A Visual Dictionary of Architecture

Book Description

This book defines over 5,000 terms relating to architectural design, history, and technology. It is the only dictionary that provides concise, accurate definitions illustrated with finely detailed, hand-rendered drawings, each executed in Mr. Ching's signature style.

Customer Reviews:

Most USEFUL Book on Architecture EVER!.......2007-09-25

My husband bought this book for me when I decided to go back to school to study architecture, and it has turned out to be sooooo helpful. I have used it in every course I've taken; it makes studying for tests so much easier. It has a fabulous index so you can find what you are looking for right away, and the illustrations and page layouts are great. This book is a must for any architecture student. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

The Visual Dictionary of Architecture.......2006-08-30

As with other materials by Francis D.K.Ching, the illustrations are not only clear and precise but aesthetically pleasing. It is a pleasure to read through the material for a comprehensive understanding of architectural concepts, presented in an historical perspective which clarifies the how and why of modern day building technology. The Visual Dictionary of Architecture
is an invaluable reference for the student and architectural practicioner as well.

Ching's books are great! .......2006-03-27

This book is really good for architecture students. I do not use the book every day, but when I need it, it proves very usefull. All books from this author that I purchased are really good so far. This one has a lot of details drawings which are great.

Easy to use and read and understand.......2006-01-14

Somewhere near the very beginning of my lecturing career, I showed a slide onscreen and was trying to point out a unique feature of a home. Gesturing toward the screen I said, "that thingie over the window..."

I was mortified. What a dreadful mistake for a "professional" lecturer to make!! Since I planned to give many more lectures, I came home and bought this book from Amazon.

When the parcel arrived, I quickly opened it and was delighted to find the easy-to-read drawings. Ching makes the most complex architectural graphics easy to see and understand. Using this book, I gave myself a crash course on "basic architectural terms" and since then, I've given 200 lectures and never used the word "THINGIE" again!!

Rose
author, California's Kit Homes
and "The Houses That Sears Built"

Very Good Graphics Book.......2005-09-15

This book was recommended to me by an architect for reviewing possible material on architecture license examinations. Graphically it's an excellent book. Bigger type letters would make it easier to read. Other than that, it's a great buy!

The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture

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Useful
An Ambitious Field Guide to Domestic Architecture
Real McCoy!
excellent line drawings demonstrate styles

The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture
Rachel Carley
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0805045635

Customer Reviews:

Useful.......2007-08-23

Not a bad book on U.S. architecture - the best part is the focus on details which can give the viewer visual clues as to the probable history and or origin of a house long after the structure may have been remodelled. The focus on vernacular architecture is also apprecieated as there are more small family homes on a budget in this country than there are big ostentatious mansions built by people with more money then sense and or taste.

An Ambitious Field Guide to Domestic Architecture.......2005-07-31

Although the illustrations in this book are not as beautiful as the ones in Lester Walker's "American Homes", this book is very ambitious in its presentations. Many field guides to American homes concentrate solely on identifying a style. Usually, there are only a few brief descriptions of the architectural details that help define a style.

What makes "The Visual Diction of American Domestic Architecture" such a pleasure is the sheer ambition of its coverage. Not only are there detailed descriptions of building exteriors, there are also detailed desciptions of interior features. As an example, not many field guides detail interior framing plans or such important features like staircases and fireplaces. If that were not enough, there are also some representative floor plans.

I have been collecting field guides for a number of years and this is one of the best. If you want to go beyond picking out key features of a distinct architectural style and want to delve deeper into building details, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.

Real McCoy!.......2004-03-05

I guess it isn't an easy thing to compose an illustrative guide on such complicated and multilayered portion of Architecture as American domestic styles, but all are included here: easily recognizable types, details, even construction methods! Special thanks to the Illustrator: the pictures are neither "overillustrated" nor of too "academic" appearance - just restrained professional still artistic graphic. As an international Architect often working for an American architectural firm I will surely make use of it.

excellent line drawings demonstrate styles.......1999-02-18

Not comprehensive enough in scope to be a true dictionary of architectural style, but certainly provides the visual images necessary to recognize the styles. Included floor plans also demonstrate the various modes. Good survey of vernacular styles, often overlooked in other texts.

