Average customer rating:
- A sad book unintentionally almost funny
- Nice balance of nature, travel, and journal writing.
- Of great interest becouse of my lineage
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Summer at Little Lava: A Season at the Edge of the World
Charles Fergus
Manufacturer: North Point Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Scandinavian
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Iceland
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ASIN: 0374525528 |
Amazon.com
Emulating The Outermost House, Henry Beston's classic narrative of a year in a Cape Cod beach house, Summer at Little Lava is a memoir of a man in retreat, seeking to delineate both his inner thoughts and the natural world around him. But instead of the Cape, Charles Fergus goes with his wife and son to the strange and wonderful country of Iceland. Here they spend the summer repairing and inhabiting Litla Hraun, or "Little Lava," a tiny house by the sea. "It seemed to me," Fergus writes, "that, at the end of the twentieth century, one needed to migrate farther from the known world, closer to the earth's conceptual rim, to find a truly fugitive setting. Iceland, to my mind, was itself an outermost house of the Western world."
In this "fugitive setting," the author grieves his mother, murdered in a robbery in Pennsylvania only a few months before his departure. This memoir, however, ultimately covers more physical than emotional terrain, as ardent naturalist Fergus takes Iceland itself, a rugged country of volcanoes and fewer than 300,000 people, as his principal subject. It is home to striking landscapes and unusual fauna: lava cones and marshlands, heaths and black-sand beaches, sea eagles and foxes and orca whales. Fergus is a careful observer; he researches and notes Icelandic history and literature, and, with the help of his wife, fluent in the language, meets and learns from its unusual inhabitants--people who live, they say, "with one foot on the land and the other in the sea." --Maria Dolan
Book Description
Little Lava is a farm on the west coast of Iceland. No roads lead to it; the way lies across a lagoon flooded twice a day by the tide. A lava field borders the farm. From the house, views give onto mountains, volcanoes, rugged coast, and the pure Icelandic sky.
In Summer at Little Lava, Charles Fergus tells how he fixed up an abandoned house on the farm and spent a summer there with his wife and their young son-living day to day in great simplicity, without heat, electricity, running water, or other conveniences. Inspired by Henry Beston's classic book, The Outermost House-about a year Beston spent living in a cottage on Cape Cod-Fergus sought a place at the outer limits of civilization, and on the coast of Iceland he found it.
As it happened, there was a sudden death in his family-the cruel, pointless murder of his mother at her home in Pennsylvania; and so, in the twilit open spaces of Iceland, Fergus confronted his grief, in the midst of the country's abundant wildlife and distinctive geology, its history and mythology. The little house on the coast became a refuge as he sought to recover himself and the meaning of his life. "Little Lava was a place where I could pass the days in peace," he tells us, "where I could take the first steps into a future that, I hoped, would not be so dimmed with grief and pain."
Summer at Little Lava is a wise and vigilant book. It touches on Iceland and Icelanders, birds and nature, tragedy and personal loss; in strong, resonant prose, it evokes the strange and compelling landscape of Iceland.
Customer Reviews:
A sad book unintentionally almost funny.......2002-10-24
You won't find much here about Iceland, but if you're looking for a case study on the American male midlife-crisis, this may be your baby. Taken that way it's unintentionally, although darkly, funny (There's no intentional humor at all. None.) And despite the jacket blurb, don't look for wisdom. A Pennsylvania guy in his 40's with house, wife, toddler and dog is drawn to spending a summer in rural Iceland. His mother worries about how her toddler grandson will handle it, and the author can't come up with any reason to go there, but then his mom is brutally murdered. This provides a good reason. Now the son needs Iceland to cure his grief and rage and also maybe to get in some kayaking on the side. He's no longer able to have sex with his wife, but finds he's generally able to sleep after pulling his pud. So in December he heads to Iceland by himself -- probably not the best time to fix up an abandoned shack near the Arctic Circle, but then he leans heavily on goodhearted Icelanders to pull him through. ("Friends" in the book are horribly used.) The wife and kid arrive in June. Nothing much is going on at the ends of the earth, and this would be a good chance for contemplation and to bring a deep truth or two out of the wilderness. Instead, the reader gets an almost day-by-day action account of what must be one of the most tedious, dreary summers ever. If anything worth mentioning happens, I missed it. The toddler apparently had to be rescued from a manure heap, but the author skirts that. And he finds dead things everywhere: a seal washed up on the beach doesn't smell or look great; baby wagtails fall out of the nest and are eaten. After a month of this everybody gets to go home to PA for a couple of weeks (for a funeral) and then returns to finish out August in Iceland. The guy never tries to learn Icelandic and argues it can't be learned, although his wife learns enough to get by. An Icelander sends love poetry to the wife, but the author breaks that up. He'd like to stay longer, but hears PA calling. You close the book hoping the wife and kid will run away with the poet.
