Product Description

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Brief Info on Book
Large paperback, 143 pps, over 140 illustrations
A lovely book giving a terrific overview of stained glass, with an emphasis on modern and contemporary works.

Comprehensive overview of stained glass
This is a beautiful and comprehensive book on the art of stained glass from its origin through today. Both the religious masterpieces of the world and modern art glass are covered in detail.

The roots of stained glassare traced to the discovery of glass itself and the early ways of coloringit and methods of forming it, with stained glass as we know it appearingaround the eleventh century.

The development of stained glass into abrilliant and dramatic art form is illustrated with magnificent examplesfrom Saint Chapelle, Chartres, Canterbury and Cologne among others.

Muchof the book, however, deals with the technical innovation and artisticvariety of 20th century art glass. Many stunning examples by Tiffany,Wright, Chagall and others are presented. ... Read more

Product Description
Fourth novel in the spellbinding Landry family series; Pearl hopes for happiness, but destiny is drawing her deep into the shadows of her family's tainted past. Raised in a New Orleans mansion filled with kindness and laughter, Ruby Landry's daughter Pearl dreams of becoming a doctor. But, after a cruel accident befalls one of Pearl's twin brothers, her tormented mother flees back to her Cajun roots, and Pearl's dreams of success swirl away with the hurricane winds. In the warm embrace of a gentle Cajun man, she discovers a refuge. But until the shocking truths of her heritage are finally uncovered, Pearl will never be able to find true peace of mind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A Gem of a Book
I can't say that this is the best book in the Landry series. I liked the other daughters' (Annie, Christie) stories, but this book isn't bad and deserves 4 out of 5 stars. I'm sorry to say that a death triggers the series of events here, that's what happened to Annie and Christie, but this book is overall a decent read. Remember Buster Trahaw? You thought he was gone forever, didn't you? Oh ho ho. And surprisingly, Gladys also comes back - so this story is still an exciting read. Two thumbs up!

Hidden Away.
I love that it takes place in the early 80's of Garden District. Ruby and her family are finally happy!

I didn't like that the handsome -tanned sultry with soft pink lips- Beau turned into a secluded bachellor! Not there is anything wrong with that!!!!! Ruby looks awful and rented out- like another D!! I love the magic which is needed in order for Pearl to bring her family together again!

The finale of finding "mom" was so freakish to me! That's what created a thrill for US- the gay readers! I also love the how Pearl finally learned the ways of "earning her juice" at the end of the book!!!

Good Book
This book for me was a little boring in the beginning. I felt as though it would have been more interesting if Ruby was narrorating the story.But as I read it more, it really did interest me. My favorite book from the Landry series is "All that Glitters". All in all, it was a good book, glad that they all were happy in the end.

My favorite of the series so far...
I thought the first 3 book in the series were just o.k. & I was glad to see that this 4th book finally pulled me into it.This book is about Pearl, Ruby's daughter.This book was adventurous & took you back & fourth to the Bayou.I couldn't understand how Pearl recall as much as she did from her childhood when she lived in the Bayou because wasn't she like 9 months or something like that when she lived there?This is my least favorite series of V.C. Andrews's series but I did enjoy this book.

Pretty Good
Pearl is a lot smarter than some of the other VC Andrew's characters, but I found some things to be odd. I couldn't figure out why she called her parents "mommy and daddy" when she is 17 years old. She was very strong when she tried to find her mother, but I felt like when she found Jack, she fell for him a little quickly. He could have easily just turned out to be some jerk. This story line is a little different than the other novels, there are not as many twists and turns. Basically the biggest part of the novel was finding her mother Ruby. I give it 4 stars because I didn't find it as interesting or unique as the other novels, but it is good. ... Read more

Product Description
Fern Michaels, one of the world's best-loved storytellers, delivers an emotionally charged and surprising tale of two very different brothers and the one woman who loved them both -- and who holds the key to a family secret.

Handsome, rich, and adored by millions, Ricky Lam was a golden boy -- with a dark side. The substance-addicted superstar had hit rock bottom, but luckily he had a business manager, his older brother Philip, who forced him into a rehab clinic -- a move that would create an irreparable rift between them. Yet, years later, when tragedy strikes, Ricky dedicates himself to Philip's dream: constructing a unique resort in South Carolina called the Crown Jewel. Stepping into his brother's shoes, Ricky encounters unsettling surprises, one of which is an amazing woman, his sister-in-law Roxy, who leads him to the mystery at the center of his brother's life, and into a passionate love affair. As Ricky attempts to discover the brother he loved but never truly knew, he must settle a grave injustice committed decades ago -- even if it means risking his fame, his fortune, and his life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Don't Bother
This might be good for a pre-teen or teenager (but then again maybe the subject matter is too adult for them).The story is so ridiculous.None of the characters are believable.It reminded me of a really bad soap opera.I can see how you could split it into 30 minute segments with a big "cliffhanger" at the end of many of the episodes.I borrowed the audio CD from the library and was happy I didn't pay for it.I listen to all kinds of audio books on my IPOD when I'm doing mindless work but this CD was almost too mindless.

I loved it !
The Crown Jewel by Fern Michaels was an amazing book. To say it has lost of twist and turns does not even descript how many plot twist this story has. The baseline of the story is about Hollywood leading man Ricky Lam and his business partner and brother Philly. Ricky was your total bad boy and Philly was always getting him out of jams. What Ricky didn't know was that his brother had secrets and lots of them.Great book - off to read more by this author - Enjoy!

I would also recommend; Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery,Once A Rake by Rona Sharon & Into Thin Air by Cindy Miles.

Cheap Imitation
I've barely started this book and am already disgusted.I see several reviewers agree.I don't know why I keep reading this author, she knows more about dogs than she does people.Someone would strip out of her Armani clothes to wrap up puppies?and run around in her underwear?
The dialog between the 23 yr old half brothers and their father 20 years older is juvenile at best. Do middle age males really pump their fists in the air and say yessss.You get the idea. Pass this jewel by.

very disappointed
This book was a disappointment. The story was OK but it was written poorly. Way too many tired chiches, the characters were undeveloped and came across as dimwits. The dialoge was hard to follow and didn't have near enough breaks to let the reader know where they were or where they were going.
I was very surprised that this book was published in the sorry state that it was in.

A struggle to read...
I agree with an earlier reviewer that this book is very poorly written.I picked it up to read because of previous experience with this author.This book did not deliver an enjoyable experience.Characters were not developed, dialogue was impossible to follow. ... Read more

Product Description
Sophie has nothing in common with the Earl of Banallt’s many women—and his attempts to seduce her fall flat. Good thing Fate has a way of giving second chances. But can Sophie entrust her heart to a man who appears to be as rakish as her dead husband? Or would that be madness? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Wow!
I'm so happy I have discovered Carolyn Jewel's historicals. This is a really original story with a difference, complex characters and a hero to die for. The Earl of Banallt is an unreconstructed bad boy who meets our heroine, Sophie, in the middle of her disastrous marriage to one of his cronies. She was susceptible, very young and an heiress who stupidly falls for and then runs away with a handsome rake who is only after her money. Once married her husband abandons Sophie in the country and takes off back to London to spend her fortune. Occasionally he comes home bringing his friend Banallt with him. A devastated Sophie and Banallt form a very unlikely friendship during these visits and the Earl first of all desires her and then falls deeply in love with her. Some years later when they are both free of their marriages he seeks her out to propose but, quite understandably, she refuses to consider marriage to someone she thinks will be as unreliable as her former husband. There are loads of great secondary characters, it's quite a dark story in places but there is lots of emotional tension and some fantastically sensuous scenes between the two main characters. Carolyn Jewel's historical romances will be an auto buy for me from now on. Also highly recommend "Lord Ruin"; "Indiscreet" not so much but still quite good and looking forward to "The Spare" when it comes out in here in October this year.

