2 comments about California Wild.

1. A portion of the proceeds from purchasing this book is being donated to help preserve California's wilderness areas.
   
   If you ask people who don't know California well about the state, they usually describe beautiful beaches, surfing, sailing, tourist attractions like Disneyland and Universal Studios, gorgeous bridges around San Francisco, and famous resorts. What those places all have in common is that there are lots of people to be found there.
   
   Since Ansel Adams began his photography in California, there's been another California that people cherish and want to protect -- the places where there are no people and the wild beauty provides a respite from "civilization." California Wild is an update of that vision, provided in a series of helpful essays about why and where wilderness areas are important in California and many stunning color photographs to help you appreciate what you probably haven't seen before.
   
   Unfortunately, wilderness is constantly in retreat in California and elsewhere. For some areas, these photographs will be the only way to experience wilderness as that recession continues. For those who love the wilderness but don't know where to find it, this book will also be a helpful guide for future trips to and within California. For those who cherish the wilderness, it's also a good idea to share the book with others to increase the legion of those who are defending wilderness areas.
   
   To me, the photographs are the best part of the book. Here are some of my favorites:
   
   Sand verbena against a background of the Santa Rosa Mountains (page 3)
   
   Shifting sands in the Mojave Desert (page 7)
   
   Klamath River (page 9)
   
   Hitchcock Lakes (page 10)
   
   Hat Creek (page 16)
   
   McClure's Beach on Point Reyes (page 18)
   
   Mount Shasta (page 23 and 26)
   
   Smith stream (page 36)
   
   Yosemite Falls (page 59)
   
   El Capitan, Cloud's Rest and Half Dome (pages 60-61)
   
   Mono Lake (page 65)
   
   Oregon Tree (page 75)
   
   Valley oaks (page 96)
   
   Poppies and lupine in Antelope Valley (page 103)
   
   Yucca and Mendanhall Ridge (pages 106-107)
   
   Sycamores (page 110)
   
   Death Valley (pages 112, 115, and 119)
   
   White Mountains (pages 120-121)
   
   Desert blooms (pages 126-127)
   
   Aspens in Lundy Canyon (page 130)
   
   Stanislaus River (page 138)
   
   Desert sunset (page 140).
   
   I hope this book will give the peace and tranquility you desire.



2. California Wild can be summed up with two words - incredibly beautiful. Tim Palmer takes the reader on a trip through the wide variety of geology, botany, and animal life of California in this absolutely gorgeous book. The writing is excellent and makes the reader feel they are a part of the wonderful wilds of California. These are some of the most awe-inspiring works of photography to grace the pages of any nature book. California Wild is highly recommended both for the writing style that invites the reader to be a part of a guided tour of the wilds and for the incredible photography.

5 comments about Kitchen Glassware of the Depression Years: Identification & Values (Kitchen Glassware of the Depression Years).

1. I have been using Florence's books for research and pricing. What a world of help and knowledge!!!I recommend this book for those, like me, who are new and need a helping hand and guidance as well as for those who have been in the business for years. My thanks!!!



2. An excellent resource superior to their book on Oven Ware. I would highly recommend. Lots of pictures and values.



3. THIS BOOK IS NOT ONLY A NECESSITY TO USE TO KNOW THE VALUE OF ANTIQUE GLASSWARE, IT SO INTERESTING JUST TO BROWSE THROUGH WITH ALL THE COLORFUL GLASSWARE AND ITEMS YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN YEARS AND SOME I'VE NEVER SEEN. I'VE REALLY ENJOYED LOOKING AT THIS BOOK OVER AND OVER AGAIN.



4. This book goes everywhere with me! I've bought a lot of reference books, and it's definitely one of the best.



5. I love this book. It's colorful and informative. It was much cheaper than the book store. It arrived in excellent condition.

5 comments about Costume Through the Ages: Over 1400 Illustrations.

