Blake Books

I really enjoy his style of drawing. The step by step approach is perfect for this left brain person who is trying to learn how to draw landscapes. I was very pleased with the outcome of my pictures after following the steps. Also encourage you to look at Janet Wittle's Draw & Sketch Landscapes - sketch & draw with confidence in 6 steps or less. Both of these are great step by step books.

I have to say that this book is an extremely enjoyable introduction to the art of landscape drawing. I would recommend it for those starting out.
The explanations and examples are clear and concise. The exercises given are good and the introduction on what materials are required have been very helpful.

I have found the book very good on the ways to do Landscapes ,bushes,rocks
and water.How to get the right shadows and placement.It has been very helpful.

I really enjoyed reading this story and cannot wait to see it on the stage. The characters are filled with a lot of sarcasm, but are very lovable in how they interact with one another and learn from each other. If you like stories that are about searching for complete happiness then this one is a good one. The characters and the story are very real and I think this will really be brought out on stage. I recommend this story to anyone and look forward to reading more by Marcus Blake.

Would love to see this play on the stage. The characters really come to life. Makes one think about what it is in life that brings a person happiness. The sarcasm, I think is what brings out the life in the characters and really adds to the message of the story. For those that like agreat meaning of life stroy filled with interesting and sarcastic characters, or like stories that take place in the music clubs and bars of america where one can find the meaning of life then this story is for you.

Even though this is a play and for me not soemthing I always like to read this is one of the best stories I have ever read that was about the search for our own meaning of life. I read this story online at www.starvingwriters.net and couldn't stop laughing at the characters and their conversations in the bar that this story takes place. It is a great story about getting second chances and finding what makes us happy; this is also part of the analogy the author uses in describing the music of life at the end of the story. The author uses sarcasm very well among the characters as they all search for what they think is the meaning of life and what makes them happy. Its pretty easy to read and look forward to seeing a production of this story on stage in the future. I would definitely recommned this story to anybody, especailly college age groups.

this series is fantastic! i can't wait until the next book comes out and this book has one of my favorites in it, obsidian butterfly! i recommend anyone to read this series!

"Nightshade Tavern" is the fourth hardcover collection of multiple Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels by Laurell K. Hamilton. Previously we had "Club Vampyre," which collected "Guilty Pleasures," "The Laughing Corpse," and "Circus of the Damned"; "The Midnight Cafe" bought together "The Lunatic Cafe," "Bloody Bones," and "The Killing Dance"; while "Black Moon Inn" combined "Burnt Offerings" and Blue Moon" and constituted a shift in these reprints from 3-in-1 to 2-in-1, which is more to our liking. The two novels published together this time are the ninth and tenth in the Anita Blake series, "Obsidian Butterfly" and "Narcissus in Chains," and from the perspective of today, as we await the fourteenth novel in the series, it becomes clear that there is a significant break between the two novels included here. Suffice it to say that many fans of the series consider the first of these efforts to be the last great, or even really good, Anita Blake novel. Consequently, this might be as far as some readers will go, but they are certainly encouraged to progress to this point.

"Obsidian Butterfly" was the long-awaited Anita Blake novel in which Edward the Bounty Hunter finally calls in the favor our heroine owes him for his services back in "The Killing Dance." So Anita heads to New Mexico, where something is out ripping the bodies of some people apart while removing all the skin from others. Whatever type of monster this might be, it is something so bad that even Edward is spooked. Anita is spooked because Edwards, in his cover identity as "Ted," has a girlfriend who has two children. If all this was not troubling enough throw into the mix the two other backups Edward has enlisted, Olaf, the serial-rapist who keeps threatening Anita, and Bernardo, who keeps trying to hit on her, as does Ramirez, a local cop. Oh, and did I mention she has been celibate for months? This title around the title refers to both a bar and the English name of Itzpapalotl, the vampire Master of the City, which serves to indicate that whatever it is that is out there has something to do with Aztec mythology. One again, Anita Blake, vampire hunter/animator/necromancer has her hands full.

Laurell K. Hamilton is perhaps the finest writer of horror stories around as in book after book in this series she comes up with gruesome scenes that match the best you can find in Stephen King or Clive Barker. In "Obsidian Butterfly" this comes when the last of a group of flesh-eating zombies on a killing spree in a hospital makes its way into the nursery. The main problem with the Anita Blake series, as others have pointed out, is that there is a sense in which things keep repeating themselves as our heroine mouths off to the wrong people, complains about her love life, and keeps calling herself a monster as her personal body count continues to rise. However, the basic mystery here and all its various involved sub-plots are combined in a compelling narrative that overwhelms the problems with characterization. One thing I especially liked about this ninth novel in the series is that yet another unknown aspect of Anita's power did not make itself known at the key moment. In fact, given some of the climaxes of the previous volumes, there is a simple elegance to how our heroine dispatches the monster this time around. On balance, "Obsidian Butterfly" is one of the best novels in the series, ironically helped by the fact that Jean-Claude and Richard are, with minor exceptions, absent from the story.

