I have all the deepest respect for David Coffin. He has meticulously studied every aspect of making the classic men's shirt and has taught himself how to reproduce the techniques of the finest couture houses. In addition to his skill at sewing, he demonstrates his artistic strengths through his personally-illustrated drawings which show the techniques in great detail. In fact, "detail" would be Mr. Coffin's signature strength. His ability to relay the information in straightforward, efficient language seems to be a natural extension of his talents. Incidentally, I could not find a single spelling, grammar or other editorial error anywhere in this book. I think that seems like a perfect example of the manner in which Mr. Coffin approaches his work.

As a woman who has a terrible time finding clothes to fit, I've tried sewing some of my own, with less than satisfactory results. Even after learning to regrade commercial patterns to fit, the finished garments never looked right--they all screamed "Hi there! I'm like, totally homemade!" As basic a garment as a shirt was an exercise in frustration; after struggling to get collars and cuffs to look "right" I was about to give up entirely.

In _Shirtmaking_, David Page Coffin addressed every single problem I have faced, and now I can actually turn out tailored shirts that both fit me *and* look like they were made by a professional. All the questions left unanswered by the instruction sheets included with commercial patterns were addressed in this book, and along the way Coffin also answers a lot of general questions I had about sewing that are ignored in most books aimed at home sewers. _Shirtmaking_ is clearly written, and with a bit of patience and the ability to follow directions an intermediate-level sewer can turn out a successful garment. While the specific focus of the book is sewing men's shirts, the exact same sewing techniques can be used on women's shirts and blouses, and Coffin provides plenty of illustrations and examples.

Coffin covers his subject so thoroughly and precisely that he comes across as a bit fussy, but this sort of fussiness is a virtue and a godsend. There is an embarrassing number of sewing books gathering dust on my shelves, but I still refer to _Shirtmaking_ frequently. It is *by far* the single most useful sewing book I've ever bought, and is well worth the money.

As someone who is mostly interested in sewing clothes for myself (a man) I feel gypped by most sewing books that are 75% concerned with specific construction techniques for women's clothing. Finally a book where the variations for women are in effect relegated to sidebars. The author of this book, David Page Coffin, is the Senior Editor of Threads magazine, probably the best of the sewing magazines (not perfect, but at least not packed with quilting and baby clothes). Coffin is a former painter who taught himself how to sew and has made his own shirts for a couple of decades. The fact that he comes from a self-taught amateur background but is a sewing journalist who has interviewed custom shirtmakers and watched them at work gives this book a good balance. Coffin is something of a shirt fetishist, and he includes information on the historical development of the "classic dress shirt" as well as photographs of various vintage ready-to-wear and designer shirts and shirt collars (yes, he goes into how you can make shirts with detachable collars). At points he sounds like some sort of shirt archaeologist, for example, teling us that a particular vintage custom shirt he has in his "collection" used a pieced sleeve to save on fabric costs. Coffin describes his own methods in detail, but makes the point that there is more than one way to do things. The book is beautifully designed and illustrated (drawings by the author), and full-sized patterns for various pieces like collars, cuffs, and plackets are included. I can't emphasized how excited I was to find a book like this, and I have the video on order.

This book is great!!! I read it to my first grade class on Halloween and then we made a witches brew. They loved the pictures and the humor of the pigs.

I have also read this to older children and they are able to appreciate the humor throughout the entire book. The way the illustrator incorporates other stories like Old MacDonald and the Wizard of Oz into the pictures.

Extraordinarily clever, imaginative, and entertaining, this book will have the whole family in stitches. Our 7 & 9 year old can't get enough of it. The cartoon artwork is very nicely rendered, and the text is hilarious, as when the witch tells the farmer to "fork over the pork!" Both art and text are reminiscent of the old "Mad" magazine style... hip, funny, & clever enough to revisit time and again without the humor growing tired. A small treasure, a great gift.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this great book. My sister and I are in our 20's and can never get enough of it. We just love to read it aloud to each other and laugh. The pictures are wonderful and just make the story even funnier. It's a must...