The Visual Dictionary of Chinese Architecture

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The Visual Dictionary of Chinese Architecture
Qinghua Guo
Manufacturer: Images Publishing Dist A/C
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1876907193

Book Description

Written and illustrated by a leading authority on Chinese architecture. Features hundreds of superb hand sketches. A book destined to become a collectors' item.

A glossary of colonial architectural terms, with a bibliography of books, 1880-1930: The dating of old houses (Classic guidebooks to the visual arts)

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A glossary of colonial architectural terms, with a bibliography of books, 1880-1930: The dating of old houses (Classic guidebooks to the visual arts)
Norman Morrison Isham
Manufacturer: American Life Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

A Visual Dictionary of Architecture & Construction

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A Visual Dictionary of Architecture & Construction
Dimitris Kottas
Manufacturer: Links International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Dictionary of Architecture and Construction (Dictionary of Architecture & Construction)

ASIN: 8496424294
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Book Description

Wondering what an ogee molding is? Puzzling over flying buttresses? Trying to translate "portico" into German? Now architects, builders, designers, and students can find all the answers in A Visual Dictionary of Architecture and Construction, the book that shows and tells these words and thousands more. More than 6,000 architectural terms are explained in over 500 detailed illustrations plus captions in English, Spanish, French, and German. The book is organized thematically, with complete indexing for easy reference. With its portable size and flexibinding, it’s a comprehensive reference book perfect for carrying to classroom or construction site.

Diccionario Visual de Arquitectura / A Visual Dictionary of Architecture

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Diccionario Visual de Arquitectura / A Visual Dictionary of Architecture
Francis D. K. Ching
Manufacturer: Editorial Gustavo Gili
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 8425220203

Average customer rating:

A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IN A SMALL PACKAGE
Ten minutes crash briefing...

Buildings (DK Visual Dictionaries)
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Architecture | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Dictionaries | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1564581020

Book Description

This visual dictionary looks at the inner structure of buildings of all kinds and from all ages, including castles and cathedrals, stately homes and skyscrapers, and more.

Customer Reviews:

A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IN A SMALL PACKAGE.......2007-09-30

Like another reviewer here, I was absolutely stunned at the amount of information if reference to buildings that the author was able to pack into this one. The book explores different building styles from around the world. The photos and drawings are of top rate quality and just to flip through the book, examining the pictures is worth the price of the book along. The illustrations and photos though, are just part of the total story of this book. The work examins, often in detail, how different parts of different structures are build, i.e. doors, windows, walls, fire places, chimneys, columns, arches (concept), thatching, roofs, painting/tile, supports, materials decorations and much, much more. The text is wonderful. Even though this is classified as a childrens book, it is actually much more, although, most kids seem to love it. This is a wonderful addition to a wonderful series and I certainly highly recommend it.

Ten minutes crash briefing..........2002-04-24

This book looks small but contains a lot. Whether you are a student or just an enthusiastic it is good idea to have a book that fits in to your pocket. Again do not underestimate that book just because of "pocket". It delightfully explains buildings and architecture from the ages point of view to the architectural styles, materials with a basic graphics and pictures. You don't have to spend any afford for technical terms since each of them point with the arrows at the pictures. You can often see famous buildings at the different countries. In short it's fun the browse yet it teaches either you are at the subway or in the class waiting for your teacher.

Diccionario Visual Atlea De Arquitectura (Diccionarios Visuales Altea-Eyewitness Visual Dictionaries)

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Diccionario Visual Atlea De Arquitectura (Diccionarios Visuales Altea-Eyewitness Visual Dictionaries)
Santillana
Manufacturer: Altea Ediciones
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Architecture | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Dictionaries | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books

No ficción | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books

Referencia | Libros en español | Formats | Books

A glossary of colonial architectural terms (Classic guidebooks to the visual arts)

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A glossary of colonial architectural terms (Classic guidebooks to the visual arts)
Norman Morrison Isham
Manufacturer: American Life Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Visual Dictionary and Building Construction Illust Rated Third Edition Set

Average customer rating:

Good Service
Excellent book, but missing a component.
Building Construction Illutrated
extremely informative
An ARCHITECTURE STUDENT must own...

