W Books

This is a remarkable fictionalized story of Pan Yuliang, a famous painter. What makes this book unique is the writing style that draws you into the bittersweet life of Pan Yuliang. Yes, she was sold into a brothel at the tender age of 14, but her resilance and luck of united with Pan Zunhua changes her life dramatically. He takes her in as his concubine, and then later as his second wife.

This story does not end there, which could have been a happy ending. Pan Yuliang would go onto study art, and become a famous painter despite her special view of life. She was fiercy independent, painting nudes, and being accepted into universities where a woman had never previously completed a program. She would go to Paris to continue her studies, and live in poverty. Yet, the story does not end there. She would go back to China.

Her life continues, her uniqueness, her resilience shines through this book. You can get a feel for what her life was like, and you can understand her as a person. She goes from the one being rescued, to the rescuer. This is much more realistic than the Memories of a Geisha, and leaves with such a warm affection for Pan Yuliang that you simply must pick up this book and read.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com
The Painter From Shanghai is a fictional account of the life of Pan Yuliang. She was born Xiuqing in 1895, orphaned at five, and raised by an opium-addicted uncle. At fourteen, he sold her to a brothel, The Hall of Eternal Splendor, where her name was changed to Yuliang.
Jinling becomes her mentor, friend, and lover, helping her to adjust to her new life. A government official, Pan Zanhua, buys her contract and makes her his second wife. It was during her marriage that she began painting. The influence of her younger life was a factor in her art. The culture she lived in did not appreciate her great talent for painting female nudes. Her work was considered shameless and pornographic. She was forced to move to France where she resided until the time of her death.
The details in Painter From Shanghai are amazing. Jennifer Cody Epstein uses words to paint a stunning portrait of Yuliang and the China she lived in. Written with beauty and intelligence, Painter From Shanghai will mesmerize readers. In this novel, her husband deeply loves her, but Yuliang was never truly capable of returning that love. Painter From Shanghai is a work of epic proportions.

I have been transported, which is, in my opinion, the best thing you can feel at the end of a novel, especially historical fiction. THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI is a captivating journey to an unfamiliar land, culture and time; a fascinating introduction to a remarkable woman. The amazing bonus here is that the main character, Pan Yuliang, child-prostitute-turned-acclaimed-artist, really did exist.

Pan Yuliang was born in China in the early years of the 20th century. Orphaned at a young age, she lived with her opium-addicted uncle, who sold her to a brothel at age 14, for drug money. Unlike the vast majority of women sold into sexual slavery, Yuliang was able to escape. Through sheer force of will and an undeniable, irrepressible artistic talent, she ultimately transformed herself into one of China's most pioneering modern painters.

Not without controversy and challenge: Unable to find models to pose nude for her in China's Confucian-based society in the 20's and 30's, she often resorted to painting herself nude -- gorgeous, lush and provocative paintings that evoke Cezanne and Matisse, and led to fame and infamy both at home and abroad. Ultimately clashing with the neo-Conservative movement in China, just prior to the revolution of 1949, she left China and lived the rest of her life in relative obscurity in Paris.

I was a little skeptical about this book, in the early chapters. How authentic and accurate could all of this be? It certainly read well, but I wondered: Is the author Chinese? (Jennifer Cody Epstein? Chinese heritage doubtful, at best.) Did she live or visit China extensively? Study Chinese history and culture? Art?

These questions were an issue only very early on. As the story unfolded, THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI, became an epic novel of place and time, with glimpses of politics and history, and world-changing events in the background of this unconventional woman's incredible personal and artistic struggle to survive and create, to fulfill her own destiny.

THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI is thoroughly-researched and richly-imagined by a very talented writer. Turns out, Jennifer Cody Epstein has a BA in Asian Studies; a Masters in International Relations; lived seven years in Asia; and researched extensively for this book during her MFA program at Columbia University.

Enjoy THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI as a fictional biography, based on a real life. Allow yourself to submerge in a re-imagined masterpiece, rich with accurate detail and authenticity.

To learn more about Jennifer Cody Epstein and THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI, don't miss the Focus on the Author feature interview on [...].

