The Shipcarvers' Art: Figureheads and Cigar-Store Indians in Nineteenth-Century America

Book Description

Among the most popular and ubiquitous sculptures in nineteenth-century America were the ship's figurehead and the cigar-store Indian. The vast majority of these engaging human figures were created by shipcarvers-highly skilled artists celebrated for their masterful figureheads but who collectively made tens of thousands of shop figures as well, from fanciful representations of American Indians to firemen, baseball players, and fashionable women.

Shaped by nineteenth-century Anglo-American values, this artwork reflects the tenor of the times, including racial and gender stereotyping, America's emerging popular culture, and the birth of modern advertising techniques.

The Shipcarvers' Art is the first book to assess the artistry and history of these two closely related genres in a single volume. Richly illustrated and elegantly written, it reveals the intertwining of art, commerce, and shipcarving in nineteenth-century America. On March 22, 1856, for example, only four months after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Hiawatha was first published, the clipper Minehaha was launched at an East Boston shipyard. Its figurehead depicted a renowned English actress in her role as Hiawatha's wife, Minehaha. Central to the festivities surrounding the event were poet, actress, and shipbuilder--and a fictional image of the Native American.

Ralph Sessions not only highlights the work of shipcarvers throughout the eastern United States and Canada but also presents new information on carving workshops in New York City, America's key shipbuilding center from around 1820 until after the Civil War.

Just as they were vanishing from the bows of ships and city streets around the turn of the twentieth century, figureheads and shop figures began to experience renewed interest as museum pieces and collector's items. Representing a milestone in scholarship on the subject, The Shipcarvers' Art magnificently brings them alive once more for art lovers of the twenty-first century.

Customer Reviews:

Welcome addition to the canon.......2005-04-22

I collect figures. I have read the books that are used for reference. I have seen the exhibit that was chaperoned by Mr. Sessions (Sandwich,MA., NYC,NY & Baltimore,MD). I am a student of the art he describes! I was impressed by his scholarship, his easy east coast art scene style of writing, his photography/graphics, his hommage to Ms. Sanburn, Mr. Pendergast & Mr. Fried (I knew him). This is not a picture atlas. This is not a coffee table book. I would have liked to seen/read more especially regarding the social relevance of color race &c.(the folly of the time theirs & ours) but this is another matter! I RECOMMEND this book to all who treasure american sculpture. The vulgar artist is finally getting his place(WELL DONE Mr Sessions! What is next?).

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Essential for Blakey-ophiles

Art Blakey's band from the fanatic's perspective

Hard Bop Academy
Alan Goldsher , and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Art Blakey: Jazz Messenger

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - Live in '58 (Jazz Icons)

ASIN: 0634037935

Book Description

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers was one of the most enduring, popular, reliable and vital small bands in modern jazz history. Blakey was not only a distinguished, inventive and powerful drummer, but along with Duke Ellington and Miles Davis, he was one of jazz's foremost talent scouts. The musicians who flowed seamlessly in and out of this constantly evolving collective during its 36-year run were among the most important artists not just of their eras, but of any era. Though their respective innovations were vital to the evolution of bebop, hard bop and neo bop, the recorded work of the Messengers sidemen has never been properly analyzed. Until now. Hard Bop Academy: The Sidemen of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers critically examines the multitude of gifted artists who populated the many editions of the Jazz Messengers. In addition to dissecting the sidemen's most consequential work with Blakey's band, jazz musician and acclaimed novelist Alan Goldsher offers up engaging profiles of everyone from Wynton Marsalis to Terence Blanchard to Hank Mobley to Wayne Shorter to Horace Silver to Keith Jarrett to Curtis Fuller to Steve Davis. And that's only the beginning. Goldsher conducted over 30 interviews with surviving graduates of Blakey's Hard Bop Academy, many of whom spoke at length of their tenure with the legendary "Buhaina" for the first time. Alan Goldsher is a bassist who has recorded with Janet Jackson, Digable Planets, Cypress Hill and Naughty By Nature. His writing has been published in Bass Player, Tower Pulse, Sport and BasketBull: Chicago Bulls Magazine. Goldsher's debut novel, Jam, was published in 2002 by Permanent Press. He lives in Chicago. Hardcover.

