Themes Books

An amazing and masterfully-crafted work that, incredibly enough, captures the head, heart, and soul of Los Angeles. This is no ordinary picture-book. The bonding of eloquent but unpretentious verse with visceral photos creates an instant sensory and intellectual experience that will haunt you and bring you back for more.

St. George has done something very special here. Not since 'Hollywood Babylon' have word and image collided in such a way as to bring to light the essential character of the city of L.A. Amongst the coterie of seemingly unrelated characters- Angeleyne, Robert Blake, Winona Ryder, Elizabeth Taylor, cardinals, hustlers, beach bunnies, gangsters, stars and starlets, a common center is found, from whence radiates associations, hidden meanings, and occult relationships, revelaed and brought together in the twilight language of the same feverish culture. Our icons and idols, in a very eerie effect, are found to share the same themes. A masterpiece. I was very impressed.

Simply-put, this is the perfect coffee table book; the poetry is beautifully and thougtfully put together, and the pics are plentiful, colorful, and will inspire nostalgic daydreams. It's like a giant fairy-tale account of L.A., rife with all the things that make the city great. I found it to be very revealing in how Angelenos see the character of their city. Check this one out.

Although very contemporary, with up-to-the-minute photographic references and cultural Los Angeles stuff, this book comes off as being cooly retro. I love it, and I checked out the other stuff this guy has written. This book is actually the second in a series, and I've bought that one as well. It's such a great read, and it's the type of thing you can just leave lying around.

As a full-fledged L.A. native, as soon as I saw this book I had to own it. It's a stunning L.A. anthology with great, GREAT, pictures and a stylized, free-flowing libretto. It's organized in a lyrical fashion- each heading is the title of a movie, and elements are grouped according to an over-arching mythology that is not purely fame or filmically oriented. What makes Los Angeles L.A. is all types of glamour, and this book sees the city clearly- dreamy, arcane, seductive. A must for native and non-native Angelenos alike.

Learning About Life was my seven-year-old daughter's pick for a bedtime story this week, even though she had already read it before, and she reads it by herself now. As the father of three children in primary grades, it was good to have this book as a transition between simple children's books and chapter books. With the simple books, the story ends just as children are starting, and with chapter books, they think they'll never end.

The themes addressed are: wanting to please, friendship, gaining approval, different perspectives, how misunderstandings can lead to sadness, and how that sadness can be overcome by serendipity. The owner wants to do the best for the dog, and the dog wants to do the best for the owner. It helps us appreciate the gap between humans and animals, and how we can get along through unconditional love. The mix of themes and perspectives is unique. Learning About Life is a good opener for age-appropriate, fresh discussion between adults and children, whether those adults are parents or teachers.

Wonderful life lessons are learned through the adventures of Howdy Dowdy. This is a beautifully illustrated book that children will enjoy. The author's love of animals shines through!

A must read for children of all ages. I really liked this book and will read it again and again to my grandson.

What fun and joy in this little classic! Tells a little lesson on learning to be good after doing so many bad things! There is no age limit on this book. My grandchildren loved it so much it went to bed with them. The artwork is spectacular! Hope there is a sequel in the works!

This book is great. My daughters love it and ask for me to read over and over. It keeps their attention while teaching them in the process which we consider the best type of book. A definite "must-read".

My dad, like many others, does the lighthouse thing with an emphasis on Michigan lighthouses. I wouldn't even think of getting him another book of lighthouse photos but I saw this in my doctor's waiting room and instantly knew I had to get it for him. The pictures are beautiful and the text interesting. Highly recommended.

I've known Ed for a few years and have come to respect and enjoy his images. He finds images that we as non-photographers can only dream about. Nice Work Ed and congrats on yet another super book!

Dan McGuire, Roichester, NY

Aficionados of lighthouses take note! Ed Wargin has photographed the lighthouses of Michigan and his work is impressive. His talent is evident as he is able to breathe life into his subject matter.

Legends of Light contains lighthouses photographed from the inside and outside and various prospective of the surrounding area, including the environment. Wargin gives us a bonus because he lists all of the Michigan lighthouses and provides a map of their location in the back of the book. That added immensely to my enjoyment.

