Claude Monet lived in rural Giverny from 1883 until his death in 1926. Many of the paintings that we most closely identify with his oeuvre were done on his property or in the neighborhood. Following his death, the property deteriorated until its restoration was completed in the 1970s with the help of Lila Acheson Wallace, of Reader's Digest fame. This book was created to in part to honor that restoration and the show that commemorated it. The show marked the beginning of a resurgence of interest in Monet that continues to grow. My only reservation about recommending this book is that it would have benefited from larger sized pages so that the reproductions could have been larger.

Giverny is located to the north of Paris, and is connected to Paris by the rail line from Gare St. Lazare (which Monet painted several times). The view of nature we get there is a reflection of Monet's very French focus on creating gardens, a lily pond, and walkways that bring natural beauty into our controlled grasp.

I have had the pleasure of visiting Monet's home at Giverny several times since it was restored and highly recommend that you make this journey as well when you are in Paris. Your concept of Monet's work will be changed by seeing his working conditions. The grounds are primarily an extension of his studio, for making observations of nature easier. First time visitors will be shocked to realize that the lily pond was dug and expanded at great effort and expense by Monet. Without his persistence, we would be missing many of our favorite Monet paintings.

Throughout the time that Monet lived in Giverny, his eyesight deteriorated . . . mostly due to cataracts. As an artist friend of mine points out, that eye affliction greatly improved his painting by making it freer and less detailed.

He also pioneered many techniques of al fresco paining, such as creating an artist's studio in a boat for his famous river scenes. This enabled him to capture many unusual perspectives from the water to the river bank. Similarly, one purpose of the Japanese bridge over his lily pond was to give him a similar point of perspective.

The book contains a map of Giverny and Monet's property (purchased in 1890 after he originally rented it), and 81 works that he created in the area.

Missing from these reproductions are the famous water lily paintings that he gave to the French nation which are now housed in the basement of the Orangerie. Be sure you see them when you next visit Paris. Many people go to the Orangerie and never make it to the basement. These are among the greatest jewels of Impressionism.

You will be pleased to see the 25 works from the Musee Marmottan in Paris. These masterworks are also often missed by those who visit Paris because they do not know about this small gem of a museum and its superb Monet collection.

The reproductions are organized around themes: (1) river scenes (from the boat) (2) haystacks [sic] (3) poplars (4) river and fields (5) morning on the Seine (from the boat) (6) the Japanese footbridge (7) the Garden Path (8) early water lilies (9) the late series (my favorites are the rose trellises over the garden path) (10) pond subjects, and (11) late water lilies.

The end of the book also has a chronology of Monet's life and works that will help you integrate this show into his entire work.

You will come away with a new excitement and respect for nature from these images. You will also feel more connected to and with the beauty of nature. Your mood will be lifted, just as Monet intended. What you see will be uniquely yours, also just as intended. Monet pays you the ultimate compliment here of letting you participate in the creative process by arranging the work in your mind to fit your mental needs and perspective.

After you enjoy these images, I suggest that you come away inspired to make what you do more accessible to others. How can you make your life and your work easier for others to participate in?

Live in beauty!

Whether you have appreciated Monet's works for years or you are just discovering him for the first time like me, this book is a beautiful, informative collection of his best.

Beyond the absolutely vivid and beautiful quality of the paintings displayed in Monet's Years at Giverny, I greatly appreciate the style of language used throughout the book. Unlike many major art books which often seem to forget about the layman reader, this book reads more like a beautiful story of his life providing great insight into his works.

In college, I was fortunate enough to see a collection of his Water Lilies in Paris. Although at the time I was amazed to see them, through Monet's Years at Giverny I came to fully appreciate them---Not only the paintings, but the man himself.

Excellent addition to any collection!

Unlike most art books, this small volume has been in print continuously since 1978 & when you read it, it isn't hard to see why: superb reproductions and an extremely elegant design (plus its small size - very unusual in art publishing) offer the reader a wonderful experience wandering in Monet's vision of a carefully constructed alternate reality. In Monet's Giverny, natural forms respond instantly to light. The images produce a peculiar sense of floating in the viewer - many of the pictures lack a horizon line or any indication of where the viewer is in relation to the picture. As a result, we seem to hover in flight, poised above a constantly shifting panorama of woods, water, fields, and lilies. Interestingly, no human figures are visible in these works (Monet was never really a figure painter) producing a peculiar sensation of isolation and contemplation in the spectator - we wander through this magical land alone, or with whatever companion we desire. A superlative achievement which has found few imitators in the world of art publishing.