Nice balance of nature, travel, and journal writing........2000-02-22
My kind of book is a non-fiction book entitled "A Year in (blank)" or any calendar subset of that (e.g., Sue Hubbell's A Country Year). So when I encountered Summer at Little Lava, I was interested. I knew that it wasn't the journal of the author's life for a year in the country. But a summer in a remote cottage on the coast of Iceland was close enough for me. I was not disappointed. I tended to skim over the detail of natural history and bird behavior, but slowed down considerably when Fergus described crossing the lava fields, ocean kayaking, or having coffee with their distant Icelandic neighbors. The mix of natural history, animal and plant description, and story telling was well balanced. There was enough "journal-like" story telling to keep me reading to the end. The chapter "Poison Cold" was so good it was worth re-reading, but be warned -- be close to a woodstove when you read it because it will make you cold. An added human dimension to the book is the occasional memories and thoughts of the author as he wrestles with the deaths of both his mother and his niece. A particularly touching passage recounts the telling to his son of the tragic death of his niece. I recommend this book for all travel and nature readers. And for readers looking for a book without a hidden agenda and unnecessary symbolism. The author simply writes about what he sees and feels . . . and sometimes what he deeply feels.
Of great interest becouse of my lineage.......1999-07-11
I am third generation Icelandic, all of my grandparents immegrated to america in the late 19th century. They were all: "west coast Icelanders" Reading Fergus's book was of especial interest because my maternal grandmother [Holmfrethur Hansdottir] was born on Oct 20, 1860 at: Litliahrauni, Iceland, the exact site of Little Lava in this book. I have a journal writen by her husband in 1930 that spells out this history. I would like to send a copy of this journal to Mr. Fergus if I can get his address. Thank you.
Average customer rating:
- Unconditional Love!
- Written From A Sister's Heart
- Please don't miss this one!
- SISTER LOVE
- A Heavenly Story
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Angel's Legacy: A Journey of Life Through an Angelªs Heart
Susan Farr Fahncke
Manufacturer: Authors Choice Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
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Religious
| Leaders & Notable People
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Medical
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ASIN: 0595191258 |
Book Description
Brimming with moving personal stories by her own sister, Angel's Legacy offers precious hope and encouragement for facing unexpected adversity. The legacy of this angel is a shining example of how to live with grace, pure love and unconditional faith in God.
Customer Reviews:
Unconditional Love!.......2002-09-04
Angel's Legacy is a love story between two sisters. Once you start to read it, you will not want to put it down. You are there throughout the pain and the struggles and sorrows, and yet the laughter, as well. You will want to buy several copies for gifts, as it is such a heartwarming story about the lives of these two dear sisters, before and after Angel's diagnosis of a brain tumor. IF we could all only be this strong against all adversity!If we could all love this unconditionally! GOD BLESS Susan's wonderful way of writing! May we continue to see more of her stories!
Written From A Sister's Heart.......2002-09-01
I became a friend of Susan's through her website, 2theheart.com. Although the last year of Angel's life on this earth was full of pain, she showed great courage, and faith in God, as did her big sister. Susan suffered right along with Angel. I read the book in one afternoon, with a box of Kleenex by my side. It is a well-written book, authored by a devoted and loving sister. It's a book written from the heart.
Please don't miss this one!.......2002-08-29
Susan Farr-Fahncke, well-known writer and editor, has written an endearing, emotional, hilarious, poignant and intimate story of her younger sister's last year on earth. Rather than the dreary fare one would expect to find in such a topic, however, Susan has detailed the great relish and delight with which she and Angel faced those last days together. Filled with humorous anecdotes and soul-searching passages alike, "Angel's Legacy" brings the reader face-to-face with the grim reality of death in a unique fashion. Angel's indomitable spirit and Susan's refusal to let her die without experiencing her life to the very fullest pull the reader into a whirlwind of giggles and tears, memories and fears. An unforgettable read--and one you definitely won't want to miss.
SISTER LOVE.......2002-08-28
I have seen several of the stories before the book came out but to read them all together is a real treat. To feel the love and caring that comes from the pages is a real treat, we should all be so Blessed!!
I have given 6 as gifts and ordered more.
A Heavenly Story.......2002-08-23
Susan Farr Fahncke takes us through the journey of her sister Angel's illness and passing in poignant prose that makes you feel that you have journeyed with her every step of the way. At times heartbreaking, and at times hilariously funny, this is a book I'll never forget - and these were two sisters I'll never forget - who taught me so much through their struggles, their love and their devotion to each other. Highly recommended.
Book Description
The teenage years are tough-for kids, and for parents. Many teenagers are grappling with a slew of overwhelming emotions, and the results can range from not wanting to be seen with a parent in public to reckless and destructive behavior that can destroy a family. Parents despair as a child becomes a sullen, defiant stranger. A clinical psychologist who's spent more than two decades bringing families back from the brink, Dr. Neil I. Bernstein knows how to help parents and teens successfully navigate these difficult and trying years. Thoughtful, clear-eyed, comprehensive, and refreshingly free of jargon, HOW TO KEEP YOUR TEENAGER OUT OF TROUBLE AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN'T helps parents identify whether their teens are exhibiting typical behavior-such as locking themselves in their room for hours-or are exhibiting real danger signs, such as being secretive, despondent, or constantly angry. And then he tells what to do about it. The focus, above all else, is effective communication: how to avoid threats and put-downs, offer clear explanations, stick with the issues at hand, negotiate, improve listening skills, ask relevant questions, and stop interrogating or lecturing. Throughout, Bernstein uses examples from his practice to tell specifically what to do and say. There is sample dialogue to keep discussions from becoming arguments; signals that parental efforts are actually working; and Skill Builders that give parents the tools they need to ensure their teenagers leave home as responsible, moral adults.
Customer Reviews:
How to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do If You Can't.......2007-03-11
This is a good book. But in some parts it is a decade behind. Our kids and teens are growing up so fast, we can not keep up with the change. This book does have some good hints, helpful ideas and things that will help you to look past the area they are now and where they may be heading.