Customer Reviews:

Essential for Blakey-ophiles.......2006-08-02

I had purchased the best-selling "Moanin'" LP and caught the Shorter-edition of the Messengers in the 60's, but it wasn't until I caught the Messengers in the late 70's, playing the 2nd half of a Newport program that featured Horace Silver on the first half, that I contracted Messengers fever. They were everything that Horace's group was not--thunderous, alive, free and life-affirming--and doing it with unheralded musicians--Dave Schnitter, Bill Hardman, James Williams--who, in effect, put their counterparts to shame.

Goldsher's is the best book-length study on the Messengers that I've seen, devoting as much attention to Schnitter and Hardman as to the more renowned Messengers. The profiles are admittedly short and told from an "outsider's" perspective, but frequently the author nails exactly what's unique about the playing of a Kenny Dorham or Bill Hardman, and in musical terminology that will not exclude the layman.

What remains to be written is a look at the Blakey world from an "insider's" point of view: what it was like to get "up" for each performance, what distinguished, say, an "off" night from an inspired performance, what filled the days while traveling, what personal tensions arose and how they were dealt with, what it was like to feel you had played badly or to anticipate being "terminated."

Although Goldsher's profiles encourage greater appreciation of the hard-edged, professionally "finished" groups of the 60's and 80's, I'm still partial to the richly warm, inventive Mobley ensembles of the 50's and the unsung, exciting "overachievers" of the 70's. Goldsher is one of the few writers to give Walter Davis Jr. his due as a pianist and, especially, composer (though he fails to mention "Backgammon" as well as Mickey Tucker, the gifted pianist who handled Davis' treacherous chordal/rhythmic sequences better than Walter himself).

For the best example of the 70's ensemble along with Davis' extraordinary compositions, there's only one currently available resource: The Jazz Messengers at the Umbria Jazz Festival on DVD. The best examples of the lyrical Mobley Messengers from the 50's is Art Blakey's "The Jazz Messengers" on Columbia (with exceptional ensemble balance and sound that's more spacious and "true" than that of the Blue Note sessions) and Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers "At the Cafe Bohemia" on Blue Note (the combination of Mobley and Kenny Dorham is simply as good as it gets).

After any of the foregoing, the popular "Moanin'" session (my first Blakey recording--memorized, then discarded) sounds merely formulaic, and all of the early 60s Shorter/Morgan/Fuller sessions begin to sound the same.

Art Blakey's band from the fanatic's perspective.......2004-02-24

I'm a drummer and I love Art Blakey so I've got to encourage people to check this book out. This is written from a fan's perspective and provides brief 2-3 page snapshots of all the major players who have played with Art Blakey's jazz messengers from their inception to his passing. He makes no bones about being biased. The author reveres Blakey and his contribuitions and emphasizes Blakey's sidemen to try to turn people onto the band and the music they made.

Blakey was one of the real warriors of the music and his band gave us so many wonderful musicians. The best recommendation for this book is that so many Messengers came out to support this project with interviews and stories about the band and about their relationship with Blakey. Blakey inspires worship, awe, and fear as a musician and a man and that comes through in this book. You do learn a litte bit about some lesser known figures [I'd forgotten Keith Jarrett, Kenny Garrett, and Joanne Brackeen were Messengers] in the band's history.

Mostly this is a great, fun, readable way to learn about the musicians and the leader behind the most legendary long term small group in the history of jazz. I'd recommend this first to fellow drummers, people with a knowledge and interest in small group jazz, and to those listeners who have heard classic albums like "Moanin'", "A Night at Birdland" [w/Clifford Brown], "Free for All", "Album of the Year" and want to put some flesh and meat on the music they heard.

Great man, fun book

Book Description

Messengers: fast, furious, athletic, stylish. Whether carving through city traffic at breakneck speed or pausing on the sidewalk, today's bike messengers are the absolute in urban style. Because of messengers' impact on society on many levels like open attitudes, trend-setting, music and sports, this book is a real statement on the driving engine of a high energy city. They are the true symbols of the active metropolis, and an important link to the business community. Here, for the first time, they are taken off the street and into the studio. Contemporary photographer Philippe Bialobos has taken a series of rhythmic, colorful portraits which perfectly frame the messengers' off-beat appearances and transfixing physical presence, while at the same time capturing the varied personalities that lie hidden beneath the layers of hats, shades and city smoke. The images are accompanied by various poems written by messengers from across the country.

