WHITE BUTTERFLY: Featuring an Original Easy Rawlins Short Story "Lavender"

Average customer rating:

Interesting, Entertaining read

Solid Continuation of the Series

Exciting Thriller

Strong Plot Strong Characters

A great introduction...

WHITE BUTTERFLY: Featuring an Original Easy Rawlins Short Story "Lavender"
Walter Mosley
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Mosley, Walter | African American | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Mosley, Walter | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins Mysteries)

ASIN: 0743483375

Book Description

It's 1956 and, times being what they are, no one in official Los Angeles pays much attention as a serial killer murders three black bar girls. But when a white stripper is similarly murdered - and when she turns out to be a UCLA coed, and the daughter of a politically powerful L.A. prosecutor - all hell breaks loose. The heat is finally on to find the killer.Stymied, the LAPD calls on Easy Rawlins for help, for Easy can go places and do things the police cannot. Reluctantly, Easy accepts their plea and begins a deadly quest that takes him through the seedy jazz joints of Bone Street and the dingy rooms of Hollywood Row. It is a brutal, dangerous odyssey that leads to a startling and heartbreaking conclusion - and jeopardizes his marriage and his life.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, Entertaining read.......2006-04-03

I've fallen in love with the Easy Rawlins Mysteries and this one didn't disappoint. Mosley is a talented writer. Easy is a complicated, honest man with occasional ambiguous views of right and wrong. He's a good man who does what he needs to and tries to be a good black role model.
I like how Mosley takes the detective genre and spins it out of control. It's not the typical detective book. There are always elements of race, questionable legal issues, and what's right and wrong.
I love Mosley's Rawlins books.

Solid Continuation of the Series.......2004-10-23

The third Easy Rawlins book catches up with the proud black hero in 1956. Fairly prosperous due to his hidden real estate holdings, he's got a pretty young wife and a beautiful baby daughter added to his Los Angeles household. The tension between his shady "street" past and his attempts to domesticate himself is a running theme, as Easy struggles with what it means to be in a trusting and open relationship. One morning the police come knocking, and ask for his help regarding a series of murders. Several black "good time girls" have been killed in recent weeks, but now a white woman is dead too. The police like to use Easy as a kind of unregistered undercover agent in the black community (although given the number of times they troop in and out of his house, you would think people might start to wonder about him). There's the standard stuff about racism that one has come to expect from the series (the police never cared about the murders until a white girl was involved), which doesn't make it less true, just a little less powerful. This time, there's even a black police officer involved in the case--although by the end, he admits to Easy that the notion of working to change the system from within is a lost cause (perhaps a statement of Mosley's own sentiment on American society?). As always, the police aren't really asking for Easy's help, so much as telling him he'd better help.

The investigation leads him back into the street life he's been trying to avoid, and inevitably, there's a bit of a fall that pushes him and his wife further apart. He's not a good communicator, and his binge drinking only causes more problems. Indeed, he drinks so much in this book that it's hard to imagine him actually being able to carry out the investigation as well as he does. The plot grows steadily more convoluted, as evidence of police conspiracy mounts, a trip to Oakland with Mouse uncovers even more murders, and Easy's personal life spirals more and more out of control. The resolution to the murders is kind of a lame letdown, but the drama of Easy's own life makes up for this somewhat. A very bitter book, but one that leaves you wanting to start the next in the series immediately to see how Easy is going to handle the changes in his life.

Exciting Thriller.......2004-05-27

Mosley delivers an exciting mystery novel that once again, centers around the life of Easy Rawlins. Easy is recruited to find the murderer of a young white coed, who happens to be the daughter of a prominent LA Asst D.A. She was also found dead in a mostly black area of Los Angeles and LAPD detectives coerces Rawlins into assisting them with their investigation. Only problem is that Easy is now married with a daughter and has to put his family situation in jeopardy if he decides to offer help. He goes through his usual questioning of witnesses and as usual, he discovers a few surprises in the process.

A good thriller but like most Mosley novels, he has too many characters to keep track of. Also, Easy is a borderline alcoholic in this one as he is always coming out of the liquor store or some kind of bar filled with scotch. It's a wonder how he's able to question his witnesses without slurring his speech or staggering all over the place since he's drunk throughout most of the book. A good novel but not one of Mosley's best efforts.

