History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People

Average customer rating:

A good start
A Real Eye Opener!
Wasted money on this one
Cuts to the Chase
An unfortunate necessity for performing arts professionals and church staff

In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
George K. Simon Jr.
Manufacturer: A. J. Christopher & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 096516960X

Book Description

"This book clearly illustrates the true nature of disturbed characters, exposes the tactics the most manipulative characters use to pull the wool over the eyes of others, and outlines powerful, practical ways to deal more effectively with manipulative people."

Customer Reviews:

A good start.......2007-10-02

This book describes the manipulative personality quite well, however, I found it rather superficial compared to Snakes in Suits or Who is Pulling Your Strings.

A Real Eye Opener!.......2007-09-25

I devoured this book the very same day it arrived.

I was always left with a tangled up knot of various emotions in trying to deal with a certain family member but could never put my finger on *why*.
This book really opened my eyes!

Wasted money on this one.......2007-09-24

I learned a few new terms, such as "covert aggressive" but I still don't really know how I'm supposed to handle people like this. The book was disappointing, contained case studies and specific suggestions for handling the people in the case studies, but I did not find it valuable or informative.

Cuts to the Chase.......2007-08-29

Wow. I received this book on Monday and have already read it (it's Wednesday) - twice. Until now, I took it for granted that people everywhere are pretty much the same and are all just struggling along, trying to make it the best they can. The manipulators were "out there" in politics, far away in what seemed like another world. I also assumed that many manipulators are driven by insecurity or fear, even though those assumptions never felt quite right. It never occurred to me that some people manipulate others just for the sake of having the upper hand. It also never occurred to me that some people are highly skilled manipulators who target only people they know they can manipulate. Behavior that once seemed inexplicable to me now makes sense, now that I have some insight into what makes covert-aggressive people tick. Although I read this book too late in regards to a certain "friendship," this book has provided me with some tools on dealing with these people in the future.

An unfortunate necessity for performing arts professionals and church staff.......2007-08-15

I am an acoustical and systems design consultant who specializes in the design and functional rehabilitation of worship and performing arts facilities. In my practice, I often encounter what should be easily resolved misunderstandings between technical staff, performers, committee members, and/or clergy, which instead turn into intractable standoffs, or endless sagas of intrigue and treachery. While I have been well-equipped to diagnose and prescribe solutions to technical problems for many years, I had been largely ill-equipped to interact with highly skilled manipulators, or to provide resources to ministry leaders who are often no better prepared for them than I once was, and who fall into many of the manipulative traps described in this book.

While not all such conflicts are the result of covert aggression, I do find that such behavior is disproportionately common in churches, for the same reasons that Simon observes. Church leaders tend to focus on the relational aspects of conflicts to the exclusion of the substance, and thereby make churches exceptionally vulnerable to the skilled manipulator, who is very adept at exploiting the good will of trusting but naive people. I have watched manipulators have a field day with such tactics as blame-shifting, playing victim, playing servant (while building an empire in plain view), slander campaigns against anyone wise to their motives, and most of the other tactics thrown in for good measure.

Covert aggression is also common in the secular performing arts, as many performers find that their character issues will be overlooked so long as other attributes, such as talent or popularity, are at least perceived to be present by key decision-makers. See also Rory Noland's excellent The Heart of the Artist. Those performers with covert aggressive personalities often gravitate to roles of artistic leadership, such as the conductor, director, producer, etc. Such people see themselves as having a birthright to be in charge, and once entrusted with a position of leadership, they will stop at nothing to build the most grandiose artistic empire they can envision. Many of these attitudes and behavior patterns from the secular performing arts world have been transplanted into the worship arts world with only changes in pretext. In either place, they victimize the majority of sincere artists along with most of the other people that, through no fault of their own, come into contact with those few who are character-disordered.

