Rich Books

These crosswords remind me of the high quality I used to see at the Tuesday night club. Great! Can't wait for Volume III!

Long before America's rich were taken by the pernicious idea that wealth gained by providing a product or service people want to buy entails an obligation to "give back to society," their ideal was much closer to the description given of the role of the Prince of Wales in Chariots of Fire -- "He is here to show us what may be done and, more importantly, what may not be."

Inspired by Gene Fowler's dictum that "money is something to be thrown off the back end of trains," Lucius Beebe's chronicle of the lives and expense accounts of American magnificoes in the pre-income tax era is a remarkable story indeed. From huge houses and boats, to jaw-droppingly extravagant parties, massive jewelry collections, and -- best of all -- tremendous gestures that are sadly out of fashion, these pages chronicle an era that will never be seen again. The lushness of the era is matched by the lushness of Beebe's prose. He is an author who knew how to turn a phrase, tell a story, and have a personal voice as stylish and well turned-out as the man himself.

There are probably many people today who would see this book as a 400-page criminal indictment against the "robber barons" of an earlier era. But it's just as easily seen as a catalog of all that's been lost in the name of "equality" -- envy with a gun.

I believe the most important information for a reader unfamiliar with a book is what is written on the back cover and inside front page(s). Here is what is on this book.
[on rear cover]
"MEREDITH RICH...HAS OUTDONE HERSELF!...GLAMOROUS EXPLOITS...SEXY AND FUN...PERFECT!" - WOMAN MAGAZINE
Her name is synonymous with elegance and beauty. She is Jewel Prescott, whose internationally famous jewelry designs have placed her among the ranks of Tiffany, Cartier and Bulgari. But to her enemies, she is the ultimate bitch-goddess, whose fabulous success could be ruined in one long-awaited, vengeful move.

Jewel is savvy, sensual...and vulnerable. In turning her rough-cut dreams into shimmering reality, she has used everything: her talent, cunning, even the men who worship her--and betray her...Wyatt, the New York tycoon who invests in her career--and demands a big return on his money...Sascha, the stormy Russian emigre who fathers her children--and hides secrets of his own...Hadley, the renegade free spirit whose love for Jewel turns to hatred before it leads him back to her.

The author of Bare Essence--the runaway bestseller-turned-TV-miniseries--takes you into the glittering world of international jewelry dfesign, with a story of one woman's struggle to succeed against devastating odds.
BIJOUX
Wyatt McNeill: The father of her best friend, he took an interest in Jewel's career...and, more dangerously, in Jewel herself.
Hadley McNeill: Wyatt's son, he taught Jewel the meaning of love--beyond career, beyond success.
Sascha Robinovsky: Talented, tempestuous and romantic, the Russian designer swept her off her feet, nurtured her talent, and married her. In return, Jewel gave him her heart...until she learned the awful truth.
Edward Randolph: His sexual preferences allowed no romance between him and Jewel--just the most honest and trusted friendship. And as Jewel's best designer, he was also her greatest weakness.
Allen Prescott: With his support, Jewel shaped Bijoux International into a towering empire. But unbridled ambition--and forgotten enemies--threatened to destroy her dream-come-true...

My nine-year-old daughter wants to be a model so I'm always looking for stuff that can help her succeed. This book is fantastic! The tone is straightforward, not a lot of useless rhetoric. There's a section in here that gives you a step by step breakdown of how the modeling and acting business really works. It gives some good advice for aspiring singers too, like my twelve year old son. I also liked the interesting celebrity discussions. I purchased this book based on a friend's recommendation and I'm glad I did. It really opened my eyes!

This idiosyncratic little book was produced in reaction to the exceedingly imperfect first revision of the Golden Guide, which disregarded willfully much of the abundant new information that had come available since the guide's first publication in 1966. Stallcup et al. do a good job of pointing out the Golden Guide's numerous and manifest shortcomings, but far more importantly, they provide many little tricks and marks that are still not common knowledge.
Is the book worth buying now that the Golden Guide is so clearly a piece of the past? Probably so, if for nothing more than the Willet and Sprague's Pipit entries. But what I'd really like to see is a new "Birds for Real" that takes on the Sibley guides--even the best (and David Sibley's books a r e the best, by far) should be fodder for discussion of the sort so well provided by Rich Stallcup.

A must for any serious Blenko Glass collector. An excellent source of background information and images of early Blenko production pieces. The saying goes "knowledge is power" then this book is one powerful tool. Also included are some reprinted catalog pages and advertisements. Beautiful images abound of this beautiful glass. If you or someone you know collects Blenko Glass, get this book!

After reading Mr. Hamilton's biography of Robert Downey Junior, and his novel Owen's Village, I decided to try this book. I have been a fan of Val Kilmer for a long time. I have always heard that he was hard to work with, but after reading the book, it is hard to image how he got this reputation. I am an even bigger fan now, glad I read the book.

This is a great, great little book. One of the better ones in the Battleground America Series. The narrative is compelling and exciting, and gives a good detailed overview of the battle without being too technical and boring and reading like a textbook. This is a good account of the Bloody Angle battle, without having to read about the entire Spotsylvania campaign. The suggested reading chapter at the end also lists a valuable resource of references for further reading and learning and more technical volumes. Gettysburg perhaps steals a lot of the thunder of the other Civil War battles as compared to exposure and popularity, but the Spotsylvania battle, specifically the Bloody Angle fight, deserves a lot more attention and exposure than it gets. The Bloody Angle is important to Civil War history in that it ushered in a level of ferocity and brutality in Civil War combat that had never been seen prior to the Spotsylvania Campaign. It remains a unique and very exciting battle and hopefully there will be more written about it in the future.

This book is a "must" for any person who loves, or will love, Bloomington, Indiana.

Bloomington, one of the premier communities in the United States, is a place that one visits and ends up staying because of its unmatched standard of living.

Offering the finest blend of small town ambiance and big city resources, Bloomington is home to Indiana University, which makes the community an oasis of sophistication in a traditional midwestern setting.

Located in the beautiful wooded, rolling hills of southern Indiana, the city, home to 65,000 Hoosiers, many who have left the hustle of large coastal cities to seek a higher quality of living, is a crown jewel of midwest communities.

The book captures all that is wonderful about Bloomington with stunning photographs and interesting, insightful text. Included are sections on the city's history, arts, sports, entertainment, businesses, educational institutions, economy, and volunteer activities.

Bloomington - A Contemporary Portrait, presented in quality large "coffee table" format, offers the perfect gift or purchase for the thousands of people who have a special place in their heart for Bloomington.

You won't be disappointed!

Doris Doane draws on years of experience as a historian and park ranger on Cape Cod to write text as only an "old timer" could. She lets you into a world that she grew to love -- Old Cape Cod. The illustrator brings his masterful work to the page to complement her work. A terrific book!