Blake Books

A very moving book. That every adult man or woman should read about the relationship between adult child and their parent/s

I very English book, a small social commentary on the parts of Britain and a class of British life that the foreign visitor rarely sees. Until recently, all through Britain the local Doctor ( or G.P. as he would also be known) was looked up to as being something else, something better and yet had contact to all classes. In the days up until the 1960's, he was perhaps the only person in a village other than the local Church of England clergyman that had been to a University; as a result the Doctor's son was considered something unusual. In my English schooldays in the 1950's, the sons of Doctors were certainly regarded so. Blake Morrison has written a book of childhood to adulthood memories of his father. The fact that the book is based on the few weeks between his father being diagnosed to be suffering terminal cancer to his death, it is in many ways not a light subject, but everywhere there is a glimmer of humour. For anyone like me, who has lost one or both parents i! t underlines that feeling you have that you have from time to time , in good and bad times , that you would like to be able to have a short chat with the old man... but now it's too late.

After his father was diagnosed with cancer, Blake Morrison & his family watch him quickly deteriorate & die within a matter of weeks. In trying to come to terms with his death, the author takes you back to the times he spent with his father through childhood to adolescence & adulthood. He writes an honest account of his feelings towards his father both good & bad, alternating between memories of the past & the current trauma of watching him fade away.

His experience is not unique which makes this a very important book to read.

Five stars... without a doubt! Blake, Blake, and Kitteridge craft a compelling case for stewardship of the ecosystems we inhabit. The story is grounded in the Klamath Basin of Southern Oregon where a complex dance of men and nature is being played out. Historically, the federal government in the form of the Bureau of Reclamation identified the water rich basin as a region to promote for farming. No surprise that today the area is largely given over to farming and ranching. Prior communities consisted of local Native Americans who for the last hundred years or so have been driven out of the basin either by our military or our legal system. And last, but not the least in importance, the bio-diversity that suffers at the hands of lost habit, chemicals used for pesticides, and misguided management by public institutions.

Farmers, the indigenous Klamath people, migrating birds and native fish, all have their claims to the basin. From recalling the basin from his early childhood to driving the dirt roads to meet the 3rd generation farmers and ranchers, William Kitteridge's writing is exceptional at putting real faces and names to this place.

The story is made sublime with some of the most outstanding western wildlife photography you are likely to find. The photographs represent the sacredness of a place that serves as a stop for millions of migrating birds that no words can begin to portray.

A tragic postscript to the publishing of this book was a fish kill of some 30 thousand salmon on their way up the Klamath River to their spawning beds. Its been concluded that in stream flows got drawn down to the point where the migrating salmon stacked up in swallow and warm pools which ultimately depleted the water of oxygen. Only recently have federal wildlife managers admitted that diversion of water to farmers in the basin caused the massive fish kill in the Klamath.

This book is an epiphany. Kittredge is the best essayist writing about the American west living today, and the photographs are almost perfect. This book will introduce readers to an area that has remained mostly obscure, an area where huge environmental dramas have long since began, and are still being played out. Many sympathies are presented in this book; lots of heros, too. An amazing read.

Excellent narrative that provides the historic context for what is emerging as one of the most difficult and contentious fights between economic and enviromental interests anywhere in the US. The photography is outstanding and Kittredge's discussion of the people and the issues in this beautiful area provide concise insight for anyone interested in understanding the tragedy of US government policies on the management of the land, the people, the fish, and the birds of the Klamath Lake basin. Strongly recommend!!!

The tip of the iceberg? A very timely and much needed review of current health and legal issues surrounding today's cell phone technology- from authoritative sources with lots of great references. If you have a cell tower near you or proposed for your church steeple or neighborhood, you won't want to miss this book! Some of the potential biological impacts are quite surprising!

If a tower is coming to your area and you need to jump on a quick learning curve, this book is a must have. Buy it and be sure your town officials get a copy, give one to your library. This book has proven to be an invaluable resource on all of the issues related to cell tower sitings, including health, property devaluation, and environmental effects.
Ms Levitt's editing results in a very clear read of some highly technical data. She presents a balanced overview of the cell tower situation and provides an important addendum of websites and currant case law for further research.
This is the best cell tower resouce book available today.

The wireless age has exploded and people are using the cell phones everywhere and anytime and as it seems without concern about disturbing other people. It is a social disturbance as well as a handy tool to keep in instant and constant contact, two sides of the same coin. But what about the health concerns? Some people get serious headaches and sensation of heat when talking more than a few minutes. The cell phone is radiating microwaves, like your microwave owen, only not as much... But what if, I repeat IF, also non-thermal levels of microwaves are dangerous? Then the health problem for the world is GIGANTIC! Okey, for cancers to emerge we will have to wait at least ten more years to know for sure...

