Art History Books

Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin combines Michelle Lord's engaging text with impressive illustrations by Felicia Hoshino to tell the remarkable story of a young woman who in the year 1906 was a member of the dance troupe from the Royal Palace in Cambodia when they all made a trip to the beautiful city of Paris. Carrying young readers through Little Sap's encounter with the famous French artist, Augustine Rodin, Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin follows the painter and sculptor's interest with the classic beauty of Cambodian dance in general, and the dancing girl Little Sap in particular. A beautifully presented picturebook story, Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin will delight young readers and prove a popular addition to school and/or community library picturebook collections.

With two Cambodian-born children, this book is a treasured addition to our library. Beautifully told and illustrated, its graceful imagery draws children into the story, and with the muliple readings demanded soon has them practicing the hand poses and dreaming of dance.

My kids will be reading this for years, and I now give this as a gift for all new baby girls ... and Khmer boys, as well.

Young girls especially will be able to identify with Little Sap as she starts her first dance class, all awkward and clumsy compared with the more experienced girls in the room. But as Little Sap grows more comfortable dancing, the reader grows more comfortable in the world of early 20th century Cambodia. And then the reader feels the same thrill Little Sap does when her dance group boards a huge ocean liner -- bringing along costumes, props, and even elephants! -- and sails for France.

The story is like a magical time machine that sends us back to a time when the world was much larger than it is today and foreign cultures were much more exotic. Cambodia of a century ago was a very artistic society, and the illustrations are superb in communicating the details of the clothing, dance, music, and architecture of the period. Together, the words and pictures convey a genuine sense of being there and sharing in the experiences of Little Sap.

A truly delightful childrens book about a young cambodian girl who leaves her family and her village to become a dancer for the princess's royal dance troupe so that her family can have a better life. Along the way, she learns hard work and self worth. I found this to be an inspiring and touching story with a unique cultural angle not normally seen in childrens books.
The bright and colorful drawings bring the story to life.

I highly recommend this book! An exceptional book from a first time author that I hope publishes many more in the years to come.

They say not to judge a book by its cover. Obviously this rule is true some of the time. Some of the time, however, the cover is EXACTLY what you need to see in order to judge a book correctly. How many times have you seen a cheaply produced cover on a children's picture book also to find the story inside laughably simplistic? More than once, I'd wager. By and large, however, I do not seek out books based on what their covers look like. Then I took a gander at "Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin" and my little heart went pitter-pat. Oh how pretty. We've all seen those picture books that show a small child getting to know some great artistic figure. There was "Beethoven Lives Upstairs", and "Degas and the Little Dancer" (which bears no small resemblance to this book), and the truly disturbing "Picasso and the Girl With the Ponytail". What drew me to "Little Sap" however was partly its content. I don't know how many Cambodian picture books you can recite off the top of your head, but my count is pretty low. Add to that the fact that the book talks about Rodin (oddly ignored by picture books, by and large) and you've got yourself the makings of something particularly good.

The royal dance troupe of Cambodia is recruiting new members from a number of girls around the country. Little Sap is from a small village, but despite her dirty nails and awkward balance the child wins a place on the court's troupe. That means unceasing practice and training. Over the years she gains confidence and poise and is allowed to go to France with the troupe to perform abroad. While there they attract the attention of the great artist Auguste Rodin. Drawn to the dancers (no pun intended), Rodin spends much of his time in the villa where they stay, sketching their moves. Little Sap in particular gets his attention and by the end of their stay in France he purchases a pair of fancy French shoes and gives her a sketch of herself. The back of the book includes an Author's Note that describes the facts behind the story and what is and isn't true.

Rendered in ink, watercolor, acrylic, and paper collage the illustrations done by first-time picture book artist Felicia Hoshino are quite pleasant. Hoshino's girls wear silk sampot, or pantaloons, which let the girls look as if they're wearing slightly baggy pants all the time. This accurate detail has a dual purpose. On the one hand it means that the book is historically and culturally appropriate. On the other, it means that the girls in this book look particularly familiar to today's jean-shod young lasses. The style Hoshino uses here tends towards odd proportions in characters. Feet tend to be particularly small and heads particularly large. Just the same, this technique never strikes the reader as out of place. It's simply a different style.

