A definite must read. In this debut novel by Gabrielle Pina, we are introduced to Francesca Valentine, a very talented, successful and world-renowned violinist. 

Prepare to go on a journey as Bliss takes you through the back roads of Georgia, the Governor's mansion and even the picturesque hills of Tuscany.  Bliss is the struggle, determination and will of the strong black woman that could easily have been your grandmother or your great-grandmother.  Pina has deftly done a wonderful job creating full-bodied, unique characters that will envelop you in a story that will have you anticipating every page!  -TLR

I was given this book by a friend and finished it in two days. Not only is it an easy read, but a page turner as well! Bliss is a story of the determination, perseverance and hope that possess Hattie Mae and Claudine, despite the hardships that life tosses their way.

Gabrielle Pina unleashed fantastic, multi-layered characters into a story which took on a life of its own and left me wanting more. Identifying with each character is easy, regardless of the fact that their lives are so different from mine. I felt as if I had been transported into their world.

I laughed throughout, and then cried at the end, something I've never done with a book before. I highly recommend this book!

A well-constructed, beautifully written, multi-layered story about heartbreak, loss, greed, reinvention, and lies, lies, and more lies. This story was absolutely fabulous and will be savored long after you've finished the last page. Ms. Pina is a major literary talent, and I eagerly await her next novel.

A "Must Have" for any serious Higgins collector. There is an almost overwhelming amount of information presented in a most organized manner. So many wonderful color photographs that I went into sensory overload. Loads of great, historical information and imagery. The only down side of the book is that the price guide is not representative of current market values but if looked at properly will still give you a good idea of how one pattern will relate to another in value. I wish other collectable genres had reference guides of this caliber.

This is truly a masterpiece of editing. The author has truly done an outstanding job. This is a MUST book for any serious Higgins collector as well as anyone who enjoys beautiful glass. The author is certainly to be commended for this one of a kind work.

If you want to collect Higgins glass, this book is an absolute must-have. The prices are outdated; with the recent death of Michael Higgins, I have seen pieces sell for double or triple the book's values. This is much more than a price guide, though. This book details the history of Higgins glass, their techniques, and how to identify what is and is not Higgins glass. There are several beautiful color pictures on almost every page, and I enjoy looking at them almost as much as I enjoy looking at the pieces in my collection.

People are strange, as this collection of personals demonstrates. Car analogies, movie analogies, alliteration, alphabetizing, Elvis fans, desires for strange amalgams (Jim Carrey and Albert Einstein), and many more. Great bathroom reading and very funny at times.

OK, we know AL, Girl Reporter, from the 'zine world. She was a pioneer in 'zines. Her "Thrift Score" zine was just great fun, wonderful writing and heads above the other stuff. Al Hoff was into thrift stores, before they became today's thrift bores. Fortunately for us, Al has a compulsive writing habit for which there is no 12-step program, so she just keeps producing. Knowing Al's humor, I thought this book would be a good funny read. Well, excuse me, but this book is riotous. Honest. I roared! Al's picks are just so cool. What truly drives Al is the sense of the absurd, but with a heart, ya know? This would be great book for any cool or not even so cool person. I like the shape, too. It's 5 1/2 inches square. Very toteable. And it has big print for our hip grannies. The book is funny. Al is one of America's best kept secrets. Spread the word. Get the book. It is so funny!

A relentlessly funny and perceptive writer, Ms. Hoff has, literally, waded through upwards 100,000 personal/romance ads from all over the country. She's lugged back the weirdest, most hilarious ones. She has edited and arrayed same to provide a keen insight into how human beings seek each other out in these late 20th Century United States.

This book is well worth the price and a must for anyone interested in maya art and culture. Aside from the full color photographs of maya figurines from museums in both Mexico and the US, I also like the layout of the text which is divided into 10 chapters categorizing the figurines pictured and describing each one with extra explanations when needed. Definetely one of of the best books on the subject, highly recommendable.

