Collins Books

Brandilyn Collins, perhaps best known for her suspenseful thrillers
(all with an underlying Christian foundation), in this series, ending with "Capture the Wind for Me," turned her talents to life in Bradleyville, a small Kentucky town; with a strong emphasis on characterizations. As was true in the first two installments--"Cast a Road Before Me" and "Color the Sidewalk for Me"--Ms. Collins' truly fine writing style breathes life into the people of this small southern town...people whose everyday lives generate interest and empathy. I've not read a Brandilyn Collins' book--including those in this series--which are undeserving of a five-star rating. This three-volume series is a welcome slice of Americana. Highly recommended!
--R.C. Howe (aka Toby Martin II)/ Erskine, Minnesota

This book was very enjoyable to read. This book was about a teenage girl who struggles with feelings from her mother's death and helping out with her family, when both she and her father fall in love. Then Jackie struggles with feelings of distrust for Katherine (her father's new love) and the long distance relationship with a rock star, Greg.

This book was very interesting to read. Character development was great. I liked how Collins brought in the past relationship between Celia, Danny, and Bobby, and how that still had an effect on everyone today. I liked the theme "Keep your eyes on God", like in the "Color the Sidewalk" book. There was also some humor in the book, like with the fight between Clarissa and Alma Sue. I was also amused at the idea of half the town traveling 4 hours to Lexington to get Katherine to come back to Bradleyville when she ran away.

I know that Jackie struggled with Celia and Celia's relationship with her father. But I would have also liked to see some dialog developed between Celia and Jackie on that time period, especially since there was some resentfulness on Jackie's part toward Celia. Also, I thought that the ending and getting Katherine to come back to Bradleyville happened a little quickly. I would have liked to see how Katherine and Bobby ended up compromising on some of their issues. Do Bobby and Katherine travel to Lexington from time to time, to account for Katherine's desire of big city life? Do they agree to stay in Bradleyville and allow Katherine to work in Lex once a month? Plus, I thought that at times, Bobby and Jackie seemed a little too judgmental, and that drove me nuts at times.

Again, I enjoyed this book as I did the whole series. I did like the "Color the Sidewalk" book the best, but this was a very enjoyable book as well.

Classic B. Collins psychologically deep, intimate style snatches the reader into the story like strong wind steals your breath.

Teenage Jackie Delham has lost her mother to cancer. Now she must be the adolescent Mom to her two younger siblings, somehow holding the household together while searching for her own independence in the rubble of her once secure life.

When Katherine King blows into town, literally in the vanguard of a tornado, even the small semblance of normalcy in the Delham household is torn away. Jackie can hardly believe her dad would be interested in someone as flamboyant and unstable as Katherine King, especially after the perfect love he shared with Jackie's mother.

The wierdness escalates for Jackie when she meets Katherine King's distant relative, the lead singer in an up-and-coming boy band, and they begin to date. How can she trust her feelings for this young man when ancient history revives, and she discovers her parent's romance may not have been all she had believed?

If you missed the first two in the Bradleyville series, you've missed rare treats, but don't let that cause you to miss this one, too. Capture the Wind for Me stands on its own two feet just fine.

I couldn't put this book down! It entangles you in its web of family ties, small-town life, hidden secrets, newfound love, grief and loss.... It's just a delicious book.

The basic gist of the plot is that teen Jackie's mother died a few years ago, and her father has found someone new. While dealing with her feelings of anger and hurt over this knowledge, Jackie meets a famous foreign singer who wins her heart. But she constantly worries that her dad's new love---and for that matter, her own new love---will break promises and leave them. Then a sudden twist in the plot causes all the characters to second-guess themselves and those they formerly trusted.

Granted, some parts seem melodramatic...and even though I'm a sixteen-year-old myself, this book's sixteen-year-old narrator can seem juvenile at times. (Who still calls their dad "daddy" and refers to their mom as "mama"? Maybe it's just the town she grew up in or something.)

