People Books

I was given this book by my mother who knows I love Maupin's writing. What I don't think either of us knew is that once I starting turning the pages on this great book, I could not put it down and I stayed up all night reading about this character that touched my heart.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this story. It actually has made a lasting impression on me. I was truly impacted in a positive way. Enjoy it. Make sure to have a free day or two to enjoy it fully. Highly recommended!

My title says it all. I'm not going to write a long, involved review. Suffice to say, I read a lot. A LOT. And this one is definitely in my top 5.

I noticed below under "tag suggestions" that it has "gay fiction" and "gay classic" (I assume because the author is gay), and I want to point out that (from what I remember) there is no homosexuality in this book. (Not that there's anything wrong with homosexuality, yada, yada, yada...)

It's funny and touching. I've read it several times over the years, and it's always stayed with me.

His "Tales of the City" books are great too, but this one just stood out for me as an all-time great.

I did not care for this work about the drarf although I imagine she like so many people who are different had a very difficult time in life the suibject matter was not my cup of tea as to reading material. It's a well written piece of work if you're into dwarfs' life stories.

Received this book out of the blue from a seller on Amazon who bundled this with an order I placed. Tossed it aside for half a year before I sat down to read it last night and did NOT put it down until the last page -- then went back to the beginning once more. Touching, warm, creative, full of personality. At worst, it's entertaining. Do read it.

This is one of the best fiction books I have read. As an average sized person, I found this extraordinarily enlightening as to the difficulties and prejudices that little people go through each and every day. It was one of the most unique love stories ever and it really, truly made me feel the full gamut of emotions. If you buy one fiction book in your life, this is the one.

I spend several months each year in Mexico and own about 20 books about this fascinating country and it's people. Though the last printing was 1998, I still rate this book as excellent. The reason is it comes from the grounded perspective of a gringo who has lived throughout Mexico for many years. This is not a tourist guide. It's really about the heart and soul of the people and their culture.

Excellent guide to Mexico. We found this to be the best and most readable of many guides on topics that included just getting along; driving, eating, etc. Very readable, humorous. Too bad these guys don' t have similar books for other countries in the manner of the 'Moon' handbooks, Eyewitness guides, etc.

Much of the information is old, based as it is on the authors trips to Mexico for the past several decades. Doesn't make the book any less valuable or interesting. If you're going to Mexico on anything other than the sanitized tourist package, you should get and read this book.

Carl Franz's fantastic book is not your typical guide book, nor is it intended to be. If what you're looking for is facts and information, maps and a list of cheap hotels and restaurants this isn't the book for you. If you want to cross the border in your mind and see what Mexico and its people are really like, then go no further. This is a book you can enjoy whether or not you're planning to go anywhere near Mexico. And after you've read it you'll not only feel that you've been there, you'll be packing to go.

I take this every time I go to Mexico, as it always seems to have something more to offer. My copy is beat up & worn out but I love it.

Great tips, advice and information - highly recommended for anyone interested in getting beneath the skin of what Mexico has to offer.

It's a very enjoyable read, no doubt about that. What you WON'T find is a bunch of addresses of hotels and restaurants, no maps, and no bus schedules. What you WILL find is a very long series of amusing tips and hints about travel in Mexico. However, the book is a little dated, and it's been many a year since Carl Franz travelled through Mexico in the style here related--his current guided trips through Sonora will cost you in the thousands, which is certainly not what this book was all about!

You have to keep going. It's a way of living, a way of proving you're alive. A perfect life can change in the blink of an eye. You don't forget, but you don't shut down. You keep going.

In Susan Haley's Rainy Day People, Amber's story is about life. The highs and the lows happen; the promises of life are lived then withdrawn. And out of this, Amber learns to let go of the past and discover a new life and a new love.

After the death of her husband, Amber finds herself settled in a quiet, solitary life on the Florida coast. Much of the story that follows is about meeting Ben. Amber and Ben are drawn to each other, but these complex, rainy day people have much to consider.

To me, Amber's story shows the kind of courage that we often need as we go through life. At the same time it helps if we keep our perspective, enjoying the small things. Amber loves rainbows, nature, and driving fast in her convertible. She's a tiny, feisty, sometimes fun and always interesting heroine, someone that I wanted to know.

Above all, what Rainy Day People has going for it is truth. People who are rebuilding their lives have more than attraction to consider in new relationships. But then, let's not be too quick to discount attraction.

