institution. Lost Between Houses unfolds with mingled sarcasm, grief and awe, and grips the reader until its startling climax.

Customer Reviews:

No Salinger...but a good read indeed........2004-05-04

I loved this book. It cleverly portrays the life of an upper class kid from southern Ontario. I never had the privilege of going to a private school, but I have been around plenty of them. I go to school with them now...at the ol' U of T. I could understand how our hero feels about things. Not only because I went through the same things he did, if not close to it. All teenagers do. Heartbreak comes around it seems like once a week. Those were the days. I just don't think it is fair to compare anything to a classic. Does one dare compare a painting of any ol' lady to Mona Lisa? No, it is not fair. Nonetheless a valiant effort, this one.

WoW!.......2003-05-29

This book is awesome. I love the fact that he can actually write about a teenager, and make the book seem so real. The relationships that Simon has to deal with, and the things that go on within his life seem so realistic. David Gilmour is an awesome author, because it's like he's a teenager himself. Teenagers have a lot of [stuff] to deal with during those years, and in this book Simon has to confront all of them. Good JOB Mr. Gilmour!!

Glad to find this one..........2003-03-28

This coming-of-age novel, similar to The Catcher In The Rye, was a pleasure to read. The characters were portrayed in a realistic and likeable manner, due to Mr. Gilmour's ability to translate complex emotions into engaging dialogue and self-reflection. I enjoyed the book's distinctly Canadian feel and the sense of nostalgia it evokes - for lazy summer days and first loves. I felt a renewed passion for literature after reading this book.

Smells like Teen Spirit (sort of).......2001-03-19

I agree with the previous review - Catcher in The Rye does come to mind. But Lost Between Houses falls short matching the Salinger classic. In fact, the novel read like a comic book at times. True to the cover notes though, the ending is very surprising and represents the best writing in the book. A good, light cottage read.

Classic.......2001-01-12

This book is absolutly amazing. It's similar to the catcher in the rye but the main character is, in my opinion, more complex in that you both hate and love him. This book really touched my heart and brought me to tears, i highly recommend it to anyone interested in psychology, especially in regard to young people. Gilmour made me believe entirely that he was a sixteen year old, mixed up kid. Delicious.

Customer Reviews:

Imaginative, magnificent musical dramatization from a master talesman. A classic!.......2005-12-14

Master Talesman Odds Bodkin crafted this two-hour musical drama for broadcast on Public Radio Stations nationwide on Earth Day of 1990. And it's nothing like his later solo projects, where he performs all the voices and provides the music on acoustic instruments (not that I have anything against his style of storytelling; in fact I find it absolutely ingenious). With five professional performers joining Bodkin's multiple character voices, a fully-fledged score (not to mention nine songs), and cinema-style sound design, THE EARTHSTONE is an amazing listening experience in and of itself.

As its title would suggest, THE EARHTSTONE is an ecological story, but it's also a coming-of-age cautionary tale with messages about the importance of feeling and knowing. And the central characters--a brother and sister from our own world--will spend the course of the adventure learning such valuable lessons before their testy relationship is put to rest. Gracie is an insecure girl who loves playing with her dolls and constantly feels put down. Her brother, obnoxious and self-centered Charlie, delights in bullying his sister and lording his supposedly superior knowledge over everyone (he even squishes ants and/or spiders--heartlessly!).

The plot kicks into gear when this pair of bickering siblings is transported to a desolate wasteland of stumps and dust. After surviving windstorms and grotesque corpses, Charlie and Gracie come across an enormous, towering castle stretching from horizon to horizon. It's inhabited by mechanical robot-like humanoids and commanded by a batty clockmaker.

Eventually, the children learn that this nightmarish place is trudging over an ancient forest. The trees are being cut down to use as logs to provide fuel to the fiery furnace that empowers this Castle of a Thousand Lights, and the bizarre yet endearing animals who live in the forest are being threatened by its very existence. At the edge of this forest is the titular earthstone--an enormous rock emitting lifebeams. Should this object be moved from its place, then all life as the animals know it will be lost forever.

The clockmaker, however, doesn't care; he simply insists on going "forward forever." Only one riotously funny (and cartoonishly likeable) pachyderm--the Elephant of Surprise--might have a plan to stop him. Sensing that Gracie and Charlie need to have their own issues resolved, however, he sends each on different routes that will test both of their limits.

