This is a great book telling a wonderful story of art in America. This is what American art is all about and how this little pottery enterprise made its mark on the art world. You will enjoy this book very much.

I wrote the 1st review of this book. There are 3 typo's in the second paragraph. It should read "Shearwater POTTERY not potter, (2) struggled not strugged, and (3) their ART not air. Thanks for letting me make these corrections.

THE STORY OF A FAMILY'S DEDICATION TO EACH OTHER AND THEIR ART

By Lynna Williams.

Maria Estrella Iglesias, a collector of American art pottery, was in an antiques mall near Nashville when she saw a pottery vase glazed "an extraordinary blue." Seeing it across the cluttered room "was like catching a glimpse of the ocean," and when she turned it over she found a name and mark unfamiliar to her. Iglesias couldn't know it then, but that chance introduction to Shearwater Pottery would open up an extraordinary world apart: the personal and public history of the Andersons of Ocean Springs, Miss.

Some readers may already be familiar with the brilliant work of painter, printmaker and muralist Walter Inglis Anderson without knowing the story of his role in the pottery, and the broader story of his family's passionate commitment to art as a way of life.

Four generations of Andersons have created Shearwater's art and, while cordially disliking the term "artist," have nurtured potters, painters, sculptors, poets and writers, from the Depression to the present. The story Iglesias and her husband, Vanderbilt professor Christopher Maurer, tell in "Dreaming in Clay on the Coast of Mississippi" has passion and torment sufficient for grand opera, all borne of a relentless dedication to the making of art. It would be a remarkable story in any time. In the America of the 21st Century, when art is so often viewed as extraneous in our daily lives, or as just another commodity to be consumed, it takes on a special, almost electric, resonance. Maurer and Iglesias' book, which starts with an account of their own "falling into" the Shearwater world, is a compelling account of lives in which art, for better and worse, is as basic a necessity of life as air and water.

It began with a marriage, 100 years ago. After a 12-year courtship, George Walter Anderson, a prosperous grain dealer, wed Annette McConnell, a lawyer's daughter educated at Newcomb College in New Orleans, a central force in the post-Civil War resurgence of arts and crafts in the South. By 1907 there were three sons: Peter, Walter Inglis and James McConnell.

From the beginning, their artistic mother wanted art to wash over them, to be fundamental to who they were. Their businessman father dreamed of "Anderson, Incorporated," the family functioning as a unit. "Dreaming in Clay" documents how both parents' wishes shaped their sons' lives, from their free spirits and work ethic, to their specialized educations, to their vocations, to their choice of wives for whom love and art were one, inextricably linked. As in fairy tales, both wishes-for art, for a family enterprise-came true, but not at all in simple, happily-ever-after fashion.

As an enterprise, Shearwater Pottery began after the family's move in 1918 from New Orleans to Ocean Springs, a place where the beauty and wildness of the natural world led inevitably to the making of art. Oldest son Peter was 22 or 23 when he built a kiln in the side of a hill. One of the pleasures of "Dreaming in Clay" is its careful record of what was involved in the making of modern pottery, and an artistic community, in a "sleepy coastal town that had never had more than a nodding acquaintance with art."

Slowly, amid Peter's ongoing education with established artists intrigued with the experiment at Ocean Springs, the family worked to perfect the technical aspects of producing pottery: the right kiln, the right glazes, the right touch with wheel and hand-thrown pots. The Andersons were getting a business on its feet, but artistic concerns were paramount from the beginning: More than 2,500 pots considered unacceptable -- sometimes entire kilnloads -- were intentionally destroyed before Shearwater opened to the public. The name for the pottery came from a book about birds but was used in tribute to Mississippi's black skimmers, which shear the surface of the water to scoop up small fish. The name reflects what has become Shearwater's enduring connection to the Mississippi landscape.

In writing "Dreaming in Clay," Maurer and Iglesias were given access to the family's archive, and it is in the letters of the day that the family's struggles and triumphs come most vividly alive. Nowhere is that more true than in the stories of the two oldest sons, Peter and Walter Inglis (called Bobby by his family), and the women they would marry, sisters Patricia and Agnes "Sissy" Grinstead. Pat was "transported" the moment she saw the handsome Peter Anderson, and was immediately adopted as a "true" member of the clan. Bob's courtship of Sissy was long and arduous, and drew him into producing decorative pottery and figurines at Shearwater as a livelihood, a way of showing that he, too, could support a wife. The two were married in 1933; four years later, Bob had a devastating mental breakdown. Not long after, Peter, too, was hospitalized, suffering from depression. Peter's illness was more easily treated; Bob's involved a more prolonged hospital stay, and the latest, and most extreme, of psychiatric treatments. When he returned home to Ocean Springs he would find his art again but never be a part of the family in the same way as before.