The book stresses good morals and keeping God in control of your life---a phenomenal concept in this day and age. I would recommend it to any female (regardless of whether they're a Christian or not) ages 14 and up.

Oh, and F.Y.I.: the author has a talent for employing impressive vocabulary (among her talent as an exquisite story-teller). I'd have a dictionary neraby just in case.

Carnal Hours by Max Allan Collins is a work of fiction. It is however based on a real life crime....the 1943 murder of Canadian millionaire Sir Harry Oakes. This well researched novel is narrated by its protagonist, the streetwise Chicago PI Nathan Heller, a fictional character who appears in a number of Max Allan Collins books.
Most of the action unfolds in the Bahamas, Sir Harry's adopted home and the site of his grisly murder. Enhancing the interest quotient of the ongoing narrative is the presence of a number of real life celebrities. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Erle Stanley Gardner, Eliot Ness, Meyer Lansky, Ian Fleming and Sally Rand all put in appearances. Some of these historical figures really were connected to the Oakes murder case, others were inserted in by the author to add color to the proceedings.
Carnal Hours is an exceedingly interesting murder mystery. The narrative is fast paced and action packed. Collins did his homework in researching the time and locale in which the story takes place and it shows. Highly recommended.

I like Collins... I really do. Personally, his Nathan Heller series are interesting, accurate and a fast-read. I've even enjoyed his other historical fiction (Murder at the War of the World's was outstanding).

Anyone who has read his Purgatory series knows that Collins is really a good writer, but I guess I don't understand why he cheapens his work by copying televeision series like CSI and now Criminal Minds. Of course the obvious answer is because he can make money with a recognizable series, but he is a much more talented author than this.

Collins is a devoted Mickey Spillane, 50's noir, author who occassionally writes under another name or with his wife. Recently he tackled the son of Doc Holiday meeting Wyatt Earp and Al Capone... imagine that!! I always look forward to reading him, but I wish he would, however, had stayed with Heller and continued to expand his world.

Collins is good historical mystery read regardless of what he tackles.

An excellent historical mystery, with Collin's Nate Heller filling the role of an real-life private detective who investigated the murder of Sir Harry Oaks.

Look for the reference to Dick Tracy that Collins ames at the end: "It hurts."

A fitional novel about an actual event that held my interest better than any other non-fiction books on the Death of Sir Harry Oakes

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

This great carry on companion is a great addition to any fans collection. It features all 31 of the carry on films and also biographys of the cast and crew. It's such a great price too, one that any fan can afford. Also there is a behind the scenes section where you find out information on the stars lives outside of the carry on circle. This is a must for any carry on fan and i recommend you buy it today.

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

25 years ago my sons couldn't get enough of this book. I got so tired of reading it over and over. Skip to the next generation and one day my two granddaughters discovered it in a box of their dad's old favorites. They are 3 and 5 and just love it! Everytime they come over, the first thing they do is go dig it out for me to read. Honestly, I've taken to hiding it!

Like the previous review, our copy has been loved to death! It is unfortunate that this book appears to be out of print . . . I would love to get a brand new copy. Our boys have just worn our copy out. Would love to buy new copies to give as baby gifts for boys. Truth be told, I am so tired of reading this book again & again . . . but they adore it.

One of the best books ever! I had to actually put it away at times because my youngest wanted it read over and over....

I bought this book for my sons when they were little and they loved it page by page until (the book was worn out) I bought them a second copy. Since my children enjoyed the book so much I bought a copy of my grandsons. They are doing the same thing and in fact this is the second copy of I am getting for them. I am happy that they are interested in book. Two generations have now loved this bood to death. I consider this the best recomendation a book can recieve.

Chakra Tonics is a multifunctional book. This book starts off noting the basic foundational beliefs about chakras, explaining that there are numerous philosophies and interpretations and the reader should explore these variations in order to come up with his or her own theories in this regard. I really found this aspect refreshing as many such books never admit that there are alternative thoughts on the subject let alone encourage the reader to make up his or her own mind.

