What I Loved: A Novel

What I Loved: A Novel
Average customer rating:

Simply too boring

Good

Just buy it....

More Than a Rumor of Art

What I Loved About This Novel

What I Loved: A Novel
Siri Hustvedt
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312421192

Book Description

What I Loved begins in New York in 1975, when art historian Leo Hertzberg discovers an extraordinary painting by an unknown artist in a SoHo gallery. He buys the work; tracks down the artist, Bill Wechsler; and the two men embark on a life-long friendship. Leo's story, which spans twenty-five years, follows the growing involvement between his family and Bill's-an intricate constellation of attachments that includes the two men, their wives, Erica and Violet, and their sons, Matthew and Mark. The families live in the same New York apartment building, rent a house together in the summers and keep up a lively exchange of ideas about life and art, but the bonds between them are tested, first by sudden tragedy, and then by a monstrous duplicity that slowly comes to the surface. A beautifully written novel that combines the intimacy of a family saga with the suspense of a thriller, What I Loved is a deeply moving story about art, love, loss, and betrayal.

Customer Reviews:

Simply too boring.......2007-08-13

I thought I'd like this for the New York, art and pretension, but I had to abandon it only after a few dozen pages.

It's unimpressed. I like books written with passion, striving for expression and being true to the author's ideas. Here it seems that the author is half there, half somewhere else, writing out of necessity, just trying to pull together something, no longer touched vividly by life but definitely not coolly pessimistic either. Or comfortably mature. Just writing and I don't know excactly what sides of this book I should actually like. The art references maybe, and it seems to have its moments, but I'd rather spend my time with something else.

Good.......2007-07-15

Fine book, I couldn't let it down until finished. I won't remember it all my life either!

Just buy it...........2007-07-09

Unlike other reviewers, I am not gong to write yet another repetitive review of this book. I can say..... buy this book..... as it is beautifully written and one of my favorite books of all time.

More Than a Rumor of Art.......2007-05-10

WHAT I LOVED by Siri Hustvedt 391 pages Picador (paperback) 2002
Leo Hertzberg, the semi-omniscient narrator of What I Loved, is also an art historian who introduces the reader to a cast of brilliantly evocative characters and, in one case, to the art he creates. Hustvedt's genius is her ability to integrate a certain period of the American art scene along with the artists themselves, their families and, perhaps best of all, to the physical and conscious creation of art itself.
An oil painting is appreciated by way of its line, texture, perspective, subject and emotional aura, just as this novel should be judged by its layers of character, story and the intellectual insights/emotional resonance of an artistic awareness. Leo,the narrator, represents the often detached intellect, while Bill, the artist, represents the glowing heart of the creator. Bill is presented with his sweat and talent, his drive to create and his vulnerability to criticism.
The best literature is character-driven and WHAT I LOVED is no exception to this rule; however, the reader is also blessed with an intriguing story line and a bird's eye view of the artist-in-motion along with vivid descriptions of the art in question. Hustvedt's uses her ability and fervor to present art, hold it out for the audience's examination and meld it's existence with her narrative in a manner reminiscent of Audrey Niffenegger's THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. Whether we're dealing with aspects of pop culture or the evolution of various art forms, both books evoke a multi-sensory awareness of every person, every room and the sight and texture of every object there with them.
I highly recommend WHAT I LOVED for its poignant story, a notable cast of characters and its brilliant rendition of the world of art.

What I Loved About This Novel.......2007-01-26

There is much to love about Siri Hustvedt's ambitious novel WHAT I LOVED, starting with the narrator, art historian Leo Hertzberg, who remembers at sixty the events of his life over the past 25 years and those persons he loved, his wife Erica and their fragile child Matthew; his best friend Bill Wechsler, a New York artist and his second wife Violet; and Bill's child Mark by his first wife Lucille, a child whom Leo would like to love. Leo is the most decent of people and all too human, as we watch him grow old and experience what all or most of us will face: love, disappointment in love, the deaths of those we hold most dear, the sometimes seemingly impossibility of relationships, and finally old age and disease associated with it. Ms. Hustvedt's other characters pulse with life and passion as well. In a story that covers 25 years, we are bound to learn a lot about them as they become real to us.