The book's account of Sissy and Pat Anderson is fascinating in its picture of women determined that both love and art would survive. The resolve of all the family to see each other through, no matter what, helps make "Dreaming in Clay" a highly readable and remarkable testament. We're able to appreciate the survival of Shearwater Pottery into the 21st Century in part because it is also the continuation of a family that has lived, and lived through, its passion for art.

I liked this book a lot. The story of someone who thinks they are all alone in the world and then suddenly finding out that they aren't is very appealing (not quite the right word, but it will do).

Jessie has longed for a family since she was born & now she has one, but there are too many undercurrents for her to be trusting. When bad things start happening to her, she isn't able to talk to anyone about them because she is unsure of who to trust. Finally, she begins to trust the only other outsider in the family--the adopted son, Ross.

One good thing about this book is that the reader doesn't find out who does it until the last 15 pages or so---which leads to a speedy ending. And the epilogue has just enough information in it to resolve some of the loose threads at the end of the actual story. I liked the characters of Sarah, Ross & Jessie. I thought that I was right there with Jessie while she was figuring out who was who and why they want her. One thing that kind of bothered me (very petty, but it did) was that the cover of the book had a locket on it--so figured that there would be a necklace that would be important in the book, but that is not the case--it's a book that plays the main clue as to identity.

A good book & I would recommend it to anyone.

in this thriller with a heart. The main character, Jessica Clayton, learns secrets that her father kept hidden for decades. She finds a family that she never knew existed, and a love she didn't anticipate, but soon finds she cannot live without.

Her new family is warm and welcoming, but they too hide secrets. Trust as a theme goes hand in hand with relationships in this novel. A warning to the reader: Jessica's new family is populated with people with similar sounding names, so be sure to refer frequently to the family tree provided at the front of the novel.

The heart of this novel is not only her new kinship connections, but also the beautiful landscape that captures Jessica's imagination from the moment she arrives in Sedona, Arizona. The author paints vivid pictures of the rugged scenery. "The land" is almost another character in the novel--far from just a setting, it is vital to the family in the book. Kudos also to the author for drawing attention to the problem of development and the disappearing American Southwest landscape.

The pacing of the novel is a bit slow in the beginning--a little too much information too soon, and it takes a long time for Jessica to meet Ross, the cowboy adopted into her family who also has things to hide. But, once things take off, they take off with a blast. After progressing through the first few chapters, I soon found I couldn't put the book down!

Even while Jessica Clayton's father was alive, she longed for the perfect family. But an invitation to a family reunion is the last thing she expected to receive.

While she dismisses it as a delivery mistake, a visit from the Clements family lawyer convinces her otherwise. She packs her bags and heads to a ranch in Sedona, Arizona, to meet her potential family members.

The family harbors its past including the hush-hush details behind the death of Jessica's uncle and her father's former wife - the reason her father fled the beautiful land 50 years before. But as Jessica comes face-to-face with death, the secrets are forced from the family's lips.

While certain members of the family seek Jessica for an addition to their family tree, others seek her for hidden motives. Questions behind the deaths, selling the ranch and the disappearance of millions of dollars worth of bonds place Jessica in the center of a family firestorm.

Amid this torrential downpour of family scandal comes an unsuspecting love affair. But can Jessica trust him? Can she even trust her own feelings?

Mystery surrounds the family and Jessica's attempt to unlock the secrets could cost her her life.

The Perfect Family starts off a little slow, basically establishing the past and raising questions about the future. But after the first few chapters, you're so enthralled in Jessica's story that the book seems to end far too quickly.

The twists and turns the plot takes while revealing buried morsels from the past really does make you wonder if any family is truly perfect. Potter combines the elements of mystery and romance into an intriguing novel about this 27-year-old who longs so desperately for The Perfect Family.

