Themes Books

I enjoyed the artwork in this book. And the creativite that went into the letters.

My daughter and I love reading about fairies and this book was delightful. It is creative and beautiful to look at.

I am a big fan of Lady Cottington's work, and this is another great installment in the series.

The artistry is amazing - the amount of work required to not only paint (or "squash") the fairies is immense, but then to paint a "mirror" on the opposite page, and have it look like a fairy really was pressed between the pages - I can't even begin to imagine how much work it took!

The authors clearly had fun putting this together. Although there is no "plot", you get a sense of a story - Lady Angelica is plaqued by fairies, and is also missing her mother, so she writes letters to famous people and collects the responses, with further tauntings by fairies.

The books is extremely amusing! There were moments when I laughed out loud - for instance, on the inside back cover, there is a list of the letters and their authors, as well as a short bio on the author. W. S. Gilbert is described as being "...the very model of an English playwright/lyricist."

First off, I'm very biasedly a huge fan of Brian Froud and ADORE the Lady Cottington books. This book is so far my absolute favorite. I love how it's set up, the different letters are so greatly written. My favorite letters/notes are those from J.M. Barrie and Wendy Darling. I think that reading the other Cottington books s pretty much a must before starting this one, but it's really quite lovely. This album tells a story without using a regular narrative. Imaginative, beautiful, everything I expect from Froud and the Cottington albums.

This book is so nice I bought one for my mom for her birthday! Of course it was part of a huge stack we took to have Brian Froud sign - which makes it even more sweet! Very funny reading and the drawings are just fabulous!

I purchased the book for my son-in-law who enjoyed it VERY MUCH. Great Book.
Shirley Nordby

this is a nice book with very beautiful photos ,a must for people who like
to learn about other cities evolution.

I was finally able to visit Las Vegas last year and bought several Vegas books as souvenirs. Unfortunately, most of the books only provided information on present-day Las Vegas. Also wanted were pictures of the Las Vegas I had seen on TV as a kid. After all, that is what gave it its magic & attraction to me.

This book provides that. Pictures of the old & new are featured on opposite pages for easy comparison. The pictures are large, sharp, & clear, & are of excellent quality to this layman's eye. They are also accompanied by short paragraphs of essential facts such as build dates & owners, along with information peculiar to the specific buildings.

I highly recommend this book to the nostalgist.

I drove through Las Vegas in 1975 and was so unimpressed I didn't even stop and get out of the car. I wanted to see if this book had any photos from that era and was pleased to find out my memory wasn't faulty. I was also there in the mid '60s and the late '90s and the book didn't let me down on those memories, either.

The book is a fascinating look at Vegas in the past and present. For each subject there's the "then" and the "now". It captures the amazing evolution of defines Las Vegas. With each picture is a paragraph about the scene. It's a nice coffee table book but also a cool reference book.

What a beautiful celebration of an area under threat. Thank you to the Wards for their focus and drive. We hope to see more work from these talented artists.

So many Americans know so little about this great gift our forefathers have given us - The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The fact remains that this coastal plain supports the highest density of mammals and birds in the arctic. Kennan Ward's book brilliantly helps us understand what's at stake here. The photographs alone are priceless! We believe that it would be a sin to rob future generations of the opportunity to understand this virgin land. Anyone who cares about America's heritage should take time to read this masterwork and understand what's at stake.

It is amazing how this book gives you a personal feel for the animals and their environment. The wildlife is perfectly comfortable and nature performs for Kennan Ward. He has the connection and a gift for capturing nature in its most potent moments. This book is a work of love and pristine beauty! If this land is allowed to be exploited for oil, this could be the last record of this incredible wilderness.

Beautiful photo essay on the Alaska Wilderness with a hopeful bequest to future generations of animals and all who love America's wild places.

Kennan Ward's book contains stunning photographs of the land, plants, and animals of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. Ward writes from his personal experiences as a photographer and naturalist. Kennan published this book to help keep this pristine wilderness area a place of incredible beauty and wildlife diversity. His book makes a strong visual argument for the case of preserving this wildlife area from oil drilling. He does this by showing photographs of the significant environmental impact of oil companies in Alaska. I hope this book will not be a reminder of what the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was like, but instead, what it will continue to be for future generations of people and wildlife that come to this "last wilderness." I would highly recommend this book to any person who would like to learn more about the wildlife and environmental issues pertaining to the Refuge.