The rest of the book explores each of the chakras describing the location, purpose, color, sound, and various problems often associated with energy blockages. Included for each section are recipes that the reader can replicate. The intended purpose of these recipes is to balance out the energy in particular chakras.

All of the recipes provided are either fresh juicing recipes or smoothie recipes made with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In my mind, these recipes simply provide new and creative ways to provide healthy energy building nutrition into the body rather than opting for caffeinated, carbonated drinks that reduce natural energy. If they also help balance chakra energy that's just an added bonus.

Whimsical little book which artfully combines healthy juice/smoothie/tea recipes in relation to the corresponding chakra. Such a creative idea, i think this book would make an interesting gift or excellent conversation starter for someones coffee table. Thank-you Elise Marie Collins.

I found this book to be a nice read on the energy centers in the body and the means for promoting healing and wellness. Nice combination granting one the opportunity to expand their conciousness and delight in the elixers that heal each aspect.

CHAKRA TONICS: ESSENTIAL ELIXIRS FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT could also have been featured in our Spirituality section but is reviewed here for its broader appeal to audiences interested in juices, shakes, smoothies and drinks which have healing and beneficial properties as well as taste appeal. From a Fig Shake with cinnamon believed to help diabetics to a high vitamin C Hibiscus Shake, drinks are very easy to make up with a minimum of specialty ingredients and CHAKRA TONICS organizes recipes by health benefit for easy consultation.

Unbelievable new book--from the red plastic cover (meant to mirror, and mock, the Little Red Book of Mao Tse-tung) to the great historic photos to the informative text and interviews, this is a unique creation. It's part autobiography (Tam was born in China, moved to Hong Kong at age 3, and grew up there), part fashion history, part contemporary culture, and all fun. Special chapter called "Mao Crazy," on the cult of Mao is worth the cost of the book alone.`

Big book with stunning and bright photo illustrations that "bleed" off the page.

Ms. Tam understands the style of Hong Kong and China (especially Shanghai) like few others; the best of that style is all here. She writes with enthusiasm and love for many essential aspects of the appeal of a culture known for its centuries-old aesthetic and for its mass-production and other mass sensibilities.

Tam's education at the Hong Kong Polytechnic gives her a unique vantage point for isolating Chinese chic. She can view Cultural Revolution paraphrenalia with the eye of a designer, collector, and artist, rather than with painful memories. In a show of global sophistication, she understands East-meets-West sensibility (her chapter on Chinglish is told with an appealing tenderness). The text comes off without a shimmer of self-consciousness or compulsion to 'be Chinese.' There is camp, sex, zen, pizzazz and beauty, exploding off of every page and augmented by Tam's tales of exploration and appreciation.

Bonus interviews with composer Tan Dun and choreographer/visionary Danny Yung are painfully short, but the reader still gets a healthy dose of young Chinese intelligensia. The text is endearingly personal, Vivienne Tam sharing with the reader what her senses take in. It's quite delightful.

Great keepsake for people who have visited Hong Kong or Shanghai!

I just decorated my entire apartment in a fusion-asian style and this book was the last item I bought - to sit on my coffee table and accentuate the living room. I look at it all the time!!

Beautiful pictures throughout. What a wonderful book!!

If you are interested in Chinese art, culture, clothing, and history, then this is your Bible. Chalked full of photos that pop off the page. This witty and interesting book takes you from Ming to present day China. Vivienne Tam reflects on her life, born in mainland China, raised in Hong Kong, then moving to New York. She tells charming stories about what has influenced and inspired her and her collections. Great interviews with members of China's creative community, and who can forget Mao? The book is designed like a large coffee table version of Mao's little red book! This is simply stunning.