-- Sherri Caldwell, Humor Columnist & Reviewer at [...]
Co-Author, The Rebel Housewife Rules: To Heck With Domestic Bliss!

Xiuqing grew up believing that she was destined to become an artist, the next great female poet or perhaps a talented painter. When her mother died, little Xiu was taken in by her uncle. While he fanned her dreams, his own opium addiction would take the young girl on a very different path. Thus, at fourteen, Xiuqing became Yuliang, one of the girls working at The Hall of Eternal Splendor.

For several years, Yuliang's existence was dictated by the whims of the Godmother who ran The Hall and the men who frequently the establishment. However, after the murder of her best friend, Yuliang's life suddenly changed. She met a man who appreciated and encouraged her natural curiosity and love of learning so that Pan Yuliang's true talents could eventually surface.

If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, you'll love The Painter of Shanghai. Both stories share the stories of young girls thrown into a world beyond their comprehension who rise above their circumstances. However, I have to admit that I actually preferred The Painter of Shanghai. In life, Pan Yuliang was a courageous woman who followed her truth no matter what the consequences. Her strength and perseverance is an inspiration to us all.

Jennifer Cody Epstein steps into the pantheon of fine contemporary writers with her first book THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI, a work of 'historical fiction' so polished in research, so rich in detail not only of the turbulent period in China during the first half of the 20th century, but also in the mysterious social customs of that country, and a source of insight into the changes in the manner in which the visual world was captured by artists as East and West met and married in the art capital of the world - Paris. Yet overriding all of this fascinating information is Epstein's gift for delivering a story of passion and love with a poetic prose style that comes together in this novel in a manner not unlike creating the painting technique that this novel's heroine describes her world. It is a grand feat and a work worth repeated readings.

Westerners may not be familiar with the name Pan Yuliang, one of the more important Chinese artists who influenced the Post-Impressionist art movement, but in Epstein's eloquent novel we grow to know this gifted artist from her birth as Xiuqing in 1895, and her early years as an orphan protected by her opium-addicted uncle who sold her into a brothel at age fourteen. Enough space is allotted in this tale to allow us to learn the traditions of the 'flower houses' and the brutalities and consequences of life as a prostitute, but Epstein is careful to balance the sad with the radiant in the relationship between the newly renamed Yuliang and her beautiful 'teacher' Jinling with whom she has her first love affair, and Yuliang's subsequent rescue from the brothel through the kindness and concern showered upon her by a handsome gentleman Pan Zanhua - the man with whom she not only enters into the relationship of being his concubine, but also benefits from his support of her position as a woman and as an artist.

The story spans Pan Yuliang's life from these early beginnings to her death in 1977, a life that brought her exposure to the West, with awards from the schools of art in China, Italy and France resulting in renown as a gifted artist who just happened to be a woman with a past, the many private and public pains she endured as her native country moved from the reign of the Emperors through the rise and fall of Chiang Kai-shek, the invasion by the Japanese, and the new order of Communism, and the influence of the world perception of art that included defeat of some of the finest artists as the battle of the sexes altered the perception of painting the nude figure as an acceptable subject matter in a climate of global turmoil.

Epstein manages to write as intricately about history and Chinese tradition as well as luminously about the act of creativity. Few writers can match the descriptive language of the emergence of the visual: 'But true art must contain an emotional range that speaks to the viewer. Speaks...not by lulling them into a false sense of complacency, but by probing. Challenging. Even hurting, if need be. Anything to force us beyond life's easier thoughts.' 'Has it ever occurred to you that our wounds are what drive us to create?...What if those who've lost something compensate for it in their work? In that case the damage helps them. It's what compels them to create...And it might explain why the best artists tend to be the poorest.'

THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI begs to become a film. But until that happens, this elegant and passionate book is one to treasure repeatedly. It is a work of art. Grady Harp, July 08

My Special Education class loved this book. The pictures are delightful and the story is fun and exciting for my Kindergarten/First Grade Class. This book was selected by my department as a suggested book for use in my class.

