Deshi : A Martial Arts Thriller (Martial Arts Thriller)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Good...for the price
  • Decent if clumsy writing
  • Better than Sensei... but not great
  • Fine sequel to Sensei
  • From another author
Deshi : A Martial Arts Thriller (Martial Arts Thriller)
John Donohue
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ThrillersThrillers | Mysteries & Thrillers | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
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ASIN: B000FUTQ6O

Book Description

In each life the wheel of karma turns. Asian scholar and martial artist Connor Burke, who continues to labor under the stern tutelage of the master warrior Yamashita Sensei, is drawn once again into a murder investigation when the police discover a link between the victim and a mysterious martial arts sensei named Kita Takanobu. Kita has created a powerful New Age synthesis of Tibetan mysticism and the lethal heritage of the samurai. Along the way, Burke also finds himself pulled into the strange orbit of the Tibetan Lama Changpa, a mystic and clairvoyant who sees the dark clouds drawing in around Kita but is helpless to prevent a tragedy, as he follows a trail that ultimately leads to Kita's elite mountain temple where he will face his most deadly challenge ever.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Good...for the price.......2007-06-12

Deshi was an ok book it didn't quite reach the level of Mr. Donohue's first book ''Sensei'' I felt that Deshi sort lacked that wonderful tension building and climax that sensei had. As well the characters seemed to aimlessly sort of ramble about in the book not quite capable of doing their jobs. Donohue writes well as usual and I truly enjoyed the fight scenes, but then again they seemed quite short and yes, even though this is a mystery/detective series I felt that a little more focus could have been given to that. I give it 3.5 stars and will buy his next for sure.

2 out of 5 stars Decent if clumsy writing.......2006-03-29

The author has a decent touch with action sequences (few though they are in this book). And he seems to have a real affinity for martial arts which comes across in his writing and enriches his story. But he is very akward at moving the plot forward and constantly depends on groups of characters sitting around dicussion what happened. "Why did this clue appear earlier? What is the significance of this event? What trends should we see based on events so far." Very clumsy style which veers into Hardy Boys book territory. But when he finishes explaining everything that's happended so far he writes competently. If you got the book free and like the genre it's worth reading on a plane.

3 out of 5 stars Better than Sensei... but not great.......2006-02-20

I just finished Deshi so I want to write a review while I'm still "under it's influence." First, let me say that in my opinion Deshi is better than Sensei. Connor Burke (the protagonist) is so dimwitted in Sensei that I had a hard time enjoying the book. In Deshi, Connor is once again dim witted, but not so bad that I wanted to throw the book across the room. Actually it is Burke's emotional weaknesses that stand out in both books... something I hope Donohue will fix in his next book (should there be one).

The action in Deshi is also better in my mind. At one point Connor goes to a "Ninja" school (no really, I'm not joking). He fights a street ninja, and the fight description is pretty good. The one problem that Donohue has is that his main guy is a kendo master, and it is hard to describe a sword fight to those of us that don't have formal kendo training. So instead of creating detailed fights, he tends to gloss over them and focus on who wins. That's unfortunate, because Donohue is a real expert and could share a lot of information about technique and style.

The story in Deshi is more complicated than Sensei. Of course that's not saying much, since Sensei's story line could be written on a Chinese fortune cookie. The problem with Deshi's story is that as the reader there is no way for you to know what's going on. It's not a mystery you can solve. You simply have to ride along hoping that he'll clue you in eventually. And that doesn't come until the final pages. In my opinion, neither Deshi nor Sensei are very good stories, but I do like this genre. I hope that Donohue can improve, and if not, we always have Eisler's Rain series and Bradley's Process of Elimination.

5 out of 5 stars Fine sequel to Sensei.......2006-02-17

I am drawn to many cultures, ways of life to learn. John Donohue follows the further adventures of martial arts student and master in a satisfying sequel to Sensei. For those who are trying to find Gone With the Wind, fuggettaboutit. For those who like to read of martial arts, tibetan enlightenment, and a continuation of a wondeful cast, this is for you.
Looking forward to the next outing.