When I read the Preface that John Owen highly recommended this book, I expected it to contain harsh words and scary warnings usually found in his texts, which are not necessarily bad. To my surprise, however, though there are indeed some warnings against hypocrisy and insincerity, Guthrie filled it with plenty of gracious biblical exhortations, pressing unbelievers urgently to consider their case and to "close with Christ", as well as for believers to "give diligence to make our calling and election sure". There is an extensive coverage on the evidence of saving faith, where the premise is that though faith alone justifies, justifying faith is never alone, which I thought is excellent for self-examination. Contrary to today's common popular mechanical sinner's prayer as some sort of magic words for a quick conversion, Guthrie also brought up an interesting topic of `express covenanting' whereby believers renew from time to time, their solemn `viva voce' confession of faith and their earnest resolution to cleave to Christ to the end. I found the arguments presented to support such a practice compelling, where from Scriptures Guthrie claimed God commands it along with some examples as in Thomas' confession of faith after seeing the resurrected Christ, and David's death bed resolution in 2 Sam 23:5, despite many of his shortcomings, to hope in God's faithfulness through the covenant he made with him wherein lies all his salvation and desire. Guthrie even goes as far as to say not to practice `express covenanting' could be dangerous, considering it is implicitly done regularly during the celebration of the Lord's Supper as well. This is a serious book on the most serious and the most important business in life, that is, to determine for oneself, a saving interest in Christ, as well as how to attain it.

How do we know whether we have a special saving interest in Jesus Christ and how can we obtain it if we find that we don't? These are the two questions William Guthrie concerns himself with in the book, "The Christian's Great Interest." This book is a classic work on assurance of salvation and evangelism by a seventeenth century Presbyterian author.

To Guthrie, how we answer the question about our salvation is of the greatest interest to all people. It is "not a vain thing because it is your life", and it is "the one thing needful." Our salvation is discernable if we examine our case from the scripture. "To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to his word, it is because there is no truth in them." The bible commands us "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own self", "give diligence to make your calling and election sure."

The first mark of our salvation is the experience of a preparatory work of the Law. Receiving the Spirit "unto bondage" Ro 8:15. Although many do not experience this, as those called from the womb or from early childhood (John the Baptist, Timothy) or in a "sovereign gospel" way (as Zaccheus) or on their death bed (as the theif on the cross), most people are brought low through sight of the Law, "when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died". The Holy Spirit awakens their conscience and they see they are compased about by innumerable iniquities. Jesus by his Spirit brings them through an intense internal process to make them "dead to the law" and without "confidence in the flesh" in order that they may see they are lost, sick and in need of a Physician.

The second mark is faith. Faith is the grand and only condition of the covenant of grace and the instrument of salvation. "It is of faith that it might be by grace." Therefore it is evident that he who can discover his own faith is saved. Guthrie explains that faith is not a difficult thing even though it is the "gift of God." It is not believing that you are elect or that Christ died for you or any other proposition but it is simply the hearts satisfaction with God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Scripture describes the acts of faith variously as receiving, staying, believing on, desiring, thirsting, looking on, waiting and other actions that indicate faith is not primarily an act of the understanding but of the heart and the will.

The third mark is a renewed state. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." Guthrie outlines the evidences of those who are new creatures. The man must be renewed in his understanding, believing and trusting in the truths of scripture. His affections must be renewed, he must have a "new heart" and he must love God and His Law. He must "yield his members servants to righteousness unto holiness." In his interests, worship, outward calling, and relations he must all be renewed. He must do all to the glory of God, "whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do."

Guthrie then takes some space to contrast the attainments of hypocrites with the children of God and to address some other difficulties. Hypocrites, he says, may advance very far in religion without a true interest in Christ. They may have the "form" of godliness, they may "taste" the truth, they may even be to some extent "enlightened by the Holy Ghost" but they never choose Jesus as their soul's one satisfying choice nor are they content to make him their savior but all their outward holiness is of some base motive. He then alieves the doubts of those who fear they are excluded from the Kingdom of God because of the power of their prevailing sin. He points out to them that David confessed to God, "iniquities against me do prevail but as for our transgressions thou shalt surely purge them away" and that Paul could say he served "the law of sin" with his "flesh" but despite their sins they still delighted in the Law of God after the inward man. Next, Guthrie shows that the sensible internal operations of the Holy Spirit are the special gift of God but are not the substance of the new man.

