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Arts Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Arts
Hold My Hand: A Mother's Journey
Published in Paperback by Macmillan UK (2006-10-30)
Author: Glenys Carl
List price: $12.50
New price: $8.04
Used price: $1.69
Collectible price: $25.00

Average review score:

Loving mother...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-22
This is one of the BEST books I have ever read. Glenys dropped everything when she heard her son was in a coma on the other side of the world. She tended to him 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even setting her alarm clock every 3 hours to turn Scott over in bed so he wouldn't get bed sores.

I find it amazing that there were always people to help Glenys, all she needed to do was step out of her home and people were there willing to help her tend to Scott. She is obviously guided by someone on the other side. Even when she rented a house for 18 months that was up for sale, not once did she get a call from the real estate agent to say someone wanted to view the house. Yet, the day Scott died, she got the first call. Coincidence?

Tears streamed down my face when Scott died in hospital. For a mother having to make the decision between watching her child suffer or relieving his pain but with a risk he could die - how can a mother possibly make that decision?

For 4 years Scott was in and out of hospital - and each time he overcame infection after infection without antibiotics. However, the hospital made a terrible mistake which cost Scott his life.

Get this book and read it - you won't be disappointed.

A REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF A REMARKABLE WOMAN
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-25
I was left speechless after finishing this book. Faced with the devastating accident and long rehabilitation of her son Scott, Glenys Carl was able to summon endless positivity and humanity from a seemingly bottomless reserve that few of us are blessed to have. Mrs. Carl's strength of character in the face of the trials she went through for the love of her son is unlike anything I have ever encountered, in print or in life. Hold My Hand is a truly inspiring story that must be witnessed, as it is rich with wisdom and lessons for our own lives.
-Michel Costes, Manhattan, New York

An Incredibly moving and beautiful Story...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-18
I don't feel I can find the appropriate words to delivery how much I have been effected by this story. I found myself laughing out loud in moments, while crying heavily in others. The author's strength, creative soul and most profoundly --her humanity transcends life itself. This story moves me.The kindness the author encountered amongst so many strangers along her journey moves me. I found myself crying on the subway on my way to work this morning rereading beautiful passage about her son and a special bunny named Thumper.

Most eloquently stated by the author," There are things more powerful than our best intentions; that life is painted in broader strokes than we can imagine and all we can do is our best." I felt so connected to her and her view of life, and the strength to weather life's obstacles with an overwhelming endurance, to fully embrace life with an open heart and tender kindness..

After reading her book, I felt more available to the present moment and wanted to live, to take, to enjoy, to really experience life in all its fullest.The author and her actions really impacted me. She's is an incredble woman. I highly recommend this book as a very powerful, moving journey into her love for her son, her soul, and her humanity effecting thousands.
-Kirsten Lewis, New York, New York

A Heart Warming Tale That Will Melt Your Heart
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-11
I must admit that this is one of the most touching and inspiring book I've ever read. I refuse to close the book before I finished reading it! This story is about a mother who will do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for a miracle so that her son, Scott who suffered from a traumatic head injury and was not expected to live again will be able to walk again. She have gone to great lenghts from Australia to London, putting out leaflets asking help from strangers to be volunteers to help with her invalid son. Strangers of all ages, sizes and different backgrounds turn up to give a helping hand in anyway they can. This taught me that even though one may be a complete stranger to another - kindness, generosity and faith will bring people together in a most extraordinary way. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone because I'm sure it'll be an inspiration to you. Like what Scott said, "I love living!"

forget limits
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-03
I am really happy to have come across this book.
This is a portrait of people of strength.
Not fantacy or fiction that the author takes the liberty to weave the magic
but the magic that was lived and transformed many people.
to live fully with all the power in your soul, sometimes, it was through challenges
that ignite the fire from within.

i know people like Glenys Carl, those who live magic and create everything they need from all situations because of their will power, vision and the love that reside in their hearts that knows no limit.

i fully appreciate her sharing of such a tapestry of her life and her beloved.
inspirational and moving...
it's a book to open hearts.

Arts
The Jazz Fly
Published in Hardcover by Tortuga Press (2000-01)
Author: Matthew Gollub
List price: $17.95
New price: $11.19
Used price: $4.13
Collectible price: $17.95

Average review score:

General Music
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-02
This book is great for a K-2 general music lesson. It has a great introduction to jazz music and improvisation. All my students wanted to hear more jazz and move to jazz after reading this book. Can also be easily used as a sub lesson, since the whole book is on CD.