Ms. Hustvedt's language is often beautiful, and her characters sometimes made profound statements about both art and life. Leo on marriage: "By then Erica and I had been together for over five years, and I often thought of our marriage as one long conversation." (As I recall Hillary Clinton said something similar about her life with Bill Clinton.) Leo's comments on nagging sound all too familiar: "But nagging is a strategy of the powerless, and there is nothing mysterious about it." Leo on age and memory: "The recollections of an older man are different from those of a young man. What seemed vital at forty may lose its significance at seventy. . . We delete most of it [events in our life] to live with some semblance of order, and the reshuffling of memory goes on until we die." The death of a loved one leaves a "gaping absence" in our lives. Finally there is a passage that comes close to poetry as Leo recalls only the second time he ever saw his mother weep as she holds a photo album in her hand: "She took my hands and answered me first in German, then in English. . . '"They are all dead.'" (p. 264)

Besides excellent character development and profound and beautiful language, Ms. Hustvedt also tells a good story that gradually becomes a psychological thriller. Who could ask for much more in a novel?

Dead Canaries Don't Sing: A Reigning Cats and Dogs Mystery (Reigning Cats & Dogs Mysteries)
Average customer rating:

Interesting Premise...

An annoying main character who only works as an anti-heroine

An Uncertain Start to the Series

Great Veterinarian Amateur Sleuth

Flawed but an enjoyable read nevertheless
Dead Canaries Don't Sing: A Reigning Cats and Dogs Mystery (Reigning Cats & Dogs Mysteries)
Cynthia Baxter
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Sit, Stay, Slay (Kendra Ballantyne, Petsitter Mysteries)

ASIN: 0553586416
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Book Description

As a veterinarian, she’s more experienced with paw prints than fingerprints. But thanks to her dogged persistence and her knack for landing on her feet, Jessie’s got murder on a very short leash.

The sun is barely up and the day is already going to the dogs. Literally. As Dr. Jessica Popper embarks on a house call to a local horse farm, her one-eyed Dalmatian, Lou, and her tailless Westie, Max, stumble upon something unexpected: a corpse half buried in the woods. As Max happily digs up the dead canary planted near the body, Jessie realizes that this corpse was clearly about to sing. But about what? Or whom?Enlisting the aid of her on-again, off-again lover, PI Nick Burby, Jess applies the stubbornness of a bloodhound and the agile moves of a cat to identify a menagerie of suspects…including one who wants her off the case badly enough to kill again.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Premise..........2006-07-01

In the 1st book in the Reigning Cats and Dogs Mystery series, we meet mobile veterinarian, Jessica Popper. Jessica runs her own vet service on wheels, and is out making one of her many house calls of the day when her dogs dig up a dead body at a horse farm. Near the body, a dead canary is found buried as well, and Jessica immediately feels she must investigate how she happened on this man's body. Being overly inquisitive, she starts an exhaustive search into the PR mogul's death, and quickly learns that the police don't seem to have much interest in the case. The victim has many enemies, even though he was a widely lauded Long Island businessman, and Jessica must tap into the help offered by a private investigator. This PI is none other than her ex-boyfriend, Nick Burby, who unsuccessfully tries to keep her off the case. And when Jessica is followed, and receives threats, everyone but Jess is convinced that she needs to leave the sleuthing to the professionals.

I gave this series a try even though some of the other reviews on Amazon were not very complimentary. I enjoyed the book, even though I feel that the book was a bit too long. I noticed that all of the books in the series are of similar lengths, even though I felt this one could have been at least 50 pages less than it was. I agree with previous reviewers that I was able to figure out the mystery pretty quickly, but I really enjoyed the character of Dr. Popper (what a funny name), the animals, and her tumultuous relationship with Nick. I definitely will try future books in this series, as I feel the strength of the characters is what make this book interesting. You may want to try this series if you love animals and are looking for a fresh, new cozy series.

The next book in the series is called "Putting on the Dog". Enjoy!