1. This is quite simply a fabulous book, and a very useful one too! I am an author who writes historical novels, and when I need to know what the characters I'm writing about would have been wearing in any given year from antiquity through to modern times (1930s), I turn to this book. Fortunately, it's not cluttered with text, but merely contains drawings, pure and simple and straighforward. It's the quickest, most accurate reference book I own, aside from my dictionary, of course.
   
   My only qualm is that it doesn't contain anything about undergarments, such as bustles, knickers, petticoats, crinolines or girdles. But then, the pictures in this book are sourced from historical paintings, sculptures, mosaics, illuminated manuscripts and so forth, which probably never showed such things, as they might have been considered indecent or irrelevant. (I suppose not too many people throughout history wanted to be painted in their underwear!)
   
   If you're a writer, an arts student, a costume designer or just someone who has an interest in the history of fashion, I would highly recommend this book to you.



2. This book consisted of black and white 2D scetches that lacked any real depth or detail. They are basic and generalised in presenting each period and contain nothing new that you would not have already seen or known about that decade.
   I do not recommend it to anyone who has a intrest in costume or design, but think it would be better suited as a childrens colouring in book.
   Don't waste your money.



3. They say up front that they (the authors) purposely did not put in any writing to as not to sway our view of the clothing. Alas, that means if one does not know period clothing from LOTS of different periods, one will not be able to identify items. Still, lovely drawings. It will make a fine adult coloring book! (Yes, I'm serious) :-)



4. I love to use this book as a quick visual reference while working on shows. When helping a customer, or explaining something to an assistant at our shop, this book is the easiest way to do so. It is so great to have a book where I can flip to a certain date, and have pages full of pictures grouped together to show someone what exactly I am thinking of. We have to work at a fast pace, and this book saves me lots of valuable time.



5. This was purchased as a gift for my 11-year-old granddaughter who is very interested in historic costumes. She immediately, on Christmas day, sharpened the special hard-lead colored pencils I bought to go with it and proceeded to submerge herself in the detailed illustrations. Seemed like a successful gift to me.

5 comments about Jewelry Savvy: What Every Jewelry Wearer Should Know.

1. The fact that every page of this book is filled with aha's and valuable gems of information makes it a 'must-read'. The blending of comprehensive jewelry knowledge and Image consulting principles is just one of many outstanding features of this book and makes it a very valuable resource. This is the first of its kind - and a definite must-have for every fashion-conscious woman's library.
   
   Jewelry Savvy is an excellent primer on how jewelry can be both beautiful AND be used to enhance one's personal image. Finally we have a full book on this topic, not just a page or two in a chapter on accessories. Jewelry Savvy sparkles as it brings awareness to the forefront, educating us about the powerful presence accessories have in dressing with style.
   
   It is obvious when reading this book that it is thoroughly researched and comprehensive in scope, yet is an engaging read in a conversational style.The passion of the authors for jewelry shines through. I'll be giving this book as gifts - it's that good!
   
   
   
   



2. I am a jewelry lover and have taken jewelry and gemology courses and bought lots of jewelry in my life and I found this book to address real issues I've encountered, and it also gave me lots of ideas I never thought of.
   
   I'd recommend it to anyone who loves jewelery, especially good as a gift for mom, aunts, etc. The chapters about grouping jewelry and finding my style were inspiring. Also the tips about recycling jewelry were helpful.



3. I really enjoyed this book. It is helping me define my jewelry wardrobe and discover what looks best on me. The care for different types of jewelry was important b/c I need to take care of what I spend that kind of money on. I also valued the information on wearing jewelry in different ways. The reference section at the back cleared up many questions I had about different types of semiprecious stones. Kudos to the authors!



4. The appreciation of jewelry is a culturally influenced subjective judgment that can vary widely from individual to individual. Nevertheless there are basic principles related to art, image, and adornment. Expertly co-authored by Cynthia A. Sliwa and Caroline Stanley, "Jewelry Savvy: What Every Jewelry Wearer Should Know" combines basic product information about jewelry, about wearing jewelry, and about purchasing and maintaining jewelry that will enable the reader to acquire a discernable degree of sophistication and self-expression. Of special note is the inclusion of a number of 'Savvy Tips' about jewelry. Enhanced with more than one hundred images and illustrations germane to choosing and wearing jewelry, "Jewelry Savvy" is a unique and very highly recommended instructional guide for those who are beginning their own jewelry collections, as well as anyone wanting to get the best value for their investment in jewelry with respect to their appearance no matter their age or the occasion.



