Broken Dream: Twenty Years of War in Eastern Europe

Customer Reviews:

Strong Photojournalism .......2005-03-26

Czech exile photojournalist Kratochivil's first book is a collection of his work in Eastern Europe, mainly in Poland, Romania, and Russia from 1976-80 and then 1989-95. The seventy black and white images are laid out one per spread, giving each stark image room to breathe. There are three running themes to the work, religious practice and rites, the transition from socialism to capitalism, and most strikingly, humanity overwhelmed by a horrific landscape of its own making. The religious photos aren't that striking, and are of the usual stuff, Eastern Orthodox rites, funerals, festivals, processions and the like. There is, however, one symbolically powerful photo of a modern cemetery in the Czech Republic consisting of running walls of aboveground crypts that bear a striking resemblance to the soulless apartment blocks in the background. The political transition photos are quite good, though typical of the genre: statues of Lenin lying in scrap heaps, the wealthy feasting, the poor starving, a demonstration in Poland, people shying away from the camera, and so on.

The real strength of the book lies in the third kind of photos. A huge earth-moving machine looming over a man and child, a grim shadow of a man in the smoke of an industrial town, masked men and dogs in Chernobyl, two men dismantling a tank with giant cranes hovering above them, men leaning on the rail of a crumbling Polish apartment building, figures walking through the black smoke of a Romanian tar factory, and most moving of all, children playing in the benighted landscape of industrial wasteland. Of particular interest are a series depicting "gazari", poor people who make a short and precarious living digging gasoline out of the ground near a leaking petroleum refinery. All of this makes for pretty depressing viewing, albeit one that photojournalism aficionados will find very compelling. A strong collection that will obviously have particular resonance for those with an interest in modern Eastern Europe.

Note: A reasonably good web search will lead you to a site where about fifty of the photos are available for viewing on a small scale.

Broken Dream : Twenty Years of War in Eastern Europe

Average customer rating:

Broken Dream : Twenty Years of War in Eastern Europe
Antonin Kratochvil
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MU9FPO

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Century of Lingerie: revealing the secrets and allure of 20th centur
Bressler-Newman-Proctor
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VPOYF6

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Century of Lingerie: Revealing the Secrets and Allure of 20th Century Lingerie
Karen Bressler
Manufacturer: Diane Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0756754097

Book Description

It's the end of the long path the ronin father and son have been on since the boy's birth. Through unimaginable violence and bad weather, across hundreds of miles of blood-soaked roadbeds, over years of tragedy and anguish, to this final 320 pages of still-epic story, Itto and Daigoro have kept us holding on to what little hope exists in a world where honor is all but forgotten and warriors are obsolete. It's a bloody battle all the way to the finish, with dramatic twists and turns right up to the final page. Stay with us as we conclude the translation of what will always be considered one of the finest examples of comic-book mastery ever created, Lone Wolf and Cub.

Customer Reviews:

This is The End.......2006-07-21

The final stop on the assassins road ...

You have to read the first 27 volumes of this series to comprehend just how incredible it is. Cinematic in style, and perhaps one of the greatest pieces of literature of modern times, this sage comes to an end here, as debts are settled, and a country awaits the outcome.

I've heard comic book fans say they would never read this because it's manga. Ignore them. Even if you don't read comics, you need to read this series. It will make you laugh, cry and get angry -- often in the same story. Few works of art can do that to you. This one does.

This volume is a fitting end to the saga. The events of the previous 27 volumes propel readers to this conclusion, and if you aren't moved by the story aren't breathing. It's that simple.

If you haven't read this book, please take note!!!.......2004-12-21

If you are about to read or order this final book, please read this! This volume has a glossary at the end, as do the others in the Dark Horse reprint of the series. Do not flip to the glossary in this volume; it's located adjacent to the final panels of the series and inadvertently seeing them may spoil your enjoyment of the book. Do without -- there's nothing in the glossary of this volume that isn't in a previous issue.

As for the content, the volume is an incredibly tense, poignant, surprising, and confusing conclusion that draws on the stories and themes of the earlier volumes. Read the books from start to finish. The first two volumes suffer from a weak translation and some clumsiness but from then Lone Wolf and Cub is thoughtful, visceral, transcendant series that will make you proud to be a comic book reader.

In thinking over these stories, I often thought back on "Beyond Fate" by Margaret Visser, a transcription of lectures about fate and honour, which I would also recommend.