An annoying main character who only works as an anti-heroine.......2005-12-28

Dr. Jessica Popper follows all the paperback mystery character stereotypes with none of the charm.
1. She has the easily confused name - Dr. Popper not Dr. Pepper. (See Lacey Smithsonian.)
2. She has an on again-off again relationship with a sexy crime experienced man. (See Janet Evanovich's Joe Morelli and Ranger.) I felt far more empathy with Nick than I did Jessica! She's such a drama queen, run Nick, RUN!
3. She's all confused about life, but somehow can get the most damning details out of people.
All this would be fine, if she wasn't so *irritating*. She's shrill and childish with her ex -- far more so than any woman over 17 should be.
She has the capacity for compassion of a wading pool and her snoopy habits are grating, not amusing.
And while the veterinary details are fun, any moron can tell you that a dog who humps your leg is establishing dominance, not his sexual attraction for you.
All in all, skip this series. There are too many other books out there for the animal loving mystery lover!

An Uncertain Start to the Series.......2005-02-24

I like amateur sleuths and regional mysteries; throw in the fact that the hero is a vet with a menagerie of animals seemed like a perfect match. Then again, while Jessica Popper may be good with animals, she's definitely not a people person. And I don't mean that in a good way. Instead of eccentricities that would make her an entertaining character, Jessica packs so much emotional baggage she needs to see a shrink. I have no clue what her ex-boyfriend sees in her neurotic behavior; then again, I have no clue what Jessica sees in him, either.

The mystery elements to the story are fairly good, but the author is heavy-handed about doling out clues. Jessica is a lousy detective; she gathers good information that enables the reader to solve the crime long before she figures it out for herself. There's just the inevitable wait for Jessica to fall into the arms of the murderer and finally realize her mistake. The whole damsel in distress angle. How dull.

All this said, I yet may decide to read the second book in the series. I like amateur sleuths and regional mysteries...

Great Veterinarian Amateur Sleuth.......2004-12-16

Veterinarian, Dr. Jessica Popper heads off to a house call to a local horse farm. She ends up going a back way to the farm and has trouble with her van on the dirt road. Her two dogs take off into the woods and are soon barking. When she goes to investigate, she finds they have discovered a half buried corpse. Max, her Westie, digs up a dead canary which had been planted near the body.

Jessica feels compelled to discover who killed Tommee Frack, a PR mogul. She enlists the aid of her on-again off-again boyfriend Nick Burby, P.I.

At Tommee Frack's funeral, she ends up befriending his ex-wife. This opens the door for her to talk about Tommee. Jessica being a veterinarian opens the door with many other people in Tommee's life. She is able to find out quite a bit about his personal and business life by talking to these people.

To complicate Jessica's personal life, she begins dating a policeman. Where does her heart lie? She is very confused and this complicates her investigation as well.

Jessica's neighbor and good friend Betty is threatened. Jessica is concerned she is being followed, but can never get any information on the vehicle to have it traced. She doesn't let any of this stop her in her quest for the truth. Will she be able to discover that truth without anyone else being hurt or killed, herself included?

I really enjoyed this book. Jessica is a terrific character and so likeable. I like the premise of her being a traveling veterinarian. The author did a great job of weaving this into the story and making her connections with people be more believable. I would love to have Jessica treat our dog!

I hope there will be many books in this series. I highly recommend it!

Flawed but an enjoyable read nevertheless.......2004-09-27

This is one of those books that you understand as you're reading it that it's really not very good in some respects but you keep on reading it anyway because it's not so bad, either, and entertaining. But -- the characters are stereotyped, the detective-heroine is not so much spunky as reckless to the point of stupidity (refusing to take seriously the numerous signs that she's making a murderer very unhappy with her), there are some technical errors in the veterinary part (which really are extraneous to the plot anyway), and it's all so improbable.

But -- Baxter is a skillful enough writer that it's a pleasant read -- great for an airplane -- escape reading. The plotting is fairly good, but the series of interviews detective method is improbable and the main character has virtually no reason to get involved in finding the killer. When citizens get involved in murder investigations, I think it works best when there is a plausible reason why (like brother has been falsely accused, that sort of thing).

The plot involves Dr. Jessie Popper, mobile veterinarian (she has a traveling vet clinic), who discovers a body on her way to make a house call on a horse. There's a dead canary beside the body. For reasons that never are clear, Jessie decides to solve the murder and proceeds to do so by presenting herself (using various lies) to anyone she can find who knew the deceased. Her ex-boyfriend is a private investigator, although all he does is try to protect her. There's a fair amount of romance and a couple of very amusing scenes involving the men in Jessie's life.