Gull Rock on Lake Superior was established in 1867. The view from above of the lighthouse perched on its own tiny island is dramatic. You're alternately drawn to its beauty and repelled by the confinement.

The internal photograph of Lake Michigan's St. Helena Island lighthouse is warm, cozy and ever so inviting. I wanted to snuggle up with a book by the stove and read while drinking a cup of hot tea.

The stark reality of winter in a northland lighthouse is evident in Wargin's photograph of Cheboygan Crib Light on Lake Huron. As I gazed on the winter white, I found myself becoming chilled. It is extraordinary for a photographer to ellicit such strong feelings and emotions from a viewer.

The interior of Whitefish Point on Lake Superior is a room that could be found in any home, yet it is in a lighthouse.

The burial site near Rock Harbor is fascinating and evokes all sorts of questions like who, when, how?

South Manitou Island lighthouse on Lake Michigan has my heart. Actually, I found myself studying the picture and returning to it repeatedly. I'd love to live there.

Wargin has captured the flavor and the majesty of lighthouses with his wonderful images. My heart now belongs to the lighthouses and the Great Lakes region. I want to visit so many of them it looks like a road trip is in our future.

Armchair Interviews says: Legends of Light is a book to savor and to live in the dream of the beauty of our northern Great Lakes Region. This is a wonderful gift book for someone who loves lighthouses. And maybe that's you.

This is a gorgeous book, and the text nicely balances the photographs, tying in the meaning of the photographs with the stories of the lighthouse, and with Ed Wargin's endeavors to reach the lighthouses just to photograph them. Truly worth having.

Legends Of Light: A Michigan Lighthouse Portfolio is a stunning, full-color photographic showcase of Michigan's lighthouses, inside and out. A brief introduction embellishes the compilation of full-page and some two-page spread photographs. From simple, cozy lighthouse interiors to panoramic scenes of the ocean shore at sunset, Legends Of Light is a very special tribute which is hallmarked by visual splendor and is a superb giftbook selection -- especially for lighthouse aficionados.

This is definitely a beautiful look into children's spirit and the genesis of hope and generosity in our country's future. To see the words of young people who have been through such utter destruction and their bravery, humor and faith is rejuvenating. The pictures are beautiful and touching. Bravo for a job well done.

If we listen to the words written by these children it will not only touch your heart, it will change your world.

What a wonderful way to show compassion and do something 'real' at the same time. Inspiring coffee table book, amazing photography, and a great cause with 100% going back to the real victims, the kids. A touching book that might just inspire you to come up with your own idea to make a difference instead of just talking about it.

A true treasure. Would make a wonderful gift. Really restores your faith in our country. What an amazing project. Beautiful photography.

This book is beautifully put together and the photography is amazing. The drawings and letters by the children (average age is 10 to 11 years old) are touching and from the heart. I LOVE THIS BOOK and am planning to buy more for my son's school.

Best of all, 100% of the proceeds go back to the children and to help further their education. It doesn't get any better than that! We have not forgotten our brothers and sisters who suffered from Hurricane Katrina...

This is a collection of moody black and white photographs taken at dawn with a large-format pinhole camera. There are no people or moving cars but lots of rays of light from the rising sun and brooding clouds. The effect is fantastic. Sometimes the photos look like they were executed in charcoal. The details are mostly very crisp even though the palette is dark.

The major landmarks are all present. Two of Mlle Liberty, 3 or 4 of the Empire State Building, a wonderful shot of the Flatiron Building, etc. (Only 1 of the Chrysler Building, however, and not one of Berts's best.) There are some nice shots of Central Park. He likes the Brooklyn Bridge--and he's good at making large objects like bridges and the Empire State Building look massive. The use of black and white and dawn's early light defamiliarizes the postcard icons and restores them to their original majesty. There are also some nice shots of Little Italy and lesser known buildings, too. This is a great book. If you like it you should check out Light of Paris by the same photographer.

I can't resist offering up one more recommendation, this time for a book that's almost the opposite of The Light of New York in its approach but which is still a wonderful and fun look at the Big Apple: Manhattan Lightscape. Its colors are magnificent.

