No comments about Antique Vienna Bronzes.

1 comments about Standard Catalog Of World Coins 1601-1700 (Standard Catalog of World Coins 17th Century Edition 1601-1700).

1. This formidable work manages to be comprehensive despite the scope and ambiguities of the period covered. The listings of coins themselves are in step with very recent numismatic discoveries. Accompanying photographs to many of the coinages are clear and fairly representative. Now, the length with which German issues are treated may surprise some, but this may be due to availability of records. Also, the prices quoted for most coins in general seem very approximate at best (particulary for issues from within many Spanish dominions), but this is only to be expected of a publication that must remain usable over several inflationary years. As a reference in identifying coins from the world of the 17th century, this Standard Catalog will stand one in good stead indeed!

5 comments about Are You Afraid of the Dark?.

1. This was my first Sidney Sheldon and surely it will be my last. I only picked up this audio book, because I wanted some mindless entertainment on my long drive down to LA from SF...and it was one of the few audio books at my local library...anyways, the premise was interesting. But the twists and turns were just preposterous, unbelievable. I found myself laughing at the characters' predicaments. The dialogue was inauthentic and made me wonder, 'who would say such a thing in a real conversation?'. Perhaps it was the bad actress who read the book? I wonder how Sheldon became so famous with this kind of pedestrian writing. Thank goodness I didn't purchase this book. For this genre, I much prefer Dean Koontz, John Sanford, and even Mary Higgins Clark.



2. In the 70's and 80's Sidney Sheldon wrote a number of entertaining potboilers full of beguiling plot twists and action. He was never a great writer, but in books such as If Tomorrow Comes, Master of the Game, Other Side of Midnight, and Rage of Angels, he manage to write stories with attention to detail, make the reader care for the characters and provide a sheen of plausibility to the events of the story.
   
   In the 90's Sheldon really began to fall off. He was obviously getting older and not keeping up with what was going on. He still retained his ability to keep the story moving and the reader engaged to find out what happened next, but whatever attention he paid to character development, relationships and writing halfway decent dialogue seem to disappear book by book until quite frankly he became a purveyor of ludricous tales.
   
   Are You Afraid of the Dark is Sheldon's final novel. It's a far fetched tale of an evil think tank President who conjures up a plan to control the world's weather. Why? Because he's pure evil. That's all. A bunch of people are killed. Two of the dead men's widows team up to try to find out what's going on and spend most of the book escaping assasination attempts. The whole book is really silly with stilted dialogue and implausible action and a blithe disregard to reality. I was laughing at much of the action in the book, particularily the flashback scene where one of the woman's husbands rhapsodizes about his wife's snoring.
   
   Still the book is quaintly entertaining. Sheldon grabs your attention and you can't put it down until it's over. Perhaps it was because I just wanted to know how ludricous the story would become, but Sheldon possessed a talent. And despite some of the trashy and gratuitous sex and violence scenes, there's a certain sweetness to the book. The heroines are women who want to be loved and in the flashbacks recalling their courtship, Sheldon does a decent job of capturing the emotional uncertainty of the early stages of a relationship. It's a shame he couldn't write with the same sensitivity and nuance throughout the book as it would make the reader really care about the heroines; in the end, his emphasis on moving the far fetched and ludricous plot along renders all his characters as cardboard. In the end, Sheldon may have been wise to retire in the early 90's but he kept on writing. Ultimately the fault lies with his publisher and editor who allowed him to churn out such lazy work. His sales fell off over the last 10 years of his life and it was because it appeared no one took him aside and said he could do better. For a taste of Sheldon's better work, read If Tommorow Comes or Rage of Angels. But if you are looking for a book that will make you laugh and pass the time away on a trip, Are You Afraid of the Dark will do the job.



