The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Amazon.com

Jeannette Walls's father always called her "Mountain Goat" and there's perhaps no more apt nickname for a girl who navigated a sheer and towering cliff of childhood both daily and stoically. In The Glass Castle, Walls chronicles her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents--Rose Mary, her frustrated-artist mother, and Rex, her brilliant, alcoholic father. To call the elder Walls's childrearing style laissez faire would be putting it mildly. As Rose Mary and Rex, motivated by whims and paranoia, uprooted their kids time and again, the youngsters (Walls, her brother and two sisters) were left largely to their own devices. But while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets. Walls describes in fascinating detail what it was to be a child in this family, from the embarrassing (wearing shoes held together with safety pins; using markers to color her skin in an effort to camouflage holes in her pants) to the horrific (being told, after a creepy uncle pleasured himself in close proximity, that sexual assault is a crime of perception; and being pimped by her father at a bar). Though Walls has well earned the right to complain, at no point does she play the victim. In fact, Walls' removed, nonjudgmental stance is initially startling, since many of the circumstances she describes could be categorized as abusive (and unquestioningly neglectful). But on the contrary, Walls respects her parents' knack for making hardships feel like adventures, and her love for them--despite their overwhelming self-absorption--resonates from cover to cover. --Brangien Davis

Book Description

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

TO INQUIRE ABOUT SCHEDULING JEANNETTE WALLS FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS PLEASE CONTACT:

Keppler Speakers

Dustin L. Jones

Associate, College & University Division

703.516.4000 (P)

703.516.4819 (F)

Customer Reviews:

THANK YOU JEANETTE and your entire family for sharing your life!.......2007-10-03

An excellent book so engrossing I could not put it down. I love to read, but this book has moved me and stayed with me longer than any other. This book shows that you can break the chains that bind when you are focused. I've been in recovery many years and I appreciate the work involved in writing, along with courage in sharing, such intimate details of a family history. I will be recommending this book for years to come. Thanks again.

Absolutely amazing!.......2007-10-02

An amazing account of how one can overcome her/his circumstances instead of "blaming" the parents. A real page turner and so well written. I had put off reading this book for many months (thinking it would be too depressing to read) until a co-worker said, "It's really a good book."

The Glass Castle.......2007-10-01

Moving story. Uncomfortable to think the young woman would deny the existence of Mother when seen on street until you hear her story. It's a story of child neglect mixed so strangely with child love. Parents- child like themselves.

Best book I have read in a long time!.......2007-09-30

I am a bookworm. I read a lot of books. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls had me mesmirized from the beginning...The intro ...where she looks out of the window of a car and sees her mother rummaging through a dumpster was the hook. How children could grow up like she did seems amazing! She made me rethink the struggles(I thought)I had growing up...nothing like what she went through. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

Couldn't Put It Down.......2007-09-30

Although the author's self-absorbed and psychologically damaged parents appear to have raised their children with almost complete disregard for their welfare, she never allows the reader to lose sight of their humanity. In doing so, she creates a mesmerizing portrait of remarkably complex characters - and becomes a sympathetic character herself. I highly recommend this book.

Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems

Average customer rating:

A great find!
Learning More About Sea Glass
Pure Sea Glass Book
A Real Joy To Read
Comments on Pure Sea Glass.......

Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems
Richard LaMotte , and Sally Lamotte Crane
Manufacturer: Chesapeake Seaglass Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0975324608

Customer Reviews:

A great find!.......2007-09-09

I was handed Pure Sea Glass:Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems and asked to review it for an on line magazine I used to write for. Until then I had little or no interest in the bits of glass I occasionally picked up along the beaches visited in the course of my travels.

After reading the book,accomplished in one evening, I went looking for that jar of glass stashed somewhere in the garage and dumped it out on the table so that I could better sort through and identify the various colors and pieces, most new but some very old like a small lavendar triangle picked up along the Oregon Coast and a very dark blue from Hawaii.

Since, I've become an avid collector of beach glass and secret places to find it. What great fun! A good read, informative and totally satisfying.

Learning More About Sea Glass.......2007-08-10

Great book. The photographs were excellent and the information about the origin of sea glass and where it is most likely to appear on the beach was well presented. Our 14 year old enjoyed learning more about sea glass just as we did.

I plan to buy copies for all our coastal friends as house warming gifts this year.

Pure Sea Glass Book.......2007-08-06

I was pleased with the condition of the book when I received it. It was almost like new. Will certainly order more books.