There's also a lot that should have been edited out, like all the stuff about her landlord neighbor, which never quite works, and the vet visits, which have nothing to do with the plot. Given the way she uses her vet status to lie her way into interviews, Dr. Popper should be worried about losing her license.

I think Baxter has some good writing skills, but this mystery is clearly a first. I hope she will improve over time.

Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Trouble In The Forest: A Bright Winter Sun (Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Average customer rating:
Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Trouble In The Forest: A Bright Winter Sun (Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Trystam Kith
Manufacturer: Five Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1594142254

Book Description

Book 2

Trystam Kith made a bold debut with his first novel, Trouble in the Forest: A Cold Summer Night. Now, in the second book of the duology, the battle for good versus evil in Sherwood Forest is about to come to a head, with the good Sheriff of Nottingham caught right in the middle. Hugh deSteny knows the evil behind the trouble in the forest, and must find some way to stop it before it gains complete control and cuts the kingdom in half. His first attempt at destroying this evil is a daring ploy during the Fair of the Eve of All Saints. But those that stalk the woods at night are making plans of their own, and the Sheriff's and Prince John's plot results in disastrous consequences. Knowing that time is running out, deSteny realizes that he must risk his life and the lives of all those seeking to restore the sanctity of the forest in a race against time to beat the fiends that claim dominion over the forest at their own game.

Trystam Kith is a native Californian.

Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Trouble In The Forest: A Bright Winter Sun (Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Average customer rating:
Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - Trouble In The Forest: A Bright Winter Sun (Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Trystam Kith
Manufacturer: Five Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000Q6MRCC

Book Description

From fast foods to frozen entrees to deli takeout to salad bars, there is an abundance of tasty, convenient meal options catering to our hurry-up lifestyles. But as a person with diabetes you must follow strict nutritional guidelines and things can be quite a bit more complicated. Written by a leading national diabetes educator, Diabetes Meals on the Run is the first-ever guide to adapting fast foods and convenience foods to a diabetes nutrition regimen.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-08-04

This organizer contains everything you need when first diagnosed to organize your doctor visits and paperwork...my Dr. and Diabetes Educator had never seen this type of book before and both asked for the info so they could recommend it to other patients.

I liked the log book that came with this as well... I just ordered 6 more from the publisher.

Frozen Drinks: With or Without the Buzz
Average customer rating:

A Keeper

Great Book

good to the last drop

Frozen Drinks: With or Without the Buzz
Bruce Weinstein
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0517706539
Release Date: 1997-05-20

Book Description

A hot day, a soft breeze, and a tall, cool drink in your hand . . . No longer just vacation-time treats, dozens of irresistible, frosty concoctions are just a whir of the blender away. In warm weather, there are few occasions--and few times of day--when an icy beverage doesn't hit the spot. For just such moments, frozen drink wizard Bruce Weinstein has created more than one hundred simple, innovative recipes for slushees, daiquiris, margaritas, coladas, chocolate and coffee drinks, and granitas and sorbets.

From traditional poolside favorites such as pine-apple daiquiris and piña coladas to the immensely popular coffeehouse Frappuccinos and Mochaccinos, Frozen Drinks covers the range of icy treats, tangy or sweet, slushy or smooth. Try starting your morning with a Quadruple Coffee Shake, take an afternoon break with a glass of Frozen Raspberry Lemonade, or savor a dessert of Iced German Chocolate Cake.

The book's introduction provides essential information for making perfect drinks every time, such as when to use fresh fruit and when canned or frozen fruit will do. Each recipe is nonalcoholic but has tasty variations, some with and some without alcohol.

There are also a number of creative suggestions for garnishes, such as crumbled peppermint patties on a Chocolate Mint Parfait or candy canes to top off a Cabana Striped Slush.

With dozens of ways to slice, dice, and blend your way through the summer, Frozen Drinks will be as welcome as an air conditioner in August.

Customer Reviews:

A Keeper.......2004-01-28

My drink mixing will be moving to the next level, thanks to Mr. Weinstein. I will make blackberry daiqueries in June, a frozen watermelon drink in July, a honeydew drink in August and a peach drink in September. I will use the right liqueurs and blend until silky smooth. A shame there are no photos.