In the second part of the book Guthrie leads those who have failed the trial of a saving interest to close with Christ. He begins this section by going through the basic tenets of Christianity. The covenant of works has failed by Adam's sin but God has graciously restored communion with man by providing a sacrifice for sin in his Son Jesus. God covenants with all those who submit themselves and their children to his ordinances and he requires them to seek salvation in Christ. Unfortunately, many in the covenant do not transact with God thusly but they flatter him with their lips, "They are not all Israel which are of Israel." This is the case with most in the Church, "strait is the gate and narrow is the way." For none can do it except they are made willing and able in the day of his power, being effectually called by the Holy Spirit.

To accept the offer of the gospel is to set aside the covenant of works, renounce self-righteousness and to choose Christ as a precious treasure sufficient for the salvation of sinners. It is the command of all those who hear the gospel to do so and none will be saved except those that do. "Ho everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat." He must take to heart that the wrath of God abides on him for the very sins he is guilty of and that his only escape is through Jesus Christ, who, if he comes to him, will in no wise cast him out for, "all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven of men."

To motivate unbelievers to so close with Christ Guthrie discloses to us some native effects of saving faith. Namely, union and communion with God. Through Jesus we have oness with God who is afflicted with our affliction and who is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." Through Jesus we belong to God and he belongs to us and we can share intimacy with him through prayer.

Next, Guthrie succors poor sinners too afraid to acquiese to Christ with sweet promises and examples from scripture. He shows us how the saints of the bible were guilty of the most heinous sins under the most aggravating circumstances yet still found pardon. He assures us that God will forgive any one and any sin and encourages us that he will be pleased with those that come to Jesus because this is the means he has himself appointed to save sinners.

The last chapter of the book Guthrie enjoins us to make an explicit verbal covenant with God. After the pattern of many men in the bible he recommends simply expressing in words before God what is the substance of the covenant of grace. This cannot save us if we do not have a heart work (contra the Arminian invitation system) and is not necessary to salvation if we do but it will help clear up for us what our state is with God. Guthrie then gives a very thurough example of such a verbal covenant and he recommends not just taking it once but renewing it on special occasions such as after backsliding or before the Lord's Supper.

Finally, Guthrie concludes with a catechism summarizing the whole book. In the Banner of Truth Paper Back ed. there are also excerpts from some of Guthrie's sermons.

Do I really believe? Can I really know? These are questions that every Christian must ask themselves, again and again. Certainty of our salvation is not just a nice thing to have, it is commanded. Peter tells Christians to make our calling and election sure. This is the entire purpose of Guthrie's book.

This book is not for the casual reader. Guthrie labors hard to show the believer, and the unbeliever, his true state, and I suspect he expected the same type of intense labor from the reader. Like many puritan writers, Guthrie's style is foreign to us today. He writes logically and completely exhausts his subject. The effect of this is that it allows the reader full certainty of the point the author was actually trying to make and it gives readers conclusive arguments for that point. However, a secondary effect is that it requires the reader to study the work intently and to really examine the evidence and conclusions the author makes.

This book is worth every bit of effort. Being sure of our salvation is not something to take lightly and an intense study of Guthrie's work will give the reader enormous insight into their own eternal condition.

This is an incredible book! It's a shame so few people know about it. William Guthrie, a Scottish minister, published this, his only book in 1658. Some men only need to write one book in their entire lifetime. "The Christian's Great Interest" is one of those books. Although the reader will have to get used to some 17th-Century language and expressions, the book comes across as a generally easy read. Guthrie masterfully describes the characteristics of people who have a genuine interest in Christ. What is the evidence that a person knows Christ? Do you have doubts? What is the difference between true believers and pretenders? Guthrie answers these and many more questions. This is an essential book for all Christians.