Dreamy, delectible but a Little Odd
This book has some serious flaws.But the most important thing to consider when weighing flaws against the strengths is how wonderful the tone is of this book. It delivers with a soft, true sense of being lost and love-struck and in that unique emotional place when you demand security and fidelity to protect your fragile spirit, but still are willing to risk for the fabulous passion of love.That makes it such a pleasure to read and get lost in the story.Some of the annoying weaknesses include a drifting timeline which caused me more than once, to go back and check where the heck we were in time during the story.Although I can sympathize with the heroines desire for security, at some point, when you have such a delightful male professing love--I mean---for heaven's sake--believe him already!I am carefully watching this author for future books and am seriously hoping she moves over to auto-buy.

5 Kisses, TwoLips Reviews
When Gwilym, Earl of Banallt sees Sophie Evans again for the first time in a long while, he realizes his unbridled attraction to her hasn't diminished one bit. She isn't even his type, but he wants her nevertheless. He was a friend of her late husband, who was an unfaithful cad. Things didn't go so well between them before, and her brother is concerned for her reputation. He doesn't want another scandal affecting his family. Banallt tells him he intends to marry Sophie. But she rejects him, saying she refuses to marry another man who will cheat on her. Her brother tells him to respect her decision and stay away. Banallt thinks he will have to endure not getting what he wants for the first time in his life, and he doesn't like it.

Sophie is a bluestocking and not even a particularly attractive woman, but she has an incredible genuineness that draws others to her. Years ago he fell in love with her then made a mistake, and lost her trust. Now he needs to find a way to convince her he has changed, that he loves her deeply and wants a life with her, or he'll lose her forever.

In Scandal, Carolyn Jewel has penned a truly an outstanding historical romance with characters that sparkle with warmth and charisma. The chemistry between Banallt and Sophie is absolutely delicious. If you like determined heroes who love without wavering and are willing to go to great lengths to win their beloved, you'll adore this book. This book is a keeper, and you'll want to check out Ms. Jewel's backlist as well. Don't miss this one.

5 Kisses, 1 Pepper

~Lindy
Reviewer, TwoLips Reviews, LLC
[...]

Unlikable heroine. Cheap shot by writer.
This book was much better than Jewel's Lord Ruin, but still did not manage to become the good read it had the potential to be.

The writer seemed undecided in what kind of book she wanted to write -literary fiction in the Jane Austen mold or straight romance. She succeeded at neither.

Additionally, I found the heorine unlikable. Choosing to wallow in grief from the past involving someone who did not give two figs about her instead of taking a chance and control of her destiny by being open to someone who did.

The writer also took a cheap shot in killing off a very likable lead character for no apparent reason other than to dump grief on the characters.

Scandal
Sophie Evans had loved her husband dearly, but he was a shameless rake who often left her for months at a time, rumors of affairs and bills being the only things she got to hold on to.When Tommy brings home a friend, Lord Bannalt, Sophie assumes he is just like her scoundrel of a husband.But from their first meeting, nothing goes as expected.

After Tommy's death, Bannalt sees his chance.He'd fallen for Sophie years ago, but they had both been married.Now, they were both free and Bannalt wants Sophie as his wife.But she doesn't believe he really loves her.She is convinced he is just like her husband and will cheat if given the chance.It's up to Bannalt to convince her he is a changed man, and he will do anything to have her at his side.

I love Scandal!Every woman dreams of a reformed rake falling in love with her, and Bannalt is a wonderfully complex character who changes through his love for Sophie.With Scandal going back and forth in time, you can see how the relationship between Sophie and Bannalt grows.Sophie is understandably wary and when she finally takes chances on Bannalt, it's wonderful to read.

Niki Lee
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Very Comprehensive
This text covers essentially all the Royal Houses.It has great information about both the families and the regalia.Highly recommended reference.

royal jewels
A great book and a companion to "Ancestral Jewels" by the same author.If you miss the first don't miss this one.Illustrations great but leave you with a desire for more (the only flaw).

A jewel in itself
This book is very well written and researched, I might even say exhaustively researched.
Whether just looking at the myriad of photos or reading the informative text the book gives insight into the world of royal jewels.
It's focus is on northern Europe branching out to include Russia and Greece.
The photos of the jewels are clear and large enough to be studied at length. From a jeweler's point of view I'd like to see more backs and insides of jewelry to understand the construction but it's the rare book that goes that in depth.
The writing is easy to read and not bound up in the formalized art speak that renders some jewelry history books indecipherable. Although the product of different authors it reads as a cohesive whole and will no doubt provide hours of enlightenment for both the serious student and someone who just likes to look at stunning jewelry photos.
Woven into the text are stories of the jewels and the wearers along with royal portraits showing them in context.
While not a must have in the collection of jewelry books, it brings with it a certain panache, welcome in any collection, much like that tiara that you only wear on certain occasions.

A model of painstaking scholarship that makes it an impressive addition to academic and community library collections
Compiled and co-edited by the team of art historian and fine jewelry historian Diana Scarisbrick, curator and specialist in royal European jewel collections Christophe Vachaudez and jewelry curator Jan Walgrave (who is also Honorary Director of the Diamond Museum in Antwer), "Royal Jewels: From Charlemagne To The Romanovs" surveys and showcases more than 800 years of jewelry associated with European monarchs. The informed and informative text is superbly enhanced with the inclusion of 290 full color and 25 black-and-white illustrations that include period paintings and photographs of bedecked royalty ranging from Louis XV, Napoleon, Empress Eugenie, Mary Queen of Scots, an Infanta of Spain, and members of the Medici family. Symbols of wealth, cultural status, and political power, jewels hung from necks and fingers, decorated clothing, enhanced the crowns of kings and the tiaras of queens. A beautiful book for browsing by the non-specialist general reader, "Royal Jewels" is a model of painstaking scholarship that makes it an impressive addition to academic and community library collections.
... Read more

Product Description
Throughout history, precious stones have inspired passions and poetry, quests and curses, sacred writings and unsacred actions. In this scintillating book, journalist Victoria Finlay embarks on her own globe-circling search for the real stories behind some of the gems we prize most. Blending adventure travel, geology, exciting new research, and her own irresistible charm, Finlay has fashioned a treasure hunt for some of the most valuable, glamorous, and mysterious substances on earth.

With the same intense curiosity and narrative flair she displayed in her widely-praised book Color, Finlay journeys from the underground opal churches of outback Australia to the once pearl-rich rivers of Scotland; from the peridot mines on an Apache reservation in Arizona to the remote ruby mines in the mountains of northern Burma. She risks confronting scorpions to crawl through Cleopatra’s long-deserted emerald mines, tries her hand at gem cutting in the dusty Sri Lankan city where Marco Polo bartered for sapphires, and investigates a rumor that fifty years ago most of the world’s amber was mined by prisoners in a Soviet gulag.

Jewels is a unique and often exhilarating voyage through history, across cultures, deep into the earth’s mantle, and up to the glittering heights of fame, power, and wealth. From the fabled curse of the Hope Diamond, to the disturbing truths about how pearls are cultured, to the peasants who were once executed for carrying amber to the centuries-old quest by magicians and scientists to make a perfect diamond, Jewels tells dazzling stories with a wonderment and brilliance truly worthy of its subjects.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A Sparkling Read
I truly enjoyed this book.I love non-fiction, but am a stickler for good writing.Finlay fits the bill.The story is engaging, interesting, and well-paced.Many revelations in the book were entirly surprising, so there was delight around every corner.I would recommend this book to any one interested in geology, jewelry, or world history.It is a great book on all fronts.

educational and interesting
I love social histories and this book was among the best I have ever read.It was fascinating to learn about the history of various gems and how they were important in various times and in various cultures.

Best book on gems I have read.
In over 40 years of studying and reading about gemstones, this is the best book I have read.It's full of ripping good yarns which speak to history, culture, economics, psychology, and perception.The author's writing style makes the information flow and allows the reader to spend an afternoon with the book, or a few minutes.