4 out of 5 stars From another author.......2006-01-21

Let me start by saying that I'm a dedicated fan of this genre. That means of course that I've read Lustbader, Trevanian, Eisler, and now both of Donohue's books. This particular book came by recommendation of my father, also a huge martial arts fan (and fellow practictioner). I can totally respect Donohue's effort, because I know first hand how hard it is to put together a compelling martial arts thriller. I recently published a martial arts novel. My book features a Judo/Kenpo master hunting a world-class sniper whose killing presidential candidates. It's more of a mainstream thriller inspired by Lustabader's early erotic martial arts violence. See "Process of Elimination" if interested. End of shamelesss plug!

As another author writing in this same genre, I was very excited to pick up Donohue's "Sensei" (and then "Deshi"). I posted a review of "Sensei" as well, should you care to read it.

In Deshi, Connor is once again called in by the police (his brother and partner) to help with a murder case. There's a lot going on in the book behind the scenes, involving Chinese spies, a Tibetan Lama, some hired thugs, and a martial artist with something to hide. It's weird for me to even say this, but the complication in the plot sort of gets in the way of the story. Even as I finished the book, and I came to understand who was doing what and why, I was left a bit confused. I guess it's because there really isn't any way to figure out the book until Donohue finally walks you through it. It's not one of those stories where you can pick out clues and figure things out. You simply go along for the ride and then listen quietly as the author finally clues you in. Still, I like the authenticity of the martial arts and can overlook the lackluster feeling that I came away with.

Overall, I liked "Deshi" better than "Sensei." The story is unique, and there is more action. Like his first book, "Deshi" is also a quick read (a couple of hours). But complaints aside, I learned some things, and never put it down until it was finished. I guess that earns it 4 stars (but just barely).
Deshi: A Martial Arts Thriller
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Good, but not as good as Sensei
  • Deeper than Sensei but not as Well Realized
Deshi: A Martial Arts Thriller
John Donohue
Manufacturer: Onyx
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451412087

Book Description

Asian scholar and black-belt artist Connor Burke labors as a deshi, a student under the tutelage of a master warrior-a practice that draws him into the execution-style murder of a Japanese businessman, into the dangers of a lethal samurai heritage, and finally, into the unknown darkness of an elite mountain temple where Connor's deadliest challenge awaits.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Good, but not as good as Sensei.......2006-06-17

This novel is going to be a little tougher to critique than Mr. Donohue's first outing, the remarkable "Sensei". I very much enjoyed reading this sequel to that excellent novel and also enjoyed being introduced to the characters again. There were a few flaws with this novel though, and this one felt more like a debut novel than his Sensei did.

As I noted in my review of Sensei, Donohue's protagonist, Connor Burke, is a finely realized and interesting character with substantial depth, complex feelings and motivations, and is an unusual hybrid of both college professor of Asian Studies and martial artist. In Sensei, his actions and reactions, to the unfolding plot events were both sensible and consistent with his character. Within this novel I felt the author stretched that sensibility and consistency a little too far for my comfort.

In this outing Connor, still a thinking man's hero, is drawn into another police investigation because of his unusual background and expertise in martial arts and Asian studies. The investigation, taking place in New York City, revolves around a series of murders of experts in Japanese calligraphy. Events proceed and eventually two dojos (martial arts schools) come into conflict with each other, spiritually and physically. The action scenes are excellent, the writing taut, and the book flows extremely well. In fact, I churned through this one very quickly, ignoring important things in my life clamoring for my attention, and enjoyed myself quite a bit.

I was disapppointed on some levels with this book however, probably because my expectations were so elevated after reading Sensei. Some of the characters in this book are finely realized, complex, believable and interesting. Yet many are not. Additionally some of the situations within the novel felt both forced and contrived and lacked a sense of naturalness and authenticity. Perhaps most disappointing was that the villains felt fairly cartoonish in the end and certainly did not behave rationally nor were their actions internally consistent with their depictations. Clever villains are so much more interesting than stupid ones.

