Renaissance Books

Wrapped in authentic Pucci fabric with stunning images and text, Kennedy's Pucci: A Renaissance in Fashion takes one on a trip through the designs of Emilio Pucci and the Pucci clad international jet-set. This is a book that would be a must for any design maven, fashionista, or any individual fascinated by the exotic world of the international sixties as told from a latter twentieth century perspective. A definite keeper.

I am extremely pleased with the Pucci book that just arrived. It is a gift for my sister and Louise sent it as quickly as she got my order. The condition is perfect, just as she described and she was extremely accomodating to my needs (the product arrived in 2 days). A true pleasure to do business with and I give my highest recommendation. Thank you.

For the past decade, this has been deemed the definitive book on Italian fashion designer Emilio Pucci. Long out-of-print, the tome is in high demand and with good reason. You can judge this book by its cover - an actual Pucci fabric adorns the front and back hardbound covers.

Inside, 200 pages are graced with text, black-and-white, and color photos of the man himself and his brilliant, psychedelic, colorful creations. Shirley Kennedy does an admirable job of tracing his fashion designs back to the days when Mussolini's daughter was his lover in the 1940s. The book is an ideal mix of a novel -- giving the details of Pucci's life and tales behind his fashions - and a highly illustrated repertoire of his designs. Photographs include celebrities wearing his creations: Jacqueline Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Isaac Hayes, Marisa Berenson, among others. There are Pucci's designs for the limited edition of the 1977 Ford Continental automobile, the famous Braniff flight attendant uniforms, his unique conical hats of the 1950s, vases, ski outfits, and much more.

This book is highly recommended for Pucci fans of all levels, from new fans to diehard admirers of his gorgeous designs.

Although a rather rare and pricey item to purchase, Pucci-A Renaissance in Fashion is definately worth the price if you are a hardcore Pucci collector, or even someone with money to burn who has just stumbled upon Emilio's colorful world. Printed and bound in Japan with a Pucci patterned cover, this book is collectible itself. As for the contents of the book, they definately do not fail to please even the most knowledgeable Pucci-head. Written by an obsessed fan, this book is a loving tribute to all things Pucci. It features Emilio history, descriptions and histories of the company and its many products, charming anecdotes of other collectors all detailed with millions of glorious photographs. These photos range from Pucci candy promos to full color full page ads. Here is your chance to stare for as long as you want at all the things you'll probably never be able to see or afford! All of this eye candy will have you drooling for hours. Despite the price, the euphoria you'll get is worth it.

Although a rather rare and pricey item to purchase, Pucci-A Renaissance in Fashion is definately worth the price if you are a hardcore Pucci collector, or even someone with money to burn who has just stumbled upon Emilio's colorful world. Printed and bound in Japan with a Pucci patterned cover, this book is collectible itself. As for the contents of the book, they definately do not fail to please even the most knowledgeable Pucci-head. Written by an obsessed fan, this book is a loving tribute to all things Pucci. It features Emilio history, descriptions and histories of the company and its many products, charming anecdotes of other collectors all detailed with millions of glorious photographs. These photos range from Pucci candy promos to full color full page ads. Here is your chance to stare for as long as you want at all the things you'll probably never be able to see or afford! All of this eye candy will have you drooling for hours. Despite the price, the euphoria you'll get is worth it.

Nothing wrong with this edition. Just thought that people might want to know that there is another translation out there that is easier to read AND more fun. It's the translation in blank verse published in unabridged and unexpurgated form by Meridian (0452010837), and edited by Charles W. Dunn, one of the finest modernizations of a medieval classic ever published. The translation was the life's work of Professor Harry W. Robbins.

The Romance of the Rose is the famous and much discussed 13th century allegorical romance. It consists of two parts of unequal length-- the first shorter part by Guillaume de Lorris and the second longer part continued 40 years after de Lorris' death by Jean de Meun. Throughout the medieval period, this was one of the most widely read book in the French language.

Scholars have rather endlessly debated how unified the allegory really is, and the trend recently seems to have shifted to seeing the two authors as less in opposition, and more composing a complete treatment of courtly Love.

For the casual (non-academic) reader like myself, the experience is rather less unified. The de Lorris section is quite lyrical and fits more with what I imagine an allegorical dream poem to be. When Idleness leads the dreamer into the garden of Diversion and when Love shoots him with the five deadly arrows that bind him to the Rose, the imagery is compelling and lovely.

