Comprehensive and Scholarly

Rose Then and Now Bible Map Atlas with Biblical Background and Culture
Paul H. Wright, Ph.D.
Rose Publishing (2012)
Hardcover: 272 pages & PDF Format
Reading Level: Adult

The Rose Then and Now Bible Map Atlas with Biblical Background and Culture is not an easy-to-read volume that one could devour in a matter of hours. The text is complex, incorporating cross-references and annotations where appropriate as well as maps of the Holy Land as it was in ancient times with clear overlays showing modern political divisions and nomenclature of the same areas. There are many illustrations, timelines, and photographs liberally sprinkled thoughout this book. The text is divided into 24 chapters, the last 22 of which focus on important characters we meet in the Bible. The first two chapters focus on the background information. The book also features a comprehensive introduction, bibliography, and index.

I normally base my reviews on the full reading of a book, but in this case, the formulaic construction makes the full reading unnecessary to evaluate the quality of this publication. Despite the complexity of this book, it is worthy of the time and attention required to study the material. I do not recommend attempting to read this volume from cover-to-cover like you would read a novel.  Instead, as you study Genesis, read the first two chapters of this atlas. Then move on to the chapters featuring Moses and Joshua as you study Exodus, etc. The chapters do not need to be read in the order they appear in this book.  The information concerning the Biblical Background and Culture contained in this volume will greatly enhance your understanding of the Bible.

Due to the complexity of the material, I do not recommend this book to those under the age of 17, but for anyone mature enough to understand the material, I would highly recommend this book, especially if one is interested in doing in-depth studies of biblical topics or persons.

While this volume was purchased by me, I do sometimes accept books free in exchange for review. Nevertheless, whether I purchase a book or whether I receive it in exchange for review, all opinions stated in the review remain mine, and I never accept financial compensation for posting reviews.

This review has been posted on Dragonviews, Amazon, Rose Publishing, and Christianbook.com

Log Your Practice Sessions for Better Results

The Complete Music Practice Record Book:
A Six-Month Log and Journal for Dedicated Students
by Larry Zafran
Larry Zafran (2011),
Paperback, 108 pages
Rated 4 stars of 5 possible

At first glance, one might be intimidated by all the blank spaces in this practice log, yet filling the pages with your information in the vast variety of categories provided by the author can help you to better monitor your own or your child's practice sessions while studying any instrument.

Pros
While this practice log was not originally intended for a beginner, it is widely adaptable and can be used by music students of any age and for any instrument. A small corner of each practice record has been allocated for parents or teachers to initial if this is required. The author has thought of most everything one would like to track and provides spaces for each item in a concise half-page a day format. He has left the date spaces blank, so you can start at any time. If you skip a day or have a poor practice session, there's even a space to indicate why.

Neutral
There are a few categories of information for which space is provided that I will probably not use. Mood(s); Meditation, Breathing, Physical Exercise, etc. aren't the sort of data that I consider to be part of my practice time, while Performance/Rehersal/Recordings are not something in which I am involved at the moment... but which I might use in the far future. However, these few categories currently of no use to me may be useful to others. The book would best be used with a fine point pen or very sharp pencil and neat, small writing.

The author pointed out to me that this book is not spiral bound... which I would definitely have noticed on my own. I doubt that, for such a slim volume, the lack of a spiral binding is going to be a large handicap. Even so, the lack of a spiral binding is something that can be remedied at many local copy shops such as Kinko's.

Cons
The spaces provided to write in aren't very convenient; they feel cramped for someone with large, sloppy handwriting like mine... Each practice log or self-assessment section has been given a medium width bold border that helps visually divide the page, and which some may view as an asset. On the negative side, this same border helps the page feel more cramped, especially to those of us who normally write large. The months have been rounded to 28 days, which, over the course of one year (two of these books) leaves out 29 daily practice sessions, and four personal assessment records - approximately another whole month of practice data; hence the four star rating of a potentially five star product.

Possible Improvements
I'd like this to be a full page for each day, with a bit more space to write for the day, especially in the notes section at the bottom of each daily practice log. The page size need not continue to be 8 X 10 inches; I think 6 X 9 inches would work as well with the single daily practice log per page. I'd like to see the book expanded to handle an entire 52 week year. The weekly assessment sections could remain in place at one after every 7 daily entries; only the monthlies would need to be arranged differently, with one being placed at roughly every 1/12 of the way through the log.

Recommended to all dedicated music students and professionals. This review is based on a full copy of the book provided to me free by the author in exchange for review.