I wish I could whole-heartedly recommend this book as an excellent read, but all I can really say is that it was certainly a fun read and I still enjoyed it despite some flaws. If you liked Sensei then go ahead and read this one, you'll still enjoy the further adventures of Connor Burke. If you haven't read Sensei, but like to read thrillers/mysteries/action adventure then I'd recommend reading Sensei before this book.

3 out of 5 stars Deeper than Sensei but not as Well Realized.......2006-04-15

Donohue can write. Sensei is one of my favorite thrillers.

Donohue suffers a bit of a sophmore slump in "Deshi". It is still a good book and fun read, but not to the standards set by "Sensei". It drags a bit in the middle and the images are not as clear.

This seems to be a transition book. Donohue appears to be moving in a more mystical direction and the book suffers from that. His writing style is very clear and precise, if I could write I'd like to write like Donohue. I am sure his gift came after a lot of hard work, but like a great figure skater he makes his work seem effortless and beautiful. The mystical direction in this book does not match his style as well as the clean action in the previous book.

If this had been Eisler's only book I probably would have rated it higher but I was expecting more from this gifted writer.

A fun read and recommended.

The Stress of Her Regard
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • One of Powers' Best
  • Beyond belief
  • Mesmerizing
  • A spiralling descent into the insanity of creative genius
  • Stress of Her Regard
The Stress of Her Regard
Tim Powers
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Powers, TimPowers, Tim | ( P ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0441790976

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of Powers' Best.......2004-11-03

You will either read every Tim Powers novel you can get your hands on or bog down within the first hundred pages of the first one and never pick up another. His novels are always densely plotted and intentionally obtuse at the beginning. You will find yourself scratching your head and wondering just what in the hell is going on in the story, and just why the hell you are wasting your time. Trust me though, if you push through the wall, you will be rewarded with masterful narratives. Like similar writers Neal Stephenson and Iain Banks, Powers manages to pull the threads together, and once he's revealed enough, the action takes off as well.

"Stress" may well be Powers' most ambitious novel from a literary standpoint. The book treats multiple subjects: love, ambition, literary pretension, mental illness, politics, freemasonry (although obliquely)...oh, yeah, and vampires. Lots of the strangest, vilest bloodsuckers you'll ever find in fiction, and they have a taste for poets' blood. I won't attempt to explain how all of this fits together, but it does, and brilliantly.

Some of Powers' early work was only okay, like "Drawing of the Dark," for instance. As he's matured, though, he's really become a master of tight plotting. This ranks up there with his best, including "The Anubis Gates," "Last Call," and "Declare."

5 out of 5 stars Beyond belief.......2004-03-12

This was the first Tim Powers book I read. His retelling of that enchanted summer that Shelly and Byron stayed in Italy is amazing and moving. The characters are well drawn and the lamia are terrifying. Don't miss this one.

5 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing.......2002-12-26

This book blows me away. Tim Powers is a master at taking real or historical fact and twisting it just enough (but not too much) so convincingly, that I almost accept that his version of events is the true story. That this is the true story that was too disturbing or fantastical to be told in text books. I'm not going into plot cuz you can read that elsewhere, but the scope of Powers imagination is a dazzling and breathetaking thing to behold. When I finished reading the last page, I had that weird feeling you get when you have fallen and smacked your head pretty hard..but not enough to fall unconscious, where the world is suddenly still and calm and waiting for your next move. I can't recommend this book more, though I don't think everyone will experience it in the same way I have.

3 out of 5 stars A spiralling descent into the insanity of creative genius.......2002-08-23

If you have yet to discover Powers, what a treat awaits you! For those of you who have read his earlier work, such as The Anubis Gates and On Stranger Tides, I know I'll be preaching to the converted when I say that Powers is one of the most exciting authors writing fantasy today. He is one of the progenitors of the "gonzo" fantasy, a style in which the author uses actual history for the majority of the plot, but inserts fantastic elements that explain actions left mysterious by time and which will provide the details of the story. K.W. Jeter and James P. Blaylock, friends of Powers', have also written stories in this style, and Bruce Sterling and William Gibson are working on one called The Difference Engine. But gonzo fantasy is Powers' ballgame, and he's still batting 1.000.

