As Louise Bourgeois said, "Mai, c'est serieux!" Munro covers Cassatt through Kikki Smith using history rather than iconography and enlivens the telling with her many terrific interviews. Especially interesting was the difference between her experience interviewing women artists in the nineties versus interviewing them in the seventies. Munro found it extremely hard to reach these new celebrity artists who, like men, wouldn't share their fears or failures for history. A classic which happens to be about women.

This book offers the widest variety of all possible sentiments one would care to use at a memorial or funeral service, with quotes from Yeats, Joyce, Dante, St. Augustine, Lao-Tzu, Praxilla of Sicyon, Rilke, Ovid, Virgil, Tolstoy, the Papago, the Aztec, the Maya, the priest Fujiwara No Toshinari, a Buddhist aphorism, a Hindu teaching, Homer, Sophocles, Proust, to name but a few. The book is arranged in sections, each section addressing a different aspect of grief: Why We Gather; Raw Grief and Bitter Mourning; Mysteries: What is Death? What Are Time and Space?; Transformations; Heroes and Heroines, Great and Simple; Timeless Praise in Scripture and Verse; Meditations on Wisdom Coming Slowly; Healing, Changing, Moving On. In the back of the book is a list of music suggestions for the service. I found the book to be not only wonderful for its stated purpose but also as an ideal gift to give on the anniversary date of a loved one's death. Also, I have used quotes from the book in condolence letters. In times of grief we are asked to be our most eloquent, when really, we have been rendered incapacitated, the headless body, with "Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears." (Wordsworth)

Carole Feuerman's book on sculpture is actually a book on body casting. There is a difference. While she is obviously a skilled technician she has NOT sculpted the figures that are photographed in her book. Let the reader be aware before he or she buys.

There are few writers capable of making sculpture breathe-- Dena Merriam does just that. While many art books are heavy-handed and pompous, Merriam writes as if caressing the work, touching it as her own. Each photograph is taken with exquisite taste, and highlights the craftsmanship and genius of the artist. This book reaches far beyond the halls of academia and the narrow tunnels of critics; it is for anyone who appreciates the aesthetics of life-- the smell and touch of sculpting humanity.

This text is a must for everyone in the art world. Feuerman is a well known artist and has out-done herself this time!

I thought most of these readings were interesting, but only about 15 of them were a possibility to read in front of my guests. These I found in many other sources. So, it's OK but you get more for your money in some other compilation books.

I really enjoyed all the readings this book included. It has religious and non religious readings. It includes sonnets, love poems and passages from the Bible. If you want some alternative selections for your ceremony, I definately recommend this book. Whether you are Jewish, Christian or Atheist this book really has something for everyone. Some of the readings they include in this book would be great to be recited at the reception, or be placed in your wedding program or invitation. I would recommend reading this book from cover to cover so that yu don't miss any of the special passages that you may want to incorporate!

An excellent collection of readings from great literature, and various cultures and religions. With so many good selections and such variety, the book nears a one-stop shopping resource for readings. Makes you want to have more than one ceremony! The author provides some subtle suggestion/guidance by grouping readings according to themes and speakers.