Visual Dictionary and Building Construction Illust Rated Third Edition Set
Francis D. K. Ching , and Cassandra Adams
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0471356387

Customer Reviews:

Good Service.......2007-09-17

Book was shipped and delivered in a timely manner, and in promised condition. I would order from them again.

Excellent book, but missing a component........2007-08-21

I really enjoy this book; it has a fantastic overview of how buildings are put together from foundation to the roof. It also discusses concerns such as loads, soil types, and a host of other details involved in the construction of buildings. It also has considerations to things I never would have thought of such as path widths for people to walk down in ones or twos. To be perfectly clear, this is not an in-depth book. It covers a lot of material in brief with tons of illustrations. It almost looks like a textbook for a building or architectural trade course (I'm not a student). The reason for only 4 stars: I'd probably have given it another star but for a an exception: The book covers rammed earth and adobe construction (relatively obscure and uncommon to modern construction methods) but fails to cover insulated concrete forms (ICF) or structural insulated panels (SIP). This is an omission that needs to be corercted.

Building Construction Illutrated.......2007-07-05

This book is a condensed version of the Architectural Graphics Stadards at a greatly reduced price. The book provides all the basic information needed for the design and construction of basic buildings in easy to read illustrations and dialog. As a professional architect, I often used this book to research basic information for my designs. An excellent book for anyone thinking about building their own home. Even if a contractor will be hired, it would provide the basic information needed to verify quality construction is being provided.

extremely informative.......2007-06-27

While taking my second drafting class, I used this book as a helpful guide. Ching's (one of the author) footprints are throughout the book. If you have any of Ching's other books, this one will fit right in. The method in which he uses to illustrate his points will be helpful.

An ARCHITECTURE STUDENT must own..........2007-06-27

I went through Architecture school and have been in practice for 4 years now. This is a fantastic book to have in school. This book provides you with great beginner information on how simple buildings ACTUALLY go together. It's not detailed to the "n-th" degree but it doesn't need to. It's great for any architecture student. This book contains a lot of what you are not going to be taught (unfortunately- not enough time) in 4-6 years of Architecture school. The illustrations are easy to read and it provides enough axons to portray its ideas well. Reading/looking through this book in school will make going into practice & construction documents, that much easier.

Book Description

This lavishly illustrated book introduces the world of fin-de-siècle Prague. Around 1900, city's artists and artisans began to develop a particular ornamental language inspired by the contemporary revival of Czech culture and influenced by Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, and the Vienna Secession. To begin with, lyricism and poetic symbolism dominated the visual arts. Jan Preisler, one of the most important figures of the time, created sensual paintings and sculptures based on themes connected to the writings of such Czech authors as Zeyer and Brezina. Other artists such as Kobliha and Hlavácek focused on turbulent forms, dramatic expressions of torment, and the macabre. In the applied arts, exuberant floral and vegetal motifs were gradually transformed into geometric patterns. Prague 1900 charts the effects of the emergence of modernism and the search for Czech national identity in both the fine and the applied arts, as well as in architecture, music, and literature. The book also includes a wealth of illustrations of interiors, architectural and sculptural details and documentary photographs. Biographies of the most important artists are provided, as well as a full chronology of artists and events.