Great Book.......2003-02-24

I am an amateur at the art of mixology and this book has some great recipes for folks like me. Also because I don't drink, I appreciate the book's focus being on the drink itself and not on alcohol. It has a a little box on the bottom of add-ons for those who want to "kick it up a notch".

good to the last drop.......1997-06-05

What a find! I am so happy to have a book that lets me fix down-and-dirty as well as froo-froo drinks for all my friends, both those who imbibe and those who don't. The drinks in this book and inventive and new--not the same old boring stuff in other drink books. It makes a great housewarming present, and a great Fourth of July resource

Book Description

Civil War collectibles, one of the hottest and fastest growing areas of collecting, now becomes part of the Warman's® encyclopedia of antiques and collectibles.

Following Warman's trusted reputation for detailed listings and accurate pricing, this premiere edition catalogs more than 3,000 Civil War collectibles that were either produced for or used by the armies and navies of the United States and Confederate States between 1861 and 1865. Lists artifacts, relics, and memorabilia such as firearms, weapons, projectiles, uniforms, personal objects, flags, banners, and money.

Collectors receive an introduction to collecting Civil War memorabilia and appendices listing manufacturers, a glossary of terms, and fakes. Accurate pricing is based on actual collectible sales and prominent collectors.

• Lists more than 3,000 Civil War collectibles

• Collectibles include firearms, weapons, projectiles, uniforms, tin types and carte de visites, personal objects, flags, banners, and money

• Offers additional resources such as an introduction to collecting Civil War memorabilia and appendices listing manufacturers, a glossary of terms, and fakes

• Pricing reflects current market values based on actual transactions

Customer Reviews:

Great for collectors.......2007-04-06

This a great book for collectors of Civil War relics! The book has nice colored pictures of everything from bullets and artillery shells to full uniforms and pictures. Great reference for all your collecting needs.

For the money, this one's hard to beat!.......2004-10-07

I've collected Civil War relics for over 13 years now & I can tell you that it's very important to have a book like this. By studying this book you'll be able to better identify relics as well as tell a fake from the real thing. I've already used this book to identify a canteen I recently bought for $40.00(!) as a Union medical canteen. Also, this book will tell you the general price of each relic so that you won't be cheated by some crooked dealer on e-bay! However, this book doesn't cover excavated relics well at all & doesn't even mention collecting Civil War veterans' relics. The very best Civil War relic price guide available is North & South Trader's Civil War Collector's Price Guide which not only covers ALL categories of Civil War relics but also has great sections on Revolutionary War relics & the War of 1812. That price guide cost at least double what Warman's guide does, but it's worth it. I think both are great & belong in every Civil War buff's library.

extremely helpful/detailed book.......2003-12-24

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it had exactly the information I was looking for, and was extremely interesting. I highly recommend this book for anyone intersted in the Civil War, whether or not they collect Civil War items.

Average customer rating:

Warmans Civil War Weapons
Graham Smith
Manufacturer: Krause Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Firearms & Weapons | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Warman's Civil War Collectibles: Identification And Price Guide (Warman's Civil War Collectibles)
The Civil War / Box Set
Arms and Equipment of the Civil War
Civil War Firearms
Civil War Collector's Encyclopedia: Arms, Uniforms, and Equipment of the Union and Confederacy

ASIN: 0896892379

Book Description

The weapons of the Confederate soldiers and Union Army, a commanding presence 140 years ago, are among today's most revered collectibles. Warman's Civil War Weapons offers Civil War enthusiasts a listing of more than 100 weapons and military vehicles, featured in 400 stunning full-color photos.

From the early battles that relied on muzzleloaded weapons, to the introduction of submarines, handguns, shoulder arms, edged weapons and more, this book chronicles the history of an innovative age of weaponry. Weapons including the Butterfield Revolver, Sharps Model 1859 and Confederate short sword are shown in detail, with a performance summary. This unmatched reference provides the information needed for a historical study and collecting.

-Features on more than 100 weapons

-400 full-color photos for quick identification

Book Description

Civil War collectibles is one of the largest and most passionate areas of the collecting field. Enthusiasts can carry this handy and portable field guide with them to shows, auctions and wherever else their quest for these popular collectibles takes them.