Everyone Stops to Listen!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-18
I first heard the cd that comes with this book when my 5th grade teacher played it in class. Everyone stopped what they were doing to listen even two kids who hardly ever stop talking. My teacher's a drummer and so am I so we LOVED the jazz beat. I read that another reviewer thought the beats were on 1 and 3. Anyone can hear the hi-hat clicking on beats 2 and 4. This is real jazz played by real jazz musicians! (I don't think that reviewer is a musician.) The thing I liked most about The Jazz Fly besides the music, was the illustrations and the way it introduce scat as a kind of language. It IS a language, ZA-BA-ZA-BOO-ZA-BA. Everyone can speak it their own way.

Hippest Book on Jazz for Kids
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-08
This book is solid! One of the best books on the market today about jazz for young kids. This is the story of a jazz fly who ultimately gigs on drums at a club following his encounters with several other creatures. The fly riffs off their contributions to create his own improvised session. Children love the rhyme scheme and enjoy scatting to the sounds of za ba za boo za ba zee za ro nee ... Read it aloud and children can't resist trying to repeat the syllables in song. The book is sold with a CD that compliments the text and informs the reader on how it should be read aloud rhythmically. I highly recommend this book to anyone who teaches young children or has a child of their own that they want to expose to jazz.

A Great Gift for any Musically Inclined Child
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-30
I've given several copies of this book/CD as gifts to my friend's children. It's always enthusiastically received.

Most conventional music education seems to ignore jazz, which is puzzling since it is our own music, not a European implant. Matthew Golub has found a way to make the learning process truly enjoyable. The rhythms are infectious; you find yourself singing along with the CD. And the cartoon-like text is fun for children of all ages. This is a book to own, if you have a musically inclined child.

Scat and buzz
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-03
Jazz can get elitest sometimes. Jazz musicians can narrowly define jazz as only rhythm change or blues. I love this book because it does not put jazz in a box - it gives life to jazz sounds. This book gives kids and those who read to kids a chance to just "dig it." There is no over-emphasizing the roots of jazz or making the rhythm too complicated to follow, it's just a fun introduction to different scat sounds that even a little kid can relate to and follow.

Arts
KNOWLEDGE OF ANGELS CL
Published in Hardcover by Houghton Mifflin (1994-03-28)
Author: Jill Paton Walsh
List price: $21.95
New price: $6.57
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $21.95

Average review score:

Tour de Force
Helpful Votes: 13 out of 17 total.
Review Date: 2003-12-01
This book cries out for a different rating system - perhaps a 1-10 scale. Even then one would have to reward an "11" for this magnificent tome. I could not find a single flaw in the entire reading - character development and portrayal was realistic yet unforgettable, the setting mesmerizing (one is instantly transported back to the time of the Inquisition and the faith-filled, simple lives of the city dwellers) and the plot was perfect.

I have read criticism that the tale was not realistic or made suppositions and assumptions that are not exactly correct in the historical sense. But what one should remember is that this tale is an allegory, not a documentary. The fictional city is in Spain and the Inquisition is at its high point when a stranger appears. He is intelligent, interesting, and friendly but an unbeliever. He tells of a land in which belief is arbitrary and where one can change their religion - or choose to have no religion at all. This is too much for Church officials for in their eyes murder, torture and lying can be forgiven but also blessed. A trial of sorts is proposed.

Now we have the second story and the joy is how the two are seemlessly weaved into one arc. A child found among the wolves is being raised by nuns. She is not to be given any religious instruction and if she comes to a belief in a Supreme Being the visitor will be found guilty, otherwise he will be judged to be innocent.

The battle is not between atheist and believer. It is a civil war between two schools of thought within Catholicism - the plain folk and their local leaders and a grand inquisitor who employs "unusual" methods for "protecting the faith". The wolf-girl finally is made to make a statement that can be interpreted as belief and Palindo, the visitor, is tortured to confession. When he refuses to follow this up with another confession (which would then validate the previous "confession") he is sentenced to be burned alive at the stake. A lowly follower trades all her material goods for a balm that will bring instant death upon being heated.

The aftermath is a short but appealing denouement. The bishop's assistant announces he cannot believe in a God that seeks obedience through torture. The wolf-girl returns to her solitary mountain home but not before catching a glimpse of a vast naval armada from the foreign land streaming toward the city that burned its citizen. The rewards of sin...

