No comments about The Art of French Country Living (Travel & Style).

5 comments about How to Cheat at Cleaning: Time-Slashing Techniques to Cut Corners and Restore Your Sanity.

1. I haven't read the book, but I did read a tip from it on AOL news. It suggested heating water in your microwave for 5 minutes to steam off any baked-on food. I'm sure this works great, but a warning: super-heated water can actually blow up in your microwave! It happened to me when heating water for gelatin dessert. It blew the door open and sent scathing water all over the kitchen. (Thank God I was in the next room.)
   I immediately "googled" the phenomenon and learned that many people have been badly hurt in taking hot water out of the microwave for tea, etc.
   It seems that when heated too much, water molecules become unstable and can explode. This is no urban legend-it's true. One thing that can prevent this is to add a bit of rice, or a tea bag, or anything that can absorb the molecular instability. But as for me, I'll just grab my good old tea kettle now,thanks...



2. This is a good book - many many helpful hints not just for quickness but to get the job done!!



3. I really liked this book, best shortcuts to date. The small bowl of ammonia did help clean the oven, the hot water in the microwave, wasn't enough though.
   
   Great advice.



4. I'm still going through this book, but I've read enough to give a review. Jeff Bredenberg is a highly entertaining writer. In fact, if you had no intention of changing your cleaning habits, you could buy the book and read it through for its snappy humor. But in fact, there are some good pointers in here on cleaning. I think he relies too much on disposables (buy! buy! buy!), but as he states, take what advise you want and don't sweat the rest. The book is upbeat and fun to read. I bought another book on how to eliminate clutter; the first chapter was so depressing I put the book aside. Cheat at Cleaning also has an index, which is very helpful.



5. Just by chance, this book ended up on my coffee table, and every woman who has come within 5 feet of it has immediately picked it up! Surprised at now entertaining this book is to read, we have all enjoyed the short descriptions of how to solve cleaning problems. It's an entertaining and useful book.

5 comments about The Home Decorator's Bible.

1. This is the most informative decorating book I've come across. It tells you how to do and make everything you could possibly need for your home with easy to follow instructions. It's inspirational!



2. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for anyone who intends to decorate or remodel their home. As the slipcase states, it is an unrivaled visual sourcebook with almost 1,000 color photos and illustrations.

   It is not just full of prety pictures of someone else's house decorated by experts, but full of projects you can do yourself as you are led through the steps, details and directories of where you can obtain the materials.

   I've had this book since it came out and have shown it to many friends who have gone out and bought their own copies. An indespensible book for anyonew thinking of undertaking a project themselves, or to afford them the ideas and knowledge to have others do the work for them.




3. I tell you this is one of the best books about interior design I've ever seen! Just grab it and be inspired of all the ideas!



4. The book covers just about everything but I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner.



5. If you have any quetitons about interior decorating, this book will give you the answers. Some of the pictures seem a little outdated, but all in all it's a great book. There are wonderful examples and explanations of the "technical" part of decorating. I'm very pleased to have this book in my personal library and will refer to it often.

No comments about The Graphic Standards Guide to Architectural Finishes: Using MASTERSPEC to Evaluate, Select, and Specify Materials.

4 comments about Art of Chainsaw Carving: An Insider's Look at 18 Artists Working Against the Grain.

1. I read this book cover to cover and in my opinion, no other chainsaw carving book allows the reader to feel as though they know the carvers the way that this book does! Jessie does a GREAT job at having the reader identify with the top carvers of our time! I've personally been carving for about two years and through reading about all of the various artists journeys, it has helped me to realize that someday, if I continue to work hard, I could actually meet some of these wonderful people! Jessie has made it clear that if you work hard and believe in your art, that a dream can become a reality! Thanks Jessie! Steve Rager...



2. I am a collector of chainsaw art. My first purchase was back in 1986. I feel I can't have enough carvings. I even own a few pieces by a couple people featured in this book. Knowing some of their story makes it even more meaningful. I enjoyed the book and have it on our coffee table for others to enjoy.



3. I'm very happy to have this book, to show people who come to see my carvings, to inspire me, and to reinforce the idea that there are as many approaches to carving as there are carvers, and only a few of them involve bears.
   The book is excellently produced, with great photos and entertaining text. I have met some of the carvers featured, and it's good to know more of their history and approach to carving.
   For the record, there's one step-by-step in the book; Jessie showing how to carve a chair. If you want to learn how to carve, there are other books. But if you want to know why we carve, this is the one.