Art Instructions For All Levels - Not

Sketching School
By Judy Martin
Quarto Publishing, plc. 1991
Reader's Digest, Association, Inc.
Third printing (January, 1994)
Hardcover, 176 pages
Rated 3 Stars of 5 Possible

To begin with, I must take issue with some of the promotional material which was prepared for this book. Specifically, the back cover states "40 specially designed projects." Inside the book, I've only been able to locate 39 projects. Additionally, there are four sections titled "Focus On" which are focused on four different topics. These "Focus On" sections may be helpful, but, do they, I wonder, constitute the missing project #40? Another statement from the back cover promises "Sketching demonstrations by leading artists." There are, indeed, three demonstrations included, yet none of the three demonstrations goes into as much depth as I would like to have seen.

The back cover also states "For artists of all levels", yet there is very little content here for the inexperienced artist. The promised step-by-step instructions are quite vague rather than specific, and not too detailed. That type of instruction might be okay for intermediate or advanced artists, but I would not recommend it for beginners at all. I'm rating the book as three stars because I think, after seven years of working on my drawing that I might be able to take advantage of some of the techniques included here; but I can't recommend the book to artists at less than an intermediate skill level, and at least a few years of experience. Can we say disappointed?

This review has been posted on Dragon Views, LibraryThing and Amazon.com. and has not been solicited by either the publisher or the author/artist.

Never Take Freedom for Granted

Hey Kids, Want Some Chocolates?: My Family's Journey to Freedom
By Melitta Strandberg and George E. Pfautsch
AuthorHouse (2011)
Paperback, 80 pages
Rated 5 stars of 5 Possible

Hey Kids, Want Some Chocolates? is the story of Melitta Strandberg and her family. It is a story of the family's trials and tribulations on their journey to freedom. The book is not long, only about 80 pages, including some treasured family photos taken at various times along the journey. Still, it is a powerful little book, containing hopes and dreams and - eventually - success.

While the book is fast-paced and doesn't take long to read, it is also not "light and fluffy" reading. There is a lot written in this short space that gives the reader food for thought, making this book as deep as John Steinbeck's The Pearl or Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and The Sea.  Unlike the two fictional masterpieces afore-mentioned, this slim volume talks of real life events that should not lightly be dismissed. It also functions as a reminder that those of us who were born free should never take our freedom for granted.  Thank you, Mrs. Strandberg, for that oh so appropriate reminder.

Recommended for readers of all ages. This review is based on the paperback version of this book, sent at no cost to me by the author in exchange for review. This review has been posted on Dragon Views, Amazon.com and LibraryThing.

Advice You Can Use

Accidental Genius: Using Writing to Generate Your Best Ideas, Insight, and Content
By Mark Levy
Berrett-Koehler Publishers (2010)
Paperback, 192 pages
Rated 5 stars of 5 possible

Accidental Genius is a well-written treasure trove of valuable advice for authors, and for ordinary people. By following Mark Levy's suggestions, you not only improve your writing skills, but you can also learn problem solving techniques. Best of all, you don't need to be an established writer to benefit from this advice. Anyone can use the techniques taught by Mr. Levy, and nearly everyone who tries the techniques will benefit to some extent. 

Mr. Levy provides anecdotes from his personal experience, some of them humorous, all of them valuable examples of what can be accomplished using his techniques to improve both your writing and your life.  If you use these techinques, you might even find that, along the way, you have developed a manuscript for that great American novel residing in the back of your brain.

Author notes (actually more of a bibliography) and a detailed index are among the concluding pages of this book, and, also among the more valuable pages included here. The bibliographical information included in the notes can lead to more resources, while the index will help to quickly locate topics of interest when you don't have the time to read whole chapters, or just want to quickly verify a point or two.

Recommended for readers ages 16 and up who are interested in learning problem solving techniques or improving writing skills. This book was provided to me free by the publisher in exchange for review. This review has been simultaneously published on Dragon Views, Amazon.com, LibraryThing and wherever else I may deem appropriate.

Comparing Two Editions

Drawing for Dummies
by Brenda Hoddinott
Wiley Publishing (2003), Edition: 1,
Paperback, 360 pages
Rated 4 stars of 5 possible

and:

Drawing For Dummies
by Jamie Combs and Brenda Hoddinott
illustrations by the authors and
Kensuke Okabayashi, Barbara Frake, Mick Gow, and Rosemary Sidaway
Wiley Publishing (2011), Edition: 2,
Paperback, 384 pages
Rated 3 stars of 5 possible


Comparing Two Editions

Drawing for Dummies was first published 8 long years ago, but the core concepts of learning to draw haven't changed; in fact, those concepts have remained steadfast for centuries.  So why an updated edition? Wiley publishing must have seen the chance to sell more books.  I usually settle for owning just a single edition of any book... but this time, I was attracted for some reason to the updated edition, and bought it, despite the fact that my first edition is perfectly servicable.