A Real Joy To Read.......2007-06-02

Richard LaMotte did a wonder-filled job of putting together this informative and comprehensive book on sea glass. I honestly have enjoyed reading every page. I had no idea that there was so much history hidden in every piece of glass, and even though I have collected glass over the years, I never understood the relationship between winds and tides and the weather that deposits these beautiful little gems on our shores. Mr. LaMotte shares all this knowldege with such passion that reading his book not only feed my intellect but also inspired the beachcomber in me. And, the photographs are simply beautiful. Every image works to support as well as illustrate all the topics that are being discussed. The entire book is truly a piece of art in itself. I will read and re-read this book. It is a must for anyone and everyone who loves sea glass.

Comments on Pure Sea Glass..............2007-05-13

This book is lovely and interesting to read. It has fueled my passion for collecting more sea glass.

Through a Glass, Darkly (Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Good Brunetti Book
A Murder(?) in Venice
Brunetti rules

Through a Glass, Darkly (Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries)
Donna Leon
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0143038060

Book Description

The latest case in Donna Leon's bestselling Brunetti mystery series—“one of the most exquisite and subtle detective series ever” (The Washington Post)

The Philadelphia Inquirer called Leon's incomparable creation Commissario Guido Brunetti “the most humane sleuth since Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret.” It's no wonder then that Leon's legion of fans continues to grow with each new book that's published. In Through a Glass, Darkly, Brunetti investigates the murder of a night watchman, whose body is found in front of a blazing furnace at Giovanni De Cal's glass factory along with an annotated copy of Dante's Inferno. Did the cantankerous De Cal kill him? Will Brunetti make the connection between the work of literature and the murderer in time?

Customer Reviews:

Good Brunetti Book.......2007-07-13

Donna Leon continues her streak of delightful Guido Brunetti novels -- this one set mostly in the glass factories of Murano. She combines fascinating details of the fabled Venetian glass factories with well-developed characters and vivid geography to cook up a tale of intrigue and complexity. I think her characters here are more nuanced than in her other books, which is not a criticism of those other books. Fortunately, Donna Leon seems to be avoiding the trap of other popular authors who, after a few successes, seem to go into a slump. Leon just gets better and better with her irresistible tales of Venice.

A Murder(?) in Venice.......2007-05-19

It was not on purpose that I purchased another book set in the facinating city of Venice. If I get any more of these books, I will have to take it as a sign to travel to Italy and spend a few weeks in Venice.

This is a murder mystery, but you are not really sure that there really is a murder at all. The death under question does not happen until over half way though the book and it is only at the very end that we get our answer as to whether it was or was not.

A very good book.

Brunetti rules.......2007-05-12

As always, the subtleness of Brunettie's character continues and the formula for mixing mystery, family, location, and all those other good things works so well. Thank you Donna Leon!

A-List #8, The: Heart of Glass: An A-List Novel (A-List)

Average customer rating:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Gotta have it
Pretty Good...
Heart of Glass
Heart of Glass

A-List #8, The: Heart of Glass: An A-List Novel (A-List)
Zoey Dean
Manufacturer: Poppy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316010960

Book Description

The New York Times bestselling series about the scandalous lives of rich and famous teens in Beverly Hills, California.High school is officially over and that means one thing for the A-List: time to party! But the celebration is cut short when unlikely pair Anna and Cammie find themselves in an even more unlikely situation--caught trespassing on a celeb's beach estate--and are forced to don steel handcuffs along with their Tiffany tennis bracelets.Luckily, the girls are spared a summer stuck in tacky orange jumpsuits when their hotshot lawyer lands them a cushy community service gig: helping plan a fabulous charity fashion show! But while it may seem like a plush job, Anna and Cammie are in for a challenge. Can the girls handle the pressure of the vicious fashion world? Or will they fall to pieces faster than a cheap Louis Vuitton knockoff?

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-05-31

In the last book in the A-LIST series (American Beauty: An A-List Novel (A-List #7)), the gang had finally graduated while discovering some juicy secrets. Cammie had discovered more information on what really happened to her mother. Sam was finally reunited with Eduardo, and Anna met Caine, who was nothing like her boyfriend, Ben. And Ben's dirty little secret wasn't a secret any longer.

The A-Listers are back again in HEART OF GLASS, and this time with a little twist.

Anna and Cammie have to work together - that's right, together - on a charity fashion show. But they got off easy, since this little community service project was the result of getting caught trespassing on a celebrity's estate. No worries, these two can work together, right?

Anna and Caine are getting a little closer, while Ben doesn't seem to worry so much. While Adam and Cammie are trying to make things work, we're hoping that opposites really do attract. Sam is still trying to adjust to living with Poppy, and maybe trying to get rid of her at the same time, while making sure nothing goes wrong with her and Eduardo. And Dee, well, she's Dee, trying to get back on her feet.

The gang is back and it's going to be one sizzling summer.