5. This is a wonderful book! Well-written and easy to follow, it makes such perfect fashion sense I was delighted. When you choose earrings or necklaces (and yes, eyeglasses too) that compliment the shape of your face, your personal image is naturally enhanced. Notes about the different metals, qualities of gemstones, history, care and storage make this a handy reference guide for anyone. It's a first-rate book that every woman should make part of her personal fashion library.

5 comments about Black Mountain Breakdown.

1. I enjoyed Smith's Black Mountain Breakdown. Smith's story takes us from Crystal's high school years into her early thirties. Along the way we meet interesting characters such as Crystal's friend Anges, the young rebel Mack and her dear Aunt's Nora and Grace. I felt touched by Crystal's emotional rollercoaster.



2. Smith's character Crystal Spangler is many things, but boring is not one of them. My first reading of this story, I felt a lot like the reviewers here who didn't like the book. The strange thing was that, try as I might, I couldn't forget about it, and went back to it again in the last few days. What is this story about, besides life in the Appalachians and the locals who inhabit it? It's about a circle that's sometimes clear and sometimes fuzzy that is nevertheless complete.
   
   Agnes and Crystal are best friends for life, but we see from the very beginning that big, frumpy Agnes is more well grounded and stronger than her pretty blond, blue-eyed friend who is given to overreacting to her father's dark poetry readings and need to be taken care of by others. Early on, Agnes is a sort of surrogate mother for her. Crystal's father is a heavy smoking alcoholic who has withdrawn into his own space, dependent on both Crystal and his wife Lorena's attention as he slowly chooses to slip away from life. The three Spangler children are effected by him and Lorena's co-dependant enabling in different ways. Jules is bitter, angry, and prefers men to women, ashamed of his family and home. Sykes is flighty and given to following any direction the wind blows in, but he calms down eventually. Crystal is a lot like Sykes, but she isn't as strong because she is raped by an uncle in her junior year of high school, and then, having blocked the entire incident from her mind, goes home to find her father dead.
   
   Crystal will become a floater: months after the blocked out assault and Grant Spangler's death, Crystal will break up with her steady boyfriend Roger Lee, but doesn't know just why. My guess is that she feels he's too closely tied with both the conscious and unconscious incidents. She will begin a somewhat remote and intimately charged relationship with a local bad boy who eventually leaves her for country stardom in Nashville. Constantly needing something to hold onto (like she held onto her daddy's robe upon finding him dead and having a nervous breakdown), she discovers Jesus, then she discovers random male partners. Crystal is empty and just doesn't care. She drifts like a leaf on the wind, always desperate for something to hold onto, constantly anxiety ridden and sometimes lost in a world of hallucinations. She takes up with a hippie radical who ends up hanging himself and has another nervous breakdown.
   
   She returns to the Appalachians and becomes a school teacher, one of the few times she is finally together and admirable, because she genuinely cares about her students. There's just one problem with Crystal; every time things are going half-well, she finds a way to screw it up. A phone call from Jules, her hippie brother boyfriend telling her she's doomed. These things all stick in her mind. We also see Agnes's point of view through this all, sometimes jealous, but mostly knowing all along that Crystal lets other people put ideas in her head that harm her. Crystal is always way too vulnerable despite her strengths.
   
   What goes around comes around full circle. Roger Lee still loves her and dumps his family for her. For a while she is happy with him, but eventually things happen similar to their high school years. Once again, a chain of events makes her overly anxious, and then she recalls the forgotten incidents...
   