Customer Reviews:

Glimpse of NYC Bike Messenger Style.......2004-05-17

I had hoped for a collection of pictures of bike messengers from around the United States. Instead, judging by the pictures, the authors decided to only include messengers from the New York City area. NYC messengers have a reputation for being among the best in the world, so I wasn't too disappointed. I would have liked to have seen pics of messengers from Chicago, San Francisco, DC, etc. included as well.

The book gives a good glimpse of NYC messenger style, despite it being only 100 pages thick. If the author had wanted to, he could have sought pictures of messengers from around the USA to include, making for a longer book and, perhaps, a wider variety of styles.

The subjects included in the book have been messengers for various periods of time, ranging from a few months to a couple of decades. So, rookies are included, along with veteran messengers.

The photos were well done and shot by obvious professionals in a studio, rather than having been taken out on the streets where the messengers really work and I felt the photos to be a little too posed-looking. I think pics of the messengers actually out on the streets would have provided a better, more honest, book. I had the feeling that Messenger Syle looked more like a clothing catalog, rather than a real pictorial of bike messengers.

I bought the book out of curiousity and I skim-through it, once in awhile when I'm bored. Overall, I liked the book, despite what I felt its shortcomings to be.

If you want to take a look at NYC bike messengers, this book gives a good glimpse. Don't expect too much, though.

street style..........2000-10-28

The photographs in this book are amazing...this is one of the coolest books on street style to come out in a long time. The cover and packaging are kinda funky too (it comes with this rubber belly band). If you live in New York, there's a good chance you'll recognise one of these whacky looking messengers. Original.

some crazy bicycle riding kinda shaite.......2000-10-08

you've honked at those crazy mthrfkrs weaving through traffic with bags of cargo and walkie talkies--but you've never asked yourself if they can write poetry; or if they represent the last stand of american fashion--postpunk primitive mad max though it may be. if you live in the sticks, buy this book and pretend you see bicycle messengers all the time. if you're the city mouse, quit your worthless job and get yerself 2 wheels.

Average customer rating:

Messenger of Mortality
Julian Rothenstein
Manufacturer: Moyer Bell Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Printmaking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0918825792

Messengers of Modernism: American Studio Jewelry 1940-1960

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A must-have for anyone interested in the history of jewelry!

Messengers of Modernism: American Studio Jewelry 1940-1960

Manufacturer: Flammarion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 2080135937
Release Date: 1996-09-15

Customer Reviews:

A must-have for anyone interested in the history of jewelry!.......2001-07-14

So many books written today about jewelry tend to be heavy on beautiful images, but lacking in useful information. Toni Greenbaum's Messengers of Modernism is truly an exception. With its well written introduction, the author places these jewelers within the cultural context of their time, providing us with a glimpse of the creative environment that fostered such fabulous works. The book is profusely illustrated and highlights the careers of each jeweler/artist. The inclusion of period photos is an added bonus and hints of the artists' individual personalities. Messengers of Modernism is a valuable reference for anyone interested in this fascinating period of jewelry history.

Bob's advice, part 2.(management techniques): An article from: Food Processing

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Bob's advice, part 2.(management techniques): An article from: Food Processing
Bob Messenger
Manufacturer: Putman Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Food Processing, published by Putman Media, Inc. on March 1, 1999. The length of the article is 622 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Food companies should revise or implement new strategies that will allow them to cope with market changes in the 21st century and to stay competitive. Corporate strategies should be aimed at heightening customers' knowledge of the market and providing value-added products and services. These include evaluating customer's business culture, publishing informative newsletters and establishing corporate think-tanks.