Extremely helpful.......2005-10-07
I saw Dr. Bernstein on the NBC Katie Couric special on teens and sex a few months ago. I liked the way he provided sound and practical advise on dealing with difficult situations. After reading the book, I felt there really is a way to raise teens effectively without feeling that everything has to be a battle. This book is really true to its title. It offers parents a user friendly approach which is forthright and filled with everyday examples of how to handle challenging situations. I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it to other parents.
Not for clinicians.......2005-07-29
This is too basic a book for therapists. Don't let it's large size fool you. Ok for parents who need some guidance.
Author of Survival Meditations for Parents of Teens.......2004-12-12
As an author and therapist working with teens and their families for the past twenty years, I am constantly looking for resources for parents. This no-nonsense book can help parents when they are at their most desperate by offering real-life solutions to the problems they most frequently face. For support of a more spiritual nature, check out my daily meditations, as together we try to survive this amazing and challenging time in our lives, and the lives of our teens.
When you are facing tough choices with your teen..........2002-04-02
I stumbled across this book on a sale rack and after thumbing through it, realized it offered more information than the dozen other books on raising teens that I'd read. This is one book that does not pull any punches, and confirms the idea that sometimes parents HAVE tried everything, and still their child is acting in such an extreme manner that the home setting is not the best for either child or parents and siblings. My husband and I had been considering an outside placement for our 16 yr. old son, and this book helped us decide how to proceed, with guidelines on locating a facility best suited to our son's needs and ours.
If you are looking at exteme, oppositional and defiant behavior, this book will give you the tools to make an informed decision to get your child's life back on track. Our son is now placed at a therapeutic boarding school relearning the fundamental values of honesty, respect for himself and others, and accountability.
Book Description
Sweet Maria's Italian Desserts is baker Maria Bruscino Sanchez's loving tribute to the desserts her family has enjoyed for generations - desserts you'll find in Italy and in Italian-American homes on special occasions and, in many cases, any day of the year. These are festive favorites like Traditional Cannoli, Espresso Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Amaretto Chiffon Cake, Spiced Gelato, and many others. The result of years of baking in Italy, in her popular bakery, and in the kitchens of her grandmother, mother, and aunts (many of whom do the baking at Sweet Maria's), the book includes cookies, cakes, pies, tarts, pastry, sweet breads, frozen desserts, fruit dishes, and other specialties-all made with warmth, tradition, and a love of great desserts.Presented with simple instructions, tips from the bakery, and a dollop of background information on the customs and history of the desserts, these creative, top-notch recipes will bring delicious favorites to your kitchen.
Customer Reviews:
Still waiting.......2007-03-30
Several weeks have passed, and still waiting for Amazon to ship the book that was listed as in stock and available
bad tiramisu recipe.......2005-11-26
Do yourself a favor and skip the tiramisu recipe in this book - it is awful.
(I use a more authentic one from [...].)
I've only tried the tiramisu recipe in 'Sweet Maria's", but if the author can't get this classic right, how good can her other baked goods be?
Sweet Maria's Italian Desserts -paperback.......2004-02-17
Many of us past the age of 40 have difficulty with small print, especially in recipes with fractions. I will give the book to a friend who can read without a magnifying glass.
Some of her recipes do not contain salt, which can result
in a flat taste,regardless of other ingredients.
It would have been nice to have a few photos.
This is a varied collection of recipes with simple directions.
Make Delicious Italian Desserts at Home.......2001-01-23
Make Delicious Italian Desserts at Home
In her latest cookbook, "Sweet Maria's Italian Desserts: Classic and Casual Recipes for Cookies, Cakes, Pastry, and Other Favorites," baker Maria Bruscino Sanchez offers traditional family recipes for the home baker. She demystifies the "handful of this and that" that one often finds with "old country" family recipes. Italian baking, like Italian cooking, is regional. Maria offers recipes from her Neapolitan and Abbruzzese heritage; from her Sicilian husband's heritage; and from her travels all over Italy. She shares updated traditional and contemporary recipes from her own Sweet Maria's Bakery in Waterbury, Connecticut, where Italian-Americans and others purchase desserts.
The recipes in this cookbook are easy to follow. Here you will find authentic Italian recipes for everything from cookies (including biscotti), cakes (including cheesecakes), pies and tarts, pastry (wonderful cannoli), sweet breads, frozen desserts, fruit desserts, and dessert sauces.
Of special interest are recipes for tiramisù (including savioardi--Italian ladyfingers), homemade limoncello, crostata di fico (fresh fig tart), millefoglie (thousand-layer apricot tart), biscotti di cioccolata con noci (chocolate hazlenut biscotti), and apricot-almond semi-freddo. For special occasions, such as St. Joseph's Day (March 19) and Easter, Maria tells how to make "Pane di Pasqua con Uovo" (Braided Easter Bread with Eggs). For Christmas, there are recipes for "Panettone" (Christmas Fruit Bread) and "Crostata di Natale" (Christmas Tart).
Sidebars occur throughout this cookbook that offer tips such as "How to Make an Italian Cookie Tray," "Bomboniere" (favors for Italian weddings and bridal showers), and "Al Dente." Another sidebar tells how ". . . Italian pastry chefs traveled with Catherine de Médici when she went to live in France . . . .who showed the French chefs some of their basic techniques for pastry making, which they then adapted to make some of their legendary sweets."