   This book is an eery and painful portrait of a young girl who came from a highly effected, dysfunctional home and, through a series of unfortunate circumstances, can never quite take control of her own life, always needing someone else to take care of her. If you are uncomfortable with this story, perhaps it's because you see elements of yourself in Crystal. All too often, I admit I do. What gets me most is how she always ends up talking like her father, beginning sentences with "Listen...," how she never outgrows the need to have men tell her stories, and how Agnes is the one who ends up taking more care of her in the end than her mother. Full circle, and a sad one at that. More disturbing is how nothing, save for the heat of the moment, ever seems to fulfill her for long. People like this are more real than we want to believe, and Lee Smith has brought this home in a bittersweet and unforgettably prosaic style. If you like books that don't end with a glass slipper and a prince, I urge you to give this one a try. Crystal Spangler is not always likeable, but she definitely isn't forgettable.



3. Black Mountain Breakdown is Lee Smith's first novel and chronicles the life of Crystal Spangler from teenager-hood through young adult-hood. Crystal is the youngest of her family and the love of her mother's life because she was a late baby and her older brothers had "left" in one sense or another by the time she was in her early teens.
   
   Crystal is beautiful, emotional, and hard to catch. She also reflects back what others give her so that they love her without really knowing why or who she is. Crystal's father Grant is dying at the beginning of the novel--simply sitting in a chair in the front parlor of the house waiting for death to take him. It's a sad existence, but he and Crystal have a connection that foreshadows Crystal's own mental health issues throughout the rest of her life.
   
   After her father's death Crystal turns to anyone to give her life substance and meaning, but only turns to herself once and that is when she is teaching junior high--a vocation she seems to have a knack for.
   
   Her friend Agnes stays with her throughout her life and the two of them mirror one another in life experiences. While Crystal's seems to be living high and happy, Agnes is miserable, but as Crystal begins her decline, Agnes begins her climb to becoming quite the entrepreneur.
   
   BMB is a good book even if it is about a very depressing and tragic life. The mental illness isn't surprising considering the family history and experiences Crystal has, but it is sad nonetheless.



4. I love Lee Smith's books. She captures life and all the curves it can and does throw at us.
   
   BLACK MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN deals with Crystal, a young teenage girl living in the Appalachias. She is beautiful, she is popular, she is kind, she is sweet. She is a cheerleader, she dates any boy she wants to, she gets good grades. EVERYONE loves Crystal! She is just a golden girl and not one that you can't stand because she has it all. Crystal is just well loved by everyone in her small Southern town.
   
   But Crystal has her demons, or rather the demons have Crystal. While young teenage Crystal is visiting her two doting aunts who live in another small town, she has a life-altering horrific event happen to her. What I liked about how Lee Smith handled this situation was this - she never mentions what happened to Crystal; however, it is assumed. Then, towards the end of the book, that event is brought to light and explains a lot of why Crystal has a breakdown.
   
   After this event that really mentally/emotionally hurts Crystal and then with the death of her father, she slowly but surely starts to loose her grip on life. She becomes more and more detached about her life and people around her. She dates constantly. She initiates sex with these young boys and they can't get enough of her. However, Crystal is still the most popular girl in town and adored by men/women and boys/girls. No one seems to notice how Crystal is loosing it, or actually having a nervous breakdown.
   
   She goes through boys, having sex with most of them, not caring, not worrying about it, and not truly even "being" there. She breaks the hearts of all of them. She has tons of friends, but has a true and steadfast friend in Agnes who lives right next door to her. Agnes is the opposite of Crystal -- dowdy, serious, righteous, but she loves Crystal and looks after her always. Everyone should be blessed to have a friend such as Agnes.
   
   Crystal's condition worsens as she goes through her life. Events come and go and she just flits through her life, detached and not caring. She leaves her home town for a while, basically loosing contact with friends and family. However, after years, she returns home and seems to get things together for herself mentally by teaching. She turns out to be a great and very caring teacher. You find yourself rooting for Crystal and hoping she can handle life! However, life throws more at Crystal.
   
   In the end, Crystal does just break down as the title suggests. This is not a happy book; however, it is an excellent book. It is a fast, short read and one I will recommend to friends and family. Lee Smith is a great writer and you can tell that she puts her heart and soul into her work.
   