Citation Details
Title: Bob's advice, part 2.(management techniques)
Author: Bob Messenger
Publication: Food Processing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 1999
Publisher: Putman Media, Inc.
Volume: 60 Issue: 3 Page: 130(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Memphis[SM] site of the 2006 NDTA Forum: great things are in store for the 2006 Forum--Southern style hospitality, down home cooking, and a destination ... article from: Defense Transportation Journal

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Memphis[SM] site of the 2006 NDTA Forum: great things are in store for the 2006 Forum--Southern style hospitality, down home cooking, and a destination ... article from: Defense Transportation Journal

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000EZ7TY6
Release Date: 2006-03-11

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Defense Transportation Journal, published by Thomson Gale on February 1, 2006. The length of the article is 528 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Memphis[SM] site of the 2006 NDTA Forum: great things are in store for the 2006 Forum--Southern style hospitality, down home cooking, and a destination focused on distribution!(FORUM NEWS)
Publication: Defense Transportation Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 62 Issue: 1 Page: 24(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Style matters: Mexican execs follow strict code of dress and etiquette.(Cover Story): An article from: Business Mexico

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Style matters: Mexican execs follow strict code of dress and etiquette.(Cover Story): An article from: Business Mexico
Rawdon Messenger
Manufacturer: American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico A.C.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00082V68K
Release Date: 2005-08-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Business Mexico, published by American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico A.C. on July 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1769 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Style matters: Mexican execs follow strict code of dress and etiquette.(Cover Story)
Author: Rawdon Messenger
Publication: Business Mexico (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2004
Publisher: American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico A.C.
Volume: 14 Issue: 7 Page: 30(6)

Article Type: Cover Story

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Jazzing Up Instruction: An Integrated Curriculum for Elementary Students

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Jazzing Up Instruction: An Integrated Curriculum for Elementary Students
Messenger Bill
Manufacturer: Scarecrow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This workbook was created for elementary schools to help generate student's interest in what they are learning. The messages the songs convey reinforce values while helping students understand their culture. Included: Easy to sing jazz and blues songs A 10-song CD Workbook activities Bibliography

Customer Reviews:

great hulk collection..........2007-01-17

if you are a fan of the hulk, you can't pass this one up. there isn't a dvd-rom collection of the hulk yet, so unless you want to pay big bucks for the masterworks collections (which are a lot shorter) this is the way to go. i don't mind it anyway, it's kind of nice just to see the king kirby's pencilwork without color. lee and kirby= the greatest team ever in comics.

The Hulk's transformation from Ol' Greyskin to Ol' Greenskin.......2003-06-27

Collected within these pages are the six issues from the original comic book of "The Incredible Hulk" and 32 stories from "Tales to Astonish" (issues #60-91). This becomes important because in the case of the latter we are talking 10 page stories because the Hulk shared space in "Tales to Astonish" with first Giant-Man and then the Sub-Mariner. Not that any Marvel superhero is particularly suited to this abbreviated storytelling format, but the Hulk certainly seems to be rather ill matched. After all, within each and every 10-page story Bruce Banner has to change into the Hulk (or visa versa), all without anybody getting a clue to the transformation ("Where did Doctor Banner go!"). That is why the original six issues of "The Incredible Hulk" stand out in such marked contrast.

But beyond that I think the idea of the Hulk is better than the stories. The combination of the Dr. Jekyll & Hyde transformation with the Frankenstein monster is inherently interesting. Those classic references also explain why the better stories seem to be those in which the army is going after the Hulk rather than the less than stellar super villains who pop up. Sure, the Leader would be rather ironic from the viewpoint of Dr. Banner, but the best conflicts with the Hulk involve not brains versus brawn but the one against the many. When "Thunderbolt" Ross has the U.S. Army go after the Hulk, then we are cooking with gas. Very few bad guys can go toe-to-toe with ol' green skin (notice they bring in Hercules) and the general rule is someone like Boomerang trying to stay one step ahead and avoid the inevitable for as long as possible. The validity of this viewpoint is certainly validated by this summer's blockbuster film (playing is a theater near you NOW!).