Sensitive and expertly photographed..a new way to look at children's feet....a global perspective.

MArina inf you read this will you call me...Pam Lechtman

I love this book from beginning to end. Each photo brought me back to my childhood memories and now I can't go to a park without looking down at those precious little feet. I reccomend this charming, little book for all my friends and family.

Simple and understated - Marina's perspective is amazing and is only surpassed by her many other talents. Whether it is with a brush, camera or a handful of flowers, look for great things from this wonderfully talented artist.

I saw this book in the store and fell in love, anyone who has children or is planning on having children will adore this book. The pictures brings you back to your childhood and you get that feeling of carelesness, which doesnt happen very often anymore. It is amazing how she has captured the sweet and innocence of children in her pictures. Thank You for this wonderful book.

Little feet

by

Marina Drasnin Gilboa

If ever a book of photographs can be called charming, this is the book. Measuring only 6 1/4 X 6 1/4" with 72 pages, this book holds images of tiny feet in sweet, scuffed, muddy and precious baby shoes of all kinds. Above the shoes are chubby knees, drooping socks and rolled up cuffs of baggy pants or appealing hems of pretty little dresses. Some shoe laces are untied. Some feet are moving--running jumping, swinging and more, and some are still.

Some images are black and white, some are brown-toned and others are color. All are captivating. What a wonderful idea photographer Marina Drasnin Gilboa had when she thought of producing this book. This book would be a precious gift for a new parent or grandparent. Totally delightful. Published by Chronicle Books and copyrighted 2000, it is beautifully done.

If you plan to climb Longs, have climbed it, wish you could climb it, love visiting the area, love the Colorado mountains etc you won't be disappointed. The photography (and the quality of their glossy reproduction) is simply superb. The text is engaging, well researched, and tells you more about a single mountain than you could imagine. Having climbed it a couple of times and spent 7 years with it dominating the skyline from my balcony this is a book that has pride of place on my bookshelf.

90% of the book kept my attention from the moment I opened it. The last 10 deals with floura and fauna, things that I'm personally not interested in, but some may find helpful.
Lots of great scenery and history. A book I definitely will revisit many times to come.
I've already climbed Longs several times and was so entranced by the history, I went back to search out some of the items mentioned in this book. As I hiked I recalled a lot from the material and next thing I knew my destination was reached in what seemed like no time at all.
Anyone who's going to the area is highly encouraged to read this book. Anyone who's already been there will find things they were never aware of.
I'm not a big history buff, but this book camptivated me.
5 stars eventhough I wasn't interested in the last chapter or two, but the material in the previous chapters was simply awsome.
Thanks, great book. A+

This is an excellent book on the history of Longs Peak. In particular the controversy around who made the first ascent is well researched and fascinating, although I may not agree with all the author's conclusions. This is the best account of the Agnes Vaille tragedy I have seen and contains many factoids I was not familiar with. Many a hiker passing the stone hut below the Keyhole has wondered about it, and reading this account is just what they need.

The photos in the book are magnificent and very well reproduced. There is also a list of recommended routes in the back. This is not a climbing guide, however, and I suggest you buy such a guide if you are planning on climbing any of these routes.

This very readable account of Long's Peak from Dougald MacDonald is an excellent volume. Divided into four general parts, MacDonald opens the book with a personal account of hiking the "Through the Keyhole" to the summit. The writing is personal, wry and engaging as he details the common summer hiking route to the top. The History portion begins with the earliest Anglo-American accounts of climbing the mountain and includes some of the colorful personalities that have scaled it. John Wesley "Wes" Powell, the "one-armed mountaineer" to the tragic rescue attempt and death of Agnes Vaille, "one of Colorado's best climbers, male or female, during the 1920s" are here. Early commercial and National Park Service efforts at tourism and stewardship of the mountain are explained. The Adventure portion discusses changes in hiking and climbing methods and routes, along with rescue efforts and the 54 recorded fatalities on Long's Peak. The Natural History portion details the geological, flora, and fauna resources and the best places to look for them.

A sports journalist for years, MacDonald is the former editor of Rock & Ice and has been climbing Long's Peak since 1982. More than a guide book, his Long's Peak is filled with full-color photographs, historical photographs, maps and trail routes. Numerous inset boxes are scattered throughout the book that provide additional information or refer readers to other resources. Appendices include the best routes, a glossary, an index, and a brief explanation of sources. MacDonald conducted and distilled extensive research including primary resources and there is a bibliography; however, the selected notes are too vague for researchers. Long's Peak is the most comprehensive and current volume of the mountain, including the classic by the late Paul Nesbit and a must for public libraries and others with regional or mountaineering history collections.

