The Oxygen Man: A Novel

Average customer rating:

Honestly post-Modern.

Honestly post-Modern.

Bad Dreams

"Baggage should always be left behind. Travel fast and travel light."

Yawnnnnnnnn!!!!!!

The Oxygen Man: A Novel
Steve Yarbrough
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Domestic Life | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743201655

Book Description

In this powerful and gritty first novel, Steve Yarbrough takes us into the deep-South world of Ned Rose, who works nights checking the oxygen levels in fish-farm ponds and does all the dirty work his wealthy boss requires. He silently shares the family home with his sister Daze, who is nearly blinded by bitterness, obsessed with her mother's reputation as a loose, lustful woman. Since his angry teenage years as a scholarship student at a posh, segregated school, Ned's life has been marred by a violence that erupts loudly and quickly disappears, leaving him filled with secrets and regret. When one last hope for deliverance emerges, however, both brother and sister are forced to come to terms with their heritage.

Customer Reviews:

Honestly post-Modern........2006-12-31

This book was a scary look at the South. Ned takes us through a time-warp back to the seventies, and his growing up years. The balance of Ned with Daisy helps us understand the challenges of growing up white and poor. This perspective is filled with honest, gritty realism. Mr. Yarbrough's style is definitely post-modern, and I would pair this illuminating novel with any similar ethnic growing-up story for teaching purposes.

Honestly post-Modern........2006-12-31

Bad Dreams.......2006-09-13

Midway through this book, I had a violent dream in which I was committing violence, pounding someone to death.

Frankly, the book is a depressing trip. The use of the N-word is rife. Both the protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) have some real psychological issues. Depravity, utter lack of moral, violence, abuse, etc all point to a spiritual center of zero. If that is the point, I don't see the necessity for reading about it; there's nothing more novel about that than what we can find in the daily news.

Technically, the book is interesting, and so are the details. Afterall, not everyone gets to work at a fish farm.

I am just not sure it is worth anyone's time to slog through a book with a denouement that resolves itself only at the very last hour, and then, we still aren't sure of any results, good, bad, or just a sloshy gray.

"Baggage should always be left behind. Travel fast and travel light.".......2006-07-21

In a contrast between a troubled past and present discontent, Ned Rose chafes under the abusive mentality of his boss, Mack Bell. Since high school, Mack has retained the upper hand, seducing the more vulnerable Ned by allowing him to join the social circle of the all-white high school football team, yet never letting Ned forget his background. Long-buried in their history is a shameful incident that leaves Ned in Mack's power and contributes to the tensions that surface in their adult years. This is clearly a one-sided relationship that will come to a climax, Ned's internalized rage and self-disgust eventually unbearable. Meanwhile, Ned's sister, Daze, watches her brother from a distance with disgust and distrust.

Raised by a distant housepainter father and an amoral mother, Ned and Daze fend for themselves, bearing the family shame in silence, isolating in their misery. While Daze allows herself to escape into a romance, Ned withdraws into himself, nursing his unhappiness. By the end of their teens, Mack will have permanently scarred both their lives irrevocably. As adults, the Mississippi delta leaves few options for brother and sister, Daze working in a local bar and Ned patrolling Mack's catfish ponds on the graveyard shift, aerating when necessary, while monitoring for potential problems. When someone begins sabotaging the ponds in the dark of night, Mack believes he knows the culprit and determines to deal with the culprits outside of the law. Long inured to Mack's kind of justice, Ned finally reaches his breaking point after a lifetime of emotional abuse.

With the Southern way of life as a backdrop, Ned and Daze are confronted with their humiliating past and the demands of the future; after too many years under the boot of the more powerful Mack, Ned realizes that until he faces his nemesis, the future will remain intolerable. Moody and atmospheric, Ned's appointment with destiny drives The Oxygen Man, a need to free himself from years of victimhood and claim his manhood in a final desperate cry for release. Luan Gaines/2006.

Yawnnnnnnnn!!!!!!.......2006-05-03

Readable, but forgetable. If someone wants to give it to you, take it and read it. If they want to sell it for more than pocket change, pass.

Customer Reviews:

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

The Justice League have a bit of a disagreement, and one bunch decides they need to get their hands a little dirtier.

This group is led by one of the Elite from an earlier storyline. However, given that storyline was a commentary on the Authority et. al., the JLA having their own version of Stormwatch Black is not really believable. Particularly with Flash and Green Arrow in there, the non-lethal approach will cause conflict, as you know there will be no brain splattering punches a la Jack Hawksmoor.

A mixed bag........2006-12-06

Justice League Elite is the quintessential mixed bag. Though mostly by the same creative team of Joe Kelly and Tom Nguyen, the results vary by a great degree.

For starters we have a reprint of "What's so funny about Truth, Justice and the American Way?", which is a Superman story, not a JLA story. It's probably the best Superman story since Roger Stern left the series, in fact. It's a great reminder of what makes Big Blue special, and yes, it introduces the Elite (the first incarnation, anyway).