This is a rich story that kept me constantly involved. I highly recommend Rainy Day People.

Michael Durr
Author: My Brain, My Future

When viewing a Chuck Close canvas, one needs to step back a bit to appreciate it full essence. Such is the case with the power of this wonderful novel. A riveting story is only part of what makes Rainy Day People such a success. The artistry involved in crafting this work enticed me to move from audio to hard copy, then back to audio once again. Through these dual modalities of sight and sound, I was flooded with the very emotions this author's words were meant to evoke. All sensibilities were heightened: sight, sound, touch . . . but foremost, the all-to-human feelings surrounding the experiences of love and vulnerability. Susan Haley is one talented writer. Keep an eye on her. I know I will.

Lois W. STern
Author of SEX, LIES AND COSMETIC SURGERY

The writer understands the meaning of life and how we are all connected and how to put that meaning into print to touch a person soul. This is a must read even if the author is currently maybe unknown will some day be a great author. After reading this book you become hungry for a new novel by this author. We read the book and listend to the audio and both were great. The book lets you stop and reflect on a certain part but the audio lets you paint a true picture in your mind. The narrator was excellent and a true story teller. I know that you will love it and you to will find your rainbow.

Although Rainy Day People comes under the genre of fiction, this story is based on real-life happenstance. Susan Haley transports her readers on an incredible journey that runs the gauntlet of life's emotions and it does not stop until the story ends. Ms. Haley's love of the ocean and the majestic beauty of the land, her love of animals, whether it's a wild bear, a snake, or a six-week-old kitten is manifested in the persona of Amber, the main character. Very briefly, Amber, a widow, meets Ben Riley. Together they embark on a journey which takes them from the warm waters of Florida to the bone-chlling nights of Maine. Amber's love for Ben sustains him as he is dying from cancer, which is unbeknown to Amber. This heart-warming love story ends like a thriller novel. I strongly recommend it.

This heartwarming story of love for all things living was like a hug from my mother. She was a horse whisper and introduced me to nature spirits many years ago. I identified with the magic of this story. When you open your eyes to what is really around you, you will see miracles every day. Ashley in the book claims that there are no coincidences. By the end of the book you realize that what she means is that they are really just God's little miracles.
Rainbows are signs of love and hope in this fantastic book. I saw a completely round rainbow. I happened to look straight up to the sky and there it was, above my head. It was so far away that it was a small circle but all the colors were clearly visible. It too gave me comfort as I was adjusting to widowhood.
Susan Haley is an outstanding writer. Her ability to capture you made the book one of those you can't set down. The clever way she wrote and wove the ending shows why this is an award-winning book. This love story is based on her life experiences. It touched my very soul. I look forward to reading this book again so I can take the time to reflect on the spiritual insights expressed in the conversations between Ashley and Ben.
I recommend this book of courage, love, and of being in touch with all that is. It's like a spiritual awakening.

"Something of Value" is a story of far greater depth than a fictional description of the Mau Mau rebellion and its origins. It is a tale of the Cold War fought by 'other means.' The Second World War is over, colonial rule is weakened and the Soviet Union aims to replace themselves as ideologic colonialists. Young people, chaffing under the yoke of European rule, are subverted by the foreign ideology of Marxism-Leninism and wage the Soviet War by proxy.

Of course, they don't necessarily recognize this. They are fighting for 'independence' and self-rule. They are helped out by obtuse colonial policies, including in the case of 'Something of Value's' Kenya, a deep misunderstanding of native culture. The action is started by a block-headed punishment of Kikuyu elders who commit infanticide by killing twins--twins are regarded as ominous and dangerous in their culture. The Brits, acting out of Western moral concepts, execute the 'miscreants' which leads to brutal guerilla war.

It is a war without mercy characterized by unspeakable brutality and torture on each side. White families and their servants are slowly tortured to death. Mau Mau rebels, when caught, are treated with equal severity. Slowly, gradually the whites gain the upper hand, militarily. The Mau Mau is crushed but the desire for Kikuyu rule is not.

It's fiction but an unfortunately true and unending story. I was in Rhodesia and saw the same process repeated. Communist rebels, or 'terrs' as they were known, led by Joshua Nkoma and Robert Mugabe, inflict a brutal guerilla war characterized by murder and torture beyond common understanding. The Government fights back but international pressure, led by the Left, wears the Ian Smith government down and they are forced to their knees.