Sad to finally end........2004-09-03

I just finished this final volume of the lone wolf and cub series. It is an incredible series, by far the best comics I have ever read. I would echo others reviews about not reading this without reading the others. The power of the ending and the story as a whole will be lessened. I am still in shock about the ending and wish that there were another 28 about Daigoro and the future of the Yagyu

This Will Move You.......2004-05-27

This is the last volume of the Lone Wolf and Cub series. Yes it is the end. I must say one thing first, if you read this book make sure to have read all the volumes before it. This is the only way to truly feel the impact...of this amazing story. If you have read this far there is no need for me to describe the plot. So I am speaking to those who have read some but not all of the series. This is not at all disappointing in the least. It is well worth the money and the ending is truly something to be read for oneself. Never, and alot of people say never, but TRULY never have I read anything so well put together. Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima are truly talented.

The End of The Assassin's Road.......2003-06-04

After 28 HUGE volumes, Lone Wolf and Cub finally comes to an end. On the one hand, I couldn't WAIT for the series to end, so I could see what happened to Itto Ogami and his son, Daigoro. Would they have their revenge against the Yagyu clan at last...? On the other hand, I knew I'd miss the characters and the magnificent work of creators Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima....Well, I've finally finished the series, and I miss Daigoro already...

This final installment revolves around the showdown between Ogami & Daigoro and their nemesis, Retsudo Yagyu. Yagyu brings the final remnants of his "Grass" (Deep-cover Ninja who spend generations infiltrating villages in Japan) to the battlefield, and employs a truly insidious deception against Itto (Which I won't spoil!); I studiously avoided any situation that may have resulted in my discovering the end of the series before I got a chance to read it, and although I had a general idea of how the final battle would play out, I was still moved to tears at the final twenty pages.....

If you haven't experienced any of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, I can't recommend them highly enough. I've been reading comics since I was two years old, and I have NEVER read such a finely wrought story; It ranks among my favorite works of fiction, right alongside Lonesome Dove and The Stand, and that's pretty damned impressive.......

Average customer rating:
Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 28: The Lotus Throne

Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 1417654686

Average customer rating:
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Lotus Throne, Volume 28
Kazuo; Lewis, Dana; Kojima, Goseki Koike
Manufacturer: Dark Horse Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KXP93U

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The Psychokitty Speaks Out: Diary Of A Mad Housecat
Max Thompson
Manufacturer: Inkblot Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1932461078

Book Description

Many believe there is nothing like seeing a good movie, one that is enjoyable both in itself and for the thought processes it stimulates. From The Usual Suspects and When Harry Met Sally to Gandhi and The Color Purple, this handbook functions as a guide to watching and reflecting upon 75 great films. The author, a philosophy instructor, presents a text designed to lead readers through a series of intellectual gymnastics; to help strengthen critical thinking abilities and to inspire exciting and philosophical thoughts and discussions.

"Civil Disobedience", "Death", "Fate and Determinism", "War", "Sexism and Women's Issues", "Gay Rights", "The Greatest Happiness Principle", "Anxiety and Inauthenticity" and "The Holocaust" are examples of the 18 different categories into which the films are divided. Each chapter includes the author's introductory comments to be read prior to watching movies along with a section of "Questions to Ponder" to be considered afterward. Photographs of many movie scenes are included throughout the text.

Customer Reviews:

BORING!.......2007-06-01

As a recording engineer by profession, the promise of this book was absolutely thrilling. And while I did enjoy some tastey morsels, it was so painful getting to them. For me it WAS worth the trouble reading this book, but the ratio of interesting to tedious was much lower than I had hoped.

The book wasn't just dry. It was a labor to read. Imagine the worst features of history and intellectual property case law -- combined.

The author can be commended for detailing the complex dealings within the recording industry of the past. I just wish the writing had some hint of passion for the subject. Too bad.

Probably best suited to real gramophone enthusiasts.......2005-04-14

Thomas Edison invented the cylinder phonograph and that's what we had until a fellow named Emile Berliner thought round discs might work better. That's all quite a bit too simplistic and leaves out stages in between where recording material varied between a basic tinfoil all the way up to cylinders composed of wax, various compounds, including some that were coated with gold. The evolution of the recording industry also included countless lawsuits over tangled disagreements as to various patents involving methods of recording and reproduction.

This book attempts to rectify misconceptions many (myself definitely included) might have about how the recording industry involved from using acoustic means to record and recreate sound until the first uses of electrical means to 'grab' sound.

