In this collection of poems, writer/editor/teacher Julia Penelope uses words in unexpected ways. She often creates long lists of verbs or verb phrases that reflect a struggle to claim language and identity for all people--not just white, male heterosexuals. In doing so, she asserts her own identity as woman and lesbian and her own power over language in a world that often leaves both female and homosexual voices silent.

The language she creates seems almost alien at times, though she mostly relies on common words. I certainly wouldn't call this "casual" or "light" reading, but I also wouldn't call it intentionally difficult. I would call it defiantly original. Penelope's writing draws power from its uniqueness and unpredictability.

(Review reposted, so it would appear with my "main" Amazon profile, and more people would learn about this great book!)

In this collection of poems, writer/editor/teacher Julia Penelope uses words in unexpected ways. She often creates long lists of verbs or verb phrases that reflect a struggle to claim language and identity for all people--not just white, male heterosexuals. In doing so, she asserts her own identity as woman and lesbian and her own power over language in a world that often leaves both female and homosexual voices silent.

The language she creates seems almost alien at times, though she mostly relies on common words. I certainly wouldn't call this "casual" or "light" reading, but I also wouldn't call it intentionally difficult. I would call it defiantly original. Penelope's writing draws power from its uniqueness and unpredictability.

To anyone familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural designs, the fact that love of Japanese art, design and print work should come as no surprise. The book 'Frank Lloyd Wright and the Art of Japan: The Artist's Other Passion' by Julia Melch gives clear details of the influence of the Japanese on his thinking and creativity, both in narrative and in glorious photography and print.

Frank Lloyd Wright
Wright was born in Wisconsin shortly after the American Civil War. He studied in the late nineteenth century with noted architect Louis Sullivan, with whom he had continuing and occasionally strained relationship. Wright is probably best known in America for the design of the Guggenheim Museum of Art In New York City; more generally, though, he is known for a particular style of low-built prairie-style houses and institutional buildings, that utilised open-space planning, and often had an element of interaction with elements such as water (in fact, a perennial complaint of Wright buildings is that they leak!). Wright was an innovator in incorporating engineering principles into the design of his buildings to provide sturdiness and creative forms of support and room design. In Japan, Wright was well-known for his design of the Imperial Hotel in Japan, as well as other buildings, including private residences of many prominent Japanese citizens. His work in Japan did not extend much beyond the early 1920s, however, and even the Imperial Hotel was demolished in 1968. Wright himself passed away in 1959 at the age of 91.

Wright and the Art of Japan
This book was produced for the Japan Society Gallery of New York by Julia Melch. It traces early affinities and influences of Japanese art on Wright and his work, continuing interest including Wright's almost voracious collecting habits, and the final selling and distribution of his collection late in Wright's life.

'When Wright died at the age of almost ninety-two, he owed money to several Asian art dealers in New York, and there were six thousand Japanese colour woodblock prints in his personal collection, not to mention some three hundred Chinese and Japanese ceramics, bronzes, sculptures, textiles, stencils, and carpets, and about twenty Japanese and Chinese folding screens.'

Some of this collection remains as part of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, but much had to be sold to pay debts, including tax bills.

Japanese art probably first came into Wright's sphere of creative influences with the World's Fair of 1893 in Chicago. Louis Sullivan had many books of Japanese design and art in his offices when Wright first joined the firm of Adler and Sullivan. This probably represents the earliest introduction. However, Japanese art was becoming widely available in American and Europe by this time, and Japanese principles were beginning to be introduced in novel ways to various buildings. Wright's first trip to Japan came in 1905, the first of many.

Wright became well-known in Japan, and entered a period he sometimes referred to as his 'Oriental Symphony'. During the time of his work on the Imperial Hotel, he gave an interview which showed his standing and mis-understanding in the Japanese architectural community:

Wright was not only a collector, but was himself a dealer of some standing. Particularly in Oak Park and the Chicago area, his designs for buildings would often include artistic recommendations that he would provide as dealer.

This lead to a major scandal, which Melch recounts in some (sometimes juicy) detail. Wright's egocentric way of viewing the world and attempt to 'get away' with various controversial practices of manufacture and transfer of art work.

'Wright was an immodest foreigner operating outside the guidelines of the closed community of Tokyo print dealers. He flaunted his money and exuded the thinly veiled bravado of the ace dealer. Prince were escalating, the stakes were high, and h is jealous rivals were no doubt pleased to take him out of the game. Revamping was a new technique, totally unexpected. Greed and anticipation of huge profits had made him careless.'

Wright left Japan in 1922, before completion of the Imperial Hotel. He never returned. In fact, he had few international dealings in art or architecture after this period. He longed for greater international acclaim and exposure, but save a few unfinished projects in Hungary and Baghdad, he had few foreign assignments, and none of note.

Disposing of the collection, both before his death and by his widow after his death, is a tale in-and-of itself recounted in the book. Trading with friends and other art dealers, auctioning off pieces individually and as collections, and giving gifts away reduced the collection somewhat, but Wright continued to add pieces throughout his life.