Following that, we have JLA # 100, where the new version of this team shows up. The story is a misdirection tale by Kelly where the Elite appear to be villains again, but all is not what it seems! By the end of the tale, we have a situation not unlike Marvel's Thunderbolts, a team of rough-edged, but reformed villains who the world still believe to be bad. That's where the covert Justice League Elite come in, and it's where the story bogs down.

The problem is that the new characters are not all well-defined. Only Vera Black gets a rounded personality, and the more established characters in the book tend to take a back seat to the new ones who are enigmas to the readership. Add it Kelly's penchant for choppy plotting, and it can be confusing at times, though the spotlight issue on the Flash was a highlight for me.

Overall, I recommend it, but it's a notch below the rest of the JLA line. And the JLE issues themselves don't hold up to the rest of the book.

Elite?.......2006-03-16

I will avoid any spoliers to this, but wasn't the first half of this book already done, excellently I might add, in "Kingdom Come"? That being said the second part was very interesting and enjoyable. I am a little curious how the "bad guys" always seem to have a way of incapcitating serious heavy hitters, like Vera, but not killing them when they are in fact killers. I really don't like the way the writers use this medium as a way to take jabs at our government (the cell phone conversation). This is not our world, there is no Metropolis, Gotham, or Central City here, but I can easily read between the lines. I go to these places to escape from this world, not to be reminded in so very unsuttle ways of how everyone that thinks the comic book world could be real is a facist marxist liberal. DC should tread lightly in this realm, I would bet that a good majority of their non-traditional readers are at least moderately conservative.

YOUR BADGE?, THANK YOU... WELCOME TO THE J.L.E........2006-02-02

While I'm not 100% sure, this collection feels incomplete - we open with a setting of the stage and positioning of all the players, and the arrival of THE ELITE and their view that the world, it's people, it's laws and the heroes (both super, and human) who protect it are corrupt and should be pushed aside, removed, or killed to make way for a New World Order.

It's brutal, violent and coldly rational - and seems to make perfect sense...if it wasn't for all the killings. THE ELITE are unlike anything the JLA have ever fought before. They're more than powerful, they are all but Gods among us - so it comes as a bit of a disappointment that they not only fold so quickly, but that Superman alone manages to bust them up. Granted Superman does so with brains over brawn, he outsmarts and tricks them into exposing their weaknesses - but when push comes to punch, Superman can't match THE ELITE in power. He's our hero, our values, our way of life - he's fair play and Sunday baseball and lemonade - so THE ELITE get off easy. But, something happens to the leader of THE ELITE, one Manchester Black, in a story that is presented to us as a flashback (but missing from the book itself) and is killed.

From then on THE ELITE falls under the sway and control of Black's sister - but the dark edge remains, it's just now "working" for the good guys. In short, it's the CIA, NSA, BLACK OPS arm of the JLA - it's the stealth team that takes the battle to the bad guys before they have time to mount their evil plans (sound familiar?)... and for most of the book, this works. The tension between the two teams, the clashing of ideology, fair play, justice and the rules. And the unexpected, and nicely handled, turning of THE FLASH from scarlet speedster, to midnight traveller - working both sides of the coin, playing on both teams. This is the best part of the book, and is paid off nicely when we see THE FLASH push himself and his powers to the limit to literally be in two places at once (and wearing both costumes at the same time - while the art work is split between two artists as well to show us the different moods of each team: everything with THE ELITE is dark and dank, while everything with the JLA is bright and colorful) saving the day for both teams... excellent work.

But the rest is a mess. There are subplots and past stories that never really connect - and the plot, while rich, is never mined as deeply as it could be. As dark as the series is (both in story and on the page itself) it never really crosses the line - never fully takes the battle to the heart of the problem, and therefore falls short.

It is what it is - a comic book, and being so the answers have to come a bit easier, the attitudes and views have to be less complex, and while it strikes a cord with what absolute power does to a person - it never crosses the line to drive that point home.

A good start to a great idea - and only VOLUME ONE in the series, it could get better.

awesome.......2005-10-28

One of the best by the creative teams of DC... very intricate plot development, the heroes (or rather antiheroes) walk a delicate moral tightrope... also has the flavour of a psychological thriller...

Highly recommended!

Customer Reviews:

Spiders, supernatural powers, and fully rounded characters?.......2004-09-29

What more do you want? Van Pelt's first book is a keeper. In this very good collection, we are introduced to seventeen of Van Pelt's stories. The majority of these stories connect immediately and won't let go of the reader's interest until the end. (Like "Nor a Lender Be" or "The Yard God".) Granted, some are relative flops ("Parallel Highways"), but there are no really bad stories in this collection. Most of them have a strange dual sense of originality and familiarity, almost like returning to a childhood home after many years. His stories are also very difficult to pin down into any one genre, which I think is a very good thing. If anything, it provokes discussion.

With this book, and hopefully another on the way, Van Pelt seems to be breaking into book markets and some of the more "mainstream" short SF publishers, like Asimov's and Analog. I'm very impressed with Van Pelt's work, and look forward to any more work that he may produce.

I hope there's a second volume..........2003-04-22

Simply put, "Strangers and Beggars" is one of the best short story collections I've ever read.

