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Book reviews for "Lael,_Richard_Lee" sorted by average review score:

A History of Far Eastern Art
Published in Hardcover by Prentice Hall Press (1994)
Authors: Sherman E. Lee and Naomi Noble Richard
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A comprehensive, flawed survey of the subject
I'm reading this book for an Asian Art class, and I find it has both significant strengths and significant weaknesses.

Its major strength is the integrated approach: Sherman Lee organizes the book chronologically and thematically, rather than geographically. Instead of writing a section on Chinese art and a section on Indian art, Lee organizes his material by stage of development (Stone Age pottery) or by cultural movement (Buddhism), for example tracing the development of Buddhist styles in India, the adoption of those styles in China, Japan, and S.E. Asia, and the eventual synthesis of the Indian influences into local styles incorporating indigenous themes. Lee writes eloquently and even passionately about his subject, letting us know which cultures, styles, and artworks he admires. He covers a vast amount of cultures and time periods, easily enough material for dozens of books.

The book does have significant flaws, however. Most frustrating are the black and white photos (presumably a cost-saving measure). Roughly 90% of the images in the book are black and white, and they cannot do justice to most of the subject matter. A second weakness is Lee's writing style, which is sometimes more eloquent than comprehensible. At times I had to reread a section several times in order to figure out what Lee was trying to say. He sometimes seemes to be addressing himself to an audience of art critics who are already familiar with the material, rather than students encountering it for the first time. He will tell us that a particular art work is hieratic in style, or is an example of Daoist style, without explaining why. Also the thematic, rather than chronological, approach means that some topics are fragmented into parts of different chapters. The material on Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Tang Dynasty seemed especially disjointed. The sections on China in particular need more development: Lee provides only a single page of text on the historically pivotal Qin Dynasty, and does only a fair job explaining the influences of Confucianism and Daoism.

One alternative text that deserves consideration is The Art of East Asia, edited by Gabriele Fahr-Becker. Almost of the photographs are in color, and the text is both more comprehensive and more comprehensible than Sherman Lee, in particular the section on China. The text is written by several different authors, one for each region, which has both advantages and disadvantages -- it avoids the fragmentation of Lee's approach, at the expense of integrating it all into one consistent framework. The key disadvantage of The Art of East Asia (compared to Sherman Lee's History of Far Eastern Art) is that it doesn't include India, which contributed some of Asia's most impressive sculptures, and whose religions had tremendous influence on the rest of Asia.

Pretty, chronological, detailed.

I was required to use this book as a secondary text for a class on early Asian Cultures at NYU. Along with the material presented in class, this book provided great insight into basics of the Asian culture.

This rather heavy book is perfectly organized chronologically and geographically. It provides great graphical supplement to the study of early Asian art. Many artifacts are portrayed, most with detailed description of their history and origin.

I enjoyed my class greatly and this book provided great help to understanding Asian art. If you are a person who prefers visual aids rather than tons of text and would like to learn the basics of Asian art, I highly recommend this book. The photographs are excellent, and more often then not, actually motivate you to reading the descriptions of the portrayed objects. This book will not make you an expert on Asian art, but you'll be able to schmooze your way through at pretentious cocktail parties without any effort.

what a great deal!
I was required to purchase this book for an oriental art class at VCU. when I went to purchase it in person, most places wated $75 or better for it. Being a student, I am not rich. Amazon had it for the best price and for that I am very happy. points to amazon yet again for having the best price. THANKS!


Blood of the Wolf
Published in Paperback by Writers Club Press (2001)
Author: Richard Lee
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Could of been great
The first seven pages of this book made me believe it would be a real page turner. After that things went amiss. You never really discover what motivated certain main characters to behave the way they did, or why. You also never find out what happened to certain characters, they are just dropped. I also expected a book that involved werewolves throughout, although that too left me disappointed. The worst of it was all the type o's I found. It got to the point where I just wanted to start circleing them out of frustration. I could go on but then I would give away the entire story line and if any one is still interested in reading this book that would be unfair.

Not just lycanthropes
Gripping horror is often about the desires, both positive and negative, surrounding the family. Such is the case with Richard Leefs novel, a tale of brotherly competition gone bad illuminated by the supernatural. When a down-on-his-luck photographer accidentally shoots photos of a murder, he becomes the target for supernatural vengeancecor was he the target to begin with? The werewolf is perhaps one of those classic monsters most rich with symbolic possibilities, and Lee employs here an interesting conceit. When horror works, it not only scares us, it illuminates something dark in all of us. We look forward to more from this writer

Chilling
Blood of the Wolf, left me panting for more! The characters where well developed and showed distinct, individual personality's that you either loved or hated!

The story line was very gripping, a real page turner! Richard is a very natural story teller and I look forward to more tales from this creative novelist!