Over the years, I have learned that knowing where to find certain information is easier than trying to memorize everything.  My copies of the both editions of Drawing for Dummies are extensively bookmarked, both for reference sections and project instructions. After skimming through the second edition,  I'm seeing much difference between the two editions. In the following paragraphs, I'll try to put my thoughts in some kind of coherent order. Those who don't like long reviews might want to skip to the final paragraph of the Notable Differences section of this one for a more succinct but less detailed consensus.


The First Edition

Originally written and fully illustrated by Brenda Hoddinott, the first edition of Drawing for Dummies was published in 2003. It contains many drawing projects, as any good book on drawing will. The projects are scattered throughout the book, each project emphasizing one or sometimes more of the core concepts of learning to draw. The concepts of one project are built upon by the next, so drawing your way through the book is a good approach if you don't know anything about drawing.

Many of Brenda's drawing projects are cartoonish, and thus fun to draw, as well as making the book entertaining to read. The projects are explicitly explained so that even someone who knows nothing about drawing can follow her instructions and learn something along the way.  There's also an extensive and informative section on drawing people, for those interested in portrats or caracatures. Along the way, the reader encounters much reference material to which he or she may wish to return time and time again. 


The Second Edition

The second edition of Drawing for Dummies was mostly written by Jamie Combs. Jamie did not just rehash what Brenda Hoddinott wrote 8 years ago, she brings her own voice to the book, retaining a small portion of Brenda's text and illustrations from the first edition. However, Jamie has nearly written the whole book over again and including some of her own illustrations as well as art from four other illustrators. While many of the same concepts are explained again, the point of view is very different.

More theory (and thus more reference material), and fewer projects for an artist to try his/her hand at sketching are included in the second edition. The projects that are included in this edition are mostly different than those contained in the first edition; however one of Brenda Hoddinott's best explanations from the first edition - planning a composition - has been retained.


Notable Differences

Both editions contain a section on drawing people, however, Jamie Combs has heavily condensed that section and instead of using Brenda Hoddinott's excellent drawings from the first edition, has substituted illustrations by Kensuke Okabayashi. In exchange for this condensation, Jamie Combs has expanded the section on perspective, better explaining that very key concept than Brenda Hoddinott did. Brenda Hoddinott's cartoon drawings have all been replaced by the non-cartoonish work or other artists, making the second edition to appear as a much more serious work than the first... and consequently not nearly as much fun to read. Jamie's version of this book also contains a chapter on digital drawing, a subject that was not included in the first edition.

So, now anyone who has read this far is probably wondering which edition of this book I prefer. I'll have to say that the first edition is my favorite, hands down, but that I also think the second edition is a worthy effort. If you can afford both versions of this book, I think you'll benefit from having them. I feel that the differences are extensive enough that the second edition should have been given a different title and be considered a work of it's own rather than merely a revision of the first edition.


Recommended

For artists looking for more in-depth explanations of concepts, and more art theory to go with the projects, the second edition is for you. On the other hand, if you like a laid-back style and cartoonish projects, then hunt down a copy of the first edition.  This review has been simultaneously published on Dragon Views, LibraryThing, Amazon.com and other sites deemed appropriate by the reviewer.

The Victorian Era Comes Alive

The Lady Actress
By Kelly S. Taylor Ph.D.
Wapshott Press (2009)
Paperback, 254 pages
Rated 4 stars of 5 possible

Anna Cora Ogden Mowatt Ritchie (1819-1870) was an American actress, author, poetess, and many other professions, but she was also a lady. The first part of this book provides a brief biography of this amazing Victorian era woman, while the remainder of the book details how she challenged the restrictions placed on women of her time, without losing respect or her place in society.

While the main text is fairly well written, and consistently interesting, some of the transitions between Mrs. Taylor's text and excerpts of Mrs. Mowatt-Ritchie's text are not as smooth as could be desired, yet those transitions were not jarring enough to dissuade an interested reader from continuing. This is one book I had a very hard time putting down. It has made me want to locate copies of Mrs. Mowatt-Ritchie's works to read for myself.

The book is annotated and each notation is numbered in sequence per chapter. In other words, at the beginning of each chapter, notes are numbered from one (1) and continue in sequence until that chapter ends. Notes in the next chapter begin again at the number 1. That's a fine, understandable scheme, but is not strictly follwed in the notes section that appears at the end of the book.  Notes for chapter two are numbered within that chapter from the number one, as described above, but, at the back of the book, the numbers of chapter two's notes continue in sequence from the end of chapter 1... so they are numbered from 33 thru 64; which creates a minor bit of confusion when/if one consults the notes during or after reading the main book.