Knowledge of Man
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-01-24
While I can't top Avid's review (see below) for insight and eloquence, I can say that this book will appeal to you even if you're not normally the type interested in vast philosophical questions. Part of Jill Patton Walsh's triumph is that she makes the discussion of ideas so accessible. One truly feels drawn into the world of this tiny Spanish island and the people who live there. And one does not have to be a literary genius to realize that the structuring of this novel is nothing less than symphonic in its brilliance.

I won't reveal the powerful, throbbing revelation that lies at the core of the novel. Know, though, that this book will almost certainly spark your imagination and challenge your assumptions about faith, life and, indeed, the universe.

A beautiful story
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-10
This story is an especially pertinent discussion of religious intolerance, and how to live a beautiful, joyful, inquisitive life in the face of it. A revealing look at the genuine sources of wonder life grants us.

Knowledge of Angles
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-22
Knowledge of Angles by Jill Paton Walsh is one of the best books of our time. Its richly illustrated plot was truly unique. We read this book for a high school English class and both agreed that it was one of the best books we've ever read. The story of a wolf-girl slowly interwines with that of a man unjustly persecuted because of his beliefs. A young girl, raised by wolves, is captured by men and brought into the human society. A kindly boy finds help from the Cardinal who in turn decides to perform a religious experiment with her. She is brought to a secluded cloister where she is to be kept without any mention of God in her presence. In this way, the Cardinal tries to find out if there is actually a high spirit, that seems to guide you. This careful experiment soon leads to surprises, that would best have been left unknown. The story of a wrongly persucuted man makes "The Knowledge of Angles" even more amazing. Palinor, a king from an unknown "perfect world" fell off a boat and swam to a nearby island. He is immediatly thought to be an athiest because he neither knows that God exists, or knows that He doesn't. Palinor was put into prison, then released and taken to talk to the Cardinal. His arguments are so convincing that he even has the Cardinal somewhat doubting his faith. The two stories come together to create a very important theme, one of love, hate, God, and sympathy.

my all time best read
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-14
Every single chapter ends with an astonishing line that makes you want to stop and think, to contemplate yet at the same time has introduced a quiet shocking revelation that there is nothing to do but read on, and read and read. The book is clever, is wise but not judgemental. It touches the heart, the soul but is neither sloppy nor politically philosophical. A book to fall in love with, i recommend it to all.

Arts
Landscape Painting Inside and Out: Capture the Vitality of Outdoor Painting in Your Studio With Oils
Published in Hardcover by North Light Books (2006-10-20)
Author: Kevin D. MacPherson
List price: $29.99
New price: $18.08
Used price: $14.20

Average review score:

Landscape Painting Inside and Out, Capture the Vitality of Outdoors
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-18
Kevin MacPherson has written a wonderful book. As an artist I am constantly trying to perfect my paintings, and this book is a great tool. If you are wondering "Should I purchase another art book?", the answer is YES to this one.

Great book.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-08
This book is very interesting; I have many art books, and this one gets you to thinking. It offers many ideas about how to go about creating better artwork (including using the computer, creating great value studies, use of color, etc.). A beginner or advanced artist would benefit from this book. This artist's work is beautiful. The book is well written, contains great content, and deserves "five stars." RMD

The author has given me truly expert advice. Not only is Keven an excellent artist, but a great story teller as well.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-29
This guy knows his stuff and conveys his ideas superbly with great examples to support his recommendations. I respectfully disagree with his comment in the book "that while copying a picture may require great skill, it is not art. With the fabulous digital technology available today, we students of art can freeze that moment in time that we all wish to capture. Painting with passion comes from within and can be stimulated in various ways. An excellent book for any artist's library.

Landscape Painting Inside and Out
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-15
I love Kevin MacPherson's books and this one is no exception. They are clearly and concisely written and illustrated. I consider his books "Must Reads" for new artists.

Great how to book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-05
This book will answer all your questions about painting outside and in. A real must have.

Arts
Making It on Broadway: Actors' Tales of Climbing to the Top
Published in Paperback by Allworth Press (2004-04-01)
Authors: David Wienir and Jodie Langel
List price: $19.95
New price: $11.00
Used price: $8.40
Collectible price: $19.95

Average review score:

A Performer's must!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-28
Ever wonder what it's like to be a Broadway performer? Well here's your chance...told through the mouths of over a hundred performers, you'll get the chance to laugh, cry and survive with these performers.