The Stress of Her Regard is set in the time of those three happy-go-lucky but yet melancholy poets, the Romantics. No, not the rock group, but Lord Byron, Percy Shelly, and John Keats. Powers has once again picked his time period and historical people well--there are few people as full of life and mystery as these three poets. Byron, Shelly and Keats were the original Beat writers, travelling the world and putting what they saw into their fiction and poetry long before Jack Keroauc.

The main character isn't a poet, though, but a doctor named Michael Crawford. Having already suffered the death of his first wife and his younger brother, the book opens with Crawford's marriage to his second wife and her brutal death beside him in bed on their first night as man and wife. Blamed for his wife's death, and laboring under the absence of his own memory of that night, Crawford flees into hiding. But Crawford is hunted, not only with guilt for the deaths of those close to him, but also by strangely erotic dreams, and hounded by the sister of his second wife. His escape from both of these are interlocked with the poetry and lives of the Romantics. You mention fantasy to some people, and they have a hard time not relating it with Tolkien or Dungeons & Dragons. Powers' fiction isn't one style alone. The Stress of Her Regard is a perfect example of this. Not only does it predispose some knowledge of the work of the three poets, but it also has horrific undertones that threaten to explode into the forefront a la Stephen King.

Powers' previous novels have also played fast and loose with historical characters, but those characters have always remained in the background, as if Powers was wary that the "real" characters would destroy the fabric of his half-real fantasy world. In The Stress of Her Regard, though, Powers bravely tackles using the historical characters to become major forces of the storyline. In fact, the intriguing ambiguous yet always exciting Byron steals the book from Crawford, who seems to be a rudderless boat on a swift moving river. And although Byron falls victim to the lamias, his struggle and fall are the stuff that climaxes are built of, rather than Crawford's selfless struggle to rescue his wife's sister.

Not as pyrotechnic as The Anubis Gates, nor as perverse as Dinner at Deviant's Palace, nor as playful as On Stranger Tides, what distinguishes The Stress of Her Regard is the consistent tone of the novel--a spiralling descent into the insanity of creative genius, and the redemption of love.

3 out of 5 stars Stress of Her Regard.......2002-06-13

A nebulous plot and muddled symbolism (vampires, lamiae, the Muses, the Graiae, the Sphinx, and so on) make this book at once original and hard to follow. It's yet another retelling of the lives of Byron and Shelley and their crowd, though Powers also introduces new characters. Although the various characters go through horrific experiences, they have a blank quality; they're not deeply developed. But the scientific part of the vampire premise, the part about them being silicon-based and about the composition of sunlight changing and affecting them, is fascinating. I wish the author had explored that more.

Overall, I'd classify this as a fun, interesting book, not especially deep, with some intriguing ideas thrown in.
The Stress of Her Regard
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Stress of Her Regard
    Tim Powers
    Manufacturer: Grafton
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback
    ASIN: B000VUM55W

    Learning American Sign Language: Levels I & II--Beginning & Intermediate, Second Edition
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • ASL Book
    • Not great, but not bad either!
    • not the best, but not the worst
    • Learning American Sign Language
    • Good Choice
    Learning American Sign Language: Levels I & II--Beginning & Intermediate, Second Edition
    Tom L. Humphries , Carol A. Padden , Rob Hills , Peggy Lott , and Daniel W. Renner
    Manufacturer: Allyn & Bacon
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Spiral-bound

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    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars ASL Book.......2007-10-10

    the book was fine in quality- took too long to ship. took several weeks to recieve. unacceptable.

    3 out of 5 stars Not great, but not bad either!.......2007-10-07

    I definitely recommend a different book -- not this one to start off with. The drawings are sometimes hard to understand. I have taught ASL to hearing adults and this would not be my first choice to start off with. I liked a different book that I recently reviewed. The title escapes my mind, but check out my other reviews and find the five-star review :)

    3 out of 5 stars not the best, but not the worst.......2007-06-03

    Some of my complaints include the problematic fact that there are many signs that appear in the dialogues and are not in the vocabulary section, nor illustrated anywhere else, and many of the signs are outdated - one must have a teacher or deaf/hoh person around to help sort it out.