Strong Plot Strong Characters.......2002-09-12

... Mosley gives us a male character who isn't afraid to cry and when he gets angry he doesn't get violent but does get even. The mystery surrounding the death of the white stripper is cleverly written into the plot and when the clues reveal the killer they all make sense. This series improves with each novel and Easy is turning into a complex person who has demons of his own to battle.

A great introduction..........2000-08-22

This was my first Mosley/Easy Rawlins mystery and I enjoyed it immensely. It had depth of character and interesting plot twists and turns. I also liked the fact that it was a story about African Americans in 1956 Los Angeles and it didn't rely on the 'N' word for shock value (unlike Ellroy and a few others). I think it was a great introduction to the series.

Customer Reviews:

Better luck next time..........2002-10-25

I've read other books by this author, and this is far from her best effort. I couldn't ever really get involved with the characters. They just weren't interesting enough to make me care one way or the other. A better introduction to Ms. Durgin's work is "A Feral Darkness".

A Terrific Book!.......2002-07-15

Blaine always wanted more to her life than what was typically expected of females in Shadow Hollers. When she sees a group of strangers in her town and meets a man named Dacey, she gets her wish (although not exactly in the way she had hoped). Dacey is one of the last people of the seer's blood and the only one who knows how to stop the invaders, who are called the Annekteh. Together, he and Blaine must battle the Annekteh in order to save her family and friends.

The characters in Seer's Blood were likeable and easy to relate to. Blaine refuses to conform to society's expectations of women. It's refreshing to see a strong lead female character, in addition to a strong male. I felt the same emotions as the characters throughout the book.

In addition, the setting was wonderful (obviously, Doranna Durgin has done lots of research on Appalachia). The only drawback to this book (and the reason I gave it four stars instead of five) is the use of the dialect. Many of the words are similar and therefore easy to mix up (personally, I had trouble figuring out what some of them meant, too). As a result of this, I basically had no idea what was going on for the first few chapters. My recommendation for other readers is to learn what the terms mean early on.

However, aside from all of my personal confusion, everything about Seer's Blood was great. Durgin is a very talented author and I hope to read more of her books soon. This was one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long time!

Excellent.......2001-02-23

Strangers have arrived in Shadow Hollers in search of the old magic in the hills, magic that has been long forgotten by the people who live there. But one man, Dacey Childers, the last of the lost seer's blood, has also come to Shadow Hollers to warn the people of the coming danger that the strangers, the Annekteh, pose. No one believes him except for one young woman, Blaine Kendricks, who is soon drawn into his magic and his adventure. It is up to the two of them to save the Hollers from the Annektah, the Takers, who intend to steal the magic from the mountains and to make the magic, and the land, their own.

SEER'S BLOOD is a fast-paced magical adventure. Doranna Durgin imbues her characters with heart and soul, making the reader care about them in ways that are rare in fiction. Ms. Durgin gets better with every book she writes. Each new book by this author is a must read. SEER'S BLOOD is the first book in years that actually made me cry. The climax of the book is heart-rending. You can feel the pain of the characters as they carry out their goals, despite the pain and suffering it causes, trying to save the Hollers from the Annekteh.

Some people, when reading this book, may find that they have some trouble with the dialect used to reflect the Appalachian region in which the setting of this book was framed. I did, at first, but as I got deeper into the story, the dialect started to sound natural to me and I found that it added to the overall flavor of the book, enhancing the experience of the book.

Pulpy and shallow.......2000-07-30

While some of the ideas in Durgin's novel are intriguing, she doesn't explore any of them fully. Neither her characters or the plot are all that involving. The novel needed more pages!

The book isn't bad -- it's just a bit too undeveloped.

Seer's Blood.......2000-07-13

This Book is very well written and is full of rich deep color, that allows a reader to stand in the middle of the field and be apart of the whatever is going on.

Although this book does have familiar themes found in other Durgin books, this one does deivate and gives you another sit to her ability to write.

Seer's Blood take place in a world were 90% of the world (the good guys - think 1600's) is about to rediscover Magic. While the other 10% (The bad guys - If you have ever seen the movie Fallen with Denzel Washington, the bad guy is book and movie have the same power to touch and take over a body) knows about it and uses their brand of magic to dominate the world. In fact the want to control the re-emerging magic.

The book is fast pace, but it does get confusing at times. The action is most believeable. This book like Durgin other books address the issue of how one woman breaks the chains that bind her gender so that she can save it.

Average customer rating:

=Not Sure~

Life Changing

From a coach and athlete

A true "How To" very practically written

a great eye opener!