Lord is careful to note at the back of her book that Little Sap's story is, for the most part, made up. There are elements to it, however, that were true. One thing I noticed in a photograph displayed of Rodin watching a dancer was that the performer is wearing a costume far more elaborate than any pictured in the book. During the professional dance of Robam Makaw the costumes are made evident, but we never get a scene similar to the one in the photo. One has to wonder why this is. Why, for example, did artist Felicia Hoshino choose to include plenty of scenes where the girls dance for Rodin, but not one where they are dressed up? Still, there was much to enjoy in this book. I was particularly pleased that Lord thought to include some of the hand motions mastered for the purpose of the dance. And though there isn't an official Bibliography at the back, a quick gander at the publication page shows the books, videos, and websites that Lord and Hoshino owe their aid to.

There are plenty of child-influences-great-artist type books out there, but by and large they are of white children with white artists. You'll still have the white artist in this book, but at least there's a bit of multiculturalism going on as well. You may be able to find Cambodian folktales in your local library, but not many will be stories based on real life occurrences involving the Khmer empire. A lovely little book and a nice story to boot.

First of all...Mr. Lowe obviously has a deep rooted love for our wonderful city of Chicago. Most importantly...he is ensuring future generations and historians the ability to reference so many facts. This simply said...is an incredible work of love and a dedicated effort.
Thank You Mr. Lowe...my children's children will know what an important part that Chicago has played as our nation grew and prospered.

L. Curt Erler Author of "Southside Kid"

Stunning photos of a beautiful city. This book is truly a step back to a time when buildings were built to withstand centuries, although tragically these examples did not. Chicago has some of the most impressive examples of architecture in the country and this book is a powerful archive of not only what the city was, but what it is today. I wish there was a similar book on the buildings of Detroit, many of which are sadly slipping into oblivion.

In Lost Chicago, historian David Lowe explores the architectural and cultural history of America's great "heartland" city. This is a community who architectural heritage was all to often squandered during the last five decades of its growth and evolution. Lowe's elegant, and informative text is wonderfully enhanced with more than 270 rare, period photos and prints (many of them published here for the first time). Lost Chicago is a celebration of the age of Gustavus Swift and Philip D. Armour and the greatest stockyards in the world; when Cyrus McCormick, Potter Palmer, George Pullman, and Marshall Field were the national barons of business and industry; when Prairie Avenue and State streets rivaled New York's Fifth Avenue; when architectural giants ranging from Louis Sullivan to Frank Lloyd Wright were designing buildings of incomparable excellence and innovation. Lost Chicago is a "must" for students of Chicago history, architecture, and personalities.

There is much to enjoy here even if one does not have a special interest in architecture. As a lifelong Chicagoan, I especially liked the photo of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (p. 79) which occurs in the formerly Polish neighborhood that I grew up in. I also enjoyed the old maps of the Chicago area from the 1600's.

If you care about the history of Chicago and/or American architecture, you will be blown away by this photographic treasure trove of the Windy City's lost legacy. Through fire, ignorance and greed many of the country's most beautiful buildings have been lost. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the merchant princes and the stockyards, George Pullman and Hull House's Jane Addams, Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, the Columbian Exposition. These people and events shaped what few would neglect to identify as one of America's architectural centers.

This beautiful book is filled with more than 200 black-and-white photographs of buildings, bridges and other structures tragically allowed to fall into disrepair, destroyed by natural disaster, or bulldozed for parking lots and malls, repeated testaments to the Gordon Curve, predicting that a building is valued most when it is new, that it is least valued and most likely to be razed at approximately 70 years of age, and that if it makes it past that nadir it will begin to rise again in value as a relic and monument.

Each chapter is preceded by several well-written and accessible pages, and each photograph is accompanied by informative paragraphs and quotes. The author delves into Chicago's beginnings as a frontier fort and its rapid growth into a bustling mercantile hive, along the way outlining the history of the peoples and policies of various times from 1803 to the 1970s, organized into ten conceptual and functional groups such as residences, hotels, railway stations, churches, arthouses, The Fire and the fairs.