Robert Mugabe is delivered power and I was in Bulawayo immediately thereafter. He immediately set his dogs on Nkomo's Matebele peoples who lived around Bulawayo. I could hear the machine gun fire as Mugabe's thugs murdered ten thousand Matabele.

Weep, Zimbabwe, as your millions are starved by the tyrant, Mugabe.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

One of the best historical fiction works of modern history, and I found it at the local thrift store for eighty cents.

I first read this book as a teen ager in the 1960's, and I've probably read it eight or nine times since then. This book introduced me to Robert Ruark and started my life-long appreciation of his works. Something of Value examines clash of civilization between the British settlers and the Kikuyu natives in Kenya after WWII during what became the Mau Mau Rebellion. It examines the causes and consequences of the conflict and how it affected both sides. As I became older, I began to understand the motivations of the characters and their actions. With each rereading, the book changed. It was not only a safari adventure story, but it was also a snapshot of history, a study of human psychology, and a search for recognition and justice. I know I'm paraphrasing, but the opening Bantu proverb, "If you do away with the traditions of the past, then you must first replace them with Something of Value" definitely and perfectly describes the book. When Ruark wrote about the conflict, he examined how people on both sides were torn from what they knew and had cherished in the past and were thrown unprepared into the future. He examines foreign and unfamiliar ideology, how it affects us, and what its consequences are. Finally, despite the cruelty, blood, and horror in the book, he examines the nobility of human beings and what it means to us. This book has changed the way I view the world because I now can appreciate both the view of the fox and the hound. If great writing enables us to finds new and deeper meaning with each rereading, then "Something of Value" is great literature.

This classic is worth the read. It's the best historical fiction I have read in a long time.

This book definitely lives up to its billing. It tells the harrowing story of the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya during the 1950s. The writing is superb. A very difficult book to put down.

I am the parent who picks out books for the kids, whether it's at the library or the book store. It's not very often that my husband comments on my choices but this one he came to me right after our 3-yo daughter's bedtime and said how wonderful it is. The text is so lovely and tender, and the illustrations are so rich and lifelike. It really gives a sense of connection to both nature and family roots. A real pleasure for kids & parents alike.

I like this book very much and know that I will read it over and over to my grandchildren. The illustrations are excellent. The story is helpful (learning about the concept of history in a simple fashion) and told in a lyrical voice.

The other reviews did a great job describing this book. I agree with what they said about the beauty, emotion, and love in this book. Here are my top two reasons why this is an important book:

1. Richness of language. Developmentally, if children are exposed to language rich in vocabulary, structure, and grammar, it helps in so many ways. If you read a sentence each out of stack of random Disney, Sesame Street and other character books they all sound the same. If that is all children hear they miss the richness of our language, and actually their ability to think in complex ways is affected. If you read a sentence each of books like this, you hear the difference.

2. Exposure to experience. If you read Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods, you are familiar with the theory that children today have much less real contact with the natural world, and it is affecting them. Even in my own experience, I got to poke in creeks and catch crawdads, hike in woods by myself, eat warm tomatos and corn right out of the garden, and ride my bike all day and stop by the side of the road to eat the lunch I packed. My kids won't have those experiences, and even a school trip to Sunnydale Farm so the kids can line up and pet a cow won't make up for not having the experience of being alone and self-directed in a natural environment. This book doesn't, of course, replace a first hand experience, but I believe can give children some sense of an important experience in our cultural history that most children will not get any other way.

Wonderful story and a pleasure to read over and over. Makes me teary every time, very touching. Rhythm of the story seems to help my son go to sleep.

Patricia MacLachlan creates a heart warming masterpiece through a simple country family's connection with each other and their land. All the Places to Love begins with Eli's birth and his first view of the countryside his family calls home. Eli would soon grow to love this countryside through his experiences with his mother, father, and grandparents. They each have a place on the farm, which holds a special place in their heart. Mama loves the hill where she can see the sun rise on one side and set on the other. Papa love the fields and working in them. Grandma shares her love for the river with Eli as they sail notes down stream to one another. The barn grows special to Eli's heart after sharing experiences with Grandpa working in a place that brings joy to his life. Eli creates his personal getaway where the spring rains come and turn the meadows into marsh. The paintings by Mike Wimmer combined with the words by MacLachlan capture the passion filled anticipation of Eli as he awaits the birth of his baby sister. Eli is eager to show Sylvie "all the places to love."