    Most of the dialogues are pretty boring and inspired me to write a new one which was a very fruitful and a much better learning experience than the book. Also, one of the teachers at Palomar College created a vocabulary video which should be on the dvd that comes with the book.

    But, on the plus side, the expressions are very good and the signs are clear. The dvd is good and the characters well done tho as I said above, it is missing the vocab signs.

    Enjoy Dancing Hand Talk! LI

    4 out of 5 stars Learning American Sign Language.......2007-05-21

    I bought this book because it was required for my class. The pictures are clear, good diologue practices, vocabulary set up nicely. I was not happy about the order of the individual chapters; they could have been set up better. I would have also benefited from some explanations. It was hard to study on my own for classes missed.

    5 out of 5 stars Good Choice.......2007-05-02

    I have spent a great deal of time looking for a text to use for my class. Although there is not an abundance of activities, this book has students working with a conversation from the first lesson. The available instructor's manual clearly states that this text is not intended to stand alone and encourages the instructor to add activities and vocabulary appropriate for the class. I do not recommend this as a "teach yourself" book but think it is great for a class text.
    Instructor's Manual for Learning American Sign Language: Levels I & II - Beginning & Intermediate - Second Edition
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Instructor's Manual for Learning American Sign Language: Levels I & II - Beginning & Intermediate - Second Edition

      Manufacturer: Pearson Education, Inc.
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000HI6UOU

      Chocolate: An Exquisite Indulgence (Miniature Edition)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Chocolate Dreams
      Chocolate: An Exquisite Indulgence (Miniature Edition)
      Miniature Book Collection (Library of Congress)
      Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      ASIN: 1561386219

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Chocolate Dreams.......2005-05-07

      Chocolate makes otherwise normal people melt into strange states of ecstasy. ~John West

      "Chocolate: The Exquisite Indulgence" presents a brief history of chocolate and explains how Belgian chocolatiers created an "even more sensuous experience." Would we have ever tasted chocolate in all its potent pleasure if it had not found its way to Europe as a beverage?

      Page after page displays quotes, art, recipes and tiny bits of information to inspire complete chocolate lust.

      While this book will only whet the appetite for more information, it is an adorable gift to give with a box of chocolates and your love.

      ~TheRebeccaReview.com
      Chocolate: The Exquisite Indulgence
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Chocolate: The Exquisite Indulgence
        Running Press Books
        Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover
        ASIN: B000MBMEVA

        How to Keep Koi: An Essential Guide (Interpet Handbooks)
        Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
        • How to Keep Koi
        • Four for now... probably five stars really !
        How to Keep Koi: An Essential Guide (Interpet Handbooks)
        David Twigg
        Manufacturer: Howell Book House
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

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        ASIN: 0764562428

        Book Description

        The most colorful and complete quick reference guide to these Jewels of the Orient. In the pages of this new reference you'll find:

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars How to Keep Koi.......2007-03-14

        Terrific book on Koi's, and a good book for my
        collection on how to help me with my Koi's.

        4 out of 5 stars Four for now... probably five stars really !.......2006-08-11

        We are starting to keep koi, and I have been shopping for a couple of good koi books but it's been tough going... most pet shops around here don't have much, and the bookshops don't either -- either they have books that are too simple, or too complex. There is a lot of detailed categorization and medical information available for the serious koi breeder, but for many of us, too much information is worse than too little. After a lot of research I settled on this title and one other, and I also upgraded to the complete online viewing edition of this title at amazon. Wow! This is a great book... there is clear and interesting text about the history of koi, how they are handled, their anatomy (with diagrams) and the different color patterns. The photos and pictures are lovely and clear as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in keeping koi, or even if you are just interested in looking at nice photos and learning about them. :-)

        No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • A fascinating glimpse of a "lost " world
        No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper
        John Harris
        Manufacturer: John Murray Publishers
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

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        ASIN: 0719561493

        Book Description

        John Harris chronicles his visits to England's great country houses, most of which were requisitioned during World War II, then abandoned and left to ruin.