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Czech Modernism 1900-1945

Manufacturer: Museum of Fine Arts Houston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Czech Republic | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9990412596

Amazon.com

Like many people in the wake of the September 11 tragedy, Michael Feldschuh felt helpless and frustrated and wanted to do something. Immensely moved by the impromptu shrines and fragile remembrances all over the city, Feldschuh, an amateur photographer and Wall Street professional, thought of something to do. He quickly initiated the September 11 Photo Project. Within weeks, his idea to create a space for the community to collaboratively, in his words, "bear witness" to the horrific events, was open to the public. A huge donated space in SoHo, mere blocks from the World Trade Center site, served as a gallery. Over the next few months, more than 40,000 people visited the gallery to look, read, participate, and mourn. Thousands of people contributed photographs, text, and collages. This book is a collection of images from this important social project. Its proceeds will be used to support a traveling exhibition of the project and the New York City Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. Of course the images are heart-wrenching: handwritten notes remembering missing loved ones, messages written in dust at the site, clouds of smoke, frightened faces. The pictures--some taken with disposable cameras, with accompanying text written on paper scraps--are immensely personal, yet the images capture the devastated mood and feelings of a nation. --J.P. Cohen

Book Description

“I witnessed the fall of the burning towers and death of thousands of people just blocks from where I live. I had taken my camera with me that morning and in a crowd of people took photos while in deep shock, fearing for the lives of those trapped and the rescue workers rushing to save them. I have never felt so helpless in my life.”--Michael Feldschuh

During the three months that the September 11 Photo Project was on display at a donated gallery in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, more that forty thousand people visited the space to view the photos and read the words of the project's contributors. The photos in this book, selected from the submissions of more than five hundred photographers, young and old, amateur and professional, give a permanent voice to those who made the September 11 Photo Project what it is: an attempt to build new understanding from the ashes of what has been.

These photographs are presented in the following pages with the words of the photographers, as they appeared in the gallery.

The perspectives represented on the gallery walls were as diverse as the photos were haunting. Many visitors went away from the exhibit with a greater understanding of what had occurred and were able to begin the healing of the deep wounds of losing friends and neighbors, of witnessing unfathomable atrocity, of feeling that there was no way to help. Together in this book, these words and images lend insight into this calamitous event and our world as it changed in those terrifying moments on a sunny September morning.

The SoHo gallery is closed, but the project continues; the collection has embarked on a nation-wide tour.

The September 11 Photo Project will use its proceeds from the sale of this book to continue its mission, and to support the New York City Firefighters Burn Center Foundation.

Customer Reviews:

Literary or Film... Articles or Documentaries... not forget.......2004-02-04

I thank each and every reviewer who took the time to add their sentiments to any media portraying The World Trade Center Towers tragedy. What all you readers, viewers, experience with any media photos, etc., IT WAS EXACTLY LIKE THOSE PHOTOS, FILMS AND WRITTEN WORDS.....!

My spouse & I resided on the Lower West Side, Battery Park City, Gateway Plaza, So. End Ave. As survivors of the 9/11 World Trade Center Towers tragedy... our story is one in a basket of billions. From our Gateway Plaza apartment, facing the street and 300 yards from the Towers, we helplessly witnessed all from our apartment windows. The closeness of the Towers viewed from our windows - gave an illusion that one could reach out and touch the Towers; their beauty with night lights reaching toward the sky promoted a contemplative emotion.

We viewed the planes entering the Towers, the overwhelming inferno, individuals jumping, the collapse of the Towers, the darkness as debris hit our windows with a fury. What occurred over a period of hours, seemed like a much shorter time span. The darkness was darker than an eclipse, darker than the darkest night; and then a momentary hush after the air cleared. Viewing the roof garden one floor below, with the human reaction of looking out to see if someone might be on that roof garden and in need of help. Debris strewn everywhere, recording tape and paper hung from the trees of the garden and oh, so much ash. The momentary hush, whether real or imagined, then the viewing of debris for a second, fantasized that a parade had just passed by on our short street. I experienced anger not fear - anger that factions could bring such evil deeds to our wonderful country. I now really understand the expression a feeling of helplessness, I couldn't fix what had just happened.

We stayed in our apartment until 5:15 p.m. that day, waiting for someone to knock on our door to advise us to evacuate, with nothing but a battery radio to keep us abreast of happenings. "In a New York minute", we evacuated via the stairwell touched with ash, the result of a first floor door left open. With a few belongings, gathered with a tad of thought of what was being left behind, we stepped out of the door onto the pavement, seeing and standing in ever so much ash and debris, I wanted to turn around and go back to our home. It was one of other reality moments carried forever in my mind's eye.

