No comments about Understanding Roseville Pottery (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

5 comments about Retro Chic: A Guide to Fabulous Vintage and Designer Resale Shopping in North America and Online.

1. I think the mark of a good guidebook is one that can tell you new things about your hometown. Retro Chic is a *great* guidebookbook. I purchased my copy at home in Seattle, and was pleased to see that my favorite retro sources were included -- as well as several new favorites I hadn't heard about before. The information on online resources is also quite helpful, and introduced me to a whole new way of shopping for unique resale fashions. I took Retro Chic with me on a business trip to Los Angeles last week, and was able to do some wonderfully affordable consignment shopping in a city that's completely foreign to me. What a fantastic resource!

   This DOES NOT appear to be a book in which the authors were paid for reviewing particular stores. The information is well organized, up-to-date, and gives plenty of clues about the stores it reviews. Listings are honest and cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from price scales and credit cards accepted to the kind of merchandise available.

   This book is a great resource for anyone with a retro fetish, and a no-hassle way for people new to the "scene" to find great resale outlets in their home town, on vacation, or online. I highly recommend Retro Chic and have bought copies as gifts for two friends who recently moved across country.




2. What a fabulous resource for lovers of vintage clothing! I have learned about stores in Toronto that I would never have found otherwise. The detailed store descriptions are wonderful - it's interesting to learn about the history of the stores, as well as about their owners.
   And what a helpful book when travelling to other cities in North America! Thank you!



3. I LOVED this book, not only was it extremely informative, but it was very practical-the $ labels were the best! I used it on a very important project and it didn't let me down once! This resource was very helpful. It is a book for anyone who has been bitten by the vintage-shopping bug. Happy shopping!



4. This book is basically just a list of resale stores in some bigger cities. The same information could be obtained in twenty minutes with some basic research.



5. This book is fabulous. Not only does it explore (and I use the word "explore" because these listings go way beyond mere addresses and phone numbers) about 500 vintage and contemporary designer resale stores all over the U.S., Canada and Online, but with the information offered on each store (what kind of merchandise is carried, price range, return policy, store owner's personal collections, description of the store itself, etc.), I feel much more confident about shopping for my newest passion, vintage clothing (almost like the authors are holding my hand and walking me thru). I also found the section that describes designers from the '20s to the '80s, along with an explanation of what was going on the world during those times, fascinating. The glossary of fashion terms is also helpful, and I loved the listings of vintage expos all over the U.S. The quotes from costume designers, and learning about vintage pieces worn by Hollywood celebrities, is definately a fun bonus. Bravo!

5 comments about Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane.

1. I am a student pilot and have been reading just about everything I can get my hands on that has to do with flying for the past two years. I first learned of Greg Brown through his Flying Carpet column in AOPA's Flight Training magazine and enjoyed his articles and writing. I stumbled upon this book through a search on Amazon and am so glad I did!
   
   The book is extremely well written and you can tell through each page how deep Greg's passion is for flying and for sharing it with those around him. I felt as if I were along for the ride to all of the wonderful destinations he has been to.
   
   I highly recommend the book not only for those interested in flying but the non-fliers alike!



2. This book was purchased as a gift. I do not know if it's been read or not.



3. Full of fun interesting stories but not a book I would want to read again. The books sounds like it is a collection of Gregs adventures that may have been published somewhere before.



4. I've followed Greg Brown's column in numerous aviation magazines over the years, and have always looked forward to reading his latest adventure. Now, with "Flying Carpet", he has detailed stories and events from his past that have served to educate, enlighten, and amuse both aviators and non-aviators alike. I thoroughly enjoy his writing style, and am always recounting something he wrote to someone else to emphasize a point or provide an example of some aviation-related subject. I love the fact that he relates his stories as if aviation was a sort of pagan religion, and he, and all other pilots, are willing followers. He truly highlights the romance and passion that flying evokes in those of us do it, and stimulates curiousity in those who don't. I highly encourage anyone to read this book, whether you're a pilot or not.