I have lent this book to countless people, and everyone has loved each page. Even my husband, who does NOT like novels, couldn't put this book down. Winterdance is a novel that has a fine pace, spectacular imagery, and wonderful humor. It is an engaging story. Gary Paulsen, a celebrated children's author, highlights a time in his life where he was not a writer, dead broke and totally in love with his dogs and the great outdoors. Winterdance chronicles Paulsen's discovery of "running dogs" and follows him all the way through the grueling Iditarod. Along the way, he reflects on personal transformation as well a passion for nature. His writing paints beautiful pictures of the northern wilderness areas without going on and on. He is funny, compassionate and very much an individual. It is a quick read and a MUST read.

This is actually one of the few books I have read twice. Gary Paulsen tells the story of his rookie run in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. He starts out this process knowing almost nothing about what it will take to actually get to the starting line, much less finish the race. His experiences during the training phase are tragically funny. The abuse he takes from his dogs, the elements, and his lack of knowledge about putting an Iditarod racing team together would make most people quit. Gary, however, sticks it out and endures what must have been one of the most spiritual experiences of his life. I read this book on a plane and I was laughing so hard I think people thought I was crazy. Have fun with it!

I wasn't real sure about this book when I took it out of the library. I didn't know what an Iditarod was, and wasn't sure I cared to know. However, from the first few pages on, I couldn't put the book down. I like dogs, but I wouldn't consider myself a dog lover. However, after reading this book, I came away with a different view of animals, especially dogs, and the magnitude of training for this big race. Gary takes the reader from the time he decides to sell everything he and his family own, and move to Minnesota to live off the land, by running traplines, and hunting his own food, and to train dogs for the Iditarod race. The reader is taken on a great adventure from the time he begins training the dogs to the race itself. He describes his adventures with such humor and detail, that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions, and actually there were times when I felt as though I was on the sled with him, taking the ride of my life. Many times I believe I felt his pain as he describes slamming into trees, being dragged on his face by the dogs for miles, and skunked six times in one night. This is truly a good book, and I definitely will pick up another book by Gary Paulsen to read soon in my lesure time. I highly recommend this book fo all to read.

An ultimate must have for your Star Wars libary.The Star Wars Chronicles is a big,beautiful and interesting book that comes in a very nice black and gold box.These exciting chronicles covers the beloved Trilogy in thousands of behind the scenes and upclose photographs,many of which have never before been seen.This book will look very stylish on your dresser or coffee table as you enjoy hours of fascinating and detailed pictures each lovely presented for the appreciation of the serious fan.You will go from A to Z in this rarely seen creation of these classic films.

A gift for my birthday, my wife bought this for me with some reservation. Even at a wonderful discount it was a steep investment for an oversized picture book. What I received surpassed my expectations - and well worth more than what was paid for it. It is a complete look at the trilogy, from models to storyboards to costume design to special effects to background character information. I am a veteran of the trilogy, having seen Star Wars: A New Hope over 400 times since 1977 - this book teaches me something new each time I open it.

I highly recommend The Star Wars Chronicles.

This book is absolutetly GREAT! My wife got it for me for my birthday(w/a different cover-last one on the shelf.)True, there's not a lot to read here...for that I would suggest reading the first version of the ILM special effects book(also pricey) with everything from matte paintings to the formula for shooting miniatures. Another MUST HAVE for FX enthusiasts. TO mgibson@Next.com:read-FROM STAR WARS TO INDIANA JONES:THE BEST OF THE LUCASFILM ARCHIVES by Mark Cotta Vaz and Shinji Hata, for beautiful photos of the three lightsaber props(w/their dimensions)used in the films;including Luke/Anakin's streamlined model.From Chronicle Books.

I save these books as a sorbet between main courses--the series is great reading as a way to cleanse your palate between more serious or hard-hitting fantasy or science fiction.

Don't expect any lofty language, but DO expect a few laughs and a wonderful romp.

Skeeve aspires to be a magician--not to learn arcane sorcery or become all powerful, but to become a better thief. He considers his master a bit impractical in his use of magic...if you are not profiting from it, what good is it? After conjuring a green-scaled demon, the old magician keels over dead, leaving Skeeve to deal with the demon himself.