This book is the perfect combination of all the books in my library!

Ever since I was a little girl I have been fascinated with how our ancestors used plants for food as well as medicine. It wasn't until a few years ago that I started seeking out and purchasing books on edible and medicinal plants. I subscribed to different publications whose main focus was this subject. Any article in magazines on this subject immediately grabbed my attention. Then with the wonderful internet becoming available to anyone with a computer, my search for information took an exciting turn. One website for information linked to another site, and then to another and so on. But through time and my amateur research I discovered my interest started centering more and more on how Native Americans used plants for different purposes not only edible and medicinal but for dyes for ornamentation, for baskets and cooking vessels, for seasoning, etc. But I was so overwhelmed with information that didn't focus on this specific area until I came across the website of Dan Moerman's Native American Ethnobotany database; I found nirvana. I blundered around and through the website for months but with his kind help and patience with my questions I began to use his database in a more productive way. But then I discovered he had recently published a book called Native American Ethnobotany!! (...) When I received the book I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I can't speak for professionals but for amateurs like me he has saved me many hours of research in one way but has in turn stimulated my desire to continue researching this fascinating subject but now with a more educated direction. This is one of the items I would run back to save if my house ever burned down! It is worth every penny and is priceless in its information.

Dr. Daniel Moerman has spent several decades building a database based on the scholarly literature on Native American Ethnobotany. The steadily growing information has has several print and online incarnations, and this book, the latest, is by far the most extensive. A summary review of the body of literature on the subject, cross referenced by plant, by tribe, and by therapeutic catagory. Indispensable for the student of native ethnobotany. The book may be a disappointment for the reader wanting great detail on dosages and specifics on usages -- much detail has been lost while adapting the information to database style. It remains the one book a student should own if he or she can afford only one.

I think High School Survival is one of the most useful and interesting books that a teenager can read. There are so many good helpful hints--I am a teenager, and I found myself relating to all the scenarios described, and really enjoying any advice they offered. Overall, I'd say High School Survival is a great gift for a friend or yourself, and I would definitely reccommend it. It is informative without being preachy, and there are student authors from all over the country, so there is probably someone who hails from wherever you live! It reads like a "Chicken Soup" book, but it is something that is helpful with solving different problems as you are confronted with different issues, so if you have read it once, tht's not enough! I loved this book--please give it a go, you will be glad you did!

An enlightening view on high school life. A must have for all high school students. Each chapter touches on the major aspects of high school life. What an incredible read.

Amazingly honest, and straight-forward, this book is a virtual guidance counselor for all future and present high-schoolers. The charismatic authors (who are in high school themselves) present the facts both candidly and humorously. Five stars for a very successful guide.

There's an excitement to this story where even the down times of rehearsal or learning about the Great Hoo Ha Ha become fun and exciting. Playtrain is an excellent example of expert pacing. As far as I can find this is Daniel Liegey's first work but I'm guessing it won't be his last. There is so much room left open for a sequel, I'm betting we'll see Playtrain 2 soon enough. I would highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.

Some of the highlights in the story include the "Infamous Playtrain Circus" At the first mention of it, the circus didn't sound so appealing but when you actually get to the surreal details of it you'll become memorized. Maddening drums! I love it! The kite fight match is fun. It opens up a great little subplot to the book and helps to broaden Sam's horizons in the underground. But I have to say, if you can follow it, the mystery is well built. You'll kick yourself for not figuring it out on your own.

The train passenger's are fun. There's no real deepness to them but I'm not sure that's necessary. I have to admit I found myself laughing at Antonio the Demon's jokes. They're supposed to be bad and I guess I thought that's why they were funny. All of the characters are loony in one way or another. Horton is probably the most likeable but Teckle Rubar is genius. The Doves's songs I found annoying but I think that was the point. What's up with the sheep? It's kind of funny. She just slept the whole time and wakes up for a second at the end. Fitzgerald Fang might be one of the most clever character's created I've ever read. Maybe I'm thinking too much? I just realized that I'm writing more towards people who read the book already and not to the people who want to read it. So my advice is to read this book!

Splendid performance and sure to delight readers of all ages!