Many don't understand the heart-ache and sacrifices made by a performer. Many even think that Broadway is easy...but with each story you'll learn that is far from the truth.

If you want to be a Broadway performer or just explore the life of one this book is for you....

A must read!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-31
This book was recommended to me by a very good friend. Not only is it a humorous read, but an eye-opening one. This book brilliantly deals with the reality of professional theater right from the mouths of professional actors. If you are in the business, this book exposes you to so many things that aren't taught in school. It's a must read. If you are a theatergoer, this book offers a rare look into the lives of performers. This book is such a great reality check that manages to also be inspiring.

close to my heart
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-23
i love this book so much. i read it over and over again, because it always inspires me and just gets me so excited thinking about what my future could possibly hold! This book has so many great stories, and some are so hilarious I am constantly laughing out loud while reading this book! Honestly!!
I read the book because it makes me feel comforted when I get an audition rejection...and it gives me a lot of hope. i love it so much, and it is a big book with a great number of stories...so definitely get this one! i wish they would publish a second book!!

Making It On Broadway- - - -
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-29
This book is very good and meets all my expectations.

bravo!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-31
Whether you are a theatre novice or Broadway veteran, this ambitous work is insightful, educational and fun.
On some nights, the theatre life is full of passion and wonder. However, many nights are spent in the hope of simply finding a job or landing a decent audition. Warts and all, this book is a must for anyone who loves a play or story. Enjoy and learn.

Arts
Medieval Tailor's Assistant: Making Common Garments 1200-1500
Published in Paperback by Costume & Fashion Press (2001-10)
Author: Sarah Thursfield
List price: $39.95
New price: $30.40
Used price: $55.75

Average review score:

A Must-Have for historical costumers
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-30
This book is a must-have. It shows how to make the patterns fit and work, and explains the garments well. I used this book to help me figure out the pattern for fitted hose, and Tudor Tailor to help fit the hose... and together I managed to get some nice hose! The braies pattern, like the rest of the explanations is easy to understand on first-read. I recommend it!

Excellent HOW-TO Book for Recreating Medieval Clothing
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-28
I bought this book after reading the description. The photos and information on how to recreate medieval clothing are very useful for seamstresses and beginner alike. Full-color photos of people in clothing made helps with the 3-D aspect of what it looks like. Use this book in conjunction with other references and you will not be disappointed.

For common garments!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-16
A great place to start if you're looking for the medieval common clothes patterns and sewing techniques.
It's not riddled with complicated notions and covers a lot of items, from underwear's to capes and hair net's creation guidelines.
A lot of useful sketches and drawings come to add value to the... unisex patterns (I mean there's always only one pattern from which both men's and women's clothes can be created).
I'd recommend it to all interested in making their own medieval garments.

The Right Stuff
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-13
If you are wondering how to make a medieval costume and you want it to be as authentic as possible and to look good, then this is the book for you.
This book does not do a lot of research into what clothing was available in the Middle Ages, but it DOES show you how to properly put it together.
For the first-timer or for the expert, this book will aid you enormously.
For any medieval re-enactors out there - GET THIS BOOK!!!
You will not be able to lend it out; it may never come back!

The best book on pattern-drafting I've found
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-16
I love this book, and not just because it's a great primer on medieval clothing. It's also the best book on basic pattern-drafting I've found yet. You'll need a friend for pinning the block (a patient, non-grouchy friend, preferably), but the instructions are incredibly clear and simple. With almost no drafting experience, I was able to draft a very closely-fitting kirtle and cotehardie. The sleeves still need tweaking to fit perfectly, but sleeves are difficult and mine are totally wearable. For a first attempt at sleeve drafting, I'm quite happy (and the fit problems are all in the arm and wrist, not the armscye).

While this book is not comprehensive and I'd recommend supplementing it with other sources (no mention of fur tippets, only tippet style included is a straight band, doesn't include bliauts or much instruction on headwear, no eight-panel cotehardie, no two-piece sleeves, etc.), it's an indispensable primer for patterning and sewing medieval clothing that is suitable for the advanced beginner to intermediate sewer. The book does an admirable job providing an introduction to the clothing of a very broad time period.

To supplement "The Medieval Tailor's Assistant," I'd recommend the Excavations in London series, particularly "Textiles and Clothing" and "Dress Accessories," "Medieval Military Costume," by Gerry Embleton (does include some women's clothing; no patterns), and the annual journal "Medieval Clothing and Textiles," ed. Robin Netherton (volume 1 has an excellent article on fur tippets). A book or two on tablet-weaving might also be of interest for making your own belts and girdles.