The demon called Aahz, however, is merely a traveler from another "dimen"sion, called Perv. Do not dare under any circumstances call Aahz a Pervert. The denizens of Perv prefer "Pervect"; those who mis-speak tend to lose their lives.

Skeeve is from a backward dimension called Klah (residents are called Klahds, read "clods") where technology is back at the medieval level. Aahz has been everywhere and readers will enjoy many inside jokes from our own pop culture.

Another great feature of the books is the quote that begins each chapter, usually expounding on one of life's great truths. One of my favorites is from chapter 21: "One must deal openly and fairly with one's forces if maximum effectiveness is to be achieved." -- D. Vader

Well, what can I say? This was a very funny book. A little short, a bit light, but good.
Where else do you get to meet Imps, from Imper? Deveels, (not devils) from Deva? Pervects (not Perverts if you want to keep all of your limbs and organs in their proper location, as in attached to your body and all that) from Perv? Klahds, (unfortunately, that would be us, or close to it) from Klah? And of course Gnomes, from Zoorik? (don't ask me, I didn't write it)
Skeeve's myth-adventures are wild, unpredictable, and funny.
In this, the first in the series, Skeeve meets Imp assassins, a demon hunter named Quigley, an ex-assassin with green hair named Tananda, a Pervect nameed Aahz, a Deveel named Frumple, and a laughing madman caled Isstvan, among others. Add the war unicorn(Buttercup) and the dragon (Gleep) and let the insanity begin.
It's nice that the magik in this book follows rules, of a sort, and nothing is ever quite what it seems.
And one of my favorite parts would have to be the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, from such notables as Darth Vader, Robin Hood, Thomas Edison, Benedict Arnold, Gengas Khan, and a pair refered to as Lor L. and Har D.
A quick read, but... All in all, if it doesn't make you laugh out loud, it will at least make you smile.

This book is definitely a best. In fact, I'd give it a 15 on any 10 scale. The author, Robert Asprin, is a true genius. I picked ANOTHER FINE MYTH out in the young adults section of the public library, thinking it'd be a good read (at that time, because of it's cover, catchy title, and the stuff on the back cover) and was pleasantly surprised when it surpassed all of my expectations! Now, I've read it (and all the books in the series) for the god knows how many-eth time (though, admittedly, while waiting for the next book in the series to come out...and when is that?) and still enjoy it immensely. The books incorporate fantasy, adventure, humor, and the facts of life into one awesome package. Where can one find Skeeve or Aahz, I'd like to know! [9B-)

Just when I was wondering why a consumer guide did not exist for purchasing a piano, I stumbled upon this book. As a consumer, I was suddenly armed with information that made put me in control! I found it extremely interesting that sales staff suddenly had a marked change in attitude toward me when they found I had done some research on pianos. I also noticed a change in sales tactics when they found out my research included Mr. Fine's book. I love pianos in general and must admit that I was often guilty of falling in love with the packaging while ignoring the importance of the instrument itself. I am an adult just starting to take lessons and I was learning that a quality instrument is important regardless of skill levels. I applaude Mr. Fine because I've learned to 'slow down my search' and know that I will be much happier as a result of my eventual purchase. One caution - this book does contain technical information which may look a little overwhelming at first glance - it isn't! Give it a few pages and you will be surprised at how much you understand. If you are in the market for a piano - YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK

The new fourth edition of Larry Fine's Piano Book is the most informative one yet. I have enjoyed the three preceding editions immensely, but the fourth surpasses them all.

To me, the most valuable part of Larry Fine's book is the information on new pianos (although he supplies lavish information on piano mechanics,used pianos, piano care, and piano shopping as well as the information on new pianos). His book is unique in its effort to describe and explain the different brands and what sets them apart from each other. While the first three editions were all packed with useful information, the fourth edition adds an informal (but enlightening) rating system that ranks the new piano brands. This new rating system represents an extraordinary effort at an unbiased review of the different new brands, and it provides an extremely useful comparison among brands.

The rating system breaks new pianos down into general categories, providing a basis for the reader to use in comparing pianos within categories as well as between categories. Within each broad category, the rating system ranks the various brands. While many of the brands end up with similar ratings, this highly useful fact in itself provides the reader with enough knowledge for an educated evaluation of claims made by dealers in rival brands. The dealers should note: as Larry Fine points out, it is poor selling technique to try to sell pianos by criticizing the competition! Larry Fine's rating system highlights the unwisdom of this critical approach.