4. Jessie Groeschen does an excellent job documenting chainsaw carving from the "Founding Fathers" (and Mothers) to modern day artists. She also includes summaries of some of the more prestigious events in this relatively unknown form of artwork. The biographies also include a plethora of pictures of each artist's works. To top it off the author provides a step by step pictorial to create your own chainsaw art. It would be a great coffee table book for chainsaw enthusiasts, art enthusiasts, and/or Pacific Northwest culture enthusiasts.

4 comments about The Opulent Interiors of the Gilded Age: All 203 Photographs from Artistic Houses, with New Text.

1. The interiors of these homes are just spectacular, the B&W period images are crisp and clean; impressive considering their age. It is a tragedy that so many of these rooms represented in these photos are gone along with the houses that possessed them. The craftsmanship of these rooms cannot be dublicated today and the estates are irreplaceable, at least a few where saved to give us an idea of how people really once lived and what an art true craftmanship was, but you can't help but be sickened at how easily they were demolished and the inferior buildings that replaced them...that are now themselves being replaced...sic transic gloria.



2. This book is a wonderful 'window' into a lifestyle long since gone. It's photographs show beautiful rooms that represent the craftsmanship that is almost nonexistent today. It is sad to know that many of the homes represented here have been demolished and replaces by greatly inferior buildings or even worse, parking lots and such!!
   If you love the Victorian era, and want a peek into that era's homes, then you will truly enjoy this book.



3. I purchased this book as a companion to another book that I enjoyed very much by Arnold Lewis called : "American Country Houses of the Gilded Age: Sheldon's "Artistic Country-Seats". I do not regret this purchase in the least, though I must say that I preferred Arnold Lewis' "AMERICAN COUNTRY HOUSES,etc" slightly more.
   
   I give this book four stars for the following reasons:
   
   (+) The plus points:
   
   1) The size of this book is large (approximately 12 X 9 inches) and therefore the photos are also quite large and detailed.
   
   2) The Introduction is marvelous, just as the Introduction to Lewis' other books are just as informative (eg: in "American Country Houses, etc").
   As I recommended in my review to Lewis' other book called "American Country Houses of the Gilded Age: Sheldon's "Artistic Country-Seats", I would recommend reading the Introduction to this book before jumping-in and looking at all the photos first. The reason I say this is because the Introduction explains the backgrounds to the wealthy homeowners, and the Architects, and the builders, and more inmportantly, it gives an excellent background to the GILDED AGE, in general.
   
   To better understand why the homeowners chose to decorate their lavish homes as such, a reader would need a background as to the Economic and Social trends important to the Gilded Age. I feel that Lewis' Introduction lays an excellent foundation to this book, & this nice Introduction will help the reader to better understand the photographs (12 X 9 inches).
   
   3) The paper quality is excellent. The authors did not skimp on paper and binding, especially considering that this is a large paperback book.
   
   (-) The minus point:
   
   1) As even the authors stated, the 203 photos from THE ARTISTIC HOUSES, showed mostly the "public spaces" in each homes. Even though this book showed a few Victorian bedrooms, however, this book did not show photos of what would have been extremely valuable Victorian spaces, such as: the bathrooms, or the servants' quarters, or the kitchens.
   
   I understand that Lewis was limited as to the photos he could show, since this book was focusing mainly on the 203 photos from ARTISTIC HOMES, however I so wished that there had been photos (ANY photos would do, if even from other sources) of the non-public spaces.
   This point is the only minus I could find in this book, and therfore I gave this book 4 stars rather than five. However, if a reader has some supplemental books on Victorian interiors showing the non-public spaces, then those supplements can complete the picture, as they say, of what the lavish homes of the 1880's-1890's must have looked like.



4. I enjoyed this book, in the beginning, but then I was convinced that "the rich they are different" they have no taste. Some of the rooms were horrible and some were great if you like entry halls, sitting rooms and dining rooms,with a table and 4 chairs,what's that about? This is the Opulent Gilded Age? It was overall OK.

1 comments about Understanding Your Three-Year-Old (Understanding Your Child Series).

1. I love this series of books. The book is small but full of insight and thoughtful,helpful examples of somewhat common situations with a 3 year old. What I really like about all of these books (understanding your 1 yr old,...2 yr old...) is that there is a great deal of respect given to the child as well as the parent, which somehow strikes me as different from many other books for parenting. I hope that I can find all the proceeding years of books in this series as my son gets older. I would love to own a whole series someday. This would be a great gift for new parents, exp the 1 yr old edition.