Eighth in the series, HEART OF GLASS is still filled with secrets, lies, and plenty of drama. The best thing about this series is that the material is never old and it still keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. The cast is still great and you just love Anna more and more after each book. Lets just say that HEART OF GLASS is more appealing than another episode of a certain teen drama on a new network - at least I'm experiencing something I haven't seen before!

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Gotta have it.......2007-05-24

I am crazy over this series ... i think that this book had to be the most mouth dropping one ... i almost feel like zoey can't write these books fast enough ... i feel like i can identify w/ every character on one level or another ... zoey dean delivers everytime you read one of her books

Pretty Good..........2007-05-17

I've been following the A-List novels since they came out a few years ago. There were tons of these book series floating around--the rich, cliquey girls who seemed to be mean and exclusionary--there were the Gossip Girls, the Clique... you get my drift.

Of all the books of that sort, A-List was the one that caught my eye. I followed it religiously for a while, but I got to one particular book in the series and almost gave up on it. The name-dropping and overall snobbery frustrated me to the point that I almost didn't give a flying ice cream cone about Anna and Ben or Dee's increasing psychosis.

Dean has redeemed herself with this last one, though. The characters are proving to be much more dimensional than first thought, and although they still tend to get themselves into outrageous situations, they are handling them with class and the kind of assertiveness I wish I'd had as a teenager. I really enjoyed this last book and I am looking forward to the "next juicy A-List novel."

Heart of Glass.......2007-05-14

Gabriela R. 5/11/07

Heart of Glass, Zoey Dean, ISBN: 0-316-01096-0

If you like Drama, Fashion, and Love then the Heart of Glass is the book you want to read. The main characters are Anna, Sam, Cammie, and Dee! Anna and Cammie got arrested for trespassing on a beach estate, but since their dad's hired really good lawyers they only got community service. Which is to help plan a charity fashion show. Since Anna started hanging out with Caine. Cammie decides to go and hang out with Ben hers and Anna's ex-boyfriend because Adam is camping and she just wants to have a little fun! Cammie finds out what really happened to her mother.

Sam suspects that Poppy her step-mother is cheating on her father the famous Jackson Sharpe so she gets her friend Parker to flirt with her so she can see if Poppy would really cheat. Anna and Cammie have to work with a girl named Champagne on the fashion show, but everyone says that she is a thief! Anna see Caine at a place call the Firehouse dancing on stage with no shirt on, she figures out that he is just like Ben always keeping secrets from her! But Ben is determined to fight for Anna!!!

Right before the fashion Show a dress is missing, everyone thinks it is Champagne but Cammie is on the case to find the real thief...will Sam find out if Poppy is really cheating on her dad... who will Anna choose Ben or Caine?

I really liked this book it was a page-turner because you want to see what will happen next. I recommend this book to girls 11 and up because this book talks a lot about fashion and girl problems!

Heart of Glass.......2007-05-14

[...]

If you like Drama, Fashion, and Love then the Heart of Glass is the book you want to read. The main characters are Anna, Sam, Cammie, and Dee! Anna and Cammie got arrested for trespassing on a beach estate, but since their dad's hired really good lawyers they only got community service. Which is to help plan a charity fashion show. Since Anna started hanging out with Caine Cammie decides to go and hang out with Ben hers and Anna's ex-boyfriend because Adam is camping and she just wants to have a little fun! Cammie finds out what really happened to her mother.

Sam suspects that Poppy her step-mother is cheating on her father the famous Jackson Sharpe so she gets her friend Parker to flirt with her so she can see if Poppy would really cheat. Anna and Cammie have to work with a girl named Champagne on the fashion show, but everyone says that she is a thief! Anna see Caine at a place call the Firehouse dancing on stage with no shirt on, she figures out that he is just like Ben always keeping secrets from her! But Ben is determined to fight for Anna!!!

Right before the fashion Show a dress is missing, everyone thinks it is Champagne but Cammie is on the case to find the real thief...will Sam find out if Poppy is really cheating on her dad... who will Anna choose Ben or Caine?

I really liked this book it was a page-turner because you want to see what will happen next. I recommend this book to girl 11 and up because this book talks a lot about fashion and girl problems!

The glass gaffers of New Jersey, and their creations from 1739 to the present

Average customer rating:

The glass gaffers of New Jersey, and their creations from 1739 to the present
Adeline Pepper
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0684104598

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Signet Classics)

Average customer rating:

One of the best books ever
alice review
"If You Believe in Me, I'll Believe in You!"
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Why Disney is Dead To Me
my favorite movie and book

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Signet Classics)
Lewis Carroll
Manufacturer: Signet Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition

ASIN: 0451527747
Release Date: 2000-12-12

Book Description

The Mad Hatter, the Ugly Duchess, the Mock Turtle, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat-characters each more eccentric than the last, and that could only have come from Lewis Carroll, the master of sublime nonsense. In these two brilliant burlesques he created two of the most famous and fantastic novels of all time that not only stirred our imagination but revolutionized literature.