Highly recommended for authentic Italian dessert recipes!
Average customer rating:
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Animals & Pets in Pastel (Leisure Arts Series, No 24)
Sally Michel
Manufacturer: Search Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Drawing
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Pastel
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Drawing
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0855325348 |
Average customer rating:
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Animals and Pets in Pastel (Leisure Arts, No. 21)
Sally Michel
Manufacturer: F & W Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Painting
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Pastel
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0891340858 |
Book Description
Here is everything the beader needs to know about using peyote stitch to create both flat and three-dimensional pieces. Thread, beads, graphing techniques, and five projects are thoroughly explained, and a brief history, with photographs, describes the differences between today's stitch and the Native American original. The highlight of the book is a full-color photo gallery of peyote-stitched beadwork by the authors and 20 other nationally known artists, sure to inspire both the beginning and the veteran beadworker.
Customer Reviews:
Not much for your money.......2006-11-27
I bought this book and was very disappointed. There are relatively few projects and the instructions are not that well illustrated and it is very costly for the number of pages. I took a course in Peyote Stitch and the instructor used the Well's book. I would therefore instead recommend the Carol Wilcox Books (both of them). The first (Creative Bead Weaving) has fantastic instructions for all types of peyote and the 2nd (The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving), has the most beautiful projects imaginable. In addition both books cover many other forms of beadweaving. They are about twice as big and cost less and are truly inspiring.
Beading with Peyote Stitch.......2006-04-18
A comprehensive review of the various types of peyote stitch. Clear instructions and diagrams. Great for a beginner and a good reference for the advanced beader. Has a number of pages of finished products without instructions which may or may not be useful.
good expansion on peyote.......2003-11-18
I am an experienced beader and liked this book because it expands on peyote's capabilities.Some examples are: making different shapes in peyote, curling, tubular, free-form,and beading in the round. There is a great project section followed by an excellent gallery section.
Worth buying, worth reading, worth keeping, and a warning.......2000-09-05
One of the few instructional beading books that also makes good reading. Sure, it's a must-have for the beading table, but it's a great take along for commuting, waiting at the dentist, or on the bedside table for inspiration before sleep. The good news: if you are a fan of the original Beady-Eyed Women (the authors have other books), this one has lots of color pictures, and not just in the (40-page!) Gallery section. More good news: Lots of diagrams, and most of them are right next to the text, so people who need both words and pictures can understand the steps. The text-links to the diagrams are easily numbered, and that's a big help. Even more good news: there are some great ideas in this book that I haven't seen in others. The section on making geometric shapes and links is worth the price of the book. The surprise: the picture amazon.com shows as the book cover is not the one on the cover of the book I got. The instructions for the Vicki Star's "Stellar Star" is not included in the book, but the picture is, on p.75. The bad news: The diagrams showing bead placement use blue ink to show existing beads and the same tone of purple ink to show added beads. If you are a diagram user, read under a bright light, or you won't understand what's going on. It would have been a better idea to use contrasting colors for existing and newly added beads in the diagrams. More bad news: In the section on making bead triangles, there is an assumption that if you've done one side, you can figure out the other. Some of us can't, and one more diagram would have been helpful. Instead, after a step-by-step description of the first half of the triangle, we are told, "you don't have to make two steps down or two steps up, but you still have to take the ten-cent tour." As the two-step process was crucial, that final diagram would be a big help. More bad news for beginners: This is the only book I've read (and I own more than 30 books on beading)in which odd-count peyote stitch starts with an even number of beads, and even-count peyote starts with an odd number of beads. In the odd-count, you add another bead in row three, which, as the authors say, "turns the first three rows upside down." In the even-count, there is a diagram (with asterisk footnotes explained on the flip side of the page) that left me confused. I finally got it, but I'm a slow learner, so this may not be a problem for people who are fast learners. The conclusion: Buy the book. The well-explained tips, scattered throughout the book are worth the price of the book. You'll learn something no matter what level you are on, and the color pictures are enough to inspire any level beader.
BEADSTRUCK IN COLORADO.......2000-08-13
I have finally found a book that takes beading to the height of its' art potential. This is not a book for beaders who enjoy following patterns but is a really unique source for stretching your creative abilties with this medium. You will find the designs quite contemporary and sophisticated, not a good book for the more conservative bead artist. And artist, not beader you will call yourself if inspired by this book.
Average customer rating:
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Shade Gardening: New Ideas and Techniques for Low-Light Gardens (Black & Decker Outdoor Home)
The Home Improvement/Gardening Editors of CPi
Manufacturer: Cowles Creative Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Shade
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
By Plant
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
| Begonias
| Berries
| Bonsai
| Cacti
| Citrus Trees
| Clematis
| Dahlias
| Ferns
| Grapes
| Grasses
| Greens
| Hostas
| Hydrangeas
| Irises
| Lavender
| Lilacs
| Lilies
| Magnolias
| Orchids
| Palm Trees
| Peppers & Chiles
| Roses
| Tomatoes
| Tulips
General
| Techniques
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0865734453 |
Book Description
-Covers planning a shade garden and selecting shade-tolerant plants.