That also explains why the soap opera elements, with the Hulk coming between Bruce Banner and Betty Ross are more appealing. That is actually what provides the continuity over the course of these stories. Then there are the supporting characters, with Major Talbot, the son-in-law General Ross really wants, and Rick Jones, the teenage side kick who has no powers (at this point in Marvel history), just a big green secret. The end result is okay, but certainly not the best Marvel was putting out in the early Sixties. The origin story is arguably the best of the bunch. Stan Lee writes all of the stories and Jack Kirby does most of the art, but you will also find the pencil work of Steve Ditko, John Romita, John Buscema, Gil Kane and other diverse hands from the Marvel Bullpen. The Ditko drawn Hulk always strikes me as looking rather strange, but there is something to be said for Bill Everett inking Kirby's layouts. So there is no reason not to pick up this volume of "Essential" Marvel reprints, it is just not to be high on the list, except for the buzz generated by the film.

The Strongest One There Is!.......2002-03-29

The epic saga of Marvel Comics' misunderstood monster starts here!

In this collection, you'll find the first 6-issue run, followed by some issues of the character's revival in Tales To Astonish - the early stories here are either great or just average, depending on who was available to illustrate in the understaffed Marvel Bullpen of the early '60's.

Interestingly enough, it's here that we get to see some of the first Marvel work of Big John Buscema and Gil Kane, who were two of the artists that Stan Lee was able to recruit after Martin Goodman increased the pay rates for artists.

All in all, it's a worthy addition to your comics library...so what are you waitin' for?

"Essential" stories, flawed format........2001-12-07

The format of the Essential series is softcover, black and white (many times muddy), printed on cheap, pulpy paper. The classic stories in these books deserve better treatment by Marvel. Do yourself a favor and instead buy the Marvel Masterworks series, which are hardbacks, printed in color, on high quality paper. They are worth the difference in price.

The Hulk in the alpha stages.......2001-06-29

The Incredible Hulk is one of Marvel's best, most fascinating characters, but you wouldn't know it from reading this. This's the Hulk in the alpha stages, he still hasn't evolved into the tragic green monster we know and love today. The Hulk doesn't even refer to himself in the 3rd person perspective until the second half of the book, and even then it's inconsistent. Seeing the evolution of the Hulk as a character is kind of cool, but there're better books out there, as well as essential collections.

Amazon.com

If you're already familiar with Finn and Sawyer, perhaps this collection of fragments, short stories, and essays--assembled posthumously some few decades ago now, but still fresh--will enhance your sense of Twain's true range. A particular favorite: his essay "The Damned Human Race," wherein he proves, rather convincingly, that an anaconda snake is a higher form of life than an English Earl.

Book Description

"I have told you nothing about man that is not true." You must pardon me if I repeat that remark now and then in these letters; I want you to take seriously the things I am telling you, and I feel that if I were in your place and you in mine, I should need that reminder from time to time, to keep my credulity from flagging.

In Letters from the Earth, Twain presents himself as the Father of History -- reviewing and interpreting events from the Garden of Eden through the Fall and the Flood, translating the papers of Adam and his descendants through the generations. First published fifty years after his death, this eclectic collection is vintage Twain: sharp, witty, imaginative, complex, and wildly funny.

Customer Reviews:

I'm picturing Mark Twain saying, "Hot young blossoms".......2007-10-03

I picked this up solely for the first story, Letters from the Earth, but I ended up reading through the entire book and find I have a new appreciation for Twain's humor and satire. Letters was very entertaining, although the religiously inclined may not find it funny at all. However, I'm not, and I did! Some other portions worth a read include Eve's autobiography (revealing!), an amusing critique of James Fenimore Cooper's writing style, a parody of an etiquette manual, and The Damned Human Race, which demonstrates the 'descent' of man. Twain died in 1910, and this collection of essays and short stories was not published until 1962.

Oh, and Mark Twain referring to "hot young blossoms" amused me to no end. :)

Hilarious.......2007-08-29

I haven't enjoyed a book this much, or laughed this much in a long time.

A Christian endorses "Letters from Earth".......2007-04-28

I am a person who goes to church every Sunday; I like to think that I take my Christian faith seriously; so it may seem ironic that I would give five stars to a book that Mark Twain wrote as a humorous defense of athiesm. "Letters from Earth" is, after all, an attack on Christianity.

Actually, Twain brings out a lot a lot of good points as to some hypocrisies that most Christians and Christian organizations would like to ignore. While reading this book, did not convert me to athiesm. it did open my mind to a more ecumenical and balanced approach.