PROS:
Copious footnotes have some information you'd miss if you don't refer to them

Very detailed information about patents involved (down to legal notices printed verbatim) from some of the big players in the gramophone/graphophone/disc industry's early days

Interesting photographs of oddities like the 1888 (approx) vintage Edison made talking doll, 1897 ads for Columbia/Bettini/Edison phonographs ($5 per dozen for the Edison records!),and an office worker using a phonograph (and giant ear tube) to type from dictation recorded on a cylinder.

CONS:

It's not a very easy read for someone, like me, who's interested in the early days of recording but doesn't have a big legal background or knowledge of terminology like "mandrel" (a component of early cylinder machines).

The authors didn't make much of an attempt to explain the complicated web between the main companies, their contracted sellers, other manufacturers of discs/cylinders. Perhaps a "flow chart" explaining how the chain of command went from the corporation to the local talking machine store might have helped.

The book's title is somewhat misleading..there's fairly little time spent discussing "stereo" sound or for that matter much past the 1920s (the last 5 pages really). There are plenty of books covering that vintage, so it's only an issue if you're looking for a tome that covers that whole spread. For the early years up until approximately the 1920s, this does a good job.

BOTTOM LINE:
Actual 78RPM disc/phonograph collectors will probably find this essential. Mere music enthusiasts like myself will probably find this too dry to sit all the way through. I'm hoping that perhaps the authors will find a way to make it a more exciting read ina future edition and perhaps more explanatory with regard to technical/legal terms.

Highly detailed, but info stops about 1958.......2000-05-18

Very very detailed on the history up to about the 1920's and then speeds up and skims over everything beyond that. Essential to the Victrola and 78RPM collector. Very scientific in its information and also includes quotes, interviews, and tons of information available nowhere else on mechanical/electrmechanical audio reproduction. Also covers in detail the introduction and development of 33/45 discs (titled "The War of the Speeds"). Stereo and the post-crystal/ceramic cartridge era is very minimal.

Average customer rating:

I love to plan my son's birthday with creative books

Very Confusing

Great book of Birthday ideas and tips

Birthday Parties for Kids! Creative Party Ideas Your Kids and Their Friends Will Love
Penny Warner
Manufacturer: Prima Lifestyles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Parenting Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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Kids Party Games And Activities (Children's Party Planning Books)

50 Fabulous Parties For Kids

The Ultimate Birthday Party Book: 50 Complete and Creative Themes to Make Your Kid's Special Day Fantastic!

FamilyFun's Parties: 100 Party Plans for Birthdays, Holidays & Every Day (FamilyFun Series, No. 3)

Birthday Parties: Best Party Tips and Ideas (Lansky, Vicki)

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0761514503
Release Date: 1998-05-13

Book Description

How to Throw Birthday Parties Kids Will Love!
Take the headache out of planning parties for your kids with this clever guide to quick, fun, and inexpensive celebrations. From invitations to party favors, Birthday Parties for Kids! is filled with creative mix-and-match suggestions for unique and successful parties every kid will love.
Taking parents through the Twelve Steps to Perfect Party Planning, Birthday Parties for Kids! shows how to customize a party for the birthday boy or girl and make preparation part of the fun! Special tips help you plan a party theme, create eye-catching invitations and decorations, organize fun games that will keep every guest happy, choose nutritious snacks and inexpensive party favors, set a time schedule for activities and ending the party, and much more.
Each chapter is loaded with suggestions like:
·Birthday Party Themes: Where in the World Party; Creepy Critter Party; Video Game Party; Talent Show Party; Pajama Party; Mystery Mansion Party; Jurassic Party; Space Trek Party.
·Guest Invitations: Balloon Blimps; Cookie-on-a-Stick; Newspaper Headline; Magic Wands; Invisible Ink; Glow in the Dark Star Chart; Puzzlers.
·Festive Decorations: Billions of Balloons; Carnival Booths; Comic-Cartoon Parade; Disneyroom; Enchanted Forest; Parallel Universe; Spider's Den; Treasure Island.
·Games and Activities: Bumbling Bubble Gum; Treasure Hunt; Funny Fashion Show Relay; Oddball Olympics; Hot Lava; Screen Test; Mysterious Message.
Hundreds of kid-tested ideas make the party possibilities practically endless!

Customer Reviews:

I love to plan my son's birthday with creative books.......2000-04-26

This book lacked things like putting the page number so can quickly find the party theme. So you page through until you find it. Once I got there it had the basic things you or I would come up with. Then they go on to says invitations, decorations, games, activities, food and favors but again then you have to search in other places to find each topic. No pictures!

However once you get to Invites there are 8 different ideas. Same goes for decorations, games, activities, food and favors.

Within each section there are some really cute ideas, recipes on how-to.