• Featuring the exquisite line drawings created for the original edition

Customer Reviews:

One of the best books ever.......2007-09-02

I am fonder of Through the Looking Glass than Alice in Wonderland, perhaps because of less exposure (e.g., Disney and other commercial venues). The drawings by Tenniel are brilliant and add the right flavor to the story. The book is well-written, surreal with bizarre, fascinating characters (whom a little girl has to figure out), unique situations, word play, puzzles and a mocking irreverent tone towards high society. Whenever as an adult I'd hit a snag and couldn't read, I would always pull out this one and it would put me back on track again. Another I will treasure for the memories of sharing it with my kid.

alice review.......2007-08-15

I thought it was funny and entertaining, but to be honest I was expecting something in the line of a masterpiece and I'm a little disappointed. The story is amazingly childish and crude and the worthwhile parts are very distinct and separate from the rest of the lackluster story. Still, the wordplay is ingenious and the book is an all around treat.

"If You Believe in Me, I'll Believe in You!".......2007-07-12

When Charles Ludwig Dodgson first began to tell the story of Alice's adventures underground to the three Liddell sisters, he had no idea whatsoever the impact that his work would one day have in the cultural history of humanity. Is there a person alive in Western civilization that *doesn't* know of Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat? I seriously doubt it. Writing under the pen name of Lewis Carroll, Dodgson's quirky fairytale soon became a publishing sensation in Victorian England, quite an unusual feat for a dour mathematician who had no interest whatsoever in boys, women or most other human beings, and instead lavishing his attention on little girls - particularly one Alice Liddell, to whom he presented the original manuscript to. The story of Lewis Carroll is just as fascinating as his fictional Alice, so I would suggest following up the "Alice" books with a good Carroll biography.

In a story that is so random (basically made up of one little girl wandering about in a dream) there is plenty of room for all sorts of crazy theories as to exactly what everything means. Does "Alice" have a deep subtext, filled with hidden meaning and messages? Is it Freudian? Elaborate satire? Does it reflect the deep internal frustrations, anxieties and wish-fulfillment of a slightly-disturbed mathematician obsessed with little girls? Or is it simply a series of weird and wonderful events dreamed up for the enjoyment of children? The fact that nobody is really sure *what* to make of this story is probably the reason why it's still published, read and discussed today.

The other reason is its historical value. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was the first book designed for children that was entirely void of any sort of moral, and instead written solely for pure entertainment purposes. Before "Alice", children were stuck with stories that preached goodliness and virtue, something that Carroll himself pokes fun at during the course of the story, when he refers to "several nice little stories about children who had got burnt, and eaten up by wild beasts, and other unpleasant things, all because they would not remember the simple rules their friends had told them." His stories came like an unexpected breath of fresh air amongst Victorian society, and it was little wonder that adults as well as children helped to make "Alice" a bestseller during its day.

Another crucial feature to the tale is Alice herself, often considered the first realistic representation of a child in literature. She's curious, but sometimes a little shy. She's polite, but manners often give way to frustration and temper tantrums. She's intelligent, but not as intelligent as she would like to think she is (relying heavily on an education that often fails her). She often holds her own against the contradictory natures of the people she meets, but more often than not is baffled and belittled by them. She possesses some degree of common sense, but often does some remarkably stupid things. She's likeable, but she's also a bit of a show-off and a snob. In other words, she's the first (and perhaps the best) example of a three-dimensional child character in literature geared toward either children *or* adults.

"Alice in Wonderland" begins with the infamous sight of a white rabbit with a waistcoat and pocket-watch muttering to himself: "I'm late! I'm late!" Abandoning her sister and the dull book that she's reading, Alice follows the rabbit down a rabbit hole and unexpectedly finds herself drifting deep down underground. What follows is a series of weird and wonderful meetings with the likes of the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, the Cheshire Cat and the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle, as poor Alice - the only sane person in the madhouse - struggles to make herself heard against this twisted parody of the adult world.

Nearly every page contains a clever pun, nonsensical poem or mathematical puzzle, and there's plenty here to keep you fascinated, whether it be Alice's abrupt shrinking and growing (brought on by eating Wonderland food, and perhaps reflecting Carroll's desire to control the growth of his young protagonist), the beautiful garden that Alice cannot seem to reach (and when she does, she finds it not quite to her liking, perhaps suggesting a reverse-Eden, in which children desiring adulthood soon realize that it's not quite what they expected it to be) or Alice's internal crisis in which she debates whether the surreal circumstances she's found herself in have resulted in her loosing her own identity (I won't even try to open the jar on *that* one!) No wonder scholars can go mad trying to untangle this tale! Even the fact that the story succumbs to the ultimate cliché in fantasy-fiction, the ending that will reward you with an F if you use it in a creative-writing exercise at school (I am of course, referring to the fact that Alice wakes up at the conclusion of the story to find that it was just a dream), doesn't damage the power of Carroll's imaginative force.

"Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There" is a little more structured in terms of its storyline, perhaps because Carroll was not simply making most of it up on the spot, as he had done with its predecessor. This time, when Alice falls asleep, she crawls through the mirror on the top of the mantelpiece and into the room on the other side. There she finds a land organized into the shape of a giant chessboard, in which Alice herself is a little pawn that must journey to the end of the board if she wishes to become a Queen. On the way she meets several chess pieces, including the Red and White Queen, and the White Knight (widely believed to represent Carroll himself), as well as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Humpty Dumpty, a garden of living flowers, and the Lion and the Unicorn, the latter of whom famously tells Alice: "If you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you." My favourite chapter would have to be the one that involves the ludicrously pompous Humpty Dumpty (who is really the one who coined the term "un-birthday", not the Mad Hatter and the March Hare as the Disney version would have you believe), though equally memorable is the intriguing episode when Alice happens upon the sleeping Red King, and is told that he's dreaming of her. Is Alice in the Red King's dream, or is the Red King in Alice's dream? What should happen if one of them should wake up before the other? It's a disturbing metaphysical conundrum, and hints at the depths with which a scholar (or deep-thinking child) could delve into these stories.

Of course, not every child will enjoy the "Alice" stories. What was once vividly imaginative and innovative for a stifled Victorian audience has long since become commonplace in children's fiction, and the randomness with which the adventures take place can often unsettle young listeners (as they certainly did me, as I always felt that Alice was caught inside a nightmare). However, others will delight in the madness that abounds throughout the story, and others still will learn to appreciate the work as they get older. There are hundreds of editions out there, most probably quite as good as the next, but I would encourage buyers to track down an edition with John Tenniel's famous illustrations - you simply cannot read the "Alice" books when they are not accompanied by Tenniel's portrayal of his demure little Alice, with her hooded eyes and large forehead. It would be like reading C. S. Lewis without Pauline Baynes, or Roald Dahl without Quentin Blake. Unthinkable!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Why Disney is Dead To Me.......2007-06-12

How is a raven like a writing desk? Because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front. That is an example of the witty offbeat humor in "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland".

Alice is sitting bored when her attention is captured by a talking white rabbit. She follows it down a rabbit hole into a world full of strange creatures, curious happenings, and mysterious pastries. At first she marvels at all the oddities, but soon she wants to get home, only to discover that she doesn't know how.

By far my favorite parts of this book are when Alice encounters the Cheshire Cat. He is very witty, and adds something special to the story. Also his grin is phenomonal.

I think the theme of this book is really about using your imagination and letting your creative side get the best of you once in a while, not letting other things like television and the media do the imagining for you. That's also why the movie is totally hypocritical.

The whole point of the book is using your imagination, and the "Alice in Wonderland" movie did the opposite of that. Despite it being created by the godfather of the animated film industry (Disney) it really sucked. They took out too much of the story just to squeeze it into 1 and a half hours and a G-rating. "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" wasn't made for the big screen, considering its length and semi-annoying characters that if animated and given the life of Disney turn them into monsters that are enough to make even the most devout Catholic contemplate suicide. And the songs! Don't even get me started on those. Disney has to pump every movie it pushes out full of annoying constant 5-minute "songs" that give you ear worms for a month! They ruin everything they get their greasy little fingers on. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland used to be original and interesting and Disney went ahead, squeezed out all the creativity, shoved some songs into it, stamped their trademark on it, and shipped it out. They are sick, sick little people.

Most of this book is quite entertaining, though there are a few parts that just seem stuck in there and were quite dull. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is a very original and interesting story, and if you've never read the book, do so. It is entirely worth it. If you haven't seen the movie, stay far, far away. For those of you who have, good luck with the nightmares. And those monstrous ear worms.

-carli

my favorite movie and book.......2007-04-14

i am 11 and the 1951 animated disney classic ALICE IN WONDERLAND is my favorite movie and the same with the book.
the book is better than the movie because disney left out a lot of charecters when he made the movie(like the ugly duchess,the grython,MR.mouse and many more) that is why the book is just a little better. this book is full of colorful rich words that make you want to read more from both ALICE stories also it has very well balck and white drawings.