Arts
Mellon: An American Life
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
Author: David Cannadine
List price: $39.95
New price: $20.98

Average review score:

history and sadness
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-09
What I found interesting about this book is that is a history lesson in American business and early regulatory policies that shaped the landscape we see today. At the same time, it is a story of classic love and betrayal. I found the author doing a great job when the story focused on Mellon's marriage and the demise of such, but he tended to become a bit lost in the details when describing all of the political ups and downs. Overall, a fine book and great American story

AN EXCELLENT AND COMPREHENSIVE WORK
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-05
Though I can not claim to be altogether objective about the subject matter in much of this great book, I must congratulate Cannadine for a masterful study of what has been an extremely closed subject for a long, long time - most of all in the Mellon's home town of Pittsburgh. The late Paul Mellon must be given a lot of credit for breaking with family tradition - first for allowing the book "Thomas Mellon And His Times" to see the light of public day and then to let it all hang out with Cannadine with regard to sources and family papers.

All of the business glories (one wonders at times if Andrew ever really enjoyed his successes), all of the personal agonies (it must have been excruciating on many levels), and much of the rancor between both Judge Thomas Mellon's as well as Andrew's detractors and adversaries are, for the first time, put into print for ALL of the public's perusal. It will be up to each individual reader to judge for themselves how they feel about this man and his father and family.

It came as no suprise to me when Cannadine named my great-great grandfather as being one of the "vexatious litigation" principles who Judge Mellon would only refer to as "A", "B", or "C" in his autobiography. Cannadine is specific about the bad blood between the Negleys and the Mellons after the "eugenic" match (his words) and Pittsburghers specifically will find much new insight here.

However, this long and comprehensive book never lets down as it explores all facets of the Mellon dynasty, how it was aquired (at times skirting legality and even morality), and he leaves very few stones unturned. What Cannadine might have missed was the fact that the rehabilitation of the Mellon name in Pittsburgh was undertaken by Andrew's nephew Richard K. Mellon (Richard Beatty Mellon's son) when "Renaissance I and II" which, along with the Allegheny Community Conference, cleaned up the city of Pittsburgh and made it livable again after over 150 years of take, take, and more take by men such as "A.W." and "R.B" among many others, including Andrew's buddy Henry Clay Frick.

The mystery of "M..." will, I feel, eventually be solved but as was mentioned in a previous review, even as good a sleuth as Cannadine could not hazard even a guess (though I'll bet he had a guess). Notice that she becomes "Mrs. M---" on pg 259. I hardly believe that such a man would be so indiscreet as to write an entree with such a clue, or such an admission of a possible affair - but this entree IS followed by perhaps the most emotional outburst of his heart, "CRUEL", in uppercase.

A flawed man, as are all men, and obviously a tortured one for much of his life, this book will give everyone the chance to weigh the evidence and decide for themselves the verdict which until now was impossible to consider to to lack of full factual disclosure. I found it fascinating the whole way from beginning to end. The source notes are a gem in and of themselves.
I would also recommend both books by father and son for a comprehensive look at all three men, and how wealth, acquisition, and the drive and pressures of both shaped them.
"Thomas Mellon And His Times"
"Reflections In A Silver Spoon"

EXcellent read but long
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-12
If you like history you'll love this book, it's long and "gets long winded in history" but try stop reading I couldn't, if your over 55 you will really love it. I still don't know how I feel about Andrew, Dick and Thomas Mellon. I found myself loving this book excellent read.

Superbly documented life of a tycoon
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-13
You will savor this account of the tumultuous life of Andrew Mellon, an arrogant turn-of-the-last-century industrialist and millionaire. He was torn to tatters by a scandalous divorce and, later, by opposing politicians. However, he transcended those humiliations by establishing the lavish National Art Gallery just before he died. "Andy" Mellon's life (1855-1937) stretched across critical years when the U.S. was transformed from an appendage of Europe to a superpower. His work as treasury secretary was held in such esteem that the Republican Party considered running him for president. However, even given his role as head of the Treasury, Mellon could not curtail the 1920s margin-buying stock market mania that led to the 1929 crash and the Great Depression. He is mostly remembered for the National Art Gallery and for his sex-scandal divorce fight. David Cannadine offers a highly readable biography, which is very balanced though Mellon's son, Paul, commissioned it. However, some readers may decide to skim through the extensive coverage of the politicized "Tax Trial," and Andy's ordinary trade in minor art and small firms. We highly recommend this extraordinary saga.

