5 comments about Everyday Fashions of the Forties as Pictured in Sears Catalogs.

1. I love the book. I use it to give me inspiration for my designs. It's a good reference book.



2. I was looking for ideas for a 1940's costume for a dance competition. This catalog helped me tremendously.



3. Whenever I take this book out, people fight over a peek into its glossy pages. It covers everything in fashion from the forties, though mostly focusing on women. The pictures depict fashions, from dresses to shoes, hats and gloves to maternity wear; the women's hairstyles, makeup, undergarments, and overall looks give the reader the most authentic possible view of fashion and the aesthetic ideals of the time. The catalogue also shows the prices and features descriptions that include fabric and color. Seeing such low prices is pretty crazy! Obviously, it was relative to wages and the overall cost of living then, but the immersive effect of the book is still strange and fascinating. There are some pictures of man's and children's fashions. This book is thorough and unbelievably beautiful.



4. As I have more in this series of books, I was fascinated by the year-by-year styles in the 1940's. And as with others, I was disappointed that they were not in colour. A minor problem, I think, because the descriptions provided as well as the names of colours also tells me about the time period. What exactly is the shade 'Cadet Blue'? But it does give good all around display of everything from children's clothes...not to mention miniature uniforms for little boys, to men's wear and funny looking men's underwear, to shoes, hats and purses, evening and wedding gowns and the rather uncomfortable looking women's underwear. Along with the others, they are a treasure and a time capsule.



5. Not only is it great to see the everyday fashions of this era, you can really enjoy reading the descriptions and especially be amazed by the prices of the items!
   
   Keep it in pristine condition as a collector's item, or use it as part of a scrapbooking project with photos of the family from way-back-when!
   
   Any way you use it, Everyday Fashions of the Forties as Pictured in Sears Catalogs is a lot of entertainment for a little price -- just not quite the sort of prices you'll see inside the book!
   
   There's lots of fun here. Highly recommended!

3 comments about The DCC Guide.

1. The DCC Guide by Don Fiehmann is an outstanding publication for anyone new to DCC! The author presents a very comprehensive approach to the subject and is accompanied with excellent graphics. I have purchased various publications on the subject, but The DCC Guide is truly the best guide for the non technical model railroader.



2. Certainly helped me choose which equipment to buy. Well worthwhile buying, especially for a beginner.



3. Although I'm not done reading this book and being a Virgin to DCC it has been very helpful so far and when I finally purchase I am sure it will come in handy then also.

4 comments about Making Marriage Work for Dummies.

1. I've read a number of self-help books on marriage, and this is the best by far. The "Dummies"-style organization makes the book extremely user-friendly. I can find useful information on just about any aspect of marriage--whether it's dealing with in-laws, disputes over money, love-making issues, or dividing up household chores.

   Drs. Sue and Steve Simring are not only experts on the subject of marriage and skilled writers. They also bring the in-the-trenches wisdom of their own thirty year marriage to the table. Reading "Making Marriage Work For Dummies" gives me a real sense of what it takes to keep my relationship strong, and deal with problems as they come up.

   Highly recommended!




2. Politically correct to the point of self-deception.



3. I think everyone who has been married should have a chance to read this book. It is so easy to read, so encouraging and to the point. The authors are fantastic. Because of what I have read in this book I have changed, on my own and in a very positive way. My spouse and I talked, and are going through marriage counseling. Something we would not have done if I had not read this book.

   Thank you "for dummies" for making life simplier.




4. I have never been married before and i needed a guide to make things work. This book is it - tips and hints that you can use to follow to help your marriage work. I am a dummy and need help and this book has been a great aid to putting me on the right track with my wife. If you need a little bit of help i suggest you get a copy - it will help!

3 comments about Joey Green's Incredible Country Store: Potions, Notions and Elixirs of the Past--and How to Make Them Today.

1. I was very pleased with my purchase, and the timeliness in receiving it.



2. This is a fun book with all kinds of trivia, stories about forgotten favorites (Erector Sets) and hard to find goodies (old fashioned candies). It has a huge variety of home recipes for lotions, soaps, balms, antacids and more and the recipes appear to be fairly simple. It's light, full of photos and easy to read.
   
   I picked it up for the recipes but have found it kind of hard to resist. I recently read it out loud to my husband on a trip to the ER -- trying to distract him and keep us both awake while we waited for him to be admitted (he's fine now). After we got home, he swiped it and is reading it himself.
   
   If you like places like Cracker Barrel's old country stores, you'll really get a kick out of this book!