The photographs are wonderful, many I've never seen before, and each is described well, though the book would benefit by containing more maps. The book is constructed of good heavyweight paper and concludes with picture sources and notes, and a good index. It should be of interest to those with some connection to Chicago, architecture or American history, particularly of the 18th and 19th century.

I liked the way Handel compares the classical thoughts of Clausewitz and Sun Tzu. This a good way of understanding the fundamental similarities and differences in approach to war the West and East have.

This book is a comprehensive analysis of classical military thought. Although some would argue that this book is for military scholars, I beg to differ, and, heartily suggest this book to any First Year Student of Military Studies. It will greatly assist you in your comparison and analysis of theory and theorists and will also give you a comprehensive understanding of the universal logic of the principles and tenets of war.
This is a great book.

Dr. Terry Tucker
Combined Security and Transition Command-Afghanistan

is how I would describe Handel's 'Masters of War'. This however should not deter the keen reader from purchasing the book as it is indeed a wonderful, clear and interesting read.

In the course of his analysis, Handel sets out to compare and contrast the different schools of thought that 'the greats' developed, with particular attention being paid to Sun Tzu and Von Clausewitz. Perhaps this is where the text comes into its own for the academic. If one was to consider writing a study on the conduct and role of the military in this day and age, this book brings not only Sun Tzu and Von Clausewitz, but also Jomini and Machiavelli into focus. The student will hardly require a more comprehensive guide to different schools of thought for the construction of their essays.

In conclusion therefore, I would reaffirm my belief that this text would prove invaluable for any classical military analyst trying to find a text helping and perhaps reducing the amount of time devoted to sifting through Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' and Von Clausewitz's 'On War'. However, taken out of this context, although highly readable, it is perhaps beyond the requirement of the casual reader whom might be better served reading abridged texts of the originals first.

Michael Handel's third and final version of his "Masters Of War" may be the most accessible analysis of classical military thought available to the military professional or academic. Handel's patient, methodical, side-by-side textual analysis of the works of Sun Tzu and Clausewitz overcomes the deceptive simplicity of Sun Tzu's precepts and the equally deceptive dense verbiage of Clausewitz's "On War." The result is an enlightening exploration of what may be mankind's most complex and most dangerous collective activity. For all its wastage and terror, war continues to be a final arbiter of the destiny of nations and ideologies.

Handel's work is an intellectually challenging read designed for the military professional or academic. He examines important concepts such as the centers of gravity, the correlation of ends and means, and the relationship of military and political objectives through a compare and contrast analysis of the writings of Sun Tzu and Clausewitz. The writings of some other authorities such as Mao and Jomini are cited where especially relevant. Handel's prose is straightforward. He uses examples from a broad range of military history to illustrate his points.

The author, who died in 2001, completed his revisions for this edition before the start of the Global War on Terrorism. Nevertheless, both classical military thought and Handel's analysis continue to be relevant.

This book is very highly recommended for the mid-grade military professional, especially for those studying at the intermediate service college level, and for the military academic seeking a broader understanding of the operational and strategic levels of war.

The best side-by-side comparison of Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, and Jomini strategic thought one can find. Included is Mao's strategic approach to completely round out classical perspective on war and strategy. The single best reference for understanding the similarities and differences between the masters of strategy.

Wanted to view Illuminated Artwork that the ancient monks used to do in their holy books up close. Wonderful images. This is a coloring book so you can really see how the images were done.

Fun, easy starter or refresher. Better yet, keep copies on hand for practice and just for fun!

I love this book it is so neat how they illuminated scrolls in the middle ages.

I first bought this book after I was married. I have given it as a gift to adult friends, most recently for my mother, in her 80's, and for my son's fiancee. This is a great book for anyone with a good set of crayons, colored pencils, coloring pens - whatever. I have one treasured copy in which friends have chosen the page that they wanted to color and then signed their page afterward. Highly recommended!