The warmth and openness that the authors convey in this book makes you feel like you live in that neighborhood yourself. Cute story; beautiful artwork. Children as young as 2 are drawn in and fascinated by the magical storyline. Great read-aloud book!

This imaginative little fantasy is sure to bring a smile to the lips of the smallest children and start a playful exchange of ideas. This is beginning imagination at its coolest. However be sure that you playfully talk to them about the book and get their ideas on what happens to snowmen during the night. Do not leave them with thre impression that snowmen are animated.

Even though we live in Florida and don't have snow my 3 year old son enjoys this book. It has good rhythm and cute story. This book was one of his preschool teachers favorites so we bought it. I am glad we did.

I've received this book & given it as a gift several times. It is good for young childrem, simple to read & the illustrations are beautiful. It is a great gift for new parents or grandparents. Also the the other book Snowmen at
Christmas is just as great.

Wow! Book arrived in perfect condition and delivered as promised.
I couldn't ask for more.

Thank you.

This book shares with the reader the incredible ability of one woman to take all of the bumps that life has to offer and to never give up. The importance of a name and the need to hear it spoken is powerful.

This book was excellent it told the story of slavery from an female point of view "Roots" was from a male point of view. It taught me so much I would definetly use this book for students in African American studies classes. GOOD JOB! If you are interested in African Americans past and what we went though as a whole get this book it teaches very well! It is a BIG book I loved it so much I read it in 3 days!

I read this book for my book club. I wouldn't have chosen it myself. I read the book with the same obligation that you take medicine - you know you should to make you feel better. I felt like this was a "should" book.

I like historical fiction, but I really don't enjoy reading about the torture and killing and slavery of other human beings. I think that Hill did an incredible job with his historical facts, but I found the main character implausible.

This book is amazing. It is incredibly well written and the storyline is envoking. Once you start, you'll find you can't put it down. The author does an amazing job at describing events and situations. And when you read about those events you really feel the emotions with each scenario. Wonderful book!!

What started as a project to print every single Spy Vs. Spy strip Prohias did (plus some that were done by his successors) evolved into a tribute to their creator.

The strips are all here, but there are also a couple of nice essays and rememberences detailing Prohias flight from Castro's Cuba and life in America. Plus they printed some of his pre-Spy Vs. Spy strips.

These strips were meant to be read once a month or more. I've noticed if you read too many in a row, they lose their edge. Still, that's no knock on the work. If you remember these strips from childhood or liked the animated Mad TV segments, this book is well worth a look.

Spy vs. Spy has always been my favorite section in MAD magazine since I first started reading it many years ago. Each new issue I got, I would immediately turn to the "Joke and Dagger Department" which is specifically reserved for this strip. It was not until I was much older however did I realize that Spy vs. Spy were really a parody of the cold war. This book is the complete collection of Antonio Prohias's iconic creation including every Spy vs. Spy he ever illustrated. Additional biographical and bonus information on Prohias is another amazing feature of this collection and his immense contribution to MAD magazine is truly shown. The Spy's elaborate methods of destroying one another will keep you laughing for hours with this book! Which Spy will win next? Black or White?!

I loved the unexpectited endings. I liked seeing them beet up each other. They also tell abought the auother`s life in the begening.

Classic book with background information. Creative, imaginary, entertaining & impossible enterprises detailed. Great for adults to younger teens. Originally purchased for my 12 year old and so popular he and his friends that we gave several as gifts to his friends. My 8 year old also picked up the book and spent time studying the pictures and laughing at the absurd lengths these spys go to.

"Spy vs. Spy: The Complete Casebook" collects the complete run of the late Antonio Prohias' comic strip from 1961-1987, published by MAD Magazine. The title characters are two equally sinister agents--one dressed in black, the other in white--who constantly war against each other with many a different scheme.
On occasion, the Spies are joined by the Gray Spy--a female operative who always triumphs over the Spies, who are blinded by their love for her. This book also contains artwork by Bob Clarke and Peter Kupfer. There are also extras in this book, including photographs of Spy merchandise, unpublished sketches and essays by Prohias' friends at MAD.
This book has a secret agent, film noir feel to it. It appears that the comics were easily inspired by The Shadow--but to a greater extent, the Cold War.