The extraordinary photos in this book depict some of the most beautiful artifacts made by the Maya. Even the size and proportions of the book is intended to remind the reader of the Maya codices. I had the rare privilege to travel with both of the authors, and their enthusiasm and devotion to the Maya culture are exceptional. Their talents are apparent in this book and I recommend it to anyone with any interest in Mesoamerican cultures.

You should buy this book for several reasons, but just being the last book that Linda Schele ever wrote should be enough. It will be a long time before someone with her talents helps put ink and photos on paper again. It's a collector's item. FFD

In this concluding book in a series of four about the history and products of the Chase Copper and Brass Co., the authors present the first (1933) and last (1942) catalogs of Chase's consumer products...and a wonderful surprise. The catalog pictures are crisp and clear, and the contrast between the early and last product offerings can be easily compared. But the first publishing of a series of pre-1933 "flyers" that were Chase's first "catalog" make this a must-have reference for collectors. Nine new pieces are shown, and new, additional information is provided about several other items previously attributed to Chase. Definite 5 star kudos to the the authors, Don Johnson and Leslie Pena, for this wonderful resource.

This book is the final of four outstanding books by these two accomplished authors. Any Chase collector or deco enthusiast should have them in their reference library. This book features reprints of original 1933 and 1942 Chase catalogs, factory information, and pre-1933 reprints of Chase Specialty flyers, some of which have never been published before. Pictures of newly discovered Chase products will be a great help to Chase collectors in identification of their wares. This book is a must for all those who appreciate the fine craftsmanship that came from the Chase factories. Donald-Brian Johnson and Leslie Pina should be commended for putting together this four part Chase reference set, this book being the final one of the four. Highly recommend!

It is a book that may change your viewing things. It can also change the way of viewing not only the events occurred in Mexico, but also of those occurred in the world. By reading this book you may realize that things in "this world" may all not be what they look like, we just have to "wake up" and realize that there is something else beyond what we can see.

Es un libro que puede cambiar su forma de ver las cosas. Puede tambien cambiar la forma de ver no solo los eventos ocurridos en Mexico, sino tambien los ocurridos en el mundo. Al leer este libro usted puede darse cuenta que las cosas en "este mundo" pueden todas no ser lo que parecen, solo tenemos que "despertar" y darnos cuenta que hay algo mas, más allá de lo que podemos ver.

This is an excellent book that can capture readers interest from beginning to end. Its reading can provide us with deep knowledge about diverse historical events that link Mexico, the Tibet and the whole world. It has an original vision for the causes that originated the events that shook the world in '68. We can now realize that those events constituted the origin of the communist regime colapse in Eastern Europe. Those events also involved in the development of a environmentalist conscience across the world.
The story of the main character, Regina is fascinating, and represents another good example that the spirit always prevails the material.

This is an exciting book for collecters who are familiar with the wide range of Chase products as well as those just being introduced to these beautiful lamps! My mother began to collect when no one recognized these pieces for their style and beauty - monetary considerations aside. This book juxtaposes the actual lamps with pages from the original Chase catalogs. The design detail and the artist's sketches are a wonderful benefit to designers. A great companion volume to Chase Complete! A real joy to read and study.

This is a great book. Page after page of Girard's designs. Color and black and white photos. Few people know that, aside from textiles, Alexander Girard was responsible for some of Herman Miller's earliest modern furniture. His furniture design are also outlined in this book.

I am a total novice who is just starting to learn about Bakelite jewelry, and even though this book is expensive, it's the best one I've seen and well worth the money. (I also have Tony Grasso's book but don't think it's quite as helpful.) Not only does Wasserstrom's book have loads of beautiful color photos (hence the high price), but it is VERY clear and answers every single question that has occurred to me about Bakelite. It is just loaded with valuable and easy-to-reference information. (Like charts about which styles correspond to which dates, the differences between Bakelite and other types of plastics, etc.) My only tiny complaint is there's no index (true of the Grasso book also). If you're interested in learning about or collecting Bakelite, buy this book!

I continually sit and just look through this book, I love the pictures and the variety.