Of course, the book is also very well written. Mark Twain was one of our greatest American writers and thinkers.

Also see :"How to Talk Dirty and Influence People" by Lenny Bruce.

Letters from the Earth Mark Twain.......2007-03-09

I am truly thrilled with the book, a truly great satirical work. Highly humorus. I purchased a paperback and a 1st Edition of the book thru Amazon and I am happy with both purchases. Thanks

All Time Favourite.......2005-11-29

If you're in the mood for some great humor from the devil himself, this and C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters are 2 of my favourite books of all time... these can't be missed, for agnostics, atheists, christians, and bokonons alike. A perfect pair for a rainy afternoon!

Dear Children of the Earth: A Letter from Home

Average customer rating:

Review of Dear Children of Earth
Great book for adults and older children
A GREAT Book - Helps Children (Heck, and whoever reads it!) To Appreciate and Care for the Earth and What Nature has Given Us
This Book was Very Warm and Touching
this is a great book

Dear Children of the Earth: A Letter from Home
Schim Schimmel
Manufacturer: Northword Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Short Story Collections | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1559712252

Book Description

by Schim Schimmel Mother Earth writes a letter to the children of our planet encouraging environmentalism. Powerful acrylic paintings compliment the gentle text.

Customer Reviews:

Review of Dear Children of Earth.......2007-05-22

Again, a wonderful book that tells a great story about how everything connects to this world. A definate must have!

Great book for adults and older children.......2006-08-08

I loved the pictures in this book. It has a great message I can appreciate and want to teach my child. Yet it didn't win my 5 year old son's heart. He dosen't really like it nor does he want to read it again. To my disapointment, he has rejected it. Although since reading the book, he does randomly say under his breath, "The Earth is our home." Thats as far as the book has gone. I think it would be better for older kids.

A GREAT Book - Helps Children (Heck, and whoever reads it!) To Appreciate and Care for the Earth and What Nature has Given Us.......2006-04-26

My 8 y/o daughter had read this book at school and she couldn't stop talking about it. She said how she LOVED the artwork and how wonderful the story was. So we went to the public library here in town and got a copy of it and she read it to me that night and what can I say? -Everything she said about it is true! This story and the artwork in it spoke to my child's heart and I believe those kinds of books (the ones that really speak to the heart) are the best for kids because it makes reading exciting for them and teaches them a new/different way of looking at things. I had never heard of Schim Schimmel until a few days ago but I do know that I will be buying many of his books for my daughter. I highly recommend this book.

This Book was Very Warm and Touching.......2002-10-11

Hi! My name is Jacqueline. For all you people out there who like touching stories and animals, boy do I have the right book series for you. Well, there is this really cool author named Schim Schimmel. Here is one of his books, Dear Children of the Earth: A Letter from Home. It is about how Mother Earth and the animals that live there need you. Here are two of his sentences in the book, "My children, when my people do a little thing to me, it becomes a big thing. So it is very important for each person to stop doing things that hurt me, or hurt their sister and brother animals." The book is a very touching and heartwarming story. It made me feel like the animals were my friends. It is very easy to read. I would recommend it to five year olds and up. I only read two books. I hope you read all of them. I can't tell you any more but you can find out!

this is a great book.......2002-05-19

bought this for my son. a great way to teach kids to respect and take care of Mother Earth. illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the text is easy to read. one of my son's favorite books.

Dear Alice: Letters Home from American Teachers Learning to Live in China

Average customer rating:

Interesting Insight into a Perplexing World
Becoming sensitive to another culture-Chinese Culture
How to overcome culture shock in China
Book captures the joys and frustrations of living in China

Dear Alice: Letters Home from American Teachers Learning to Live in China

Manufacturer: Univ of California Inst of East
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1557290601

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Insight into a Perplexing World.......2000-08-09

I just finished reading Dear Alice. I found it extremely helpful in preparing myself mentally for an upcoming trip to China. The letters were quite authentic and honest, often revealing small details about the enigma of life in China. While I can't assume that I'll have a similar experience to that of the writers, I feel comforted to know that others have dealt with China and survived. A great book if you're curious about this foreign culture and an especially illuminating book for those of you from the United States and who are interested in the ways Americans might react to "The land on the other side of the looking glass."