The Story of Miss Mopet is a very good childrens book. The story was about a cat that is bothered by a little mouse.The cat,Miss Mopet, Trys to kill the annoying little mouse. The mouse is clever, the cat is dumb, so when the cat trys to capture the mouse, it fails. Finally , the mouse catches the mouse in a rag. The cat didn't know that the rag had a hole in it.The mouse got away, and continued to annoy the little cat. This was a very good book.

Miss Moppet is certainly one of the cutest of all the Beatrix Potter books. I love the illustrations and recommend this book to any Beatrix Potter fan. Miss Moppet would also appeal to most cat lovers out there. As always, it includes a useful moral to the story.

"The Story of Miss Moppet," by Beatrix Potter, tells the story of a cat who is bedeviled by a mischievous mouse. This being Potter's deliciously warped world, the mouse wears a green jacket and red bow tie.

"Miss Moppet," first published in 1906, can be seen as the ancestor of Tom and Jerry, the Simpsons' Itchy and Scratchy, and every other predator-and-prey comedy carton. Potter creates wacky slapstick comedy out of her characters' antics. And if you own a cat, Miss Moppet's behavior just might ring true. All in all, a delightful classic by a giant of children's literature.

I enjoyed every page of this well-woven tale. Even the sad, horror stories are well told. I highly recommend this book.

This author can tell a good story. I was moved as well as delighted by the unique tales told.

I highly recommend this book. I know the author and I can attest that what she has written is true to her character and lifestyle.

These are the same arguments that have been around to demonize anything from the Wizard of Oz to Superman cartoon. As the argument goes, the kids can't tell the difference between kids who drive and crash flying cars and reality. So, you have to protect them from anything with that wicked imagination in it.

Given that the classical stories of Ali Baba and the Seven Thieves, Wizard of Oz, or Sinbad, or Cinderella have the exact same wonderful "what if" imaginative world of make believe principles; why not ban all children's books except those that are bible stories? Would such a sterile harsh world be happy?

As a Christian artist who enjoys reading fantasy literature, I was a bit skeptical of FANTASY AND YOUR FAMILY before I read it. I had listened to arguments against the THE LORD OF THE RINGS and HARRY POTTER and quite frankly, none of them impressed me or caused me to think. However, I was rather surprised with Richard Abanes book. The book is well researched, documented, and supported.

The book is divided into four parts. The first section examines fantasy literature in general. The second section discusses J.R.R. Tolkien and THE LORD OF THE RINGS. The third part deals with Harry Potter and the fourth section deconstructs the arguments both for and against Harry Potter.

As mentioned earlier, I was surprised at how well documented and supported this book is. Even though I have enjoyed reading the Harry Potter novels and will probably continue to do so, FANTASY AND YOUR FAMILY helped make me aware of just how large the occult has influenced the writings of J.K. Rowling. For example, I had no idea that many of the characters refered to in the Harry Potter books (not main characters, but people mentioned in history, etc.) were actual occult leaders.

This is a great book for any thinking Christian or any parent to read.

This book is an essential tool for parents and teachers who would like a better understanding of children's fantasy and see comparisons between various popular books labeled as fantasy. Despite the fact that Tolkien did not write for children and the Harry Potter books are marketed to ages 9-12, comparisons between the Harry Potter books and Tolkien's books inevitably come up. This book thoroughly reviews Harry Potter and Tolkien and shows the vast differences between them. The book also delineates the parallels between some of the occult practices Harry learns and real occultism, such as astrology, divination, numerology, and others. As a former professional astrologer and teacher of astrology who also practiced other forms of divination as well as spirit contact, I certainly have recognized in Harry Potter an endorsement of the practice of the occult and magick, even if it is presented in a make-believe context. In the back of the book, Abanes answers every objection made to the valid criticisms of the Harry Potter books and shows the flaws of the most popular defenses of the Harry Potter series, as well as responding to statements made by people such as author Connie Neal. This section reveals that arguments made against the critics of Harry Potter are usually sraw men arguments or are based on faulty reasoning and assumptions, not on the facts. This book is a great handbook for responding to the Harry Potter propaganda machine which has ignored scholarly and knowledgeable criticism of the Harry Potter books.