As I explored this peak into the life of Beatrix Potter, I cried softly because it has been brought together so beautifully. There are surprises as I turned each page that made me smile. She was such a pioneer on so many levels at a time when women "had their place". Her inquisitive mind & creative skills are a gift to all of us. I have dusted off my pencils, pens & sketch book due to the inspiration I feel. I am very proud to have this Journal in my library, and have bought more copies for family & friends so they can share with theirs. Thank You!

This work of fiction looks, feels and reads like a real journal, full of love, tender memories, and feels to me like it captured some tiny sense of what it must have been like to be Miss Potter. I search for words to express how highly I recommend this book; every one in my family that has enjoyed it felt a sense of excitement and wonder and awe. And the photos are so endearing!

Entralling book at an incredibly low price, fully worth much more! A beautiful and wondrous work of art and whimsy, a joy for all ages! I will be reading and admiring this over and over again. This book is far too lovely to be shelved into a bookcase- do display it and enjoy the sweet memories that viewing it often will invoke! I thank the publishers for an inspired, dedicated, dear, devoted, honorable bestowment to the legacy of Beatrix Potter.

The biggest question I have about this book is how in the world can it be put on the market for only $13.59? The book is a complete delight. As some of the other reviews have mentioned; it has reproductions of letters, notes, and other items that give inside glimpses into the life and times of Beatrix Potter. There is something on almost every page to surprise and delight the reader.

This book can be enjoyed by both adults and children; it does need to be handled carefully as the reproductions of the notes and letters deserve special care.

Hidden inside the back cover is a reproduction of Beatriz Potter's privately printed edition of 250 copies of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit"; what a delightful finish to a tour of the life of a remarkable woman.

This is a wonderful addition to any Beatrix Potter collection and an amazing value as well!

'Beatrix Potter: A Journal" is a beautifully bound keepsake that Beatirx Potter fans will cherish for years to come. It is presented in the form of a journal or rather an album, and basically contains journal entries dating back to when Beatrix was 16 years old and had begun discovering wonderful things that helped her evolve into the creative writer and creator of Peter Rabbit and friends.

The journal is beautifully put together - there are old family pictures, reproductions of Beatrix's original sketches and drawings, personal documents [e.g. Beatrix's old report card] - what a delight to peruse these treasures. The journal entries themselves make for absorbing reading - though they are in cursive form and younger reders may need help with deciphering what is written. There are reproductions of letters to family and friends,delightful illustrations throughout the journal. Of interest is information as to how certain characters in The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Friends was inspired by real-life people, such as the character of Farmer McGregor.

There are many lift-the-flap features in this journal that makes it even more of a treat - there's an envelope containing a reproduction of the letter which contains the story of Peter Rabbit complete with illustrations, a map of the beautiful Lake District, a paper version of the game of Peter Rabbit, and the prize jewel in this journal - right at the end of the journal, embedded into it, is a little book "The Tale of Peter Rabbit"! One would not know it, for it is concealed so well - and indeed a delight to peruse.

I can't recommend this highly enough. I am a life-long fan of Beatrix Potter and my three-year old daughter is following in my footsteps. It is such a treat to be able to share this book with her!

This book is different than other books on relationships that have ended. It is the best book I have read on it and what they have you do really works!

When I found out about this book, I was yet again trying to recover from another failed relationship attempt. The question I kept asking myself was "why do I keep repeating similar relationships that end in similar fashion". Fortunately, it was also at this time that I met Russell Friedman, who encouraged me to read this book and do the work. Here I am, a little over one year later, happier and possessing a greater understanding of what was standing in the way of the relationship that I desired. Best yet, after several successful and fun dating relationships, I have MOVED ON and MOVED IN with the right guy for me. Thanks John and Russell for giving me the tools to build "it" right this time. Sara

I first learned about the Grief Institute through a raido program. I was intriqued and bought this book. WOW. Many concepts I needed to learn since, as the book points out, many of us learn myths about grieving. I too learned to be "strong" where people see us happy and able to deal...when that is only a cover up of our feelings and not dealing. I also like the STERBs concept. Short-term energy releasing behaviors. I was doing many things I thought were helping with grieving, but they were only short lived. This lead me thinking "Time would heal my wounds" which we now know isn't the case.