I have to admit, living in the Midwest has made it difficult to catch LSU sports. I have actually become an SEC sympathizer. I'll watch any team in the conference. Enter this book. A really good history about the programs of the SEC. All of the folklore about Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings, Vince Dooley and the "evil" genius. I read this book from cover to cover and really understood some of the fierce rivalries in the SEC. You also begin to understand the rich tradition that is SEC football and why it is important to alumni. I'm still a devout LSU fan, but will follow the SEC in any contest!

This book is great for anybody claiming to be a SEC Fan.
I love the thoroughness of it and the recipes are yummy for the tummy. Buy it. You won't be sorry.

Do you know the history of your alma mater? I am a Georgia Bulldog and I had no idea I knew so little about the Dawgs and the rest of the SEC. Learn about it all here. The tailgating recipes are great too. A perfect gift idea for the SEC Football crazed fan in your life. I have considerably boosted my water cooler bragging rights with this book.

This book is really something if you are an avid southern football fan. If you are an SEC alumni, it is a must-have. In addition to a history of college football in the South, all of the unique histories and traditions of the schools are there...along with some very tasty Cajun tailgating recipes named after each team. Great bowl games are mentioned and each of the alma maters and fight songs are listed as well. This is one of the best sports books to come around in quite some time. Purchase your copy of "A Tailgater's Guide To SEC Football." It has something for everyone and it will not disappoint. An engaging read.

Well written and informative, Warner's book is a great reference source for any SEC football fan. Each chapter covers the important players and coaches from each school. However, if you are looking for anything deeper, go elsewhere. None of the big issues, i.e. segregation/integration or cheating/NCAA violations are covered. The book does a great job of accomplishing Warner's goals. I only wish he'd have been a bit more ambitious and tackled questions tougher than, "who was the best QB in Florida history?"

The Best series of books to learn Network programming from. The BEST in the world. Nothing comes close.

If you are reading this review you probably are looking for a comprehensive text on socket programming. Look no further. This is the One. You can stop reading reviews trying to find the perfect one and go hit the Add To Shopping Cart button with confidence. Detailed, comprehensive and clear. A favorite.

This book consists of "in the trenches" information Mr. Stevens learned over the years by reading source, testing thoroughly, documenting extensively, and assembling carefully all this data into one heck of a book on Unix programming. I feel certain in declaring that many who've developed code on Unix know instantly of Stevens' works. This update to his book appears just as thorough.

I do agree with a previous reviewer who was unhappy with the code samples' dependency on a header file in the back of the book. It's a clumsy technique, but it's difficult to imagine another way to accomplish the goals of including the header.

This book is excellent. I had previously bought "Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment" by the same author and I loved it so now that I have to do network programming in Linux I got a copy of UNP. The book is well organized and has a lot more information than I expected (Raw sockets, Packet capture, IPv6 etc). Everything is explained clearly and with a lot of examples. It's a shame that the author passed away because I would buy any other book he wrote. Buy this book, it's expensive but It's so professional that is a "must have" for anyone that's going to be programming network applications in UNIX systems.

Thank you, Richard Stevens. Rest in Peace.

The book contains everything that I want to know about the Unix Sockets API. The book is well structured, and the explanations are generally good. I would give it 4½ stars if it was possible.

I do have a few minor gripes though. The text can be a bit dull compared to other books. I bought "Programming with POSIX(R) Threads" by David R. Butenhof at the same time, and this book is much more entertaining while still factual and correct.

I dislike that all the examples in the book uses a special header defined in the Appendix. That makes it impossible to use snippets of code from the examples to make your own applications.

This is a great book. It covers all of the design and tuning needed for a Citrix environment. It includes desktop replacement strategies...the works. It is easy to understand and organized well.
I was forced to learn Metaframe 1.8 in a hurry and this book gave me the tools to be able to implement a robust thin-client solution.