After the notes, there is a 9 page Selected Bibliograpy and three appendices containing a timeline of significant events during the life of the actress and a list of her famous contemporaries, such as Edgar Allan Poe, P.T. Barnum, Louisa May Alcott, and others. These are the type of extra material I always love finding in a non-fiction book. I found the depth of the research interesting and hope to be able to read some of the books referenced in the aforementioned bibliograpy to learn more about the amazing subject of this biography.

This book was received free from the publisher in exchange for this review, and no financial compensation was received by this reviewer. The review is simultaneously being published on Dragon Views, LibraryThing, Amazon.com and anywhere else this reviewer deems appropriate.

Like Two Books in One

Gone: A Heartbreaking Story of the Civil War
By Shelby Foote
A Photographic Plea For Preservation
By Nell Dickerson
BelleBooks, Inc. (2011), Hardcover, 120 pages

Forward: not rated/unread
Short story: rated 5 stars
Photos: rated 5 stars
Photographer's notes: rated 2 stars
Afterward: rated 4 stars
Whole book rated 4 stars of 5 possible

Gone: A Photographic Plea For Preservation is almost like two books in one. It is comprised of two main components, a short story by famed Civil War Historian, Shelby Foote, first published almost exactly 90 years after the civil war ended, and the photographs of his cousin, Preservationist, Nell Dickerson, who also wrote the photographer's notes and afterward, which closes the book on a hopeful note. Additionally, there's a forward by Robert Hicks, which, I'll admit, I did not read.

I requested this book for review through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program, but was not lucky enough to receive one of the limited number of review copies. Shortly after discovering that I had won a different book, an email from the publisher provided a link to the online version of Gone - which shows only half the pages, and mostly photos at that, while I wanted most to read the story, but the online version was enough to prompt my purchase of the book, which I had been considering anyhow.

Shelby Foote's short story, "Pillar of Fire", and his cousin, Nell Dickerson's photographs are almost a point - counterpoint performance. At the beginning of Pillar of Fire, Shelby details the aristocratic society that was prominent in the south prior to the Civil War, while the photos provided by Nell Dickerson show what has become of some of those beautiful homes and other buildings, which comprises a plaintive plea for preserving our past.

Later, the story tells of the wanton destruction perpetrated by the northern soldiers as retaliation for the rebels firing upon the yankees... except that such retaliation was not against the rebel soldiers, but instead done to innocent bystanders who just happened to be in the way. This part of the story, and it's dramatic ending strike a note of anguish as haunting as the note of the photographic plea.

In considering my rating of the book as a whole, I do have to say that the photogaphs are not as well-matched to the story as I had hoped they would be, and most of the photographer's notes don't provide as much information about the homes and other buildings as one could wish. While the photos themselves are wonderful, that lack of information in the notes is enough for me to downgrade the rating on that part of the book. Shelby Foote's story is well-written and gripping. I had a hard time putting the book down while reading Pillar of Fire... would have rated the entire book higher if there were only this text and/or if the photos were a better match.

This review (for which I received no financial compensation) has been simultaneously published on Dragon Views, LibraryThing, Amazon.com and wherever else I may deem appropriate.

Fantastically Detailed Instructions

Trace & Paint Watercolour (Ready to Paint)
By Terry Harrison, Geoff Kersey, and Arnold Lowrey
Search Press (2010)
Paperback, 128 pages
Rated 5 stars of 5 possible

For those who can't draw - or even for those who can, but might not always want to do the drawing before getting friendly with the paint, Trace & Paint Watercolour is an excellent choice. You get eighteen BIG sketches to trace and detailed, illustrated, step-by-step instructions for painting 14 projects; so yes, the artists who composed the original paintings on which this book is based are giving you a few bonus sketches to play with. You also get large and wonderful full page and, in many cases, two-page views of the artists' original paintings.

I recommend using watercolour paper that is no less than 12 X 18 inches in size, to provide plenty of room for the basic sketch and any details you might want to add to make these beautiful landscape scenes your own. Those of you who are skilled enough with pen or pencil, could re-create the scenes in a smaller size, but as for me, I'll stick with direct tracings for awhile yet. If I tried drawing the scenes free-hand, it would take me all day just to recreate the sketches in the provided size, let alone trying to reduce them.

While this book is not my first instruction in watercolour painting, it very well could be a first instruction book for others. I've been working on the blue dooorway scene. Painting from the instructions in this book is sheer pleasure.  The instructions are very clear and easy to understand and complete.

Note that the tracings are bound in the center of the book and, though perforated, do not separate from the binding easily. The paper does not always tear on the perforations either, so one must devote some time to remove the tracings. To save myself the time and frustration later, I devoted part of an evening to removing all tracings from the book and stored them in a folder meant for children's school work, which is readily available in many stores.