A biography that goes above and beyond.
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-23
Cannadine exceeded expectations on a number of fronts with this definitive biography of Andrew Mellon. It has everything you'd expect from a grade-A biography, laying out where Mellon's family came from (both physically and philosophically), how Mellon grew up, his rise, peak, eventual fall from grace, death and legacy. Not only that, but Cannadine does all of this exceedingly well, giving his reader a sense of the nuances and subtleties of Mellon's personality and life. If Cannadine had done nothing else, he'd still have written a five-star book.

This book goes beyond most rock-solid biographies that I've read in Cannadine's sensitivity to the larger meaning of the events in Mellon's life, his place in history and his impact even after his death. While this sensitivity is present throughout Cannadine's book, it really comes together in in his three-part epilogue, which you will absolutely not want to miss, it is the highlight of the book.

The first point Cannadine develops is that Mellon's life straddled the line between two different eras in American history. He shows how Mellon, without changing his behaviors, was perceived one way for much of his life, then a totally different way at the end of his life. Through his awareness of this point, Cannadine really demonstrates to the reader how radical the shift in sentiment was in America in the 1930s.

The second point Cannadine is aware of, as any successful biographer of a great historical figure must be, is the idea that Mellon was a human being with some great strengths and some great flaws. In my experience, people who have the strengths to accomplish the most often have corresponding weaknesses to go with them; Cannadine really makes this point clear in his epilogue, doing a "balance sheet" of positives and negatives of Mellon's character and accomplishments. I've never seen an author take even-handed analysis to a similar place, and it really helped bring together the books ideas at the end.

Finally, Cannadine captures a truth about life, society and politics that imbues the book with a sense of sadness. It becomes obvious that many (though certainly not all) of the good things that happen to Mellon happen out of chance. Similarly, when bad things happen to Mellon, most (again, not all... his divorce comes to mind as an obvious exception) of them are undeserved. Mellon dies near the low point of his public popularity, suffering primarily for sins he did not commit.

I highly recommend this book for lovers of biography and history, it is truly a step beyond a really good biography.

Arts
My First Truck Board Book (DK My First Board Books)
Published in Board book by DK Preschool (1999-03-15)
Author: DK Publishing
List price: $6.99
New price: $7.00
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

OMG buy this
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-05
does your child have an obsession for backhoes, fire trucks and other large equipment? this is your answer. simple text and large photos. the dk series delivers.

Beloved book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-08
We actually had to purchase this book to replace the library copy, which my 18-month-old daughter loved so much she didn't put it down for weeks and somehow reduced it to pieces (and that's hard to do with a board book!).

NO STICKERS
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-07
Well, my son loves the book and doesn't seem to miss the stickers, but I am bummed that the book came without the stickers.

Grandson loves it.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-30
My grandson loves this book. It's smaller than his other 'board' book, but he loves to look at the big equipment, being especially fond of the ones like his father and grandfather operate. Excellent pictures and easy to turn pages.

My son loves it!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-06
I bought this book for my son, who loves a truck book at his day care. When I gave him this book, he got a HUGE smile on his face and immediately wanted to read the book. It was the first book he ran to when he got home from day care, until we decided to put it in his crib with him, in an attempt to get him to stay in bed a little later each morning (he's a VERY early riser...) It worked! We can hear him in his room "reading" out loud and talking to the trucks in this book. He absolutely loves it and therefore we do, too!

Arts
Origami Insects
Published in Paperback by Dover Publications (1995-06-20)
Author: Robert J. Lang
List price: $12.95
New price: $8.10
Used price: $6.98

Average review score:

Not Bad!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-23
I have not folded any of the creatures in the book: I just like to look at the pictures and read the small articles about each animal. But if anyone wanted to fold one of these animals, get some large papers (above 12x12 inches)and probably a couple tweezers :))

A good book for advanced beginners
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-24
This book is the best one for the paperfoldinging advanced beginners, this have many advanced origami and the results are very great.

Great models, but very hard!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-25
I was able to fold one of the models in this book (the ant.) I aspire to fold the others someday, after much, much more practice with easier books. They look really cool, so they give me a goal to aim for, but I am not certain if I will ever get there.
Five stars because they are great designs.