I had the hardest time getting in line for this book at the library. It was almost always checked out. It ties as most interesting with "Irresistible" but the focus is on the Christian nature of the stories. Harry turns out to be Jesus made flesh and all the symbolism turns out to be as Christian as C. S. Lewis could wish. As long as you are not an extreme fundamentalist reading these stories turn out to be great Christian literature. In fact, it turns out that all moral narratives are Christian. Dr. Killinger explains why.

While reading this book I got the impression that Killinger wrote this book to refute Abanes's book on Harry Potter. He was irate over what Abanes wrote (which I completely understand) and so he posted his defense. However, he slips into many of the same mistakes as Abanes, although going the opposite direction.
1. He lambasts anti-Potterists as narrow-minded and numbskulls...it isn't going to win any friends.
2. His mainline Christian tendencies come out in force when he's quoting the Bible, referencing the JEDP hypothesis, an eschatological redaction of the Gospels, and Tillich's views on the mythological meaning of the resurrection. Along with referring to the Nativity as a "legend" he is hardly making any friends or credibility with the fundalementalists who have probably already have passed him off as a "so-called Christian" who is a part of Satan's deception.
3. If you did not understand the vocabulary of my last point, you will not understand the vocabulary of Killinger. I got a Religion degree from an Evangelical school, but even I had a hard time keeping up with his over-use of theologically-laden terms. Fortunately, he has enough sense to explain kerygma in an subordinate clause, but why even use it in a popular book anyway? Unless you have taken a few Theology or Bible classes, you're going to need a Theological Reference book by you at all times.
4. I consider myself well-read in the area of great Christian thinkers, but even I had to pause frequently before Killingers large block quotes to place the authors, ranging from Chesterson, Buechner, Nouwen, to Merton. Great people, but not read much outside the small Christian academic circle. A little help would be nice to understand who these people and why we should listen to them.
5. Killinger never actually refutes the main arguments of Abanes. I'm guessing that as a mainline Protestant they didn't make any sense to him, so he came up with his own arguments. So he never answers the question of what to do with the verses in Leviticus or Revelation that command captial punishment for witches. Along with his quotations of popular mediums and spiritists to prove that the world beyond is not so far away, fundalmentalists are sure to write him off as an occult sympathiser, or worse, a one-world-religionist.
6. While Abanes often makes the mistake of leaps of logic (like the idea that Harry can do divination because he can talk to snakes) Killinger also falls prey to this. He attempts to make connections where Rowling has explicitly said in interviews that no connection can be made (like a meaning to the word "Quidditch"). However other ideas, like making Harry into a Christ figure and Dumbledore into God, is tenuous and almost as funny as some of Abanes ideas.
The book does make some good points, but it hardly is going to convince an anti-Potterist to change their view. Instead this book would be wonderful for any well-educated evangelical or mainline Christian.

I found this book absolutely wonderful. I am a Harry Potter fan, and I am also a Christian. I have read some of the other literature about the Harry Potter series, and have found myself getting defensive. This book gave me a lot of things to think about that I hadn't considered in my readings of the HP books. People who haven't even touched the HP books because of their religious views ought to read this book before they speak out against the HP books.

I ordered this book hoping to have help identifying the birds at the feeders in my back yard. This books wasn't much help. Most of the photos are tiny--all you see is a bird shape sitting in a bunch of bushes or trees. The photo of the cardinal and blue jay are excellent--but who doesn't already know what these birds look like? Also there was too much information on habitat and migration patterns. I suppose that some people would think this was important. All I know is that there are dozens of gray birds feeding my backyard and I still don't know what most of them are called.

I'm going to buy another book, hopefully with larger pictures.

This is the first bird book I ever owned. I purchased it in the summer of 1999. Four years later, it's like an old friend. It starts out with a short introduction and a few pages on the problem of identification. Then it goes on to describe the various bird habitats in North and South Carolina. The largest section of the book, of course, is the species guide. I found it to be particularly helpful with woodpeckers and shore birds, of which there is a wonderful variety here on Hilton Head Island.

I'm still learning about birds, so I have not yet become proficient at differentiating between various warblers, for example, but this book has helped me identify a couple. Last summer, I searched the book front to back for a bird species I encountered in Pickney Island National Wildlife Preserve, and never found it. Turns out that the bird was a Golden Crowned Kinglet. The bird was listed in this book, but for some reason there was no photo. Strictly speaking _Birds of the Carolinas_ isn't the best field guide on the market, but I still use it and have thoroughly enjoyed owning it. I think you'll enjoy it, too, especially if you are a new hobbyist.