L.A.Mackay


Great Martial Arts Movies: From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan and More
Published in Paperback by Citadel Pr (15 January, 2000)
Authors: Richard Meyers and Ric Meyers
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INFORMATIVE BUT TIRESOME
Definately one of the more imformative books out there on Hong Kong Cinema from the late 60's to the present. Provides solid information on the HK film industry, which is a relief from what one often finds when seeking knowledge on what really goes on behind the facade put up by film companies. My only complaint is that it's just a little too opinionated and the lame attempts at humor and the blanket statements made by the author are tiresome and presumptious. People can decide for themelves what they think are the "best" marital arts scenes of all time.

From Bankruptcy to Buyout
Well, after the original publisher going under and a new one taking up the slack, the long-promised book is finally out with the full story from China, Hong Kong, Japan, and America. As promised, the new book takes the tale full circle, from its auspicious Wong Fei Hong beginnings to the worldwide triumph of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Not just one actor, one director, and one era, but a whirlwind tour of them all, through the Venoms, Master Killer, and women warriors to Sammo, Jet, Yuen, and all the rest. There's even a color photo section with some incredibly rare images. Perfect? Well, no. I wish there had been more from the HK independant producers, the lesser known Shaw Brothers directors, an index, and a "worst of" list (to go along with the "best of" one). But considering what the book went through on the long road to publication, it held up remarkably well. Enjoy!

Absolutely Incredible!
I am a fan of Shaw Brothers Kung Fu films from the 70's and early 80's, and after reading through such books as "Hollywood East" among others, I was beginning to believe I would never find a reference book that would help me find out more about the movies and actors I personally love. All the books I found seemed to focus on the glitzy wirework films in the 90's and only briefly mentioned raw, realistic kung fu flicks that came from the era I was most interested in.I found out about "Great Martial Arts Movies" when I purchased a DVD (Shaolin Drunken Monk) that featured audio commentary by this book's author, Richard Meyers. I was incredibly impressed with the immense knowledge he displayed in the course of the commentary, and since he mentioned this book, I decided to take a chance. Lo and behold, upon receiving it, I flipped it open and came right upon a picture of one of my all time favorite Shaw films "Five Masters of Death", flipped a few pages and saw something else that made my heart stop, huge, detailed photos from all of my favorite Venoms films, and photos of Wang Yu, Ti Lung, Chen Kuan Tai, David Chiang... but it doesn't stop at pictures. The majority of this book is filled with the author's insights & opinions on all these films. My only real complaint about this book is that the Venoms/Shaw Brothers section is mainly just opinion and gives no real information about the stars. For example, I was a bit disappointed that heralded actors such as Chi Kuan Chun and Meng Fei received only the slightest mention (ie: Chi Kuan Chun is described as having a "ferret face" and Meng Fei is called "a cute looking fellow" and that is the extent of their mention). Also I noticed some of the information that WAS given is a bit off. However, I must clarify that this was ONLY in the Venoms/Shaw section, as the rest of the book is filled with extensive, personal, in-depth descriptions, facts and trivia. This author's passion goes far beyond just casual movie-watching, he has truly absorbed the nuances and details of these wonderful films and the people that make them work both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.


Wintrobe's Clinical Hematology
Published in Hardcover by Lea & Febiger (1992)
Authors: G. Richard Lee, John W. Athens, and Thomas C. Bithell
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Wintrobe's Clinical Hematology, 2 volume set
Although this is an excellent textbook for medical students and hematology fellows who need to learn more about certain topics and diseases, it offers limited assistance to the clinician who has to work backwards from lab results and symptoms in search of diseases. It covers the molecular biology of hematology in great detail and also discusses some of the treatment options. It is a great book if you are doing a paper on a hematologic topic. There are also chapters on the new techniques used in labs and the differences in these techniques. On the other hand, if you are looking at abnormal results on a CBC, this book may not offer much help.

Wintrobe's Clinical Hematology
A comprehensive text of practical clinical hematology. Clearly and concisely written for use as a reference or 'at the bench.' One of the most useful materials in the Hematology laboratory.

A good haematology reference
This book is written primarily for the laboratory, and the haematologist. In that area it is excellent, for clinical treatment, williams or other books are better. But for the laboratoru I would reccomend this book, as I have this and several of the previous editions.


1101 Water Gardening Questions and Answers
Published in Paperback by William Tricker, Inc. (01 January, 1999)
Author: Richard Lee
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Water Gardening 101
This is a very comprehensive book. This is one of the best places to start looking if you are interested in a water garden. Mr. Lee does an outstanding job of informing the reader on all aspects of a pond. He teaches us all necessary topics, such as setting up a pond, getting a liner, plants and fish, and maintenance. This book is put in question and answer format, and gets in depth with everything possible.

Water Gardening 101
This book is great! It teaches you all you need to know about ponds... more than one could learn just by talking to someone. Mr. Lee puts a lot of hard work into this book, and it turns out to be more helpful than I would have ever thought. This has information on everything from planning a pond, to the plants and fish, to maintenance. Great job Mr. Lee


Triage
Published in Hardcover by Cemetery Dance Pubns (2001)
Authors: Matt Johnson, Richard Laymon, Jack Ketchum, and Edward Lee
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Duck and Cover!
Triage gathers three of the leading lights of horror fiction, Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, and the late Richard Laymon, under one cover for a hellacious trio of novellas all spun off of the same premise: A man walks into a place of business with a gun, and starts shooting....