Self-Defeating Behaviors: Free Yourself from the Habits, Compulsions, Feelings, and Attitudes That Hold You Back
Milton R. Cudney , and Robert E. Hardy
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Smoking | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Personal Transformation | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Pathologies | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior

When Am I Going to Be Happy?: How to Break the Emotional Bad Habits That Make You Miserable

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: Overcoming Regrets, Mistakes, and Missed Opportunities

Reinventing Your Life: The Breakthough Program to End Negative Behavior...and Feel Great Again

Five Simple Steps to Emotional Healing: The Last Self-Help Book You Will Ever Need

ASIN: 0062501976

Book Description

A guide to freeing ourselves from the inappropriate and crippling behaviors that sabotage our success.

Customer Reviews:

=Not Sure~.......2007-05-29

I stumbled upon this book after reading Dr Phil's Self Matters and Harrison M's Self Power for Teens; i found it informitive but trite as it lacked in originality and freshness. With that said, Milton does make clear the steps and keys to free yourself from habits, compulsions, feeling, and attitudes that hold you back - much like Dr Phil's 'be accountable attitude' and Harrison M's 'Powerful Change Techniques'. Furthermore, and in odd-counterpoint, i feel that Milton has gained a habit of gross generalization, which comes across in both impact and subtlness throughout his well-crafted prose. All and all, a good read, and a good stepping stone to other teachers ... make the investment although it may leave you unsure.

Life Changing.......2007-05-13

When I purchased "Self-Defeating Behaviors: Free Yourself from the Habits, Compulsions, Feeldings, and Attitudes that hold you Back" I had expected very this to be a slow process. Nevertheless, to my surprise this was an instant transformation. The book was written in a way that openned my eyes to just how easy it was to change or shift my mental conditioning for the better. I keep this book handy so I can refresh myself about some of the self-defeating behaviors and how they are associated with other things or beliefs. Outstanding book, I highly recommend it for someone that is ready to take that giant step forward to change their life.

From a coach and athlete.......2006-11-25

This is a great book for homing in on the things in our minds and actions that keep us from really performing at our best. I have long been an advocate of changing to make things better in the sports arena and this book is a great tool to have available.

A true "How To" very practically written.......2006-10-11

I've yet to finish reading it (procrastination is one of my bad behaviors :) but about 3/4 through I can't say enough about this book. Too many books give you fluff, whereas this is a good blend of real life illustrative stories from their patients, along with what I really wanted... practical how-to steps along with a thorough description of how & why we learn and practice the behaviors we so abhor in ourselves. I already knew I was "choosing" my bad behaviors, but hadn't found anything that described why I was making such bad choices, and how to stop. This is none of that self hypnosis mumbo jumbo, but real suggestions on how to identify what you are doing and why, and then to catch yourself, and methodically replace bad behaviors with good ones.

a great eye opener!.......2006-06-26

The first half of the book is all you need to read inorder to figure out your self-defeating behaviors to come to light and systematically changing them so you can make the right choices to be happy, purposeful, and meaningful in all aspects of your life. The second half of the book felt like it was repeating the first half. overall a great eye opener on human behaviors and why we constantly limit ourselves with the wrong choices to be in the "in crowd" and not listening to our inner self. I have definitely gained a measure of power in making the right choices. i do recommend reading it at least a couple of times to fully understand the principles.

Self-Defeating Behaviors: Free Yourself from the Habits, Compulsions, Feelings, and Attitudes That Hold You Back

Average customer rating:

Self-Defeating Behaviors: Free Yourself from the Habits, Compulsions, Feelings, and Attitudes That Hold You Back
Robert E. Hardy Milton R. Cudney
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEY0A8

Average customer rating:

Cooking with My Sisters: One Hundred Years of Family Recipes

I feel like I'm with my family

You feel like one of the sisters!

Cooking With My Sisters

If you're expecting a cook book, you will not be pleased

Cooking with My Sisters: One Hundred Years of Family Recipes, from Bari to Big Stone Gap
Adriana Trigiani , Mary Trigiani , Lucia Anna Trigiani , Antonia Trigiani , and Francesca Trigiani
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Italian | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Big Cherry Holler

ASIN: 0812974824
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Book Description

For the Trigianis, cooking has always been a family affair–and the kitchen was the bustling center of their home, where folks gathered around the table for good food, good conversation, and the occasional eruption. Example: Being thrown out of the kitchen because one’s Easter bread kneading technique isn’t up to par. As Adriana says: “When the Trigianis reach out and touch someone, we do it with food.” Like the recipes that have been handed down for generations from mother to daughter and grandmother to granddaughter, the family’s celebrations are also anchored to the life and laughter around the table. We learn how Grandmom Yolanda Trigiani sometimes wrote her recipes in code, or worked from memory, guarding her recipes carefully. And we meet Grandma Lucia Bonicelli, who never raised her voice and believed that when people fight at the dinner table, the food turns to poison in the body.