There are many books which are similar to this one, so if you are interested in obtaining other books with different painting projects, you have but to look around. You should be aware though, that the publisher has collected the contents of three separate books in this one. Buying this omnibus edition is a much better value than purchasing the three others, which I have listed below so you will know which books not to buy.

Watercolour Landscapes (Ready to Paint) By Terry Harrison
Watercolour Trees & Woodlands (Ready to Paint) By Geoff Kersey
Watercolour Hills & Mountains (Ready to Paint) By Arnold Lowrey

The Physician As A Killer

When Doctors Kill: Who, Why, and How
Joshua A. Perper
Springer (2010),
Paperback, 253 pages
Rated 4 stars of 5 possible

As I started to read When Doctors Kill, quite unlike several other reviewers, I had no preconceived notions of what I would find in this book and was completely unsure how the text would be arranged. I was glad to see the historical arrangement, as that helped me to better assimilate the content. The first part of the book, a discussion of ethics, read much like the college lecture I sat through on a similar topic many years ago. Fortunately that part ended just about the time I was beginning to experience some boredom.

Many of the real-life cases discussed were high-profile enough that I remember some details of those which happened during my lifetime. Also, many cases were older and either took place before my time, or while I was so young I have no memory of those. The older cases made for some interesting reading and comparison with the more modern ones.  The authors could have gone more in-depth on some of the cases covered here, but expanding the depth would have served little purpose, as I don't believe this book was meant to do more than make the reader aware of the reasons why doctors kill, and it serves that purpose well and in an interesting manner as is.

I would have normal expectations of proof reading having taken place during the production phase of this book, yet I was appalled to see that several errors of sentence structure, grammar and puncutation have slipped into what otherwise appears to be a finished book... some of them so obvious that most anyone will notice. Some errors are a little less obvious, such as the ones in the chapter on Elvis Presley, where there is an apostrophe after nearly every instance of his first name. Use of the apostrophe indicates the possessive form, which is not always the form of Elvis' name that should have been used.  Errors such as these would be expected in an uncorrected proof, yet nowhere in this book or on the covers does it have any indication of being an advance copy.

At the end of the book, I was delighted to see that several references are included, beginning with some "For Further Reading" lists, which are broken down by chapter, authors notes, and a fairly extensive index, which makes specific topics easy to locate. These references, along with the eminently readable, layman-style writing on a topic that is fairly scientific have earned this book four stars.

This book was provided to me free by the publisher in exchange for this review.  This review has been simultaneously published on Dragon Views, LibraryThing and Amazon.com

The Long Road to Publication

The Creative Writer's Survival Guide: Advice from an Unrepentant Novelist
By John McNally
University of Iowa Press (2010)
Paperback, 272 pages
Rated 4 stars of 5 possible

The Creative Writer's Survival Guide: Advice from an Unrepentant Novelist is a handbook full of practical and - at times - humorous advice on how to get paid for your creative writing efforts. This book contains not only the how to get your novel published, it also contains information regarding the ways you should not present your work, and yourself, to publishers and agents. The alternate ways to be paid for your writing experience if you're not quite finished with that great American novel, as well as how to find the job that will buy you the writing time you're looking for are discussed in this easy to read, fast-paced book.

The self-publication avenue is also explored, along with the reasons that such a choice is not right for every book or every writer. Pros and cons of placing your novel with a major pubisher, a independent small press, a university press or a print-on-demand type publisher as well as the amount of control the author has with each type of publisher are discussed. Last but not least, the author provides advice on promoting your book once you have a contract and after publication.

Mr. McNally wrote this book as if giving advice to a friend, so much of his personality comes through in the succinct and well-written chapters. Each topic naturally leads to the next in smooth transitional steps, making this guide a pleasure to read and an asset that belongs on the reference shelves of all aspiring creative writers. Once again, the addenda at the end of the book prove to be as interesting as the main portion of this excellent guide. Authors notes, recommended reading lists and a short bibliography at the end of the book contain material to further explore the concepts discussed in this book.

The Creative Writer's Survival Guide was provided to me by the author free in exchange for this review. Recommended for writers and wanna-be writers looking for advice on selling the products of their hard work. Look for it in your favorite book store. This review was simultaneously published on Dragon Views and LibraryThing.