On the other hand, the second part, while often *very* funny is much more obviously satirical with long digressions that focus more on social mores than on the world of the Dreamer as established in the first half. The effect is sort of like a serious and literary Spike Jones song-- which is not at all a bad thing.

This is a very relaxing yet thought-provoking allegory of life and love, but primarily love. I first heard of it in the film "Shadowlands", about the great C.S. Lewis. After having bought it and read it after hearing Anthony Hopkins describe it to his character's Oxford students in the film, I see it's significance in both that particular film and as a remarkable work of literature which, in it's day, seemed to have been far more popular than even the "Canterbury Tales"; more than twice as many original manuscripts of RotR exist today than of "Canterbury". The Romance of the Rose is fluid, metaphorical, philosophical, lyric and, of course, very romantic. An exquisite illustration of courtly love.

This review relates to the work, -The Romance of the
Rose- by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun,
Translated by Charles Dahlberg, Princeton Univ.
Press, Third Edition, 1995. 484 pp.
This edition of -The Romance of the Rose- is interesting
for it contains all 3 Prefaces which Charles Dahlberg
wrote. In the Preface to the 1st edition, published
in 1971, Dahlberg says: "This translation of the -Romance
of the Rose-, the first in modern English prose, is one of
nearly a dozen volumes during the past decade to present
an edition, a translation, or a major commentary on the
Old French poem. The aim of this book is to provide a
clear, readable text that is as faithful as possible to
the original, particularly in terms of imagery. Because
translations have their pitfalls and because thirteenth-
century assumptions about the use of imagery, indeed of
poetry, are very different from ours, I have provided a
variety of materials that may help the reader to approach
the poem with an approximation of the perspective of that
time. The Introduction, Notes, and Illustrations are
designed primarily to elaborate and clarify such a view
of the poem."
In the 2nd Preface, to the 1983 edition, Dahlberg says:
[after saying that minor errors have been corrected
and additions have been made to the Bibliography]
"During recent years, a number of writers have reemphasized
the contrast between the two authors in their treatment
of the poem's allegory. Such is the case even in the
relatively small space devoted to the poem in Jung's
important book on Latin and French allegory, a work that
parallels the series of essays by Hans Robert Jauss
on the origins and development of allegorical poetry up
to the -Romance-."
In the Preface to the 1995 edition, Dahlberg again
deals with the scholarly publications concerning the
poem which have occurred since the last edition. He
cites works in the Preface which deal with Sources and
Influences ["Among source studies, the greatest attention
has been givven To Ovid: in the Narcissus episode, the
Pygmalion episode, or both. Huot studies the relation of
the Medusa interpolation to these spisodes and to the
Deucalion-Pyrrha passage, Browlee studies the relation
of the Pygmalion and Adonis passages, and Steinle adds
the Narcissus passages to these two."]; The Two Authors;
The Nature of the Allegorical Narrative; The Use of the
First Person; and Early Reception.
This work is in two parts. Part I [The Dream of Love]
is authored by Guillaume de Lorris and comprises some 4,000
plus lines. Part II [The Overthrow of Reason] is authored by Jean de Meun.
The sections of Part I are titled by Dahlberg as: (1) The Garden, The Fountain,
and the Rose; (2) The God of Love and the Affair of the
Heart; (3) The Involvement of Reason and the Castle of
Jealousy.
Part II [The Overthrow of Reason] by Jean de Meun, is
titled in sections by Dahlberg as: (4) Discourse of

Reason; (5) The Advice of Friend; (6) The Assault on
the Castle. False Seeming's Contribution; (7) The Old
Woman's Intercession; (8) Attack and Repulse;
(9)Nature's Confession; (10) Genius's Solution;
(11) Venus's Conflagration and the Winning of the Rose.
There are excellent Notes from p. 357 to p. 425 and
an excellent Bibliography. There are also 64 "miniature
illustrations from thirteenth- and fourteenth-century
manuscripts."
This is an excellent edition, especially for the

wealth of suggested additional schoarly works
available and their approaches to the poem.
-- Robert Kilgore.

I really like this book because it is a romance book and i love all romance books. I really like books that are writen in the old ages. I think if a person likes to just read books they should read Romance of the Rose.

