Poorhouse Fair

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Beautifully Written, But Dull

One heck of a debut

A slim wonder from a 26 year old -- I hate him!

The young and the old

old men and beautiful prose

Poorhouse Fair
John Updike
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Updike, John | ( U ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0345468236
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Book Description

THE POORHOUSE FAIR was John Updike's first full length novel, published four years after he graduated from Harvard. It concerns the events surrounding a fair put on by members of a poorhouse and is an allegory about charity. Short and succinct, it speaks to those fears all of us have of growing not old, but dependent.

"Since the successful poetic novel--for lack of a more precise term--has long been the most rarefied form of prose fiction, John Updike, the poet and short story writer, has done a startling thing in his first novel...by producing, with almost academic precision, a classic, if not flawless, example of one." --Whitney Balliett, writing in The New Yorker

Customer Reviews:

Beautifully Written, But Dull.......2003-08-03

John Updike's first novel takes place at a home for the elderly (the poorhouse). Published in 1958, the novel takes place in the near-future and chronicles the struggle between the elderly "inmates" of the poorhouse and the new director, Connors. Connor is a relatively young man, and he's hated by the poorhouse residents, especially when compared to the previous director, the loveable Mendellsohn. This hatred seems to stem from mutual distrust and miscommunication.

The action takes place on the day of the annual fair, when the residents sell crafts and other goods to the local townspeople. The fair has always been the residents favorite day, although a burden they simultaneously resent. When the fair goes less then well, the residents revolt, albeit in rather passive ways, against their new leader, further delineating the lines between them.

Updike's greatest asset as a writer has always been his love of language and that gift is present even here, his first novel. Unfortunately, the novel lacks the stronger narrative drive he subsequently developed in novels such as the Rabbit series. At times, the novel is confusing and almost free-form in nature. This situation is particularly pronounced in the final third, when the townspeople converge on the poorhouse, introducing a multitude of new characters and stories.

Although brilliantly written, the novel is sluggish at times. At less than 200 pages, it nevertheless took me a relatively long time to struggle through. In the end, I appreciated many qualities of the book, but frankly I didn't really enjoy it. Recommended primarily for Updike completists.

One heck of a debut.......2003-06-03

I read this book about 15 years ago and just finished rereading it tonight. Have to say it has as much mystery and meaning as Melville, although the dialogue at the end got to be confusing and exasperating. Did I miss something big here? Regardless of some of my frustration with the confusing dialogue and shifting scenes, this book shows an author who is so good he understands the dynamics of growing old - before he even approaches old age. A real power struggle also is at play here between young and old and is one that doesn't seem to get resolved at the end. The author certainly shows his genious not just through description and dialogue - traits that bloom with his later works - but also with his discussion of past presidents as well as God - a theme that pleasantly revererates through his work. Found Hook's and Conner's dialogue about God and faith as a sort of preview for the debate of this subject in a later work - Roger's Version. Not one of his easiest books, by any means, but probably a good intro to his overall work.

A slim wonder from a 26 year old -- I hate him!.......2002-11-20

No, just kidding. I don't hate him; I'm thankful that he's still with us and sharing his words.

In his first novel, we see John Updike about to bloom unto a wonderful writer and most of his themes are here in this slim book: growing old, facing death, thinking about Man and God. I should be able to delve deeper into the themes but I don't read for grand themes, frankly. I read Saul Bellow for the comedy of intellectuals struggling with daily life; I read Iris Murdoch to be among smart folks who seem so damned dumb; and I read Philip Roth for the jolt of the smut from people who should be nicer and holier. That said, I read Updike for the gorgeous language and his mission to catalog the world he sees, like some monk on a mission. Nature is gift to show us how small we are and Updike is here to record everything that catches his gleeming eye.

'The Poorhouse Fair' at first feels like a trifle but it expands after you put the book down. Not to be a jerk, but after reading this book I felt I was watching a commercial for a paper towel expanding, gaining heft and becoming richer after being dipped in a glass of water. Silly, but that's how I feel. Read The Poorhouse Fair, put it down and then read 'Of the Farm' and then get cracking on the Rabbit novels. When you're done with those, we'll talk about 'Couples', and 'Towards the End of Time', and ...

The young and the old.......2002-04-10

A futuristic novel (first published, I think, in 1959) set in an old people's home. I thought that it didn't work well as a futuristic novel - not surprising seeing as I was reading it in 2002. Rather, its main interests for me were in Updike's examination of the difficulties caused by the different world views and attitudes of the characters: the old people; the "prefect" Connor (and his young assistant); and the visitors to the fair.