This book is one of the best books that one can appreciate the photographic style of the photographer. The fact that it was shot on film and the long shutter speeds are great. I am assuming that a bit of research went into picking out the various locations and picking out the right time of night or dusk to shoot was taken in consideration.f

Great book all around and great conversation piece for people that appreciate photography and the art behind it.

New York City at dusk or dawn with a magical lighting and a unique photo processing that highlight architectural details of iconic features of the city. Manhattan for lovers!

Amazing book for anyone into photography. New York is captured beautifully in breath taking photos.

Absoluely beautiful. I went through it three times and each time I find something more wonderful. I highly recommend this book, especially this time of year. It makes a great table top book.

I have been able to master most of the lighting set ups it want except of coarse for that challengeing one of high key. This book I found to be a real help with finally understanding why i never could really get the backgrounds gleaming white. This book explains well and gives specific instruction. A good book.

This book gets a high recommendation from me. You will read this book and often say to yourself, "aw-ah". Lighting Techniques for High Key Portrait Photography is for those of you who are just starting out and those of you who have been at it a while and just can't quite achieve the results you are looking for. It's easy to read, easy to understand, offers great diagrams and wonderful examples. It will definitely help you take the guess work out of studio photography...aw-ah!!

As a proven do-it-yourselfer, I can recommend reading this material for understanding light ratios used in high key lighting. Over the years I stumbled with this and never figured it out on my own. I managed to achieve a style by accident but I never did find the right combination for glowing white portrait lighting. Now I have read just some of the first portion of this book and find it so very worth my money to have this explained to me I look forward to reading the rest and testing more.

I have learned portrait technique from some great professional photographers and I never uncovered this info until reading this book. My equipment is professional, my comfort with my skill level is moderate/intermediate but I am producing professional looking work with knowledge like this. Thanks to Norman.

This book has indepth but easy to understand guidlines and instructions for high key photography. I would recommend it highly.

This give all the info you need to get perfect High Key images. It gives all the light setup, type of backgrounds to use, model placement, and f/stop measurement. There are lot's of photo examples. Very well written.

Five stars is not enough for this book. It's in a category of its own because of the quality of the information, and the fact that it is put across so painlessly, using examples from popular films.

The title suggests it's a book about films. It's not, it's about how to write a good novel, but it uses films to show examples of plot characterisation, suspense etc. ( The author has published ten novels as Val Daniels. )

I've read and studied most of the available how-to-write books, and this one is the most enjoyable to read, and provides the most useful teaching. She explains a topic, why it is important, then gives examples of HOW it has been cleverly used in films.

( It would make a great gift for a writer friend but if you don't have it yourself, buy it now. I've gleaned more useful gems from this book than from dozens of writing magazines. )

It covers: Characterisation, External Goals and Motivation, Internal Goals and Character Growth, Premise, Creating Tension, Conflict, Suspending Disbelief.

Then it has three chapters based on using the points already covered : Five Star Plotting, Putting it all Together, Parting Thoughts and Other Useful Stuff.

It includes some forms at the back to help you apply the points, and the book itself is a comfortable read, being printed on white paper with white space on the pages.

The main films used are: the Sandra Bullock film 'While You Were Sleeping', Spider-man, Speed, Clueless, Lethal Weapon, The Sixth Sense, Die Hard, Bridget Jones Diary, Jaws.

If you're thinking well those are not very good films for the sort of book I want to write, be patient. You'll be amazed at how much you will learn about character development from the examples she uses, and you'll also want to watch those films again.

As an example of the quality teaching, 'Premise' has always been a woolly concept for me. I've read about it in other books -James N Frey covers it well, but it somehow has never fully sunk in, and I keep having to go back over it.

She covers premise by coming at it from different angles, explains how other writers have decribed it, and offers examples, so I ended up with a far better understanding of what it is, why it's important, and how to apply it to my writing.

But the main benefit I got from this book is the way it lets you relate one concept to another so I now have a far better understanding of why characterisation / goal / motivation / premise / backstory are there and how they relate to one another.

I would highly recommend James Scott Bell's 'Plot and Structure' as an overall primer book for writing a novel. I would also highly recommend Les Edgerton's 'Hooked' as a second level book, but as a sheer enjoyable read, and a book to painlessly improve overall understanding of the key topics above, especially characterisation, this one is the best.