We planned to walk up the East Side, but seeing the very tired police, fire, and med tech personnel within our immediate driveway and street, we opted to pass through the building in back of the apartment complex. We gained access to the Esplanade walking the short distance to reach the Hudson River dock - North Cove. We were escorted to the New Jersey shore via New York Police boat. From the boat deck, we viewed even more damage to the Manhattan skyline, especially noting the zigzag shape of the side of the American Express building, housed in one of the World Financial Center buildings along with the glorious Winter Garden, as well as the fall of World Trade Center Building 7. We were taken to the Jersey City Hospital, attended to by compassionate staff. Then traveled by National Guard truck to Hoboken, NJ where we were housed by a wonderful family who welcomed, with great trust, strangers to their home.

On Friday 9/14, our eldest son & daughter-in-law drove from New Hampshire via New Jersey routes to Hoboken for transport us to New Hampshire for temporary residence with our daughter, who along with her friend and our youngest son, greeted us with open arms & the overwhelming feeling of not wanting to let go with each hug that followed. {I sometimes wonder what the count of hugs were given from day 9/11 and long thereafter? Billions.} Our daughter and son had spent that Friday in New Hampshire collecting items of clothing and necessities which the Concord community generously opened their hearts and donated by churches, stores, individuals, employers, American Red Cross, et al.

One of our grandchildren -- he was 8 at that time - arrived home from a few days with his Dad. He hugged us so tight, understanding the depth of 9/11 events for someone so young and yet so wise. He told Grandpa & Babcia (Polish for Grandma) that he had something for them... his Mom was not even aware of his gift. He had spoken to his classmates about his grandparents' closeness in location of the World Trade Center Towers. Presented to us was a large envelope full of hand-made cards from each of his classmates. And if that isn't love and caring, I don't know what is - from the hearts and minds of children!
Residing now in New Hampshire, not because of 9/11 drove us away, but circumstances just went that way as we continue to put our lives into perspective.

We Miss - New York City deeply; events found nowhere else in the USA, the introduction to & interaction with so many wonderful cultures. There isn't a day or night in the past two years, that we do not think of 9/11... the Lady of Liberty & Ellis Island both on the confluence of the East River and the Hudson River, viewed from the lower part of the Esplanade. And that Lady of Liberty wept, I just know it, and she still stands with pride and remembrance that the USA is a democracy that will prevail.

We Remember - the victims, the survivors, their friends and families, the workers from the public and private sector, the volunteers, our neighbors in Gateway Plaza and staff in the small group of stores on South End Avenue, Battery Park City.

We Remember - the places we visited, the book signings attended, the celebrities we met, the concerts and theater plays, the movies, the arts, the parks, the strangers we talked with, on streets, on subway and those while standing in line for an event... yet there are so many places we didn't get to.

We Remember - Always In Our Hearts, Forever In Our Souls, Heroes, Victims, Survivors One and All... We Were There.

Painfully, the lump in my throat and the twist in my stomach, the tears in my eyes and the pain in my heart, to the depth of my soul, forever go on.

"God, teach me to laugh again, but never let me forget that I cried." Katy Fisher

A cowardly attack on America.......2003-10-19

A great effort in trying to record that evil event on 9/11.It would seem an impossible task to cover such a huge thing that affected so many people in so many ways.However when you think about it ,any picture in the book tells the story,and there are a million more that could do it as well.The perpetrators of this evil will be cast onto the garbage dump of history just as were those who served up Pearl Harbor,the Holocaust and other such acts of fanaticism,cowardice and hatred.Will the world remember;of course.Will such happen again ? I hope not,but I am sure it will.In only 2 short years it seems that many have already started to replace the horror and shock with political rhetoric.It is easy to identify them as they usually start off with .."It was an awful thing,but..." You fill in the blanks.With an act like this;there are no buts ! ! !
An excellent book,as is "One Nation ";and will be worth looking at many times as the War on Terror proceeds.

