Carter Books

One has to read very closely the five stories, five observations, and several essays to understand what these men are doing with this delightful book.
Robert Canipe is playing with narratives employing several styles from first person with immediate sequencing to omniscient narrator with flashback. His writing is a fine example of the Southern Oral Tradition that peppers the southeast and into Texas. Canipe's characters are real people--warts, curse-words, and all--and their problems are real problems from robbers whose intended store is robbed before he can finish the job to men who get out of jail and search for an identity that is lost to them while in prison. The tales are tightly written and suspenseful and the character's voices are real.
Carter Monroe represents the curmudgeon of the Southern Tradition who likes what he likes because he likes it and that is all there is to it! From his comedic trip to the eye doctor for new glasses to his tale of buying a stereo with cash, Monroe shines as the philosophical old buzzard who refuses to give in to Life's constant nudge to evolve into something alien. From his front porch perch, cigarette in hand, Monroe preaches Southern life with an authority. Here is to Life in the Provinces!!
Tim Peeler writes of education outside the classroom and in the world of the working man. He relates tales of old men who flip the bird to convention. They learned in the school of hard knocks and do not care who knows it. Peeler's prose is poetical with a lilt of southern charm missing in today's "Southern" writers.
This collection is far better than I thought it would be. These men will be heard from again.

What makes Writers On The storm a significant tribute to Modern
literature is not so much the inventive and expressive prose
style of all three contributing Authors, though is indeed present. Rather it is the fact that amid a confusing and often baffling array of hypertextual nonsense, on the one hand, and 'pop' sensationalism as it proports to some 'Avante Gaurde'
and exhibitionist approach to literary fashion, on the other,
which are the modern standard in so many published works these days...That as apposed to the ways and means a kind of hyperbolic fashion which has become the norm, this book in general and in particular with regaurd the last author Tim Peeler, has reasserted the need for a the kind of 'thoughtful
creative calm' present only in the form of the Essay Proper.

Whereas it is true that individual works of nonfiction in this book take on a more narrative charecter, build themselves in
in their concept and thematic appropriation in what tends to be
a highly anecdotal manner, they still reassert those 'classical'
and thorough going aspects appropriate to what one considers
as apposed to NON FICTION PERSE...the Essay Proper. In an age
as intellectually divorced from serious literary thought of course, there are quite a few people capable of only a more
direct and visceral and entertaining assessment of human values
and human existence. This is a failure of the Age which we live in and not at all one of this wonderful collection.

Writers on the Storm: Stories, Observations, and Essays
by Tim Peeler, Carter Monroe, and Robert Canipe

One of my favorite living authors, Carter Monroe, has several stories in this collection. Monroe catches the flavor and humor of small town Southern living. Being from the provinces myself, I can vouch that his characters are true to life. The American short story is in good hands with Peeler, Monroe and Canipe.

In WRITERS ON THE STORM, the reader encounters three very different voices/perspectives that are nevertheless headed in the same general direction. The book begins with the realistic and often rowdy short fiction of Robert Canipe. Canipe breathes life into blue collar protagonists that include a convenience store robber, a failed son, and a paroled convict. It is almost scary to realize the depth of his understanding of these characters.

Carter Monroe follows with several lengthy essays in which he reflects on provincial life in Eastern North Carolina. The analytical quality of this work is outstanding and the tongue-in-cheek humor a reward for the reader.

The book concludes with a number of short essays by Tim Peeler, the majority of which study the idea of experiential education. This is accomplished as he recounts his version of local history in a Western NC county.

It is remarkable how well these diverse genres and styles mesh. You know these characters; you may be them.

This was so cute! What an imaginative world of adventure. Zachary is a sweet and fresh character. April Robins brilliantly captures the reader with this color-illustrated children's book which follows the main character Zachary and his search for hidden treasures.

The book's setting is in a big city and the surrounding countryside. Yet Zachary's adventures take him through forests, rivers, hills, oceans, and suburbia all while searching for treasure in unique locations.

This book is perfect for parents, grandparents, and early readers. It's simple words and colorful pictures will hold children's attention and demonstrates how to transform everyday occasions into grand adventures.

A perfect tale of adventure, mystery, and wonder. It was truly a delight to read, and is the perfect book to read as summer vacations approach.

Zachary is a wonderful young man whose imagination and resident knowledge is amazing. He is not the video game fanatic that some little boys are and he uses his knowledge to see things in a different way. His parents provide him with the tools to be a treasure hunter by carrying him to places where he can explore and learn while drawing conclusions that are very enjoyable to read. Zachary has imagination but he also has a very stable family who encourage and abet his fanciful thinking while providing the environment needed for him to grow. I was a public librarian many years ago and a school librarian after that and this book with its page of print and page of illustration is very child-friendly. The format allows a short reading and then a comparison with the illustration and time to remind the listener of the treasure just found. It is a good teaching book for the listener. The chance to see all of Zach's treasures in his room and discuss the treasures and where they were found is a wonderful means to allow interaction between reader and listener or between the listeners.