The tensions between the old people and Connor are reminiscent of Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (which was written later than this novel?), in that rebellion against authority is bubbling away all the time. Yet the real joy of the novel for me was the differt interpretations of the meaning of life and of the possibility of an afterlife: one passage in which a younger person cannot comprehend that one of the old women has dispensed with any concept of the utility or value of money, as she is so near death, was particularly thought-provoking.

Worth a read.

old men and beautiful prose.......2000-04-29

Who but Updike could write a novel about a bunch of grumbling, poor old men and make it a thing of beauty. This is one of Updike's most poetic works, a world completely saturated in self-absorbed imagery, causing the book to writhe with life even though all the characters are either very old or pathetic. Surprisingly there is no adultery in this novel(!), but it is still easily recognizable as Updike by the nature of the gloom and doom observations. Althought the plot itself was a little weak, it seemed really to make no difference; the plot is merely the background which is there simply to showcase the richness and boldness of Updike's prose.

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The Poorhouse Fair
John Updike
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GZY24Y

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Poorhouse Fair
John Updike
Manufacturer: ALFRED A. KNOPF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OJUUPC

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Poorhouse Fair
John Updike
Manufacturer: FAWCETT CREST
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TXL6YW

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The Poorhouse Fair
John Updike
Manufacturer: PENGUIN BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TXJU5E

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The Poorhouse Fair
John UPDIKE
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000CK7WY

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The Poorhouse Fair
John Updike
Manufacturer: New York Fawcett 1958.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LTOIBC

Poorhouse Fair ( AuthorS 1ST nOvel Which Takes Place Central New Jersey About the Dignity of Man in Uncommon Habitat )

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Poorhouse Fair ( AuthorS 1ST nOvel Which Takes Place Central New Jersey About the Dignity of Man in Uncommon Habitat )
dJ Design Harry Ford, B/W Photograph of Author on Back of DJ By Irving Fisk, with One Paragraph Bio of Author Back Inner Flap of DJ John Updike
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf Borzoi Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EACKCC

Product Description

His first novel and second book which was nominated for the National Book Award.

Average customer rating:

THE POORHOUSE FAIR (SIGNED)
JOHN UPDIKE
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RBDPT0

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Poorhouse Fair 1ST Edition
John Updike
Manufacturer: ALFRED A KNOPF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PKSEWG

Book Description

Kagome has returned to her home in modern Japan. Grampa has closed the well and shielded it with spells and scrolls, but Inu-Yasha manages to break through. Kagome and Inu-Yasha return to the other world to fight Yura in a devastating battle. While Inu-Yasha is haunted by his past and the memory of his human mother, Sesshomaru, his full-demon half brother, appears and stages a brutal attack.

Customer Reviews:

interesting note about this particular book.......2007-09-10

interesting note about this particular book
this version ISBN 1-59116-202-5 is in color and read backwards from standard American books -( book opens from the left ) also the plates and translation are different from an earlier (1998 verses this 2001) version I have. both came from the same publisher though, VIZ. I thought this was important and note worthy. also of interest is the written sound affects, they are not in English but there is a translation cell by cell in the book. I think this book is a very cool addition to my budding Inu-Yasha collection.

Ani-Manga Inuyasha Series.......2006-06-20

Before I tell you all about this series I would like to inform you...

I watched the anime series frequently, but I lost track of it when I became busy with my work. So when I saw the books I noticed that it was much like the series even the graphics where alike.

So now on to my review...

The series starts and revolves around a girl, a mission, and a demon boy.

A girl named Kagome is thrown back into the past of what they call 'Feudal Japan'. That is where she realizes that she has a sacred jem in her and it is torn from her body; little does she know that this jem is one of the most desired by demon and human alike.

When in danger she is saved by a half-breed demon named Inuyasha who later becomes a good guy, even if he wishes to become a full demon.

When they two are trying to gain the precious jem back, Kagome ends up shattering it into thousands of peices...as so begins the journey for the scattered peices, and thus that is how a average teenage girl's life is changed into one of saving the past and discovering a feelings between a half-breed dog demon, named Inuyasha...

I hope that that was of so help...

Hypnotic~

Legend becomes reality..........2006-04-14

Book:

Inuyasha, a half demon wishing to become a full demon, is trying to get a jewl but is stopped by a woman named, Kikyo.

The story then goes on and takes place 50 years later, with the exception that Kagome, the re-encarnation of Kikyo, who lives in present Japan and is mysteriously taken back to fudal Japan.

Kagome and Inuyasha must work together to find all the shards of the shattered jewl before the evils of the world get them first...can they do it or will there bickering get the better of them.