If you need a little peace of mind but don't know quite how to go about it, this is the book for you. I have given it to many friends as a gift. I was buying hardcover copies from used book stores, but it has now been reprinted in paperback. Feel the force!

My husband and I were introduced to A Sacred Primer through a retreat given by Elizabeth Harper Neeld at the Cenacle in Houston Texas. The book comes alive in a very special way when this grounded, gracefilled woman shares her personal experiences of her spiritual practice as well as the experiences of historical and contemporary believers in The Divine. My husband and I are following the example of another couple who are reading the book together in an "allowable" mode. We expect to be surprised as together we read, reflect, and receive. We look forward with anticipation to other works (and retreats)from this gifted scholar.

Elizabeth Harper Neeld's book, A SACRED PRIMER is food for the soul. The book shows the author's understanding of the spiritual and the Divine. The book was filled with refreshing ideas for rejuvinating the soul and the heart. I enjoyed the commentaries at the end of the chapters and I am recommending this book to others.I look forward to more insight from this gifted writer.

Isn't the proof always in the pudding? After many other attempts over the years, Elizabeth Neeld seems to provided me with what I needed. Combining her own refreshingly real experience with a rich quotations from diverse sources and a multi-faceted format that touched much more than my intellect, I found Sacred Primer to be a fascinating read. But the most wonderful surprise has shown up in my own life -- I'm actually applying what I've read and reaping the benefits already. PS I've already given SP to many family and friends and I hear the same from them.

A Sacred Primer by Elizabeth Neeld is truly inspiring. I think the cover even invokes peace! What a find for help in my sacred quiet time. I learned much. Mainly, there is no right way. It was so good to read insights and examples. It is so nicely done-Oprah should read it!It even includes Journal ideas! I believe the book was "God Inspired" and have recommended it to all my friends.Thanks Amazon for offering it!

I am a huge fan of time travel stories and this one is no different. This was a wonderful story and I couldn't put it down until it was finished! This new author will be on my list of new titles to watch for. The dialogue is engaging, the first person narrative is quite entertaining, and the climax of the story will leave you breathless. I highly recommend this book.

This tale is a fun, sentimental, solid read that brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. I can't say too much without giving the plot away, but the characters were interesting enough for me to read the entire book through in one marathon sitting. The love scenes were sexy, hot, and loving. And there's a plot twist that totally blindsided me and left me saying 'wow'. I recommend it.

The year is 2000. Chicago native Frankie Camarelli begins to have dreams in the past - 1974 to be exact. In her dreams she meets Annie Parker, a woman who is in an abusive relationship and seems to be calling Frankie. It seems very real to Frankie and she enlists the help of her best friend and psychic, Crystal, and her grandmother to understand what's happening to her. In the process, Crystal gives Frankie and Annie a non-returnable but precious gift.

Bauden is a great author with real talent and a penchant for lovable characters. Her imagination is unsurpassed in that she can take seemingly normal characters and make them more than the sum of their parts. As with any Bauden book, put on your `imagination' cap, curl up in your favorite reading spot, and get ready for a heartwarming story.

Very few tales told can show a person an ideal, or set a standard for behavior and yet Ms. Bauden has shown us the depths that friendship in it's truest form can take. From the beginning the reader is drawn into the lives of these characters, cheering for their victories and crying out for their losses. The flow of this story touches the heart and soul bringing to life a truely timeless love story. Definately a must have for any hopeless romantics. If you are looking for a book to fire the emotions, then this book is a must have. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a gifted writing career, and we will have many more books to look for in the future.

After hitting her head in a fall, Frankie Camarelli- the owner of a movie memorabilia shop, starts hearing voices -- literally. Feeling like she is stuck in an episode of The Twilight Zone, Frankie starts experiencing moments of "time past". Frankie's best friend Crystal and Crystal's grandmother believe someone from the past is trying to contact her. Questions run through their minds: Why Frankie? Who is this mysterious voice "calling" to her? Are they in danger? Is that why are they seeking Frankie's help?

As the story unfolds you find yourself asking - Could the call from the past be so strong as to pull someone back to that time? Can a friendship in the present be so deep that one friend would make the extreme sacrifice for the other so that they could achieve their happiness? Readers will definitely find themselves on a wondrous journey traveling along the roads of both past and present day events. This is one journey not to be missed!