I enjoyed the active imagination that Zachary has. My grandson is named Zachary and we had fun with the book and his imagination as well. The illustrations are great too.

This book is perfect for a parent or grandparent to read to a child. It helps you appreciate how active a child's imagination is and how important it is to nurture that imagination. Zachary turns everyday outings into exotic adventures. My grandkids just love me reading them this story.

I've read them all but this book is the best. Not only does it offer values and great illustrations it also provides a snapshot of the lure maker. You will be amazed at what you didn't know about these ancient lures.

Arlan Carter's 19th Century Fishing Lures is outstanding both as a collector's guide and as a fisherman's general reading reference. Chapters document lures manufactured before 1901 and provide color photos and histories organized by manufacturer. A 'must' for the avid fisherman, and a nice gift package.

This is an outstanding book for anyone who is interested in early metal, "spinner" type lures. Up until now, metal lures have been a largely overlooked and under-rated area of tackle collecting. In his book, Mr. Carter combines a wonderful collection of pictures with detailed information. This is a real gem of a book and should definitely be added to every tackle collector's reference library.

George Gruhn is not only the best know dealer of collectible instruments in the US, he's also an absolute fount of information and a heck of a nice guy, too. Each of his books is *the* authoritative source of information on the guitars featured inside.

If you're a collector, you need this book. If you'd like to be a collector, you need it even more. And if like most of us, you just love looking at beautiful pictures of guitars, you need it even more.

The name of George Gruhn is to the dealing of fine acoustic instruments as "Martin" or "Gibson" is to the manufacturing or "Chet Atkins" is to playing.

This is THE coffee table book for the household that includes an acoustic instrument afficionado. Guitars are covered A to Z, but so are mandolins, ukes, banjos, dobros, etc. The photos are absolutely beautiful, and the accompanying text is VERY enlightening regarding the history of the instruments and the instrument makers. Included are the first published photos of Lead Belly's 12-string, plus a loving tribute to the first Martin D-45, probably the most valuable guitar in existence, and not just because it's first owner had his name, "Gene Autrey" inlaid into the fingerboard, before he became famous in movies as "Oklahoma's Singing Cowboy".

Fascinatin' stuff for the acoustic guy or gal in your family.

This is one of the best books on Acoustic Guitars for the collector or anyone that has a passion for vintage guitars. Great pictures and detailed discussion.

Original breakthrough research that crosses the barriers of anthropology, theology, psychology and cross-cultural views of the dying process and beyond. Dr. Miller is a gifter writer and researcher who provides the entree for both the skeptic and the inquisitive to explore the most profound issues that we will all eventually confront. She accomplishes accomplishes her goal while providing the reader with extraordinary insights into alternative perceptions of life and after death. I could not put this inspirational book down until I read the final words, "we can only imagine."

After Death is a book that can offer not only solace but meaning to anyone facing death, their own or that of a loved one. We are used to thinking of dying as an unalterably lonely experience, but with this book as a companion it need not be. There is great comfort in discovering the depth and range of how our fellow humans imagine, understand, and, in some cultures, even know the after-death.

As important as the content, to me, is the author's voice-a voice of great warmth, compassion, and intelligence. As one reads this book, one feels more and more deeply the sense of human kinship in this journey-a profound antidote to loneliness and fear. I found this to be a truly transformative work.

This readable, page turner engages the reader from the start in asking the fundamental question of life, what begins after death? The author is widely traveled and well-versed in comparative religions and belief systems. Written in an anecdotal and open style, the author states no positions but offers different views from Native American philosophies to Brazilian religious beliefs. A must read for anyone with the smallest sense of curiosity about how our global neighbors wrestle with the place/voyage after death. Great gift for New Agers to seniors to skeptics and saints

Andy Warhol is one of the best known American artists of the 1960s and renowned for his uncoventional life and art as well as is enduring influence on American pop culture. An influence that continues down to the present time several decades after his death. Famous for his iconic images of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell Soup Cans, he also made art out of the facial images of political, social, entertainment, sports, and music celebrities of his day. This particular body of his work has been compiled and edited by Tony Shafrazi, who enhances this 320-page coffee table art book with 350 color illustrations and informative essays by art critic Carter Ratcliff and art historian Robert Rosenblum. The men and women whose images were made immortal by Warhol range from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Giorgio Armani, Truman Capote, Jimmy Carter, Joan Collins, Clint Eastwood, Herman Hesse, Alfred Hitcock, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Lenin, Robert Mapplethorpe, Liza Minnelli, Princess Diana, Yves Saint Laurent, O.J. Simpson, Elizabeth Taylor, Tennessee Williams, Natalie Wood, Mao Zedong, and hundreds of others. An important contribution to academic library 20th Century American Art History reference collections, "Andy Warhol Portraits" is a 'must' for the personal collections of Warhol's legions of admirers.