---
My Opinion:

After a few pages I soon discovered that one of these books is the equivalent to three Inuyasha episodes...the only difference is the fact you read it and it is on paper...

I would say I enjoyed it but if you don't really care for reading something that you can watch and get the same thing...I don't recommend it...but if your a big fan and you just can't get enough I recommend it for you...

Awesome series.......2005-10-02

This series is way cool. Chaacters are realistic, funny, and likeable. Color is vibrant, plot has great flow and depth. It really keeps you goin. I totally know that anyone would love this series (The action scenes are really cool, too!) Sorry, but I really don't feel like going into all the details. But you'd love this, no doubt.

One of the best anime/manga series I've experienced in a long time.......2005-08-06

Inuyasha (1997.)

INTRODUCTION:
When I was younger, I was a big-time anime fan. Although little of the Japanese animation was being shown on American TV back then, what little I saw, I liked. It fast became apparent that the Japanese had a much better way of creating animation - one that fused seriousness and comedy perfectly, and one that would appeal to people of all ages - NOT just children. And in recent years I had pretty much abandoned my interest in anime altogether. However, I had always remained curious, and in the more recent years I had heard of a series called Inuyasha that was constantly getting praised. I watched a few episodes, and it wasn't hard to see why. The series was created by Rumiko Takahashi, creator of Ranma 1/2 (a series that remains VERY popular.) Although I liked the episodes I saw on TV, they started somewhere in the middle of things, and I wanted to get the story from the beginning. Since the episode DVDs were too pricey, I opted for the manga (comic/graphic novel) version (most animes are based on manga.) And now, an Ani-Manga version has been released! Read on for my review.

STORYLINE:
Inuyasha has one of those stories that's EXTREMELY tough to put into words, but I'll try my best. Bear with me here, people. Several centuries ago in Japan, there were ongoing wars, between humans and demons alike. In modern-day japan, a girl named Kagome lives on a shrine with her family, and one day one of the demons from the past pulls her down the shrine's well. The well is a linking point between the modern age and the age in the distant past, in which wars were raging constantly. She is revealed to be the reincarnation of a priestess who, several years earier, killed an evil half-demon called Inuyasha. But, through several odd twists of fate, she is forced to join forces with the resurrected Inuyasha, to recover the shards of a sacred jewel, which could be used to greatly increase the powers of and demon, good or evil, who gets their hands on them. Although reluctant to help at first, Kagome finally decides to help Inuyasha, realizing that the well is the warp point between times, she doesn't want to put her family in immediate danger. (I KNOW, that's not the best possible summary. If you want a better one, visit one of the various fansites.)

OPINIONS:
Overall, I am very satisfied with this series - it's been a LONG time since I liked an anime and/or manga this much. Rumiko Takahashi has once again succeded beautifully, combining seriousness with comedy, and creating an excellent storyline fusing history and fantasy alike. It was great to finally get the proper introduction to the series. I urge you to get the proper introduction yourself, as well. If you just start watching/reading somewhere in the middle of the series, you may be left dazed and confused and judge the series based on an awkward first impression. DON'T make that mistake.

CURRENT EDITION:
Some Inuyasha fans were not satisfied with the initial standard Viz release of the manga because it was reversed to adapt the American reading style. This personally didn't bother me. The Ani-Manga edition keeps the series in its original right-to-left reading format, plus it uses actual, full-color images from the anime rather than black-and-white drawings. The Ani-Manga version is an excellent take on the series. It costs a little more than the standard manga, but if you're a purist, you might want to shell out the extra cash.

OVERALL:
Inuyasha is the best anime/manga series to come along for me in a long time. It's not hard to see why so many people call it one of their favorites. I personally recommend the manga over the anime, since the manga came first and is, therefore, Takahashi's original vision. Likewise, the DVDs are kind of a rip-off pricewise. But whether you decide to do the anime, the manga, or both, you're likely to agree it's an excellent series.

Inu Yasha Animanga, Volume 13 (Inuyasha Ani-Manga)

Average customer rating:

READ INUYASHA!

Inu Yasha Animanga, Volume 13 (Inuyasha Ani-Manga)
Rumiko Takahashi
Manufacturer: VIZ Media LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1421502526

Book Description

Pulled back in time to Japan's ancient past, Japanese high school girl Kagome finds her destiny linked to a doglike half-demon named Inu-Yasha, who remembers Kagome's previous incarnation as the woman who killed him - and to the Shikon Jewel, or "Jewel of Four Souls," which can fulfill the greatest dreams of any man or monster. Now Kagome and Inu-Yasha must work together to search for the scattered shards of the jewel before everyone's nightmares are given the power the need to come true.