If you think the above description implies that THE EARTHSTONE is just another syrupy children's story, think again. The plot moves at a slow yet eventful and intense pace, and the compelling cast of characters that Bodkin's imagination conjures have a certain charm that even grown-ups can relate to. The dialogue is wittily written and sparks with life, and Bodkin's gentle, warm narration overflows with deliciously descriptive phrases that capture the visuals of his story to a T and beyond.

What ultimately makes THE EARTHSTONE a winner, however, isn't its messages of respect for nature, creatures, feelings, and intelligence, but in its delivery. Most of Bodkin's solo projects consist of him providing all the character voices as well as sound effects and music, but with THE EARTHSTONE, Bodkin commissioned Chris Hardee and Steve Bressler of Monadnock Media to create audio environmental sound and foley, giving listeners the illusion of a movie coming alive, with spectacularly amazing results. The Castle of a Thousand Lights sounds hollow and mechanical as its purpose, and the forest effects are as pure and lovely as any forest in reality.

A full musical score (provided by Mitch Chakour) has been composed for the dramatization, each composition fitting every mood and setting. And while the score is generated by electronic keyboards rather than a large orchestra, the beauty of the musical pieces shine through, making one wish there was a soundtrack album. Also, as mentioned previously, THE EARTHSTONE is a musical, so there are nine catchy songs vocalized by various characters, all of which are great to sing along with. My favorites include Gracie's captivating "Something is Calling" and electric "Elephant's Door," the haunting wind-voice ballad "Eye of the Storm," and the two songs by the Elephant of Surprise--the wildly jaunty "Save a Little Room" and heartwarming "Soon in Your Lifetime."

And finally, while we have Bodkin's expected multiple voices for the various creatures in the world of the Earthstone itself (not to mention the narrator), he is joined by three young performers who bring a lot of life and spark to the roles of the children protagonists. Nathan Vinhateiro displays an incredible range of tangible emotions as Charlie, while Clara Sturgess brings inner strength and vulnerability to her part of Gracie. They also have great singing voices, too (I bet you didn't know that Gracie's musical numbers are sung by another talented young child, Amy Golding, who does a delightful job on every number she sings).

Odds Bodkin has gone on to do solo projects with his impressive vocal range and unmatched craft at creating original music, notably THE ODYSSEY. Personally, however, I will always remember him for THE EARTHSTONE; which is not only a clever, intelligent, well-written fairy tale, but a first-class effort in audio dramatization. And it's not just a family story, either; even older audiences may find a lot to take away from or think about long after it is over. In short, THE EARTHSTONE is truly a classic original dramatization, and one which I heartily recommend.

You will love this.......2001-06-27

This is quite honestly one of the best childrens' stories ever. The music is wonderful, the charcters are developed and interesting, and the story is fantastic. This should really be made into a theater production for the stage, it's so good.

Customer Reviews:

A little above average.......2003-08-22

Condidering most of the CYOA type books are over after about 10 paragraphs, this is pretty good. I ALMOST got through the first time, but made a minor goof. So, not really a challenge, but it's interesting (and ususally funny) to go back and look what would have happend if you made some silly or less than optimal solutions. BTW, look out, some questions ask you if you have or if you found something. I missread the first one, thinking it said something like, 'if you would like to use the key'. Which lead me to believe that the key was in the room there.

Zork #01 Forces of Krill.......2001-10-20

This book was one of the best books ever. With a storyline that was amazing, and best of all, you choose what you need to do. It brings more life to the book. It is a definit must read.

Why Zork:The Forces of Krill is a good book!.......1997-04-27

This is a very good book it is great for fantasy lovers I would recomend this book to anybody who likes fantasy.

Las Fuerzas De Krill/the Forces of Krill

Average customer rating:

Las Fuerzas De Krill/the Forces of Krill
S. Eric Meretzky
Manufacturer: Lectorum Pubns Inc (J)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Unprecedented in both scope and clarity, La Varenne Pratique is destined to become the essential culinary reference for both novice cook and expert. Written by the founder and director of Paris's prestigious La Varenne cooking school and compiled using La Varenne's extensive resources, the book brings together a practical understanding of cooking techniques, ingredients, and equipment in an unrivaled guide to classic modern cooking.

