Town Books

I have read this book and enjoyed it so much... I was actually one of Doctor Jones' patients in Granite Falls. Doctor Jones captures the 'small town essence' of not only our small town, but, I think most small towns in America during that era. I have read the book a few times, and each time, I enjoy it more. Whether one grew up in a small "Andy Griffith" type town or New York City, I believe this book paints an interesting and delightful picture of the innocence of an era gone by.

Doc Jones is a wonderfully written account of colorful people and an insightful peak into human nature. I couldn't put it down. Loved it!

A touching, funny, insightful account of the human condition played out against the practice of a small doctor and his patients. A way of life that's passing from the American landscape kept alive by Dr. Jones with colorful, witty writing and a real compassionate touch.

Yaseem lari is one of my favorite authors because her topics and writing style have a personal effect on me. I am also a Lari but that has nothing to do with anything...
The reason i chose to read this book was because i was born in Karachi and i wanted to learn about the wonderful city that i was from. This book does an wonderful job in describing the climate and history of the largest city in Pakistan. If you are not interested in such a topic then i don't reccomend reading this book but if u want to get an idea of Karachi and the changes it went through its history then its a great book for you!

This is a must read for anyone interested in Karachi and its history. I highly reccomend this book.

Disclaimer: Yasmeen and Mihail Lari are related to my wife. Regardless, I am going to provide as objective a review as I can.

I throughly enjoyed what I have read in this book so far! The maps, the illustrations, the descriptions, make this book come alive in a way that makes it simply a joy to read. Particularly if you have lived in Karachi for any length of time.

I have often seen that the inhabitants of a city - any city - are often the least knowledgeable of the history of their locale. This is not very surprising, I suppose, because there is a tendency to assume that "I already know my home town"! I find this book (and other history books that relate to my country!) opens up new revelations and provides knowledge that I simply did not have about Karachi.

I throughly recommend this book to everybody, particularly if you have any acquaintance with the region or the city. The book covers details that are not found elsewhere.

I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it. I laughed until I cried. The humor is so real and unselfconscious. It made me feel great just to read this book and think of a time when things were innocent, really fun, and a little crazy.

This book is hilarious! Beware, you may find yourself laughing out loud. Any person educated in a Catholic school in the 50's or 60's will be able to relate to these stories. It is easy reading and a hard book to put down.

From the moment I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. Once I was about three chapters into the book I felt like I was one of Freddy Kopp's chums.
I would recomend this book to anyone!
Hopefully we can look foreward to more of the life and times of F.P.Kopp in the future!

I bought this for my wife, who is enamored with Lahaina. The book does a great job of detailing the history of this quaint whaling port and once capital of the Hawaiian Islands.

*****
This small book (122 pages) is filled with beautiful vintage photos of Lahaina, including merchants, plantation photos, government buildings, school photos, churches, the waterfront, and more. The vintage photos are beautiful black-and-white pictures, many from archives and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

There is even a picture of Moku'ula included, the sacred home of the ali'i on Maui---wild and overgrown, but still evoking a mystique and beauty that is unique.

Each photo has a paragraph of explanation included. Reading this book is a pleasant way to go on a "walking tour" of Lahaina before actually visiting and going on a real walking tour. Or reliving memories of visiting or living in Lahaina.

Highly recommended.
*****

An intriguing look at the beauty that was Hawaii's first capitol, Lahaina. Personally, this book evoked memories buried deep in my heart. The collection of photos and the author's eloquent writing combine to create a book of high caliber. It is evident that Ms. Kupau is quite knowledgeable of Lahaina's history. This volume of the "small town series" allowed me to relive the vivid images of Lahaina that was my youth. Sigh. I remember my old friend Edith Miyahira and her two daughters Jean & Jane who operated the jewel of the Front Street restaurants at the time, Seaside. The home made saimin, fried rice, shrimp curry, hamburger steak and potato salad were among my favorites. Just thinking about the food makes my mouth water. Emeril could learn a thing or two from Edith. BAM! In conclusion, I am anxiously waiting Summer Kupau's next book. She is an excellent author. Keep it real, keep it old school.