Warm Glass: A Complete Guide to Kiln-Forming Techniques: Fusing, Slumping, Casting

Average customer rating:

Mixed blessing
Better than Most
great knowledge book
A great book for the fused glass artist
Lots more info than a casual user needs

Warm Glass: A Complete Guide to Kiln-Forming Techniques: Fusing, Slumping, Casting
Philippa Beveridge , Ignasi Domenech , and Eva Pacual
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Glass & Glassware | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Introduction to Glass Fusing
Contemporary Warm Glass: A Guide to Fusing, Slumping & Kiln-Forming Techniques
Fused Glass Handbook
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ASIN: 1579906559

Book Description

Here's the first and only full-color book on the subject of "warm," or kiln-fired, glass in print. It provides a comprehensive look at one of the most popular skills for those working in the studio.

With lavish illustrations, and all the processes involved in kiln-firing explained, the versatility of the dazzling technique of warm glass comes into clear focus. From fusing and slumping to casting and pâte de verre, everything is covered--complete with a corresponding graph on the firing cycle and information on the various types of glass, their compatibility, and their behaviors during firing. Invaluable tips tell how to avoid unexpected and unwanted effects, and also how to create a range of different results and finishes. Close-up pictures show each step in the process being carried out, and breathtaking photos display an inspirational gallery of finished works that are richly colored and gracefully shaped. A brief historical overview of glassmaking provides useful background.

Customer Reviews:

Mixed blessing.......2007-09-08

Warm Glass: A Complete Guide is in many ways a really nice volume--it's beautifully illustrated with some of the nicest photography I've seen in a book on studio glass techniques. The sample projects are very attractive with a reasonable number of photos per project and there's a good background on the history of art glass that includes a lot of great photos.

However, the authors needed to do a bit more homework on the technical side. For example, they explain that glass is a liquid (most experts call it an amorphous solid) and I found some minor inaccuracies in their glass histories. Some of the calculations and schedules they publish are really based on a single type of glass and may not be suitable for all types of glass. They also provide some pretty precise times and temps for firing schedules which most likely won't work in all kilns and certainly won't work for every type of glass.

I doubt that anyone experienced at kilnforming would be misled, but the book is represented as "A Complete Guide," which might be misleading to beginners.

In their zeal to be complete, the authors cram a great deal--sandblasting, moldmaking, mold releases, frit-making, casting, several types of fusing--into a relatively short book. I think they do an excellent job at a high level, but the beginner (and maybe the intermediate kilnformer, too) could be left wondering how you get from step x to step z. They become vague in dangerous spots, as when they suggest using "a common cathedral glass" for a specific project and then publish a precise firing schedule. If you walk into any stained glass shop and ask for "a common cathedral glass" to use in a kilnforming project, well...you won't get very far.

And be warned: these projects take a reasonably elaborate setup with a fair amount of equipment and supplies. Everyone who does kilnformed glass knows it's not a cheap hobby, but it is possible to do simple glass projects without everything you'd need to buy to complete one of the projects in the book. A beginner might be wise to start with something more basic before making this kind of investment.

All in all, though, the book is a good addition to my library and I enjoy it. If you're kilnforming at an intermediate or better level, you'll be able to separate the wheat from the chaff and get good use out of this book. If you're a beginning kilnformer, make sure you have other resources--good classes, other books, expert kilnformers who are willing to advise--to supplement this book. Or start with something else.

Better than Most.......2007-09-07

This book is actually better than most glass books, giving information avbout fusing and casting that actually helps to fire correctly. It also has beautiful, if a bit dated, photos.

great knowledge book.......2007-08-23

This book like the other one I reviewed is good for the basic overview of the processes. I have yet to make any projects, once I do I will write more. BUT this is a good book to give you ideas and more insite of the processes.

A great book for the fused glass artist.......2007-05-18

I ordered this book and (the more expensive) "Contemporary warm glass" by Brad Walker and two "Fuse it" books by Petra Kaiser. I can say without hesitation that "Warm Glass" is the best of the bunch!

First off it is physically the nicest book, hard cover, great printing and lovely inspirational examples. Petra's book is good for anyone totally new to hot glass but I find her aesthetic is closer to "crafting" than fine art. Brad Walker's book is simply over priced!

"Warm Glass: A Complete Guide to Kiln-Forming Techniques: Fusing, Slumping, Casting" is inspiring and informative. The technical details are spot-on and the projects are much more "artful" than the other books.

If you are serious about fused glass I'd recommend getting this book. If you are starting out with no glass experience you may want to pickup a copy of Petra Kaiser's "Fuse it" book as well.

Any of these books will help the beginner get started, and that is truly the most important step! Petra Kaiser's books are aimed at the true beginner, while "Warm Glass" will appeal to the artist wanting more depth and breath.