3. The book begins with a series of deaths around the globe -a woman is killed in Berlin and the event made to look like suicide ,as is the death of a man who was flung from the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris .Add a death in what appears to be aplane crash and an apparent drugs related mob killing and you have the evnts that set the plot in train .All the deceased were employees of KIG ,a prestigious and profitable think tank run by the charismatic -and it transpires -utterly unprincipled Tanner Kingsly .Tanner has ordered the deaths as the individuals were about to blow thw whistle on an illegal project set up by KIG ,a project code named Prima .
   two women ,widows of two of the murdered men ,get wind that all is not kosher and go on the run from Kingsley and his hired killers.One is Kelly ,a well known fashion model who late husband was the Paris victim ,the other is Diane ,a successful New York based artist .The relationship between them is at firststrained but a friendshipo develops as the are pursued across the States and Europe narrowly escaping Kingsley's hirelings at every turn
   
   The pace is crisp but tension is vitiated by frequent flashbacks to the lives of the two women and to Kingsley's usurping of the think tank from his idealistic brother .These background stories add little to the novel but overall if you can forgive the clunking prose and implausible narrative this will while away a reasonably pleasurable few hours of your time



4. This novel effectively held my attention by following our heroines and their ability to outthink the think tank! Kingsley International Group (KIG) is a worldwide think tank on the brink of a mind breaking project - PRIMA. Andrew and Tanner Kingsley are genius brothers and head of KIG. Andrew's aspiration of helping others through his corporation and ability to solve problems irritates his brother, Tanner, who aspires to rule the world using and abusing his knowledge of environmental control. As despicable death befalls the top people of KIG, two women, Diane Stevens and Kelly Harris, widows of two of the victims, brought together in grief and a very strong desire to avenge their husband's deaths, begin a dangerous journey which brings them head-to-head with tremendously evil and conniving forces. The story interests to the point of the spectacular as two ordinary women, an artist and a model, go up against high-level evil machines and find their way out of some pretty tight spots by mere luck! If you are looking for a more intense and believable murder mystery such as "The Other Side of Midnight," you won't find it in this story. "Are You Afraid of the Dark" is more of a Shrek adventure - entertaining, but not seriously taken as a high crime action drama.



5. aren't real either, but we love 'em because they are entertaining! Who cares if Sheldon stretches belief--his books are fun. I listened to the audio version of this book, which made it even better. Great readers add so much to the enjoyment level. Sheldon's books are always fast-paced and provide a level of excitement that provides one with an escape from the doldrums of everyday life. They are great on a plane, on the beach, or in a doctor's office waiting room. I thoroughly enjoyed the escapades of Kelly and Diane! A reviewer suggested that Sidney retire. Sadly, he died so that takes care of that, but it is a loss to me and to many others I'm sure.

5 comments about Pediatric Primary Care: A Handbook for Nurse Practitioners, Third Edition.

1. A good book for a basic overview of primary care including developmental milestones, physical assessment, and pathophysiology. I do not recommend it, however, if you are looking for in depth details and explanations.



2. I received the textbook exactly as ordered with prompt service. It is required for a course I am taking but will serve as a valuable resource in the future.



3. This book was in perfect condition and arrived very quickly.



4. This is a required textbook for my Family Practice course and its very informative and useful in its arrangement.



5. many of the test questions will undoubtedly be in this book so it was worth it.

1 comments about Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide.

1. Among the legions of racing fans that frequent such thoroughbred races as the Preakness, Belmont, and the Breeder's Cup, are those for whom their enthusiasm for the sport leads them to collect various kinds and categories of racing memorabilia. Now in an expanded and updated fourth edition, the "Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide", compiled by Judy Marchman is a unique and superbly illustrated compendium focusing on all of the Kentucky Derby glasses and shot glasses, as well as other rare and valuable glasses associated with professional horse racing. Organized chronologically by year, each color illustrated example also cites its price as a collectible. Ideal for novice collectors just starting out, and an informed reference for dealers and established collectors, "Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide" is an ideal and prized addition to personal, professional, and community library Antiques & Collectibles collections.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

3 comments about Barbie Doll Around the World 1964-2007: Identification & Values.

1. Once again, Michael Augustyniak gives us another wonderfully informative book, but this time on those very hard to find Barbie dolls from the foreign markets. Michael breaks the book down by country, and those include, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Europe, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Venezuela.
   