3. About: Recipes, facts and history about famous and nostalgic products.
   
   Pros: Interesting, easy read, short chapters. Includes resources and bibliography
   
   Cons: Writing can be repetitive. Brand names are used ad nauseam, which leads me to wonder if Mr. Green was being compensated by the trademark owners.
   
   Grade: B

1 comments about Washington Quarters : Collection 1988-2000, Number Four.

1. The Whitman brand name has been a icon in coin collecting for years. When I started collecting in the early 90s, I used their folders, including this one. So what's the problem with this folder? The folder goes up to the year 2000. In 1999, a 10 year series of quarters was started to honor each state. That means as of 1998, there will be no eagle reverse Washington quarters until the year 2009, if at all. In other words, If you want to keep your Washington quarter current, you WILL NEED one of Whitman's statehood quarter folders. If you want to wait until 2009 for an eagle reverse Washington quarter, then stick with this folder.

5 comments about Vietnam Zippos: American Soldiers' Engravings and Stories (1965-1973).

1. My hippie Dad loved it! He is a history buff and had not heard of this practice!



2. It is a shame and a pity that such an impressive book should reflect such a travesty in crediting. What does Ms. Buchanan have to do with the Vietnam Zippo? There is ample evidnce that it was the focus of Mr. Edwards' attention for many years. Yet he is relegated to a minor participant in the book itself! Anyone who closely examines the book can see the truth - it is self-evident. Apparently, Ms. Buchanan's massive ego overshadowed her sense of justice - she, as the publisher in fact, decided to not even share the authorship with Mr. Edwards. Othewise, it a near perfect book - striking graphic design - highest quality photographs - excellent essays and thorough research. Life can be unfair.



3. A touching compilation of soldiers who served in Vietnam and the history of Zippos in the Army. Full of color pictures: numerous Zippos dipictaing pictures, unit slogans, witty banter, and more. A must read for anyone who wants to connect with history.



4. The Vietnam War had many facets for those who served in that theatre of military combat from 1965 to 1973. One of the unique memorabilia associated with the conflict were the Zippo brand cigarette lighters that were ubiquitous among the American troops. Drawing from the collection of Bradford Edwards, Sherry Buchanan (an independent scholar, author, and expert on both Asian and Vietnamese contemporary art, history and culture) has created "Vietnam Zippos", a volume of images of Zippo brand lighters used and personalized by members of the American armed forces. Zippos lighters were visible associated with the burning of grass huts as part of search-and-destroy missions, they were used as engraved symbols of social protest, and often became a kind of talisman for American GIs during their hazardous tours of duty in that increasingly unpopular conflict. Beginning with a Timeline that begins in 1965 and ends in 1990 (when Vietnam Zippos were sold to tourists at Saigon Street Stalls), "Vietnam Zippos" is a fascinating and specialized military cultural history that is a unique and recommended contribution to the growing library of Vietnam War histories, biographies, and scholarly studies.



5. While reading this extraordinary and unique book it is obvious that Edwards put the time and effort into this project and Buchanan packaged it. Yet Buchanan seems to want all the credit. She alone is listed as the author, but what did she actually do? She wrote a distant and dry essay - well written no doubt, but what exactly is her relationship to this fascinating object called the Vietnam Zippo?
   
   Judging from the lively discussion below on this page, Buchanan was, in fact, the publisher with the power to manipulate the crediting. It appears that Edwards' role was greatly diminished and he was relegated to the person who just provided the collection. Apparently another sad example of an artist being taken advantage of - there must be a back story here and it probably isn't pretty. What a shame this situation is considering what a finely crafted book it is.

4 comments about Beginner's Stamp Collecting Fun Kit: Everything You Need to Start a Fun and Fascinating Hobby.

1. This is a nice kit for an early beginner at stamp collecting. Please note that the album is only for U.S. Stamps. It's a good deal for the price.



2. We ordered this kit for a beginner at stamp collecting. We expected the album to be free-form, so he could save the stamps that he likes. Instead the album has pages for specific years, starting in 1901, and photos of specific stamps for many of the spaces. I'm not a stamp collector myself, and maybe this is a standard format, but it's not at all what we wanted. The Guide is okay, and the magnifying glass is inexpensive but okay. But we ordered the kit primarily for the album, and it's collecting dust on a shelf.