New Approach to Management Education

Atlas Black: Managing to Succeed
Authors: Jeremy Short, Talya Bauer, Dave Ketchen
Illustrator: Len Simon
Flat World Knowledge, Inc. (2009)
Paperback, 194 pages
Rated 4 stars of 5 possible

This book is an intriguing new format for a business management classes that might help attract the interest of some students who otherwise would not be paying attention in class - the same type of person depicted in the graphic novel.  The protagonist, Atlas Black, is the perfect example of what not to do in order to graduate from college. He does not pay attention, does not study, can't even be dependable enough to show up on time for class. On top of that, Atlas Black is unemployed and can't seem to keep a job long enough to pay his rent and other bills from month to month. Perhaps Atlas Black is supposed to be humorous, but his problems are realistic enough that they are no laughing matter, and, at least for me, the humor falls flat. This type of character gains no respect or even sympathy from me as most of his problems are of his own making.

That said, the business concepts covered in this graphic novel text are interesting, and covered differently than the texts I used during my own business management classes not so long ago. I loved reading about the relevant examples used to explain the topics discussed; however, the main thing I like about this book is the affordability and various formats in which it is made available. The authors and publisher have given their attention to the fact that people learn differently. The graphic novel is a highly visual format. The graphic format tends to slow me down while reading. For some students this slowing of pace can be good, as important information is less likely to be missed when reading slower. Each page covers lots of information, incorporating the story of the protagonist as he makes his way through his last business class before graduation with the business management concepts.  The availablity of the book in audio format will be a boon to those students who learn better from traditional lecture-type classes.

Atlas Black: Managing to Succeed would be a great text to use for those condensed classes, which try to cover a variety of topics in a limited amount of time. As supplimental material for a class using another book as the main text, the availability of individual chapters of the Atlas Black text books would be a boon to instructors, providing additional material for study and discussion at very affordable prices. The splitting of the text into modules A and B helps keep the book light and portable for students, as well as contributing to the affordability, since the student need purchase only the part of the book required for their specific class. Kudos to the publisher of this fine text book for recognizing the financial burden of college students and doing something to help. For easy review, each chapter closes with a synopsis of the concepts covered in that chapter and a quick overview of the next chapter.

A black-and-white paperback desk copy of Atlas Black: Managing to Succeed was provided to me free by the publisher in exchange for this review. This review was simultaneously posted on Amazon.com, Dragonviews and LibraryThing.

Reference Service Q & A

The Book of Answers:
The New York Public Library
Telephone Reference Service's
Most Unusual and Entertaining Questions
By Barbara Berliner
Fireside (1992)
Paperback, 311 pages
Rated 3 stars of 5 possible

Well, the subtitle says it all, folks. This book is a compilation of unusual questions and the entertaining answers as researched by The New York Public Library's Telephone Reference Service.  Questions on topics such as American History, Crime and Criminals, The English Language, Geography and more are included in this book and grouped according to topic. The book is fully indexed so the topics can be quickly located for the curious or for a springboard into deeper reserach.

This book would be tedious reading if one attempted to read each page in order as with a novel, but as a point of curiosity, it appeals to trivia buffs, young or old, who wish to look up answers to questions that plague the mind. I found this book to be an entertaining aside from my usual non-fiction reading, but not something I need to keep or read again.

Recommended for trivia buffs and the curious with the caviat that I spotted a typographical error or two while reading some of the questions so don't depend on this as a reference if you need authoritative answers.  This review has been simultaneously published on Amazon.com, Dragon Views and LibraryThing.

Something For Everyone

Treasury of Christmas Crafts & Foods
Joan Cravens and Judith Veeder (Editors)
George De Gennaro and William Hopkins (Photographers)
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Better Homes & Gardens Books (August 1980)
Rated 5 Stars of 5 Possible

This is an unusual book, every page full of instructions for beautiful crafts or mouth-watering holiday recipes, as well as many pages containing gorgeous photos of either the finished craft projects or the ready-to-eat food that looks as good as it tastes. The recipes are mostly for the average cook, but some are easier and some a bit more difficult to prepare.

While I've had my copy of this book approximately two decades, I find it as interesting to read now as I did then; a timeless and wonderful book to peruse during the holidays. Something for everyone can be found within these pages. Although this book does contain many different nativity scene projects done with different techniques, and requiring different skill levels to complete, there are an abundance of other craft projects so that nobody need feel left out.

Amazon.com no longer sells this new, however many third party sellers have copies available in any condition, including new, most of them at very reasonable prices. If you love crafts and cooking, this is the book for you.

Clearly Written

An Introduction to Art and Drawing
By Linda Drewry
Paperback: 150 Pages
Publisher: Darnley Publishing Group
Rated: 4 stars of 5 possible

Two years ago next week, I started posting my book reviews on this blog. In that amount of time, I've reviewed several art instruction books... some are better than others.  An Introduction to Art and Drawing by Linda Drewry is one of the better instruction books I've attempted to use. Unfortunately, you can't just go out and buy it new at your favorite bookstore, and probably not used either. :(  I know I'm not letting go of my copy... The main purpose of the book is as a text book for the art class I'm currently taking via correspondence course from Stratford Career Institute, which also seems to be the only source for obtaining this excellent book.