A Very Interesting Read
I must admit, I am captivated by jewels: their shine, their brilliance, their color. Thus, I was excited to read a history of jewels. Finlay's is a social history, examining how human beings have constructed the value of brilliant minerals. This is not a comprehensive study. Finlay has chosen a series of case studies, the research for which took her all over the globe, from Australia, to Russia, to Sri Lanka, to the American southwest. This is quite an interesting book, and it certainly does show that these stones that human beings so treasure have no inherent value. This is evident in the changing fortunes of so many stones, which have variously fallen in and out of favor. It also becomes clear through the course of Finlay's work, that stones have, and do, cause a tremendous amount of human suffering. Indeed, in the long history of gems there has been much more misery than fortune. Finlay's history is clearly narrative in nature. She is concerned with telling some of the most interesting stories behind the jewels. It is not a book that analyzes the larger social forces behind many of these changes. Still, this is an interesting book. Finlay gained access to many places most people cannot. She travelled to some of the most unforgiving parts of the world in search of the people who mine, cut, and sell valuable stones. Any jewelry-lover will likely find this book engaging.

Fascinating!
I may not own great jewels but it was so much fun to read this detailed volume and dream!I look forward to reading her work titled "Color" next. ... Read more

Product Description

I've learned that not all poetry lends itself to music--some thoughts need to be sung only against the silence. These are softer and less tangible parts of ourselves that are so essential to peace, to open-heartedness, to unfolding the vision and the spiritual realm of our lives, to exposing our souls.
-- Jewel from the Preface

Jewel has been writing poems and keeping journals since childhood. A Night Without Armor, her first collection of poetry, explores the fire of first love, the fading of passion, the giving of trust, the lessons of betrayal, and the healing of intimacy.

She delves into matters of the home, the comfort of family, the beauty of Alaska, and the dislocation of divorce.

And then there are the images of the road, the people, the bars, the planes, places exotic and mundane, loneliness and friendship.

Frank and honest, serious and suddenly playful, A Night Without Armor is a talented artist's intimate portrait of what makes us uniquely human.

Careless editing permitted Jewel to misspell the names of Tom Waitsand Charles Bukowski and the word "peek." Most young fanswon't notice, and the very poems about love troubles that olderreaders will find gratingly obvious will strike them as headline newsto be taken to heart. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (417)

An Autobiography Told in Poetry
I'm not a fan of poetry, but I have recently fallen in love with Jewel as an artist. I came upon this collection of poems and decided to take a chance on them based exclusively on the poet. I found in Jewel's poetry the same elements that I have come to appreciate in her songs. Some of the poems could be excerpts from a memoirs; others are the kinds of thoughtful, outside-looking-in perspective on the human condition that make her as much a sociologist as an entertainer.

Jewel's poems are largely stripped of the kind of pretentious symbolism that I find alienating in other poets' work. Instead, she employs an accessible (if deliberate) language. Some poems are ephemeral; others are pregnant with imagery, practically begging to be developed into a longer story. Feminimity is not a dominant theme, but it is certainly present. Rather than repeat any kind of nearly militant doctrine, Jewel explores the issues specific to women simply through her own experiences, as she struggles to make sense of her own identity as a woman. There is a quiet, thoughtful dignity to not only the poet, but the poems as well.

I've read some of the Amazon reviews, and it appears that poetry fans condemn this collection as pedestrian and uninspired. I suspect they reject the very qualities that attract me to these works. Then, I consider the chief objective of the arts--and language--to be the act of conveying ideas. Perhaps I'm just confused because the pro-poetry crowd typically cries as loudly as possible about how poetry is an art form that can disregard any and all conventions; blasting Jewel for a prose-centric style seems to me somewhere between ironic and hypocritical.

Rather than compare Jewel's poems to those of others, I suggest taking them simply for what they are: brief excerpts from the thoughts of one of our generation's most empathic artists. In the intervening decade since this collection was published, however, we have become accustomed to profile updates and micro-blogging on Twitter. I see A Night Without Armor in that vain; these are not full-length stories, but rather specific (if sporadic) observations from Jewel. Form notwithstanding, it sounds like poetry to me.

The Rekindling of my Faith
I stumbled upon this book in a Good Will when I was trying to find a tie to match my best flannels, I knew it was a sign from the God I had long since written off. It took me until the third read to realize her clever use of "night" instead of "knight" in the title, which is when I knew that I had found a work of true genius.

I went directly home, made some bowls of Kraft Easy Mac and spent hours which seemed like a lifetime pouring over the words of this lost soul. Her constant use of hand imagery made me realize that I too had hands, which maybe, just maybe, were meant for more than just making instant macaroni dishes. When she described the sausages shivering from a gypsy woman's pockets, I was finally able to cry over the loss of my father some three years ago.

I was completely engrossed in this fountain of words and honesty that I canceled all my appointments for the week, figuring that my friends at the shuffleboard hall would understand and that Steve, the seventeen year old lacrosse player I work with at Olive Garden could cover all of my shifts. I read this book every minute of every day for a week, and on the seventh day I rested.

My body was wrought with emotion, my eyes could cry no more. I had a new faith in the world around me, and I was bursting with the need to share it. I was confident enough now to try out for the actual shuffleboard team, and in tryouts, I scored higher than even some of the captains!

One of the recruits offered me a spot on the team saying that I was a real "diamond in the rough."

"No," I replied. "I am a jewel in the rough."

5 stars.

A very personal & sincere poetry collection
Jewel is very poetic and her lyrics just roll off the tongue. If you've never heard her sing, she has a certain twang to her song that you'll either adore or not. I personally love her singing and if you do too, you will want to get this sweet, and sometimes bittersweet collection of her simple yet memorable poems. I was inspired to make a few of my own after reading hers, and play around with words the way she does. This book is the cat's meow fans ;) Thanks for reading!

A good effort
There were quite a few poems I did like. But overall, this collection was boring. I think she should stick to singing.

"I am in love with a man who is gone now..."
A Night without Armor by Jewel is an excellent and under-rated book of poems. Ok so she's not Shakespeare but most writers aren't. These poems have been highly-criticized in the past, and it's a shame that Jewel was unfairly mocked by critics and so-called fans. I got this collection of poems the first week it was released and I fell in love with the book instantly, the poems are sensual, seductive, sensitive, and incredibly funny as well. Some of my favorites are: The Bony Ribs of Adam, Sara Said, The Strip Parts 1 and 2, New Moon, Someone To Know Me, Christmas in Hawaii, Red Roof Inn, Boston, and You Are Not. So with that being said, get this great collection of poems by Jewel today. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (15)

Faye's Nazaria review
I love this book, Nancy Drew: The Jewel Box, because, there are beautiful and attractive treasures and it was owned by a former queen from Europe. The Queen's bame was Marie Alexandra. She is a wealthy person. The part that I did'nt like is when Nancy fell on the stage on the Woman's Club, because, Nancy almost did not win.

The clue in the Jewel box
Have not read this book yet ? Then why not ?

Nancy helps a eldery woman called Mrs Alexanda find her missing grandson.She also comes across a mystery of a wallet theif in town and finds out that both mysterys are conected to each other. Using the clue in the jewel box shhe can help uncover both mysterys !

The Clue in the Jewel Box
This mystery had a fun and different twist to it because it was about a former queen and prince. I enjoyed reading about how Nancy used her quick thinking, to solve the mystery.

the clue in the jewel box
I thought the quality of the book was just as the seller described.I bought it for my niece, so I have not read it.I did read all Nancy Drew when I was young.

More than what it seems to be!
This is way more than a mystery about a missing person! There's royalty involved, and other seemingly unrelated crimes that ultimately all become part of the main story.

Without giving away the plot of The Clue in the Jewel Box, I'd like to say that it will turn out to be an excellent read. And, if you've ever been a fan of the old black-and-white mystery movies, you'll absolutely be able to imagine that you were watching one of those old films!