This book enables the reader to discover some rarely seen paintings by Warhol, representing many personalities from the sixties, seventies and eighties, from O.J. Simpson to Pelé, from the Queen of England to the Shah of Iran, artists, art dealers, art collectors, musicians (John Lennon...), actors, fashion designers and friends of the artist's. Even though it was this kind of work that drew the harshest criticism (Robert Hughes, critic for Time Magazine, dubbed Warhol the new Van Dongen, meaning by that that he only painted superficial portraits of the rich and famous of his time), they still show the scope and depth of Warhol's creative power. The book is lavishly illustrated and the text was written by leading Warhol authorities (dealer or critic). A very complete checklist of all the portraits illustrated is given at the end of the book. A valuable addition to the albeit extensive Warhol literature.

When most people think of Andy Warhol, images of Campbell's soup cans and a vividly colored Chairman Mao come to mind. For those who know Warhol better, memories also include Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, most wanted posters, and self-portraits of the artist.

What few appreciate is that portraiture was the bread-and-butter that Warhol used to finance his experimental work at the Factory. Before this book, you could not see the full range of this work. Unframed and grouped with similar and complementary works in the same time period, these 300 portraits show a considerable range of style and expression that will be a new perspective for all but collectors of Warhol portraits. I found the work to be so impressive that it totally changed my sense of who Warhol was as an artist.

In this book, the portraits do the talking. The brief essays merely describe the processes that Warhol used and that he tried to make people look good . . . and larger than life. But you knew that already, didn't you?

The range of the ways he captured the spirit of his subjects is what's most impressive in this volume. Repetition of the same image in one work with different treatments could help us see many different expressions of the person (see Natalie 1962). In other places, many images of the same person in one work express mood, movement, and a story (see Sixteen Jackies 1964). In other cases, multiple images of the same subject give us deep insight into personality (see Ethel Scull 1963). In other cases, the multiple images show the reality as well as the personality (see Merce Cunningham 1963 and Triple Rauschenberg 1963).

Exploring different use of colors and backgrounds, Warhol could totally change our emotions as viewers (Silver Liz 1963 gives us a sense of coolness and elegance while Liz 1963 shows a woman of great emotion and passion).

In Warhol's process, subjects were photographed around 100 times using a Polaroid camera. The subject then picked the images (or image) that she or he liked best. The images were turned into silk screens. Then, Warhol added the background and color to capture what the mere shape could not. The degree of focus also creates more or less power and immediacy (compare Donald Judd 1967 and Robert Rauschenberg 1967).

The portraits also create dialogues, such as when married couples had their portraits done around the same time. In the book, these images are often on facing pages. You'll be arrested to see Nelson Rockefeller 1967 and Happy Rockefeller 1968 looking off into the same spot in space . . . but not each other. The color overlap is minimal, emphasizing their differences.

These images are even more arresting when the pair are portrayed looking away from one another as with Gianni Agnelli 1972 and Marella Agnelli 1972.
In places, painterly backgrounds add remarkable depth and power to the images as with the Agnellis.

In places, the painterly treatment is sufficient to remind one of the work of Degas such as Lee Radziwell, 1972.

Portrait creators have always arranged sitters carefully to emphasize a certain point. Warhol does this in a very minimal way, often adding more than part of a hand touching the face or a bit of clothing. Because of its slight use, the impact is much stronger.

How do the subjects fare? Those with strong personalities do best. Those with complex personalities are rendered beautifully, but aren't as accessible. Subjects who want to look physically attractive often appear merely decorative, like a background model at a party.

Warhol's talent can best be seen by comparing the various ways he renders eyes. Male and female subjects alike receive slashes of color that sometimes resemble eye shadow and other times seem like tiny masks.

There isn't much that's soulful about these works. They are more about promotion than about moral uplift. It's all the more surprising when that soulfulness appears as in Farah Dibah Pahlavai (Empress of Iran) 1977.

Seeing Judy Garland 1979 and Liza Minelli 1979 made me wish that Warhol had done more mother-daughter combinations. These two stunners crawl right inside you.

Part of Warhol's art comes in knowing something about the person. Where the subject is unknown, you'll find yourself a little more baffled about what the message is. Think of each of the celebrity portraits then as being in part a reflection of the public image and our current perceptions. Warhol uses this celebrity awareness to good purpose in creating very minimal works that express the dominant impression of a person (see Martha Graham 1980).

As his career continued, the works became more daring. I was particularly drawn to the line drawings with bold bands of color such as in Paul Delvaux 1981 and Jean Cocteau 1985.