My goal as a writer is to improve with each subsequent book I write. I have purchased and studied several books on craft, and Lights! Camera! Fiction! is definitely among the best.

My first historical romance novel, "Fire at Midnight" has finaled in nearly 40 writing contests and was recently sold to Medallion Press. It will be released in 2009.

Lisa Marie Wilkinson

Alfie Thompson's guide to writing novels is a "must have" for any writer's library. The book goes beyond the dense discourse found in so many writing instruction books and provides a practical "how to" approach that that teaches the reader to watch movies with a writer's eye.

Her approach provides an exceptionally fast and effective way for a fiction writer to absorb proven techniques for developing characters, creating interesting plots, building scenes, establishing motivation, strengthening conflict and fixing problems in a story.

Well organized and easy to read, this book is now my favorite book on writing a novel!

A Novel Approach To Writing: Lights! Camera! Fiction! by movie buff and professional writing instructor Alfie Thompson is a guide to writing great novels especially for movie lovers. Chapters instruct how to watch movies with a writer's eye for what works and what doesn't, blending believable character traits into scenes and plots, using goals to reveal character motivation, judiciously applying foreshadowing and flashback, the power of the suspense of disbelief and how to encourage it, smooth plotting, and much more. A Novel Approach To Writing is a valuable supplement to aspiring and practicing fiction writers, outlining how to absorb the most advanced techniques and inspiration from multimedia experiences and transform it into improved quality within one's own work.

This is a novel approach to writing...using movies to explain character development, external goals and motivation, internal goals and character development, premise (one of the biggies, that's hard to explain at times), tension, conflict, etc., etc., etc....

If you're a visual learner, this book will explain what hours of workshops fail to do...seeing what Ms. Thompson has done on the page to explain all of the above, seems so simple.

But then all great ideas do seem simple once explained. (Duh!)

I sure wish she would have written this book ten years ago, it would have saved me a lot of time in trying to write a compelling novel.

My red hat off to you...you deserve it!

Cute...adorable...creative...fun! Love this book...you will too:)

I was already a fan of Montrose's work (Dogtionary and Cationary), but she really tipped the scales with LIGHTWEIGHTS! This is the most adorable dog book I have EVER seen--I know, I have them all. The dogs are cute--puppies actually--and the colors and scales too sweet for words. Run, don't walk, to buy this book!!

The title is all wrong: Yes, these pooches are lightweights (in the sense that they weigh so very little), but canine conisueers will find Sharon Montrose's photos weighing in with lots
of cute, captivating charm. This slim volume features color and sepia-toned portraits of puppies snapped during the first weeks of their lives ...most keeping company with vintage or antique scales ... and all of them are simply the cat's meow! There's Lola, an 8 week-old tea cup Chihuahua, weighing in at 14 ounces. There' Scooter and Lily, a 22-pound, 6-ounce snoozing Weimaraner combo whose faces might possibly send William Wegman heading for a phone book. And there's Lurch, a 14-pound, 8-ounce brindle Dane, who, even at 8 weeks, promises to grow (and quickly) into a precious gentle giant. Montrose is not only gifted behind the lens, but in front as well, since she has managed to capture the spirits and spunk of each pampered pooch.

This book is one of the cutest I have seen! The puppies are sooooo adorable, and the photography is superb! A wonderful gift for kids, a baby shower, birthdays, Valentine's Day, any day! It would also be great as a "coffee-table" book. Seems a little over-priced for how thin it is, but I am still tempted to buy a copy for myself... I loved it. :o)

What can one say...Some of the best photos of puppies I have seen. And, I am not just saying that because I own "Ruby" the rat terrier. (Ruby is now Angel) Sharon must have the patience of a saint because I have been trying to get Angel's sister Carly who is 4 weeks old to hold still for a nice picture since she was born and it is no easy task. All the photos are beautiful and show the best of each pup. I was amazed by the weight differences between the breeds...how can a boxer be 1 lb at 4 weeks and a rat terrier 2 and 1/2 lbs? This is a great gift book for dog lovers!!! Oh yeah, I don't have any photos of Angel at 3 weeks, so it is great to have them "published"!!!