Now, who would you cast as Nancy? ... Read more

Product Description
Everything Jewel the unicorn touches with her horn turns into a glittery gem.But can her magic talent help when she gets lost?Illustrations © 1997 by Rebecca Thornburgh ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Book for Unicorn lovers
My 4-year-old niece is in love with unicorns and was quite surprised and happy to open this book. The jewels that are included (stickers) were an added bonus for her. It was fun to read the book and show her where the jewels were supposed to go. We had a fun time with the book.

Cute story, fun for child
I searched and searched for an appropiate unicorn story for my daughter's 6th birthday party, and this one was the winner!I read it to her before the party and she enjoyed putting the jewel stickers on.The story was still a hit with other girls at the party, even without placing jewel stickers.There is mention of an elf, fairies, and a dragon, but none are the least bit scary.I definitely recommend this book.

Captivating magic!
Jewel is a unicorn who follows her bliss-- she's out to hook up with her fantastic pals, but has lots of adventures along the way! She encounters elves, fairies, caves and swamps, and adds her magical sparkle to everything she touches.Lively pictures filled with detail -- so much magic in every page.If you love unicorns, you'll find Jewel absolutely enchanting!

A Great Read-Aloud Favorite
This book has engrossing pictures to keep your little one interested while you read the story.The stickers can be used on the pages as suggested in the text or some children (like mine) might prefer to use them as "earrings" or for sticker albums.The story isn't exactly suspenseful, but it makes perfect bedtime reading.

Sparkles
This activity book is good for kids because it keeps them involved in the story, by applying stickers shaped like jewels to the book as they follow along. ... Read more

Product Description
Although much attention has been focused on European glass beads imported into Africa, little information is available on beads made by the African peoples themselves. African Beads: Jewels of a Continent fills that void.

- Lois Sherr Dubin, author of The History of Beads

African Beads: Jewels of a Continent is the first book ever published to deal exclusively with African-made beads. In detailed chapters organized by material (bone and shell, wood and amber, stone, metal, glass) authors Evelyn Simak and Carl Dreibelbis trace the historical journey of bead making in Africa. Prefaced with an essay by Lois Sherr Dubin and accompanied by 163 color photographs, this magnificent book is a showcase for some of the rarest, most beautiful and most collectible beads in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Book about African Beads!
This book is great for either a bead collector or a bead worker.It is written in a clear, concise manner so that it is very readable and useful to someone who wants to gain a more in-depth knowledge of African beads.The photos are wonderful and add to the value of the information.African Beads is a useful guide to help in identifying various types of beads and contains interesting information about the history of African beads.The book has given me a greater understanding of what I am looking at when I am browsing for African beads online or in stores that handle this kind of bead.I am glad that I bought the book and I find it to be a very useful and beautiful addition to my bead book library.I am both a bead collector and a beadworker, so I am glad to have found this handy bead guide guide.

This book's a jewel
African Beads: Jewels of a Continent is a real treasure. While a number of books explore the history and beauty of beads traded in Africa, most focus on beads made in Europe and carried to Africa by traders. This book instead devotes its attention exclusively to beads made in Africa, from the earliest shell beads to today's metal and recycled glass beauties. Written by two long-time and highly respected bead enthusiasts and collectors, and published by a company committed to buying and selling African-made and African-traded European beads and African artifacts, the book is organized by material -- bone and shell, wood and amber, stone, metal, and glass. Each section contains historical information, methods of construction, and cultural information where known. A major highlight of the book is the hundreds of outstanding close-up photos of the beads. In most cases, a photo features one type of bead, bigger than life and definitely lust-inducing. In some instances, I would have found it useful to see the beads in context -- what other beads were/are they usually used with? How are they worn? Happily, unlike in some otherwise excellent bead study books, the photo captions are specific and informative. This book covers a huge number of beads and necessarily can't tell as much as we would like to know about every one. But without a doubt, the book is the definitive tome on African-made beads -- so far.I enthusiastically recommend it.

History, Science, Beauty--All in One
I received a wonderful book titled "African Beads" in the mail two days ago. As a bead collector and book nut, I could hardly wait to turn the pages. I especially like the way the book is laid out by materials. I also like that the book features the everyday beads of the people, not just the glamour of the rich and famous. Most books feature gold and expensive European beads; this book features materials that Everyman can afford: bones, clay, copper.

I notice, too, that one of my favorite bead people is listed as an author. Carl, you are the only bead author I actually know! Now I am sure that I walk among the great.

A very interesting change has come about in my perceptions of the world since I started collecting African trade beads; well, actually, since I started reading books about them. I ride the bus to a downtown meeting every Monday night. I love city buses, they are always such a glimpse into city people. Now when I see blacks with colorful beads in their hair, complex hair braiding, and large chunky jewelry, I see them as perpetuating their own histories and culture, not as rejecting mine. I notice that I look at them with interest to see how their adornments are put together, not so much with an outsider's curiosity. I hope you understand what I mean--learning about beads has taught me understanding and affection for another part of the world.
... Read more

Product Description

In the backwoods of Mississippi, a land of honeysuckle and grapevine, Jewel and her husband, Leston, are truly blessed; they have five fine children. When Brenda Kay is born in 1943, Jewel gives thanks for a healthy baby, last-born and most welcome. Jewel is the story of how quickly a life can change; how, like lightning, an unforeseen event can set us on a course without reason or compass. In this story of a woman's devotion to the child who is both her burden and God's singular way of smiling on her, Bret Lott has created a mother-daughter relationship of matchless intensity and beauty, and one of the finest, most indomitable heroines in contemporary American fiction.Amazon.com Review
Oprah Book Club® Selection, January 1999: The year is 1943 and life is good for Jewel Hilburn, her husband,Leston, and their five children. Although there's a war on, theMississippi economy is booming, providing plenty of business for thehardworking family. And even the news that eldest son James hasenlisted is mitigated by the fact that Jewel, now pushing 40, ispregnant with one last child. Her joy is slightly clouded, however,when her childhood friend Cathedral arrives at the door with atroubling prophecy: "I say unto you that the baby you be carrying beyo' hardship, be yo' test in this world. This be my prophesying untoyou, Miss Jewel."

When the child is finally born, it seems that Cathedral's predictionwas empty: the baby appears normal in every way. As the months go by,however, Jewel becomes increasingly afraid that something is wrongwith little Brenda Kay--she doesn't cry, she doesn't roll over, she'shardly ever awake. Eventually husband and wife take the baby to thedoctor and are informed that she is a "Mongolian Idiot," not expectedto live past the age of 2. Jewel angrily rebuffs the doctor'ssuggestion that they institutionalize Brenda Kay. Instead theHilburns shoulder the burdens--and discover the unexpected joys--ofliving with a Down's syndrome child.

Bret Lott has written a novel that spans decades, follows the lives ofseveral characters, and cuts back and forth between Mississippi andCalifornia. Given these challenges, a lesser writer might losefocus. Lott, however, has wisely chosen to keep his eye trained onJewel--a narrator who is smart, perceptive, and above all, honest. Hehas also bucked the trend toward political correctness by allowing hischaracters to think, feel, and talk the way white Mississippians ofthat era would have. ("Mongolian Idiot," "nigger," "cracker," and"buck" are just a few of the epithets sprinkled throughout the text.)The language may be discomforting to some readers. Few will deny,however, that Bret Lott has crafted a clan that is all heart in thisbittersweet paean to the enduring strength of familiallove. --Margaret Prior ... Read more

Customer Reviews (310)

disturbing
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I just couldn't get into it. The child abuse in the guise of discipline and the constant racial slurs just got in the way for me. I know that was how some people talked, and still do, but it overpowered the message of the story. How great of a mother was Jewel? I would have respected her alot more if she had stood up to her husband when he would beat their children. The constant use of the n word was just disgusting. I did finish this book, then I got rid of it. Wish I could have gotten my money back.

