Stone Books

No building material is as hallowed as stone and few have been so misused in contemporary architecture-as a paper-thin veneer over a steel or concrete frame. The architecture of Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates demonstrates that stone can be used inventively and convincingly in buildings that address present needs and budgets. Holzman's anthology of his firm's buildings is astonishingly varied and shows how they were inspired by the past and by the material as it is cut from the quarry.

Emerson wrote, "He builded better than he knew - The conscious stone to beauty grew." Of course, the poet was referring to the architect of St. Peter's in Rome but the idea of growing beauty out of stone also applies to the awe inspiring work created by American architect Malcolm Holzman. It is this work and his dedication to the use of stone that is the focus of "Stonework," a meritorious addition to the annals of design.

A vocal and convincing proponent of stone as a versatile building material, Mr. Holzman shares his three decades of experience as a practicing architect responsible for such admired structures as the Louis Stokes Wing of the Cleveland Public Library, the West wing of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Highland House in Madison, Wisconsin, and many more.

His Texas credits are numerous, including the Murchison Center for the Performing Arts at the University of North Texas, the San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, and a master plan for the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. In addition, Mr. Holzman currently has four Texas projects in various stages of completion.

With a storyteller's grace the author relates how stone is as important today as it was in centuries past, a thread if you will, that flows throughout all of civilization.

"Stone work" holds 220 stunning color illustrations that serve to underscore Mr. Holzman's advocacy of the use of stone as both aesthetically pleasing, environmentally appropriate, and economically sound.

- Gail Cooke

Any true Stones fan (sarcastic sense of humor required) will LOVE this book!-Howie T

THE BOOK IS A CONTAINERSHIP OF ABSOLOUTELY FABULOUS PAINTINGS OF (OF ALL THINGS) THE ROLLING STONES - THIS BOOK IS NOT ABOUT THEM SO MUCH AS ABOUT ART - THE STONES SIMPLY BRING OUT THE BEST IN PORTRAITURE ART - AND IF YOU NEVER LIKES THE STONES BEFORE, YOU WILL NOW. MIND YOU, TO THE UNINITIATED (IE ALL NON-ARTISTS) -THIS BOOK MAY SEEM POINTLESS SOMEHOW. BUT WAIT! COULD YOU POSSIBLY PORTRAY ANYONE WITH THE AMAZING ACCURACY THAT KRUGER HAS???- EVEN REMOTELY?? KRUGER HAS TAKEN THE QUINTESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF EACH ARTIST AND TURNED EACH PICTURE/CARRICATURE INTO A MINDBLOWING SENSATIONAL VISUAL FEAST-ENJOY! I DID! - AS AN ARTIST - IM COMPLETELY ENVIOUS OF KRUGERS ABILITY - AND I WANT TO WIN THAT $100- SO I CAN AFFORD TO BUY THE BOOK! - I READ A FRIENDS COPY AND DONT OWN ONE MYSELF (boo hoo!!)...ALTHEA (FANCY A PORTRAIT ARTIST NOT OWNING THE BEST PORTRAIT BOOK ON THE MARKET!!)

This is certainly an excellent and handy introductory reference for anyone wanting to get into rock collecting. Clear and easy to read, the book provides a wealth of information, and has a number of illustrations. These illustrations are, however, black & white; there are no photos in this book. Nevertheless, an excellent book.

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, R.V. Dietrich's Stones: The Collection, Identification, And Uses continues to be a superb introductory guide for collectors with invaluable advice on where to find stones as well as information on how they are formed, how they can be used, why they vary in color, some are smooth while others rough, some nearly round and others all sorts of shapes. Specifically designed for easy reference, this pocket sized paperback is ideal for knapsack or jacket and offers handy identification tables for commonly found minerals and rocks. The informative text is enhanced with line drawing, an extensive glossary, and lists of suggested readings for further study. Stones is a wonderfully accessible primer, ideal for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in collecting and identifying rocks and minerals while camping or collecting.