Educated by Larry Fine, a piano shopper will have a much more enjoyable experience than he or she might otherwise have had. You may agree with what he says, or disagree with it. You may find an individual piano that transcends the category into which the average piano of that brand seems to fall, or one which does the opposite. But at least you will be in a position of greater knowledge when you shop. Moreover, the book is well written and fun to read. A truly remarkable collection of attributes!

This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in buying a piano. The book explains the components of a piano, dispells many salesperson "myths" about different pianos, and provides objective advice in selection, inspection, and care. The book discusses the piano industry in detail, allowing the reader to verify the various claims of sales persons and see past brand warfare. The book is well written and very readable. Whatever you do, buy this book BEFORE you go shopping for a piano.

I hate to be party pooper...

I know that Danielle Steel is a fabulous author, and that her books are loved worldwide, and I do think she's an incredible person....

BUT

I just picked up this book, I am still in the middle of it, and I thought I would give my opinion already...

I think its an amazing story, great characters, and very emotional...

but something about the writing is not very intriguing or "different"...

Most of the sentences seem repetitive, like "he never loved her so much..."..."she never looked more beautiful"...."Jane loved him very much and he loved her too"...(I feel like these sentences are in each chapter). A lot of the writing is just predictable and boring; it almost seems like it was written for an elementary school reader...At times I have found myself re-reading sentences and saying "is she kidding ? "..

OK, here's one example

"Her mother looked wide-eyed and alert and beautiful, just like she had before, only thinner, and they were moving to Stinson Beach the next day"

...can someone please tell me how that sentence makes any sense ? ..

I found many of these, as a matter of fact they distracted me from reading all along my subway ride...I wish I had a highliter for each one I found...and for each "She loved him very much" or "She was never happier in her life"...

Another thing I'm not crazy about is how DS always uses the phrase, ".....and he told him just as much"....If you have read this book you might remember...

Another thing...

After Liz and Bernie were married they were trying SO HARD to have a baby. They wished for it when they tossed coins into the Fontana di Trevi on Via Veneto...then a month or 2 later, Liz begins to feel nauseous and exhausted, misses her period (and doesn't realize it), never remembers feeling that horrible....and doesn't think that maybe she's pregnant ! ...it's just too unrealistic at times...

Sure it's fiction, it's a novel, but it's easy to get absorbed into a good book..

This one is too surreal, and it's disappointing in a way...

Redundancy...

In each chapter, someone is going to or coming from an airport...A few times I thought I was re-reading a past chapter...Either Bernie is flying on a business trip, or his parents are coming to see him...

More repetitiveness...

Each time Grandma Ruth comes, she has bought tons and mountains and lots and lots and lots of toys for the kids from "Schwarz...and each time Bernie sees his mother he has a new bag for her or she is wearing a suit or hat that he bought her years before...

There is way too much mention of the department store Wolff's...That store seems to be the saving grace of everything...

Need food ? Wolff's has a gourmet department...

Need a lawyer ? Wolff's has that too !

Whatever Bernie or his family needed was provided by Wolff's. Seems like these 4 people are living in a glass bubble called Wolff's...

It is also annoying to have to hear about every piece of clothing worn by Grandma Ruth, Liz and every other woman in the book, where the oufit was made, what material it was, and how it looked on them....A run-on sentence just to describe an outfit...( I love clothing and shopping but this is a novel, not WOMENS WEAR DAILY)...

Also, I was told in English class in high school NEVER to start a sentence with the word AND, and sure enough DS seems to do that VERY VERY often...

I plan to finish this book, since it's a gripping story, but I am very bored with the writing style.......I will not give up on DS however, I do plan on reading more of her books, (not consecutively - i need a change of writing style)hopefully I don't come across these same bad habits......

I would love to hear if anyone agrees or disagrees with me...send me an email......no offense to anyone, just my honest-to-goodness opinion !

I never thought it was possible to like the story line of a book, but not like how it was written...

I guess it's kind of like what they say about jokes "it's all in the delivery"......