   As in his other books, Michael gives a picture of the doll and a close up on the face. Barbie, Ken, Skipper and Kelly, among others, are featured. The years range from 1964 to 2007 with over 350 pages and a break down of Barbie's foreign family tree and celebrity friends. With this overwhelming task of finding these obscure dolls, some lines are not complete, but this book is well worth the price for any Barbie collector.
   
   This is a useful and fun book about Barbie dolls around the world.



2. Good job indeed! I always like Augustyniak's works as he's very accurate in his descriptions and shares also lovely pictures of dolls which are important to guide collectors within the huge world of Barbie dolls. I especially appreciated this book about international versions of dolls as I'm Italian and recognized many of them as sold in my country alone. It was also useful to know about special editions from other countries such as Japan or Philippines. Thanks Michael, as I said: a good job indeed! :-)



3. Barbie Doll Around the World: Identification & Values 1964-2007 is a top pick for any specialty Barbie collection or for lending libraries seeking to go beyond the general antiques and collectibles guides to get specific about the most collectible items. Barbie dolls are among the most highly collected types of dolls, so if you're a public lending library seeking a popular collectible guide, make it BARBIE DOLL AROUND THE WORLD: it covers all kinds of Barbie collectibles, not just USA issues.

5 comments about The Celebrity Address Directory & Autograph Collector's Guide with 30,000 Entries.

1. I just heard that this book received the No. 1 rating from Autograph Magazine, Congratulations!



2. When I received my copy of this book I was surprised. It has many top name celebrities and a lot more! I like the lists he has in this book - celebrity birthdays, celebrity charities, celebrity hobbies, top paid entertainers, Rock' Roll Hall of Famers, Nobel Prize winners, places to get in person autographs and via venues -places to send a request where a celebrity is performing. I haven't seen these features in any other celebrity book. Got to go, I have letters to write.



3. I like the way this book gives background information on celebrities. I can always use some useful facts about celebrities when I write to them. I use the celebrity birthday list a lot. It is a good way to break the ice in writing to a celebrity. I usually write to all the celebrities that have the same birthday as me. Other times I just write to the celebrity wishing them a happy birthday. I have had good success this way. Some of the celebrities that have replied to me are Mohammed Ali, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Ron Howard.



4. I live in a small town in North Dakota and writing to celebrities is the only way I have to contact them. I have used the "The Celebrity Address Directory" and I am getting fantastic results. I had a couple of return to sender and used the satisfaction guarantee form in the back of the book. I got answers to my requests right away. I contacted the publisher by e-mail and the publisher had the new addresses within minutes! I will stay with this book forever, it is the only one I will ever need.



5. I received my copy of the January issue of Autograph Collector Magazine and read the review on "The Address Directory & Autograph Collector's Guide" (which I own and use a lot). It received rave reviews as "refreshing, rich in data and this book will keep autograph collectors busy for a long time." Since I have used this book I have been getting better than average responses.

2 comments about Turn-of-the-Century Doors, Windows and Decorative Millwork: The Mulliner Catalog of 1893.

1. This is apparently a reprint of one of the really great old catalogs of Victorian Millwork! It has fabulous designs for window ornamentation, verandas, brackets, gable ends, fireplace mantels and most especially doors. Black & White sketches show an impressive variety of ideas.



2. This is a good reference to the time period. This is not a "how to" book but rather a period catalog expertly reproduced. This book is good for someone who is interested in creating a home with elements from the late Victorian era.

5 comments about Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money: Spiritual and Practical Ways to Create Abundance and More Fun in Your Life (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (Hyperion)).

1. This book has been incredibly useful. I now recommend it to everyone for personal and business uses. The insight it provides is unmistakebly worth every penny and the gas to go and get it!



2. I gave up reading Richard Carlson's "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money" (formerly titled "Don't Worry, Make Money"), but only because I have other books that I'd rather be reading right now. Carlson's book consists of 100 short sermons about getting along in life, and it's all good stuff. Most of the lessons are obvious from their titles: Express Your Gratitude Toward Others; Think BIG!; Ask for What You Want; Charge What You Are Worth; Think About Purple Snowflakes; etc. Each is backed up with an anecdote and a bit of explanation. (OK, "Purple Snowflakes" is about being different when you need to get someone's attention -- such as taping your message to a football and mailing that, to make sure your letter will be noticed and opened.) I particularly liked Lesson 15, "Remind Yourself that Your Life Begins Now," in which Carlson points out that a ship's wake does not power or steer the vessel. We have momentum, of course -- and other constraints -- but it's up to us to decide each day in which direction to steer. If this sort of thing inspires you, Carlson's bibliography of 29 similar positive-thinking book may be of use. Or look for his other six Don't Sweat the Small Stuff titles. Good advice, all of it. The more seriously you take it, the more it will benefit you.