Darrell Connor and friends are back at Eagle Glen School. This time, though, it's for the whole school year instead of just the summer. And none of them could be happier. As always in Darrell's world, the calm doesn't last for long.

The friends' first surprise occurs right after orientation. Their arch-enemy, Conrad Kennedy, has reappeared. And he's attending Eagle Glen, too! The school year is already going downhill, and it's only the first day.

As far as the surprises that time has in store for them, they intend to be more prepared this time. They're doing their own investigating of the cave and its mysterious glyphs. There's even a new glyph that leads them to the old lighthouse. From there they find themselves flying through time, again, and ending up in Italy during the Renaissance. Darrell even gets a chance to meet some of her artistic idols. Unfortunately, Darrell is about to learn that even when dreams come true, it's not always quite what you imagine. And some dreams can only ever be dreams, no matter how much you hope.

Traveling back and forth in time might make learning history easier, but it doesn't make life any easier for Darrell or her friends. In fact, they're all about to learn what kind of risks and danger time travel can really have.

KC Dyer doesn't miss a step in this sequel to SEEDS OF TIME. It doesn't even feel like most middle books of a trilogy. You know, where it's just information you have to get through to get to book three. This is a great story in its own right. More than just a really interesting look at the Renaissance, it's an a great example of "careful what you wish for."

If you aren't going crazy to read the next book by the end of this one, I'm a little worried about you.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

Darrell Connor's summer at Eagle Glen School in "Seeds of Time" (2002) included experiences outside the curriculum: time travel to medieval Scotland with her friends Kate and Brodie and her dog Delaney. In "Secret of Light," they're all back at the mysterious school ready for another fast-paced adventure. Unfortunately, Darrell's nemesis Conrad Kennedy--last seen heading off to reform school--has shown up again as well. This term, as the school's course work focuses on an upcoming Renaissance fair, Darrell focuses on an abandoned lighthouse that will pull her back to dangerous and exciting times and places faraway. As in "Seeds of Time," "Secret of Light" nudges the everyday world up against the realm of magic with characters we care about and lively writing that keeps us from putting the book down until we've reached the last line.

These books are fantastic for for teens and adults alike - well-written and packed with action, a wicked sense of fun permeates the book. The characters are very believable, and the story just picks you up and carries you along, yet leaves you wanting more.

Historically accurate and well-researched, this series is a must-have for historical fiction fans!! And be sure to check out the first one in the series - Seeds of Time!

I read and enjoyed Seeds of Time, so when I saw that kc Dyer had another out in the series, I had to run out and get it. This one is every bit as fast-paced and well-researched as the first.

Bravo!!!

I read and enjoyed Seeds of Time, so when I saw that kc Dyer had another out in the series, I had to run out and get it. This one is every bit as fast-paced and well-researched as the first.

Bravo!!!

My 10 year old daughter really enjoyed this book. The story is engaging and well written. I highly recommend it.

From the first page to last Mr. Ortiz' expert handling of his protagonist and her world makes this a truly enjoyable read. Whether it's tending the families herb garden or experiencing the sights and sounds (and smells) of London, Susanna's adventures capture the imagination and encourage the reader to accompany her in her exploits. She is witty and charming and worth the time to become better acquainted with.

Remember your high school History? Me neither. "Swan Town" will give you a second chance. It is written in the voice of Shakespeare's 13-year-old daughter Susanna, a girl who has to grow up real fast. And she is the one who will supply you with all the really interesting information about Shakespeare's era. Did Sister William ever tell us about "ducking"? Of course disease was rampant - there were horse droppings all over the streets! Shakespeare had a son named "Hamnet"? Huh! The pudding game...what's that? Need a snappy retort for that rude neighbor? See page 41. Besides providing all these absorbing facts, Susanna places Shakespeare in historical context for you. So maybe the next time you hear Shakespeare quoted you will have a better understanding of what he was saying...or leaving unsaid.

I enjoyed this book enormously. It made me think about the connections between religion, geography, history and the times that are the backdrop in the book. The diary style made the book move quickly, and learning about Shakepeare, his place in history, and the life of a young girl in his day was joyous exploration. A great middle school read for students studying European history or Shakespeare's plays. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

I bought this book for my 11-year-old niece, but I decided to read it first. Mr. Ortiz has given us a superb story for adolescents and for anyone else with a capacity for joy and a weakness for mischief.