Amazon.com
"My wink is binding," Bernie Brillstein writes in the middle part of his memoir of a career in showbiz. At this point the movie-star manager has already admitted that he wanted power and prestige as soon as he started in the William Morris agency mailroom. And that he chased after a Don Corleone-ish kind of respect afterward. But even when he became a clout-carrying manager and near-mogul he kept his people-first credo. You suspect he loves it too for the way it echoes the Borscht Belt, since that's the kind of verbal energy he draws on throughout this anecdote-crammed autobiography. He calls himself "show," but in four decades he had to be "business" too, tough enough to tell clients, as he says he did, when to start their career over from scratch. The book begins with a graphically honest memory of his visit to the proctologist with his family when he was 24--something he guffaws off, but it's probably not far from the sort of reality check he regularly gave clients like Jim Henson, Norm Crosby, Lorne Michaels, John Belushi, and Brad Pitt. He cops to a gambling addiction, a love of "high class call girls," and to the way he stole from Laugh-Into invent Hee Haw. But he also brokered Lorne Michael's big break with SNL, produced Dangerous Liaisons, and eventually got News Radio and The Sopranos on the air. He candidly assesses professional pains too, including Michael Ovitz's pathology, Garry Shandling's riddling neuroses, and the loss of Belushi and Henson. "I care," he writes finally, "because that's who I am." It's easy to smile at that, but by the end of the book it's also easy to believe he means it. --Lyall Bush
Book Description
Bernie Brillsteins forty-five-year career has allowed him to work with and nurture many world-class talents, including John Belushi, Jim Henson, Dan Aykroyd, and Martin Short. Brillstein speaks out for the first time about the lives and deaths of his clients. He teaches the art of the deal, show business ethics, and reveals behind-the-scenes stories with his humour and savvy.
Customer Reviews:
REALLY JUST A SALESMAN, AFTER ALL THE FUSS!!.......2001-03-28
Because we're so star-struck in America, we tend to be overly impressed with ShowBiz and the people who inhabit that world. But as charming, determined and persistent a personality Mr. Brillstein may be, he's essentially just a salesman - NOT the creator, but a "dealmaker" of the ShowBiz Old School - and after almost 400 pages, I found he'd worn thin his welcome! However dramatic it may have been FOR HIM to accompany John Belushi's body back East, or "duke it out" with the Big Boys in corporate takeovers while at Lorimar, the emotions are thinly drawn and shallow in this book. Brillstein made me less than intrigued with his machinations, unimpressed by his self-aggrandizing spin on events and ultimately unsympathetic to his life challenges. (His obvious misogyny doesn't help, either - he has no use for women outside of the sack, it appears.) Here's another absurdly fortunate, rich powerful older man feeling sorry for himself because time changes everything? I'd have hoped he'd have learned to adjust better to the slings and arrows of life by the time he got to his 60s and 70s!
This book was distressing to me because I REALLY WANTED to LIKE the guy - but I found I couldn't. He's kinda ordinary, and once you remove the "famous" names and large amounts of money, his anecdotes are kinda ordinary! He's not terribly brilliant, sage or extraordinary in any other way than being sublimely LUCKY! I gave the book 3 stars, because it's certainly not dreck, but for inspiration or insight, I'd advise looking elsewhere!
Brillstein is as a big a star as those he represents.......2001-03-07
I'm not sure what drove me to buy the Brillstein book. I had heard of him of years, but wasn't sure that a managers tale was all that interesting. Oh, but is! This book is filled with humor, honesty, and and ego. Bernie seems like a terrific guy and he tells fantastic stories. Some are filled with love: Belushi, Radner, etc. Others venom (and these are the most fun, he pulls no punches): Ovitz, Shandling (more would have better on this), etc. You learn about the inside story of Hee Haw, The Muppets, SNL, and Lorimar. My favorite stuff was about Jim Henson, rarely have I seen so much great stuff written about one of my heroes.
While this may not be a roast, I raise my glass to Big Bernie and the wonderful life he has led. Thanks for sharing.
Unexpectedly Touching.......2000-12-04
I found myself unexpectedly touched by this autobiography. Having read it, I consider Bernie Brillstein a friend. With no self-praise, Brillstein shows himself to be a man of decency, of compassion, of empathy. He began in his profession as an agent at William Morris, dreaming of representing mid-Century comics such as Jackie Gleason and Jackie Gale. When he left William Morris, he became a personal manager, starting the careers of dozens of entertainers who have become household names. The stories Bernie has to tell! He survived--there's no other word--until the end of the century, representing Jim Henson, Lorne Michaels, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd and, as the saying goes, a cast of thousands along the way. He created HEE HAW and greenlighted THE SOPRANOS, headed a movie studio for a short time, got fired, picked himself up and started again. His very life has been the personification of the entertainment business; there are few who exceeded his success. And he is the one having the last laugh: He's still here! But along with the chronological report of his professional experience, what he was thinking, how he pulled it off, there is this man, this basically sweet and decent man, and that's what shines through his book. I enjoyed reading about Bernie's fascinating life.
Passably interesting but..........2000-10-29
A passably interesting look into life of an "old school" agent/manager with some real insights into his client's lives and the behind-the-scenes machinations of Hollywood. WARNING: You'll have to wade through a considerable amount of self-aggrandizment that I found tremendously off-putting toward the end. It's a rare occasion when I don't finish a book but I found myself skipping through the last third and ultimately bailed out with just a few chapters to go.
Readable, but not essential reading........2000-09-07
There's really no good insider showbiz tips or amazing gossip here. I found the book to be readable -- meaning I kept on reading once I picked it up but at any time I could have stopped and not felt like I was going to be missing a golden nugget.