Sixteen of the seventeen stories kept me riveted from start to finish. Though the stories cover a wide variety of themes, settings, and characters, they share a solid foundation of Mr. Van Pelt's great writing and vivid imagination. If you enjoy the book even half as much as I did, you'll have gotten more than your money's worth.

Writer in the classroom.......2003-04-02

Jim is a friend. While he was collecting the short stories for Strangers and Beggars he withdrew one. Not right for this collection. This collection might be used in a classroom and as a teacher Jim knew that the withdrawn story was not right for a classroom.

Great decision. I can share each and every one of his tales and keep the young reader's interest. The book is on the American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults.

You know these people..........2002-09-24

Short stories are snapshots. Snapshots often reveal a truth that a formal photograph cannot. The seventeen snapshots in this collection are divided into sections (Teaching, Love, Death, Time) but they all feature the same thing: touching characters in extraordinary and true circumstances.

No matter how odd the situation, the reader can connect with the character; under the nonsensical lies plain truths we can all understand. Don't fit into your surroundings? Don't despair; neither do many of the people you'll meet in these stories.

Take Miss Hathaway. She has a problem with a spider in her classroom and when she's directed to take care of it herself, she does, but in an altogether unexpected manner. Demi has the ability to sense the life-force of insects, but even better, she can channel that energy. Yet, nothing ever goes how one expects it to--good for readers, heartbreaking for Demi.

The death dwarves have even bigger problems. They're just trying to do their job, which is to bring death to the masses. Our Intrepid Hero John Minor gets in the way. What's he thinking? Another man trying to do his job is Pierce. That job involves recording the voices of the past. He's recording something he shouldn't be, and just can't stop himself.

Ever have a neighbor who doesn't want to adhere to the covenants of the community? You're already familiar with Gary then, who seems determined to paint his house black. Owen doesn't like this at all, though his wife keeps going over there...

Have you ever sacrificed something near and dear for love? Ever dared to speak forbidden words? Relied on a sixth sense during a baseball game? Have you crouched atop your desk at work while sharks circle? Of course you have.

Which means you'll relate to the people in these stories. You'll understand their dilemmas, their heartbreak, their fear.

And that makes this collection a treasure. It's science fiction and it's fantasy, but at its heart, it's truth.

Do you like Stephen King?.......2002-09-19

Then you'll like James Van Pelt's "Strangers and Beggars." The stories here cover fantasy and science fiction with an emphasis on fantasy in the modern world. They are at once thought provoking and entertaining. Van Pelt is a name to watch for.

Average customer rating:

Coffee table book that also has true substance

Riveting reading for the chocolate lover

The Story of Chocolate

A Really Nice Book

All Hail the Food of the Gods

The New Taste of Chocolate: A Cultural and Natural History of Cacao with Recipes
Maricel Presilla
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Chocolate | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
History | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1580081436

Amazon.com

The first time Maricel Presilla tasted cocoa from her grandmother's farm in eastern Cuba, she expected the papaya-looking fruit to be full of Hershey kisses. Instead she saw lumpy, tan-colored seeds in a sticky, sweet-tart ivory pulp that reminded her of lychees, and it didn't even smell like chocolate. In The New Taste of Chocolate, Presilla follows the life of a cocoa pod from a sapling through harvest, fermentation, roasting, and production to arrive at what we all recognize as chocolate. Formally trained in cultural anthropology, Presilla relates the history of chocolate from even before the Aztecs. With attention to detail, she gives an overview of cocoa plantations and their farming practices and the different strains of true cocoa, Theobroma cacao. About two dozen unusual, interesting recipes follow, each by a different chef or pastry chef. Wayne Brachman's Pecan-Guaranda Chocolate Tart with Mango and Papaya reminds us of cocoa's tropical roots, while Pierre Hermé's Chocolate Croquettes with Coconut, Pistachio, and Pearl Tapioca Sauce are pure elegance. You'll never look at chocolate the same way again. --Leora Y. Bloom

Book Description

Cacao importer and chocolate expert Maricel Presilla takes chocoholics to new territory—to the almost primeval plantations of Latin America, where the world's first, and today's finest, cacaos are grown. Presilla, who is at the forefront of the revolution in fine chocolate making, explains that the flavor and quality of chocolate depend on the complex genetic profiles of different cacao strains and on cacao farmers carrying out careful, rigorous harvesting and fermentation practices. With 25 recipes from internationally known pastry chefs and chocolatiers like Pierre Hermé and Elizabeth Faulkner, and directions for making chocolate at home, THE NEW TASTE OF CHOCOLATE elevates our taste for this food of the gods to a whole new level.

Customer Reviews:

Coffee table book that also has true substance.......2005-08-24

_The New Taste of Chocolate_ has the beautiful pictures of a coffee table book, but it has a lot of academic substance and a lot of value to the reader.

The main chapters are:
- Growing Up with Cacao
- A Natural and Cultural History of Chocolate
- From Cacao to Chocolate
- Identifying Cacao
- Tasting Chocolate
- Recipes

There is also a glossary, and a list of companies to order fine chocolate from.