Dougald's new Longs Peak book is outstanding. He expertly retells many of the familiar Longs Peak tales, but also tells some new ones. In particular, his account of the first (white) ascent of the peak is the surprising product of some good sleuthing. The writing is superb, as are the photographs. This is an essential book, whether you are contemplating your first ascent of the peak or whether you know it as well as Dougald.

Excellent! Loved it! Marilyn was and truly is beautiful. Every Marilyn fan should purchase this book. You won't be disappointed!

These are extremely high quality photos on very nice paper. It is like having a marilyn scrap book of photographs. I was very pleased.
The paperback I have seen recently. It seems just as nice, but I bought the Hard back so nothing would get creased or bent. Favorite one so far. I am very picky.

I love Marilyn Manroe and one of my friends knew how much I loved her so she got me this book. And I loved this book it had tons of grate pictures that a marilyn lover will love or just anyone that wants to remember her in some way or another. Or just someone that collects Marilyn stuff this would me amazing to add to your collection.

This book is one of the best books on Marilyn that I have ever seen! There are so many great photos of her from the beginning of her career until the untimely end of her life. Harvey not only includes many lovely photos of Monroe, but includes little tidbits of information about Marilyn and the photos. It is written in a very eay to read manner and since the writing is mainly centered around the photos you can easily read a little bit here and there without getting completely lost. I really enjoyed this book's content and would strongly recommend it to any Marilyn fan!

I have this book and it is by far one of the best. It has beautiful images of Marilyn. It also has a lot of information on events in Marilyn's life and things that happened during the filming of her movies. If you are a fan of Marilyn Monroe, this is a must-have!

I've studied this book many times both in a class setting and as a private study, before I was married and after. My husband often complains that marriage books (and therefore marriage classes) all say the same thing: "communicate, communicate, communicate." While that is part of it, this book is much deeper than that. It takes a scripture and extracts the meaning from it by using the root words and other scripture to define it. I would recommend this book to every couple contemplating marriage, those who are happily married, unhappily married, and those on the brink of divorce.

This book, along with volume I, is the best I've ever read on marriage. It can only make a good marriage better. And if you find yourself in a desperate, struggling marriage you'll find hope and guidance within its pages. This book is saturated with scripture. God has not left us to find our own way when it comes to marriage - and intimacy. He gives us clear teaching and this book digs deeply into His word and shows us the riches of what God intends marriage and lasting intimacy to be.
If you find yourself in a desperate marriage where pornography or adultery, etc. are issues then I recommend you start with this volume, Volume II. There is hope!

Patsy Dawson is very insightful in bringing what God wants for your marriage to light. This book is excellent for anyone (serious bible student or inquiring married person) wanting to truly improve their chances at having a successful marriage. The truth is spoken here and it's just waiting for those who want to gleen it.

I used to think there were only a handful of scriptures in the Bible pertaining to marriage but after studying Marriage A Taste of Heaven, Vol. I, I found how saturated the Bible was in every category pertaining to marriage. The author reveals a simple Bible formula for solving marriage problems. The application and real-life counseling stories cause an instant connection for the student. Any student of relationships will be amazed as they are exposed to popular philosphies from ancient history to present, showing how men & women have been crippled in their attitudes toward each other and marriage by the 'experts' of the time. The organization of the material makes it a great resource for those who teach.

In Vol. II, if you've always wondered about what the Bible says on sex, this is a great book to help you. I learned a lot about how attitudes of religious leaders, Victorians, feminists, hippies and other social heavyweights have had an affect on the generations before filtering them right down to you. One great thing about this book is the emphasis on how you can protect your sexuality to get the most from a relationship that God WANTS you to have. The author's model is to use scripture then application. For those that learn and will eventually teach others, the exercises and thought problems are great for changing damaging thought patterns that affect sexual response.

These two volumes are the best books on marriage that I have read, and I have read many. I have bought and given away many copies, used them to teach and counsel. Vol. 1 is great for pre-marital counseling, to strengthen marriages, and to help save even very desperate marriages. Mrs. Dawson goes through many, many Bible texts dealing with the subject of marriage, deals with them thoroughly, and makes great applications with anecdotes, illustrations, and current events. Her chapters on the Song of Solomon alone make the book invaluable.