Customer Reviews:

READ INUYASHA!.......2006-02-04

I am getting this book Feb. 08, 06, VERY SOON!!! I AM EXCITED TO SEE THE NEW GREAT PLOTS RUMIKO TAKAHASHI COMES UP WITH NEXT!

Book Description

Richard Stanton considered himself to be a normal guy – a normal guy with a recent streak of bad luck. But when a roadside attack by a group of mysterious strangers leaves him and his best friend, Jeff, running for their lives, Rich must come to grips with reality as he knows it, and find the courage to face his responsibilities. Catapulted on a journey leading from a lakeside cabin to Imperial palaces, from underwater highways to massive orbital battle stations, and from an asteroid field to the heart of the enemy’s lair, Rich races across light years in an attempt to save the life of his ex-fiancée, only to find that he is ensnared in a much larger, much deadlier conflict, the outcome of which will decide the fate of galaxies. To win, Rich must weigh the lives of a select few versus the lives of billions, and face a foe so skillful and ruthless that it will take all of his cunning and ability, and a little bit of luck, to truly earn the salute, ALL HAIL THE EMPEROR!

Customer Reviews:

Great read for anyone!.......2001-04-24

I'm not a sci-fi fan, but I am a fan of this book! Fast-paced adventure, clever dialogue, and lots of special effects make it a fun read and appropriate for anyone. Also, no profanity, blood and guts, or sex--and you won't miss it! I hope Mr. Keaton will write again soon!

Great Book by New Author!.......2000-12-05

This book is wonderful, even for myself who isn't into any kind of science fiction. The characters are great and my roommates and I sat around in our dorm room and read out loud to each other. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants memorable characters, a great plot line and a wonderful read!

Book Description

Who can resist the rich, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth bliss of cheesecake? Cheesecake Extraordinaire presents 121 recipes for this indulgent yet easy-to-make treat. From luscious Chocolate Toffee Cheesecake to lighter-than-air Creamy Lemon Cheesecake, each recipe is sure to please even the most discriminating dessert lover.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2007-10-04

This book offers a wide variety of cheesecakes. I have done about 10 and they are all good. Excellent... a must buy for even beginners!

Used these for my wedding!.......2007-08-04

This is the best book! For my wedding I decided to make my own cheesecakes, I picked 5 different ones, and made a total of 30 cheesecakes! They were such a hit. All of them turned out perfectly (except when I made stupid mistakes, like forgetting to turn off the oven, etc.) and I am now known by friends, family, and out church as "The Cheesecake Lady". In fact my church is having a fundraiser play and they have asked me to make a chesecake to auction off at each performance. When I asked what else they will be auctioning, I was told nothing. That my cheesecakes are so "famous" that's all they are going to have to auction off, and that people are already excited about them. I say all this not to brag, because believe me I don't deserve the praise, it is this cookbook that does. Follow the tips at the beginning, and you'll make beautiful and yummy chesecakes everytime.

Suspicious about review process.......2006-12-07

I did not wish to rate this book with a star but had to enter something... Can someone tell me why the reviews for this book are identical to the reviews for a different cheesecake cook book "I Love Cheesecake"?
I was just reading the reviews for the other book and then planned to compare to the reviews for this book and they're exactly the same reviews???
makes me wonder why I should even bother with reading any of the reviews on this site...and if I should buy any of the books since I cannot tell which one is a good book.

The delicious treat of homemade cheesecake.......2006-12-03

"Cheesecake Extraordinaire" starts off with ingredient notes, equipment, and more; I highly recommend reading the "cheesecake basics" if you aren't familiar with cheesecake-baking. The process is simple, but there are certain steps and aspects to it that are important, and it's the lack of those that so often leads people to think cheesecakes are difficult to make.

The cheesecakes are split into a handful of chapters: beverage-based (most, but not all, of these are based on alcoholic drinks and have a decent amount of alcohol in them), candy and cookie, caramel, chocolate, coconut, custard and spice, fruit, mint, nut, peanut butter, vanilla, and "guilt-free" (i.e., recipes using sugar substitute). Don't get too excited here--most of the recipes are in the first and last chapters, beverage-based and reduced-sugar. For some folks that might be wonderful, but I found it rather limiting. I can't stand the taste of sugar substitutes, and I usually make cheesecake to share with certain friends, some of whom really don't like the taste of alcohol. That severely limits the number of useful recipes in this cookbook for me. It's a personal thing, though--if you'd like those recipes, then those chapters will be more useful to you.