Well written, thought provoking book.
I wasn't too anxious to read this book when it was picked for my book club. I was afraid it would be very much along the lines of "Memory Keeper's Daughter" (which was not a terrible book, but not one I loved either.) However, it didn't take long, just a few pages actually, for me to be completely sucked into Jewel Hilburn's life. Bret Lott's writing style, utilizing flashback throughout the book, was a wonderful way to understand Jewel and why she made the decisions that she made.I was happy to read a book, set in early 20th century, that actually had a male character with redeeming qualities. Even with all of the problems they faced, Jewel and Leston's relationship was rock solid and based on love and respect.A very refreshing change from most novels...

Devotion to One's Daughter Brings Joy and Grief
Wow!This is an amazing book.

The reader takes an incredible journey with a mother who devotes her life to her developmentally disabled daughter.She is a woman of depth, singularity and authenticity of purpose who believes that her life is due to God's will.She both embraces and grieves her life for, with her devotion to her daughter Brenda Kay, comes the letting go of her dreams for another type of family.

This book is beautifully, lyrically and painfully conveyed.

Jewel--a gem of a book!
I loved, loved, loved this book. From Mr. Lott's descriptions of everyday life in the 40s in Mississippi, to the flowing of prose that somehow encompassed the love of this woman for her daughter and family, I was captured from the first page. Who said you can't make a lovely novel out of everyday people braving extraordinary trials? Anyone who has ever loved a "special" child should pick up, and cherish, this book.

Worth the Slow Start
"Jewel" was a bit tough to get into...At first, I wasn't sure which character was Jewel. But Lott's book was worth the initial slogging through to get to a "can't-put-it-down" saga in the lives of ordinary people, mid-20th century.

Both relative wealth and poverty tracked this family with seemingly too many children. And the last was the "trial" of this life.

Lott probes how the mother, father and siblings deal with and interact with a Downs syndrome child...paralleling, perhaps, today's autism pandemic.

At times, Jewel seemed too erotically charged for her emotionally absent husband, but who am I too judge?If thinking in certain ways of him got her all riled up, perhaps that's the only thing that kept the family together. (I wouldn't know.)

Though the book didn't take me by storm as much as other reviews suggested it might, I'm very glad to have read ahistory of people well-known in time, and separately in place, to me. ... Read more

Product Description
Sarina and her mom decide to turn a gloomy, rainy day around by having a wonderful tea party. To prepare for the event, they make sandwiches, pick flowers, put out the fancy china, and more. In the end, they prove that planning a tea party can be as fun as having one! Comes with 25 colorful, sparkling jewel stickers that kids can use to decorate the pages of the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

cute book
Cute book - gave as a gift with a small tea set for 3 year old- Loved it!

BEST TEA PARTY BOOK
My 3 yr old loves to read this book while she sets up tea with her dollies and Mommy

Best T party, ever is cute.
After buying a Tea set, it made sense to purchase a book about tea parties to help her understand the "fun" she can have without electronics!Hopefully, my child will not miss out on such simple childhood play.

Gorgeous and fun book!
My five year old daughter loves this book. We thoroughly enjoyed the first time we read it together and placed the beautiful stickers in their rightful places. Now we just love the story and checking where the stickers are placed. It's definitely a book that will be enjoyed over and over, not just the first time when the activity is done. The story is terrific. Recommended!

Sticker Story
Thanks to Amazon's linking products, I was able to send this sticker story to my grandniece along with a tea set. What a coup! ... Read more

Product Description
The fascinating stories of Indian princes and their jewelry and precious stones are brought together in this sumptuously illustrated narrative tracing the rise and fall of India's leading royal houses through the dramatic fortunes of their crown jewels.

Famed since antiquity as a supreme source of diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, the Indian subcontinent afforded untold symbols of power and prestige to its many kings.From the sixteenth century forward, these stone were sought with unscrupulous avidity by the crowned heads of Europe, but even the rapacity of the British Empire failed to devour all of India's treasures.In the twentieth century, in a final flowering of regal splendor, many maharajas traveled to the West to have their jewels reset by the most prestigious jewelers of Paris, London, and Rome.It is this encounter between Indian princely magnificence and the best of European jewelry design that forms the book's centerpiece.

The authors offer a fresh, vigorous text drawing on original material from a wide range of government and private archives, and featuring many hitherto unpublished pictures alongside more familiar ones.From Sanskrit dramatists extolling the riches of India to the finest of modern Europe's jewelers crossing Asia in search of royal clients, a broad gamut of real voices and resplendent images brings to life the story of India's royal gems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

excellent
this is a great book for anyone interested in the jewelry and lifestyle of the nobility of this period in india.highly recommend it as a great addition to any library of books on jewelry.has stunning photos and great detail.

ICE OF INDIA
India has always been famous for her amazing jewels, be it structures like the Taj Mahal or amazing Maharajas stones.This book is exquisite, the images are vivid and crisp and the text scholarly.It is just amazing to see these jewels, you just cannot imagine this sort of wealth.When I think of jewels of India I always think of Louis XIV's French Blue, that came from a Maharaja and now is known as the Hope Diamond, it is simply spectacular, it's a shame it was recut after it was stolen during the French Revolution, but it is still one of the most beautiful diamond's in the world.If you have any interest in beautiful jewelery or Indian history in general then you will love this book.

A Wonderfully made book
I had bought the book "Maharaja's Jewels" by Katherine Prior and John Adamson and I must say that it was truly a wonderful book. For those who have interest in Jewels, Indian history, Royalty, Photography and I think for any one it will be a great experience to read it.

The Authors have brought out the richness of the land in an excellent presentation. The quality of the book in terms of the content, pictures, presentation, the collection of the jewels shown and the history behind them is very well presented.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and certainly recommend to any one with interest in such a book. it should be in any interested person's collection.

This book IS a jewel!
Amazing. I spent outside my budget to get this book and it's worth every cent.

A lavish examination of maharaja jewelry
Maharajahs' Jewels provides an oversized, lavish examination of maharaja jewelry, considering the history behind royal jewelry making in India and the conditions under which some of the most famous jewelry pieces were manufactured.The stories of the Indian princes and their jewelry will appeal to any interested in Indian history in general and jewelry-making in particular. ... Read more

Product Description

An exquisite look into the art of fine jewelry making, through the eyes of famed designer Temple St. Clair

Customer Reviews (6)

Beautiful Pictures But...
I bought this book yesterday from the bargain bin at my local store due to skimming it and see the gorgeous jewelry photos. I was hoping, no, expecting, it to at least have some information on the designing of said jewelry. Instead, what I got was how the designer was deeply privileged growing up, traveled/s a lot, had great parents, and was lucky enough to study abroad, all of which inspired and influenced and lead her to be a designer.
While there were some sketches, there was only a handful of pages and the process was not described at all (in terms of technicality). There was some tidbit information on a few gems and jewels, but nothing major.
Basically, it's a sparse autobiography with great photos. I will admit that her passion clearly comes through, though. It makes a good coffee table book, but not much else.

The construction of the book itself was very nice. It has thick pages and a heavy dust jacket, but still pricey in my opinion.

3.5/5 stars

alchemy a passion fr jewels

Beautiful photographs of incredible pieces of jewelry,also some insight into the creative process!

Can we get a real review?
I would like to see this book reviewed by someone who is not a friend of the author.The book is expensive enough, that I would like to read an honest review of the book.I've been on the author's website and the jewelry, while beautiful, is not photographed from all angles, and very little description is given about the gems and metals used.Also, many pieces seem very overpriced for what they are.

part memoir, part treatise, all stunning!
First, a confession: I might not have known about "Alchemy: A Passion for Jewels" if Temple St. Clair's mother had not contacted my mother to tell her about it. Temple and I were childhood pals, although even then it was not hard to tell that her life would take her in directions that many of us Southern Girls could hardly dream of. I enjoy collecting books by people I know, so there was no question that I would buy this one, sight unseen.