There are so many variables when working with hot glass, no matter what book you get, as you master the medium and your equipment, you will no doubt make mistakes. This book will reassure you that mistakes and missteps are part of the process and happen to seasoned glass artist with decades of experience. I found it to be an inspirational guide to the possibilities of hot glass. It covers more detail and techniques than any of the other works I've mentioned here. It is a true value and worth having in your library.

Lots more info than a casual user needs.......2007-04-07

This book has a lot of the history of glass and the scientific properties, etc. These things interest me, but may not appeal to the casual viewer. Some interesting project ideas are presented, though they are not really my cup of tea. Some of the commentary presented seems a bit silly: they show a flat piece of float glass (window glass) before and after slumping and comment that "Note the transparency and shine that the thermoformed glass takes on through this process when it is finished" (after slumping). Well, it looks just like any piece of window glass! Just clear, smooth and shiny. No better or worse than it did in the original photo. Then there is a gallery of glass work...some with nice utilitarian names like "Bowl" or "Untitled" and some with trying-too-hard New Agey names like "Resounding Beyond II" (for a paperweight) and "Hoaxing" (for a series of 4 slumped square bowls). But that is certainly not the fault of the authors. My kiln is arriving next week and I'm looking forward to experimenting with this stuff!

Edited to say that some of the information is confusing. Having studied the types of firing schedules that Spectrum and Bullseye produce, I can't understand the charts in this book, which are written quite differently (and in Celsius, too). I wanted to make a drop-ring votive candleholder. There's a drop-ring vase project in this book. But they don't tell you any kind of guideline about how thick the glass must be to achieve the vase look (in case you don't want to exactly duplicate their project). I have had to look that info up elsewhere. I'd change this to 3 stars but I can't.

Contemporary Warm Glass: A Guide to Fusing, Slumping & Kiln-Forming Techniques

Average customer rating:

Way Too Basic !!!
So Awesome - I want to buy a kiln!!
Contemporary Warm Glass: A Guide to Fusing, Slumping
No Regrets!
most used reference book

Contemporary Warm Glass: A Guide to Fusing, Slumping & Kiln-Forming Techniques
Brad Walker
Manufacturer: Four Corners Intl Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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Warm Glass: A Complete Guide to Kiln-Forming Techniques: Fusing, Slumping, Casting
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ASIN: 0970093349

Customer Reviews:

Way Too Basic !!!.......2007-06-23

This book barely serves as an introduction to warm glass. I found it way too simple, shallow, and not worth more than $15. All the information in this book (and more) can be obtained from warm glass internet sites.

I read it in less than 2 hours and was left wanting more in-depth information on techniques, kilns, mold making, grinding, etc.

So Awesome - I want to buy a kiln!!.......2007-02-22

I love working in stained glass and glass beads. I thought, why not check into warm glass? Well the reviews I read on this book were good, and I thank the reviewers, because they were right. This is a really interesting book that covers everything I was looking for about warm glass. I really wanted to buy a kiln after reading through this book. Wow. Projects are simple, with some great examples by people who have mastered the skill. I still read through it over and over.

Contemporary Warm Glass: A Guide to Fusing, Slumping.......2006-11-06

This book is just great. It is extremely informative and really helps a beginner to understand everything about fusing and slumping. I love it.

No Regrets!.......2006-06-03

I am thrilled with this purchase. I have had this book for about a year now and can honestly say that my only problem with it is that the spine is wearing out from over use! It has been a valuable resource. Brad Walker is a great communicator and teacher. You will not have any regrets if you purchase this book either!

most used reference book.......2006-06-02

I used this book as my reference guide for every project during my first year of working with kiln formed glass. It is a wonderful tool, easy to understand for the beginner, chock full of valuable information, and I still refer to it as I tread into unfamiliar waters. I have many books, but this one is the visibly "used" one with the dog eared pages.

Average customer rating:

Beads of Glass
Beaderific
Beads of Glass
beads of glass
Every Lampworker MUST Have This Book!!!

Beads of Glass
Cindy Jenkins
Manufacturer: Pyro Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0971964300

Book Description

Get ready to enjoy a wondrous journey into the fascinating world of glass beads. The tour begins with a vibrant gallery of beads and beaded objects from all over the world. Next is an intriguing behind-the-scenes peek at the artists, their work, and their philosophies. The extensive how-to section's step-by-step action photography allows you to see at a glance exactly how beads are nade. Imagine all the fun you'll have as you turn page after gorgeous page.

Whether you're a collector, a crafter or just plain curious, this book satisfies your need to know. If beads are your passion, this is your passport to paradise.

Customer Reviews:

Beads of Glass.......2007-03-08

The book has a good cross section of artists and techniques to inspire any bead maker.