The cheesecakes we've made have certainly tasted absolutely delicious. There's a recipe for individual vanilla cheesecakes that's to-die-for, and a caramel pecan cheesecake that has a delightfully natural and somewhat subtle caramel flavor based primarily in brown sugar. Not a single cheesecake has disappointed.

That said, we have at times left off the frostings or toppings suggested by the book. One wonderful cheesecake recipe included a recipe for frosting that was entirely shortening-based--and I cannot STAND shortening-based frostings. They're just plain nasty. Often a cheesecake would be just as good or better without the suggested toppings; at other times the toppings work quite well (such as for the caramel pecan cheesecake, which is good either way).

I wouldn't call this the ultimate cheesecake cookbook, but I'd certainly call it a very good one. Personally I'd like to see more non-alcoholic and non-sugar-free recipes, and fewer unnecessary toppings (or a higher quality of topping recipes overall). However, depending on your particular tastes in food, your mileage may vary! If you love high-alcohol cheesecakes and don't have a problem with shortening-based icings and such, this may be the perfect cheesecake cookbook for you.

No more failed cheesecakes..........2006-05-01

I heartily agree with the past reviewers. I've owned this book for only a week and I've made 2 cheesecakes from it - Eggnog and a chocolate one. Both were topped simply with piped whipped cream and they were just simply divine, both to look at and especially, to eat!

For years, I baked cheesecakes with a water bath and I would still get cracks or the cakes would sometimes come out with soggy crusts (even with the bottom wrapped in heavy-duty foil). I finally said goodbye to cheesecake baking as it had been hit-or-miss. Then I chanced upon this book. No more of those darned water baths; very easy prep and great end results.

The only adjustment I made with the recipes is to bake my cheesecake for approx. 20-30 minutes longer than the usual 1 hr. and 10 min. (Even with my oven accurate according to an oven thermometer, not all ovens behave alike.)

Many of the recipes use liqueur for flavoring (which I like), so stock up on the Schnapps, Kahlua, Framboise, or whatever may be your favorite. Can't wait for this weekend so I can go at it again!

Book Description

The Latest Edition of a Classic Dog Training Book

Learn how to communicate more effectively with your dog using the time-tested training method of the most successful Obedience competitor in history.

Winifred Stricklands humane, commonsense approach to dog training applies to all breeds of dogs, large and small. And now its updated to include training for the latest AKC Obedience exercises.

Complete with helpful training tips, answers to frequently asked questions, and more than 170 photographs, this is an indispensable resource for everyone-pet owners, Novice competitors, Open enthusiasts, Utility contenders, and Obedience instructors.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Customer Reviews:

worth owning.......2007-07-25

This is a good training book. Her methods are loving yet firm. I found it especially helpful with providing information on training a dog to heel. This book is very technical and geared towards those who wish to compete at elite level obedience competition. Those of us who own ordinary dogs can also benefit.

Expert Obedience Training for Dogs.......2006-08-21

Two main comments. Firstly, the book is mistitled or I misread the meaning of the title and I would be delighted to return it. This is a book devoted primarily on how to make your dog perform "tricks" with much on showmanship. I have no interest in that but I do have an acute interest in dog obedience relative to the master's care of their puppy and mature dog. Problems handlers encounter in "greeting" of your dog with other dogs and people.

Secondly, the book, as written, talks down to the reader and unless you have had some professional experience with dogs, you feel very unqualified to read on. I felt intimidated by it.

The classics never die.......2006-05-09

This book continues to be THE unequivocal expert's choice. Despite comments that her methods are 'dated' (a remark I find says more about that reviewer than about Strickland's book) the simple fact is that dog training is a skill that has been honed for hundreds of years. These methods were found to be effective when much more was required of dogs than that they be fashionable, pampered companions. I sincerely doubt that the 'innovations' and gimmicks of recent years will be found, in the end, to be more than passing fads. You can have your clickers... what Wynn teaches is *real* obedience.

If you want solid, competent, reliable response from your dogs, then use Wynn's methods and her books. Otherwise, continue bribing and entreating and cajoling your dog with clickers and treats instead of training it. Don't worry, *eventually* they will do what you want... at least half the time.

Those who want a thorough grounding in training basics will find this a wonderful resource. It is still the most comprehensive collection of training basics out there. Dogs trained with this method will be happy, reliable workers. Isn't that what we all want?

Still a great book.......2005-08-14

This is still a great book for competition obedience, even though it is a bit dated. The author is a long-time top AKC obedience winner, her record is impressive! Forget the clicker stuff! More for the dog trainer wanting to tweak their training techniques and showmanship to the next level and get the most from their dogs.