When we got to "Narcissus in Chains," the tenth Anita Blake novel, is was impossible not to ambivalent about what was happening this time around. This one starts off like a typical Anita Blake novel with our heroine has been ignoring both Jean-Claude, the Master Vampire of St. Louis, and Richard, Ulfric of the local werewolf clan. So, once again, horror literature's most dysfunctional love triangle appears to be moving back to square one. But then we have an interesting twist. Usually Anita manifests another new dimension to her growing powers at the end of the novel, in term to help her out of the horrendous climatic confrontation where people she cares about are about to get killed by the new bad thing in town. However, this time around Anita is almost fatally injured in a fight. A weresnake is trying to rip her heart out of her chest when Gregory, one of her pard's wereleopards, forcible removes the attacker's hand. But in the process his claws something vital and now Anita is showing all the signs of preparing for a transformation in a wereleopard, which would make her a true Nimir-Ra. It looks like Anita might not have any choice about embracing the monster inside her (and we have to wonder what Edward would think of this development, especially given the events of the previous novel).

This time the title refers to a S&M Club run by a werehyena with a penchant for names from Greek mythology, is one of the faster paced Anita Blake novels. Basically Anita has to go through a series of rescue missions, such as saving Nathaniel from the sex club, Jean-Claude from jail, Gregory from the wrath of Richard's pack, Damian from being chained in a cross-covered coffin, and on and on and on. In addition to the possibility of turning into a lycanthrope, Anita has two additional complications. First, she had picked up Jean-Claude's "ardeur," which is basically a lust that goes well beyond sex. Second, she meets Micah Callah, who wants to be the Nimir-Raj of Anita's pard. The end result is that the unresolved love triangle has now been upped to at least a quadrangle, and that is before we even begin to figure out how Nathaniel and Asher fits into all this fun.

The sexuality of both the main character and the narrative had been building in recent novels, but I would make a conservative estimate that the amount of sex in "Narcissus in Chains" is easily double what we had in "Blue Moon" and "Obsidian Butterfly" combined. Hamilton has a hard time topping herself in each adventure in terms of horror and violence, so it is not surprising that she turns to other avenues. But even if Anita is becoming more comfortable with her sexuality and being nude among her pard, that does not mean the result of us are thoroughly enjoying the ride. The ending of "Narcissus in Chains" does turn out to be the traditional Anita-pulls-something-new-out-of-her-hat variety, along with what is becoming another cliche, the revelation of the villain's true identity. The problem is that at the conclusion of this novel we are encouraged to think that maybe, just maybe, Anita has finally resolved her relationship with Jean-Claude and Richard. But after reading the novels that follow this one it turns out Hamilton is just toying with us in that regard.

As any Laurell K. Hamilton fan knows, her stories are THE BEST. I realize that this book is a resale item from someone other than Amazon.com, but you do not need to pay $50! I bought mine from the Science Fiction Book Club last month (11/2005)for $14! $50 is an UNBELIEVABLE mark up for an item that is still in print!

Allison must make an appearance at her mother's trial. It's hard to defend the woman who never seemed to care or appreciate her. But Allison wants her mom out, since her dad just left and her grandmother, who although she may love Allison, is just too conniving.

Chad finally woke up from his coma. But now he has no recollection of what happened, who he is, or who the people in his life are. Seems like the perfect start for Kelly to take Chad away once again, but Allison could just possibly sweep in and take what was hers first.

Haunted by the death of Audra and the events that led to it, Zoey is unable to get it out of her head. Now, Audra's parents want to meet Zoey. What will they think of her? Do they not know what exactly happened between the girls?

Now that his best friend is awake, Tom feels blessed. He is given the chance to be Chad's friend again, and it helps that Chad doesn't remember anything. But his feelings for Kelly are still there. Will he be able to stay loyal?

Drawing closer to the finish, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH leaves us with anticipation for the last novel. The storylines are stronger and certain characters are getting weaker. Can they all survive to the end?

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

The Little Secrets series are my favorite!! It's so hard to have to wait for the next one to come out. And Emily Blake always ends the book with a cliff hanger and that's probably one of the reasons i keep reading these drama filled books. With the selfish Kelly Reeves ruining Allison's life, her mom in jail, her ex-boyfriend in a coma, and her dad gone. Not to mention that Chad left her for her cousin and then said he still loved her. Then when Chad finally wakes up he doesn't remember anything. Which means he doesn't remember what he said to Allison. I am on Allison's side and can't wait for things to be right with her family. Well let the drama begin....