Beaderific.......2006-08-19

This book was not only a great learning tool, it was great inspiration. I would advice any lampworker to add this to their library.

Beads of Glass.......2006-04-05

This is an excellent reference for the glass beadmaker. The images are inspiring and provocative, and many of the glass artists explain their process in a step by step guide in the second half of the book. After learning their processes for creating their art glass, it's easier to create my own unique pieces. A super book!

beads of glass.......2006-03-17

this book is clear, inspiring and very helpful, informative. It is especially so, if you are a novice beginner as I am. I have no difficulty with clearly, pictured demonstrations provided. Cindy Jenkins has two excellent glass bead books, and now I do too.

Every Lampworker MUST Have This Book!!!.......2005-08-02

Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous!!! The pictures of the beads in this book are amazing. I love seeing the pictures and reading a little about the people who actually made the beads!! And the whole last half of the book is Tutorials!!! WOW... What a wonderful and generous display of knowledge. Thank You Cindy for putting this together!! Well Done!!!

Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass

Average customer rating:

An Interesting and Enjoyable Read
A Fun Way To Learn About Wine
Off Dry
Education and Entertainment
The Pleasures of Wine

Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass
Natalie MacLean
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

A Hedonist in the Cellar: Adventures in Wine
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ASIN: B000NIJ47O
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Customer Reviews:

An Interesting and Enjoyable Read.......2007-08-19

Marketing books will tell you that the way to captivate a customer for your product is to tell a story, rather than recite a bunch of dry facts. The majority of books about wine focus on facts - about the grapes, vintages, food matches, how-to's, etc., and there's certainly nothing wrong with that except for when you've read one, the others get kind of repetitive.

What is refreshing about Ms. MacLean's book is that you learn via her telling you stories, relating her various wine world experiences. Her writing style is personable and easy to read, and makes you feel like you are accompanying her on her journeys. Reading her book is sort of like listening to Forrest Gump while most other wine books are like listening to a lecture. She's also got a great sense of humor - very entertaining.

The book is similar in style to Kermit Lynch's Adventures on the Wine Route; both educate the reader via tales of wine encounters. The difference is Mr. Lynch focuses on his visits to the various producers he imports (and thus writes from the point of view of a merchant and wine lover), whereas Ms. MacLean has a broader scope of topics (and it is obvious she has a passion for wine). What they do have very much in common is a talent for making you thirsty for the subject matter. Consider them both great ambassadors for wine.

One other thing I'd like to add is I admire how the author got started in her career. She came across something that really interested her, she pursued it, and her passion is obvious. We should all find something we love so much!

A Fun Way To Learn About Wine.......2007-07-17

Through this book, Natalie MacLean has achieved something many wine writers strive for but rarely achieve. Her book is educational, yet not at all intimidating -- it's actually fun to read. Natalie covers a wide variety of topics most "average, everyday winedrinkers" are interested in knowing more about -- wine production, marketing, tasting, and sharing -- and she does so with a humorous way of poking fun at herself. Great writing style!

Off Dry.......2007-06-21

Unfortunately, much of today's wine writing is, if you'll pardon the expression, far too dry, but Natalie MacLean has managed to wrap some very informative -- even at times rather technical -- information in a wonderfully entertaining package. She also spices things up with some delightfully sensual language, not least her decidedly female perspective late in the book on opening a bottle of champagne which I'll leave for readers to discover for themselves.

Speaking of champagne, that particular chapter ("The Merry Widows of Mousse") was my favorite, both informative and lyrical, almost poetic perhaps, in its evocation of the glories of champagne and its magical journey from chalky soil east of Paris all the way to our glasses in some of life's most enjoyable and memorable moments. I can't say it better than she does at the end of that chapter:

"For some, the allure of champagne is the image of luxury and celebration; for others, it's one of life's greatest sensory delights. For me, it's the Champagne behind the champagne, a region as old as Roman conquests, as deep as the chalk fissures, as artful as the riddler's hands, and as eternal as the taste itself."

One can't evoke the meaning and joy of wine any better than this.

Education and Entertainment.......2007-04-30

This book was absolutely the best resource I've read on wine. I use the word "resource" purposely because, while Ms. MacLean has a gift for storytelling, in the end, this book is quite enlightening and educational for folks like myself that are just beginning to appreciate good wine. I've been a wine drinker for 15 years, but couldn't ever keep my interest in any particular book or magazine. However, I couldn't put this book down. I highly recommend it. I have also very much enjoyed her free newsletters.

The Pleasures of Wine.......2007-04-07

I've been a fan of Natalie MacLean's writing for years and this book does not disappoint. Natalie makes the experience of learning about wine fun and with this book shows that every glass can offer a unique and memorable experience.

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