This book is a wonderful resource for both those who are new to the myths of King Arthur and those who are already students of Arthurian lore. I wish I had known about CHRONICLES OF KING ARTHUR when I was struggling through the original Middle English version of Malory's LE MORTE D'ARTHUR. Andrea Hopkins has a scholar's pedigree but writes without the usual scholarly dryness. Gathered from the definitive medieval sources, she presents a cohesive and easy-to-follow retelling of the basic Arthurian legends. Her prose smoothly incorporates the work of several different authors into the individual tales, and the stories are told in refreshingly simple manner that still exudes a sense of wonder while providing the reader with a clear understanding of the events.

The chronicles themselves are divided into three parts: the birth of King Arthur and his rise to power, the golden age of his reign, and his decline and death. The numerous smaller episodes of Arthur and his knights within the cycle are then further separated into helpfully titled mini-chapters. The text is punctuated with a large number of beautiful illustrations taken from illuminated manuscripts, paintings, and earlier printed books, and the sidebars provide insights into various aspects of the stories as well as relevant historical facts. There is also a short list of the principal characters at the end of the book. The binding is excellent -- sewn rather than glued, which is rare nowadays -- and should hold up well. My only complaint is the lack of an index. An index would have made this book more valuable as a reference source. But it is still highly recommended in spite of this.

The more one reads about King Arthur, the more one realizes that there isn't just ONE legend of King Arthur, but probably hundreds. Each one has its own plot twists and heroes. Andrea Hopkins book takes the most prevalent texts and weaves them into a single tapestry, rich in detail. When texts are quoted directly, the original is noted in the margin. Sidebars contain complete treatments of subjects such as the Round Table, Sir Lancelot, Excalibur, etc. and how the legend changed from author to author, country to country. Easy to read with gorgeous illustrations, it's a must read for King Arthur fans, whether it's your first Arthur book or you hundredth

This book performs a service, much needed: it gives a coherent account of the "King Arthur" stories. The author goes through the massive relevant literature-romances and poems in middle and early modern English, and in various vintages of several other languages-to arrive at a reasonably balanced narrative that gathers all the main characters and the principal tales associated with them. Now, there are probably thousands of stories that impinge on this early constellation of narratives, and more that arise every year in tribute to the perennial fascination of those bright initial inventions. But it is these core stories that are the important ones, just as are the core stories of the Bible, and some few of the Greek myths, as basic cultural equipment.

This is a pleasant book to read, by a scholar, but not "scholarly". It is a medium-format glossy with many paintings and drawings by pre-Raphaellites like Beardsley and Burne-Jones that enhance the romance and magic that is so much of the appeal of the stories. There are wide margins to hold the occasional explanatory sidebar, as well as boxes convenient to--but out of the way of--the narrative flow, that discuss the bigger topics . Each of the stories is smoothly presented, with a seamless (but indicated) transition from Andrea Hopkin's connecting narratives to passages using the actual words (rendered into modern English) of the principal teller of the tale at hand, be it Chrétien, or Geoffrey, or some anonymous medieval writer. More than one writer may contribute his bit to a particular story, but the connecting material keeps the telling coherent and compact. This technique gives us a bit of a sense of the corporate authorship of these "legends", and some of the flavor of the individual style-especially Mallory's, whose words can be presented to us almost as they were written.

This book does, I think, succeed admirably, but I object to the lack of index. There is a list of the principal characters, and a glossary, but neither of these is cross-referenced by page number to the text. This book is not, strictly speaking, a work of fiction (tradition frowns upon indexing fiction!), though its "facts" happen to be the fictions of other writers. It deserves and requires an index. If it survives to a subsequent edition that repairs this lack, it will deserve a five-star rating.