5. I have been following Greg Brown's columns in AOPA Flight Training for a while now, but I would have never guessed that if you read a handful of these short, factual-yet-full-of-emotions stories one after the other, you can get a complete picture of what general aviation is all about. Highly recommend this book to everyone, pilot spouses or parents above all.

2 comments about Salt & Pepper Shakers IV: Identification & Values (Salt & Pepper Shakers IV).

1. This little book is a great tool for quick reference. The pictures are great and all in colors. Short comments. If you need more detailed info: try Melva Davern's books, also great pictures but a little more history.



2. 240 pages of nearly 1,000 large, sharp, clear, full color salt and pepper photographs. This is the 4th volume in the popular set, with prices updated for 1999. Not much text, but salt and pepper shaker collectors will be delighted with the pictures featured. Major topics range from Advertising, Animals, American Mades to Birds, Fish, Fowl and Condiment Sets to Holidays, Nodders, Places and Plastics. There is a very nice section on "Tomorrow's Collectibles." The book's best selling point is the quality of every photograph featured. Collectors who enjoy seeing beautiful photos of salt and peppers are sure to enjoy this volume.

2 comments about Collector's Guide to Horsman Dolls 1865-1950: Identification & Values.

1. Don Jensen certainly has "put meat on the bones" for the Horsman Company. A newspaper writer and editor by training, he comanded the considerable research skills necessary to ferret out extensive information on the Horsman company and their early chief designer, Helen Trowbridge. It also made it possible for him to present for the first time ever a picture and markings of the earliest composition doll made by Solomon Hoffman. Horsman's product line is delt with comprehensively, from the early imported dolls to cloth, bisque during WWI, composition and finally plastic. Not only is this an indispensible reference book for doll collectors, but also makes for fascinating reading.



2. It's about time someone did a comprehensive study of the Horsman company and the wonderful dolls they made. This is a book that will prove valuable to all serious researchers and collectors. Let's hope Jensen will write more books of this caliber.

5 comments about LIKELY TO DIE: A Novel (Alexandra Cooper Mysteries).

1. Likely to Die is Linda Fairstien's second entry into the Alexandra Cooper series and the first I've read. At no point during reading this novel did it really grab my interest and therefore it'll probably be the last book I read by this author. A good thriller has to catch you from the beginning, and Likely to Die just doesn't do that. Fairstein's experience as a prosecuter of sex crimes does add some interesting sidebars about sex crimes that are interesting, but irrelevant to the story.
   
   The story revolves around a respected neurosurgeon, Gemma Doggen, being brutally murdered. Alex Cooper takes the case as the District Attorney and joins with the cops as they try and find the killer. In the first 100 pages or so, there is a lot of interaction between Cooper, and detectives Chapman and Mercer. They investigate the crime scene and organize the investigation. What Fairstien leaves out is a reason to care about Gemma Dogen or some reason to fear the killer.
   
   The entire story is from Cooper's point of view, so witnesses aren't interviewed until well into the novel and Dogen's background isn't explored until it was too late. Likely to Die could have been a good novel if it dove right into Dogen's past and why she might have been killed. As it is, this novel provided little mystery and even less suspense. It also could have used some editing because there is way to much of Cooper's personal life with names of friends being dropped constantly that have nothing to do with the story.
   
   As a second novel, I guess this was pretty good. I recommend reading Fairstien's latest works and go back to this one if you like them.



2. The book starts out great then slows in the middle, then from out of no where is wrapped up in the last chapter. The London trip seemed like it was thrown in to take up pages. There didn't seem to be any big surprise as to who the bad guy was and I didn't seem to rush myself reading this book, more like having no interest in picking it up to finish it. I really want to like this series, but the characters seem to be missing something....