This book gives information about these health concerns by some of the most important researchers in the field.

Highly recommended for anyone to know more about the facts behind the debate in the media!

This is a wry, funny and wonderful book. Quentin blakes water colours are the best I have seen and the story he tells is amazing. A family dump their toys in a rubbish bin. A clown doll comes to life. He has lost his feet so he finds a pair of shoes, and then goes off searching for someone to save him and his friends. This is the story of his trip, the various people he finds, and the reasons he can't be saved. It is really beautiful and it works on many levels. You can talk about processes of following a story, there is the discussion of what is happening and why. There is the simple narrative you can make, you can get the children to talk about the story (and about the emotions) Overall it has a wonderful happy ending where everything turns up right.

I've been reading this captivating story to my 4-year-old daughter for about a year now, and we are both quite fond of it. I think it's one of the easiest wordless picture books to "read" because there is an illustration to depict every little event, so you don't have to rack your brain for words to describe what is going on--I find that the words just flow. The expressive characters seem very real, and the compassionate clown will easily find a place in your heart.

This book, without using any words at all, taught me one of the greatest lessons in life. The co-existence of humility and love. Watching the story develop with eyes and imagination,I realizes that this book allows each reader to come up with their own dialogue, providing a unique, special experience for each child (and adult) who happens upon it. I read this book a few months ago, and loved it. I am 21 years old, and think "Clown" has transcended the language and age barriers some of us have come across. It should be enjoyed by everyone.

This review covers the Flemming H. Revell Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to The Galations. This version is based upon Luther's lectures at the University of Wittenberg in 1531 and the translation is based upon the "Middleton" edition of 1575. This is the best version to my knowledge, but it is written in King James english. On the positive side, it reads very poetic, but on the negative, it is harder to follow. I personally like this writing as it is closer to the language of the 16th Century. This book was considered by Luther to be his favorite, and history rates it highly. To summarize, it has a number of messages, (1) Galations shows that a person who is in true faith can fall away if they are negatively influenced by false teaching - a real problem in today's world. (2) That Biblical teaching must be solely based upon Bible scripture, and anyone who teaches man's doctrines using random Bible passages to support his/her sermons is most likely not a trustworthy preacher. (3) That even faith is a gift of God, and not a decision that a person makes. (4) That "Justification" is based upon "faith alone. (5) That Mose's OT law condemns mankind, and that anything a person tries to add to God's grace in the way of works or self rightiousness,denies what Jesus Christ did for mankind on the cross - Galatians 5:4. (6) That good works result from heart felt faith, and that good works do not preceed or contribute to salvation when it comes to "Justification."
The world needs this teaching to be more prevalent; however, the world does not like to hear it; therefore, it is almost lost in today's religious teachings. This work is a masterpiece with few peers if any, and is highly recommended to a person familiar with the Bible who desires to grow in their faith and understanding.

This is, just simply, the best commentary of any book of the Bible I have thus far read. Dr. Luther elequently examines Paul's epistle to the Galations with one sole question on his mind: What does this verse mean? His notes on the verses are structured to answer that very question throughout Paul's book.

I have in my ownership...one of the old editions translated into English - dated 1796. On the inside cover there is a quote from John Bunyan (the infamous writer of "Pilgrim's Progress" and "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners") which reads as follows: "I do prefer this book of MARTIN LUTHER upon the Galatians, excepting the Holy Bible, before all books that I have ever seen." That there speaks volumes of the value of this commentary.

It is considered by many theologians to be Dr. Luther's greatest work. It is a valued book on this Protestant's bookshelf and would highly recommend it to any believer. Sola Scriptura!

This is, in my estimation, the greatest non-canonical book ever written.

Luther expounds Paul's epistle to the Galatians with an insight, power and depth of emotion which is sorely lacking in modern commentaries. He is not concerned with the various potential interpretations of "problematic passages" that fill the pages of other commentaries. From the very first page Luther cuts to the heart of the epistle-the doctrine of justification-in the way that only he can. His bold words and plain-sense interpretations result in a work filled with much of the same force and passion that characterized the epistle itself. The grace of God and the love of Jesus Christ cling to every word like the scent of a precious perfume. I cannot recommend this work highly enough.

This is the very essence of the gospel as understood by the one who "rediscovered" the doctrines of faith and grace as he teaches us from the words of the one to whom God first revealed those doctrines. If you are looking for an up-to-date critical commentary or a greek-focused exegetical work then you will not find it here, but if you would hear a plain declaration of the power and wisdom of God then you will not find a better treatise apart from the Bible.