Here in one volume is the answer to every cooking question: how to make a hollandaise sauce (and why egg yolks will only absorb so much oil before the sauce self-destructs); the difference between entrecote and porterhouse; what marinades to use for lamb; which herbs will turn bitter if added at the beginning of a recipe; how to bone a chicken; the roasting times for venison, pheasant, and even squirrel; how to fillet a fiat fish; when to use a bain marie; and much more.

La Varenne Pratique is divided into 22 chapters, among them Meat and Charcuterie; Poultry and Game Birds; Milk, Cheese, and Eggs; Pastry and Cookies; Preserving, Stocks, and Soups; and Microwave Cooking. Each chapter offers an overview of the food discussed and then explains how to choose, prepare, store, cook, and present it. Recipes are included wherever an important cooking technique requires a specific example-they are carefully chosen not only to illustrate a particular dish but also to illuminate a way of cooking. In addition, La Varenne Pratique includes a guide to kitchen equipment and a glossary of culinary terms.

The photographic illustrations in La Varenne Pratique are beyond comparison. Throughout the book, techniques are clearly illustrated with specially commissioned step-by-step photo sequences that set new standards for culinary photography. Readers can actually see what texture a sauce should be, exactly where to make the first cut when boning a Chicken, what the "crust" on a clarifying broth will look like, and what larding a roast really entails.

There has never been a book like La Varenne Pratique. Comprehensive, authoritative, and eminently practical, it demands a place in the kitchen of every serious cook.

Customer Reviews:

The best of the best in skills.......2007-09-17

There are many books on basic skills to advanced skills in the kitchen. However, I think this book still remains one of the best. I have seen books come and go, but this stands the test of time... Excellent descriptions, excellent pictures and inclusive of all that you should know and want to know as a chef. Foodies at home will appreciate it too. This book is a classic.

La Varenne.......2007-05-13

Excellent book. It was quite a search to find this book. One of the top food books in the world, along with the Larousse Gastronomique.

Cook like a French woman.......2007-03-08

Amazing book, great practical info on the ins and outs of cooking and ingredients, realize that this is not a cookbook.

BOOKS ARE MORE FUN WITH ALL THE PAGES.......2007-02-14

MY WIFE , A CHEF, HAS HAD THIS AS A QUICK REFERENCE FOR YEARS. ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES NOW HAS THE WELL USED VERSION AND MY WIFE HAPPILY THE NEW ONE.
THANX FOR THE QUICK FIND...

Must have Book.......2006-03-08

If you are into Cooking than this is the Book you must have.

This is not another recipe book but a complete culinary referance for both novice cook and expert.

La Varenne pratique: The complete illustrated cooking course, techniques, ingredients, and tools of classic modern cuisine

Average customer rating:

La Varenne pratique: The complete illustrated cooking course, techniques, ingredients, and tools of classic modern cuisine
Anne Willan
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006ERZQW

Product Description

Two expert parrot owners point out the pros and cons of adopting a bird that has had a previous owner. All Complete Pet Owner's Manuals are heavily illustrated with color photos and line art, and are filled with reliable, easy-to-understand information on pet care. The many titles in this series show and tell pet owners how to care for dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, gerbils, hamsters, and virtually every other animal that is kept as a pet. The books give advice on purchasing and otherwise acquiring a pet, maintaining health care, housing, proper feeding, and where applicable, grooming and training. Clear, straightforward text comes with high-quality, full-color photos and anatomically accurate line art, as well as helpful tables and charts. Paperback / 96 Pages / 6 1/2 x 7 7/8 / 2002

Customer Reviews:

Second hand birds.......2006-03-22

I run a second hand parrot rescue and I must say this book is really on the ball. So many times people don't really know WHY is my bird acting like that, Does this bird hate me etc. This book lends knowledge to the behavior and how to handle a rehomed bird. I recommend this book to anyone considering a pet bird, especially a rehomed one.

Not Second Rate.......2005-09-08

This was a very helpful book for my husband and me as we had just adopted a second-hand parrot and we had not idea what we were doing. This book was recommended by our Veterinarian and we really rely on it. Thank you so much for all the info.