What a wonderful coloring book. As one reviewer pointed out, this one is not just for the kids. The black and white drawing that are just waiting to be colored are extremely detailed, and when finished are quite wonderful. This little book gives a wonderful example of an art form which has all but vanished. There is very little text here as it really is not needed. I would suggest, depending upon the age of the individual using the book of course, that colored pencils be used rather than crayons and some of the designs are rather detailed. On the other hand, a small child with a neat box of those wonderful smelling crayons, will have just as much fun and the older kid. The projects in this book are not only good for children, but are and have been used in nursing homes as therapy...I see them almost on a daily basis during my work. The drawings are also useful in giving a child a nice dose of history along with hand/eye skills. I have to admit that I enjoy doing this one myself. If you can find a good, clean copy, grab it. I am not at all sure if this one is still in print.

Very interesting, very beautiful book illustrated by photographs of present day monastic gardens in Europe and the UK.

This book is a unique find. I have never seen a book before that explores monastic life in this way. The gardens are both functional and glorious. The photos are absolutely stunning. Oftentimes I have read books where the photos take center stage and the text is an afterthought. This book is an exception. It is a very rich story that compliments the brillant photos. After reading the book, I felt like I had joined the author in his travels and explorations. I will defintely be looking for more books by him in the future!

Books on the origins of English words, generally agree the word 'garden' comes from the old German for an enclosed safe space where living things including vegetables, flowers and children can be safely grown. Modern dictionaries expand the meaning a bit, but for the most part gardens remain places of safety, nurturing, repose, and reflection. The huge fields containing monocrops grown by large commercial interests, where nothing survives except the cash crop of interest, are the antithesis of the garden, which is literally and figuratively the source of life.

According to the Christian Bible (and the Jewish Torah), the original garden (Eden) contained the tree of life. MONASTIC GARDENS, by Mick Hales, is about the importance of gardens for the well being of bodies, minds, emotions, and eternal souls. The places he visited and photographed in the U.S. and Europe reflect the lost paradise and the paradise to come. Many of the gardens contain a tree as a focal point in remembrance of the Garden of Eden.

In addition to setting an example of the life well lived, providing a place of refuge for the weary soul, and working for their own sustanance, the most important good deed the monks and nuns who tend the living spaces in monastic gardens do is to contribute to the preservation of the diversity of life humankind at times seems bent on obliterating in it's mad quest for "perfection". Around the world other spiritual/religious groups are similarly engaged in this very important work. One can think of the Amish who live in the mid-Atlantic areas of the U.S. as like-minded souls who understand the modern obsession with "perfectionism" is a deadly illusion if not downright sinful.

Hale's photographs and text encourage meditation. Cloister walks and clipped box mazes reflect the paradox of life as a journey of the soul toward the infinite. An orchard where a fallen Quince stained with a bit of decay lies in the sunlit grass reminds one of her own mortality. All these photographs reflect the work of the creator who is the divine spark that sets the monks and nuns on their daily rounds.

MONASTIC GARDENS is a beautiful book of prayer and meditation. Forget for a moment the strife and hatred of those who do not know love, and focus on the words Hildegard Bingen who said, "greening love hastens to the aid of all.." This is not a book about the life of priviledge. This is a book that points the way for all.

This book is a precious insight into a way of life which is rare today, and all the more valuable as a result. The photographs are beautiful and informative, the text respectful but not synchophantic. I've read it twenty times and still find opening the next page a real treat.

I recently purchased this book as a gift for a friend after hearing a review from a fellow book club member.

My friend is a long-time gardener and has also attended retreats at several convents and monasteries. She was delighted with the information in the book as well as the beautiful photographs. Especially interesting are the explanations of the selection of plants included in the various parts of the gardens.

I would recommend this book as a must-have for the serious gardener's library.

I bought this as a gift for a friend who dreams of moving to Montana. Since I purchased it well before Christmas, I took the time to go through it myself. It is such an impressive piece, I might move to Montana.

Great pointers on wonderful scenery and places to visit. Buy this book on Montana first if you are traveling there!

Because I'm the photographer!