This book helped me in many ways and I recommend it and even buy it for friends. This is a must book for everyone. No...it isn't the complete all book as nothing in life is complete, but certainly a fantastic book in the journey of life and giving you some tools to help along the way.

This was a great book. I listen to the author on a radio talk show Audrey Chapman and had to purchase this book. The execrise along with the reading really helped me get with my most recent relationship. I have finished reading the book; however, I still review certain chapters weekly. I strongly recommend this book for anyone getting over a bad relationship and want to love to forgive.

Pennye James

Great book...better than great. I had several epiphanies about myself that made a real difference. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to grow and be free of past mistakes.

Wonderful book about Manyara and Nyasha, daughters of an African King. This books shows that beauty comes from within. Manyara is a selfish sister and wants nothing more than to be queen and she will stop at nothing to be it. Nyasha is kind and loving and only wants to be happy. She sees the beauty in nature and people. A king from the neighboring town is searching for a wife and immediately Manyara wants to be queen. Manyara gets up early and sneaks to the village of the King but she is met by a little boy who wants food, and a elderly woman whom she is told to be kind too. She doesnt give the boy food and is verbally mean to the old woman. Nyasha goes through the forest and finds the same people but this time she gives food to the little boy. She is met by a woman who points the way to the city and she is kind to her and gives her sunflower seeds. As they approach the city, Manyara runs out and crying saying that she saw a snake with 5 heads and was telling her how rotten of a person she is. Nyasha is brave and walks in only to a find a simple snake for whom she was friends with. He tells her that he is the king and the elderly woman and little boy in the forest. He then asks her to be his queen because she is the most beautiful and kindhearted of them all.

This is a sweet folktale, simple and straightforward where good is rewarded and evil is punished, though it does not come off as preachy. The African culture is very strong, and that what makes the book so appealing. The illustrations are incredible and detailed with plenty to absorb. The writing is somewhat complex, making this suitable for older children, though it would be perfect for a read-aloud.

Can you imagine my surprise when I encountered this book on Amazon.com!

I am 18 years old and I read "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" in elementary school and I was enamored with the story then! And I still am. This "African Cinderella" is sure to resonate with young girls and make them curious about Africa.

It is the story of an African King who has two beautiful daughters, only one of them, Manyara, is mean, nasty, and "haughty" (this book is where I learned that word!) while Nyasha is sweet, compassionate and kind. When their father learns that a ruler of another kingdom is to take a wife, he decides that both of his beautiful daughters should go. However, Manyara arrogantly leaves alone to get there before her sister, ever so certain that she will be chosen.

On the way both her and her sister encounter a series of tasks and through these, their true characters are tested.

Other than a great story, the illustration is absolutely beautiful! They are artwork unto themselves. Love this book! I can't wait to purchase this for the little girls in my life! Or, i just may buy it to reminisce!

The illustrations are breathtaking. The story emphasizes the true ugliness of getting to the top no matter what, while at the same time showing the beauty of compassion, empathy, and taking the time to make true connections with others and embracing their essence. These are values that we must instill within our children. I read this story to my own beautiful daughters over and over and it opens the door for deep discussions about the nature of their special bond as sisters and the need to not face one another as competitors, but as lifetime companions and support for one another.

This story is based on an African tale that is similar in nature to Cinderella. In this story a man named Mufaro had two beautiful daughters, one named Manyara, and one named Nyasha. Manyara is rude to Nyasha, who just calmly bears it. When a call comes saying the Great King wants a wife, Mufaro plans to take his daughters to the palace the next day. Manyara decides to leave in the night to make she is chosen to be Queen. During the journey she is rude to a number of people, who turn out to be the King himself, shape-shifted into those forms as well as the form of a garden snake well-known to Nyasha. When Nyasha passes the next day, she is kind where her sister was rude. Needless to say the King picks Nyasha, and they live happily.

The story is told well, and the language used is wonderful, though not quite as wonderful as the illustrations. They almost look more life-like than photographs. The way lighting is used is amazing, and they are just stunning pictures. Everything about this book is wonderful, with nothing to detract from it.

Loggie-log-log-log

My 8 year old thought it was old and boring but he did seem interested in a few parts of the story. Probably a little outdated for kids these days but I loved it. It was the kind of story I would read when I was little, but I am going on 50.