The Ultimate Training Guide. A must have CLASSIC!.......2003-07-06

Fads, gadgets and gimmicks in training come and go. They DO sell books, classes and fancy equipment... and also confuse a lot of dogs and their owners. But this is a masterpiece of SOUND advice and a method of training that is based on a life-time of outstanding success in obedience trials. HOW can anyone argue with her degree of success? Winifred G. Strickland's methods will be around forever because they work so beautifully. She has won endless titles and done it while loving and respecting her happy, enthusiastic, super dogs. Her gentle, intelligent training program will succeed with other breeds that are not as naturally keen to work as her German Shepherd dogs.

I love this book. A classic that will probably never go out of print. What a joy to read and apply! It has an honored spot on my reference shelf and is one of the most valuable books I have ever purchased on the subject! It is easily worth ten times the price.

Book Description

During his lifetime at Winterthur, Henry Francis du Pont used flower arrangements to bring the color and spirit of his beautiful, naturalistic garden indoors. The bold and colorful specimens in bloom at any given time, arranged in the specially constructed "flower-fixing" room with adjacent walk-in cooler, determined the daily table service in du Pont's dining room. In a memorandum to the executors of his estate, H. F. du Pont noted that after he was gone, he wanted "the spirit of the house maintained as if someone were living in it . . . with flowers kept in certain vases in certain rooms."

From seasonal bouquets in the Marlboro Room to oriental-style arrangements in the Chinese Parlor, Flower Arranging the Winterthur Way lavishly illustrates the aesthetics of decorating with flowers in the Winterthur house. Author Alberta A. Melloy, head flower arranger at the museum from 1983 to 1990, has provided advice on all the basics: conditioning of material, design principles, and "how-to" suggestions for creating fresh arrangements as well as the famous Winterthur Yuletide dried-flower tree.

Complete with a lively introduction detailing the du Pont family's lifelong interest in flowers, and an easy-to-use glossary, this book offers an insider's perspective on the relationship between craft and history at the nation's premier decorative arts museum.

Average customer rating:
Crewel Embroidery: With Texture and Thread Variations
Audrey A. Francini
Manufacturer: Van Nostrand Reinhold
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0442226209

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Crewel Embroidery with Texture and Thread Variations
Francini Audrey A
Manufacturer: Van Nostran Reinhold Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LCGUME

Book Description

An Exciting Approach to Creative Floral Design

A Real Work Book for all Flower Arrangers

Designs are in full color

Designs used in Standard Flower Shows and for the home.

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NEW DIMENSIONS IN FLORAL DESIGN VHS
MARIE MILLER
Manufacturer: MARIE MILLER
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WL6QGE

Product Description

IF YOU ENJOY WORKING IWTH FLOWERS AND EXHIBITING IN FLOWER SHOWS THIS VIDEO IS FOR YOU: ILLUSTRATES MANY OF THE LATEST FLORAL DESIGN CATEGORIES FOR HOME, FLOWER SHOW EXHIBITORS, JUDGES & STUDENTS OF FLORAL DESIGN, GARDEN CLUB PROGRAMS AND MUCH MUCH MORE. DESIGN CATEGORIES INCLUDED ON THIS VIDEO ARE: BOTANICAL; PARALLEL; COLLAGE; ASSEMBLAGES; ILLUMINARY; REFLECTIVE; STABILE; ECLECTIC; KINETIC; STILL LIFE; SYNERGISTIC; TRANSPARENCIES; HANGING DESIGNS; CREATIVE LINE; CREATIVE LINE MASS; CREATIVE MASS. VHS. 45 MINS.

Customer Reviews:

Heavy Metal: 25 Years of Classic Covers-A REVIEW.......2005-08-08

HEAVY METAL: 25 YEARS OF CLASSIC COVERS, edited by JOHN WORKMAN, Published 2002 by Heavy Metal, Hardbound, 112 pages, $29.95
Introduction by John Workman

John Workman's "Heavy Metal: 25 Years of Classic Covers" is a marvel! More than that, for fans of fantasy art, it's the Mother Lode! Captain Kidd's treasure! Ali Baba's cave! Between the covers of one sumptuous book, Workman has gathered the first quarter century of Heavy Metal's consistent run of great covers by outstanding fantasy artists. And Workman was there throughout much of it!