ORIGAMI INSECT PATTERNS
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-26
My 11 year old grandson is an origami 'master'! he has been doing ORIGAMI for 5 or 6 years. He says this is the best ORIGAMI book he has - he has a library full of them! He just ordered another Robert Lang ORIGAMI book.

Very difficult models that can be very frustrating to complete
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-15
I see I'm in the minority on this book, and I'm sure I'll get a bunch of "unhelpful" votes from people disagreeing with my opinion, but I found this book really frustrating for the amount of steps that are just so difficult to get through. To be honest, until I got this book, I'd never really had major difficulties with any origami I've done, I've been folding for over 30 years, I had even folded Lang's previous monster the Cuckoo Clock from The Complete Book of Origami, Montroll's Stego and other such complex models. I've done plenty of insects before (I loved the mantis in his Origami Zoo book) but the majority of the ones in this book just drove me nuts. He clearly loves sinks and those in particular often just really tripped me up for the complexity of the layers you were having to sink. There were a few that I simply could not figure out, they just seemed totally inexplicable how you were supposed to get those layers properly reversed. I'd try such models again and fail again, and I personally just do not find that enjoyable to put so much time into something only to get totally stuck and unable to continue. Sure, it happens once in awhile regardless...but with this book it became commonplace. For me, what makes an origami book great is the ability to take extremely complex, interesting models and diagram them in such a way that a reasonably competent folder can accomplish them with a concerted effort. And this book definitely missed that mark.

I'd certainly recommend you avoid this book until you have quite a few years of experience folding and can easily handle any type of model, and advanced steps like reverse folded sinks, etc. But I'd also suggest you consider whether you are the type of folder that doesn't mind spending an hour or two on something and have nothing to show for it, but is able to move on and try again (and again and again...) I am used to messing up a model on the first try once in awhile but there are models in this book I tried several times and honestly felt like I just could do over and over and still not figure out. I personally just don't have quite that level of perseverance, so this book tends to sit on my shelf while I do other, not necessarily easier models, but ones that at least have more reasonable steps to get from point A to point B.

Arts
Painless Grammar
Published in Library Binding by Topeka Bindery (2006-08)
Author: Rebecca Elliott
List price: $18.15

Average review score:

Great for students or adults!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-16
I purchased this for use at home as we home-educate our children. I thought this would help me to brush up on my grammar skills, but my kids immediately picked this book up and started using it on their own. It is very user friendly - an easy read for any age, and a great review for middle and high school students. My 14 yr old uses it as a reference when she is writing. Highly recommended!

This Is So Brilliant!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-04
Painless Grammar is completely different from any typical grammar stuff! We tend to label grammar as boring, but I noticed something totally different from what we learned at school; it doesn't involve any dull and/or old-fashioned structures at all. What really intrigued me was the last chapter dealing with how to e-mail! Actually, I like that chapter best in this book. That was the least I'd expected! Facial expressions and abbreviations drew my attention because both of them are expressed differently from Japanese. I think using them sometimes helps you enjoy e-mailing your friends. Of course, I know too much use of them confuses readers, though. I bet dealing with e-mail is a down-to-earth and up-to-date approach to attract readers!

Painlessly perfect
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-03
Read and then keep at your desk within arms reach when you write. This book is perfect for those grammar stumpers.

A Book for All Grammar Phobes
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-12
Even though this book is geared for the 6th-8th grade student, it offers sound advice in a clear, easy-to-understand style. Who needs a grammar book that's full of long, linguistical answer that no one can understand. If I'm stumped by a grammar question, I don't hesitate to pick up this fun reference tool.
Karen Reddick, author of Grammar Done Right!

Painless Grammar - for all ages!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-23
Before ordering this book I've read many reviews. Those reviews helped me a lot to make the right decision. This book is just amazing for sharping your English grammar skill. You polish your English by learning little details. I'm a Junior in High School. I thought that my level of English grammar is pretty high, but till I started reading ''Painless Grammar" with all these small, tiny detail. My dad, is educated 52 years old teacher, who is a bookworm! Even he found this book very exciting. So right now, when I start to read this book he is always next to me. The book is written with good humor and explanations to every aspect of the grammar. I read 10-15 min. per day, that's enough.

I think this book should be a "hand book" for every single person, no matter how old you are. Folks, don't even hesitate! Just go for it, buy it, and have pleaser by reading "Painless Grammar."


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