Adriana Trigiani’s voice springs to life from the first page of Cooking with My Sisters, a collection of beloved family recipes that the Trigianis have been enjoying for generations. But there’s much more here than just the food. Peppered with hilarious family anecdotes, poignant letters, and exquisite color photographs, Cooking with My Sisters draws us into the warm and witty world of the Trigiani clan. Each recipe has a story behind it, and each chapter has tips from different sisters, reflecting the unique personalities of the latest generation of Trigiani women.

Here are mainstay meals, featured in sections such as “The Big Life” and “The Big Wow,” which include the chapters “Pasta, or as We Called It, Maccheroni” and “Food We Hated as Kids but Love to Serve Now.” Accessible to any cook, the recipes range from Chicken and Polenta, Zizi Mary’s Rice Soup, and Gnocchi to favorite desserts like Grandmom’s Buttermilk Cake–and all the delectable dishes are geared toward bringing your family together.

Written with Adriana Trigiani’s trademark humor and verve, this wonderful book will appeal to anyone who values the bonds that food, community, and cultural tradition can provide.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Cooking with My Sisters: One Hundred Years of Family Recipes.......2007-01-10

Before I even tried the recipes I read the narrative part of the book and enjoyed all of the family pictures. I felt I got to know the author's whole family. I noted similarities in some of my mom's recipes (Sicilian) and some of my Grandmother's (Abruzza) recipes. I marked the recipes that I want to try. My daughters and I share cooking together as part of our close family relationship so I related well to this book. Not only is it a good recipe book but it is also a good read.

I feel like I'm with my family.......2006-10-02

I come from a close knit Italian family. I am third generation but all of my Grandparents and their friends are immigrants. It was soooooo much fun reading this book because it reminded me of my family and the food and the love and the fun. As I was browsing through it again last night I went to sleep with the thought that I had been truly blessed to have been raised this way as I am sure Adrianna feels as well. I would love to meet them all. Oh and by the way the recipes are SUBERB as well.

You feel like one of the sisters!.......2006-04-28

I married into an Italian-American family. This book describes the complexities and joys of being Italian-American and the little quirks are hilarious. It's a joy to read and the recipies are wonderful.....easy to follow, ingredients you usually have available and after trying a few recipes will even impress your Italian mother in law! Also, LOVED the photos and letters from 'grand-mom'.

Another winner from Adriana Trigiani!

Cooking With My Sisters.......2005-10-11

I come from a not very close small family. I always enjoy reading about adult siblings that are still close. I have four children and now that they are in their thirties, they are getting closer and family get togethers are more fun. I enjoyed the recipes and especially the tips. I love Adrianna Trigiani and her books and now I feel a little more insightful about her writing. Makes me want to do some Italian cooking with my own brood.

If you're expecting a cook book, you will not be pleased.......2004-11-16

I purchased this book because of a segment I watched on NBC's weekend morning show. The author spoke of her book and demonstrated a recipe or two. I though it would be a nice addition to my cookbook collection, however I was extremely disappointed.
This book is overloaded with stories and family photos rather than recipes and photos of the prepared dishes.

Coming from an Italian family I can tell you that the recipes in this book are a bit bland. I was disappointed to read the recipe for tomato sauce, calling for garlic powder as opposed to fresh, crushed garlic!

Book Description

Owning a pet can teach a child responsibility, patience, confidence, and the satisfaction of a job well done—and best of all, it’s fun! Over 60 inventive activities and crafts such as Can Do Canine Show and Dog Day Story teach kids about taking care of their pooch pal while promoting a long-lasting relationship. Games such as musical chairs, burying bones together, and throwing a frisbee and flyball; fun things to make such as a rag rug, a pooch pillow, and a puppy bed; and yummy treats to cook such as crunchy dog biscuits and a dog food cake get kids involved with taking care of their dog’s needs while teaching healthy care-giving techniques and fostering a deep friendship. In addition, A Dog’s Best Friend includes information about dog obedience training; a reading list of children’s animal books; listings of Web sites, pet-care resources, and animal organizations and events; and amusing trivia for dog lovers.