This wonderful volume contains what are referred to as Blake's Continental Prophecies. They are: "America", "Europe", and "The Song of Los". The last has two sections called "Africa" and "Asia" and is by far the shortest.

They are all beautifully illustrated and the first plate in "Europe" is probably the most famous image from Blake's illuminated works - the bearded white man kneeling and reaching down out of the sun with the measuring compass. "The Song of Los" is also full of beautifully colored images. The "America" plates are monochrome although a couple of colored plates are shown in the supplementary plates.

Since "America" has 18 plates and "Europe" 17 and "Los" 8, it follows that most of the volume's 367 pages are filled with commentary, notes, and supplementary material. This helps a lot because these prophecies are part of Blake's rather opaque personal mythology. Scholars have filled shelves with conjecture about what it all means and they do have some good notions, but it is tough sledding without the background material to ease the way. This is a great edition and will be a treasure on the bookshelf of all who love the works of William Blake.

I recommend that any fan of William Blake buy this volume and the other 5 in the series. The books are beautiful, large, and handsomely bound. Each book is reproduced in full color, using a six-color printing process rather than the standard four. The pages are heavy, opaque and have a gorgous lustre indicating very high quality paper. The text of each book accompanies the color reproductions in standard typeface with very competent commentary to boot.

A must have!

Blake's work must be read in reproduction. An engraver by trade, Blake revolutionized book production with his "infernal method" of engraved illumination, hand-crafting each book. In the Continental Prophesies, Blake revolutionizes historiography; _America_'s retelling of the American Revolution, for instance, juxtaposes Washington and Paine with Orc and Urizen, fact with myth, to produce something that powerfully transcends the dull round of history. The accompanying illuminations cannot be omitted-- they do not simply illustrate the text, but ILLUMINATE it, supplementing and counter-pointing. And Blake's art is awesome. The Blake Trust's series is superb, conveniently transcribing the handwritten text of the engraved text on the adjacent page, offering important visual variations between versions of the book, and amply providing comprehensive glosses (in seperate sections, both interpretative and contextual) on each plate/page visually and textually. It is expensive to buy the entire series, but one MUST have Blake's illuminations, and Blake is an author for whom one needs all the notes one can get (Blake's allusions are extremely complex, so one must at least recognize them on the most basic level). One cannot say enough about the the visions of Blake presented in these books, but this is too much; you must SEE.

I have read and purchased all kinds of books on color, painting, how-to's etc. This book is the best, and not just a technical book. The book is a masterwork in the sense of presentation of material and information.

The author has a no-nonsense wit and gets right to the point with things it usually takes years of frustration to learn. He makes color part of understanding your art, part of composition and perspective, painterly expression--but explained in the most simple language. He goes into brush strokes, reflected color, properties of paint and in a beautiful way as he shows it through examples of master painters. He shows many paintings and then close-ups in order to see the technique and he tells you what the artist did and how it works.

Basically, it is a completely interesting book that will captivate you and you'll lose yourself. It has things you don't find in other books unless you spend a fortune and wade through a tome of useless info to get to a few good points. This book is the real thing and I highly recommend it.

I find Wendon Blake's book to be a necessity for any serious beginner. It is well-organized and easy to read.
W.B. clearly describes how to analyze the hues of the nature, choose and mix the correct pigmentation, how to lighten, darken and intensify paints, how to get maximum effect with limited palette (many great painters of the past used only four or five colors), how to observe local and atmospheric colors, etc...
In addition, "Creative Color" includes numerous reproductions (paintings of Homer, Cassatt, Sargent, Whistler, Twatchman, and other artists). In that part of book Blake explains how these famous painters put into practice the principles described in the text.
To keep it short - this very reasonable priced book is full of practical advice and valuable tips. One of the best "how-to" books on painting I have read.

This book is a little like two books in one. Between every two pages of text (instructions and theory about mixing colors with b/w illustrations), come two color full-color paintings, reproduced in two sizes -- one to fit the whole image on the page, and another closer view of the parts of the painting that the author describes. All of the paintings come from American artists, both famous and not so famous, who paint a variety of subjects, such as landscapes, portraits, etc., in a variety of styles. The author points out color theory and effective use of color in all the paintings. (I really look at paintings differently now. Some paintings that seemed full of many colors actually contain a fairly limited palette.)

The author also gives useful exercises on mixing colors and describes how different techniques of applying paint influence the color intensity (for example brushes vs. palette knife). The author also discusses the palettes used master painters to get a variety of skin tones, and palettes for other purposes, such as landscape paintings.

This is a great book!

This beautifully produced volume contains five of Blake's early works in relief etching (his illuminated books from 1788 to 1793 save "The Songs of Innocence" from 1789 - published in volume 2 in this series). They are the early tract like "All Religions Are One" and "There Is No Natural Religion", then the fable of "Thel", the magnificent "Marriage of Heaven and Hell" (one of Blake's most popular works), and the beautiful "Visions of the Daughters of Albion".