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars A fascinating glimpse of a "lost " world.......1999-07-21

        Excellent treatment of the vanishing English Country House. Very sad but also Harris includes some wonderful commentary on local color and humorous personal experiences. A very entertaining book, full of the great names in British conservation efforts and architectural historians, of which he is one, working for RIBA. All in all a very nice little book on not only the loss of great houses but the passing of an age--a civilization gone with the winds of the First and Second World Wars.

        Katie Brown Decorates: 5 Styles, 10 Rooms, 105 Projects
        Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
        • Uneven
        • Absolutely Loved It!
        • I thought this was a parody...until...
        • I don't understand....
        • A Katie Brown Letdown
        Katie Brown Decorates: 5 Styles, 10 Rooms, 105 Projects
        Katie Brown
        Manufacturer: Collins
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        DecoratingDecorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
        StyleStyle | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
        Similar Items:
        1. Katie Brown's Weekends: Making the Most of Your Two Treasured Days Katie Brown's Weekends: Making the Most of Your Two Treasured Days
        2. Katie Brown's Outdoor Entertaining: Taking the Party Outside Katie Brown's Outdoor Entertaining: Taking the Party Outside
        3. Flea Market Decorating: Creating Style with Vintage Finds (Better Homes and Gardens Books) Flea Market Decorating: Creating Style with Vintage Finds (Better Homes and Gardens Books)

        ASIN: 0062716166
        Release Date: 2002-10-22

        Book Description

        In Katie Brown Decorates, Katie offers a wealth of projects and ideas for making the most out of any room. She offers six basic decorating styles -- from Street Chic to Log Cabin -- and uses fabric, lighting, paint, and inexpensive, easy-to-work with building materials to achieve that look. With simple, step-by-step instructions and gorgeous full-color photographs throughout, Katie includes all the elements for creating a fun and funky home (or apartment) -- furniture and window treatments, floors, shelving, and lighting, and much more.

        Customer Reviews:

        2 out of 5 stars Uneven.......2006-06-13

        I remember seeing Katie Brown on TV and being fairly unimpressed; chancing on this book at a library, I borrowed it and was still unimpressed.

        All too often she seems to be trying too hard to be whimsical and cutesy-poo, with diminishing results. And there are ideas that are decent enough on their own, but combined with all the other ideas for her different styles, just ends up being cloying.

        Some are weird...like curtain rods made from push brooms and mops, or a lighting fixture made from rakes. A lighting fixture made from a wok actually doesn't look too bad, and some lights made from socks (!) don't look too bad, actually.

        Others, though, look good at a glance, but on closer examination don't work too well. A faux-quilt made of plaid wool scarves crisscrossed on a bed and pinned together looks authentic enough when just flipping through pages, but on a closer look just looks chintzy. A kid's room lighting fixture looks fun until you realize it uses flashlights and might not light very well (or possibly need continual batteries).

        And some are just plain weird and/or impractical. A coffee table covered with contact paper is OK enough, but another covered with sandpaper?!? Another, given a pebbles-and-grout top, actually looks kinda cool but might not be a good surface for a wineglass. But the idea of decorating a living room with actual tree branches strikes me as colossally bad (unless for a single evening); I can envision all sorts of cleaning horror stories as twigs and bits of bark, or possibly even bugs, start to litter the floor. (And heaven forbid they end up being a fire hazard...)

        There are some decent ideas with fabrics, including some very nice workable pillow concepts. The book isn't entirely useless; I would recommend using an idea here and there. But overall the styles are cloying and unlivable, with too much emphasis placed on whimsy and looks-good-at-a-glance and not enough on permanence, practicality, and a workable graciousness. Try harder next time, Katie.

        5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Loved It!.......2006-02-01

        What a great book, full of interesting and new ideas. I'm glad to see something different than all the other run of the mill decorating books. I loved the leather belts idea. Definitely worth checking out, nice, fresh ideas.

        1 out of 5 stars I thought this was a parody...until..........2005-11-20

        This book is hilarious. I never laughed so hard. THat is, until I realized she was serious with her outlandish ideas in this book. Don't waste your money, unless you want a very very good laugh.