If you have ever studied FLW's architecture, you soon learn to see intuitively that he had to be influenced by Japan's art and architecture. Kevin Nute does an excellent job analyzing the connections between Japan and FLW's organic architecture. Connections range from the Ho-o-den of Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition to Ando Hiroshige's wood block prints. I enjoyed seeing the connections to FLW's renderings and the wood block prints. The analysis includes many photos (some color) and diagrams that are used to support the written text. The text itself is very easy to follow and very clear. One example that was very interesting to me was the illustration of how the Unity Temple floor plan was derived from one of Arthur Dow's two dimensional graphic interpretation of the internally purposive organic whole in the form of aesthetic `line ideas' from his book `Composition'. Nute goes on to graphically show how FLW not only used this `line idea' to create the floor plan but how he did it 3-dimentionally. While Nute did a very thorough job of analyzing Japan's influence on FLW, there were some areas that I thought he was stretching it a bit. It would have been nice to get more analysis on Wright's Imperial Hotel. While the Imperial Hotel was analyzed, the analysis was "thin". This is an expensive book but if you are interested in Japan's influence, this book will clear a lot of things up for you.......and you will want to keep it. In fact, this would be an excellent text book for any thesis project in architectural graduate school. A detailed analysis of the Imperial Hotel itself would be a great thesis project.

This book answered a lot more questions on Wright's (denied) influences than I expected. It is a remarkable look into how Japanese woodblock prints and traditional architecture (initially presented by American interpreters) may have helped shape Wright's development, creativity, and specific building designs. Nute has reviewed numerous obscure contemporary sources to help make the case that Wright probably knew a lot more about Japanese art before his first trip there in 1905, when he was already well into his Prairie style phase, than he would later admit. I found this book extremely helpful in clarifying Wright's ambiguities and obfuscations by drawing analogies to concepts clearly expressed by others, who were in effect his mentors.

Nute structures his book around the possible early influence upon Wright of four authors, members of the Boston orientalists. Wright may have learned of the abstruse meanings of "organic" art (part to whole) as practiced in the Orient from Fenollosa (1892), who was instrumental in introducing Japanese art to Americans. Fenollosa's associate, Dow (1899), explicated a theory of pattern drawing as the realization of permutations upon kernal line-ideas, rather like some of Wright's house plans. From Morse (1886), and the 1893 Chicago Fair's Japanese pavilion (Ho-o-den), he could have learned of modular design, the expression of natural materials, lack of clutter, and the flow of space in Japanese houses. And from Okakura (1893, 1906) could have come Wright's references to Lao Tzu, Taoism, and the key Void or space at the heart of buildings--as well as an Artist's rationale for the scandalous breakup of his first marriage.

Nute also explicates the geometric abstraction Wright imbibed from his enormous and early collection of Japanese woodblock prints. The only color pictures are nine of Hiroshige's lovely prints. This spare use of color reinforces Nute's argument regarding Fenollosa's and Dow's influence on Wright in the matter of "line" as his preferred mode of visualization. Although generously illustrated with old photographs and drawings, the many insights presented here will be more revealing the more familiar you already are with Wright's buildings and writings.

A reader looking for proof that Wright was derivative and an imitator will be disappointed. Nute does not find any smoking guns, but makes numerous convincing circumstantial arguments from a carefully calculated timeline that compares Wright's known movements and associates with publications, lectures, meetings, and buildings that Wright COULD have known. Strangely, it appears (from a lack of citation here) that no one knows what was in Wright's own library.

For example, what Wright was doing in his oriental pursuit of "elimination of the insignificant," was to subordinate other programmatic demands to the creation of works of art (for which others happened to be paying)--hence the irrrelevancy of owners' complaints about leaky roofs, low ceilings, or lack of closets. The difference, then, between an early Prairie and a late Usonian house Idea, is, I suspect, the change in his core Form-Idea of womens' roles from social ornament in the parlor to the director of the family from her now open kitchen workspace.

However correct Nute (or others he voluminously cites) may be in ferreting out possible sources for Wright's concepts, Nute does a clear and excellent job setting forth a significant part of the intellectual and aesthetic world of 1880-1910 in which Wright developed. Nute mentions, but does not disprove, alternative antecedents and sources in Arts and Crafts, the Aesthetic Movement, Pure Design, and other Euro-American design currents of the period. He does powerfully demonstrate that Wright abstracted and transformed any Japanese (or other) inspirations in Form (principally plan and section), and arguably transcended them in the Hegelian sense of revealing the Idea in his buildings.