It's a show biz biography of a manager. Did we really expect it to be an essential read?
Average customer rating:
- Amazingly relevant!
- Wonderful, wonderful book.
- charming
- Excellent!
- Excellent!
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Where Did You Go? Out. What Did You Do? Nothing.
Robert Paul Smith
Manufacturer: Lexikos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Dangerous Book for Boys
ASIN: 0938530232 |
Customer Reviews:
Amazingly relevant!.......2006-03-29
Many times reading this book I related it to my own childhood in the 1980's. It's amazing to think that this was written in the 1950's, about the author's childhood in the 1930's. It's also hard to believe that such normalcy could have taken place in an era when we never hear about anything but misery. Unbelievable as well, is that happiness and life carried on without the direct interference of the New Deal. This book is truly a gem that will bring you back to the forts and treehouses we used to play in.
Wonderful, wonderful book........2004-08-18
This book should never be out of print. A glorious, accurate dipiction of childhood from a boy's perspective. We can all relate. Sweet and innocent: when he talks about smoking "weed," it was real weeds from a back lot! When duct tape was the most valuable thing on the planet and an abandoned lot was a wonderland, it will all come back to you.
charming.......2004-04-07
What a wonderful little book! Very short, only 124 pages, and I think the best word to describe it is - bemusing. I was charmed by the writer's account of his childhood in the Roaring Twenties. Written in 1957, so many of his observations on parenting (and he had two of his own) are certainly true today. We micro-and macro-manage our children. Are they ever left to their own devices any more? I do remember one of the things he did, running a needle under the skin of my finger. I have a note in my copy that says this book should be given to whichever of my children's children reaches 6 first.
Excellent!.......1999-07-07
This timeless collection of childhood memories is a classic. It can be read at any age, because everyone, boy or girl, man or woman, can relate to its tellings of childhood memories, dreams, and shenanigans. This is the best book ever written, aside from the Bible.
Excellent!.......1999-07-07
This timeless collection of childhood memories is a classic. It can be read at any age, because everyone, boy or girl, man or woman, can relate to its tellings of childhood memories, dreams, and shenanigans. This is the best book ever written, aside from the Bible.
Average customer rating:
- Cartwright should be a Caldecott contender!
- A Beautiful Book
- Turnagain Ptarmigan!
- Enchanting Camouflage
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Turnagain Ptarmigan! Where Did You Go?
James Guenther
Manufacturer: Sasquatch Books/Paws IV Children's Books
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Binding: Paperback
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Alaska's 12 Days of Summer
ASIN: 1570612374 |
Book Description
From Paws IV, Alaska's favorite line of children's books, comes this delightful tale about the willow ptarmigan, Alaska's state bird.
Illustrator Shannon Cartwright once again brings to the page and into kids' hearts a delightful tale about Alaska wildlife. In this new Paws IV book, a young girl plays hide-and-seek with a friendly ptarmigan on the Alaska Range. Season by season, the ptarmigan changes its plumage to blend with its surroundings, leaving the little girl wondering each time where it has disappeared to. Written in rhyming verse and filled with fascinating information about the ptarmigan, this charming book is ideal for reading aloud to young children.
Customer Reviews:
Cartwright should be a Caldecott contender!.......2000-11-20
The simple, rhythmic text is the heartbeat of this book, and the joyful illustrations give it breath. The rhyming story spans the seasons as the Willow Ptarmigan's feathers change from winter white, to dapple brown, and back again. But the illustrations really tell the story of a child's observations and reflections of the seasons, the bird, and camoflage. What a delightful book!
A Beautiful Book.......2000-11-03
I loved Jim's story line. All four of my children admired the beautiful pictures and loved the way he incorporated rhyme into his information about the Ptarmigan. I purchased several books for Christmas presents. I hope Jim writes more books for us to enjoy!
Turnagain Ptarmigan!.......2000-10-27
I thought that the story Turnagain Ptarmigan! was a great way to introduce young children to Alaska's state bird. James Guenther has obviously done extensive research on the Willow Ptarmigan so that he could portray in a fun way for children to read and learn about Alaska's state bird. I enjoyed how for each season the author showed a different stage of the ptarmigan ... what they are like each season. I recommend this book to all grade school children.
Enchanting Camouflage.......2000-10-26
This book explores the Alaska state bird and why it changes color depending on the season. The concept of nature and camouflage is beautifully presented. The prose is excellent. The illustrations are a delight and show not only the Ptarmigan, but children sometimes camouflaged in the picture as well. A wonderful new book for children!!
Average customer rating:
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America: Where Did You Go and Why?
David T. Moore
Manufacturer: Harbor House (West) Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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ASIN: 1879560267 |
Product Description
University Game has introduced a new genre of family gaming with BEAT THE EXPERTS. For the first time, you can check your wits against more than 40 world class experts like feminist Gloria Steinem, Bill Nye the Science Guy and Steve Young, former 49ers quarterback. This game features hot shots in all kinds of fields. Each expert is asked a set of 10 questions in his/her general area of expertise. You try to get more right answers than the expert. It's that simple! But you still got a shot. Because, you see, while astronaut Buzz Aldrin may know which planet is light enough to float in water, he may not know which band Keith Moon played drums for. Contents: 150 Expert Quizzes 72 Did You Know Cards 72 Brain Beater Cards Game Board Card Sleeve 4 Pawns 1 Timer Targeted group: 2 or more Players, ages 8 and up.