Important Reading for Adopters and Rescuers.......2005-07-08

If you're adopting an older parrot, much of the information in breed specific manuals will not be relevant for you, since it pertains to hand fed babies. This book contains information that is specific to parrots that have lost their home for one reason or another. Much of the information is recycled from Mattie Sue's previous books on parrot behavior, so if you've read them and commited them to memory, you might not need to add this one. If, however, you are not an expert on parrots, but simply want to open your heart and home to one of these wonderful creatures, this book will help make the transition smoother for both of you. It will also alert you to potential problems. There is also new information about integrating a new parrot into an existing flock. Personally, I think this book should go home with every bird adopted from a rescue organization.

Now, I'm a believer..............2005-01-01

In THE SECOND-HAND PARROT, Mattie Sue Athan makes a good case for taking on a previously owned parrot as a feathered adoptee. While it is true some adoptees are less than civil, Athan has shown through her own experiences that there may be a diamond in the rough underneath those bristling feathers. (Mattie Sue Athan's experiences with her two adopted Grey Parrots, Bongo I and Bongo II are documented on her web site).

Many pet birds are passed on by owners who are dead, too old, too sick, or move to less accommodating quarters. Many of these older birds need only a short period of getting to know you and TLC to become your best buddy. I've become a believer. Having adopted two Cockatiels two years ago who had terrorized everyone at the animal shelter and had them become two big sweeties I know what a little TLC can do. The sweetest bird I own, however, is a "hand-me-down Conure" with two previous owners. My Conure is also the biggest bird I own and the least nippy. Every morning he says "Give me a kiss" which I happily do with a "Thank-you" as my reward. "Used" birds frequently can talk and have learned cute tricks.

Athan offers all sorts of tips on how to get your birds to comply with various challenges you might offer such as bathing, destroying toys instead of your books, and kissing not nipping when you offer your cheek or stick your hand in their cage. In her section on "The Corrective Environment" she shows how many of the tics the new-old bird learned were brought on by cramped, boring, and/or dirty quarters. It is amazing what a little space and a new toy will do to improve an outlook.

Read this book even if all your parrots are "first-hand"!.......2003-12-30

Please don't let the title convince you this book is only for people with "re-homed" parrots! It also offers valuable information for AVOIDING losing your companion, and what to do if you find a lost companion parrot. Parrots are lost not just to "fly-aways", but to changing life circumstances in their human flock. This book provides practical tips to help keep the parrot in its home even during times of shifting family responsibilities. Then, of course, it also provides important advice for building trust in the "re-homed" parrot. I HAVE HAD A HARD TIME TRACKING THIS BOOK DOWN IN BOOKSTORES, so I am pleased to find it readily available on Amazon.

Average customer rating:

good book

McCoy Pottery: A Warman's Companion (Warman's Companion: McCoy Pottery)
Mark F. Moran
Manufacturer: Krause Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Pottery & Ceramics | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

McCoy Pottery: Collector's Reference and Value Guide, Vol. 3

Warman's McCoy Pottery: Identification and Price Guide

Warman's Hull Pottery: Identification And Value Guide (Warman's Hull Pottery: Identification & Value Guide)

Sanfords'Guide to McCoy Pottery

The Collector's Ultimate Encyclopedia Of Hull Pottery: Identification and Values (Collector Ultimate Encyclopedia)

ASIN: 0896893065

Book Description

-Wide appeal -- collectors, antique dealers, and artists

-Extremely portable and affordable guide for collectors on the go who want to be in the know

Antique authority Mark Moran introduces Warman's new Collector Companion series in high style with this beautifully illustrated and portable package. In this sophisticated, and user-friendly guide, readers will discover:

-Solid collector information rooted in the popular Warman's McCoy Pottery: Identification and Price Guide

-Tips for spotting McCoy fakes and forgeries and avoiding costly errors

-1,000 vibrant color photos to use in identifying pieces

Plus, company history, background and a review of each category to give collectors more insight into their hobby.