Well, dear readers, "Alchemy" blew me away! The photography and design, combined with the subject matter, make it one of the most physically beautiful books I have ever seen. Seamlessly interwoven among the many gorgeous pictures of St. Clair's jewelry pieces are conceptual sketches, details of fine art and architecture that have helped inspire some of her creations, photos from her travels, and nostalgic images from her early life. But the text is every bit as enaging as the imagery. St. Clair not only recounts her experiences but melds them with her interior journey as a creative artist, including healthy doses of art history, philosophy, mythology, and spirituality that lend authenticity and gravitas to her life's work.

Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." With "Alchemy," Temple St. Clair has offered a thoughtful examination of her own life that can serve as an inspiration to any reader. This book is -- dare I say it? -- a gem.

A truly lovely book, Temple
Temple, the book is lovely, and I am so glad it came out so beautifully.I know it will find an enthusiastic audience. ... Read more

Product Description
From the national bestselling author— the new novel set in the “darkly fascinating world”(SF Site) of the Black Jewels.

Dena Nehele is a land decimated by its past. Once it was ruled by corrupt Queens who were wiped out when the land was cleansed of tainted Blood. Now, only one hundred Warlord Princes stand—without a leader and without hope.

Theran Grayhaven is the last of his line, desperate to find the key that reveals a treasure great enough to restore Dena Nehele. But first he needs to find a Queen who remembers the Blood’s code of honor and lives by the Old Ways. The woman chosen to rule Dena Nehele, Lady Cassidy, is not beautiful and believes she is not strong. But she may be the only one able to convince bitter men to serve once again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

Much better than I heard
I absolutely *loved* the Black Jewels Trilogy, along with the Invisible Ring, Dreams Made Flesh, and yes, even Tangled Webs. I was thrilled when I heard that Anne Bishop was writing another book dealing with the world of the Blood. But I was waiting for the paperback version to come out, and the longer I waited, the more reviews I read. Reviews that were not so great. So I put off reading it longer and longer until I finally had to read it.
And it was not nearly as bad as I was afraid. I loved it, actually. It was a little different than the original trilogy, I admit. I actually didn't think it was nearly as violent or as graphically sexual, though there was some sex and some violence. I loved the new characters a lot, and I absolutely loved reading about the original characters as they were starting in a new phase of their lives. I enjoyed reading about Jaenelle, Daemon, Saetan, and Lucivar as much as Cassidy, Theran, Gray, etc. I don't think one group took away from the other. And I found that the book was humorous. I found myself laughing quite a bit as I read, and I don't think that's a bad thing.
A little different than the originals, yes. But I did not think it made it an awful book by any means. I'm sorry I put off reading them for so long. And if Ms Bishop decided to write another Black Jewels book (and I have now read Shalador's Lady, too), I would definitely buy it right away.

Another Winner
I finished this book in one day. Anne Bishop is SO amazing. This book made me laugh, was exciting and had parts that made me go "awww". What an amazing addition to the Black Jewels series. Definitely read "Invisible Ring" to refresh your memory on some of the characters. It was a nice insight to some of the lighter colored jeweled blood.

Entertaining, if Fluffy
I liked this story a great deal. (It's certainly better than Tangled Webs, which I didn't care for.) It addresses and repairs some of what I felt were world building issues with the original trilogy, which I really appreciated. Cassidy is an interesting character, though I felt she was being written as much younger in her reactions to an admittedly traumatic event than she should have been.

The "gimmick" is certainly an interesting one--a young warlord prince wants rebuild his Territory, but feels he needs someone to teach everyone the "old ways," so he goes to Kaeleer in hopes that a Queen will want to help. Unfortunately, he actually seems to be looking for a girlfriend, not a Queen, so he's less than impressed by poor Plain Jane Cassidy, who is the Queen who is available to help due to her First Circle being a bunch of jerks.

There is a great deal of drama, but Cassidy eventually wins the day. While others found the B-plot annoying, I kind of liked it, though both it and the A plot were a bit heavy handed in some respects.

great start to a new series
I love Anne Bishop.She writes great books and this one was a great start to a new series set in her Black Jewels world.

Black Jewels Rocks!!
I love this series and ram through a book within a week.If you are new to the Black Jewels series, start with the first and go in order.You won't be dissapointed. ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author David Robbins, “the Homer of World War II” (Kirkus Reviews), catapults readers into a daring wartime rescue in this unforgettable new novel

Locked in the notorious Los Baños Internment Camp southeast of Manila, Remy Tuck, his headstrong nineteen-year-old son Talbot, and their community of Allied internees battle starvation and sadistic punishments by the Imperial Japanese Army. Defying the guards at every turn, Tal watches beautiful Carmen through the window of her room above the camp, where she is trapped in her own prison, a sex slave for the Japanese army. Without speaking, they fall in love. As the tide of the war in the Pacific turns against their captors, the camp grows even more dangerous, and Remy and Tal enact a courageous plan to save their fellow prisoners and the woman Tal loves from certain execution.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Broken Jewel (review)
I just finished reading Broken Jewel by David L. Robbins and I loved it.It is quite an historical account(albeit fictionalized) that needs to be told.I had never heard of the Comfort Women.My step-father was in the Navy and was in the Philippines at that time.He told us of the cruelty of the Japanese but this book really brought it home.

As a child I and my siblings were called in every Sunday night to watch Victory at Sea(I think that was the name of it) on television.Having been in many naval battles in the Pacific, he would narrate to us what was going on and what had happened.I abhorred Sunday evenings at that time... now I cherish those hours.I wish I had listened more closely. (I have to admit, at first I thought Broken Jewel was going to be another Sunday night of Victory at Sea but David L. Robbins really proved me wrong.)

Thanks Mr. Robbins for such a good historical account that was also interesting.What a great way to learn history!This was my first David L. Robbins novel but it will not be my last!

Ho Hum Historical Fiction
I'm a fan of well-written historical fiction and didn't know much about this version of events during WW2 so I immediately thought this would be a book that would grab my attention.I couldn't have been more wrong.

The first few chapters were so confusing: I couldn't keep track of the characters which made the reading painfully slow having to go back pages to remind myself who the characters were.

Once I finally got a hang of the characters the pages picked up the pace, but I constantly found myself reading other books in between chapters.This book simply couldn't hold my attention.I was constantly falling asleep after a few pages no matter how alert I was before picking up the book.If you're looking for a way to fall asleep, this is the book that will help you do it.

Another thing that made this book so lonesome is that you never really leave the concentration camp aside from some back story to Australia and when the prisoners sneak out into the city.I guess this was to make the reader feel the loneliness of the prison/camp, if so the author certainly succeeded.

A so-so story about what could have potentially been a really interesting fiction story set in a historical setting not much taught in the American school system.

Yes the Japanese were Really that Harsh
This is a wonderfully accurate and researched book which reads with a great sense of authenticity.It shows the brutality of the Japanese Prisoner of War camps and beyond, showing the brutality they also reigned over their own troops and the peoples they conquered in World War II.

I am very impressed of the coverage of the Comfort Women, the Phillipino Resistance movement, and the concerns of the US in their liberation plans.All of these topics deserve more attention in literature and history books. I especially believe the comfort womenstill seem to be looking for a adequately strong champion to tell their story. It's nice to see them covered here.

The storyline is pretty heavy and depressing, but ultimately just, with a satisfying end. It is gripping and upsetting and suspenseful with lots of fine details.All in all a great read much in the same vein as Flyboys: A True Story of Courage.I highly recommend for any history lover.

War and Survival
The book is result of an extensive research with real people and facts by the author. The book reveals the most typical persons in a concentration camp. Interestingly enough, the social group in the camp comprises all human behavioral.

The book highlights the common people, the individuals, the internees, the comfort women, the locals, and the Japanese and American soldiers. The common people suffered most in WW2; as in all wars. The local guerrilla groups are well given in their imported political and religious inclinations that pictured their fates in front of international tsunamis after WW2. Also, the American soldiers are well given and they merit this, because from life living in US they had to become expert in wars occurring in new and very different environments.