The has recently won the prestigious SAPPI Gold Medal Award as Best Book in North America!

Hope you think so too!

Thanks

This is one of the finest photographic books ever irregardless of it being a state book. The compositions are fantastic and varied.

The book is destined to become a classic and Mr. Vasapolli a place amongst the finest photographers ever!

I love Montana and I own almost every book on Montana. This one in particular is destined to be a classic amongst photographic essays. The compositions are varied in itself and each a fantastic journey of Montana cities and wildernesses. Not a weak one in the whole lot- except the ugly bighorn sheep shedding it's winter coat- the sheep is ugly, but the surroundings are still beautiful.

It's a book bound for several editions and Mr. Vasapolli a place along side the photographic greats of all time.

As a child, my very favorite movie was THE WIZARD of OZ. My favorite scene was when the tiny Muchkins "Came out ,came out, wherever they were".

I always wondered about the actors and actresses that played the parts of the delightful little Munchkins, & therefore I was thrilled to finally get this book (as a Christmas gift).

This book will not disappoint. Not only does it give a wonderful background as to where the Munchkin actors came from, but also this book goes into specifics, regarding the most famous of the Munchkins actors/actresses (eg: the Lollipop Boys, etc). Such endearing folks they were! (Sadly, most of them have passed away by now...sniff!)

After reading this book, you will forever love and appreciate the little people that were part of such a unique movie.

This is probably the most interesting Oz book in my collection. Finally someone reveals who these little people are, and in such an entertaining manner. I couldn't put this book down. I've read so many books about Prod. 1060, aka "The Wizard of Oz" (MGM) which are dry and stale. This book puts the whole experience into perspective and provides a human side to the Munchkin actors. I'm glad to hear some of them survive. The photographs in here are glorious. The color photography jumps out at you. Bravo to Steven Cox for doing such a handsome job and such a respectful job with "The Munchkins of Oz." If you want a book on Oz that is unique--this is the one.

We would certainly highly recommend this book! Meeting several little people throughout our years, our family found this book to be a Top 10 book! It is full of stories of the Munchkins, and what it was really like to be a part of OZ. We found out things we never knew, even after hearing so many personal stories of those who shared their experiences with us personally. We believe Meinhardt Raabe is the last of the Munchkins still alive, and would also highly recommend his book, Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road.

I loved this book so much that this is the 3rd edition that I've bought. I bought the first edition back in 1989 and the revised edition many years later. When this one came out, I knew I had to have it too. With each revised edition, Stephen Cox really outdoes himself. I've found that any revised edition of this author's books are always even better than the original, as he adds more info and photographs!

This book is a must-have for all Oz-fans, young and old. It's filled with rare photographs, little-known trivia and fascinating tid-bits. There is also a section about bloopers (find out about a scene where Judy Garland can clearly be seen wearing brown bedroom slippers instead of the Ruby Slippers!) and "urban legends" (no, the Munchkins did not get drunk & disorderly every night as portrayed in the Chevy Chase/Carrie Fisher movie "Under the Rainbow"!! Nor did a Munchkin commit suicide on set during filming; F.Y.I.: it's a large, exotic bird moving its head & wings that people think is the hanging Munchkin).

Reading this book will increase your Oz-IQ several points! What are you waiting for? Buy this book now!

I first read this book when the first edition came out, and was really impressed with the depth in which the author went to gather the information for this book -- hours spent locating and contacting the surviving Munchkins, all the interviews that took place, etc. This is NOT one of my favorite movies, by any means, but I always liked the first seen in Oz, where Dorothy meets the Munchkins, and this book really showed you who these people were and how they managed to get into the movie. Alot of great pictures help make the book really stand out. With each reissue (this is the third edition of the book), the author is able to provide a little bit more information on the Munchkin actors and actresses, and provides additional pictures to keep the experience of the book fresh. I would highly recommend not just this edition, but the two previous editions if you are able to find them. A great read!