Playtrain is another one of those can't put em' down children's books that has has flooded the market. In a lot of ways this book is even better then most. It has that comedy flair like in Artemis Fowl and it captures that magic of traveling to a new place here on earth just like the Golden Compass. It reads fast and it's got a nice twist on the whole idea of who the hero should be. There's a part in it that really made me think about how children can mold another child into being a bully. It's and interesting concept. After all, the kid whose good at sports gets rewarded and molded into a future athlete. The kid who gets good in art class gets molded into an artist. It's a subtle message but probably a really important one we need to look at with all the recent focus on bullying behavior. I like that there's a little bit more moral fiber put into Playtrain versus' the other books. Don't worry, the adventure is just as solid as the rest of them. And unlike the other book where the hero's often get major help in the end from their friends, in this book it all comes down to the main character. The concept of the book is wonderful! These kids put on school plays in order to harness the audience's imagination and then they can create their train. The trick is, they have to be back from their adventure by the time the play is over or the train disappears. Pretty cool! It's got some of the strangeness of Lemony Snicket and the secondary characters are just as fun as the secondary character's in Artemis Fowl. I almost wish I read this first because I like it more.

A quick test: Your daughter is getting married and has all of the
household gadgets she needs. Would it be appropriate to enclosed
in the wedding invitations that she and her future husband want
to go to Hawaii for their honeymoon and that cash would be
appreciated?

What would you do if your child was invited to a friend's
birthday party and the invitation listed the gifts that would be
desired? What if your child couldn't go and his friend's mother
told him to drop by later on to drop off his gift?

Stuck so far? Here's an easier one: A colleague at work has a bad
habit of mooching the snacks that you bring for your own use.
Should you send him a note, along with a bag of goodies, telling
him that for his own good you will not share any more?

Less you think I'm making these up, all three problems are
covered in Judith Martin's latest book, Miss Manners Rescues
Civilization. We live today in a society that feels etiquette can
be dropped for common sense, a society that laughs at people who
worry which fork to use for their salad. But Miss Manners (her
column appears in a number of newspapers) disagrees.

One of the major problems in today's society is rudeness. You see
it on the streets, in the classroom, in the workplace, and even
in the home. Just telling people to show good manners isn't
enough, though; we have to specify what those manners are! And
just telling folks to do what makes them comfortable is an
invitation to disaster.

Thus if we remember the specific rule that invitations are sent
to people we want to share our happiness and are not indications
that we expect gifts, we can avoid quite a few headaches. High
school graduates, for example, don't have to worry that an
invitation to a friend will suggest they are asking for presents,
and receiving an invitation from a friend's child does not mean
you have to fork over. It merely means you are being asked to
share in their happiness.

You will probably find a number of your own pet peeves here: the
doctor who calls his 65-year-old patient "John" but who wants to
be called Dr. Jones himself, the nephew who hasn't sent a thank-
you note six months after you mailed a nice gift, and the sales
clerk who ignores you while she finishes her telephone
conversation with a friend.

You'll enjoy her examples and may even learn some manners!

Judith Martin, a.k.a. Miss Manners, will save civilization if anyone can. This book, like her column, is full of good sense and good humor -- and she's got the importance of etiquette just exactly right. Please read this book at once, and try to find a polite way to get everyone you know to read it too.

Miss Manners presents the keys to a more gracious and civilized world, without the "slash-and-burn" style of other social commentators. Old-fashioned without being reactionary, Miss Manners is a role model for us all. Read Miss Manners--please.

I have read all the books written about Chesapeake Bay retrievers. This was the best written book that I had read. It gave precise information about the breed, its personalitly, care etc. There was no gobbly gob information given. After reading this book. I made a final decision and now own a Chessie. Its a must read for anyone who is thinking about owning a Chessie.

When I was in the market for a medium to large sized sporting dog, I began to research dogs such as the Chesapeake Bay retriever and of course the Golden and Yellow retriever. My search led me closer to the Bay retriever because of 2 reasons: athletic ability and intelligence.

Upon closer scrutiny I soon discover from 'The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever' that indead this was the superior choice over all other retrievers. The book explains that the Bay retiever is less popular than other retrievers simply because not many people have heard of this American breed. And as a benefit, over breeding has not occured with the Bay retriever. Hunters prefer the Bay over other bird dogs due to their undistracted committment to retrieve. As a family dog, they are gentle and stoic enough never to over react or bark in any situation

The book was a terrific guide for shopping for a pup and especially for raising and field training the dog as a hunter or as champion show dog.