For a beginner like myself, who loved chocolate but hadn't progressed much beyond Hershey's with Almonds when I read the book, _The New Taste of Chocolate_ was very educational. It explained the path from cacao bean to chocolate bar, and it also explained the difference between dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. It explained how cocoa powder comes from chocolate, why chocolate is so difficult to make candy with if you don't know what you're doing, and why fancier recipes will sometimes specify chocolate manufacturer and cacao percentage.

It was also quite interesting to read about the guidelines for tasting chocolate. The discussion about criollo, forastero, and trinitario cacao plants was very fascinating from a scientific standpoint. I later found that what is true for cacao trees is true for many other types of plants (including wheat): the plants that make the tastiest & highest quality edible parts are also the least productive and most delicate, so growers & breeders have to choose whether to grow something that will almost certainly produce a less-desired but still profitable crop, or to grow something that has an uncertain yield but is highly profitable should the plant actually produce anything.

The recipes were also interesting. After reading this book, I became more adventurous in my chocolate-tasting and started trying some of the European imports I see in the local grocery stores. My only regret is I am now knowledgeable enough and my tastes are spoiled enough that M&Ms and Hersheys with Almonds seem pretty bland.

Riveting reading for the chocolate lover.......2003-05-24

For anyone with more than a passing interest in chocolate and it's origins, this is an absolutely riveting read - packed with information and astonishing anecdotes.

The Story of Chocolate.......2003-04-18

The first chapter is a view of chocolate from both a historical and botanical perspective. The next chapter traces the complete life cycle of chocolate, from seedling, to mature tree, fruit, harvest, drying, fermentation, shipment, factory processing, and transformation into chocolate bars. The third chapter concentrates on the diversity of different cacao tree varieties, from criollo, to forasteros, to trinitarios. The last chapter is a collection of recipes that were developed for specified brands of chocolate.

The main strength of this book is that it teaches the chocolate lover that it really does matter about the cacao beans, just as it matters with coffee beans or wine grapes. Where was it grown? What variety is it? How was the fermentation and drying handled? Was it shipped properly? What types of beans were blended? What does the final product taste like? Is it high quality or just another mass-produced blend?

The flavor of chocolate varies all over the place, and one must know about the cacao beans it was produced from. This book makes a strong case for the opinion that if the consumer does not demand better quality chocolate, the great producers of the world will not give it to them. I learned that the expensive "boutique" brands of chocolate (E Guittard and Scharffenberger to name only 2 local such companies) really are worth the extra money. If nothing else, this book should raise the awareness of the chocoholic of the quality of the chocolate. The good news is that the chocolate companies really are capable of producing superior quality chocolate if the consumer demands it.

On the whole, this book is a mixed lot. It will inspire you to try all of the new, expensive "boutique" brands of chocolates. The recipes are intriguing in concept, but rather ordinary; only a couple of the Mexican-inspired hot chocolates are of interest. The most important part of this book is the list of resources listed in the back where you can learn about and buy all these chocolates. Also listed are books, classes, and websites that are very valuable sources of information.

On the other hand, once you finish reading the book, it will then become just another coffee table book. You will not be tempted to open this book again, except maybe to get that special website for that special brand of chocolate that you cannot find in the grocery store.

A Really Nice Book.......2003-02-03

I have read a lot of chocolate books, but this one took my breath away. Beautifully written. The author's love of cacao shows through on every page. Great pictures. Very informative.

All Hail the Food of the Gods.......2002-09-28

While the recounting of the history of chocolate along with a complete step-by-step perusal of the journey from bean to bar may offer compelling enough reason to purchase this book, I think the chapters on tasting the different qualities of that sinful commodity even more coersive. Anyone who likes to use chocolate in their culinary creations, may find the variety of finer qualities of couverture daunting. Which to use when whipping up a delicate mousse or a flourless liquid center cake? What spices compliment and which deterioriate? Never fear--the author diligently answers all such queries by recounting a tasting procedure which explains color, flavor characterizations, desirable and undesirable aromas and texture to well-educate your palate while insuring your choice of a specific chocolate to fit your expectations.
In addition, some twenty recipes are included to showcase the wide ranging possibilities of this food of the gods. From truffles to sachertorte, you cannot want for a more delicious palette of ideas to enhance your taste buds.
The layout of the book is unsurpassed; the photos are as luscious as the subject, making it the perfect gift
Recommended to all those who enjoy discovering new things about things you already love.
Also recommended to compliment this book is the novel "The Discovery of Chocolate", which traces the history of chocolate from discovering its Aztec roots to the production of Hershey's chocolate bars as seen through the eyes of a miraculously slow-aging Spaniard of the 15th century. Delicious descriptions of sumptious chocolate creations abound. Have a homemade hot chocolate ready to sip and savor while you read.

Book Description

A user friendly home medical reference. This invaluable guide identifies and explains existing and potential problems. Find out how location of a cage can affect your snake's appetite, or how a snake can become "mouse shy". Learn how to identify and correct problems associated with maladaptation, burns, constipation, dehydration, skin lesions, diarrhea, improper shedding, lack of appetite, feeding frequency, overheating, parasites, mouth rot, reproductive failure, rodent injuries, respiratory problems, vomiting, weight loss, seizures, tremmors, incoordination and just about anything else that may be commonly found with the captive care of snakes. 150 pp.