#1 Playing with fire
#2 No accident
#3 Over the edge
#4 Life or death
I keep reading and I keep needing the next book. Great little soaps tale. Selfish Kelly,will stop at nothing to mess with everyone else's life.
Easy read with lots of drama!

Literally, it must say that this book belongs to the most important texts of Irish Revolution, without which it is hardly possibly to understand its events. This is not only personal experience but there are numerous notes of Irish nationalism in general give colourful picture and interpretation of events by the point of active observer. Attentive reader surely gives a tribute to auther's witty and exact notice for situation and persons that determinated the following course of events include the mass of tensions led to Irish Civil War. Ernie is very intelligent teller, and more important, correct and just, his story has no ideological exaggerations, of course, to the degree which would be possible in such circumstance.

Ernie O'Malley gives a free form rememberence of his activities during the Irish War for Independence. Unlike the methodical analysis of Tom Barry in Guerrilla Days, O'Malley gives his view of the war in a more emotional way. Perhaps that is not the correct way to describe it, but this book contains more of the personal feelings and thoughts of an educated Dublin man on the run in rural Ireland. He hates the food, he finds the conversation dull, but the spirit of the people carry him on. O'Malley adds life to our view of this violent era in Irish history and strips away much of the myth while adding to the heroics.

The title refers, as English reminds us, not to (as Gerry Adams propounded) the slogan that one generation's freedom fighters must rise up upon the fallen bodies of a previous generation's failed fighters to seek victory, but to the fact that it's easy to withhold pity when someone else is doing the bleeding and the dying. As a medical student before the 1916 Rising, O'Malley knew this to be more than a metaphor. His choice in a few years to take up arms against the Crown only deepened his empathy, and his awareness of the divisions that tore Irish into pro- and anti-British soldiers and then pro- and anti-postwar Treaty soldiers once the British had left--most of the island. He never confused anti-British tactics with anti-British prejudice, and one of the most memorable parts of his memoir is when he tells of his love for Shakespeare's sonnets, a copy of which he took into battle.

O'Malley was a rarity among those who were involved in the Irish war against Britain for independence that followed the failed Rising. He only was periphally involved, if at all, in 1916, but his powerfully described, deeply detailed accounts of his involvement in the war that followed show a university-educated, well-mannered, upper/middle-class Catholic who chose to lead troops most often from disparate backgrounds than his own into a guerrilla war to obtain the ideal Republic as a reality.

See also "The Singing Flame," O'Malley's incomplete Civil War account--which does not live up to the prose of AMW, but is worthwhile for its depiction of the futility and the idealism of the 1922-3 internecine strife. His letters from this period have been co-edited by his son Cormac and Prof. Richard English, who wrote the biography "Ernie O'Malley" in 1998 subtitled "IRA Intellectual"--also reviewed by me on Amazon.

Bought this for my niece, who is 17. She really enjoyed it. I didn't get a chance to look at it but I'd venture to say that if you have a teen who really loves Orlando, she will love this book.

I would recommend this book for Orlando fans. It has very large pictures and seems to be well researched. There are three reasons that it fell short of five stars. It tends to veer off of the subject of Orlando quite a bit. There is a lot of information about Harry Bloom, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Black Hawk Down incident. Also, it lists Gabriel Byrne as Fritz in Haven. That is incorrect, Gabriel Byrne dropped out of the project. Fritz was played by Victor Rasuk. And finally, it reuses a picture of Orlando smiling and winking at the Hollywood Film Festival awards. They flipped it and used it, then flipped it back and cropped it and used it again.

But overall, it's pretty good.

i have always loved orlando bloom - i'll admit it's the reason i watched the Lord of the Rings series in the first place. but, then, i grew to find he was more than just cute - the magazines, books, Internet stories, and biographies revealed him to be a very admirable person. the first five pages of this great biography have turned my view around - obviously there is a whole other side to this star. i can't wait to finish reading it!

This is the first OS/2 programming book I had bought. The code works as compiled (I used EMX - GNU C). However, it doesn't necessarily follow food form to a beginner. However, with the format of Dummy Books, this ends up working out, as it is much more casual. I was confused at times, but so would any newbie to writing in C for a graphical interface. OS/2 Warp books are hard to find, so why not buy it when you see it to add as an additional reference?

This book describes exactly what you have to do when you program OS/2 applications, the only part missing is the printing usage for programmers. If you are beggining, like i did, you must read this book.