This is the story of a woman growing up in the privileged environment of a prominent Jewish family in the Holy Land, and then spending the rest of her life in America. A major theme of the book is her devotion and gratitude to her father, Abraham Weinshall. As well as being Israel's leading real estate lawyer, he was the dean of Israel's writers on legal ethics, and an important figure in the formative years of the state of Israel. It is clear throughout the book that the author wants her own life to be a credit to her father's ethics and sense of service to others. She is generous in her assessment of others, even of those who were not fair with her. She had a troubled relationship with her mother, a talented artist who appears to have had some form of mental illness.

The book begins with her growing up in Israel. Her parents denied her nothing; but they did not coddle her. They expected her to use the resources that wealth could bring -- the best tutors and educators for example -- to grow up and make her contribution to society. Not being a Jew, I learned something about a refined and morally conservative upbringing in a modern Jewish home.

Another valuable thing I took from the book was the inspiration from the author's tremendous efforts at self-development in whatever she did. She had extremely high standards in each of her professions - law, art, medical support, and computer programming. I learn from people who have high standards, and she certainly does.

The author's lengthy period of professional development, her years of study of several artistic media, her ability to blend these media into a coherent artistic expression, form another of the most interesting parts of the book. Unlike many artists, she provides detailed and interesting windows into the process of creating a work of art. Remarkably, she never sought to sell her art. She generally gave her art away and clearly felt the most fulfillment from doing so. She is primarily an educator.

One of the major themes of the book is that her parents and friends expected her to return to Israel after receiving her education in America; but after efforts to return and live there, she was unable to do so. She is deeply devoted to Israel's best interests, and wanted very much to fulfill the expectation that she would contribute to the development of the new state of Israel. Later in life, after a successful career as a professor of international law, she entered the field of art. She closely identified with Anne Frank, and was drawn to portray images related to the Holocaust -- indeed, became one of the premier artists portraying the Holocaust -- and eventually succeeded in fulfilling her aspiration of serving Israel. Her invitation to display her work at Yad Vashem, the Israeli center to memorialize the Holocaust, was the height of her artistic expression and her service to her people and to all people. This bestowal by Israel of acceptance of her art was clearly a most meaningful and gratifying fulfillment, and answered her question whether her decision to remain in the USA and not in her beloved Israel was the right one. This was a redemption of sorts, from the criticism from others who thought she should have remained in Israel. It also emerged as a worthy response to the enormous investment in her development, made by her lawyer father and artist mother.

As a non-Jew facing the Holocaust, though I have read some books about it, I have found it too horrible to contemplate for very long, or in too great a depth. The author brought herself to look it in the face, to stare at it and plumb the full scope and depth of the methodical murder of a race; and responded artistically in a way that the art viewer can receive and begin to understand. Jews don't ask much of the rest of us about the Holocaust. They ask us to know that it happened, and something of the loss of humanity and culture represented by the murder of so many people, including more than a million children; and they ask us to make sure it never happens again. That's not a lot to ask. When I visit the East Coast I will make it a point look up her archives in the Fine Arts Department of the Boston Public Library.

I particularly enjoyed the chapters about the author's relationship with her husband, Bob--their courtship and marriage, their shared life as law professors; their mutual support; and particularly their dealing with the challenges brought about by his succession of strokes. Some of their best years were after his first stroke. Loyalty to one's spouse is important to me, and the relationship between this couple is worth emulating. I found it fascinating that he was one of the American Jews serving in the US Army in WWII who personally witnessed the death camp at Dachau after its liberation.

I would have liked more about her life in Israel, as I'm interested in that period in the history of the Holy Land -- the last years of the British Mandate, and the beginning years of the statehood of Israel. A minor criticism I would make is that on a couple of occasions she went into too much detail, such as the layout of a house; but she soon got back into her rhythm. For these reasons I gave the book four stars (I wish four-and-one-half had been an option). I unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone interested in the themes of this interesting, well-written, and honest book.

This is a poignant memoir, interweaving extraordinary sequences of events in 20th century world--and particularly Jewish--history with the author's personal story. That story wraps around a paradox of privilege on the one hand and struggle on the other. The struggle it reveals derives both from the choice to forge her own destiny as an artist when most of the key figures from whom she sought support would have pushed her in other directions, and from the succession of tragedies--deaths of loved ones--at important junctures in her life.