Vol. 2 is more focused on the sexual relationship in marriage. It is occasionally quite explicit which is just what we need in today's society. It is a wonderful tool in marriage classes with married couples. Much of what the book contains needs to be taught to children as they are ready to hear it by their parents. Most of us need continual refresher courses on this material to strengthen our own marriages and help us enjoy sex with our spouses even more. Again, Patsy Dawson is thorough, easy to understand, and her illustrations hit home.

Thanks for writing two wonderful volumes on the most important relationship there is between two human beings. Buy them, read them, live it, and share!

I agree with every word written in the previous reviews: this is a stunning work and one of my most prized possessions, ranging across manuscript illumination from the very earliest known through early to late Middle Ages and Renaissance, and geographically also ranging much more widely (i.e. outside Europe) than any work I've come across.

I paid £37 for it in the UK when it first came out ($75), and still thought it was an absolute bargain. So I am mystified why it is suddenly available (October 2007) at a fraction of the price: this must be being sold at a loss - or are Taschen simply offloading all unsold copies to Amazon? It might be worth Amazon specifying if this indeed the same as the original edition. You'll note that the cover picture is slighlty different from the one you get when you follow the link to the more expensive 'other editions' (even if the text content and reviews are identical).

Illumination has fascinated me since I was a boy. This is the best book I have seen of illuminations. The scope includes books in Greek, Latin, Old Church Slavonic, Persian, and Mayan. The printing is superb. Detailed descriptions tell who did the work, who patronized it, who owned the book, where it is now, and so forth. Great for browsing for enjoyment and as a source of inspiration. I expect this book to be a favorite for many years to come. Anybody who enjoys calligraphy and illumination would be delighted to own this book.

This book is worth every penny! It has fantastic HUGE pictures full of great detail. As an artist who specialises in ancient illuminated manuscripts, I value this book above all others in my personal library. So many great manuscripts are represented here. Truely high art!

This book deserves a seven stars score, as it is magnificent in every sense: Paper, Colour palette reproduction, basic and reliable information accompanying every depicted facsimil, and specially because of the scope of the compendium, involving manuscript examples from arabic countries as well as a XIII century mexican manuscript (The Borgia Codex currently held at the Biblioteca Vaticana) This collection shows (as rarely done by supossedly comprehensive treatises) that Mesoamerican, Chinese and Arabic cultures do also possess a very rich medieval heritage, characterised by a colourful tradition in art production. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in Medieval illumination, as well as for those modern illuminators concerned with applying only authentic medieval colours (mostly inorganic compounds) in their manuscript reproductions and finally, this book serves also as a comprehensive guide for visiting great libraries and museums all around the world where some of these manuscripts are exhibited (Do not forget to visit the Condé Museum and The Marmottan-Monet Museum in France).

"Masterpieces of Illumination: The World's Most Beautiful Illuminated Manuscripts from 400 to 1600" is essentially a reprint of "Codices illustres: The World's Most Famous Illuminated Manuscripts 400 to 1600." The former is one of many 25th anniversary Taschen editions, and bears the series logo on its dust-jacket and bright green cover (rather than the classier illumination of the Limburg Brother's Anatomical Man that adorns the cover of the latter). "Masterpieces" is also slightly smaller (9 ¾" x 12 ½") than the original (10 ¼" x 13 ¼"). There are a few other slight differences between the two editions: different endpapers; white paper for the appendix in "Masterpieces," ivory in "Codices"; and slightly darker illustrations in Masterpieces (only noticeable if you actually compare the editions side by side). Otherwise the two editions are virtually identical.
This is a truly wonderful book. It contains discussions and representative illuminations from 167 of the most famous and influential extant codices, books of hours, psalters, Bibles and histories from Europe and Asia (23 or the 167 are from Persia, turkey and India) during the 1200 years in which manuscript illumination flourished as an art form (and at the end of the text proper are samples from yet another 29 manuscripts). The full-color and often full-page illustrations are beautifully and accurately rendered, and the accompanying descriptions are both authoritative and unusually informative. The appendix contains artist biographies, along with a comprehensive bibliography, glossary, and index. In short, this is more than just a coffee-table book; in fact, I use it in my university course on manuscript illumination (along with Christopher De Hamel's excellent "A History of Illuminated Manuscripts," which forms the perfect companion piece to this volume.).
At the current retail price ($29.95) this book is an absolute steal. If you only get one book on the subject of manuscript illumination, this should be the one!