This book had less cheezy humour than other Dummies books. That is good. It was also a much better book than most other Dummies books that I have seen and it was even a little more in-depth. I would recommend it highly to anyone who wishes to learn the art of Warp programming.

Roald Dahl, who died in 1990, wrote some of the most delightfully imaginative children's stories to be found. He probably never dreamed that his stories would some day come to the big screen to delight another generation of youngsters and adults. His works are described as classics and rightly so. "James and the Giant Peach" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" will undoubtedly bring smiles to the faces of our children, grandchildren, and perhaps great-grandchildren to come.

Now, Puffin Books has released a scrumdiddlyumptious boxed set that includes the two titles mentioned plus "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox." All are illustrated by the incomparable Quentin Blake.

Always a joy to read is the happy-ending story of James, an orphan, who is being raised by two very mean aunts. However, when James is given some magic crystals he's able to grow a tree that in turn grows a peach so large that the boy can crawl inside and roll away to a completely new life.

The seldom seen Willy Wonka, believe it or not, is going to let some people into his chocolate factory. Well, at least five people and Charlie is one of the lucky ones. He can't wait to see what's inside the doors of this house of sweet nor can readers as they devour the pages of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

One of Dahl's earlier works, "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is fun to read aloud with its lilting rhyming text. As one might expect this is an agrarian tale with three rather odd farmers trying to do away with the foxy Mr. Fox.

Following on the heels of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," we again meet Charlie Bucket and the irascible Willy Wonka in "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator." Who would have thought their transport into the blue beyond would be a glass elevator? Only the comical, creative mind of Roald Dahl.

"Gift set" is an appropriate name for this quartet - what a welcome present!

- Gail Cooke

I've read these stories for the first time this weekend, and what a pleasant time it was! Anyone should be able to enjoy these books, even adults. I myself am currently 27.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Loved these books when I was a kid and really glad to now share them with my kids. The boxed set is a bargin, although the paper backs would not stand up to a rough kid.

"Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
William Blake

Remember Eng. Lit. class when it was announced that assigned reading would be the works of the Romantic Poets? That usually elicited a chorus of groans (I confess, myself included). What a difference it would have made if my introduction to this poetry had been in the voices of the marvelous British actors featured on this audio edition! Familiar words and phrases take on new meaning when delivered by these talented performers. Listeners may find additional insights into an author's intent revealed in the deep, rich tones of Derek Jacobi or the lyrical delivery of Prunella Scales.

Highbridge has gathered an ensemble cast to bring the words of the world's most famous writers to life. Performers, in addition to Jacobi and Scales, are Jeremy Northam, Nicol Williamson, Stella Gonet, Haydn Gwynne, Douglas Hodge, David Horovitch, Alex Jennings, Nathaniel Parker, Diana Quick, and Sian Thomas. Each voice is perfectly matched to the verses rendered.

Among the poets whose works are performed are William Blake, a visionary British artist and writer,who illustrated all of his own writings. In addition to "Songs of Experience" from which the famous lines quoted above are taken, we hear Blake's compelling "Songs of Innocence."

The handsome Lord Byron is represented by his satirical "Don Juan plus others, while "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" remembers Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A collection would be incomplete without "On A Grecian Urn" and "Ode To A Nightingale" by John Keats and Shelley's "To A Skylark." Remember "I wandered lonely as a cloud" (from "Lyrical Ballads" by William Wordsworth with Coleridge)? It, too, is included along with many others - over 12 hours of beautiful poetry.

"The Romantic Poets" is an audio book to be treasured and heard over and over again - enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

Unfortunately, I cannot write a totally positive review of this collection of poetry. But the fault does not lie with the fine recording itself, nor with the talented British actors selected to read these poems. The fault lies rather with the poets Byron and Shelley. You may admire their poetry, and know absolutely nothing about their lives--and that is perhaps the way it should be.

I've never particularly cared for Byron's verse but much of Shelley's poetry I have always admired, and loved. Unfortunately, on this recording, for Shelley, Byron, Wordsworth, and Coleridge, we don't just hear their poetry, we must endure talk about the various events of their lives. For Wordsworth and Coleridge, this is fine. But for Byron and Shelley, this amounts to not much more than a running account of their wantonness and irresponsibility, thoughtlessness toward others, selfishness and lust. These two poets certainly brought great suffering into the lives of others, especially the women they loved and later abandoned, and the children they carelessly fathered out of wedlock and then abandoned. Thankfully, they died young, Shelley at age 30, Byron at age 36, before they could ruin other lives. There's no doubt their poetry is inspired and often very beautiful. But at what cost to others, and ultimately to themselves? Having to listen to the wastrel saga of their lives distracts from the appreciation of their verse. For that reason, I am reluctant to recommend the discs devoted to Shelley and Byron. Sample and admire their poetry to your heart's content, but spare the biographical commentary about their selfish lives.