Customer Reviews:

Good book, worth having, would have liked it a bit more expanded though..........2007-06-09

I enjoy having this book. I wish I had stumbled upon it sooner. It would have helped me to solve some of my more puzzling predicaments that I had to figure out on my own. That having been said - this book contains mostly medical problems that can be avioded by proper husbandry, and doesn't get too specific. I have used this book several times, although it never really told me much I didn't know or suspect. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is thinking of getting a snake, or lizard too really. I have kept herps for a decade now and only got the book a year or so ago, so I'd already read about and learned a lot through experience and other herp reading, but this does give more information than care sheets, or generalized herp books. I would have liked it better if it had more problems covered, as several times I have thought to check the book, only to find no mention of my specific problem. But for the most common problems the book covers prevention, home treatment, and vet treatment. It is a must-have for any reptile owner, or prospective reptile owner.

Better than the mundane 'keeper' books.......2007-04-23

If you're like me, you're at a point where the "Keeping blank Snake" books are getting *very* repetetive (how many times do you have to read how warm to keep a python...?) and textbooks are more than you need. However, it is nice to get new information about your pet. This is an excellent book for that. Nothing ground breaking or earth shattering, but an excellent resource for illness, and, better, something a little bit different and good to read and learn about.

Every snake owner should have a copy of this book........2006-07-06

It's a great book, there really isn't much else to say about it. If you're even thinking about getting a snake, buy this.

Very Good Reference.......2005-08-02

I have been raising and breeding snakes for over 30 years and I found this book to be very helpfull for most ailments and has good suggestions for treatment. I would have really liked more color pictures, but for the price it will be hard to beat.

all in one.......2003-02-22

I bought this book on a whim. I was trying to find something that addressed all the problems that snake owners encounter. This book is wonderful with very clear descriptions of illnesses and injuries. You are able to look at your snake, and then immidiately look it up in the book. It gives you immidiate treatment, whether you need a vet's help or not. It covers all the most common antibiotics, their doses, and purpose. This is a MUST have for anyone with a snake, or an entire collection. This is the only book I found that covered just about everything I have ever needed to know about snake care and preventative care.

What's Wrong With My Snake (Advanced Vivarium Systems)

Average customer rating:

What's Wrong With My Snake (Advanced Vivarium Systems)
John Rossi , and Roxanne Rossi
Manufacturer: BowTie Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

Reptiles & Amphibians | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1882770846

Average customer rating:

What's Wrong With My Snake?
John and Roxanne Rossi
Manufacturer: The Herpetocultural Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NPPY5S

Customer Reviews:

Engagement Ring Book.......2007-01-12

Excellent book. A must for anyone purchasing an engagement or wedding ring.

What do diamond flaws look like? This book will not tell you.......2002-08-09

I purchased this book along with the book Diamond Ring buying guide by Renee Newman. This book only contained B/W diagram drawings and described the 'flaw's that diamonds have. Hello? dianmonds are not B/W diagram drawings, that little dot on the drawing tells me nothing!
The book seems to ramble and drone on and on about diamonds, like a good old high school history book. Of all the 14 pages of color photos, there are 6 pages dedicated to 'designer rings' and the rest are just photos of different styles of jewelery. What does a yellow diamond look like? What about a diamond that was cut incorrectly? A simple line drawing does not help at all.
I found Newman's book much more detailed and well written than this book. Newman has many photos, practically the entire book is made up of color photos of diamonds and flawed diamonds (so you know that to look for).
If you have a lot of time on your hands and don't mind a boring book, then buy this book, other wise Newman has condensed this 300 page book into just a mere 150 pages or so into hers.

Helpful.......2002-06-07

This book was really helpful in making me feel comfortable shopping for a ring for my girlfriend.

I also used howtoproposemarriage. com to come up with a proposal that knocked her socks off.

I can't see the stars through the clouds.......2002-01-19

After reading quite a few books in this category; I found Matlins book informative but not practical in the real world. The book was in my opinion too generalized and wasn't what I needed, i.e. expert advise on how to buy a top quality diamond from a reputable jeweler at the best price. If you want to learn about the history of the diamond the book might pass but won't tell you what you need to know if your out shopping for one.

Best purchase I ever made.......2001-12-23

Before I bought this book, nothing worried me more than buying a diamond (not even buying a car or a house). After visiting several jewelery stores I was even more worried. I was concerned that there was a lot of information that I was missing beyond the "4 C's" (Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat). So, I decided I needed to do some research before I purchased an engagement ring and luckily I stumbled across this wonderful book.

This book provided me with all of that missing information in a format that was to the point and easy to understand. It taught me how to tell the difference between Cubic Zirconia and Diamond, how to tell if I was looking at the diamond that was listed on the certificate, convinced me that cut was the most important quality in a diamond and most importantly, it told my WHY.