Julia Melch
The author, Julia Melch, has had a career devoted to Asian art. Educated at Smith College and Harvard University, she has worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art organising exhibitions of Asian art. She is currently a senior consultant to Christie's, the famous auction house, specialising in Japanese art works.

This book is produced by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., which has a strong reputation, well deserved, for producing outstanding volumes of art. The colours are vibrant and attractive; the pages are firm and well-suited to the art represented. This is a reference volume, a great coffee-table book, and an interesting narrative read. Giving a perspective on both Frank Lloyd Wright and Japanese art of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries through the lens of each other is a unique perspective, well executed.

It's almost unimaginable that anyone could find something new to say about this protean figure of the 20th Century. And, in fact, another author, Kevin Nute, has also written in recent years about the architect's lifelong fascination with things Japanese. Yet where Nute concentrates on the Orientalist ideas and design concepts that Wright so readily and brilliantly adapted in his own work, Julia Meech turns her attention to a different--and darker--side of the architect's personality: his passion for Japanese prints and art collecting. As she tells it, this obsession (his print purchases often exceeded the money that he took in on architectural commissions) not only drove Wright into bankruptcy, but ensnared him in a debilitating scandal over the resale of "revamped" artworks to several of his wealthy patrons.

Wright, the driven, self-absorbed genius, is everywhere apparent in this fascinating, well-researched saga. But so is the conflicted man behind the famous persona. (This isn't to say that he emerges as a particularly sympathetic figure: Meech relates, for instance, how Wright helped organize a memorial exhibition following the untimely death of his Japanese mentor, the young and talented printmaker Hashiguchi Goyo. She adds, however, that no evidence exists to show that Wright ever owned one of Goyo's prints--a bit ironic given the high regard in which Goyo's work is held today.)

Equal to Meech's riveting account, I would have to say that this is one of the most beautifully-designed catalogs (it accompanies an exhibition of the same name at the Japan Society Gallery in New York City) that I have ever encountered. It is both lavish and tasteful, if that's possible, with gorgeous color plates and scads of rare photographs of the architect and his cronies, his places of refuge (including hotel suites and other temporary dwellings chock-a-block full of art treasures), and persons and places relevant to the story. For Frank Lloyd Wright fans already burdened by a surfeit of wonderful books, make room on your shelf for a fine new acquisition.

New Dimensions Radio and Michael Toms are known for presenting some of the most important people and issues of our times. Gratefully, New Dimensions released this amazing interview with Julia Butterfly Hill. Her book 'Legacy of Luna' about her experiences 180 feet up a thousand year old redwood, and the resulting preservation of it and the surrounding grove, is fascinating and incredible. With this interview, we get to hear her speak of the ordeal/adventure in her own voice.

Even more than listening to the profound experience, her incredible spirit, generosity, and love for all living things is most inspiring. This tape is highly recommended for anyone who has respect for all forms of life and their protection.

Julia Butterfly Hill's story is that in which is so awe inspiring and full of such powerful truth, its hard not to want to go out and do something extreme as well to protect our sacred environment in all of its natural beauty!

This audiocassette is wonderful, made by new dimensions radio ( whom is involved with many environmental issues), and is definetly a must have for you treehuggers, outdoor lovers, and spiritualists!

If you do not know of Julia's 2 year treesit in "luna", please go out and get this cassette! I guarentee it will leave you refreshed and inspired!

So take the journey with ms hill as she talks about her sit, and the trials and tribulations she experienced while participating in the longest treesit in history! (738days)

Happy listening!

I would highly recommend this book and anything else published by "Innovative Kids" My five year old daughter loves it and so does my nine year old son. The recipes are easy and fun with secret ingredients and magical "spells" that the kids can say as they wave the magic wand (provided) over the recipe they just made. The graphics are whimsical. This book is just really well thought out and original.

I bought this book at the school book fair as a birthday gift. When I got home My kids would not hear of it. We have been making magical meals out of it ever since. They had the hocus pocus pancakes one morning and swore that they felt silly all day. I then took it to work to show to my clients and I had to go back to the book fair and order nine more! My kids are 9 and 7 they believe in magic! This book should be advertised so more people would see it.

This is an excellent book, not only for tourists and visitors to the Monterey Peninsula, but also for those considering relocating there (like me). I wanted a book about the region that describes the neighborhoods and towns in order to get a general feel for the area (information pertinent to those contemplating a move), and this book does just that. It is amazing how much information the authors have managed to jam into each page, and they have included a good deal of local history. The book is written in a witty, engaging, almost conversational style. Unlike many books of this genre, the blurbs about restaurants, inns, and everything else are written descriptively, rather than subjectively or from the authors' personal points of view (which may differ from the reader). In short, this is a very well-written book from two people who clearly love the peninsula on which they live!