Never forget 9/11.......2003-09-12

As time passes and haunting memories fade beneath the shroud of everyday life, the tragedy of 9/11 continues to resurface. The apocalyptic events of 9/11 and its aftermath, the war on terror and the hunting of demonic cowards come even more to life annually in what is now known as Patriots Day. On this day and the days leading up to 9/11 I've looked through this book countless times to remind myself of just what happened. This collection of photographs by everyday people, caught up in one of the most horrific acts of senseless violence is a testament to the anger, disbelief, shock, hurt, courage and will of the American people. Some of the photographs are gut wrenching reminders of the innocence we all lost on that picturesque day that suddenly turned into a living hell. Others offer hope for the future of the USA and the spirit that lives on but all are real reminders of the consequences of a few determined individuals backed by an organization, that want to destroy our way of lfe. Some people may find this book too painful to look at, it is a terrible reminder of the thousands who died and the symbolic and physical destruction of the Twin Towers. As on the day that I witnessed the collapse of a magnificent building, that I once was in and looked at the panoramic view from the restaurant and observation deck, it is still hard to believe that it has been destroyed. This book is a collaborative effort in a sense, it brings together the efforts of all who tried to make sense of the atrocity they were witnessing. By stopping reality for an instant the contributors have created a memorial and a reflection on their own private hell for all to share in their grief. The collages are assembled much like the day, they are put together in a chaotic fashion that is quite fitting . If you can bear witness again please do ; this captures the peoples view of evil unleashed on that fateful day America was attacked and fresh in your mind what the War on Terror is all about and the inexorable justice that will result.

Forgot the photographers.......2002-08-26

The sad thing about this book is that all the photographers that contributed work to the original exhibtion were not listed anywhere. Very ungenerous of the editor.

mashed together tragic visions..........2002-06-12

This is a fine tribute, but it should be kept as a memorial or a showcase. This isnt a book for memorializing, it is a book of pictures FROM the memorial that was set up by Mr. Feldschuh. It is sometimes hard to see, many pictures are blurry and hard to make out. A lot of the pictures or captions are cut off as they are trying to represent what the gallery was.
If you are looking for a good book to remember the terrible fate we beheld, go for "One Nation" absolutly riviting, from cover to cover!

Average customer rating:

The September 11 Photo Project
Michael Feldschuh
Manufacturer: Regan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OA5XM6

Book Description

She is the bastard child of head Noh assassin and a Geisha - her mother murdered and she horribly scarred by a dishonored half-brother. She wears the mask of a Kabuki to hide the scars both internal and external from the world. Volume II: Dreams - The epilogue to Kabuki: Circle of Blood, Kabuki: Dreams is a mix of Japanese mythology and a modern near death experience. A woman dies and has a vision of the afterlife in which she is visited by her dead mother. She returns to life with a new sense of resolution and purpose. The story is told with fully painted artwork.

Customer Reviews:

weak dream.......2006-07-06

Not one of Mack's greater accomplishments. I love the artistry of his hand. The curves, the movement, the violence he displays with drawings. Real ink and paper. Towards the end of 'Dreams' he resorts to pictures of live blurry women and children's plastic dolls with Kabuki masks on black backgrounds. WHERE IS THE INK!? The real expression, not the highschool photography class. I pray his future expression is a little more from the heart and a little less from the lense.

Visual intensity.......2003-12-12

Sanity is not always called for. This story explores one alternative. It's a dark alternative, but it's an alternative to an even darker reality.

This is another of Mack's lavish painted comics. To call it 'painted', though, is faint praise. Drawing, lettering in a few different hands, collage, painting - the visual layering and intensity are incredible. The story itself is stark, physically static the with dynamics all in Kabuki's mind. Somehow, Mack conveys and sustains that moment when even desperation fails.

Mack's images are filled with deconstructed text. My eye instinctively tries to read it all, but that would defeat the purpose of the imagery. On the other hand, ignoring it defeats the purpose of the writing. This is a book I'll come back to, to give it all the different readings it deserves.

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