Book Description

This well-illustrated volume covers diamonds, colored gems, and pearls. It takes the anxiety out of buying engagement and wedding rings, turning it into the magical and romantic experience it should be.The authors explain the romantic traditions of diamonds and colored gems in engagement and wedding rings through the centuries and offer expert advice on how to make this once-in-a-lifetime purchase a perfect one. Included are all the steps to determining the quality of a diamond or colored gemstone and judging value. Advice on how to design the rings, and lots of illustrations to help.Selected contents:Retail Price Guides for Diamonds, Colored Gems, and Pearls.The Romance of the Ring.Engagement and Wedding Ring Traditions and Romance.The Allure of Diamonds: What is Diamond?Selecting the Diamond.Comparing Diamond Prices.The Magic & Mystery of Colored Gems.Getting the Best Value in Colored Gems.What to Ask When Buying the Stone.Design and Style: Getting the Look You Want.The Wedding Bands: Gem-Studded, Gold, & Platinum.Consumer Beware: How to Spot a Fraud.Important Advice Before You Buy; Questions to Ask.List of Certified Appraisers.

Customer Reviews:

Engagement & Wedding Rings by Antoinette Matlins.......2000-09-26

My husband and I purchased this book in 1993 when we were talking about "getting engaged". This book helped my husband in learning a great deal about diamonds and how its not just size that matters. We have used this book over the years for every diamond purchase we have made - which have been quite a few. Ms. Matlins' book is informative and fun. We have recommended this book to friends and family and constantly use it as a foundation in making diamond and fine jewelry purchases that will last a lifetime.

Good starting point -- but there's no substitute for stones!.......1999-06-14

I bought this book about six months before I planned to buy the ring, and it really gave me a good starting point for shopping. I found (like others have said) that when I went to jewellery stores and made it clear I had an idea about what I wanted to spend and what kind of diamond I wanted, I was given a great deal more respect by the salespeople then when I shopped without that information. This book helped prepare me for my shopping experience, but in no way was I ready to purchase after simply reading about diamonds. I needed to go out and look at different types of stones, and decide what we wanted to buy. After all, a diamond is more then just metrics and cost, it's value is in it's beauty, and beauty is judged by the eye. Each stone is unique, and so to get a feel for what diamond to buy, one needs to look at actual diamonds.

This book also helped me build a relationship with a jeweller -- something far more valuable then the raw information in the text -- because it gave me the information I needed to begin evaluating diamonds with confidence, and thus I was able to choose a dealer I felt comfortable with, and who provided me with what I knew was a good value.

One area where this book is lacking is in the insurance arena. It could provide more information about the options provided.

It should also list online links to diamond-related sites. I found a number of useful sites during my personal searches that should be in an appendix.

a must read before shopping for an engagement ring.......1998-09-04

I read this book few years ago cover to cover before I purchased the diamond ring for my then-girlfriend (now wife). It is very good.

I notice that even the jewelry stores merchants talk differently once they found out you know their trade. Some even brought out a different collection because they know you appreciate the better quality. Knowing how to tell the difference in quality prevent you from being ripped off.

I wonder if the new edition coming up this year will talk about the injection into the market of large batches of diamonds stolen from the Russian Treasury.

If you are buying an engagement ring, read this book first!.......1998-08-23

I read this book cover to cover, more than once, when my fiance and I bought my ring. I am now giving a copy to my brother. This book has everything you need to know to pick the perfect diamond or colored stone FOR YOU, and it gives all you need to know to avoid paying too much or getting ripped off. Read this book and shop with complete confidence, knowing that you will know how to get exactly what you want (and not what someone else thinks you ought to buy). This book covers absolutely EVERYTHING about how diamonds and colored stones are cut, graded, priced and sold. SPECIAL NOTE: Colored stones are frequently more valuable than diamonds and this is the ONLY book I have ever seen that explains how to evaluate them. An indispensible reference for diamond and colored stone jewelry.

If your shopping, then this one is a must.......1998-05-12

...Yup, there is history and fluff, but you can skip past those parts if you want. The author explains in detail, all the stuff that might come up when shoppinig and has correct recomendations as to what is okay and when you should keep looking.

Engagement & Wedding Rings, The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love

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Engagement & Wedding Rings, The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love
Antoinette L., Antonio C. Bonanno, & Jane Matlins
Manufacturer: South Woodstock, VT: Gemstone Press, 1990
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NV887I

Engagement and Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love

Average customer rating:

Engagement and Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love
Antoinette Leonard; Crystal, Jane; Bonann Matlins
Manufacturer: Gemstone Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY46XK

Customer Reviews:

THIS BOOK SHOULD HAVE A WARNING LABEL.......2007-07-26

This is the worst book ever written on North Carolina pottery, or Southern pottery generally. THIS BOOK SHOULD HAVE A WARNING LABEL! It is packed with misinformation and inaccuracies. There are some nice pictures, but otherwise it is poorly researched and poorly written. Examples: 1. On page 51, writing of J B Cole: "He was quick to switch his kilns from wood to oil and gas." Actually, Waymon Cole converted the wood kiln to kerosene in the early 1950s, about 10 years after J B Cole died, and the kiln was rebuilt for propane in the early 80s. 2. Two pages (9 and 65) feature a picture of a very nice pair of Waymon Cole floor vases, described as "circa 1940." They are clearly from the 50s or early 60s. 3. Page 65: "[C C Cole] ran a pottery production shop but was not himself a potter." Charlie Cole was a potter, but he gave up turning after he lost a finger because of a snake bite. 4. Page 68: "[Dorothy & Walter] Auman pottery was hand-signed 'Seagrove, NC' or 'Seagrove Pottery' on the bottom." While I haven't seen every piece of Seagrove Pottery, NONE of the many hundreds that I have seen were so marked. 5. Page 11, speaking of the Great Wagon Road and early settlers: "This slow stream of people rolled down the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia, coming south to the Catawba Valley . . . ." Actually, NO! There is an illustration on the same page showing the Great Wagon Road entering North Carolina at the wrong place and from the wrong direction and running to the Yadkin River, which is accurate. That branch of the Great Wagon Road actually came from the Roanoke Valley and was also known as the Carolina Road. The western branch of the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road, called The Great Road, ran to the Holston Valley and into northeast Tennessee, but NOT to the Catawba Valley! There is a very clear and traceable relationship of early redwares beginning in eastern Pennsylvania, then moving into western Pennsylvania, then into the Shenandoah Valley, then to central NC by way of the Carolina Road and to southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee by the Great Road western branch. No such relationship exists with the Catawba Valley potters, who are generally considered to have come from South Carolina, bringing with them the alkaline-glazing technique which was completely absent in Virginia, Tennessee, and central North Carolina. 6. They also have Asheville labeled as "Asheboro" in the illustration on the same page. These samples reflect a serious, fundamental lack of knowledge of the history of North Carolina pottery.

Beautiful Book on North Carolina's Historic Pottery Region.......2007-05-07

This beautiful volume documents the history of Seagrove, NC, a hotbed of notable American potters and potteries dating back to the eighteenth century. It's written in a lively and readable style, not bogged down in heavily academic jargon.

As the traditions continue into our own time, the reader is brought into the present by the stories of contempory potters. Some, such as Ben Owen III, are living heirs to many generations.

The book is lavishly illustrated by dozens of photographs of both historic and recent pottery from the area. Also included is a helpful guide to ninety craftsmen currently throwing pots in and around Seagrove, such as Jugtown Pottery, one of the South's most revered potteries.

Seagrove Potters.......2007-01-04

This is a very thorough and informative review of the pottery concentration that I first encountered over 36 years ago on site, including how long the potters and their families had been there in the Seagrove/Plank Road area. Recommend acquisition of this book (and I've bought another as a gift already) to anyone seeking good information about these potters and their excellent work.

Excellent Work!.......2006-11-20

Charlotte Brown puts together a compelling study of the pottery of the the Seagrove community. The text reads like an interesting story that frames the evolution of Seagrove pottery in appropriate historical & geographic context. For experienced or novice potters and collectors, Brown's trained eye and writing skill offer new appreciation for the art form. The photography is stunning and the quality very high! I was amazed that the book was so affordable, and you better believe a LOT of people on my Christmas list will be quite delighted this year!

Book Description

The book is an analysis of the cultural and social functions of law, legal processes and legal rituals in late medieval Northern France. It is centered around a time and a place in which European law underwent some major transformations, from a plethora of local oral customs to a fairly coherent system of national, written customary law. In this process, law and legal procedures came to reflect a great variety of cultural traditions, ranging from popular perceptions of animals and the human body to learned ideas of Roman jurisprudence. Drawing upon wide-ranging sources: judicial, legal, literary and historical, Cohen analyzes the various influences upon the shaping of law as a cultural manifestation and its application as an actual system of justice.

Customer Reviews:

crossroads of justice.......2000-06-23

Esther Cohen's book, The Crossroads of Justice, is intriguing. Her analysis of law and justice gives a fascinating look at the dynamics of community life as well as the relationship of the state to crime and criminal prosecution.

Book Description

In 1986, on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the automobile, the DaimlerChrysler corporation commissioned pop icon Andy Warhol to do a series about cars. Of the 80 planned pictures, which were to document the history of the automobile using 20 models from 1886 to the present, only 35 pictures and 12 large-format paintings were executed--the last series made by the artist, who died in 1987. This large-format book presents the work in total and, along with other commissioned work, further explores the many-faceted subject of "Business Art." Robert Longo's partnership with DaimlerChrysler yielded a series of black-and-white portraits of Mercedes-Benz models; Simone Westwinter created watercolors of the corporation's persons and products; Mathis Neidhart's ongoing project takes a dialectical approach to conveying the brand-name philosophy of the company through art-specific questions. Interviews with John Armleder, Jeff Koons, Robert Longo, and Sarah Morris serve to expand on the subject matter.

Book Description

Charles Carroll of Carrollton is most often remembered as the sole Roman Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. In this monumental study of the Carrolls in Ireland and America, that act vindicates a family's determination to triumph without compromising lineage and faith.

Ronald Hoffman peels back layer after layer of Carroll family history, from dispossession in Ireland to prosperity and prominence in America. Driven to emigrate by England's devastating anti-Catholic policies, the first Carroll brought to Maryland an iron determination to reconstitute his family and fortune. He found instead an increasingly militant Protestant society that ultimately disenfranchised Catholics and threatened their wealth and property. Confronting religious antagonisms like those that had destroyed their Irish ancestors, this Carroll and his descendants founded a fortune--and a dynasty that risked everything by allying with the American Revolutionary cause.