Having just gone through the process of loading Citrix XP this book made life a million times easier.(The book appears to me more orientated towards earlier versions than the one I loaded but this caused no problems at all)
I had had very little experience with Citrix beforehand but this book prepared me for the install and fine tuning of Citrix once installed...Take a bow Mr Mathers - very well written and well layed out

If you are new to TS/Metaframe, but you have a solid handle on Windows NT/2000, this will be an easy and informative read for you. While you will already have a solid grounding in file system an regsitry security, system and group policy, user groups, performance tuning, and system configuration, Thin Client Solutions is full of detailed information on how to apply your NT/Win2K savvy in these areas to the TS environment.

Mathers covers both the TS and Citrix products in detail. You'll get coverage on everything ranging from the differences between the two products, to installation, licensing, optimization, security, and application integration. And don't forget, the appendixes are also chock full of useful stuff such as a TS/Metaframe command reference, file system security configuration scripts, registry security configuration scripts, and more.

A word of caution, however. If you don't know Windows NT/2000, you'll probably be lost -- Mathers assumes that you are on a pretty solid footing with the Windows environment. If not, you'll need to bring your Windows NT/2k skills up to speed before this book will be of benefit you.

If you are thinking about configuring a Terminal Services server and/or using Citrix Metaframe, this is the best book you can buy. I have bought them all, and even if you have experience with TS, and or Citrix, this book is full of great tips and extremely useful information. Buy it! Don't wait.

WINDOWS NT/2000
Thin Client Solutions
Implementing Terminal Services and Citrix MetaFrame
AUTHOR: Todd W. Mathers
PUBLISHER: New Riders
REVIEWED BY: Barbara Rhoades

BOOK REVIEW: Windows NT/2000 reminds a reader of "War and Peace" in that it contains over 800 pages of in-depth information. The font is a fairly readable size.

Author's note, tips, warnings and many graphical examples can be found throughout the book. The Content section has 13 pages while the Index contains 44 information packed pages. With this much reference material, the reader should not lack the ability to locate the information he/she is seeking. Just in case this isn't enough, the book is divided into Parts and each Part lists what the Chapters of that Part contain.

If the reader is building a "Windows NT or 200 thin client system", Windows NT/200, Thin Client Solutions, Implementing Terminal Services and Citrix MetaFrame should provide the answers.

Michael has done it again. Reading both $30 Film School and $30 Music School back to back has definitely given my confidence and knowledge a jump-start.
With the $30 series and the documentary DIY OR DIE, Michael W Dean has created a foundation to start your own artistic journey and equip you with enough knowledge to survive in what can be a very cutthroat environment.

It is time to wake up, take control of what is left of your life and make an impression to last the ages. The $30 series is here to help prevent you from making the mistake of living old with regret.
For $30 you get way more than what you pay for.

The book's OK, but it's not about music: it's about running a garage band -- which is very different: in music school you study your instrument, solfege, harmony, and counterpoint; in a band you need to know how to find gigs, how to fight with your bandmates and come on top -- every time, all the time, how to deal with the gear, etc. With this in mind, the book is a good read for a newbie (but if you have a couple of years' experience in that area it is unlikely that you'll find anything you don't already know).

What's next for the author? I'm hoping for a $30 Brain Surgery School book, why not. After having starved in the company of beautiful women, one realizes that a man's gotta eat. ;-) God bless.

The title of this book caught my eye and I bought it after reading 1 page. It is well written and informative without being dry. Along with the practical advice given on purchasing gear, dealing with bandmembers, club owners, recording and other facets of getting your music heard, integrity and win/win situations are stressed throughout it. I have already applied some of the info presented and have undergone some major attitude adjustments (positive ones) toward my music and my musical goals. Although there is a lot of humor and an easygoing style about this book, it is very serious in its focus on how to get your music out there. Anybody who wants to pursue music further than garage band status should read this book. People who want to be big rock stars would benefit from $30 Music School, too, as it may prove to be a reality check for them.