Over the last four years, I've attempted via use of several different media, to learn how to draw.  Of all the different sources I have encountered, this book is the only one to actually explain perspective in a way that has helped me improve my skills. This improvement in skills is slowly beginning to allow my sketches to take on a more realistic look exactly as I wanted. The explanation of concepts is, for the most part, clearly written and illustrations are to the point as well as frequent enough within the text to bring out those concepts more clearly.

About one dozen practical exercises plus three full-fledged drawing projects is enough to give even a very raw beginner a pack of educational resources and  explanations on which to build his or her drawing skills. Recommended for art students of all ages from 14 and up... if you can find it.

For Your Writer's Muse

The Writer's Retreat Kit:
A Guide for Creative Exploration and Personal Expression
By Judy Reeves
Publisher: New World Library; Boxed edition (April 10, 2005)
Paperback: 144 pages/Card Deck: 25 cards
Rating: 4 stars of 5 possible.

Despite its resemblance to The Creative Writer's Kit, this kit's contents are quite different. The book has only a few pages in the back for notes rather than a significant portion of pages devoted to writing practice; however, it contains a wealth of information on creating and managing a writer's retreat based on one of twenty themes and several possibilities within each theme.

The bulk of the cards - 20 of them - contain a total of over 400 new and powerful writing prompts, (something here for every writer) while a handful of the cards provide suggestions for entering, managing and leaving your retreat. Each retreat section contains exercises and tips to get writers and artists started and keep them going.

This kit makes the perfect gift for a would-be or practicing writer...or a great treat for yourself. I recommend it for any writer - even when you don't know what you want to write about. There is sure to be something in this kit to trigger your muse, no matter what style of writing you prefer. Can be used alone or in conjunction with other books or kits featuring work by Judy Reeves.

Disappointment Is The Word

The Essential Writer's Notebook:
A step-By-Step Guide to Better Writing
Natalie Goldberg
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press (July 2001)
Spiral-bound: 160 pages
Rating: 1 star of 5 possible

Much of the content of this book is merely blank lined pages that would best serve my purposes if those blank pages were not interrupted by so much art and having the writing prompts appear scattered throughout, in what I am certain are going to turn out to be the wrong places much of the time. As with the writing prompts, the author's paintings are scattered throughout the book, inhibiting the usefulness of the volume.

As an educational tool, this book is lacking much due to the content being so scattered; as a writer's journal or writing exercise book, it is only so-so for the same reason. Since there is no way to predict how much a writer will put out based on one prompt, I would rather have seen a section at the front devoted to the prompts, and a second section (maybe at the back) devoted to the paintings, making them easier both to find and to use as prompts. Another point concerning the paintings... well, they can best be described as eclectic, and though they might serve as prompts to some writers, to me they are so much wasted paper. This writer's painting style just does not fit my taste in art.

Since the book is wire-bound inside a cover that hides the wires (nice looking, I'll admit), I can't even take the darned thing apart to reorganize the paintings as I would prefer to have them. If I had seen this at a traditional bookstore, where I could have examined the book prior to purchasing it, I probably would not have made the purchase. This book is very much not recommended to anyone, with the possible exception of rabid fans of the author who MUST have every book with her name on the cover and who happen to also like the author's painting style.

Artistic Endeavors

Discovering Drawing
Second Edition, Student Textbook
Reading Level: 9th - 12th grade
Ted Rose and Sallye Mahan-Cox
Publisher: Davis Publications (April 30, 2006)
Hardcover: 230 pages
Rating: 5 stars of 5 possible.

Discovering Drawing contains an impressive array of art history and examples. Famous artists such as Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Rembrandt, Picasso, Michelangelo, and others are represented here along with contemporary artists, art instructors, and students. The concepts and terminology are well explained. There is a glossary in the back, which comes in handy for someone like me who can't remember where the term was introduced. On top of all this, there is a seemingly endless variety of drawing assignments from quick sketchbook material to more lavish and intense studio drawing assignments in a vast array of techniques with which the beginning artist can experiment and more advanced artists can have some fun.

Each chapter covers a few main objectives. Take chapter three, for instance. While the chapter covers basic shapes, observation and composition, there are several ways these topics are presented so that the student will more fully understand the concepts. Important points are highlighted in small sections labeled "Note It". If I were using a borrowed copy of this text book, many of the points in the "Note It" sections would be added to my notebook, as they are well worth remembering. Then there are the little sections labeled "Try It". These are usually quick sketchbook exercises and can be valuable sketching experience gained in a short time. Additionally, there are sections in each chapter labeled "For Your Sketchbook", "Studio Experience", "For Your Portfolio", and more. Discussion topics and - surprisingly - writing exercises are also presented in the text.