   Thankfully, Lee Smith has a large list of books so you can sit down and enjoy more of her works. I haven't read one of her books yet that I did not like.
   
   Thanks, Ms. Smith. More, please.
   
   Thank you -- Pam



5. I had the unique experience of sitting in a hotel lobby reading this book when Lee Smith walked in. I'll bet writers love catching people absorbed in their books. This is a deft narrative that will not deliver a nice neat moral for you, nor polish any of its characters to likeability; it will however let you peer intensely into the characters' lives and make you see them without flinching. The very mysteriousness of the heroine Crystal's lack of self-knowledge--and refusal to know herself--is one of the most chilling aspects, aside from the physical trauma to which she is subjected. You might want to attribute all of Crystal's later behavior to these early, formative experiences, but this author doesn't make things so easy. The book resists distillation--like life--but the characters invite compassion, and however much Crystal may feel distanced from her own story, the reader will find it hard to remain detached, especially when caught up in the clear, beautiful prose.

5 comments about Blue Book of Pool Cues.

1. It's amazing how much my old cue has appreciated in value. I almost sold it at my garage sale. Thanks to Simpson's BLUE BOOK, I got almost 10 times what I thought it was worth. This book is a goldmine.



2. This is a great value for content and price! I don't know how it could have been done much better for the cost. Some of the minor cuemakers don't have pictures of their work, but I suspect they didn't submit any to the publisher. It was a big help to me when I went to buy a cue.



3. As this is the 3rd edition of Blue Books, that tells you that people into pool cues have been buying them, with good reason.
   First off, the author, Brad Simpson, has been adding more and more info into each new edition, the 1st ed.(1996) had 465 pages, the 2nd, (1999) 600 pages, and this 3rd edition,(2005), a whopping 913.
   The number of color photos's showing the work of the more well known cuemakers, past and present, living and dead, has also increased with each new edition and, IMO, is the best feature of these books.
   The 3rd edition has a fairly extensive listing of cuemakers and a brief business bio of them. Their current cue offerings, as well as their older and one of a kind cues is provided. The pricing guidelines should be regarded in the most general of terms, as so much goes into the value of a pool cue.
   If your a collector or just someone looking to spend a few hundred dollars on a nice cue to play with, The Blue Book of Pool Cues, 3rd Ed., can provide both useful information and enjoyment at a reasonable cost.



4. If you enjoy playing pool and want to find out who makes the pool cues we use, this is the book for you.



5. Great reference material for anyone interested in collecting cues. Just wish the book was hardback.

5 comments about 50 State Quarters Collector's Folder: 1999-2008 Denver & Philadelphia Mints.

1. Hi! Ebay has a seller whom offers a high-quality, U.S.A. map/book which measures, when closed, approximately 13" X 16", with each State that truely SECURES a collectible quarter. Great for children and adults! Check it out! Only for a nominal investment in the amount of $12.95 plus shipping.



2. What a pain in the toosh... cheap plastic is supposed to "grab" the quarters if you "simply push down on them". HA, what a joke. I turned to washable kids glue to help them stay in. Very frustrating, especially for my 5yo.



3. IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO PUT COINS IN, BUT FOR SURE THEY WON'T COME OUT. I LIKE THE EXTRA SPACES FOR THE OLD STYLE AND THE FUTURE STYLE COINS.



4. I was disappointed and had to send it back as it wasn't what I wanted. I didn't realize that it was for quarters from both places they mint the state quarters and I just wanted a folder for one quarter for each state and I wasn't concerned that I had one from each place. I didn't realize they printed them in two places anyway. Richard Risener



5. I thought there would be 50 spaces for the state quarters but there are 100. I was not aware that each quarter is made in two locations. Now I have to start looking for 50 more quarters!

1 comments about GI Joe 8 Inch Adventure Team - Danger in the Jungle.