Some of these portraits will cause you to stop and rethink what you know about the people. I had that reaction to the pairing of Prince Charles 1982 (coolly displayed as a young symbol of the monarchy) with the almost flirtatious Princess Diana 1982 (appearing as a powerful force with an earthy grounding).

The portrait of John Lennon is simply stunning (1985-86).

For a good sense of Warhol's progress, you'll enjoy seeing many of his self-portraits.

Enjoy a good look!

If the charming, graceful, and intelligent Appaloosa has won your heart, then make sure Haine's masterpeice has a place on your bookshelf. Concise yet extraordinarily detailed text is complimented by exquisite art depicting spotted horses through time. An amazing peice of Appaloosa literature, and written by one of the founders of the ApHC, no less! Absolute necessity for all Appaloosa lovers.

A magnificent book, full of gorgeous full color photos of ancient and modern artwork depicting the appaloosa. This book is also a well-written history of the evolution of the appaloosa and the attitudes towards the color. For example, did you know that spotted Lippizans and Lusitanos used to be prized and not prohibited? Highly recommend for those who love spotted horses!

Written by one of the founding fathers of the Appaloosa Breed, this book provides a great historical narrative of this colorful American breed. Illustrated with marvelous color prints, it recounts the travels of Appaloosas across the world from early times to the present. A must for any Appaloosa fancier!

I got this book a few years ago after trying some beef and pork on skewers from a local Korean place. At the time I knew very little about Asian food preparation, and the book helped quite a bit:

The book begins with a glossary of basic terms and ingredients used in Asian kitchens, and also a rundown of grilling techniques, then proceeds to a series of ready meals (main grilled dish offered with one or two side dishes that are a traditional complement to the meal).

The sauces and marinades are easy to prepare and the flavors are bold and very fresh. The book utilized fresh vegetables and fruit in side dishes and salads that are amazing with the marinated and grilled meats and make a gorgeous presentation.

Furthermore, as I have discovered in the years of using the book, the recipes are also flexible and open to improvisation-resulting in possibly less authentic, but still wonderful and fun party food that can be prepared on a small tabletop hibachi grill right in front of your guests (you'll have to do prep work and make side dishes in advance, but grilling the meat and fish in front of guests has been a great way to bring a party together in my experience).

Overall, I found no fault with this book at all even from a beginner's (at the time) point of view-but the recipes are interesting enough for the more experienced chefs as well.

I also recommend "A Flash in the Pan: 100 Fast and Furious Recipes for Wok and Stir-Fry" by Liz Trigg and Shirley Gill for wonderful wok and stir-fry recipes for those beginner cooks who want to learn more about Asian food than just grilling.

If you are bored with steak, hamburger and chicken on the charcoal grill, here are recipes for Bulgogi (Korean Fire Beef), Salmon in Miso Glaze, and many skewered chicken and shrimp dishes that are easy to make, but certainly a different take on grilling. There are a lot of marinades that could be adapted to other items--you can miso-glaze chicken breast, or make flank steak in a number of flavorings. Good little book if you are bored with grilling or want fancy skewered recipes for a party.

This little book transports Asian flavors and textures simply to the Western reader without compromising flavor and integrity. I've tried three recipes from this book and they are very, very good. I plan to try several others but first have to replace the book. I took it to work and ended up giving it away. This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who loves grilling and Asian flavors.

The shipping was quick, and the book is in perfect condition. I would use this source again!

As a novice gardener, I have found many instructional books to be overwhelming; their scope is often too wide for my purposes. The Garden Project Workbook Series, however, provides clear instructions for a variety of creative yet practical designs.

With help from "Beds and Borders" I was able to implement my own design for a small border in my tiny front yard, a step that I would not have been able to accomplish on my own.

All of the books in this series are topical and very worthwhile. I highly recommend them.

This is a good book for the beginning gardner in need of ideas for planting a garden. It illustrates 21 planting schemes and provides brief how-to-do guidelines. Generally included in the instructions are: the latin name of all plants needed and he number of plants needed; special tools and equipment when indicated; designing, spacing, and planting the bed; care and maintenance as well as alternative planting schemes.

This is a cute story for children entering or in 2nd grade. Most children can read the story themself and the pictures are bright and cute.
My son really enjoyed it.

I bought this book for my grandson who has just completed the first gade. I think the book is funny. The vocabulary is easy enough and the illustrations are excellent. Even without them, a beginning reader can picture everything. It contains a strong appeal to the senses, and the situations are easy for a second gader to relate to. I highly recommend this book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone! It is a lovely, enchanting, and funny tale, and the pictures complement the story beautifully. I read it to my son recently, and we both loved it. He listened the entire time and wanted to hear it again! It has quickly become one of his favorites! We also have Katharine Kenah's book The Dream Shop (illustrated by Peter Catalannotto), which is a gorgeous picture book. I recommend her books to everyone!