One feature of this book stands out because it is not something I have seen in many text books. Near the end of each chapter, there is an assessment rubric, giving the student a means to assess his or her own progress based on the studio assignment for that chapter. This is one of my favorite features of the text because, while working on any assignment and immediately afterwards, I nearly always have persistent questions on how well I have met the objectives of the assignment. Using the assessment rubrics in this book, those questions are answered, providing the student a measure of peace so that he or she can continue to the next assignment, confident that the objectives of the previous assignment have been mastered.

The true test of a text book is to use it for the intended purpose and see how well the book fits that purpose. I have done some reading and attempted a few of the drawing exercises of various complexities. The drawing assignments are varied and interesting, providing a foray into a variety of media to give the art student valuable experience. Over the last couple of years, I've invested money in a variety of art instruction books which vary in quality from practically worthless to exceptional; yet, even the better volumes on my shelves are far more limited in scope than this text. If I had known about this book before I started, I might not have purchased most of the others... or maybe even none of them. I am completely amazed at the comprehensiveness and compactness of this book.

Recommended: This is the book to purchase for all 9th - 12th grade art classes where the instructor is looking for quality instructional materials. I find it worth mentioning that the publisher also offers a variety of ancillary materials that schools using this book might consider purchasing to broaden the scope of this excellent art program. Additionally, this book is also highly recommended for those studying art on their own.

Stimulate Your Muse

A Creative Writer's Kit:
A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life
Judy Reeves
Publisher: New World Library; Boxed edition (August, 2003)
Paperback: 144 pages/Card Deck:  25 cards
Rating: 4 stars of 5 possible

The deck of cards and small amount of text in the book are the essence of A Writer's Book of Days by the same author; including the all-valuable writing prompts; yet this kit is more compact (suitable for traveling) and includes space in the paperback volume for your journal entries. Pack this kit and your favorite pen or pencil for your next trip out of town and see what I mean.

While the 5 X 7 inch cards can be a bit unwieldy depending on how you might use them, they are also convenient in their own way. You can refer to important points on one or more cards without needing to flip through the book... which you may want to have open to a past or current writing exercise at the same time. Having space in the book for your writing exercises eliminates the need to carry a separate notebook; Weight reduction of the baggage is always a good thing.

Recommended for creative writers age 10 and up.

The Promise is Not Fulfilled

The Once and Future King
T.H. White
Publisher: Ace (July 15, 1987)
Paperback: 639 pages
Rating: 3 stars of 5 possible

Cliffs Notes on White's The Once and Future King
Publisher: Wiley Publishing
Paperback: 104 pages
Rating: 1 star of 5 possible

The Once and Future King is an omnibus edition of the first four installments of the epic story of King Arthur and the knights of the round table. The first two parts were published separately in the late 1930's and the third part followed in 1940, just before World War II intervened, cancelling separate publication of the fourth part of the story and delaying the omnibus edition until 1958, when the first four parts were published together. A fifth part to the saga was published much later and is reviewed separately. That part is titled The Book of Merlyn.

In The Once and Future King, White liberally borrows from (and credits) Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte De Arthur as being the source of much information regarding the story of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Though Malory also wrote of the quest for the holy grail, White barely mentions that quest, referring us to Malory if we wish to read more extensively of it. Fans of the Arthurian saga will want to read The Once and Future King for White's original view of the classic saga... those most deeply into the fantasy will probably also wish to explore Sir Thomas Malory's contributions as well.

Daniel Moran's Cliffs Notes on The Once and Future King is not as comprehensive as one could wish. Though the guide is helpful in studying the symbolism and satire present in first part of the story (The Sword in The Stone), only vague and unhelpful references to the second, third and fourth parts of the epic are present in this Cliffs Notes volume. This would be better titled Cliffs Notes on White's The Sword in The Stone. I recommend this Cliffs Notes only if one wishes to study The Sword In The Stone; it's practically useless for the rest of the saga.

Recommendations:
For young and old alike: read The Sword in the Stone - either with or without studying it in depth. That part of the saga is pure fun.
For die-hard fans of the Arthurian saga: - finish reading The Once and Future King, either with or without including The Book of Merlyn. The saga almost seems complete without that last chapter.
Optional for those studying The Sword in the Stone: Buy or (better yet), borrow Cliffs Notes on White's The Once and Future King. Just don't buy the Cliffs Notes expecting it to cover much of the later volumes in the saga. It doesn't give them much coverage and isn't any help with studying them in depth.