I thought since I was the only reviewer there might not be anyone else reading this, so I am sending you a message. They might not put this in but it was worth a try. I was searching on the internet and I came across your book and it made me smile, "my published aunt"! A great collection. I will be seeing and talking to you soon. ~Jenny

An excellent collection of poems that really express the author's feelings. I was touched by each one.

Isobel Kuhn speaks of stones of fire as almost an oxymoron. Stones are hard and cold, and fire is hot and passionate. She describes people as stones of fire, people with fiery passion held rock solid by principle. Opals, stones with broken hearts made beautiful by the light that sparkles through them, are used as a physical example of a stone of fire. The book is written of just such a fiery stone.

The story of Mary begins when her name was still Third Sister in a small Lisu village in the highlands of China. We see her introduction to the missionaries John and Isobel Kuhn, her understanding of the Gospel, and her attraction to Lu-Seng. The reality of her faith and trust in God is tested throughout the book, and she proves to be a `stone of fire'.

The book is written in a very easy to read style, and readers will be drawn into Mary's life, as she encounters so many trials and hardships. We read of her family and her marriage, the communist occupation and political turmoils of their village, and the physical problems that eventually led to her death at the ripe old age of... 25 years old. Through it all, she manifested such a sweet patience, so unlike Third Sister's feisty temper, that was rooted in her trust in the One Who redeemed her from her sins. Mary is such an example of a passionate woman who learns to let the Lord channel her passion to serve Him instead of herself. I felt ashamed of myself at times when reading of her love and trust, and awed once again by the power of Jesus Christ to change lives, even mine. If I could rate this book with more than five stars, I would. It is to be highly recommended.

This is my favorite of all Isobel Kuhn' books. She likens the Lisu tribe people to opals, the stone of fire. As Christians, it is only through brokenness that we can reflect Christ's light as an opal shows the fire in crevices and imperfections of the stone.

I am known as Bina Robinson rather than my legal name of Winifred. It just so happens that Bina is a fairly common name in this area making it
more approriate as well as more recognizable. So "I'd apreciate it if you'd make this change.
PLEASE OMIT THIS FIRST PARAGRAPH FROM REVIEW AFTER READING
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After reading Judy Smith's review, which skillfully captured the essence of this book in so few words, I decided not to comment. On thinking it over, however, it seems my personal experience of two treks, one lasting over a month, in Nepal gives me the background to add that the book should be of interest to anyone who has ever trekked or even dreamed of traveling on foot through the majestic Himalayas. I went for the mountains but came away with a love of the remarkable people who inhabit them, laughing and cheerful even when heavily burdened and barefoot in the snow.

George B. Schaller tells a well-rounded tale branching off at times into centuries of local history at various locations and philosophizing as when "Resting tranquilly near the bharal, I know also that animals are wild only because man made them so." He is concerned with the effects of overgrazing by domestic livestock causing slopes to be eroded leaving "shrubs perching on pedestals of soil, clutching the last fragments of fertility."

His description of village men "accustom(ing) the yaks to being handled again after a feral existence all winter" by talking gently to them and feeding them salt by hand reminded me of how other travelers passing a yak train reached out to give each animal an affectionate pat.

The purpose of the book is to present the notes of wildlife observations. often recorded with cold-numbed fingers during long days of watching at high altitude winter temperatures. These include trying to sort out classifications of animals with mixed characteristics of sheep and goats interspersed with exciting close encounters with shy snow leopards and descriptions, often poetic, of local birds and wild flowers and monastaries and dwellings, reminiscent of those of American Pueblo Indians, in spectacular surroundings.

I found Jean Pruchnik's sketches at the beginning and interspersed through each chapter very representational of my memories and Richard Kean's drawings of wild sheep and goats inside the covers more informative than photographs would have been. There was also a midsectiion of colored photographs taken by the author with a sampling scenery, animals and people.