As for the others, they are absolutely wonderful! Nicol Williamson does not just read Blake; he IS Blake. Listening to him read the Songs of Innocence brought tears to my eyes. You will come away from hearing the Blake CD overwhelmed by this man's humanity and spiritual depth, as well as his poetic inspiration. The other poet who truly surprised me was Coleridge. We've all heard stories about his opium addiction, but the man himself is presented as excessively thoughtful and considerate of others. He apparently had a very nervous disposition, and was easily discouraged. His life-story is presented in a very positive light, and he comes off very well here.

The Keats CD is another miracle. We are spared the details of Keats' short tragic life. Douglas Hodge reads Keats' greatest poems with such perfect phrasing and the finest British diction, again it is as though one is listening to Keats himself read; it's simply stunning. I will come back to this particular disc many times to hear this authentic Keatsean voice, which gives the great odes their perfect vehicle.

The two Wordsworth CDs are also quite excellent, and again one often has the sense that this is Wordsworth reading from his own work. All of his greatest poems are presented here, as well as generous excerpts from the Prelude. He comes across as a great poet of nature, and above all else a man who tried to see harmony and concord in nature. But it is also evident that he was a man consciously trying to beat back a sense of deep depression as he grew older.

This superb set is sure to be a constant resource for me for many years. This poetry was meant to be heard. Of course not all the poems in this collection are great, but if you are familiar with the romantic poets you will find the poems you most admire in this collection, and you will likely find new ones to admire as well. I highly recommend this set. Many thanks to Highbridge audio for these recordings. Here's hoping that the Victorian poets will soon be presented in the same format.

I think poetry needs to be listened to...not just read. The trick is finding an audio Cassette or audio CD that does justice to the music of the poem. Since the Romantic poets wrote some of the most wonderful poetry in the English language, many people will want to have such an audio product. I do recommend this CD without reservation. Why four versus five stars? One of the most interesting parts of the CD collection are the autobiographical materials that precede the poems; neither John Keats nor William Blake received "that historical treatment" in this audio product. This is a minor complaint. Also, some of the readers are better than others. Jeremy Northam version of Coleridge's THE EOLIAN HARP is wonderful, perhaps worth the price of the CD alone.

It was a sheer pleasure to re-read the very short stories written by this very gifted author.

This collection is a marvelous compilation of short stories. I first read O. Henry as an undergraduate student of American Literature and was pleasantly surprised in discovering a most incredible story teller! I couldn't get enough. I was telling his stories to my friends and they began buying his work. We started a discussion group and attracted others to our meetings. My class was absolutely saturated with O. Henry. This particular collection offers the best selection for O. Henry samplers as well as for true fans. One favorite is "Friends in San Rosario". One cannot know American Literature without knowing O. Henry.

G. K Chesterton observed, "He is a sane man who can have tragedy in his heart and comedy in his head." If that is true, the O. Henry is probably the only sane man in the history of the world. His optimism and sense of providence in guiding us foolish creatures to an unexpected (but happy) ending is his enduring and endearing legacy.

This collection has the well-know favorites--"Ransom of Red Chief", "Gift of the Magi", "After Twenty Years"--plus many of the lesser known tales. This is an acceptable mixer, giving you want you want, and exposing you to things you didn't know that you needed.

So why is O. Henry so endearing? In addition to reaffirming the divine, guiding province, these stories capture a moment in time. We get a second look on the world at the turn of the twentieth century. This is the world of the Wright Brothers, Henry Ford, and the Great Gatsby. We see the trailing edge of the Gay 90's, prior to the disillusioning horror of the World War I Lost Generation. To coin a phrase, this is the carefree--even garish--dawn before the darkness.

Style-wise, O. Henry's gift is also a curse. He is an unquestioned genius of the short story. He has vibrant prose, charming characters, and a flair for ironic dénouements. Additionally, His eye for both the gritty realities of high and low society, the twisty affairs of the heart, and a soft touch for the happy ending is unparalleled. You always finish his stories with a smile.

His curse is that his stories are formulaic. Now, I admit that his formula works. But if you read more than three of his stories in a row for a week, then midway, you can guess the ending, which destroys his punch line.

So when reading this book, nibble one or two stories, then set it aside for a month, and then return. This will give you enough time to forget his formula, and experience his style fresh. With 45 stories, you will have plenty of time to savor these stories and laugh.