3 comments about Energy Audit of Building Systems: An Engineering Approach (Mechanical Engineering Series).

1. Interesante libro. Recomendable para ser leido



2. Useful and hepful in the aproaching to energy saving process.
   Units in I.S. (for europeans users.)



3. ...with many interesting and relevant worked examples. One of the best building energy audit books available. The occasional non-standard phrase and innumerable arithmetical typos will challenge the student, however. The author could address the latter with an errata Web page.

5 comments about Easy Guide to Sewing Jackets (Easy Guide).

1. This book covers everything you need to know to make a very basic, collarless jacket. Topics discussed include silhouettes, accurate measuring, fabric and interfacing choices, fitting, seam finishes, and step-by-step instuctions on assembling the jacket. However, the book does not cover welt and bound pockets (only patch pockets are included), bound buttonholes, collars and lapels- especially the notched collar. Tailoring and shaping are also excluded. (For a good overview of all of these techniques and some other goodies, check out Claire Shaeffer's "Couture Sewing Techniques; Taunton Press, 1993) The book is perfectly suited for those who may be wary of undertaking a jacket. The instructions are clear and there are many photographs. There is even a section that breaks down the sewing steps for a weekend jacket project, which is encouraging.



2. It is a very helpful, nicely written book with beautiful photographs. After borrowing it from the library, I would like to purchase it for a reference. I am at an intermediate sewing level.



3. I checked this book out of my library three times and finally bought it to have on hand at all times. Very knowledgable lady with excellent credentials. Easy to understand and follow.



4. I have found in my experiences with sewing it is essential to have a profoundly helpful guide nearby. This book is the one I have come to trust and live by. A definite must buy.



5. Like the other reviewers, I borrowed this book from the library, and it was so helpful, I decided I had to buy it.
   
   I'm an advanced beginner sewing my first tailored jacket. I followed the instructions for sewing set in sleeves (hair canvas bias strips, sleeve headers, shoulder pads), and the sleeves and shoulders turned out looking almost as good as the ones on a $500 jacket. It was my first attempt, and I was amazed.
   
   I've seen other books on tailoring, and this one is superior in every way. True, the book doesn't cover collars, lapels or welt pockets, but what is covered is done thoroughly and professionally. And as the author points out it's best not to attempt too many difficult procedures on your first jacket.
   
   In short, if you're eager to make a simple but professionally tailored jacket, Cecila Podolak's book is absolutely must reading.

5 comments about Occasions (New Series of Lifestyle Books).

1. Or she would have spared me (and other buyers) from paying for her advice, information, opinions, and knowledge on her version of "entertaining". Most of the information is irrelevant - unless you have your own caterer, florist, maid, bellman, limo driver, party organizer and an unlimited amount of cash. Dispensing advice on how to entertain using caterers and servers is hardly applicable to most of us who do not entertain in a posh Manhattan apartment. The section on "Weekend activities in the Country..." is perfect insight in to how contrived and artificial the life of Kate and Andy must be.

   Although one might try and find the book humorous - in order to justify its ridiculous overpricing. The real joke is on me the purchaser of the book as I was the one duped and the Spades are laughing all the way to the bank.




2. I bought this book as a gag gift for a friend, assuming that it would be full of cutsie little ideas for parties... maybe a few recipes and quotes and bits of ettiquette.

   I read it on the way home, and was bored to tears. There's nothing I love more than entertaining and pretending to be sophisticated, but this book was niether. It told me almost nothing that even barely related to reality, and that which was complete common sense that any 5 year old could tell you about having friends over.

   I ended up returning the book. It wasn't even worth it as a gag gift.




3. I had the opportunity to read Occasions about two months ago... and I'm still thinking about it! This book (as well as the others in the series) was a quick read with concise, sweet bites of information. More than finding any concrete information about throwing parties or dressing correctly, I found inspiration in the pages of these books. Instead of merely telling me HOW to throw a party, the vivid colors and witty drawings in this book made me WANT to throw a party. These books are succint, bright, and happy--just like the author's handbags.



4. Looking for an in depth book on entertaining? This IS NOT IT!
   
   But who would think it would be? As usual ms. spade turns out a delightful book full of darling sketches and cute ideas. It is inspirational for gifts for a hostess (such as a wrapped up stack of towels at a bbq party) and setting a table (mix and match with different pieces of china). It reminds me of little thoughts and sketches I would keep in a journal: fun ideas and notes to bring out for parties, but nothing too serious or study worthy.



5. This book has great ideas. I think anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know how to throw a good party!