Andrea Hopkins combines many of the best arthurian romances into this book, a "must" have for those interested in the legends of the round table. Sidebars tell you facts that you probly didnt know, about the different authers, places, and things in the book, if you are a first time or a veteran reader this is a good choice.

A must have reference for any professional or amature decorator. But be warned, if this is your first book by Lady Henrietta you will be hooked and will soon order her entire body of work.

Very beautiful book, I enjoy looking at it, lovely (mostly formal) drapery ideas, but for the money, I wish I could have checked it out at the library.

A book of grace and perfect taste. A good book to come back to when you need another idea... end tables, curtains, carpets, furniture placement...... lovely ideas...ideas that can work in a small apartment, modest colonial or grand house..... it's the 1 book in my collection of 50 or more interior design books that I would NOT sell... it is my favorite....

Classic English Interiors is a great book depicting the more upper-scale homes/interiors of England. The photos are exceptionally good too. If you are contemplating using English style in your decorating scheme, this is surely a good book of information and photos.

I loved this book - laughed out loud. Would make a fun book to read for a reading group. The story takes place in England right before WWII. The main character is Cluny Brown, a 20-year-old orphan who is living with her uncle in London. She is trusting, naive and headed for what her uncle believes is trouble. To avoid this she is sent to an estate in Devonshire to become a maid (no experience necessary!). She meets very interesting characters and falls in love and I won't say any more or it will spoil the plot. Full of a few twists and turns and flavored by the British atmosphere, humor etc. Give it a try!

This is one of my favourite novels proving the heroine, Cluny ( short for Clover ) Brown a wonderful example of a woman who has empowerment in her distinctive voice and her outgoing nature. Cluny is a plumber's neice who yearns to be a society woman...how this intelligent, fiesty young woman discovers her ideal miraculously exemplifies wonderful women's literature. Also, the relationship between Adam Belinski and Cluny is worth noting. A charming, competitive romance, with a hint of rivalry and contempt. A must read for a very strong role model.

Ages ago, I heard of an English movie, Cluny Brown, with, I think, Jean Simmons and Charles Boyer. (Made during the early '40s?) But when I finally tracked down the novel from which it was taken, all I could think of was the young Audrey Hepburn, the Hepburn of Sabrina. (Not the pallid Jennifer Love Hewitt of the recent tv-bio, but the real Audrey, as we all knew her.) Cluny Brown is a young working class woman in 1938 London who is becoming a trial to her plumber uncle, Arn (he and his late wife raised her when she was orphaned as a baby). Cluny, described as tall and plain, but with creamy skin and beautiful dark eyes, is beginning to attract too much attention from men---to Uncle Arn's surprise and dismay, because he (and the rest of the family) considers her extremely unattractive. She's sent into service, in the Devon countryside, at Carmel Friars, a lovely country manor. There she meets an assortment of characters, including a priggish chemist (drugstore owner) who fancies her, a Polish emigre writer, who doesn't seem to fancy her at all, the son and heir, who's involved with a blonde English beauty, an enthusiastic double-barreled young woman, Miss Duff-Gordon, who raises rabbits, and on and on. Cluny chafes at the lack of freedom and becomes part of everyone's life, popping up at key moments to comment on the action and providing a good deal of it herself. A charming look at England before WWII and at a refreshing character reminiscent of two Hepburn movie heroines, Sabrina as well as Holly Golightly. We all knew that Cluny (real name, Clover) was a diamond-in-the-rough, and was destined to become "someone." Lovely book.

Reading Cluny Brown has the same kind of satisfaction as a warm bed when it's cold outside. It is not particularly challenging, but it provides an awful lot of reading pleasure.

Cluny Brown is a girl who just does not know her place, and all the adventures that follow come from that lucky not knowing.

I read it first as an awkward preteen, and still enjoyed it as an (I hope) less awkward adult. I would recommend it for any age. It is, by the way, one of the rare books where I enjoyed the film just as much.