Richard Laymon leads off with the title story, "Triage". He takes the most straightforward approach to the subject matter, with a grim tale of Sharon, a woman trapped in an office building with the madman who just killed all of her co-workers. Laymon hammers the reader with all manner of grotesque, twisted doings, so faint-hearted readers might want to give this a pass. The more daring reader will find Triage to be a fast-paced walk on the dark side; Laymon makes his heroine too real for this to be chalked up as mere exploitation. I actually had a few moments where I was afraid to find out what was going to happen to poor Sharon next....Now how many books have YOU read lately that got a reaction that visceral out of you..? Laymon was one hell of a writer, and I'm sorry I didn't discover him until after his untimely death. He left a great legacy behind, though....

Edward Lee's story also stars a heroine named Sharon, but his take on the subject couldn't be more different. "In The Year Of Our Lord: 2202" takes place in outer space, aboard a ship bound for a top-secret destination. Lee quickly gets away from the book's theme, and spins his story off in a totally different direction, effortlessly combining theology, sci-fi, and horror into a gripping, fast-paced tale. I'm generally not much of a Sci-Fi fan, so for Lee's story to grab me the way it did is really a neat trick. I was absolutely floored by the ending. This is a must-read.

Last, but not least, is "Sheep Meadow Story", by Jack Ketchum. It's the shortest story, and although I liked it a lot, I thought it was the weakest one due to it's far-fetched ending. It's a more down-to-Earth story than it's companion pieces, but it manages to be funny, creepy, and touching all at once. Ketchum is clearly a VERY talented storyteller.

The book is part of a limited-edition of 1500, signed by Ketchum & Lee, and Editor Matt Johnson. (Richard Laymon passed away before publication.) As you would expect from the always dependable publisher, Cemetery Dance, the book is just gorgeous. The only problem is this: Stories of this caliber deserve to be seen by more people than this limited-edition could possibly reach. In a perfect world, these three Authors would be topping the best-seller list....

Fine Horror
A woman sits alone at her desk, waiting for her shift to end, when her telephone rings. She hears a man whisper the words: "I'm coming to get you!" Seconds later, a man enters her work palce, holding on to a gun.

This is how the three stories of Triage begin. But what follows this differs greatly from one story to the next. The three masters of independent horror - Lee, Ketchum and the late Richard Laymon - each tell their own take based on this scenario.

Laymon's tale is dark and disturbing; the story becomes a race for survival as the killer chases after the heroine as she tries to find a place to hide in the building where she works. Lee's take, although fun and different, is a bit over the top and a little too long. He decided to bring his story to the year 2220 and sets in a a spaceship that just happens to be on a Godly misison.

The real reason to get this book is for Ketchum's take, which is called 'Sheep Meadow Story'. It takes the reader through a very realistic nightmare, where a down-on-his-luck man tries to make sense out of his disturbed existence. This story alone is well worth the price of the book. Another great story from an amazing, underrated writer.

This book is a great one for any horror fans. It has it all! I was greatly pleased by it and I know this is one book which I'll want to read again and again.


Chinese Astrology (Teach Yourself)
Published in Paperback by McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books (1998)
Authors: Richard Craze and Billy Lee
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Informative
For beginners of Chinese Astrology, this book is a must have. It's also great when used in conjunction with other similar books, and works well as a quick reference.

If nothing else, it's a good book to carry around - a great conversation piece and ice breaker. Heh, get's people talking every time!


The Ebon Mask (Wraith Series the Oblivion Vol 1)
Published in Paperback by White Wolf Publishing Inc. (1999)
Author: Richard Lee Byers
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More. . .please?!
I have always enjoyed Whitewolf's games, and their novels even more. Known for their games' rich detail (so might say overwhelming), I was pleased to see that Byers had taken use of much of that information. The results were fantastic! The plotline intertwines several of the supernatural groups, and what seems at first unrelated events, at the end, begin to take shape into a cohesive scheme. My only problem? I read the book in 1996 and here it is, 1998, and no second book! And I thought season finalies were cliffhangers.


Forsworn (Dead God Trilogy, Book 2)
Published in Mass Market Paperback by White Wolf Publishing Inc. (2002)
Authors: Richard Lee Byers and White Wolf Games Studio
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Addictive
Excellent writing! Byers throws you in quickly straps you down and sends you on a rollercoaster of mistery and action. Amazing twists and turns as he retains the sense of the scarred lands... also in this book Vlad seeks out the slarecians for the name of that which abides... and lemme tell you you're biting off bits of your lips to see if he will, but that's not all! you find out how flipping cool belsameth is with her trechery and ... well, it's just flipping great well worth the $.


The Complete Art of Breaking
Published in Paperback by Black Belt Communications, Inc. (1984)
Authors: Richard Bryne, Richard Byrne, and Mike Lee
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