The mountains of the Himalaya, from the lushly forested slopes of Nepal to the barren ranges of Central Asia, offer solitude, enlightenment, and incredible beauty, as well as the brutal reality of barren peaks and wind-torn slopes and glaciers. They are a lost world of nameless valleys, of people living in the Middle Ages, of travel by yak caravan. To field biologist George Schaller, the Himalaya is all this, and yet it is more, forming as it does the habitat of the world's greatest variety of whild sheep and goats....markhor, urial, bharal, and other spectacular animals...as well as the elusive snow leopard.
This is a story of high adventure, introspection, observation, and discovery. It is primarily about the Himalaya and the people and the animals that live in it. It is a story told in the words of a poet, yet seen through the eyes of a scientists, as he struggles to save this mountain world from turning to stones of silence.

I was lucky enough to have had one of Dr. Robbins classes at Michigan State University. His work is great because it is scholarly yet anyone can read it and understand it. His ability to make archaeology approachable to the masses is what makes this book so special. I highly reccomend it.

Explore wonderful stories of archeology written by Dr. Lawrence Robbins, one of the most respected men in his field. If you decide to read this book, you will never put it down. I consider this to be the the bible of archeology.

Lots of pictures, mortar and dry-stone, a little bit of everything. Makes you look at your yard with different eyes.

"Walks, pathways and steps play important roles around the exterior of the home. On a practical level, they offer a safe and comfortable means of approaching your house in all seasons and weather conditions. They also serve to connect your house with its surrounding landscape, providing a logical route to frequently used areas such as garages and outbuildings, or a more meandering route through gardens..." Andrew Wormer writes.

He continues to discuss other aspects of stonescape, including paths, steps, sitting places, dinning places, outdoor rooms, garden paths and floors, poolside spaces, drystone walls, mortared walls, benches, sculptures, steams and waterfalls, entryways, driveways and transitions, and borders.

"Stonescaping Idea Book" has six chapters: Paths & Steps, Terraces, Patios and Garden Spaces, Walls, Landscaping Features, Pools, Ponds and Fountains, and Finishing Touches.

"Stonescaping Idea Book" has 144 pages and many beautiful and inspiring interior color photos. It is a must-have for stonescape lovers!

The best literate companion for a trip to the four corners area of US. It has selections from writings touching all areas where curiousity may take you as you travel through the deserts and canyons of the Anasazi.

Stories and Stone: Writing the Anasazi Homeland is a beautifully conceived, designed, and engaging work. The book sheds new light and understanding on the ancestral puebloan people. Reuben Ellis' forward and introductory essays to each excerpt engender a deeper appreciation and cultural awareness of the southwest and its history. Excerpts from Tony Hillerman, Wallace Stegner, Marietta Wetherill, Frank Waters, and Terry Tempest Williams were among my favorite--leaving me with a strong desire find and camp in a secluded canyon beneath the silent, ghostly ruins of the Anasazi

Beside being of important literary value Jane Reichhold's translation of "The Tale of Genji" is a work of both historic and anthropological significance. The importance of a type of poem, the tanka, to educated Japanese may be difficult for the average American reader to appreciate. In cultures where manners and formality mark social interaction poetry often becomes the vehicle of deep personal feelings. Japanese, as well as Arab and Persian society, are such cultures.
This new translation of Murasaki Shikubu's "Love Poems from The Tale of Genji" is must reading for those who would understand the world view of cultures other than their own.

Robert Gibson

A String of Flowers, Untied... Love Poems From The Tale of Genji is a new, evocative translation of poetry by Jane Reichhold (with the assistance of hatsue Kawamura) drawn from the first 33 chapters of the classic cornerstone of Japanese literature, "The Tale of Genji." Over 400 tanka poems filled with love, sexual desire, longing, and pleasures of the flesh fill the pages of this emotional and passionate rendition. "to be alone/remembering times when one/lived like a fisherman/pictures drawn on tidal flats/is what I should have been"