Nute's book ends with some extremely useful and well-organized appendices, if you want to learn more of the fin-de-siecle period from which Wright emerged.

Kevin Nute's book, Frank Lloyd Wright and Japan, is written with an unusual depth of inquiry. Thorough and clearly labeled illustrations and descriptive text identify connections between real Japanese buildings and works of art and Wright's architecture and design motifs. By examining the influence of Japanese art & architecture on Wright's work, Dr. Nute also has described the manner in which any designer might be influenced by built and natural environments.

It's great that this book now is available in paperback, as it will prove inspiring to practitioners and students of architecture - as well as the general public. A must buy for everyone interested in the development of ideas who are searching for a fascinating story about creativity at its best!

Fun on Foot makes a fantastic addition to any book collection. It is a cornerstone item if you travel around the US and like to keep fit in some of America's most fun cities. It provides great coverage on routes for casual walkers, joggers or runners. The routes can be incorporated into a leisurely afternoon stroll, or a quick run or jog for the time restricted traveler. My husband and I really benefited from the NYC Central Park route and took advantage of it many times during our visits to the big apple. The maps are great and there are well illustrated notes. Looking forward with great anticipation to the European edition....

I found this book to be well written and easy to read. In addition to the well planned running/walking routes in more than a dozen American cities, the book is full of interesting historical notes on the sites along the routes described. The book will appeal to those interested in keeping in shape while traveling to various cities in the USA. Having lived in New York City for many years, I am familiar with most of the wonderful routes described in this city. I will certainly bring the book along on my trip to Washington in June and other American cities in the future.

Allen Volchuk
Toronto, Canada

Fun On Foot In America's Cities by Warwick and Nola Ford is the ultimate guide to the "unseen" America via foot travel. Discover the endless pathways accessible to all walkers, runners and joggers in Fun On Foot. As an in-depth guide to some of America's most adventurous and interesting footpaths, Fun On Foot will enlighten readers to the top 50 urban 4 to 10 mile routes in 14 major U.S. cities, including details on comfort and safety, historic, cultural or aesthetic attractions, convenience without needing a vehicle, and worthy destinations to motivate the reader to fulfill the planned route. Fun On Foot is very highly recommended to all American vacationers, especially those in tune with nature.

This book had excellent directions and historical information. A must to understand AZ history if you are not a native....or if you just love history. Directions were super. Photos were a little disappointing. Buy in conjunction with another AZ history book with colorful photos and you will be delighted with set.

This book provides the reader with some excellent background and historical information about the ghost towns of Arizona. I have found this book to be very useful when trying to find information about the towns that I have visited. In particular, the photographs and illustrations are interesting and gie the reader some sense of what each town and it's colorful residents have to offer the reader. Well written and well illustrated, this book belongs on every western history buffs bookshelf.

Not complete by any means (only a multi-volume work of many hundreds of pages could approach that), this is still a useful and informative book on Arizona ghost towns. Concentrating on the southern half of the state, the authors do an excellent job of surveying many of the most important towns and mining camps. Photos, mostly historical, and fairly decent maps are also included. One highlight, especially for those who like to attempt a visit to the sites or at least to mark them accurately on a topo map, is the precise range coordinates included for each location.

An area of special interest for Arizona ghost town enthusiasts is the Bradshaw Mountains south of Phoenix, which at one time contained over 50 towns and camps important enough to boast having a post office. This book spotlights a little more than half of them, not a bad percentage for a work covering a dozen specific regions around the lower half of the state.

The book is an excellent history of about 130 long-abandoned towns and camps, as well as a pretty good guide (in conjunction with topo maps) on how to reach them. Written in 1969, however, whatever remains might have been mentioned at certain sites then may be quite different today. An updated edition would be most welcome.

Although, by their very nature, the Texas ghost towns featured in Baker's book have deteriorated even more - or disappeared altogether - since the publication of this book in 1986, it remains a classic reference on this material and is a "must have" for the ghost town hunter's library.