My Life into Art is an easy read; one moves with interest from chapter to chapter, eager to learn where things will go next in a narrative that offers itself as a continual meditation on what art is, what history is, what Judaism is and what it means to contribute something to the world--something that survives beyond one's own life. Thus this memoir is part of a larger artistic legacy the shaping of which it sums up with its own elegant shape.

A VERY GOOD READ
Review by Mary Ann Brodie. October 5, 2007

In her autobiography, My Life into Art, Judith Weinshall Liberman tells her astonishing life story from her childhood in Israel through university life in America and her growth and development into a very fine artist. Her parents communicated messages (injunctions) about what she needed to do in order to fulfill their desires. Her father instilled in her the need for an excellent education and for helping the Jewish people. Her mother indirectly communicated that art was the most important thing. Judith Liberman remarkably synthesized these hopes and expressed them in her own special way exceptionally successfully. She found her way to do both.
In addition to "a very good read," her autobiography has taught us many things. (I love it when a book does that). Judith Liberman earned honors at the University of Chicago Law School and she explains her own special way of studying. In her art, she devised new techniques and found numerous ways to express herself. She shares feelings and observation and has produced an excellent and memorable book.

My Life Into Art is Judith Liberman's journey from childhood in Israel (then Palestine) in the 1930s and 1940s, to academia in the US, and finally into the world of art where she evolved into a highly original and inspiring artist. The book has many themes that would be of interest to any reader: growing up in the turbulent Middle East before and during World War II; life as a foreign student in the US, struggling with homesickness, loneliness and cultural challenges; mother and daughter relationship; the Holocaust; and, of course, the process of learning about art, growing as an artist, and creating art. The language is lucid, the story flows; in short: it's a well written and fascinating memoir.

Mrs. Liberman's book was both entertaining and instructive. I felt when reading it that I was sitting down with a friend who was telling me her story. I was fascinated by the descriptions of her wall hangings and hope one day to see an original. I had seen photographs but never realized that this was fabric art.
I also learned much about a culture that was different from mine in so many ways, but was alike in others.
I could not put the book down for very long before picking it up again to see what life brought her next.
Thank you, Judith Liberman

I'm addicted to Geary's true-crime series, "A Treasury of Victorian Murder" and this volume is probably one of the best I've read thus far. The story is that of the well-chronicled but mysterious death of a popular New York cigar seller, Mary Rogers. The circumstances of her death, the people involved and the evidence gathered all make for a seriously bizarre but fascinating true-crime tale. Rick Geary's meticulous black-and-white illustrations are tidy and convey the story wonderfully. An unusual use of the "graphic novel" medium, but an effective one. Highly recommended!

Rick Geary brings the 1840s back to life in this study of an unsolved murder. Mary Rogers was pretty and well known in New York City back then. Her brutal murder splashed across the tabloid pages until interest gradually waned. It never waned completely, though, because Edgar Allan Poe immortalized it in an analysis thinly veiled as fiction.

Geary illustrates this classic mystery in his unique style: black and white pen drawings with no shades of gray, and, static, isolated panels like loosely-related snapshots. It's enjoyable, but more for the afficiando of mysteries or unusual comic styles than for the fan of mainstream comics.

//wiredweird

With The Mystery of Mary Rogers, Writer/Illustrator Rick Geary continues his "Treasury of Victorian Murder" Graphic Novel series, this time exploring the facts in the death of Mary Rogers, a well-known "Segar (Cigar) Girl" (She worked in a large Manhattan Tobacco Shop).

Geary's books are laid out incredibly well; most "Mainstream" non-fiction writers could learn a thing or two from him. He presents THE FACTS in the case, and since the murder was nevr really solved (At least officially...), he avoids any supposition; At the end of the book, he gives the reader a few scenarios that MAY have happened, never presenting any one of them as the actual solution. Geary's writing style is very informative, and his illustrations have a depth and resonance that belie their "Cartoony" look.