The story is in fact structured as a journal, a device that Mr. Ortiz employs to excellent effect. Diary-keeping is still a favorite pastime of girls Susanna's age. What particularly pleased me was the juxtaposition between wisdom and mischief, between soaring delight and the muck left in the tracks of horses and fanatics. Everything is included in the weave.

Swan Town has important, positive values to convey: the goodness of a family, as it germinates in courtship and as it blooms in self-sacrifice; the splendor of the earth and material things; the wonder of language and its artful uses; and ultimately, the profundity of self-giving versus the pettiness of ideology, fear and self-seeking. But because it holds these values, Swan Town is not a tract. It is a good, earthy, beautiful story.

I had thought to finish the book over a long afternoon and evening, but this is a book I had to put down; the writing was often so poetic and lovely that I had to savor it by reading slowly over a few days.

Is this really a book for adolescents? It is, because it requires stretching. It coaxes growth. It expands horizons gently, playfully, and sometimes a little mournfully (but just a little). It is for all maturing children.

For many Westerners, history is something that happened last year and this deliberate ignorance of the past gives rise to many false beliefs today. Chief among them would be the belief in the West that we have always been aggressors in the Levant and Islam is simply now fighting back. Even a cursury examination of history reveals the dangerous falsehood in that belief.

Niccolo Capponi's book on the Battle of Curzolaris (AKA Lepanto to many Americans)is well worth the time to read. Though he breaks no real new ground, his detail and love of subject (pre 16th century Med cultures, esp. Italy)shows. Copiously end noted with many charts comparing manpower, ships, armaments, losses etc (about 20% of the book), the book puts together an engrossing story of a world at war.

From the pre League political climate and the earlier attempts to forge a concerted Christian force to battle the Ottomans as they ravaged the shores of Europe, Mr. Capponi's book does an admirable job of illustrating the problems and weaknesses of Christian Europe at this time. He notes how the new Pope, Pius V would be the mover and true shaker of the enterprise. to do so, he had to overcome a relucant Spain, many suspicious Italian states, the crusading orders of St Stephen and Hospitallers, the machinations of France trying to aid its Ottoman allies(!), and everyone's suspicions of Venice. By devious use of subsidies and reminders of religious duty, Pius finally cobbles together his League.

Ironically it would be the Ottoman capture of Famagusta(Cyprus), a Venetian possession and the treatment of the garrison and inhabitants that would cause a creaky alliance to tun into a avenging force that went on to destroy the bulk of the Ottoman fleet. It is here that Capponi is strongest, his detailed knowledge of the people involved paints the battle in colorful detail. He highlights the bravery of both sides and gives credit where it is due to both Moslem and Christian bravery.

The battle itself is well treated but it is the prefacing of the battle and the aftermath (often surprising and sad at the same time) that is the best part. This time was not one of cleanly divided lines, politically or religously. Both sides had no problems with slavery or disrupting lives and livelihoods in the region. Alliances were often temporary and often surprising. Both sides were torn with factional infighting but for this once, the Christian side was less so. It can truly be said that this was one of the turning points of history....

Niccolò Capponi has written a fascinating and detailed history of Europe and the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century and the fractious relationships between the European states,the Venetian Republic,and the Papacy. Often more suspicious of each other than of the Turks, they finally merged into a shaky Christian coalition which faced down the Sultan's navy at the battle of Lepanto. Although full of historical and military detail, "Victory of the West" is a very readable book, laced with humor and compassion, and much attention to good storytelling. When the two naval forces finally face each other, I guarantee you won't be able to put the book down until the finish!

A good description of this so important battle events that lead to it and the main characters involved.