Customer Reviews:
Sure Fire Pre-School Favorite!.......2000-08-17
My pre-school sunday school class absolutely loves this book and NEVER tires of hearing the story. The pictures are colorful and fun, with plenty of action to engage even a shy child. The story is the familiar story of the shepherd who faithfully searches for a lost sheep. The kids love to fold out the book and point to different things described in the text.
Book Description
A comprehensive look at World War II, this activity book encourages children to re-create life in the 1940s while learning about compassion, teamwork, and sacrifice. Touching upon nearly every aspect of the war—from the leadership of Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt to the invention of new military technologies—a clear understanding of the causes and effects of World War II is provided through the hands-on creation of period-specific implements. Activities include "Making a Papier-Mâché Bank," "Tabletop Victory Garden," "Flip Book," "Spy Message Hidden in a Deck of Cards," "Soldier's Care Package," "Fake Footprint Mold," "Victory Jewelry Pin," and "Ration book."
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic Book for leaning WWII History - while having fun!.......2006-08-14
What a great book to teach children about WWII while having fun at the same time! I highly recommend this book to parents (and teachers!)who want to involve their children in entertaining, stimulating activities that engage the mind as well as the hands. Extremely well written, with easy to perform projects. Excellent job!
K.S. Barone, teacher and parent
Excellent Resource.......2006-08-09
The author has synthesized the history of WWII into an informative and fun easy-to-read activity book. I highly recommend this resource for children and adults.
Interactive learning.......2006-08-07
What a great way to spend an afternoon teaching and learning with your child. We enjoyed the historical lessons and thought provoking perspectives. I would highly recommend it. T. Kearney - parent
Great World War II Projects You Can Build Yourself.......2006-08-05
Loaded with interesting and fun activities. Perfect for budding historian.
Great World War II Projects You Can Build Yourself.......2006-07-27
Every page of this impeccably researched book offers the reader readily accessible facts about WWII along with entertaining activities that will engage readers of any age. From fashion to Navaho code talkers to the bravery of American troops and the support on the home front, to the plight of Euorpean Jews, Bell-Rehwoldt has put together an unparalled resource for teachers, parents, and kids. This book will help any reader grasp the magnitude of this crucial period in world history while having fun at the same time! P. Parker, teacher
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Harry Winston: The Ultimate Jeweler
Laurence S. Krashes
Manufacturer: Harry Winston Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0873110137 |
Average customer rating:
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Harry Winston (Universe of Fashion)
Alexis Gregory
Manufacturer: The Vendome Press for Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0789303264
Release Date: 1999-04-15 |
Book Description
The international jewelry firm of Harry Winston has long been considered the King of diamonds. This illustrated history recounts the fascinating story of its founder, a man with a flawless sense of quality, whose charm convinced princes and tycoons to spend millions on his designs. Full-color photographs celebrate Winston's finest creations and the gorgeous gems he cut so ingeniously. The acquisition of perfect stones was Winston's highest priority and he too astounding risks to outbid his competitors. At once an adventurer, financier, promoter, and showman, Winston revolutionized the art of great jewelry and adorned the rich and famous around the world.
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Harry Winston
Alexis Gregory
Manufacturer: Assouline
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 2843230950 |
Book Description
The Cold War was one of the most dangerous periods in American history, but it ended with one of our greatest victories: the dismantling of the Soviet Empire and discrediting of Communist ideology. Architects of Victory tells how the Cold War was won and it does so in a unique way by focusing on the lives of six great figures who were among those most responsible for Western victory: Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, Konrad Adenauer, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Pope John Paul II, and Ronald Reagan. This scholarly survey of contemporary history and celebration of human greatness provides an indispensable overview of the events and personalities that dominated the second half of the 20th Century.
Download Description
Author Joseph Shattan profiles Reagan and five other individuals whose vision and leadership shaped Western perceptions and policy during the Cold War: Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, Konrad Adenauer, Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Pope John Paul II.
Customer Reviews:
Six Men Who Helped Change the World.......2001-03-25
Joseph Shattan has assembled a series of short, but informative profiles of six leaders who played central roles in the Cold War. His roster of heroes includes:
-- President Truman. After initially toeing the accommodationist line of FDR, Truman soon recognized the expansionist ambitions of the Soviet Union and reacted accordingly. His Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Greece and Turkey aid package stopped the spread of Marxist hegemony in its tracks and set the contours for the four-decade struggle that was to come.
-- Winston Churchill. In and out of office, he warned early and often of the rising Bolshevik threat. But like his earlier forebodings about Hitler, his alarms fell largely on deaf ears. It was not until the 1980s that the West pursued Cold War strategies that can truly be called Churchillian -- with predictable results.
-- Konrad Adenauer. As the first Chancellor of the Republic of Germany, he planted the vital country squarely in the Western camp. West Germany was the crucible of the Cold War. Lacking a leader of Adenauer's resolve and conviction, that country could have easily fallen under the Soviet orbit, or, as Stalin designed, opted for a feckless, hollow "neutrality."
-- Solzhenitsyn. In Shattan's words, he "re-moralized the struggle" after Viet Nam and other setbacks cast doubt on the West's Containment policies. His seminal writings, especially "The Gulag Archipealgo," laid bare the repressive underpinnings of the Soviet system, while his public outrage at detente opened many eyes in the West.