Overall, this book is a pleasure to read! The hardcover is a very attractive package at a low price, the text is informative and illuminating, and the artwork is superb. In a perfect world, Geary would be a fixture on the best-seller lists.

In 1841, Mary Rogers, a well-known resident of the city of New York, was found floating in the Hudson River, dead. The investigation was hampered by jurisdictional disputes and the primitive forensic science of the time, and is officially still unsolved. It was a great stir in its day, and everybody had opinions about it; Edgar Allen Poe based his "Mystery of Marie Roget" on it. Geary gives us the known facts, and proposes a solution in line with the modern thinking on the subject. His evocative artwork makes this book a visual treat. I'd love to see him tackle the alleged murder of Sarah M. Cornell by the Reverend Ephraim K. Avery; it occured at nearly the same time this case did, and is still officially unsolved.

It is very unusual for antebellum New York to get any sort of treatment in popular culture, which is a shame, because the whole space between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War features dramatic changes in the city's popular landscape. Institutions for maintaining public order and safety that we take for granted today were less organized and often appropriated by the underworld for its own purposes.

Scorsese's upcoming movie, GANGS OF NEW YORK, looks like it will offer an interesting look into this time. Readers looking for a little less bombast can take in Rick Geary's tight little graphic exploration of THE MYSTERY OF MARY ROGERS. Geary tells the true tale of a corpse that captured the public imagination in a manner similar to any of today's celebrity victims. He renders useful maps and recreates the known facts of the case with haunting sillhouettes and faces that are remarkably expressive in their cartoonishness. Geary also tosses in a tidy little chunk of social history -- so that we understand the context -- and chronicles the sensationalism that followed this case. As a final service, he puts forth the prominent theories about the case, noting its inspiration of Poe's mystery.

Graphic (as in illustrated) non-fiction is somewhat of an oddity, often represented by simpering auto-bio. True crime stories tend to show up in the BIG BOOK OF ... series. This, however, is a neat and stylistic volume that would put Anne Rule to shame.

This book is very different than I thought it would be, but was definitely an interesting read. It is basically a series of essays dissecting various aspects of the show - from Veronica's relationship with her father, to what Veronica's voiceovers add to the show. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a more intellectual viewpoint on the series, rather than just campy fun. A must-read for Veronica lovers.

Ordinarily when I read an anthology that attempts to make an analysis of a TV series or film, I find at least a couple articles I cannot agree with. However, in Neptune Noir, despite there being different approaches by the authors I found them all superlative. It may also be that my wife and I are suffering from withdrawal pains of there being no Veronica Mars after this Summer's reruns of season three.

I will not comment on individual articles except to say that each author covered verious aspects of this great show, using examples from the scripts of the first two seasons. Even more interesting was the introduction and commentaries by Rob Thomas. As a retired high school teacher myself I had no problems understanding what he was doing.

I have to say that my wife and I are late blooming fans. In fact we met Kristen Bell at a convention, getting her autograph, before we had seen the series. We picked up the first couple episodes of season one at a video store and that was enough to get us to order the first two seasons. Never have we gone through a collection so quickly as we just couldn't ration them out. We now await our order for season three.

I understand there are movements to revive the show or to at least have a movie. TV Guide even rumored that Veronica Mars could show up on 24 as an FBI agent. That wouldn't work as Jack Bauer couldn't keep up with her. Also, Kristen Bell is a superb actress, as witness the Lifetime film Gracie's Choice. By now she probably has had countless offers.

I do hope that we have not heard the last of Rob Thomas and that his genius will again give us something special.

Although this book made me cry wishing there was still to be more Veronica to come, it was amusing in itself as it dissected the series.

I ordered this book the day after the last episode, and it's just what I needed for mourning the end of the series.

A bit too intellectual at times, but generally a good read about the philosophical implications of various scenes and episodes from Veronica Mars. Focuses largely on the first season, which is great if you enjoyed it. A bit heavy for a summer read, but if you are into philosophy or want to read some deep thinkers' opinions, definitely a worthwhile read. And there is enough "lightweight" content to make it a good read for all.