Customer Reviews:

good book.......2007-03-06

this book tells you all the things you need to know about mccoy pottery buy it

Book Description

Sibusiso Mbhele And His Fish Helicopter is a cinematic look at the life and work of a visionary South African outsider artist who sparked the jealousy, wrath, and ultimate rejection of his own community with his wondrous creations of scrap metal flying machines. Based on his eponymous film originally screened in 2000 at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, Koto Bolofo's first monograph documents a young talented South African sculptor forced to flee his rural home - a full-sized, hand-built metal facsimile of a helicopter that created an odd sight against a background of traditional thatched huts in his African village. Self-taught, Mbhele earned his living creating scrap metal sculptures of planes, cars, and bicycles from wire, car wrecks, oil tin drums, and other recycled materials. After making the headlines of the local newspapers, Mbhele's neighbors, jealous of his recognition and success, destroyed his creations and his beloved helicopter home. They had him jailed, and though he was later released, the tension and threat of further trouble was enough to make Mbhele take flight from his precious helicopter haven and head for the security of the city and the unknown.

Book Description

Once Carl Upchurch was an elementary school dropout fighting for survival on the streets of South Philadelphia, a gang member wedded to a life of violence, a bank robber facing a future in federal penitentiaries. Now he is a respected community organizer and one of the most compelling and visionary leaders of the civil rights movement. Catapulted into the national spotlight following his organization of a summit that brought together the country's most notorious gangs. Carl Upchurch has found himself in direct conflict with other African American civil right leaders. This is his scathing critique of t he established civil rights movement and his bold manifesto for solving the critical problems facing today's urban American. And this is his own unforgettable story-reality of urban crime gang warfare, and racial injustice from one who knows firsthand what it's like to be Convicted in the Womb

Customer Reviews:

Convicted in the Womb.......2007-01-03

I bought this for my son. He feels that this this is a good book. It was very inspirational to him.

The Womb is Sacred.......2001-10-27

"Convicted in the Womb" is a deeply captivating too true autobiography that reads like the first half of the life of an untold number of African-American men in the last half century.
The detailed descriptive analysis of the terms and concepts Niggerization, DeNiggerization, and AntiNiggerization is not only long overdue to the public, but gives voice and creedence to particularly those men who can identify with Carl Upchurch's
LIFE Experiences and Mission.
For someone like myself to live and breath my passion in teaching incarcerated teen boys in a court-mandated program called ACE - Adolescent Counseling Education, copies of "Convicted In The Womb" have now been placed into the hands of all my students. Through this story they can see themselves, each other, and how they place in the history of this country. They also have read and expressed that it's truly the first book they have ever read, and wanted to read!!!! This is a story to be shared and read together and discussed, because IT MEANS BUSINESS. This is a story that must be understood. People must be understood! It teaches how when we look at our personal circumstances, and then have the opportunity to look outside our life,"hood",and prison life, particularly through books, and then we can find our FREEDOM, our HOPE, our POSSIBILITIES, our ANSWERS, our WISDOM, OUR TRUE POWER IN UNITY. My students know that I care about them and demonstrate it by my fierce committment to AntiNiggerization. May the Youth of America read this book! May the people who work with Youth read this book! May the Prison Staff read this book! May our Spiritual Leaders and Activists read this book! May the High Schools and Colleges put this in their adopted book lists for VIOLENCE PREVENTION coursework and THE RESOURCE MANUAL for all students on how to help our youth coming up with the Community Work they can do to CHANGE our World for the better!!! And so May the Politicians read this book! May the Parents [who understandably worry about their childrens' safety and future] read this book. My students all know now that there are people all over this country changing things for the better, people just like them, and they have our support!!! My students are learning that the Womb is Sacred, we all as Equals are Sacred.

What is next?.......2001-06-03

It has been about 4 years now since I read this book. To me it was an excellent autobiography and told a miraculous story. So, Carl, what have you been up to since?

Hope and Inspiration.......2000-12-31

Carl vividly describes his life beginning as a young child. The challenges he faced growing up in this society are dramatically expressed in the first paragraph of the book. This is clearly a story of hope and inspiration as it shows the struggles one endures in making positive changes in one's life. Carl shows how God worked in his life and how the impact of the Holy Spirit in one person's life can impact the world. Many inmates identify with Carl's life experiences and view him as a role model. Carl's story quickly invites the reader into his life and is difficult to put down until the last page is read.

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