5 comments about Happy Endings: Finishing the Edges of Your Quilt.

1. This revised, updated edition of a classic quilter's bible covers dozens of creative ways of finishing the edges of a quilt, from easy to advanced. From handling quilt backings and battings to new ideas for borders, Happy Endings is filled with many approaches and ideas - some new, some traditional. An excellent quilter's reference for all levels.



2. This book helped me figure out, finally, how to make perfect mitred corners on my quilt binding. For that alone it was worth the price, but it has lots of other great tips and ideas, too, and I'm looking forward to trying those out. The directions are clear, and the diagrams and photos provide good illustration for those of us who are more visually inclined. This classic is a great addition to your quilting library.



3. This book helped me with the binding on my quilt. It was very informative. I would recommend this book to anyone who was looking for help in binding their quilt. It has many different ways to do this.



4. Great informative book. Lots of illustrations and well written "how to" on all bindings. More edges then I knew you could do with a quilt!



5. Some very useful tips, but all you can see in the cover is all you can find in the book. Not very "creative", but a helpful monography in binding you quilt.

5 comments about Big Book of Blackjack.

1. 
   Ok, so you think you have read all the books on BJ and now you are all that.
   
   Well, think again. If you have not at least peeped out the first six chapters of the Big Book of BlackJack you are not all that. As a fool who has read more than his fair share of blackjack books I figured that this book would be more of the same. Blackjack starting at Thorp and ending in some half assed explanations of advanced techniques. Well, I was way wrong. In the Big Book of Blackjack Thorp doesn't even appear until chapter three. Have you ever wondered where our beloved games origins are really from? I have for one have often wondered about this very question and to my surprise Arnold has done some great research for us and given us many facts and clues to the origins of the game we all love. I am not going to spill the beans so to speak but I feel very educated as to the who and where in days of past our game stems from due to reading the history section of the book.
   
   You learn about vingt-un and also some of the early players of the game from Napoleon to Madame Mustache. Ok, knowing the history of the origins of the game isn't going to make you a master advantage player but it is very interesting to say the least. Like they say you don't know who you are until you look into your past and if you are or hope to be an advantage player this is your past.
   
   Of course none of the modern history of Thorp is discounted or dismissed. The book just shows us that there is more to the story than just Thorp. A lot of positive things were taking place pre-Thorp. The way the book gives this history is awesome for the fact that it sheds great light on the reasons as to why many of the modern greats are greats. It's all tied together in the end on the chapter on the blackjack hall of famers. For example, the modern history lesson of hall of famers shows how Ken Uston may have been a great hype man but that Al Francesco is really the man. Anyone who could be stabbed in the back like that and not be a drama queen is very commendable.
   
   The Big Book goes on to explain the basics, card counting, how to beat side bets, and other advanced techniques. I also enjoyed the chapter on the hall of famers. (too bad James Grosjean didn't make it in the book). What ever your level of play or knowledge this book should be a definite addition to your library.
   
   There are so many books out on BJ that it is mind boggling. I'm not trying to be a shill or anything but I truly recommend this book to players of all levels because it truly has info that you can't find in any other BJ books.



2. As a professional gambler and writer (Casino Gambling for Fun and Profit:Second Edition), I have been aware for many years of the Blackjack expertise of Arnold Snyder. Today, with the constant shuffling machines and 6/5 blackjack play, it is more important than ever to your wallet or purse to play in top form. Arnold Snyder can help you achieve just that in his Big Book of Blackjack.
   
   J. Edward Crowder, Ph.D.



3. I was given this book as a gift and had very little interest in Blackjack, but by the time I finished reading it, I was hooked. This book gives an amazingly interesting and complete history of the game, from its very beginnings. So many things were in this book that I have since not been able to find as complete anywhere. Arnold Snyder seems like the authority on the subject and must have done a good amount of research and/or collecting to compile all this information.
   
   Along with the history, it also shows how to play, different variations, and tons of things I didn't expect at all. I learned to play blackjack from this book and it was a great teacher, though I recommend it more for the history aspects. This book is absolutely invaluable and should be on any blackjack player, fan, or fanatic's bookshelf.



4. I haven't finished this book yet, but I read the first half and decided to look towards the end for something I might find interesting. Arnold's message in the end is truly inspiring provides a perspective that is truly valuable if you plan on being successful BlackJack Player. Reading through the pages, this book goes detail to detail with interesting side-stories of legends in the game. Must buy if you want to learn, "Information is money. More information is more money".