Affordably priced, this reference covers everything from guns, to uniforms, to flags and swords - and everything in between. With more than 300 brilliant color photos and over 1,000 price listings, this book is a must-have for the Civil War collector on the go. It also features information on availability and reproduction alerts, as well as tips on collecting.

-1,000 current price listings -300 full color photos -Portable and affordable

Customer Reviews:

Caveat Emptor.......2005-11-21

This purports to be a handy field guide that on can take to autcions, flea markets, and the like for indentification purposes.

Descriptions read like those that usually accompany reputable auction house photographs, published in pre-auciton catalogues that ordinarily cost 3 times the suggested price of this book. In this case, however, far too many decriptions have no accompanying photograph.

Unfortunately, the prices given are somewhat (to be kind) out of date. Further more, many of the item classes are specialties in themselves, and provenance (meaning proof of origin in writing) is more reliable than informaiton that can be crammed into a "field book" of this sort. Descriptions of items with no photos of an example are really useless to the novice and meaningless to the cognoscenti.

One of the positive aspects of the book are the occasional diversions regarding what kinds of items are difficult to fake (e.g., flags) but there is no dicussion of how to evaluate any purported Confederate item (whether used after pickup on the battlefield, manufactured in the South, or imported. Such issues are critical to anyone willing to put hundreds of dollars into any Civil War item.

The Glossary is also good, but too short--the Index a positive, but also brief. If you are going to go into collecting, you're going to need much more than this type of "field guide."

An investment of a few hundred dollars in specialized books (e.g. Civil War Rifles, Dance & Brothers Revolvers, Civil War Swords come to mind), will save one hundreds of dollars in errant purchases. "Caveat Emptor"--let the buyer beware!!

Simple Traditions: 14 Quilts to Warm Your Home (That Patchwork Place)
Average customer rating:
Simple Traditions: 14 Quilts to Warm Your Home (That Patchwork Place)
Kim Diehl
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Patchwork | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Mimi Dietrich's Baltimore Basics: Album Quilts from Start to Finish

ASIN: 1564776387

Book Description

Wrap up, cuddle in, and snuggle under—indulge in the best of what quilts bring! In this sequel to Simple Blessings, Kim Diehl is back to share more of her signature style in an all-new collection of charming, comforting quilts.

• Create 14 traditionally inspired quilts in a variety of sizes to warm any room of your home

• Learn Kim's clever technique for achieving a hand-sewn look with machine appliqué

• Find "Pin Points" tip boxes throughout, filled with helpful hints

Customer Reviews:

112th St........2003-10-18

I lived in Richmond Hill from 1947 to 1966. Going through the book was like stepping back in time. Having attended Holy Child Jesus Church and School I was thrilled to find my picture in the class photo. What a great time I had going back.

An interesting look at a perfect neighborhood.......2000-11-01

Kew Gardens, a village in Queens about twelve miles from Manhattan, has been home to movie stars and Broadway performers (Charlie Chaplin, Miriam Hopkins, and Will Rogers), authors (Anais Nin and Dorothy Parker), and even Nobel Prize winners (Ralph Bunche). In many ways it has been a community ahead of its time.

Author Barry Lewis is a New York native who has lived in Kew Gardens for thirty years. He teaches architecture and interior design in New York City and has contributed to a number of guide books. As a resident of the neighborhood, I was happy to come upon this nicely researched, amply illustrated, and intelligently written book on one of New York's more successful and resilient residential communities. Lewis does a good job of giving the history of the Kew Gardens and of explaining how it differed from other experiments to create residential garden communities within large cities in the early part of the twentieth century. He explains how the tone was set at the very beginning by the community's developers, Albon Man and his offspring. They sought to create a workable diversity within a harmonious whole: both commercial and residential, with both private homes and apartment buildings, and which allowed a number of architectural styles. The flavor of the community was also one of diversity (unlike its neighbor, Forest Hills, Jews and people in the performing arts were welcome from the beginning). Residents of the community will certainly enjoy reading this book. But so will students of urban planning and architecture.