3. This album is strictly for U.S. stamps and covers the early 1900's through 2005. There are some black and white illustrations for each year, as well as blank spaces for other stamps. The book would have been a little nicer with a spiral binding and illustrations in color. Pages that wouldn't lie flat were a definite frustration for our grandson. A few starter stamps were included, as well as hinges, but there were only about a dozen hinges, so the first thing we had to do was find a source for them. Still, it's a good functional album for providing a beginning without a large outlay of money.



4. My son wanted to look into stamp collecting. I don't know much about it. This is a good review/starting place to see what is involved in the hobby. It made a nice Christmas present, didn't cost much and showed him I had listened to his interests. Nice format and helpful included items.

5 comments about Ghost Walk (Mira).

1. I loved this book. It was Great. I picked up more of her books to read.



2. LOVED THIS BOOK, BUT I HAD TROUBLE IN THE LATER CHAPTERS, KEEPING IT TOGETHER! (THE ACTUAL BOOK!!!) I HAD PAGES WITHOUT PRINT, PAGES THAT FELL OUT AND ONE THAT HAD BEEN CORRECTED BY GLUING A MID-SECTION OF THE PAGE WITH A CORRECTION PIECE, FROM THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO THE BOTTOM! IT WAS FRUSTRATING AS WHEN YOU GET THAT FAR INTO A GOOD STORY, YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO STOP AND FIGURE OUT PAGE PLACEMENT. {THANK GOD FOR NUMBERS ON THE PAGES:-)} I AM ON TO "THE VISION" AND HOPE IT IS AS GOOD. I REALLY LIKE IT WHEN CHARACTERS FROM A GOOD STORY ARE BROUGHT BACK IN FOLLOW UP BOOKS. I HAVE LOVED EVERY BOOK HEATHER GRAHAM HAS WRITTEN, THAT I HAVE READ. I USUALLY PASS MY READ BOOKS ALONG TO OTHERS, BUT MS GRAHAM'S HAVE MOSTLY BEEN KEEPERS.



3. This was an ok novel, I thought it would some how be deeper, and a quicker read, however it turned out to be little more then a sheet grabber. A term I use to refer to books that start out with a good idea but end up copying bad romance novels with cliched haunting stories. The writer does not try to grab the reader, instead it cuts from one scene to the next like a bad made for TV movie. I wish I could have stopped reading it, but I am one of the few who cannot stop reading a novel simply because I don't like it. If the story starts, I must know the ending, for this I pity myself. Simple book and possibly fun, for those who like the easy read, and occasionally steamy books... though not for me.



4. A New Orleans ghost tour guide sees dead people. When her best friend shows up as a spirit, Nikki gets alarmed. When the friend's body is found at home with no signs of a break-in, Nikki's suspicions escalate. Could one of her own group members be involved? Mystery man Brent Blackhawk seems to think so. He's a paranormal investigator with an eyes for ghosts and for the lovely tour director. Can they team up to find out what happened to her friend and to a missing FBI agent? Or will their growing passion get in the way of their investigation? This fast read engrosses the reader in spooky New Orleans atmosphere. Better yet, it'll make you crave a plate of warm, sugary beignets.



5. I loved this book. I loved hearing about New Orleans. I starting reading it after a trip to New Orleans - the book made me feel like I was there again. I loved the supernatural element of it. However, the ending just came out of nowhere - one minute it was an interesting read; the next minute everything was revealed out of the blue - the ending really needed more work before being released. I was disappointed in that aspect, but the rest of the book was great!

5 comments about Everyday Fashions of the Thirties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs (Dover Books on Costume & Textiles).

1. This is another useful research book, like all the ones that I've seen in this series, it's a valuble source for pictures of middle class, everyday clothes. It has pictures of women's accessories and shows some men's and children's clothes, which many period fashion books tend to ignore. Highly practical book for theatrical costumers.



2. I own four books in this 'Searies' (Twenties, Thirties, Forties, Fifties) and I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are jam-packed with a great mix of pictures in good proportion which show the morphing of fashions over the decade(s). Dominant are women's clothing (formal, casual, dresses, hats, coats, shoes, with some undergarments, sportswear, nightwear, swimwear). Then there are smatterings of accessories (handbags, watches, gloves, powder compacts, belts, jewelry). Also some menswear and a small amount of childrenswear. All clothing is being worn.
   
   All pictures are black and white and have a certain (pleasant) level of graininess. What you get are the original pictures, prices and descriptions from the catalogs. There is only a very small amount of introductory material (just a one page 'Publisher's Note' for the Thirties).
   
   Changes over the series:
   The transition from drawings (all very good and realistic) to photos occurs in the Thirties.
   The variety of accessories appearing in the Twenties is largely reduced by the later decades (Fifties almost exclusively clothing and hats with some shoes).
   