5. Just about the entire book deals with
   the history, casinos, terminology, side
   bets, and the like. Fortunately there
   is some info on basic strategy and an
   unbalanced count, but don't expect this
   book to prepare you to take on the casinos.
   An interesting read for those with a
   passing interest in BJ, or for a brand
   new student of the game.

No comments about Tesio: In His Own Words.

4 comments about Webster's New World Crossword Puzzle Dictionary, Second Edition.

1. The May 1997 edition book is the best refernce that I had available to me. It has gotten so worn in 20 years time that I had to look for another edition. ---- and I found it----- at Amazon.com George F. Moore, P



2. I am now in the process of wearing out my third copy of Webster's Crossword Dictionary. If you do the New York Times puzzle or the Atlantic Monthly or the Harper's puzzles, you'll find this dictionary the most helpful, particularly useful when you are only interested in possibilities of a certain number of letters.



3. No slang, no foreign word or phrases, some common words just missing-bought it as a gift for daily crossword fanatic and get to hear what is missing from it on more that one occasion give it a miss.



4. I enjoy using this book while doing crossword puzzles because it is most complete. I have used this book for years and have yet to find one better. My first edition has woren out and I am using my second edition and have just purchased another for my friend who is only beginning to do crosswords. If there is one better I would be most interested in it.

1 comments about Memories of a Lifetime: Borders & Frames: Artwork for Scrapbooks & Fabric-Transfer Crafts (Memories of a Lifetime).

1. The book and CD are user friendly and offer a variety of suggested uses. I have used the images to add to handmade cards and gifts. A great gift for someone who likes the "collage" look in handmade cards and scrapbook pages.

1 comments about USA Today Word Roundup & Word Search: 200 Puzzles from the Nations No. 1 Newspaper.

1. Word Roundup portion gives clues and then you search for them. There are 150 of the word roundups and 50 of the traditional word search puzzles. Good size grids for a smaller size book. The catagories are well selected. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy word search with a twist.

4 comments about Starting Out: King's Indian Attack (Starting Out - Everyman Chess).

1. Written by British chess Grandmaster John Emms, Starting Out: King's Indian Attack is an in-depth guide for intermediate to advanced chess players to the King's Indian Attack, a favorite chess strategy of the legendary Bobby Fischer, among others including world-class Grandmaster Alexander Morozevich. Starting Out: King's Indian Attack studies the fundamental principles of this tactic and its numerous lines. A wealth of notes, tips, warnings, suggestions, sample games and diagrams serve to enlighten the average player on the strengths and weaknesses of using or defending against this strategy. Highly recommended for any dedicated chess player seeking to improve his or her game against experienced opponents.



2. This is a well organized and easy to understand book for players at all levels. Whether you want to play the KIA or want a better line against an opponent, this volume does the job.



3. This is primarily about the closed French and closed Siclian defenses, from white's perspective, (about 140 pages). The last 60 pages is about the reversed King's Indian opening. If your primary interest is playing 1. Nf3 as white, this is probably not the book you are looking for.
   
   If you like opening with 1. e4, and want a systematic response when your opponent does not reply with 1. ... e5, then this is a good book for you. You will have a system of play that does not require learning the vast variations of the open French and Sicilian defenses.
   
   Also, you will have in hand the 1. Nf3 opening, in case you want to change things up a bit with a secondary opening as white.
   
   The book is well written and illustrated, the level of detail is suitable for the beginning or intermediate player. It assumes a basic knowledge of the game beyond just knowing how the pieces move.



4. I am enjoying the book and I think it is a good mix of theory and real games. I am an expert rated player, but I think the book is accessible to lower rated players that want to learn a new opening family.

3 comments about How to Play the English Opening (Batsford Chess Books).

1. If you are interested in this book at all it is because you want to learn more about the English Chess Opening. From a white or black side.
   
   This book is good for that purporse. It will give you good positional ideas about the English. The book contains 30 well anotated games. Karpov is sharing his knowledge about this opening to you.
   
   Here are the drawbacks to this book.
   1. It says nothing about what you should do if black plays a 1. c4 c6 (slav) or 1. c4 e6 (queens gambit). If you play the English you need to know what to do here. (probably even need to study the Dutch opening also) You will get these replies from black alot, trust me.
   
   2. Alot of the games are 10 years old or older. Now true it seems like all the Super GMs play nothing more than Petrof, Slav, and Ruy Lopez these days. But I would of wish for some more modern games.
   
   But if you want a good positional understanding of 1.c4 c5 or 1.c4 e5, this is a good book.