The description of the battle itself could be more extended, but I realize that without animation and modern resources it is hard to describe a 500 ship melee.
Maybe someone could design an adequate animation to complement a fine book like this one?

by far the best book I have read on this battle, full of information and ancedote

An excellent book that from now on (but just until I'll write my own narration of Lepanto ....) will be the unquestionable reference work on the subject. Almost one hundred years ago Alethea Wiel, in The Navy of Venice (London, 1910) wrote: "They (the six Venetian Galleasses positioned in front of the Christian fleet) bore so distinguished and important a part in the crushing defeat of the Turks at Lepanto as to have, it is said, secured the victory to Venice and her allies." This in one of the various points that Niccolò Capponi, leading Italian military historian, probed and researched in depth providing full evidence of what really happened the 7th of October 1571. Many errors, constantly repeated since the times of Jurien de la Gravière (and perhaps earlier) by almost all the authors, have been so eradicated with the help of an opulent amount of newly discovered archival documents.
Some inaccuracies: at page 187 the moschetto, a small piece of artillery was named after a bird, a special kind of falcon; at page 192 Antonio (and not Arturo) Surian, called the Armenian, was a very well known inventor and not a Master Gunner. This is all I have been able to discover so far but, being green with envy, I am sure that reading the book again I'll be able to uncover other crucial blunders of the same magnitude.
Summing up: a virtually flawless, superior level academic work that can be read with absolute ease and pleasure.

_World Voyagers_ is a thoroughgoing delight.
This handsome, hard-cover book (it even has a blue ribbon built in for keeping your place) tells how Amy P. Wood, her husband Philip J. Shelton and their cat Stewart P. Wood built a barn in their back yard in Maine, built therein a solid sailing ship, and sailed the thing around the world. They brought it home again to Maine, where they sold it. Now Phil is talking about building a bush/seaplane to fly in the Far North. (It seems the guy can do anything technical.) If there's a book about it, I want to read that one too.
_Voyagers_ is rich in dialog, but in some of the best parts Amy is describing place and people they have encountered along the way. The book does seem to be in Amy's voice, though both people and even the cat are credited as authors.
It is rich in photographs, virtually all of which are too small. However, making them larger would have made the book either unreasonably large or unreasonably expensive, or both. In one of the photos, Phil is nude (as he apparently often was) and we see his bare bum. No such pix of Amy, though. Pity.
Being confined on a boat for months with just one other person sounds like it could be a trial. Amy and Phil took alternate days as captain, and seem to have managed the trip without bloodshed or even serious argument, mainly by showing kindness, consideration, generosity and respect for each other.
Endpapers show rough maps of the voyage, and there's a glossary explaining most of the salty terminology likely to be inevitable in such a book.

-----------

We echo the many accolades given to the "World Voyagers". It's a book that you can't put down or find something on every page to share with anyone within hailing distance. We espcially enjoyed Amy's analogies.
This past fall we so appreciated having Phil and Amy as our guests to relate this adventure to the Pen Bay Alumni Chapter of the Maine Maritime Academy. Attending alumni represented nearly 5 hundred man years of maritime experience as naval officers,merchant ship captains,mates,pilots, and engineers. To say that we were intrigued and impressed with the combined talents and courage of this couple would be a huge understatement!!!
Lou and Jo Violette
Spruce Head, Maine

First Off....Amy and Phil have produced a volume that is one of the most beautiful/handsome books that I own...and...I Have MANY!! I found myself handing my copy to the "book -lovers"and librarians(each of whom have ordered their own copy) in my life...just to observe their reactions...a superb effort....I am currently stepping the masts and finishing up a similar cruising vessel..38foot wooden Double ender..with plans/hopes to take her to New Zealand. This unvarnished contemporary account of two circumnavigators and their joys and travails while circling the globe..accompanied by many beautiful photos....is priceless for it's honesty and detail. As an indicator of this book "as an experience" they have included a Blue satin Place marker...integral to the binding...which leaves a feeling of being..."cared for"...by the authors as you accompany them from Georgetown , Maine around the world and home again. Sailors will recognize many familiar mental scenarios as they decide whether to continue from the galapagos....when "HOME" in Maine tries to call them back....how they deal with illness and/or seasickness...for themselves or their beloved FELINE crewmember... decide how to handle the "boat kids" in many anchorages...no holds are barred...no punches pulled... We watch and read how they made THEIR decisions...and are left with the opportunity to make our own decisions/mistakes!! when the time comes!!

WORLD VOYAGERS is authentic accounting of a Lifetime adventure....by a couple who have chosen to live their life TOGETHER, while recognizing that our contemporary lives are often fraught with emotional upheavals and "chapter changes"...family dilemmas and decisions that don't always "go as we might have planned". Congratulations to Amy and Phil on a job/book....WELL DONE!! Fare Forward World Voyagers!!