-- Pope John Paul II -- The first non-Italian Pontiff in some 400 years came around at a most propitious moment. (Andropov and other Soviet paranoids contended that the Pope's selection was engineered by the U.S.) Lech Walesa credits Pope John Paul II with "saving Solidarity" -- the counter-revolutionary movement that administered the first schisms in the Soviet armor --and in inspiring his fellow Poles in their stuggle to shake off the yoke of Communist domination.
-- President Reagan. He foresaw the demise of the Soviet Union at a time when many saw history moving inexorably away from the West. Beginning in the 1970s, he called Communism a failed and failing system that would ultimately be trumped by the West -- heretic words to Western leaders who thought befriending the Soviets was the best way to change their behavior. As President, he pursued policies (Churchill's) expressly designed to exacerbate the tensions within the Soviet system. The Berlin Wall was toppled (it did not "fall"; it was pushed) less than 10 months after he left office.
Shattan's work is required reading for anyone interested in learning how the Cold War began -- and ended.
An excellent book and analysis.......2000-10-18
This book is a very impressive piece of work. Shattan is very fair when he writes about each and every person, no matter what their political stripe. From Churchill's prescient knowledge of what must be done to Truman's acknowledgement of the danger that Communism posed to Adenauer's firm and unwavering alignment with the West to Solzihentisyn(sp?) showing how the Cold War was really a moral struggle to Pope John Paul II's unwavering determination to free Poland to Ronald Reagan who ultimately caused the end of the Cold War; even though it came under Bush's administration; Shattan demonstrates a keen eye for details and an excellent sense of analysis. This is well worth reading for anyone interested in the Cold War.
revisionist history's finest hour.......2000-08-23
This is the ideological nonsense that passes for intelligence on the rabid right. In regards to Reagan, although a critique of the importance of these "Hero's" is overdue. If just spending the USSR into destruction were true, the Soviet Union would have fallen in 1943 when they spending virtually everything on materiel. Read about the economic situation the Soviets faced and Gorbachev's thoughts. He knew the situation was desperate long before he got to the top, and knew there must be changes. He allowed the borders to open. A few more facts, i.e., Solidarity, Perstroika, and you'll get a picture of what happened. The USSR would have collasped without Reagan. Why would the Soviets just throw in their hand after Reykjavik? (read Frances Fitzgerald's new book.) The first time I heard this inane theory about Reagan I did the same thing Gorbachev did when he first heard it - I broke into a good belly laugh. I will admit the right has a PR machine that is second to none. But in the end this is just another specious attempt to revise history, a close cousin to "FDR was in on Pearl harbor."
History as it should be told.......2000-07-19
This book's objectivity is suspect due to the fact that it was published by the conservative Heritage Foundation; however, Joseph Shattan does a good job in making his case for these six men who did so much to alter the course of late 20th century history. It is remarkable that his list includes two American presidents (one Democrat, one Republican), a German chancellor, England's greatest prime minister, a pope, and a Russian writer. Such a disparate group makes this more than an essay on politics, it is a rich analysis of fifty years of world history. You can disagree with Shattan (as other reviewers have done), but you cannot deny that he has offered good reasoning for his heroic choices. It is enlightening to read about the contributions of Solzhenitsyn, Adenaur, and John Paul II, which are not well known. It is extremely satisfying to read a concise analysis of what Truman, Churchill, and Reagan brought to the mix. I believe that conservatives give Reagan too much credit for "winning" the Cold War, however I also believe that history will bear them out to a very large degree. Churchill is a giant, truly the Man of the Century (despite what TIME magazine thinks), and get his credit here. Truman obviously had a strong grasp on "the big picture" even as he grew into his role. It is interesting to apply what Shattan teaches us to the study of governments, economies, and social progress in this same time period. Joseph Shattan has done us all a favor by publishing this book; maybe efforts like this will finally begin to reduce the luster from Mikhail Gorbachev. Buy this book and read it. Then donate it to your kids' school library.
"Winning" Six Heros, I think NOT.......2000-06-15
how can one say victory after a few million people lost their lives in all the proxy wars, I couldn't understand why this author "praises" these people, communism fell under it's own faulty economic structure. I thought when I first picked up this book, lets see what he has to say, by the time I finished the book I was disgusted! How can ANY side claim victory in a war, everybody loses in a war, everybody.
Average customer rating:
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Charlemagne (A Cassell Caravel Book)
Richard (Bober, Harry) Winston
Manufacturer: Cassell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Children's Books
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| Ages 4-8
| Ages 9-12
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| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Computers
| Educational
| History & Historical Fiction
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ASIN: 030493304X |
Average customer rating:
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The Little Book of Roy Keane
Unknown Fan
Manufacturer: New Island Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Irish
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Soccer
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ASIN: 1904301169 |
Books:
- The 16th Mississippi Infantry: Civil War Letters and Reminiscences
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- The Civil War Story of Bloody Bill Anderson
- The Color of Truth: McGeorge Bundy and William Bundy: Brothers in Arms
- The Eyes of Orion: Five Tank Lieutenants in the Persian Gulf War
- The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
- The Man Who Invented the Third Reich
- The Splendid Five: A True Story About the Splinter Fleet in the Pacific During WWII
- The Story of a Soldier 1940-1971: The Airborne Spirit and Recollections of Colonel Edward S. Mehosky (Ret.) U.S. Army, Infantry
- The Trafalgar Roll: The Ships and the Officers
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