Michael W. Dean's $30 Music School is the best book on this subject I've encountered. Mr. Dean (Dr. Dean?) covers every aspect of music-making: the politics of bands, writing songs, getting gear, practice spaces, booking shows, recording, making cds, the music business and the internet, and touring are all addressed at length in a personal, avuncular style that is always inspiring to read. Mr. Dean's enthusiasm is infectious. His DIY aesthetic is uncompromising but his attitude couldn't be more positive. This is a book for people who want to get out there and start living their art life instead of merely thinking about it. I've been a musician for over 20 years and every chapter in this book fired my imagination. If you read this book and don't feel inspired to begin or reinvigorate a DIY music career, you probably have a different calling altogether. I'm hoping he writes a sequel (graduate school?) that addresses many of these subjects at greater length. In the meantime, I'm on my own! Ha! If you liked this book, check out the others in the $30 music school series as well as Mr. Dean's fiction works and his film D.I.Y. or Die. Hooray for Michael Dean for doing so much of the hard work for the rest of us!

Michael's writing style realy makes this an enjoyable read. This how-to for garage banding covers everything from managers and road managers and bookers to the handful of guitar and keyboard chords you need for rock 'n roll to tutorials for various software packages. Hmm. Like a boyscout manual for punk rockers. Lots of anecdotes and real-world advise.

And so Asterix meets the Romans. This is the perfect place to start with the series, as it is the first book. Little idiosyncracies are evident. This was before the final forms of the characters were imagined, so you get some variance of what they look like. It's hard to put into words, but they're definitely different.

I don't think it's possible to overestimate how interesting and important this comic strip is. Not only is it extremely entertaining, it's interesting and well drawn. Also, if you care to read a little below the surface, many other things: scathing critique of expansionism, romans, and likely catholics. Also the chief of the Gauls is Vitalstatistix, a nod, I think, to Gamers everywhere. Plus... Here's more hidden meaning.. Put Gaul and Rome together, and what have you got? Game. Of course, the romans lose a certain amount of face... heh. Anyway, I'll add more when I think of it.

Every Asterix rules, doesn't matter which one, it rules!
These things are hilarious, has anyone ever read the French version?

Wonderful. what more can I say. You got to have it.

Thanks to the magic potion of the resident druid, Getafix, Asterix and Obelix triumphantly defend the borders of their village against Caesar's legions, to the legions' great dismay ("I hate those Gauls"). My personal favorite is "Asterix and Cleopatra" where they travel to Egypt to help Getafix's buddy Edifis win an architectural contest between Ceasar and Cleopatra. Oh, and the Sphinx's nose? Obelix did that.

In this graphic novel series there is great storytelling, superb drawing, awful puns, wonderful sound effects (yes, really), and sneakily, insidiously, while you're laughing, you're learning.

Asterix lives in the Gaulish part of the Roman Empire. Doesn't he? Not quite, his village resists the Romans thanks to a magic potion. The Romans want some of this potion for themselves...

"Asterix the Gaul" was the first Asterix comic, published in 1961. Rene Goscinny made the words and Albert Udzero did the pictures. It's a pretty good way to start the series though the sequel "Asterix and the Golden Sickle" (1962) sets up the vibe the other comics enjoy.

very detail description to learn correctly who the God of the Bible is.This book is for some body really interested in seeing more of God.

Pink gives an in depth look at who the Bible says God is. It is extremely Biblically based, with every page having numerous scripture references. It is important to know who the God of the Bible is. Most who profess belief in the God of the Bible think they know who that God is. Yet, if the god we have in our thoughts does not match the God as recorded in the Bible we are in error.

I went through this as a study with a group of women and it greatly influenced my knowledge of God and my prayer life as well. Every new & growing Christian should read this. There are way too many people with an inaccurate or low view of God, and this book biblically provides a very well-rounded description of His character and awesome attributes. There was so much I learned and although it is not a long book, there is a lot to chew on! Knowing God well is a crucial foundation for every Christian.

What a power-packed li'l book--concise, biblical, God-glorifying, no Ph.D. required, yet covering the most important topic in the universe: who God is, and what he is like. I've read tomes that don't present as much as Pink does in 5 pages, which is the average length of each chapter.

I love this short volume. So much has been packed in this 108 pages volume, yet it trumpets volumes. This work by Pink points directly to the Most High God and no other.

I highly recommend this power-pack volume. Five stars and counting!