Customer Reviews:

Not what it seems.......2007-04-04

I thought this book would contain activities to do with the dog, as it is it has activities you can do like crafts for your dog with your kids. I am not a craft person so very little in it for me. If you like doing crafts you may like this book.

A wonderful way to welcome a dog into family life.......1999-08-16

Kid-friendly illustrations and very simple, practical advice will enable families to welcome a dog or a puppy into their lives with love, understanding, and responsibility. This is the best book I've seen for parents and kids to comprehend their pet's needs. It should be offered to anyone wanting their children to develop the qualities of commitment and responsibility along with the sheer fun of sharing their lives with an animal. And the drawings and activities are very, very sweet.

AN INFORMATIVE, FUN AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE BOOK!!.......1999-08-15

THIS IS A TERRFIIC BOOK FILLED WITH TIPS NOT ONLY ON FUN GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG, BUT ALSO TIPS ON SELECTING A GREAT DOG, TRAINING, GROOMING, AND EVEN RECIPES TO BAKE FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND. THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE DARLING, AND THE TEXT IS FUN AND EASY TO READ FOR DOG LOVERS OF ANY AGE. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FOR 1ST TIME DOG OWNERS, OR SEASONED DOG LOVERS. GREAT ALL AROUND FUN AND INFORMATION ON TOPICS THAT ARE NOT ONLY HELPFUL BUT ENTERTAINING AS WELL!!!

Gentle, respectful activities to enjoy with your dog pal........1999-08-11

It's absolutely wonderful. This is a great book for persons of any age who want to learn how to treat their animal companions with gentle respect, and have great fun with them at the same time. It's clear, well-written, and well-organized, and I've learned a lot from it. The drawings are charming. It's a winner.

Customer Reviews:

Collectors refer to this book as "The Bible".......1998-03-08

I borrowed a copy of THE ART OF THE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE. THE J & J COLLECTION from my father (who tells me that other collectors refer to this book as "the Bible"), and although I'm not yet a collector of anything, I was so impressed with this book that I want to share this discovery with others. I have since come accross some reviews of the book in Oriental magazines, and will be quoting from them as these professionals put accross their thoughts so much better than I. First of all, the luxury of the edition: "imposing size, lavish layout and exquisitive presentation of the background, two-volume work (800 pages, 1200 illustrations, 25 x 34.2 cm dimensions ... superb life-size photographs and extraordinary detail views ... " according to Jana Volf in ORIENTATIONS magazine, July 1994. As for content, Robert KLEINER wrote in ARTS OF ASIA, Nov.-Dec. 1995, "This vast work is arguably the finest book ever written on the arts of the Qing (1644-1911) dynasty. Each snuff bottle is taken as an opportunity to explore a differing aspect of Chinese aesthetics and culture, thereby, in small increments, revealing the inner meaning both of this culture and of the art represented by the bottles themselves ... The entire work (presents) a rigorous study of the art and evolution of the snuff bottle itself, and ... the underlying cultural background of China as evolved by the thoughts, beliefs and ambitions of the ruling Imperial household and the vast literati class, the scholars who oiled the wheels of the nation's life ... The J&J collection is almost unrivailled in its possesion of snuff bottles which can be used as exemplars of "Palace style ..." About the collection, Clare Lawrence wrote in the Spring 1994 issue of the JOURNAL of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, "I think this is a truly great book of a great, if not the greatest snuff bottle collection in the world today." Finally, this book was awarded 1st. prize as the best art book produced in Hong Kong, in 1993. I must say it is a must to the serious art collector. Mathias F. de Carvalho

Important Chinese Snuff Bottles From the J&j Collection, Part Ii

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Important Chinese Snuff Bottles From the J&j Collection, Part Ii

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LNNTGS

Product Description

Christie's auction catalogue from Wednesday, March 30, 2005. Full color photos and descriptions in English. Glossy pages.

Important Chinese Snuff Bottles From The J & J Collection, Part II (Christie's, Part 2)

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Important Chinese Snuff Bottles From The J & J Collection, Part II (Christie's, Part 2)
Christie's
Manufacturer: Christie's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IO8YIS

Product Description

Hardcover 10 3/4 by 8 1/2 by 5/8 inches. Hundreds of full color photos of this collection of rare Chinese Antique Snuff Bottles.