My dog is a family pet and I owe plenty to this book for guiding me logically with the raising, training and breeding of my dog.

I discovered later that my dog's ancestry is mentioned in the book. His grandparents are previous champs and are showcased through out 'The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever'.

'The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever' is thorough, logical and very acurate with selecting, raising, and training the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

This book has wonderful information on the history, breed standards, and the hidden advantages of owning a Chesapeake Bay Dog. I have owned (or been owned by) a Chesapeake for 4 years now, and this book was nice to fill in the gaps of information that most people do not know about. I can tell that Janet Horn has a true understanding of the breed, an understanding that only comes from owning and being in the company of such wonderful dogs. I appreciate her geneology research for this work. Her passion for the breed is what makes this book such a joy to read. This book does not cover training tactics and is not meant to do so. Please take great care in researching training methods for Chesapeakes, as many methods (used on Labradors and Goldens) are not productive on these dogs.

No Gods No Masters is a work of monumental proportions. Daniel Guerin has created a masterpiece of libertarian socialist literature, a truly comprehensive look the history and practice of anarchism. The work brings together hundreds of source articles and declarations, from the original documents of the International Working Men's Association, on through Kropotkin, to Malatesta to the intricacies of the Spanish Revolution. There is an excellent balance of theoretical manifestos and documents and reports and interpretations of actual revolutionary events. This is a prime source for information on some of this centuries most important events, from the point of view of the participants.

I was quite satisfied with the huge amount of excellent information in these two books, so much so that I think there should be more. Although he covers the most important aspects of anarchist history an practice, Guerin leaves a few things out, while focusing too much on other things (Proudhon for example.)

Overall, though, it is an excellent read, and an inspiring and useful addition to the long list of anarchist literature. No God's No Masters is not so much an introduction to anarchism, or an argument for it, it's more of an enlightening look at anarchism throughout history. Definately recommended!

Both volumes of "No Gods No Masters" are a magnificent contribution to anarchist thought and its ongoing traditions of libertarian justice and fraternity.Daniel Guerin states that "the constructive ideas of anarchism retain their vitality, that they may, when re-examined and sifted, assist contemporary socialist thought to undertake a new departure...[and] contribute to enriching Marxism."

In "No Gods No Masters" Guerin is concerned not only with anarchist thought but also with the spontaneous actions of popular revolutionary struggle. He is concerned with social as well as intellectual creativity. He attempts to draw from constructive social achievements of the past, lessons that will enrich the theory of social liberation.

One of the better books on Anarchism available for those who truly wish to understand the world and who wish to act constructively to change it for the better. Essential reading for any advocate of direct action for social change.

For those who wish not only to understand the world, but also to change it, this is the proper way to study the history of anarchism.

Guerin's two volumes are really worthwhile, because they feature anarchists of the time in their own words, describing the idea. This is very good for anybody wanting a sense of the history, and it's also worthwhile for modern applications of anarchism -- to see what's been done and thought of before, and where to go from there. An excellent companion to "Anarchism", also edited by Guerin.

What I liked best about the book were its real-life pictures with facts in the captions. I enjoyed most of the book. My great-grandfather was at Pearl Harbor. I am glad to know now what happened and what went on day by day. It was easy to read in some parts, too. The writing, however, failed to hold my attention after reading only a few pages. Also, the book was about a couple of battles, not just Pearl Harbor. Still, I would recommend this book, especially to someone who wanted to know about our nation's wartime past.

A Fantastic Read

This book is terrific. I really liked the fact that it put the attack in the context of the Second World War. It gives you a good understanding of the conflicts in Europe and the Pacific and helps you to see why the attack was so pivotal. I've never been all that interested in books about war, but this one proved to be engaging and very moving. Susan Wels has done an outstanding job presenting the people and the politics behind this much-discussed event.

With the recent interest in Pearl Harbor bringing books out of the woodwork, I spent alot of time searching for a comprehensive summary of that "infamous" day. This coffee table book has it all. Stunning photography and wonderful writing. From the start, the forward by Senator Inouye brought tears to my eyes. I've gone over it cover to cover several times and its a treasure!! If you have interest in this important part of our country's history...buy this book!