2. A quick view of this book says much about the deep thought wich Karpov and his co-Author usually apply in their works.



3. I enjoyed this book a lot, and will be reading it a second time. It gives you an insight into an opening that the author, one of the greatest chess players of all time, clearly loves deeply. I particularly enjoyed reading how this opening developed over the years that Karpov was engaged in epic battles with Kasparov. The book also provides you with a bit of a behind the scenes of how the great players prepare for combat, with dedicated researchers and similar.
   
   Before purchasing this book though, it is important to understand what it is, and what it is not. This book is not:
   
   1. an English opening system (like Kolsten's "Dynamic English"),
   2. an upto date theoretical tomb on the English
   3. a guide as to what variations to play.
   
   This book will be of interest to players, black or white, who want to:
   
   1. gain better understanding of the types of positions and games that specific c4 lines lead too - e.g. 1. c4 e5, 2. Nc3...
   2. gain insight into the hedgehog and other symmetrical lines (that can also arise from 1. Nf3)
   3. are building a classical English defence against c4 (i.e. e5 or c5)
   4. would like some understanding on how great players learn by imprinting critical games in their minds
   5. enjoy reading a true great of the game describe classic battles
   
   The chess lines in this book can transpose into d4 openings. I have come to the conclusion, that the reality is, that to play chess for "an advantage" in the opening, a price to be paid is that transpositions can occur. No 1 book can cover off the English and all these transpositions, unless one is willing to compromise with a set system (e.g. Kolsten's 2. g3). Set systems can work, but are not for everyone (they can ultimately get a bit dull, at least for me).
   
   If you want to play English lines like the four knights, or too augment a d4 repertoire with some anti-nimzo lines or similar, this book is useful, but will need to be supplemented with a more theoretical book (I have Vladimir Bagirov's books - although I guess they are probably out of date).
   
   So with that said - I really do love this book. If you like chess, for the sake of chess, and are not looking for someone to tell you what to play, but rather to read a Grandmaster describing what he played, and the struggle over English variations during his time at the top, all you will enjoy this book a lot.

No comments about The Woodwright's Guide: Working Wood with Wedge and Edge.

4 comments about Fiend Folio: Tome of Creatures Malevolent and Benign: (Advanced Dungeons and Dragons).

1. The Fiend Folio, if you can still find it, is an excellent source of monsters "malevolent and benign," but mostly malevolent. It introduces many creatures which are staples to 2nd edition AD&D, such as the githzerai and githyanki (from Planescape) and the Death Knight (from Krynn/Dragonlance). It has an excellent mix of extraplanar and standard monsters, so it will be suitable for any level campaign. However, I would recommend it especially highly if you were running a campaign that dealt with the Elemental planes, because this has very detailed information on Mephits and the Elemental Princes, as well as other incidental elemental creatures. All in all, it makes an excellent creature sourcebook for those of you still dedicated to 1st edition AD&D.



2. This book fleshes out the denizens of the outer planes and the astral.



3. Fiend Folio is a second tome of monsters for the AD&D first edition game. It came after the original Monster Manual, but before Monster Manual II.

   While the monsters in the Monster Manuals are primarily authored by Gary Gygax, the monsters in the Fiend Folio are created by players of the game itself in the United Kingdom. In truth, the book is a compilation of other people's creations, and some monsters (namely from the D series) from AD&D modules.

   That said, Fiend Folio feature some monsters that survives to this day in the 3rd edition: the slaad, kenku, githyanki, githzerai, aarakocra, achaierai, bullywug, the ever popular death knight, mephits, gibberlings, grimlocks, penaggalan, to name a few.

   Not to mention there aren't stinkers...there are a whole bunch of monsters of questionable worth, like the flumph, an unsually aligned (lawful good) thing that was once voted the most useless monster in AD&D, the gambado, the garbug (wasp bodies lobsters(!), forst men, tirapheg, umpleby, adherers, just to name a few.

   There are also a few standouts like the Elemental Princes of Evil, and the nilbog (goblin spelt backward).

   One big downer however, is the art. Although there are a few by old time favs like Jeff Dee and Erol Otus, but too many are by other artists whose style are too violently graphic and lack the fantasy feel of the first monster manual.

   Overall, Fiend Folio is good, but not as good as Monster Manual.




4. A bunch of extra monsters that you could pull out to surprise people. Some of these were from previous official products, and others were made up and sent in by fans and others, and a lot of them were from Britain, from memory.
   
   Part of the attraction is the Jeff Dee art in places, along with the silly reverse name monsters.