Fine Things is a wonderful story. I read the book in less than 3 days. I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Bernie Fine and his wonderful character. Once you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down. This story demonstrated the courage to continue. It was such a vivid story. I rented the movie to compare the book and the movie and the people in the book were just like the people in the movie. This has got to be one of the most wonderful books I've ever read........ and I've read many. Kudos to Ms. Steel for such wonderful work.

Valerie Boone-Ogunleye

I love all of Danielle Steel's books and this is my all time favorite! I seen the movie also and I cried during both! Bernie Fine is positively a womans dream caring for his dying wife and then fighting to keep her daugther with him after she passes away. Truly heartwarming. A must read book and also a must see movie!!

Anyone who has taken an Art Survey or Art History course at a major university will no doubt already be familiar with this monumental and venerable book. It's long been the standard reference, for good reason. It doesn't merely take a few paintings or pieces of sculpture from a particular cultural period and overload the reader with needless minutiae. Janson's (father's and son's) text merely presents the relevant info that provides for a clear understanding of the progress and trends in areas ranging from visual arts (painting and sculpture) to architecture.

The prints in the new edition are more vivid and outstanding than ever. The helpful timelines and diagrams have been updated, to great effect. The sections on Oriental and Sub-Contintent art , that was just a postscript in earlier editions have been expanded significantly. The emphasis is still on Western art and architecture, but the editors are making strides. As the Amazon blurb-writer notes, some attempts have been made to include more female artists besides Mary Cassatt and Georgia O'Keefe. The recent revival of interest in women artists such as Frida Khalo and Artemisia Gentileschi will no doubt have an impact on the next revision.

This book would make a perfect gift for the budding artist in your household. It would also be a useful and important source of information if you are planning a trip to Europe. There is a reason they call it "Art Appreciation." The more background you have, the more "appreciative" you are of what is involved in the creation of a great canvas or a Gothic cathedral. If you believe that the contemplation of great works of art is a rewarding and enriching endeavor, then I highly suggest you make the investment and let the Jansons be your guides. For more background on Renaissance artists, in particular, I would also recommend Vasari's Lives of the Artists and Benvenuto Cellini's highly enjoyable autobiography.

BEK

This book is a huge work of art in and of itself. The contents span from art in the Ancient World (Prehistoric, Egyptian, Ancient Near Eastern, etc.), the Middle Ages (Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, etc), the Renaissance to the Rocco, and the Modern World.

Naturally, the book is very well illustrated. However, it is also well written. Description of the art as well as the time, artist's life, history, motivation, etc. are included in the text. The book also has some very helpful and detailed time lines between each period. These time lines help the reader be able to visualize the framework in which the art was produced.

Since the book is a history of art, merely thumbing through it allows the reader to visually see the changes which have occurred over the various centuries. These changes included the trends which were followed, the rogue artists who followed no trend, and the stylistic changes which occurred, especially in the postmodern "chaotic" period.

While the history of philosophy is revealing about the changes (good or bad) in people's thinking, the history of art is revealing about the changes (good and bad) in societies lifestyles and tastes (amongst other things) which reflect that thinking. This book is a telling text with respect to how art has changed, been molded, and publicly demonstrated from its beginnings to the present day. It is well worth the sticker price if for no other reason than it contains some of the greatest works of art ever produced.

I was first exposed to this remarkable work in a high school art history class; we used a different text but our teacher showed us this book as the standard undergraduate art history textbook. I managed to secure an earlier edition (I think the second, but I'm not sure) in order to prepare for the Advanced Placement test in Art History. I read through the entire book in just under a week. It's that good. Each chapter flows seamlessly into the next, making reading a breeze. I was fortunate enough to receive this edition (the fifth) as a graduation gift this June and, remarkably, it has improved upon the nearly perfect earlier edition. So what makes the Janson so good? First of all, the images in the book are amazing. Almost every single page has a high quality (usually color) image. The images correspond very well with the text, so you don't have to search around to find what the author is talking about. As other reviewers have mentioned, no previous knowledge of art is assumed. It is exceedingly easy just to open to a random page and understand what is being described. One could learn a great deal merely by reading a few random pages each day. But the beauty of Janson is how unified it is. If someone were to read from start to finish (quite a task), a complete picture of the history of Western Art would be planted firmly in his/her mind with no large gaps or leaps in knowledge. Janson has it all; clearly it is not an exhaustive list of every artist ever to make a contribution. But, a thorough acquaintance with Janson will allow you to expand your knowledge of art history with ease. You cannot go wrong with this book.