The book includes a bibliography consisting mostly of articles cited in the text; it would have been more helpful if it also listed a few more comprehensive works on urban development and architecture. The book could also have benefited from a glossary of architectural terms, an index, and a walking tour that would take people past significant landmarks discussed in the text.

Book Description

In this candid autobiography, Lee recounts her astonishingly dramatic life, filled with early poverty, tragic deaths, a nonexistent childhood, a controlling manager, young elopement, illnesses, barely averted financial disaster, and one of show businesss most durable marriages. Brendas life has touched some of the most legendary names in the annals of entertainment, from Elvis Presley to Elton John. Its a tumultuous life, sprinkled with humour, heartache, and hope. And yet, the real story here is that she is in many ways an everywoman.

Customer Reviews:

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Brenda............2007-03-12

As the book cover clearly states, "Little Miss Dynamite" is about "the life and times of Brenda Lee". That it is, in fullest detail. And a certain amount of details are absolutely required since Brenda has had such a long, versatile and varied career. According to Billboard, BL had 29 Rock n' Roll chart songs from 1960-1967 and 19 Country hits from 1957-1985. None are listed as crossover hits, meaning this girl was truly and uniquely versatile. Age-wise, her chart success spans ages 13(!) to 41. Her touring life is far broader. She has fans around the world and may still be performing today. This reviewer clearly remembers Brenda on the late, lamented "American Bandstand" and the old "Dick Clark Show" on Saturday nights on ABC. Give yourself 10 points if you remember the sponsor! Her songs are easy to rate, but this written effort is far more difficult. BL met a lot of folks along the way, some decidedly more savory than others. She has been hurt by dishonest agents and cheated of royalties by record companies. She is no stranger to reinventing herself or picking herself up after a nasty professional fall. A girl obviously has to watch her back in the music world. Happily, her family life remained intact through it all. If there is a problem with LMD, it lies in the sheer heft of songs recorded, folks of all stripes encountered, friends gained, friends lost, concerts worked, grueling tours endured, back stabbings, betrayals, family pleasures, celebrities (lots!) and tidbits, tidbits and more tidbits. It's all a little wearying. The best solution here would have been for that proverbial stern, no nonsense editor with a sharp blue pencil to chop a solid 50 pages from the text. But those types don't exist anymore -and one of the co-authors is Brenda's daughter! How does one tell Mom she went overboard? Besides the length, LMD suffers from a constant upbeat, optimistic tone! Is BL REALLY such an optimist after what she has been through? For a rating, this reviewer is giving this hard working girl a break and rating LMD 4 stars, perhaps based on those "Bandstand" appearances when he was in the 7th grade. The best way to appreciate Brenda is not to read about her but to listen. Amazon has an ample selection of her alums. Especially recommended is "The Brenda Lee Story" which ably covers BLs wonderful rock years on Decca records. Listen to "Fool # 1" and become a Brenda convert.

The Story of a Child Prodigy..........2007-01-19

The cliché 'better late than never' holds much substance with me -- an avid reader and reviewer, and music lover -- as in my finally reading a book that has sat in boxes during residential moves, then sat on my bookshelves... until now. (The book was published in 2002 and it is now 2007!)

An energetic ball of fire... From the time she was a babe in a crib, Brenda Lee identified with music on the radio; by age two she was powerfully singing the lyrics -- all in tune and rhythm, without voice nor music lessons. By age six she was a TV regular; the family breadwinner by age ten; a national recording artist by age eleven; by twelve -- the youngest headliner to entertain Las Vegas audiences; rock 'n roll by fifteen, and largest-selling female performer by twenty-one. Red Foley, of TV's 'The Ozark Jubilee', became a friend and promoter, and she earned the moniker 'Little Miss Dynamite', making top recordings one after the other. It was the time of singles, of which Brenda Lee holds the largest hit numbers of all female recording artists. She writes of her agents, especially Dub Allbritten, who became a guardian on the road and off, and a father figure. Brenda refers to him as 'the Professor Higgins to my Eliza Doolittle'. When he said 'Jump', she'd say 'How High?'