        2 out of 5 stars I don't understand...........2004-11-12

        I'd seen magazine articles that featured Katie Brown's own homes, which are designed with a creative mix of antiques and modern pieces and somehow manage to look both edgy and cozy. But, this book was really disappointing. Full of ideas that are overly trendy and that I would quickly tire of, if I even liked any of them enough to attempt them. Somehow her personal style is not translating well to her books. Is her publisher encouraging her to aim for a less sophisticated look?

        2 out of 5 stars A Katie Brown Letdown.......2004-04-14

        As a huge Katie Brown fan, I was disappointed with this book. As a truly eclectic decorator, I am open to any possible source for design...scrap yard, junk yard, garden, etc. But, come on, a coffee table with a base made of coiled up garden hoses? A hard-cast clay sandcastle? Not to be totally negative, a few crafts, and that's what this book majors in, are cool. The corseted pillow, for instance, or the bright lights, big city illuminated table. This book is a good choice for newlyweds or students, first-time apartment dwellers on tight budgets. And for truly hip urban cats, I would recommend Pad: The Guide to Ultra Living. If we could give half marks, I would give this book two and a half stars for effort. Save this book for a library check-out item and not as your decorating guide.
        Katie Brown Decorates: 5 Styles, 10 Rooms, 105 Projects
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Katie Brown Decorates: 5 Styles, 10 Rooms, 105 Projects
          Katie Brown
          Manufacturer: Collins
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          ASIN: B000OEVQNW

          Nouveaux Appartments D'Amerique (Evergreen Series)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Nouveaux Appartments D'Amerique (Evergreen Series)

            Manufacturer: Taschen
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

            ResidentialResidential | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
            FrenchFrench | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
            Arts & PhotographyArts & Photography | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
            NonfictionNonfiction | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
            Professional & TechnicalProfessional & Technical | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
            All French BooksAll French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
            ASIN: 3822873314

            Artists' Multiples, 1935-2000
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Artists' Multiples, 1935-2000
              Stephen Bury
              Manufacturer: Burlington VT
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover

              ModernModern | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
              PrintmakingPrintmaking | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: 0754600750

              Pinnick Kinnick Hill: An American Story
              Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
              • Pinnick Kinnick Hill - Truly an American Story
              Pinnick Kinnick Hill: An American Story
              G. W. Gonzalez , Mark Brazaitis , and Daniel F. Ferreras
              Manufacturer: West Virginia University
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover

              GeneralGeneral | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
              ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
              HistoricalHistorical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: 0937058629

              Book Description

              A hundred years ago, dozens of families journeyed from Spain to the United States, to search for a better life in the growing zinc industry towns in central West Virginia. As they created a new culture and a new home in this land, they added another thread to the rich fabric of our nation.

              Writing from his perspective as a first-generation son of this immigrant community, Gonzalez recounts his memories in a book that is partly a memoir, partly a history, and partly a novel, all combined in a sometimes heartwarming and sometimes bittersweet celebration of how one small Spanish community survived and then prospered in the ethnic caldron that was America.

              Customer Reviews:

              4 out of 5 stars Pinnick Kinnick Hill - Truly an American Story.......2006-03-22

              I was very pleased with how smoothly Pinnick Kinnick Hill read. "PKH" is similar in story telling to some of the feel-good stories of Italian Americans - coming to America genera- that you see in movies. And also similar to the movie "Avalon." An enjoyable read. This was reviewed by the Washington Times, and I have to agree with the review that while it is not high literature, it does make you feel good about stories of the American dream.

              Books:

              1. Dive Deep and Deadly
              2. Dreaming of the Bones
              3. Dublin Noir: The Celtic Tiger vs. the Ugly American (Akashic Noir Series)
              4. Edwin of the Iron Shoes
              5. Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Mysterious Handprints (Encyclopedia Brown)
              6. Face Down Beside St. Anne's Well: A Mystery Featuring Susanna, Lady Appelton, gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth (Lady Appleton Mysteries)
              7. False Allegations: A Burke Novel
              8. Fear And Miss Betony (Rue Morgue Vintage Mystery)
              9. Final Destination III: The Movie (Final Destination)
              10. Flicker: A Novel

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