3. "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" By Richard Carlson, PH.D (printed in the United States. Published by Hyperion, 77 W. 66th Street, New York, New York 10023-6298 (previously published as 'Don't Worry, Make Money').

   This book is a non-fictional, self help/motivational book.
   The main theme of the book is how to live a life that is more productive, wealthy and carefree. It consists of one hundred short chapters, each with its' own philosophy like 'Be willing to change' or 'Remind yourself that your life isn't your enemy, but your thinking can be'.
   Richard Carlson has created a whole series of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" books. When you read one, continue and read them all, they all go hand in hand. He is a frequent guest on many National Television and Radio programs. He lectures many enthusiastic audiences, both in the United States and Internationally. Recently, he was featured on PBS in a special about his don't sweat philosophy. He has paired up with his wife Kristine Karlson to write 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love'. What a great idea!
   Don't Sweat The Small Stuff About Money" covers everything from getting rid of fear, anger and stress by providing practical solutions. In these one-hundred short chapters, Richard Carlson motivates his audience with his own philosophies on life and money combined.
   The "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" series of books all have a philosophy with each chapter. I find it motivating to learn different strategies on how to deal with life and its' problems. I love receiving constructive criticism, and there are lots in this book! My favorite chapter in the book was "Give, Give, Give". In this chapter he states that "giving is its' own reward". I am a firm believer in giving whenever possible. I believe this is the only way things will come back your way. Overall, I would say the book was instructive, memorable and inspiring.
   The book greatly affected the way I budget my money, and the way I deal with not having a lot. He taught me that you don't have to be rich to live an abundant life.
   I would certainly recommend this book to any college/university student, as most of us are struggling to get by! It enlightens you as you read, as it helps to know you are not alone in the money struggle. Great book!




4. Though I've had a copy for a few years, it is still the only book I always keep on my desk, where I can pick it up, open it to any page and uplift my mind a little.
   
   Probably since I've been on my own without the security of regular employment, my life is more like a work in progress than a secure routine.
   
   I guess I survive and sometimes thrive despite the insecurity because of take the time to become aware of the creative possibilities that surround me, and then to take actions to at least attempt to bring them to fruition, while usually being appreciated and pleasingly remunerated.
   
   "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money" has proven invaluable since it is always handy to remind me that so much of life is wonderful and rewarding!
   
   For me there really is a sort of spiritual aura to living ths way, but unlike more metaphysical tomes, the buck stops with the individual. There's nothing more rewarding than living as a creative work in progress. Try it, you'll like it!



5. This book contains 100 short essays of the author's insights of how to be more productive, successful, and happy in the areas of personal finance and business. To the extent of being thought-provoking and useful, I think the book is pretty effective.
   
   My one quibble is that the title of the book gave me the impression that the content would be extremely relevant to money matters and maybe only half of it is. In other words, much of the advice given --while valuable-- can really be applied in all areas of your life, not just money. This fact doesn't make the advice bad, but be prepared to read more about life philosophy rather than specific money tips.

2 comments about Miller's: Chinese & Japanese Antiques: Buyer's Guide (Miller's Buyer's Guide).

1. I bought this book to help me discern chinese porcelain and learn a little more about the oriental collectables. This book has too many black and white photos and falls short of being a necessary refrence guide.



2. Encompassing 2000 years of history, and everything from ceramics to furniture to Mao era propaganda, it isn't a comprehensive guide to any one subject. It isn't meant to be; nevertheless it serves as a full intro to the field in one portable volume. Several thousand pieces with prices in Brit pounds (most for museum quality specimens, not the more everyday kind). About 70% b&w, though does include some lovely color sections. Still a bargain.