Absolute best photographs of Pugs I have ever seen. Highly recommend book to anyone who loves Pugs.

I have owned pugs for 12 years now. They are wonderful little dogs, but they do have a personality that is not for every dog owner. This book does a great job of presenting the pros and cons of pug ownership (Pugs are loyal, fun, friendly, and great companions. They are non-aggressive and get along well with other pets and family members. However, pugs shed a lot, make really funny and sometimes loud noises, aren't a dog to take jogging, and are pretty useless as guard dogs.) The photos are stunning, the information is factual and helpful if someone is trying to decide if a pug is the dog for them.

I have many books on pugs and this is the best of them all....Very thorough info and covers just about every topic on pugs you would need. The pictures are beautiful also. It is as beautiful as a glossy coffee table book with just pictures and super informative on top of that. The best and highly recommended!!!

This book is presented in a lovely style, with wonderful pictures. It's easy to ready and understand; informative.

This book is a must have for all passionate pug lovers. Great photgraphs and well written and informative text, an absolute delight

As a long-time "geocacher", I have experienced many adventures in geocaching, both alone and with family and friends, all the while having fun without wondering why the sport is so appealing. This book answers that question by capturing the spirit of geocaching in a quiet, meaningful voice. The photographs are exquisite, finely textured and rich in detail. The accompanying text is multi-layered, giving a glimpse of the physical geocache while providing background into circumstances that led the author to that location. This makes for a warm, tender, deeply personal story that touches the heart.

This book would be well worth owning just as a gorgeous collection of American photos: Kelley's photographs capture the spirit of many places that most shots couldn't convey, often thanks to unusual perspectives and compositions. But Local Treasures also tells some interesting stories about the methods of geocaching--and how people use it as a both a hobby and a way to orient themselves to the places they occupy in the world. The photos and stories in this book really manage to invoke a sense of the diversity of places and people across the US, and to give the reader a brief sense of alignment with those places.
Overall, a beautiful array of photos stitched together with a great storytelling voice give a relaxing and worthwhile read.

Margot Anne Kelley reminds us of exactly why we started playing this game in the first place! It's not about the treasures you find in the boxes, it's about the treasures in the world around us. The pictures are beautiful and the stories really draw you to the locations. As an added bonus there's that great sense of camaraderie that we get through the shared experience of geocaching.

This is a great book for cachers (especially those dealing with cabin fever) and also a great way to introduce your non-geocaching friends to exactly what we see in this game.

This book is an exploration of a new-millennium game; which is to say, it's an exploration of new-millennium humans. And Margot Kelley explores her territory with grace and precision. The book fascinates whether or not the reader is a geocacher because Ms. Kelley so skillfully expresses her own fascination -- not only with geocaching but with the rapidly-changing world that engendered it. With arresting images and insightful stories, Ms. Kelley inspires and includes her readers in the gentle art of Paying Attention. The attention here is on intersections and the trajectories that create them -- the meeting place of latitude and longitude, image and experience, nature and technology, time and place, politics and play, the mundane and the mystical.

Deft mini-essays, a few hundred words each, face off with arresting full-page photographs of the locations that inspired them. Up in one corner, the mathematical analog, exact longitude and latitude of the place you are looking at, for that was how it was discovered, via a game played with hand-held global positioning satellite (GPS)units and the internet, a game called geocaching. Margot Kelley's essays are at once intimate and cosmic, playful and poignant. Highly personal, even confessional, they are interwoven with public policy comments, next-wave scientific facts, and speculative cultural theory. Each photograph is stunning composition in its own right that also speaks its side of a complex dialogue with text. If you are a geocacher, you will feel vindicated and fulfilled. If you are curious about geocaching, you will be educated and intrigued. If you know anyone who is into geocaching, you have found THE perfect gift. But, in truth, this would be a great book without a single reference to the game. This is place-writing at its wisest, each segment adroitly paired with a visual feast, so that the effect of the whole transcends the sum of the parts. LOCAL TREASURES speaks more truth about Americans and our relationship to our environment than any book since Walden Pond.