This volume really four books bound in one. The tracts are treated as one book, then each of the others individually. Each sub-volume has its own introduction and commentary and each plate is given its own page and most have the text on the left page with the plate on the right.

There are also alternative plates provided for additional study.

As with all the volumes in this series, the production values are high, as is the scholarship. A volume you can be proud to have on your shelf.

I recommend that any fan of William Blake buy this volume and the other 5 in the series. The books are beautiful, large, and handsomely bound. Each book is reproduced in full color, using a six-color printing process rather than the standard four. The pages are heavy, opaque and have a gorgous lustre indicating very high quality paper. The text of each book accompanies the color reproductions in standard typeface with very competent commentary to boot.

I recommend that any fan of William Blake buy this volume and the other 5 in the series. The books are beautiful, large, and handsomely bound. Each book is reproduced in full color, using a six-color printing process rather than the standard four. The pages are heavy, opaque and have a gorgous lustre indicating very high quality paper. The text of each book accompanies the color reproductions in standard typeface with very competent commentary to boot.

I just finished reading "Edge: A Leadership Story!" Loved it! Being a business book, I didn't expect it to be so engaging, but the character development was great. I really cared about the main character (Mitch) and the coach who held his feet to the fire (Kate). I didn't want to put the book down . . . I had to know how Mitch would integrate his creative side and keep from losing more key talent from his team. In fact, I read Edge in two sittings -- one night until my husband nagged me to turn out the lights and the rest the next evening.

I saw a lot in Mitch's development that was similar to my own over the years. Bringing more of my creative side into play has definitely made my life/work more enjoyable and has contributed to much of my success. I've also noticed that people relate better to me when I share my story and let them know I'm human.

I've considered myself very authentic of late, but after just coming off vacation, I've had a nagging feeling that there's one area I'd like to be more open/bold about. Reading Edge on the heels of that was further confirmation. I even penciled stars next to some of the end-of-chapter questions that I want to explore in that area. Guess what I'll be discussing with my coach this week?

The book also gave me some great ideas for team-building with my employees/va's.

If you're a leader in any form, I highly recommend this book. Be aware that if you normally confine yourself to G-rated reading, there are a few expletives throughout the book. If it were a movie, it would be PG-13 for language.

Aesop's Fables were stories that, although fictional, carried an important lesson. "Edge! A Leadership Story" looks to follow that pattern as it presents the story of CEO Mitchell James. How he recovers from certain economic disaster is a tale sure to entertain and inform. "Edge!" effectively teaches the reader how to deal with management and leadership problems in today's world of business. A deft combination of fiction and business education, "Edge!" is highly recommended for community library business and fiction collections alike.

A delightful read from beginning to end, Edge: A Leadership Story offers something for everyone. Part novel, part coaching experience, this journey of personal revelation captured my interest from beginning to end.

Not only was the story interesting, but the end-of-chapter questions were particularly compelling. They say the answer is often found within the question. And for me, that was the case. Each chapter helped me unearth something more - a deeper understanding of myself and my relationship to my life-work.

Edge creates an environment where the reader can become engaged with the material - in a personal and meaningful way. The things that matter most are the things that challenge and transform you. And if there were ever a book that could powerfully change you, this book would be it.

Entertaining, enlightening and delivered with an edge! It's a top-notch business novel and personal journey that's sure to uncover your dreams and passions. Highly recommended.

Tara Kachaturoff
Coach, Consultant, TV Producer and Host

Just found this book after buying 2 other bad privately published egg cup books that only listed author's own collection (mostly chickens) with descriptions and prices. No help. This book is very professional and actually explains the different categories of egg cups and for the first time in my 15 yrs. of collecting, I now have a good knowledge of the different types of egg cups. My humble thanks to the author

This is a great book. Someone has finally separated out all the different types of egg cups that exist. A mind-boggling effort by author Blake. So helpful.... gives the reader a basic knowledge of all types of china, silver, glass, etc. ... and egg cups were made from all kinds ofmaterials. Fun reading, in layman's language, a truly wonderful book for anyone who collects any types of smalls.

As a beginner pocillovist, or egg cup collector, I found this book very helpful. Its color and black and white photos were numerous and well done. I even learned that I was a pocillovist -- I never dreamed that there was a word for the hobby of collecting egg cups -- pocillovy! I only wish that the book had a detailed index. Several times I found a name imprinted on a cup and I wished I could look in an index. Instead, I had to page through sections on Specialities, then Major Producers, then Other Countries. Nevertheless, this book is a must for egg cup collectors.