Being both a history buff and having grown up and lived in Miami for 20 years, I could certainly appreciate the spirit of this book. Miami is currently synonymous in popular media and culture with clubs and partying, sexy people and celebrities, and hip shops (even though this image is more descriptive of Miami Beach and South Beach rather than the city of Miami itself). Despite it being a relatively young city, though, it is still rich in its own history and thankfully this book goes beyond the present glossy, superficial party image of the city and transports the reader back to a simpler and more wholesome time. This is Miami how its founders and earliest residents knew it. Most of the "before" pictures date from the 20's and 30's, and it is really fascinating to see how things have changed. As I said, I grew up in Miami and there are places shown in the book that I never even knew existed, such as the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple and the Coral Gables Rock House. I am glad that the author explores not only downtown Miami and Miami Beach, but devotes pages of photos to other neighborhoods around Miami such as Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Little Havana, and even Opa Locka and Hialeah (being a Hialeah native myself, I would have liked to see more than just the one picture of the racetrack, but that is my own personal bias). While the book is certainly complete, I feel maybe too many pages were devoted to certain places, such as Coral Gables and Coconut Grove for example, and perhaps some of that coverage could have been reduced and made room for other places to be shown. I am glad that the author explores little known places familiar to residents and not just the touristy areas that visitors would know, but on the other hand, some of these are a little too obscure and I would have also liked to have seen what was in some of those touristy areas, such as Bayside, the zoo, major malls, etc. Just because of those little complaints I give the book four stars, but if you don't care about these, then this might as well be 5 stars and it is still a highly recommended book.

Having grown up in Miami, I found the book particularly interesting. The pictures were excellent. I thought the captions could have been a bit more informative.

Execellent book - highly recommended, but get down here and see for yourself - what's happening to the Miami is magical and really a golden opportunity for all. Over the next few years Miami's Skyline will be transformed as builders and investors seek billions in pre-construction investments to turn the city into a the epicenter of the region.


http://realestate.1stmiami.com

If you have lived in Miami or have an affinity toward Miami, this is a must-have book. Few people in Miami like Arva Moore Parks have taken the time to document the City's rich history as the fastest-growing metropolis in the United States over the last 100 years. The "then and now" photos offer splendid matches, with interesting and informative historical notes in the caption. Great coffee-table book too!

I was born and reared in Miami, the fourth generation of my Pioneer South Florida family. I was delighted with this book, it brought back so many memories.

The old photographs are gems, and the descriptions well written and informative. I enjoyed the "then" pictures with the "now", in some instances they are almost unbelievable, the Coconut Grove Womens Club little Club House which I went to frequently is a good example, long may it survive!

Excellent book with great pictures, a must for all pin up, kitch and style lovers

The price was great, shipping was fast, and the book is great quality. I don't recommend that you get it if you are under 18, as it contains adult content, but if you are 18+, this is a great table book :) I think my boyfriend is going to love it!

I bought this book recently because I am a huge fan of Octavio's work. In my opinion he is among the most talented pin up photographers around today - his work is sexy, colourful, and playful, completely lacking in pretension, with a flare for retro and modern themes. I recommend this book to anyone who loves beautiful women and quality photography. This is a real treat - no filler and a bargain for the amount of photographs you're getting.

Image an insane Krofft Brother that only took pictures of rockabilly chicks, fetish demonesses, tiki vixens, and even Electra Woman in saucy poses that would melt your eyeballs.
Octavio is a leering, peering voyeur par excellance. I liked the comic book aspect to all the images as opposed to the sullen, bitter looks that many erotic models engage in. Octavio brings a cool, fun vibe to his erotica and all the usual dames like Julie Strain, Tera Patrick, Tall Goddess and many more are there for all the action.

Came upon this book at the photographer's recent signing in LA and bought it for all the amazing work he has inside. His style is unique and makes you look twice, not your typical glamour wannabe. This is a good example of what a pinup book should be -- all pictures, no BS like blank pages or filler text. You get over 350 pages of pure eye candy, some naked, some not, but all the girls look hot. I was impressed by the variety of models and scenes he photographed while still keeping the signature "Winkytiki" feel. The sets and outfits alone are worth a look. You have shoots styled after every decade, color, black and white, classic, funky, rockabilly, retro. So there is something for everyone. Get this while you can!