Meeting each crisis with a tenacious will to survive and prevail, the Carrolls earned an esteemed place in the new nation. Hoffman balances private lives against their contentious public role in American history. The journey from Irish rebels to American revolutionaries shaped and shattered the Carrolls--and then remade them into one of the first families of the Republic.

Customer Reviews:

How to build an Aristocrat?.......2005-12-20

Traditional patriotism demands that we believe that the founding fathers of America were all great democratic idealist. Although this may have been true for some, many others had no problem with the idea of an elite ruling class, so long as they were considered the elite. Thus the victory over England can be viewed as less of an American Democratic Revolution and more of a power transition from the English crown to the new American aristocracy.

A primary example of this American elite class was Maryland representative Charles Carroll of Carrollton. A signer of the American Declaration of Independence, Charles of Carrollton was a wealthy planter and businessman who became such not by his own doings but primarily through the inheritance and molding of his father, Charles Carroll of Annapolis. Ever mindful of his Irish and Catholic roots and the persecution therein by English aristocrats, the elder Charles did everything in his power to equip his son to fend off those who would attempt to cripple him politically and economically. In so doing, the elder Charles created a mindset of elitism within his son.

This irony is highlighted by Ronald Hoffman in his book, "Princes of Ireland, Planters of Europe," in which he examines the Carroll family and traces how a persecuted family from Ireland in 1500 came to be one of the prominent families in America by the time of the American Revolution

Eye-Opening History of Colonial and Revolutionary Maryland.......2001-07-03

Ronald Hoffman is an excellent historian who has brought great knowledge of Chesapeake social and cultural history to this biographical work that places three generations of the Carroll family within their colonial context. It is a wonderful biography that gets the reader into the minds and lives of these three Charles Carroll's. But for me the best thing was the number of times it made me think, "Oh, that's how it was." I have read enough colonial history to know that there were lots of tenant laborers and not just slaves in the region, to know that Catholic Maryland quickly became Anglican Maryland, and to know that the Revolution was not just about ideas but also about social change. Ronald Hoffman's narrative, however, really brings these facts home. His book is not about any one of these issues in particular, but in telling the story of three generations of Carroll's in Maryland he brings home the greater circumstances of the colony better than many historians who have set out to make a case for one of the above arguments, or many of the other fascinating takes on early Chesapeake society contained in this highly readable book. I have not read any book lately that I enjoyed more.

Rigorous Analysis Yields Engaging View of Colonial Life.......2001-01-25

I was originally attracted to this book out of a simple curiosity about the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence (Charles Carroll outlived Adams and Jefferson by about six years, or about 56 years after 1776!). On a deeper level, I hoped to learn more about the kind of early capitalist that would be attracted to signing on to the American Revolution in general. What this book helped me discover was a family that had over time become focused, almost obsessed, with making a buck under fairly adverse circumstances (namely, continuing in their Roman Catholic faith that made it difficult for them to thrive, even in an enclave as seemingly sympathetic as colonial Maryland, with its relatively large Catholic population). But when the time came for this family to rise above its simple wealth building and to champion the cause of the Revolution, it did indeed rise to the occasion, however brief and painful the process might be. (Hoffman attends to both the private and public lives of the Carrolls.) The history of the Carrolls is a part of the history of the magic that was the American Revolution. It is not surprising that the book ends abruptly with the death of Charles Carroll's father and his wife, about 10 days apart from one another in 1782 (though there is a brief summing up of Carroll's remaining 50 years and the attention attracted by his death in 1832). The story is told, the dynasty pretty much complete.

What's the book like? At times it seems downright willfully prosaic, and the story proceeds much like a carefully written doctoral dissertation - all conclusions fully supported and made in as logical a context as possible, all contentions politically correct for our time. Hoffman's goal is of course to be scholarly and thorough, not to be entertaining or controversial. Thus the sweep of this history must emerge and coalesce in the mind of the reader. Leave being beaten over the head with the broader conclusions inherent in the narrative to more popularly written histories.

Suffice it to say, if you're a municipal library and you need to beef up your Revolutionary War material, this is a prime buy. If you're a true history buff, this would be an excellent choice to work into your reading list. It has the effect of immersing you into the spirit of the times and providing you with detail you could not have imagined you would find interesting (but you do). If you're a casual reader, just be advised - this is heavy stuff. It's not an easy read, but it is ultimately a rewarding one.

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Princes of Ireland, Planters of Maryland: A Carroll Saga, 1500-1782. (Book Reviews).(Review): An article from: Journal of Southern History
Edward Countryman
Manufacturer: Southern Historical Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Ireland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
Maryland | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008IIUI8
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Southern History, published by Southern Historical Association on November 1, 2001. The length of the article is 903 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: Princes of Ireland, Planters of Maryland: A Carroll Saga, 1500-1782. (Book Reviews).(Review)
Author: Edward Countryman
Publication: Journal of Southern History (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 2001
Publisher: Southern Historical Association
Volume: 67 Issue: 4 Page: 827(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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