Average customer rating:
A piccoli punti: Imparaticci e modelli per ricamo dell'Ottocento tra arte e decorazione
Raffaella Serena
Manufacturer: Istituto Geografico de Agostini
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
All Italian Books | Italian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 8840293582

Book Description

The ukiyo-e artist Isoda Koryusai produced thousands of designs between 1769 and 1781, a crucial period in the evolution of the print tradition, and was honored with the imperial title of hokkyu, yet he has been long neglected by scholars. Allen Hockley has identified more than 2,500 designs of wide-ranging formats and themes, demonstrating that Koryusai broadened the treatment of traditional print subjects and appealed to a wider and more varied audience. Koryusai's sheer output suggests he may very well be the most productive artist of the eighteenth century.

Refuting outmoded paradigms of connoisseurship and challenging the assumptions of conventional print scholarship, Hockley elevates this important figure from the status of a minor Edo-period artist. He argues that Koryusai excelled by the most significant measure--he was a highly successful creator of popular commodities. Employing an "active audience" model, Hockley reshapes the study of ukiyo-e as a scholarly discipline by assessing Koryusai's significance from the perspective of consumer culture.

While scholars will be intrigued by Hockley's groundbreaking arguments, general readers will be fascinated by Koryusai's richly varied career. Five appendixes catalog all of the artist's known print designs, forming a record of Koryusai's works that will serve as a lasting reference text for collectors, dealers, and curators.

Customer Reviews:

Deftly analyzes over 2,000 of Koryusai's designs.......2004-01-09

Isoda Koryusai produced thousands of designs between 1769 and 1781, a crucial period in the Japanese print tradition era, and though he was honored in Japan for his works, he's been largely neglected by western art scholars. Allen Hockley's The Prints Of Isoda Koryusai deftly analyzes over 2,000 of Koryusai's designs, surveying his influence as a minor Edo-period artist and arguing that Koryusai excelled in his output and his creation of popular commodities. The Prints Of Isoda Koryusai is essential reading for any student of Japanese printmaking history and artists.

a worthy subject.......2003-12-31

Hockley rightly returns to consider the place of the consumer in the market for popular prints, and it would have been beneficial if the argument had been further developed. It should have considerable impact on the field, but it is overall not as groundbreaking as has been claimed.

Kind of sloppy, low production values.......2003-11-22

Not worth $60. Most of the black & white illustrations look smudgy, and the appendix is pretty incoherent. You really have to work hard for some of the information.

new scholarship, expanding the field.......2003-06-29

The review by "a reader from New York" would have more credibility if it were not anonymous -- why is it not signed? I've talked to a dozen scholars in the field, all have welcomed the book and emphasized its usefulness. Both as raw scholarly material and in its analysis, the book brings an artist and his delightful works out from under a shadow. The 100-page Appendix is an extraordinarily complete compendium of Koryusai's oeuvre -- Hockley's research has pushed the number of known works from about 500 to over 2500. The diacritical problem appears to be limited to a single (repeated) example. Though highly biased, I am not alone in considering the book attractively presented.

New perspectives on an important artist.......2003-06-28

I found the book to be very useful in understanding ukiyoe prints from novel perspectives--especially consumer patterns and, more importantly, in terms of how artists were influenced by one another. Koryusai has long been overlooked and this book helps set the record straight. I've read most of the books in English on woodblock prints and this one gives us a refreshingly new approach. I like the way the author deals with culture, the circulation of images, women (I'm a woman and I detect no misogyny--as another reviewer suggests...), sex, and popular culture. It has loads of useful information for all levels of reader. I might never use the appendices, but they should be welcomed by scholars in the area of Edo art and culture. I highly recommend this book ! I only wish that there were more color illustrations, but for that I'll just have to go to the many OTHER Japanese print books and museum catalogues that illustrate Koryusai in color--but say nothing new or very useful about him!

Book Description

This book presents an interpretation and analysis of the phenomenon of ambivalence so persistent in the Afro-American consciousness of Africa. Today a wide range of black opinion has accepted Pan-Africanism and Africa and many are consciously making an effective attempt to create more links with Africa. The right of blacks to be culturally independent is now accepted, at least verbally, without question. But this was not always the case. The present study is offered as an exploration in the field of social identity as it affects people in diaspora. The identity of every people is shaped in their environment, it is a legacy of historical forces.

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