A new knowledge is gained for the comfort women, hundred of thousands of them abducted, raped, slaved, exploited, used as tools for lust, missed in "action" by the end of war, wiped from memories even of their own people.

The case of such girls recalls the case of thousands of Albanian girls and women from Kosova, who were abducted, raped, violated, tortured and most of them did not return. Only (ex) married women, there are 2019 of them that were raped by Serbs and after the liberation war their husbands divorced them. The immediate result was: 2019 broken and forgotten families, and their 3007 loosed children.

Broken Jewel
Historical fiction that places the reader at the scene. The vegetation in the Philippine jungle slaps your face, the heat and humidity saps your strength but the action drives you page after page and is impossible to put down.
David L. Robbins is a must read author and a fantastic teacher. His books are not only entertaining but educational as well. I highly recommend all his books.
John House ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

House of Jewels
Words fail to convey my disappointment with this book. Save me from this cold insensible world, filled with ambitiousprejudiced, andhypocritical gentlemen that fail to recognize merit!

Seriously dudes--, After this book, I'm convinced the author made a bet with a fellow scholar to see if this pedantic, conceited, satyr'shistory book, could pass the lie on to her undergraduate class. But maybe such a conspiracy is too sublime for a populistbias.

Is she going to Burning Man this year?

Ethnography of Early Modern Science
As an anthropologist, I was reading this book with delight, and thinking it was just like an ethnography--to find that at the end she describes it as "an ethnography of early modern science," and cites such ethnographic luminaries as George Marcus and Bruno Latour.Indeed, this is a look at the actual culture of scientific and technical discovery in London in Elizabeth I's time.It is a real eye-opener.London at the time was swarming with technologists, herbalists, medical investigators, and every sort of inventor--not to speak of quacks, con artists and mountebanks pretending to be all of the above.The search for knowledge was downright frantic.Those of us who knew only a little about the history of early modern science knew only a tiny thin thread of this--a bit of Bacon (she cuts him down to size!) and a few others.
It is striking to compare London with China at approximately the same time; Benjamin Elman, William Rowe, and others have shown a similar and equally little-known ferment there, but even their best efforts don't seem to show as much sheer originality, inventiveness, and wild-eyed experimentation in Chinese cities as London had.China never quite made the breakthrough to modern science until the 20th century.London--and, Ogilvie reminds us, the whole "republic of letters" all over Europe--had a culture of scientific advance rooted in trades, crafts, mining, brewing, fish trapping, bird snaring, everything.People were trying every new scheme to produce more.
Alchemy and astrology receive due respect here.In those days, everyone knew that metallurgy could make amazing transformations; no one knew that gold, silver, etc. were primary elements that simply could not be easily transformed into each other.(People were just beginning to realize that "earth, air, fire, water" wasn't a fully adequate list of elements.)Similarly, everyone knew the sun influenced every living thing, and the moon ruled the tides; logic and common sense brought everyone to the inescapable conclusion that the other heavenly bodies must be influencing us too.The failure of alchemy and astrology was not the failure of "pseudoscience" but the triumph of reality over logic and reason--a triumph we see today, every day, as the most reasonable economic and political predictions go down in flames, ruined by human cussedness.It would be decades before Boyle could be a successfully "skeptical chemist" building on experimental proof of alchemy's failure.
Early modern science was a wonderful, exciting world.I came to it after a lifetime of ethnographic research on traditional knowledge of plants and animals--in China, indigenous North America, and elsewhere.How wonderful to see an ethnography of Elizabethan London's science.
For the future, one recommendation to ethnographers of early science:Look at Charles Frake's LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL DESCRIPTION as well as Latour, Marcus, et al.Frake still does the best job of explaining how to study nonwestern and traditional scientific/technical knowledge.

Science Before the Scientific Revolution
Everyone knows that the Scientific Revolution involved some great minds, like Edmond Halley and Sir Isaac Newton, and that it happened in the seventeenth century, and that one of its centers was London.But it was not the case that before the revolution people were unscientific and after it they were scientific.What was the infrastructure in place that allowed for the blossoming of scientific thinking that was to come, and has yet to abate?Deborah E. Harkness, a professor of history, has given an account of something we haven't thought much about: Elizabethan science.In _The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution_ (Yale University Press), Harkness has given an extensive history of how sixteenth century London took up scientific enquiry.She admits that other than Francis Bacon there will be few well known "scientists" here.To speak strictly, there wasn't anyone called a scientist until the word was invented in the nineteenth century.And the Elizabethans profiled here didn't come up with many scientific breakthroughs.On the other hand, they were energetic and curious Londoners, "naturalists, medical practitioners, mathematicians, teachers, inventors, and alchemists", who wanted to study the world and benefit people thereby, and Harkness has told a story that deserves telling.

The first case study Harkness undertakes is that of the naturalists centered in Lime Street, a cosmopolitan central London neighborhood, "the English outpost of a Europe-wide network of students of nature."The naturalists here corresponded with each other in a way that (at least sometimes) shows the ideal balance of cooperation and competitiveness that scientists ought to have, and they swapped specimens and did fieldwork.Harkness considers the medical arena chiefly through the conflicts of the different schools and specialists of the time."London had a practitioner to suit every patient's purse and preferences", she writes, and perhaps because of that, medical professionals were very protective of their particular schools.There was a medical bustle of quacks, midwives, and other healers which spread on the streets and via word of mouth.Basic to science is mathematics; London was embracing mathematics at the time.A famous version of Euclid from 1570, with an introduction by the renowned occultist John Dee, helped emphasized that numbers were not wicked but profitable for citizens and the state.Science was good for business and for the state, and no one knew this better than William Cecil who was the favorite minister of Queen Elizabeth, both of whom sought projects with tangible outcomes, directing funds for the sixteenth century version of "big science" to such endeavors as mining or the refinement of ores.Harkness spends a chapter on the unfortunate merchant Clement Draper, who was in debtors' prison for thirteen years, but continued to experiment and fill notebooks with his observations and those from his fellow inmates, some of whom were as interested in such matters as he.

Harkness winds up this tour of sixteenth century London science with a description of the efforts of lawyer Hugh Plat and contrasting them with those of the far more famous Francis Bacon.One of Harkness's themes is how scientific efforts came from all levels of society, and Plat viewed the collective scientific enterprise in just this way.The son of a brewer, he consulted winemakers, candle-makers, midwives, gardeners, salt-makers, and more on such subjects as food preservation, firefighting, desalinization of water, and so on.Bacon called for a gentleman's ideal of orderly and academic investigation of nature by scholars, but Plat emphasized how commoners could contribute, and even when he interviewed experts like John Dee, he was much more interested in their practical and experimentally derived wisdom than in their theories.Harkness is clearly on Plat's side, and her summary chapter on his work in many fields nicely caps a fascinating and detailed overview of the scientific foundation London made for the upcoming revolution.
... Read more

Product Description
Acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz dazzles with this thrilling contemporary romance of deadly secrets and desires. When a mysterious man enters a bookshop and demands a rare collection of 18th-century erotica, the owner has no idea that she will soon be a part of his dark and intriguing world. Reissue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

IT'S AN EARLY KRENTZ
I CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE THAT SHE WROTE THIS BOOK UNDER ANY OTHER NAME AND COPYRIGHT SHOWS 1989 AS THE YEAR.FOLLOWING THIS MAKES IT 3RD BOOK WRITTEN UNDER JAYNE ANN KRENTZ AND WAS NOT A SERIES BOOK. I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN REVIEW HERO WAS A PAIN AND SOMETIMES A PIG BUT WE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT THE ERA THE BOOK IS WRITTEN IN. 1989 WAS 20 YEARS AGO AND THINGS WERE DIFFERENT.MALE ARROGANCE AND PRESENCE WERE DOMINATE AT THAT TIME EVEN THOUGH US WOMEN WERE ENJOYING MORE FREEDOMS LIFE STILL MOVED ON BUT VERY SLOWLY EVEN TODAY SHOWS SIGNS OF PAST TIMES. SO TO ME I FELT THAT IT WAS A TYPICAL JAYNE ANN KRENTZ BOOK AND I HAVE ALL AND HAVE READ EVERY ONE OF THEM AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. IN WHATEVER NAME..................