She was entered into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, was a four-time Grammy Award contender, presented The Governors Award for Lifetime Achievement (Georgia), performed in the Legendary Ladies of Rock 'n Roll (a highly successful video taped at the Latin Quarter), named Nashville's Ambassador of Goodwill, among many other well-earned titles, with a vast, and I mean vaaaaaast... collection of songs....'Jambalaya', 'Sweet Nothin's', 'I'm Sorry', 'Johnny One Time', 'I Want to Be Wanted', 'Rock the Bop', 'One Step at a Time', 'Rockin' around the Christmas Tree', 'The Cowgirl and the Dandy' 'From Levi's to Calvin Klein Jeans'..... and so much more.... Loved by all and mentor to many, Brenda Lee writes of many recognizable names -- performers, and lyricists, along with a plenitude of songs and recordings. Brenda was/is popular in Italy, Holland, Japan, Sweden, Australia, United Kingdom, Turkey, Spain, and Russia -- to name a few, plus she sang and recorded in foreign languages phonetically, while learning fluent Japanese. In 1979, the report was fifty-six countries noted. She was adept as Jimmy Durante mimic; and one night after her show, he appeared behind stage, asked her to show the mimic routine, then presented her with his well-many times-many-years-worn hat. (She admits to immediately putting that treasure under glass.)

Brenda Lee writes of performers before her, during her, and after her appearance in the public eye. There's Grace Slick, Tanya Tucker, Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin, Elton John, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Otis Redding, Sophie Tucker, Judy Garland, the Beatles, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, and those are 'just the tip of the iceberg'. Readers will recognize names from 'back then' to 'now'. She was born Brenda Mae Tarpley into Georgian poverty; her 'own backyard' became Nashville in her late twenties, a fall, and rise again. Married in her upper teens to Ronnie Shacklett, a boy she saw at a concert sitting on the other side, and he was so cute she sent him a note. Just like the person herself, Brenda Lee's biography is warm, sensitive, upbeat, even when there were lows. The book contains her written words, plus insertions -- quotes of other artists, friends, et al. The media called her 'Nashville's Song Magnet' with a vast arena of fans, followers, and friends.

With wit, and wisdom this tremendous talent writes, "When I'm done with a show, I look like I've played a football game. Ronnie says I glow. I say it's sweat. I would have done better in a performance video than trying to act in one. That never was my thing." I finally read Brenda Lee's book 'after all these years'; and she is one lady who has been and always will be in my heart! ..

Other recommendations: Tanya Tucker's NICKEL DREAMS: MY LIFE; JOHNNY CASH, THE SONGS edited by Don Cusic; CASH by Johnny Cash; and Gladys Knight's BETWEEN EACH LINE OF PAIN AND GLORY - MY LIFE STORY

little miss dynamite.......2007-01-18

The book itself is in very good shape. I have only read a quarter of the book at this time. I am a big fan of Brenda Lee, but find the book a little repetitive. I'm sure I will read the entire book in time, but I can only ready small portions at a time or I get bored.

Okay, but not a great book.......2006-12-13

Typical autobiography. There was some selective memory loss in this book, as I've read things in other books about Brenda that she omitted in this book. If you're a big Brenda Lee fan, read the book and you're probably enjoy it. If you not or are too busy, you won't miss anything.

Just misses the mark.......2005-07-25

This is a strange hybrid of a biography and an autobiography. There are a lot of quotes from other people about Brenda Lee, something you'd expect to find in a biography. You will certainly learn the basic facts of her early life, family, and career, but just the facts. Occasionally Lee does offer some personal insight or observation, but they are rare. Unfortunately, too much of the filler in this book is about the pop and music culture of the 1950s and 1960s with Brenda Lee only playing a part in it. I got the vague impression that Lee was kept so busy and preoccupied with her career during her formative years that she really doesn't remember it herself (she has two co-writers of her "autobiography"). To her loyal fans, Miss Lee can do no wrong, as evidenced by the gushing reviews they give her here; I like her music too but I don't think she had enough personal material to warrant an "autobiography."

Little Miss Dynamite Display: The Life and Times of Brenda Lee

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Little Miss Dynamite Display: The Life and Times of Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee , Robert K. Oermann , and Julie Clay
Manufacturer: Hyperion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0786894334

LITTLE MISS DYNAMITE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BRENDA LEE

Average customer rating:

LITTLE MISS DYNAMITE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BRENDA LEE

Manufacturer: Hyperion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GKB7ME

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