3. This was not unlike its preceeding volumes. I like Ms. Fairsteins novels, and this was the last. The process is rather formulaic at this stage; something hideous nearly happens to the heroine. Some of it makes little sense; a neurologist trying to become a neurosurgeon is beyond credulity. But that aside, the issues of medical center security are too easily overlooked, and that point is quite valid, as are some of the issues of political gaming within the medical school body. It held my interest, perhaps because I am a physician and have some UVa history, but I'm not certain it would have otherwise. If you liked previous Fairstein novels, you'll do OK with this one, but it probably won't be your favorite.



4. This was my first attempt to read one of Linda Fairstein's Alex Cooper novels. If this novel is anything like the rest of the series, this has to be the most overrated mystery series EVER. I was bored stiff by the meaningless details and characters included in the story and a lot of the main character's dialog felt like I was being lectured to as if a small child.
   
   The rest of this series may be fantastic, but I guarantee you I will never know because there is no way I would ever read another one of Fairstein's books.



5. This book is very boring. She tells us everything people are eating and wearing. She gives a running dialog between people that has nothing to do with the story. I started skipping through paragraphs & finally about half way through the book, I went to the last few pages to find out who the murderer was.

2 comments about Goldmine Records & Prices: A Concise Digest With over 30,000 Listings (Goldmine Records and Prices).

1. Goldmine magazine officially recognizes two forms of popular music: rock and roll and Frank Sinatra. On occasion, it grudgingly concedes the existence of other things, like R&B, country, and rock and roll. Oh, wait--I already mentioned rock and roll. So, it's no surprise that this price guide avoids most of the "adult pop" people who sold tons of vinyl from the late 50s through the early 1970s--folks like Johnny Mathis, Ray Conniff, Vicki Carr, Mantovani, and Percy Faith. The premier denouncer of rock among pop singers, Frank Sinatra, is included, however, though Perry Como, who had many times more hits, is nowhere to be found. The Beatles are mentioned any number of times in the introduction, because, naturally, anyone consulting a record price guide will want to know about all things Beatles. Cliche City, U.S.A. Well laid-out, anyway, and useful for cross-indexing years of release for albums and 45s not listed herein. Goldmine's anti-"pop" bias, though, is a problem.



2. This is an awesome reference guide. Let me first say that I am not a hard core record collector. I have about 600 albums and a few 45s. I found Goldmine Record & Prices the perfect reference book to help me identify and price my collection. It's easy to use and compact so that I can carry it with me when I go looking for records to add to my collection. And the price is great when you consider that there are almost 30,000 records listed. Plain and simple: It's the best value out there.

2 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Metlox Potteries: Identification and Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of Metlox Potteries).

1. I purchased this book to clear up my conception of some of the Metlox patterns but it opened my eyes to some very collectible pieces that I had been over looking. Nice pictures with several styles in each catagory that eliminates the guess work. As a beginner collector of Metlox I am truly please with this book.



2. This book is the definitive work on Metlox Pottery. It's a "must have" for the collector and enjoyable reading for the person wishing to learn more about California pottery. Full of hundreds of pictures and values, this book is an invaluable guide and resource.

3 comments about Tornadoes! (Scholastic Reader, Level 4).

1. Hurricanes, by Lorraine Hopping, Is the third book I have bought for my grandchildren in the Wild Weather series. They have looked forward to each new title and reread the ones they now have. The book helped them to understand what was going to happen with hurricane Floyd.



2. My four year old has had me read Hurricanes to him again and again . Ms. Hopping presents scientific facts in such an engaging format that he really enjoys the story. I recommend this and her other Wild Weather stories.



3. My daughter started with the Tornado book in this series (Wild Weather), which she really liked, and so we got this one on Hurricanes. It's even better. The opening chapters about the hurricane pilot had her riveted, and this is the first chapter book she has gotten through completely in one sitting. My only beef was that the scientists are men in both books, but then I found the Flood and Lightning books, which both feature women scientists. We plan to get Blizzards next, since we live in blizzard country.

No comments about Antique Iron: Identification and Values.