This book was invaluable to our trip to this beautiful area. A very informative, fun read and a great way to learn about where to go, what to see, and what's available. I highly recommend this book.

Julia Sweeney is a comical genious for giving us such a funny character. There is a guaranteed laugh on every page of this book. I LOVE how just when you're about to find out what Pat is, SOMETHING comes up to prevent it. The whole joke will never get old to me. I'm also a big fan of the movie about Pat. I love how Pat thinks it's attractive. Pat's so ugly! It's so hilarious, I love it! I only wish they'd make a movie called "It's Chris". Personally, I think Pat is the guy and Chris is the girl. Just because I see men wear the blue shirt and slacks, never women. And Chris is real feminine, with "it's" clothing. Perhaps I just spend way too much time thinking about it. Ha ha. Anyway, it's a great book!

It's Pat is a great book, and if you haven't read it, you should. I also suggest that you see the movie. You won't be able to breathe. It's Pat, it's funny, it's worth it.

P.S. I love cheese.

They'd been friends growing up on the small East Coast island of Harmony--Julia, Lauren and Cathryn, Amber and the others. Now one of them is dead, and Julia Lewis goes home for the first time in seven years.

Julia's grief makes this a bittersweet experience. But coming home is also a chance to revive old memories and reconnect with her circle of old friends. And to fall--hard--for a Boston journalist named Ben Grant who now owns the island's weekly paper.

Still, despite Julia's feelings for Ben, she can't accept his accusations about Amber's death--that it was murder, not suicide, and that Julia's friend, chief of police Charlie Slocum, ran a sloppy investigation.

With a charming smile and awkward questions, Ben's causing all kinds of complications in Harmony's little world. And in Julia's...

I've never been one to like romance, but this book caught my eye and I decided to read it. It was incrediable. The romance -- although clearly there was immensed in the plot so the characters weren't acting "gushy" all the time. It reminded me more of a murder mystery which just happened to have romance in it -- something i enjoy! I don't like romances that are all sexual all the time-- but Julia had the best of both. It was a book that kept you guessing until the end where Julia realizes something important about herself and life.

What a wonderful book by a new author. I picked this book up at the library on a whim and loved it. The book tells the story of a woman who despite everything that happens to her and her family continues to have faith and hope that all will work out for the best. This is a subtly Christian novel. The author does not talk about religion directly and yet it is definetly a story of a Christian woman. We all can use this reminder of what faith, hope, and grace are all about. I recommend this book highly and look forward to Leisha's next book.

I enjoyed this book very much!! It has a clean fresh approach!! The only four letter words were hope, love, and pray. It tells a story of a much simpler life where hard times were approached with trust in God and neighbor helping neighbor. The characters were based on the hard working, church going type of people our Christian ancestors were who settled in this great country of ours and made it as great as it is today. I only wish we could go back to a time when we lived life with the same outlook that the characters in this beautiful book portrayed. It showed the true teachings of Christ thru their lifestyles of loving God and your neighbor. Thank you Lisha Kelly for this reminder of what we were placed on this earth for.

Vous passerez des heures à ficeler les figures proposées. Ce gros livre est le "must" des jeux de ficelle. Ce livre a environ 110 jeux de ficelle et 10 tours de ficelle. Les explications et les illustrations sont très claires. C'est un livre pour intermédiaires et avancés.

You'll spend hours to make the figures offered.
This big book is a must for all string figures's lovers.
This book have about 110 string games and 10 tricks.
The explanations and illustrations are clears.
The book is for intermediates and advanced.
Enjoy!

This is one of those books that takes guts to have on your shelf. But it is so very worth reading, and probably re-reading throughout your life. I had the pleasure of listening to Alicia Partnoy speak about this book and her voice is so soft and delicate compared to the strength of her words. After reading the book, I characterized her as a woman of such power (she had to have so much courage to withstand the torture); and in person she reminded me that she is simply human, having endured a terrible time of history both personally and for Argentina in general, and she carries that history with her throughout her life. While there are various good books about "disappearance" and exile with relation to Latin America, this one tops the lists.

During the military junta from 1976 to 1982, the Argentine military unleashed a reign of terror onto the Argentine community. In these years over 30,000 people, mostly between the ages of 18 and 35, just disappeared off of the streets. Most of them were never heard from again. A few were released. Yet with their "freedom" from the secret detention camps, came the reality of dealing with the atrocities of their imprisonment. The torture, isolation, beating, rape, electrocution they suffered in these secret prisons, where they were often kept blindfolded and bound for months, lives with them forever. The author of The Little School: Tales of Disappearance and Survival, Alicia Partnoy, is one of the few disappeared during this time to have been released. This book documents the more than three months she spent in a secret detention camp known as "the little school." It tells of her and other prisoners' lives inside this nightmare. It describes the torture and humiliation they endured. It is a heartbreaking but inspiring story of hope and faith can triumph even under the most horrific conditions. It is impossible not to be moved to tears at some point during this book.