1. The detail of the figure and tiger are very well done. The articulation of both is also cool. The accessories finish it off well with a net, spring trap, real steal chain leash, sword and animal grabber. There is also a walkie talkie looking thing that is supposed to be a GPS and goggles that I don't know the point of, but they are still pretty cool. Instead of a scabbord for the sword there is just a plastic loop that attaches nicely to the figures back. The ends of the package also attach together to form a weapons locker

5 comments about Hallmarks of the Southwest (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This is the eagerly-awaited second edition of Hallmarks of the Southwest; as a longtime collector of Native American jewelry, I'm happy to finally have a copy of this book.
   
   Naturally, not every craftsman can be represented in such a comprehensive work, and complicating this is that not every piece is stamped with identifying marks. (Some of my favorite jewelry isn't stamped at all, even with "Sterling.") Many of the references are a carry-over from the first edition; since silversmithing is often a family tradition, certian respected craftsmen working today may not be represented but their families are.
   
   It's a valuable overview, and leaves the reader [me, at least] wanting more.



2. Although the exchange process was easy, both copies of the book that Amazon sent had pages either missing or hugely out of order. I wished there was a way for Amazon to check the copies, under such circumstances, before sending them out.



3. We have had previous editions of this book by Barton Wirght for years. This up-dated edition is just more current, but overall it is a very helpful bood to us.



4. I've been able to find some of the marks in the book but so many times the marks I'm looking for are not listed. I was also surprised that some names, such as Harry Morgan, were not in the book.



5. This book is a must have for the serious collector of Native American jewelry. This compilation is broad and attributes many makers to their nation of origin. There are names, initials, and pictographs, with an assortment of unknowns as well. This book is worth its weight in gold!

5 comments about Cameos: Old & New, 3rd Edition.

1. I am one of the small number of portrait cameo carvers on gemstone.

   I found this book to be excellent. There is a wealth of detail on all aspects of cameos. There are also good illustrations. There is valuable info for collectors on identifying and valuing Cameos.

   Information on how to distinguish Ultrasonic Cameos from the more valuable hand-carved cameos is given.

   You will gain a lot of knowledge on how Cameos are made and valued from reading this title.




2. When most people think of cameos, they think of the standard woman's profile carved from shell and mounted as a brooch or necklace. But the art of the cameo encompasses far more than that. Historically, it dates back to the ancient world, and over the centuries many materials have been used in making these works of art. Although female heads are probably the most common subject, mythological figures, animals, portraits of individuals, and many other things have found their way onto cameos. The quality can range all the way from cheap mass-produced modern items to fine hand-crafted pieces worthy of any museum.
   
   Anna Miller's "Cameos" is a wonderful introduction to cameos. She covers the history of the form, the subjects normally found and what each one looks like--very useful in an age where few people know their mythology. She describes the different materials that have been used in making cameos--including lava from Mt. Vesuvius, shell, agate, onyx, plastic, and glass. There's an extensive section on how cameos are made and on the people who made (and make) them. One particularly useful discussion describes the differences between traditional hand-carved works and those made by modern ultrasonic machines (vital for any modern buyer). The author also gives information on how to evaluate quality and condition and on market value. The book is illustrated throughout with black and white pictures, and there is an extensive color section in the middle. One of the best things about this book is that the author is able to convey her appreciation of the art of cameos to the reader. "Cameos" is an essential reference for anyone who wants to acquire a knowledge and understanding of this art. Highly recommended.



3. If you love cameos and collect them this is a wonderful little book for you. Tells you the history, the types, the reasons for certain styles, how to tell the age, how to tell the value, and all the necessary terminology for discussing them. Good illustrations are also a plus.



4. I liked the book. It could of had alot more information in it because there was a few things that I did not get answered...like I had hoped. But I guess you can't expect one book to give you all the information that a person seeks.



5. The book is very thorough and spotting every important and relevant issue concerning old and newer cameos. Very easy to read and remember, giving all that's good to know about cameos. Recommended for anyone interested in knowing them - collectors, dealers, teachers...
   
   The only thing is that almost all of the photographs are in black & white, and in a rather poor quality. If the photos were in good quality color, this would have just made the book perfect. I, for one, would be happy to pay for the difference.