This has to be one of my favorites and no child should be without it. The text is lively and easy to read and reads like people really talk, which gives the story a lot of warmth. The illustrations are beautifully drawn with lots of detail and humor and also look true to life, from the pained expression on the dad's face as he's rowing the boat, to sister Jane peeking from the top of the stairs or chasing the cat under the bench in Mr. Condon's store. Jane is depicted just as most children her age really are - a real livewire who is both curious and active, climbing and getting into things - she reminds me of my 16 month old daughter! And Sal is accurately portrayed as a typical preschooler - asking detailed questions about everything and talking up a storm.

You won't be disappointed. This classic is a must for any preschooler.

This book is a beautiful picture book, and I still enjoy looking at it. The pictures are gorgeous. And this isn't a cheesy book. It's a wonderful story for children, and I highly recommend it! Buy it. You won't be disappointed.

This is a very long, very wordy book. It's not suitable for last minute bedtimes, nor for toddlers.

It's very suitable for kids in the older end of the 4-8 range, or littler kids with a good attention span, though.

Not much happens in the story - girl loses a tooth, gets her wish of ice cream, has clam chowder for lunch - which is just the way real life works. It's so well-written that you don't even *notice* that the story moves slowly, you might as well be talking about your own life.

I really sound like I'm criticizing, but I'm not. All the points I'm mentioning actually make it a good book. Really :) Definitely don't pass this classic book by.

To a child, every morning is a new start with infinite possibilities; at least that's how it should be. In this classic 1953 book Robert McCloskey brings a child's simple world to life. McCloskey, better known for his Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal, gives us another look at little Sal. The story is timeless and his line drawings bring the children to life.

The simple coastal lifestyle of more than half a century ago may be hard to find today, in part because of the high local tax valuation of shore and island properties. Still, if you were to take a child to the rocky coast of Maine this summer, she could be little Sal in the clam flats. One Morning in Maine (Picture Puffin) is full of that magical atmosphere where the land and ocean meet. We all want that magic!

McCloskey's Caldecott-honored book tells a simple story. Young Sal wakes up on a sunny morning in Maine with an adventure in store. She and her little sister are going with their father in the boat to Buck's Harbor to dig clams. There are idyllic family scenes, lessons from their father about the world around them, ice cream cones at the store, and the disappointment of a loose tooth lost in the clam flats.

Simple stuff? It certainly is, and just the sort of simple stuff children thrive on. Sal's morning may be long ago and far away, but the curiosity and wonder of a child's new day will be with us forever.

Linda Bulger, 2008

This scholarly and highly readable book is of importance to art historians, historians, and anyone with a serious interest in orientalism as both an art movement and a western cultural phenomenom. The illustrations are superb,and the additional profile articles on key orientalists (such as Richard F. Burton) are an added bonus. This book is certainly worth more than its price and will be of lasting value to future readers.

Brilliant book completely covering the subject, solid research, perfect rare illustrations. Lots of forgotten and difficult to find names. Very useful and highly recommended - worth every penny!

"coffee table" art books are usually just vehicles to display reproductions of the paintings. Not here - Davie's writing would make compelling reading if it was published in regular book format. He mainly focuses on orientalist painting itself - and shatters the critics - but he also has a fascinating section on four famous 'orientalists' which include Richard Burton and Lady Digby.

The reproductions are are splendid very accurate ( i have the pleasure of having easy access to some of the original paintings) and capture the exquisite craft of "Orientalist" painters. often with close ups of parts of painting that allow the reader to see the elaborate detail.

Worth every penny. I find myself reading it again and again.

An outstanding volume providing high quality images and interesting commentary. Too many art books commit the sin of spreading large images over two pages so the picture gets lost in the spine - not this one. Orientalist paintings are crammed with detail to show the erudition of the artists and their patrons: for once you can see plenty, and you're not sold short by the layout or the print quality. Not a book if you're looking for lush pictures of harem lovelies, one of the aspects of orientalism not given such high prominence here. Over all impression? The many different effects created by light in Middle Eastern landscapes, and the skill of these artists in capturing it

Really I'd like to give this 5 stars but for the lack of women it's 4. I feel sort of silly doing so because the art is astonishing and the sheer beauty just magnifies how "art" has changed. I wonder if any artist alive today could come close to duplicating these masterpieces. I doubt it. And Mr Davies writing blends with the terrain and subject matter splendidly.