My husband took his own life in August 1995 leaving me behind with our children, then 2 and 4. I read Carla Fine's book, "No Time to Say Goodbye" a few months ago after hearing about it from a friend. This book sends home the message that we are not alone in the grief we feel after the suicide of a loved one, the feelings we have are common among survivors.

In a frantic attempt to understand the sudden suicide of my brother, I read numerous suicide related titles. Carla Fine's "No Time to Say Goodbye : Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One" was the only book which in anyway connected with my raw feelings as a survivor. It's not a great academic study of suicide. The professional, academic titles are painfully remote, inaccurate and inadequate from a survivor's perspective. "No Time to Say Goodbye:" doesn't answer the only question that matters most to survivors, "Why?". It provides a supporting context for the horrendous assault on a survivor's emotional and intellectual resources following a loved one's suicide. Knowing that others feel the same things doesn't make the pain go away, but reassures that probably you too will survive what feels unbearable. I personally found this book more helpful that the visits to "professional" counselors. Some things in life have to be experienced, not studied, to be understood. Sadly the author has the painful real life credentials to understand and connect with survivors. From her own traumatic loss Carla Fine has provided a great measure of help in what appears to be a helpless situation.

Carla leaves no stone unturned. She captures insights from the survivors from whose stories we can even gain a perspective on those that left us behind. She pointedly shows that tragically, oftentimes the signs are there yet for some reason whether it is by some form of unconscious denial or a cushioned buffer we just don't notice those signs enough to react in time to help our loved ones. Or so we may think! The common denominator is that survivors wear themselves down trying to figure it all out before realizing that the solution may never be clear. Acceptance and reconciliation with the self vis-a-vis this life-changing event are the first steps toward mourning and healing. The writing is exceptional. There was not one disappointing page. This was a well-planned, well-researched, well prepared, book. Every survivor will relate to something written there that seems to come out of our mind and flow into the pages of her book. A resource book and must read for every survivor of a suicide. Thank you to Carla Fine for your candor and honesty and for this gift to life for the ages.

This book is Pat at his best. Of course once you buy this one you'll want the rest, so you might as well take advantage of the reduced shipping and just order them all. Get the hard bound versions otherwise you'll wear the binding out from re-reading the stories in these books.

My favorite line about his bike, was "built by a fiend with his own 3 hands, traded to my mother for the price of a good milk cow." The seat was like a hatchet, put a doily on it for padding.

Pat just sets you up, and then drops it on you, the next minute everyone in the room is looking at you as you are laughing and rolling on the floor tears streaming from your face.

I will say that some people just don't get it. Dave Berry calls them humor impared, and well there is no cure. But for the rest of us, if you've ever spent any time fishing, camping, or just messing around outside as a kid, these are the books for you.

One other note: You can't lend these books out, they don't come back! So I keep a pile of them in my closet as gifts.

I have a friend who's never been hunting, has fished, I think, exactly once in his life, and who has nonetheless gleefully read every book McManus has ever written. He gave me a McManus book for my birthday over twenty years ago, and I've been a devoted fan ever since.

McManus has a way of painting a verbal picture that manages to stretch the bounds of good taste without ever quite going beyond them. More than one of his stories has conjoured up an image I don't think I'll ever get out of my head- and that still makes me laugh today.

Buy this book. Buy *any* McManus book. They're all hilarious.

WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU'VE HAD RECENT SURGERY! (Or else you're bound to rip your stitches.)

I'm not sure why I ever picked up a Patrick F. McManus book in the first place, as I am not an outdoorsman, but now that I have, I can't put him down. McManus writes broad, slapstick humor of which he is invariably the foil. My favorite gut-buster involves having the preacher over for lunch when his dog, Strange, develops an itch in his hindquarters. I don't remember if it was in this or another of McManus' books, so you'll need to read them all until you find it.