Birds of the Carolinas is an essential reference for the hobiest. It is particularly useful in identifying transients, and in differentiating between similar species based on habitat and time of year. The book contains excellent photographs of most (but not all) of the species referenced.

There was nothing wrong with the plot of this book, but the characters were no more than cardboard stereotypes, and only the love story between Dusty and Sally was anywhere enjoyable. They, at least, seemed to have a little depth to them. Way too long considering the lack of character development.

I recommend this one. It has a good plot and memorable characters. Enjoy.

In the waning years of World War II, American soldiers stop a Nazi train bearing the stolen loot of art, gold and jewelry. The treasures vanish and the paper trail, some fifty years later, seems to have vanished with it. Now a Presidential Advisory Commission looking into the Holocaust assets announces that three of its generals are among those suspected of the treasure's disappearance. All three generals are deceased, but the implications threaten their grandchildren.

Irish Flaherty has made a career of remaining coolly aloof in his role in the Army CID as a lieutenant colonel. His father and grandfather instilled his patriotic duty and belief in honor. He intends to prove that his grandfather had nothing to do with the theft. Irish begins a quiet investigation, inadvertently escalating the danger to himself and others. When his investigation leads to Amy, he vows to protect her, despite her rebuffs.

Amy Mallory teaches advanced American history at prestigious Memphis college. She's far more concerned with her upcoming tenure hearing than she is with the clipping from the newspaper about her grandfather. She knows he would never have done something unethical. Now someone wants her dead, committing arson to her home and shooting her when she goes to the university to retrieve several boxes of her grandfather's papers. She can't imagine what those boxes could contain that someone would kill for.

Assistant to the deputy Secretary of Sate Dustin Eachan knew the story was coming, and hoped it would be lost or ignored. His fast track career may easily be derailed by the actions of his grandfather. He warns his cousin Sally to hide a painting they know was part of the treasure, and sends her into hiding as danger approaches. Somewhat protected from danger by his governmental position, he know his weakness is Sally, the cousin he can never marry.

Patricia Potter pens an addictive mystery in BROKEN HONOR that is impossible to put it down. Indeed, BROKEN HONOR blends a carefully detailed mystery with a heated romance, making perfect winter reading. As the suspense builds, readers will be left guessing as to identity of the pursuer, but it'll be the end before the bad guy's identified. Further, Potter's meticulous attention to detail ties off all the loose strings and leaves readers immensely satisfied with the conclusion. In addition, the secondary plot involving cousins provides strong friction, with plenty of intrigue and suspicion. With entrancing characterizations, this intriguing novel belongs on the keeper shelf, and comes very highly recommended.

The Global Art book barely mentions an Iraqi and Iranian piece of art however it chooses to limit the children's scope from Islamic art. I view this as another biased piece of work that is keen on dividing the world rather than a simple tool for educating children about the world or so called "GLOBAL ART".

A very resourful book. The authors misspell Colombia.

I enjoy all of MaryAnn F. Kohl's books, and this one is a little different than her others as it has a bit more in the way of finished products, though they are all arrived at by discovering and creating. Still, this book works well for those older kids who want a little more "fact" in their art. My favorite chapter revolves around Asian projects, in particular those from Japan.

I was offended and disturbed by the sudden and swift use of violence to teach Squirrel a lesson. There are more effective ways to teach children the value of work and teamplay.

The story of Squirrel Nutkin who is a very disrespectful and rude and provocative squirrel who gets taught a very tough lesson. Learning is not alway painless. Learning is not always pleasurable or fun. This is a fact of life.

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin is one of my favorite Beatrix Potter stories along with The Tailor of Gloucester and The Tale of Ginger and Pickles. It is the story of a rather mischievous young squirrel named Nutkin who loves to tease old Mr. Brown, the owl who lives on an island filled with nut trees. The little rythmes and verses Nutkin recites throughout the story are absolutely delightful. The illustrations are one of Ms. Potter's finest---filled with wonderful detail and color. Some might be offended by the way Nutkin is punished by old Mr. Brown---mainly by having his tail torn off, but if one thinks about it that is the way owls behave in nature. Ms. Potter never honeys things over and her tales always remain a joy to read. Children should not miss out reading this humorous tale.