Becoming sensitive to another culture-Chinese Culture.......1998-04-28

First of all, I would like to mention that I had the opportunity to teach for one year in Xi'an, the ancient capital of China, and now the capital of Shaanxi province. I am thankful to Alice Renouf, the "Alice" of the title "Dear Alice", for making this dream come true. I went in 1992, if I remember correctly. Since I began reading this wonderful book, I have been unable to put it down. So many forgotten memories and subtle emotions came pouring into my consciousness. From the shock of the first weeks in China to standing in front of the classroom to the everday rush of life which I was part of, to eating in the nightmarket. Reading this book is a vivid and emotional experience. Second only to going to China oneself. Though, I feel it is a must read for anyone planning to go; either as teacher, student, tourist, businessman, politician. In fact, I feel it is not only important for those going to China, but also for anyone who intends to immerse themself in another culture. But even if you just want to read a good book, either while sitting on a warm and glistening sandy beach, with the waves lapping against the shore; or while sitting in your living room sipping a cup of coffee or tea; this is certainly a worthwhile, entertaining, and educational book. After all, it is about becoming sensitive to another culture, and discovering one's own, in the process. I highly recommend "Dear Alice". You will certainly enjoy it.

How to overcome culture shock in China.......1998-04-24

"Dear Alice" is a must read for anyone headed for China. It's a collection of hundreds of letters by English teachers from America, who arrived to discover China was a bit too different. Often in desperation, but usually with great wit and insight, they sought a shoulder to cry on. So they wrote barrel-fulls of letters to the person who sent them there; hence, Dear Alice .... Alice Renouf, the author, began sending teachers to China years ago and now runs a full-fledged human resources firm helping people who want to teach English in a truly different, challenging environment. Even the locals will tell you China is a crazy place -- a soviet-style bureaucracy trying to run a 3,000 year old society on a marathon of change. Some of the 1.2 runners are at 'start' and some in the 20th centruy. The route changes hourly, and the finishline is definitely "mei you." But if you want to know people who suffer awful frustration with courage, you're in the right place. The best part of the book is learning how many Americans overcome their initial shock, and why they don't flee to the nearest airport. The common strategy seems to be (1) Talk about it (2) Make friends with fellow suffers first, i.e. other Americans. This sounds a bit stand-offish considering you've gone all the way to China to meet Chinese, but it isn't, (3) Learn Chinese if you can, but failing that develop a busy schedule. China is truly ugly, but always interesting, so don't allow yourself an idle minute to examine your (usually) wretched physical surroundings, (4) Take enough money, or make enough. China isn't cheap, and a "mental holiday" in a place like China (dinner at a joint venture hotel) is many times costlier than in the US, (5) Travel and see the country. Make the experience count, and (6) Be prepared for the ultimate culture shock -- ending up where you may have started -- wiser and more tolerant perhaps, but believing your own culture makes considerably more sense.

Book captures the joys and frustrations of living in China.......1998-04-15

After buying _Dear Alice_ at the recent meeting of the Association for Asian Studies annual meeting in Washington, D.C., I read it with laughter and tears on the train back home. As someone who runs an exchange program for high school teachers between the U.S. and China, I found the letters, and the sentiments they expressed, extremely familiar.

The book will be a wonderful service for those planning to go to China to teach, and for those whose dreams take them only as far as the living room couch.

A must read.

Customer Reviews:

FELIX EXPLORES PLANET EARTH.......1999-12-07

These books are great for parent and childern to read together. And both will enjoy all the books by this author. I did and when my childern where older I passed them onto another child, and aday care so they can enjoy. I had the books for eight years. And my childern loved them so much they did not even ruin them.

Average customer rating:

A Great Work, An Awful Performance

Mark Twain: Letters from the Earth
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: The Audio Partners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

United States | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
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ASIN: 1572700238

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A Great Work, An Awful Performance.......2000-02-11

"Why, a dead man could tell a story better than that. I don't mean a fresh dead man neither, I mean one that's been buried two or three days." Mark Twain

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Letters From the Earth

Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Product Description

Twain's pessimistic side.

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