Amy and Philip and Stewart the cat's grand adventure deserved a magnificent, padded hardcover tome filled with great photographs and everything they left out of the website log. This is it. Only people who built their own boat and then sailed it around the world could tell a tale like this, then put it together in such a handsome package.

THE STORY OF AMY AND PHIL'S JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD IN THE BOAT THEY BUILT IN GEORGETOWN, MAINE IS MORE THAN SIMPLY AMAZING. I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN, READING STRAIGHT THROUGH FOR TWO AND HALF DAYS. THE SHEER AMOUNT OF COURAGE AND SKILL AND HUMOR NEEDED TO TRAVEL TOGETHER FOR THREE YEARS, TO BE VULNERABLE IN THE OPEN OCEAN AND THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES VISITED TAKES A KIND OF AUTHENTICITY AND INTEGRITY SORELY LACKING IN THE CULTURE OF TODAY THAT DICTATES DO EVERYTHING QUICKLY AND WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. THE CONSEQUENCES OF A POOR DECISION ON THE HIGH SEAS OR VISITING A HOSTILE COUNTRY COULD BE LOSS OF LIFE. THIS BOOK SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GIVE THEM A TRUE PORTRAIT OF BRAVERY, CREATIVE ENDEAVORS AND HOW TO BE BE REAL IN A SOCIETY THAT HAS SLIPPED THE RAILS.

CRISTINA JORDAN
JONESBORO, MAINE

I bought this book years ago because I love stories set in the Medieval and Renaissance periods. What I loved about this book, is that it helped me to get a wide variety of information in short period of time. It provides information about clothing, food, money, the law, and royalty. I used it to create a 30 page story in college.

Because of the amount of information, as well as bibliographical listings for you to expand upon your research, it makes a great reference when you are writing a story set in this period. If you are writing a novel or a feature-length screenplay, you'll need more information than is covered in this book, but for a short story or to supplement information that you have, it is fabulous. You can also use it when you have no idea where to begin your research. The bibliographies are designed so that you can find out information on a specific subject quickly rather than researching the whole period in general.

If your interest in the Renaissance centers on 16th century England, then this book's for you. With chapters arranged by broad subjects, such as Everyday Life, Government and War, and Society, it's easy to locate topics. If you are looking for a quick reference tool specific to the English Renaissance, this book belongs in your collection

Most Americans who would be interested in such things, after all, have probably visited a Colonial reconstruction (like Williamsburg) at some point, and seen the artifacts of the period up close and personal, so it doesn't matter too much that the volume this series offers about Colonial America isn't too well supplied with pictures. But visual recreations of Elizabethiana are thinner on the ground, and it would have helped to have been able to see something of the objects described (I had to haul out one of my costume references to comprehend the description of Anne Boleyn's trademark headdress, for example). That much said, the book is packed with useful information ranging from plots against the Virgin Queen to how much things cost to education, language (including the Scots dialect), and witchcraft. And it offers sizeable bibliographies of other books to seek out in connection with various specialized subjects. On balance, I have to say that I got a lot out of it, and would recommend it as a good jumping-off place for students as well as writers.

The Writer's Guide to Renaissance England is a fantastic resource for everything to Elizabethan clothing, to what they ate, what they believed in and anything you need to research an aspect of English Renaissance culture. It's descriptive, thoural, and extreemely helpful.

Not just for writers, but historians, hobbyists, and anyone interested in the small details of life in other times. This volume, like the others in the series, includes chapters (with figures and illustrations) on food, clothing, family life, work, education, religion, leisure activities, social and political history, etc. Great for browsing, great for research. Recommended.

THE PLOT OF THIS BOOK IS VERY GOOD. ONE CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER. HE IS DEFINITELY NOT SURE OF HIMSELF AND IS TRYING VERY HARD TO WIN OVER THE AUTHOR OF HIS DREAMS. THE SEX SCENES ARE GOOD AND PIQUE THE IMAGINATION. GREAT READ FOR COUPLES!!!

Though a short book, the author certainly packs a lot of punch into it. It's incrediably sexy and starts from the first page.

99 Martinis was like nothing I've read before. It was steamy and hot and had a good story, too, which you don't often see in erotica. The characters were well drawn and it actually had a plot. Loved it!

While 99 Martinis is somewhat literary, it is the erotica that heats up the pages of this novel. Told as a novel within a novel, it is the story of two people who come together and of obsession. Interesting read.