John Workman was art director for the magazine for nearly 7 years, from late 1977 to the middle of 1984. His experiences at that job infuse his introduction with first hand knowledge. The whole of the charming text, from the introduction through the captions, is done in a breezy, tongue-in-cheek style. Behind-the-scenes stories abound. No mean fantasy artist himself, John managed to snag the likes of Boris Vallejo, Moebius, Joe Jusko, and, from my oId hometown of Rumson, NJ, Broek Steadman. He championed a cover by the Hildebrandt brothers, which became the best selling issue of all. The painting was reproduced in posters, which sold briskly. With over a 130 artists represented, the list goes on and on. After he left, Workman kept in close touch with the magazine, and rejoiced when Heavy Metal finally managed to snag its single cover by the one and only, Frank Frazetta!

"25 Years" fulfills the best traditions of the coffee table book. One only has to open up this 9X 12 hardbound tome, settle back, and let page after page of eye-popping reproductions dazzle the beholder.

"Heavy Metal; 25 Years of Classic Covers" is available through most book stores, including Barnes and Noble and Borders, Last Gasp, Bud Plant's catalogue, and Amazon.com. In addition, you can contact John at [...]. Vividly reproduced examples of the works of great illustrators make this book a feast for the eyes.. If you're a lover of fantasy art, you won't want to pass this one up!

[...]

Awesome Book.......2004-07-04

This is an awesome book filled with beautiful covers. I guess the title is a bit misleading though . . . I would never have thought "Heavy Metal: 25 Years of Covers" would mean that the book only contained pictures of covers (kind of like AMIR ARBAIN from Malaysia ).

Reprints of covers ... that's it.......2003-12-02

I was quite dissapointed. This book is just a collection of covers. There are no additional material, early sketches, the process involved etc.

Most of the covers are reproduced in smaller formats i.e. up to 4 covers cramped in a page. I thought thet each cover would occupy at least a page or reproduced in a larger format but sadly, this is not the case.

It would be better if the cover art were produced in its original form i.e. no text or logos to deface it.

On a positive note, there are some artists which I never thought have contributed a cover e.g. Dave Dorman.

Amazon.com

After Rafer Johnson abandoned the Texas slums for the idyllic but all-white California town of Kingsburg, he adopted the rallying cry of "be the best that I can be." This cry defines the young African American's character and drives Johnson through racism and poverty to stardom on the track field at UCLA and to a dramatic Olympic gold in 1960. It helps him work graveyard shifts and serve burgers, as he trains for the grueling 10-event decathlon. And it spurs Johnson to run faster, leap higher, and throw farther than any other decathlete in history, despite injury, fatigue, and political pressure from cold war governments. (At a 1958 meet in Moscow, his "summit meeting" with Russian decathlete Vasily Kuznetsov is labeled as the clash of Communism versus the free world.)

But it's Rafer's wealth of accomplishments off the track that make this modestly recounted memoir one that must be told. His colorful life includes a stint as a Hollywood actor, a brief broadcasting career, friendships with Tom Brokaw, Muhammad Ali, and Marlon Brando, and a fling with feminist Gloria Steinem. Even more intriguing is his intimate relationship with the Kennedy family that sadly derails when Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated. Rafer--who helped wrestle the gun away from Sirhan Sirhan--is deeply affected by his friend's death, but plows forward to champion goodwill projects such as Eunice Kennedy's Special Olympics. It's standard fare for Rafer Johnson and yet another example of his commitment to be the best he can be. --Rob McDonald

Book Description

Rafer Johnson's story is the classic American dream: hard work leading to success, honor, and glory. Here, he openly writes about his humble beginnings in an obscure African American Texas ghetto, his growing up in the all-white, sun-drenched Californian town of Kingsburg, and his time at UCLA as the president of the student body and an acclaimed athlete. His talents brought him to dramatic athletic duels in Moscow, Melbourne, and Rome, and to the glamour of acting, broadcasting, and politics in Hollywood, Washington, D.C., and the rest of the nation.

Structured around the ten events of the decathlon, Rafer's memoir vividly describes an exceptional life. It introduces remarkable people, both unknown and celebrated (the Kennedy family; Gloria Steinem; Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade; Tom Brokaw; and others), who befriended Rafer and affected his life. It tells of obstacles and tragedies--crippling injuries, an alcoholic father, the assassination of his close friend Robert F. Kennedy--and what it takes to overcome them. With tact, integrity, and acute observation, Rafer Johnson shares the intimate moments that have shaped his life and the lives of others.