Over all the book is helpful and cute ideas and themes, just not put together well.

Very Confusing.......2000-04-20

There are so many party books available, and I have quite a few. This is my least favorite of the ones I've seen or own. It's very confusing and has to refer to the other chapters too many times.

Great book of Birthday ideas and tips.......1999-08-17

This book was a fabulous book, I was looking for some ideas for an upcomming birthday and have been inspired!! This book has the basics of how to plan a great party, invitations, games, food, favors, it has it all. Outstanding!!!

Average customer rating:

Best Direct Sales Books

Awesome

A reliable manual for home-based selling

More Build It Big

another Taste of Home Entertaining consultant must have

More Build It Big: 101 Insider Secrets from Top Direct Selling Experts
Direct Selling Women's Alliance
Manufacturer: Kaplan Business
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Marketing | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Sales & Selling | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Build It Big: 101 Insider Secrets from Top Direct Selling Experts

Presentations for Profits

Making Millions in Direct Sales: The 8 Essential Activities Direct Sales Managers Must Do Every Day to Build a Successful Team and Earn More Money

Hanging Up on Your Phone Phobias

The Wave 4 Way to Building Your Downline

ASIN: 1419520032
Release Date: 2006-03-01

Book Description

A revolutionary shift is occurring in the world of work. Home-based entrepreneurs seeking independence, time, and uncapped income are selling everything from life insurance, carpet cleaning, and computer repair, to cookware, beauty products, and candles. According to the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, 49 million direct salespeople sell $85.5 billion worth of products and services worldwide each year. More Build It Big is the sequel and smart companion to Build it Big. In this new handbook, industry leaders deliver straightforward advice, cutting-edge insights, and best practices to help direct sellers and distributors become sales superstars. Up-to-the-minute stories from top salespeople, profiles of leading distributors, and the latest how-to’s on networking, party planning, and person-to-person selling make this book a key addition to the direct seller’s reference shelf. More Build It Big delves into the personal and business skills that direct selling pros use to achieve success: sponsoring, building, and coaching a team; becoming a leader; organizing business finances; and integrating home life and business. Appropriate for novices or experts who want to set goals, fire up teams, and boost revenues, More Build It Big is sure to increase the power and motivation of thousands of direct salespeople worldwide.

Highlights

More Build It Big gives independent salespeople and distributors:

•New case studies covering an extensive range of products and services appropriate for direct sales

•Expert advice on booking venues and coaching hostesses

•Surefire techniques for developing relationships and building a contact database

•Tips for avoiding major mistakes and stumbles

Customer Reviews:

Best Direct Sales Books.......2007-09-30

The Build It Big Series are the best books on the market for helping you grow your home based business. It is divided into little articles written by the industries best. A great easy read! I have grown my direct sales business greatly after buying these books and joining the Direct Selling Women's Alliance.

Awesome.......2007-03-08

More tips for those in direct sales. Awesome! I can't begin to say how much I love the Build it Big Books. This is the sequel to Build it Big and will help the novices in the field or the experts.

A reliable manual for home-based selling.......2006-09-07

If you've ever attended a Tupperware party or spoken to a Mary Kay or Avon representative, then you are familiar with the concept of direct selling. More than 49 million people worldwide are hawking everything from toys to life insurance as independent contractors. Many of these professionals found a terrific resource in the book Build it Big, published by the Direct Selling Women's Alliance (DSWA). Now, the organization has compiled more insights, anecdotes, tips and techniques, specifically for female direct-sales professionals. Unlike most business writing, which is usually gender-neutral or all about "him," the operative pronoun here is "her." Although the sales strategy and self improvement advice isn't particularly new, it is solid. The book guides promising novices (most advice would apply to men as well as women) through the direct sales necessities, from finding inspiration and prospects, to asking for referrals or sales, dressing appropriately and building a team. Whether you need the advice or support of a coach, a sales guru or a fashion diva, we believe you will find it in this collection of 101 best practice essays from veterans of home-based sales businesses.

More Build It Big.......2006-07-24

Sequel to Build It Big. Excellent book. All Direct Sellers should have this in your library of must have motivational books.

another Taste of Home Entertaining consultant must have.......2006-07-09

Ok, so I thought that the first Build it Big Book was great! Now here is even more great tips and information to furthur expand your business. I have learned a little something from everything that I read with this. If I feel that things are slowing down a bit, I pull this out almost like a reference book and look for some fresh ideas that I can use to liven things up. It never fails to come through and It enables me to coach my team more effectively and share the knowledge that I have gained with them. This book also makes a great gift for your team members.

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