Midnight Jewels
This is a great suspense story with plenty of romance.The main characters are so different in personality that it seemed impossible for them to like each other.Mercy was a naive book store owner and Croft was a mercenary that was used to violence.As a team, they wanted to capture the drug dealer that supposedly had died in a fire three yeas ago.Gladstone (the evil character) survived the fire and had plastic surgery in order to become a drug lord/art collector again.Very easy book to read with all the necessary components that make you want to hurry and finish the book.

I couldn't enjoy the story because I was angry at the heroine's stupidity.
At least three different times, Croft told Mercy (the heroine) to stay put while he went to do what he was good at doing, sneaking around like a ghost, investigating and dealing with bad guys.She did not do as he told her, and she went after him, putting them both in danger.I saw this as stupidity on her part, and I hated it.Examples follow.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
1.She knew Croft was going to snoop in Gladstone's vault at night.Yet, when she discovered him gone from bed, she decided to go after him to tell him not to do it because he might get caught.He was like a ghost and made no noise.She was clumsy and set off silent alarms as she walked around and got them both caught.

2.Croft told Mercy to stay in the motel while he went to deal with Gladstone.After Croft left, she got a message from Gladstone saying he had Croft as a prisoner and that Mercy should bring the book to trade for Croft.She asked to speak to Croft, but Gladstone said no.Then, she stupidly went to Gladstone, whereupon she was immediately imprisoned.Gladstone planned to use her as bait to capture Croft.Croft had never been captured by Gladstone, and Mercy stupidly became the bait.

I did not like her personality.She would argue with Croft for petty reasons, and sometimes she was just plain wrong.Also, after their first night of sex, she said she didn't want any more sex until they developed more of a relationship.This turned into a game of her saying no, but meaning yes.He would chase and catch her, then she would melt, then they both wanted each other.I did not like her being dishonest with herself as well as him.From his perspective, he was attracted to her because she caused him to lose control emotionally, whatever that meant.Page 224 described this as "It worried him that he couldn't explain his passions or his sense of protectiveness or the strange bond that seemed to link him to her."I saw no reason for him to like her.Their interaction did not make a good story.

Sexual language: mild.Number of sex scenes: five.Setting: current day (or 1980s) small coastal town, Ignatius Cove, Washington and a mountain retreat area in Colorado.Copyright: 1987.Genre: romantic suspense.

For a list of my reviews of other books by this author, see my 4 star review of "Sizzle and Burn" posted 2-09-08.

Mediocre Romance
I was very disappointed in this novel as I am a romance fan and have read Krentz before and enjoyed her.The characters were one dimensional and the plot line was a little silly.As a big Nora Roberts fan - I can suspend the logical (as in incorporating witchcraft and the supernatural) but the plot lines in Roberts flow better.Overall - I would not recommend you bother with this - although the sex scenes were worth the read.

The Book That Disappeared
This was a book that should not have been. It disappeared, only to return in another place. The two people who were interested in a new buyer-a person who should not have been alive. The ending was worth waiting for. ... Read more

Product Description
The children of Vicar Andrew Phelps and Julia Hollis from the popular Gresham Chronicles series have grown up and are dealing with their own challenges. Philip Hollis, now a successful London surgeon, has a controlling wife who resents his close family ties.

Aleda Hollis lives in a cottage on the outskirts of Gresham, where she enjoys her privacy and a writing career. When Andrew becomes ill and in need of Philip's skills, and Aleda's quest for privacy unwittingly advances an evil man's schemes, it's Jewel Libby, a newcomer to Gresham, who becomes an unexpected support and source of strength to the family. An unlikely romance adds to the intrigue of this jewel in their midst. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

The Jewel of Gresham Green
Book arrived in excellent shape and as promised.I will definitely order from Amazon again.

Return to Gresham
As a huge fan of the the Gresham Chronicles and Lawana Blackwell's works, I was thrilled to hear that there was going to be a fourth book in the series.I had devoured the three books in the series several times (they're one of my favorite book series to reread) and was looking forward to seeing what was going on with the village and its inhabitants.It was pleasant to return to the peaceful village where everyone knows each other.We're introduced to new characters and are reunited and caught up to date with old friends.I will admit it was a bit jarring to see the children now grown up with their old families but the Hollis and Phelps family are still the same as ever.I liked Jewel and her daughter and was sadden at their plight.The treatment of a single mother in England during that time period was very rough and justice was not served properly to those who needed it.

While I enjoyed this book, I felt that it wasn't on the same level as the author's previous books in the series. I never really felt connected with the new characters in this book and I felt like the old characters were just thrown in for good measure. The other books in the Gresham series (as well as Blackwell's other two Victorian series) had a certain charm and comfort feeling. You felt as if you were literally swept up into the story and transported into that time period along with the characters. This book however, gives sort of a standoffish feeling. I felt as if I was looking at the story from a distance. The romance in this story seemed to happen very fast and almost as an afterthought. After the quirky and accidental romances in the past 3 books, the one in this one fell flat and was not very believable.

That being said, this is an enjoyable book. Fans of Jane Austen and other regency era type books will find this book a pleasure to read. If you've never read any of the other books in the Gresham series, you won't be lost reading this one as it can be read as a stand alone. However if you're a fan of the original series, this book is a nice way to catch up on everyone and is a good addition to the series. Hopefully this won't be the last we will see of Gresham and it's inhabitants.

A Nice Story but it Didn't Really Grab Me
It's not often I find a book blurb to be so off the mark, but that was the case with this one. Not that I didn't enjoy the book, because I did, but this blurb is really quite a bit misleading and over dramatizes parts of the story quite a bit.

I have to admit that the story gets off to a slow start and the plot is very difficult to follow for about the first quarter to third of the book. The transitions from chapter to chapter are a bit shaky as the scenes and characters change, but once every main character was located in Gresham, the story was ever so much easier to follow and get caught up in. The story really begins to pick up when the "evil man" mentioned in the blurb arrives, though his schemes really were not advanced the way the book blurb implies. The evil Donald is certainly an unlikable man and it was galling to read how various women fell for his fake charms. He was, however, a well-written character. Many of the characters are not particularly developed, though Blackwell does a pretty good job with Donald, Jewel, Aleda, and Loretta. In all fairness, this is actually the fourth book in the series, so many of the characters may be developed in other books.

Something else I particularly enjoyed was that it was not immediately obvious with whom Jewel would eventually fall in love, however, once that was apparent it took an agonizingly long time for anything to happen! In fact, there is so much going on in this story, that it unfortunately overshadows Jewel's eventual romance and her own story. I really don't feel that this book was about Jewel as much as it was about an entire family in this village. In the end, we were really left with about two chapters devoted to the supposed romance, as if the author realized she needed to get everything wrapped up to close the book. Overall, once the story really got moving, it was an enjoyable light read with some good messages, while not being overly preachy. While this was the fourth book in the series, it did work as a stand alone novel and I do not feel I missed out on anything by not having read the first three books.

Gresham Green series is wonderfully written and engaging
I was overjoyed to find this book on Amazon, and ordered it for a friend. This series was a pleasure to read, and weaves the characters together so wonderfully - you feel like they're your neighbors or relatives from another time.
Read it - you won't be disappointed!

another quick and delight read in the series
i have been reading this series since high school, and was thrilled a fourth book was published!

the story is great, and it continues to develop past character we have come to know by now.i especially enjoyed the development of phillip.this book actually keeps you guessing a lot more than the first three.

i was a little surprised as some underlying sexual references in this book, especially compared to how clean the first three were.nothing graphic or alarming, but it's obvious blackwell has amped up her writing style.

you'll enjoy this book! ... Read more