Customer Reviews:

GREATEST DECATLETE EVER IN MY BOOK!.......2004-10-31

Rafer Johnson, to me, exemplifies the perfect American athlete. Besides winning the 1960 Rome Olympics Decathlon in record points, he also won gols at the 1955 Pan American Games and took silver medal at Melbourne, AUS Olympic Decathlon! Rafer was known for promoting special olympics, and won numerous awards for sportsmanship over the years! Mr Johnson was one of those few in every million or so that truly set and still sets the standard of what being a true American, athlete and humanitarian is all about!!!!!!!!!! Rafer excelled in high school in football, averaging 17 yards a carry, batted .400 in baseball, averaged 17 points a game in basketball and averaged over 9 yards a carry in football while in high school. But Rafer's specialty was track and field. Going to UCLA, Rafer was offered a scholarship to play football but his real love was track and field. His high school coach took him to a decathlon meet near where 2 time decathlon winner Bob Mathias lived in Tulare, CA. Rafer told his coach:"gee coach, I could have beaten most of those guys there"! Rafer took on and beat such greats in the 50's as Russian decathlon whiz Vasily Kuznyetsov and fellow UCLA teammate and later his arch rival in '60 Rome Olympics CK Yang. Mr Johnson was flag bearer for USA Team in '60 games and also lit the torch at '84 Olympics in Los Angeles Games. Mr Johnson also acted and has done much in his lifetime promoting great charatible events and things for America's youth and good sportsmanship!!! Rafer Johnson is about the best example, to me, of an American, a true American and sportsman. A real leader, sportsman and humanitarian now and always!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has always and will continue to always inspire my life and millions of others the world over now and forevermore!

You, Rafer always was, and always will be my personal hero!.......2000-10-14

I was so glad to learn that you've finally come out with a book, Rafer! I have always been fascinated with your decathalon vs CK YANG, and wish that there could be more films and pictures (book) just on the 1960 Decathalon, alone! I remember old tv ads with you in them years past and your roles in TARZAN movies. I knew from watching you that you would always be my life's role model! The "new" generation we live in today has so much technology and modern tech toys; but something "REAL BIG" is lacking! True greatness and love of (SPORT) for the love of it, from your heart, and not big money! Men were real men then, and athletes were real athletes! I have always dreamed of meeting you in person oneday! You and Ethiopia's ABBEE BIKILA were, are and always be two of my all-time favorite role models and athletes, forever! Sure wish that more could be done and written(pictures and films) of 1960 Olympics, especially the decathalon and marathon! You're truly a "great" man, and a "fine" american athlete of our time and the 20th century! write more books soon!

Is this guy for real?.......2000-01-24

It was nice to learn about what has happened to Rafer Johnson over the years. The Best That I Can Be was a wonderful reminder of a marvelous athlete and competitor from years past plus an added bonus of hearing Rafer's incessant optimism and enthusiam. Gold Medalists come and go but few do so with the class and human decency that Johnson has displayed over a long period of time. If ever one is looking for a role model who demonstrated overcoming adversity with a smile on his face, it was Rafer Johnson. I only wished I had read this sooner.

THE BEST THAT I CAN BE.......2000-01-20

I grew up hearing and reading about Rafer Johnson all of my life. Track was never a sport I paid much attention to before Johnson. He made it bigger than life for me, as Tiger Woods does for golf. A few years ago I was introduced to Rafer and was stunned to find him remarkably shy and guarded, very much unlike the dynamic man I saw as an athlete. I could tell that he was warm, but very, very careful. It wasn't until I read THE BEST THAT I CAN BE that I understood the man, that I understood how much one's background can flavor an entire lifetime. This book not only gave me his remarkable story, it left me with an insight that I carry with me everyday.

This kind of books doesnt interests.......1999-11-28

I was expecting much more from this book

Average customer rating:

The Best That I Can Be
Timothy, John Mason
Manufacturer: Derwent Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Special Needs | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1846670241

Book Description

I was born 18th July 1961, in Rugby in the Midlands. That makes me 45 at the time I wrote this book. I moved to Sussex as a child and then to Devon, where I am now. I was very, very fit and a business owner. On March 7th 2004, early in the morning, I was struck down with two strokes. The first one wasn't too bad, but the second was catastrophic. I can't walk or talk and I am now virtually paralysed, apart from a little very weak movement in my left arm. I was 42. I am blessed with two boys: Jacob who is 10 (from another relationship) and Giona who is 5. Giona lives with his Mum, Claudia, in Rome, Italy -- words cannot express my deep, deep love for her. I haven't written before. This is my first attempt, but now I can't stop writing. I love writing. My humour is very dry and that is reflected in my style. I hope you're not a tightwad and that you will buy this book and support me. I also hope that you will thoroughly enjoy reading about me. Funny, poignant or sad - it's all about my new life and how I see things.

Average customer rating:

THE BEST THAT I CAN BE:AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Manufacturer: Doubleday NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I9PQ7U

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