The historical research is very in-depth and resurrects these "towns that time forgot" in the reader's mind. The book is lavishly illustrated with black and white photos taken by the author, as well as archival material. Highly recommended!

This is a great book on ghost towns (and near ghost towns) of Texas, and a model on how to present a guide to local history for travelers in a given state or area. This book describes 88 sites throughout Texas; each site has its own detailed map as well as precise directions on how to find the location. Also each townsite has at least one accompanying photograph, most more than one. Baker's text is lively and interesting and relates information about each town that is useful and informative. If you are interested in local history, especially of places that have seen better days, this book will give you much pleasure.

This is the kind of book you want to take in your car always! You never know in Texas when your going to be near a ghost town! The book has a map and is indexed, with good information on the towns , how to get there and what you will find. A must by for anyone interested in TX history

I've never done any commentary reading before this and found this to be very well written and informative. I like how he picks out choice words in the Greek and re-defines them in their original context. He is very faithful to the original meaning and that is why I appreciate this commentary so much. Easy to read, well written, smooth...what else could you ask for?

One might think that in such a small package there would be no new insights. That would be a faulty assumption, as Towns' book is a real gem. He doesn't obsess over every unorthodox scholar's opinions, but focuses on the message of John as inspired by the Holy Spirit. Towns has a deserved reputation as a great communicator, and this well-written book is no exception. Unlike many Johannine commentators, Towns clearly holds to verbal inerrancy. Buy it!

Addressed from a dispensational, pre-trib, pre-millenial perspective, this book (one of the first three in the new "21st Century Biblical Commentary Series" - the other two being "Romans" and "Revelation") is a superb commentary even if you don't fall into the camps above. It does not treat the reader as a total beginner, nor does it expect the reader to be a learned theologian (though both groups will benefit from this commentary). Covering essential doctrines, terms, and concepts, "The Gospel of John - Believe and Live" is an excellent start to the series and an excellent addition to one's personal library.

I started watching Gossip Girl on TV and loved the show, so I decided to give the books a try. In 3 days I have read 4 of the books. I am truly addicted. I have one to finish and 5 more arriving tomorrow!

A word of caution. IF you have younger children you might want to monitor these books. The content and language is mature. I am not saying censor them because, people who censor their children are dumb, but read the book so you can discuss it with them.

If you are mid to late 20's like myself you will love these!!!

the gossip girl books are fun to read. i don't like some of the casting for the show but i think blair(the girl who plays her) is cute

Read it when it first came out... However, i'm not satisfied with the cover from the new tv series. These actress do not convey the way i imagined Serena & Blair to look like. I have the complete series and in none of the book cover you get to see the face of none of the girls and i was very pleased with that.

Serena's come home after getting kicked out of boarding school and everyone wants to know if the rumors are true. Was she pregnant and did she leave her baby in France? Is she really dealing drugs with her initial "S" stamped on each pill? And what's up with her clothes? Is she getting them from a homeless shelter?

All Serena wants to do is hang with her friends and have her old life back. Unfortunately, her friends and old life don't seem to want her back. But don't waste any time feeling sorry for her. She's still rich and gorgeous, and manages to draw the attention of two photo-artists who ask her to model for them and then plaster the city with her pictures. (Well, pictures of some part of her. No one's really quite sure which part, though. Belly button, maybe?) Anyway, she also manages to make new friends and shows signs of adding some depth to her otherwise shallow world.

Don't expect to walk away feeling enlightened after reading this page turner, however. It's not great literature, but it is entertaining and a breezy bit of escapism, much like its tv namesake. Fans of the weekly drama will note some character differences: the names are the same, but physical descriptions, personality traits and economic status vary - most notably in the characters of Dan and Ginny Humphrey. Dan is a little more gritty and angst-ridden and Ginny doesn't look so much like Barbie's little sister, Skipper.

I rated the book five stars because I really enjoyed it and plan on reading the rest of the series. Would I recommend it to you? Well, if you're familiar with and enjoyed Morgan Burke's Party Room trilogy, Melissa De La Cruz's Blue Bloods or Hobson Brown's The Upper Class, you'll probably like Gossip Girl, too. They all center around spoiled, rich kids - or, in the case of Blue Bloods, spoiled, rich vampires - and the dirty secrets that sometimes even money can't hush.