   There's only one problem with these catalogs...you can't order the contents!



3. Purchased this book soon after it was published in a Baltimore art museum.
   
   Modern Fashions and hairstyles today reveal absolute mediocrity. No style. No class. More to offend the eye than to please. Trousered females with short cropped hair and men whose hair is unkept wearing garments ill made. Swimsuits that leave nothing to the imagination worn by people who one just wishes were not visable because they keep themselvs as they do their awful cloths.
   
   This book is a treat to the eye. Wonderful cloths that show modern apparel was not alawys the norm.
   
   For the student of History this book is a valuable source of information on the cloths of the period, for which I purchased my copy. No scoloarly work but merely taken from the Sears catalogs of the time. Undergarments and accessories, shoes to hats, everything is shown here.



4. I have to agree with the other reviewers. Modern fashion tends to look "dumbed down". I've owned this book for some time and refer to it often. Not to copy, necessarily; but to find inspiration. There are clothes available that still look "classic". Many of the original Sears pictures were in color but are reproduced here in b&w. Many of the reproductions have an overly fuzzy look. I suppose that's why the book is only $15 instead of 2 or 3 times as much. The Schiffer Sears series has sharp color images but you pay twice as much. You could buy the original Sears catalogs on eBay (I have a few) for even more. Your choice. This book will give you a good overview of the fashion changes during the decade and you can take it from there. Also of note are the accessories. A New Deal/FDR watch! A Buck Rogers watch! This isn't camp, either, but back in the days when this was serious stuff. Highly recommended!



5. If you want a comprehensive book that immerses you in the world of fashion from the thirties, this is the one. It is authentic and beautifully laid out and depicts numerous costume items from the thirties, though mostly focusing on women. The pictures depict everything from dresses to shoes, hats to gloves; the women's hairstyles, makeup, undergarments, and overall looks give the reader the most authentic possible view of fashion and the aesthetic ideals of the time. The catalogue also shows the prices and features descriptions that include fabric and color. There are some pictures of men's and children's fashions. This book is thorough and unbelievably beautiful. The whole series of Sears catalogue fashions by decade is amazing. I recommend them all!

5 comments about Jan Foulke's Guide to Dolls: A Definitive Identification and Price Guide (Jan Foulke's Guide to Dolls).

1. Any collector who works with dolls knows there's a wealth of guides for specific types and brands on the market and not a few general guides, but JAN FOULKE'S GUIDE TO DOLLS is better than most: it packs in one of the most comprehensive coverages we've seen, including an antique and modern section of details, covering composition and factors influencing collectible prices, and including histories and even doll clothing prices. It's billed as a 'definitive collection and price guide' and doesn't miss its mark, packing in the details essential to proper pricing and identification.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. A must have for collectors. Foulke is well-known in the doll world. This latest guide is clearly organized and contains information on a variety of collectible dolls.



3. Each author and each doll book has a personality of its own....... I found this specific book very helpful, very realistic, and prices and values leaning a bit towards the lower range value in many cases, which is a good thing... I recommend this book. My sister is now rapidly becoming a doll collector and has a good eye for quality dolls.. She will find this book very helpful and will be surprised at Christmas when she opens this gift......... I also found new doll makers in this book mentioned.



4. 
   I was very pleased with Jan Foulk's latest book, "A Guide To Dolls", her first identification and price guide since the last Blue Book she and her husband edited. She is so talented, and our Doll Club, locally, always looked forward to the Blue Books. I have them all in my library.
   
   Also, I am so pleased we have Amazon to help in our searches on any subject.



5. Whether you have an antique china head doll or a vintage GI Joe, this Guide to Dolls is an identification and price guide that's worth having. It seems to replace the Blue Book of Doll Values that Jan Foulke has become known for. (Her last Blue Book was the 16th edition.)However, don't let the name of the book fool you, it is just as comprehensive as the Blue Books and is still packed with a lot of photos to help you identify your existing dolls (or those you may be considering purchasing). The first few pages cover doll collecting in general -- what to look for. Ms. Foulke then provides a few brief suggestions for buying and selling dolls at auction before getting into the meat of the book--the price guide.
   
   The book lists dolls by manufacturer and by mold number in case that's all you have to go by. Each doll or type of doll includes a reported price or price range for a doll in good condition.
   
   Whether you are an avid doll collector or someone just trying to clean out the attic, you may want Jan Foulke at your side before buying or selling your dolls.