So far, I have found Simon's book to be quite useful as an accessible but accurate introduction to this subject. It is the perfect book to put in the long-suffering victim's hands to help them understand what has really been happening in the nightmare they have been living. Once they have learned to recognize and name the offender's tactics, they can then try out some of the new tools they have been given to start changing the pattern of interaction with their abuser. It is also a necessary introduction for leaders who are called upon to correct these situations, especially when they are partly culpable due to having failed to exercise due discernment, and have unwittingly aided and abetted the manipulator. Finally, I believe that this book's greatest value is as a "vaccine" of knowledge to help potential future victims or unwitting enablers to identify manipulative behavior and "nip it in the bud."

I would urge every minister, church administrator, and lay leader, as well as every secular and religious artist, artistic leader, technical professional or volunteer, and technical leader, to buy and read this book as if your career depended on it - because it just might. Each of those listed above, as well as many others in today's working world, are just one bad hiring or promotion decision away from *needing* this book.

Fit for Real People: Sew Great Clothes Using ANY Pattern (Sewing for Real People series)

Average customer rating:

fit for real people
If you sew from patterns, you need this book.
great guide
Fit For Real People
Useful, practical help

Fit for Real People: Sew Great Clothes Using ANY Pattern (Sewing for Real People series)
Pati Palmer , and Marta Alto
Manufacturer: Palmer/Pletsch Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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ASIN: 0935278656

Book Description

Presented in a new edition that adds updated pattern industry news and revised rules for selecting pattern size, this easy and practical fitting system requires no measuring, no drafting skills, no muslin mock-ups—and it works with all brands of tissue paper patterns. Real people of all ages are featured in photographs that explain the steps of cutting out pattern pieces, pinning them together, and adjusting the fit. Special attention is paid to tricky challenges such as accommodating a full bustline, adjusting sleeves, or reworking a garment to make it more flattering, as well as alternative fitting methods such as draping and computer design. Metric conversion charts, charts for comparing pattern company bodice measurements, and a history of American dress design (Just where did size 10 come from?) make this book a versatile reference.

Customer Reviews:

fit for real people.......2007-09-12

I have been sewing since I was 10.My Mom passed away when I was 17 and I never had the opportunity to learn from her what the book teaches me. At first I was a little overwhelmed (Im an over achiever) and had to put the book down for a few days. Now, ITS MY BIBLE!!!

If you sew from patterns, you need this book........2007-07-23

This book helps you fit any pattern to your body. Full of lots of great tips. Very easy to understand and use.
Using their method, you first fit the paper pattern, adjust, try on, adjust if needed, cut your fabric, fit, finish, then have a great item of clothes.

great guide.......2007-07-19

I'm glad I got this book. The pictures alone can give you a great start to understanding pattern fitting. Photographs of real people of different sizes are shown with the pattern tissues on them. The corrections and explanations are then given to help you see and understand what is being done. It has information for many different body scenarios, especially for those of us who aren't built like runway models. It did seem to jump around a little. You may have to go to another section of the book to check on full explanations. I noticed that was just how the book was designed, and I was able to know where to look after awhile. Additional information on fitting is also included, which is always nice to have.

Fit For Real People.......2007-07-15

I own half a dozen fit books but this one is my bible. The instructions are clear and concise. Every homesewer should own this book.

Useful, practical help.......2007-01-09

If you've ever tried to make clothing and been frustrated that the finished product looked second-rate, you may find "a-ha moments" in many of the suggestions in this book. The instructions are clearly written and well-illustrated. Particularly helpful are the "diagnostics" to identify and correct problems in fitting.

Well worth the investment.

Average customer rating:

Good but not that funny.
Good Read for Chick Lit
MUST READ for All Modern Women
Yet another for the Wodehouse inheritor list
Better than I expected

Elegance
Kathleen Tessaro
Manufacturer: Avon A
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060522275
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Book Description

Louise C. wants what Jackie O had ...

Unhappy with her looks, her life, and her empty marriage, Louise Canova needs help -- and she finds it in a secondhand bookstore. A forty-year-old encyclopedia of style titled Elegance, this slim volume by formidable French fashion expert Madame Dariaux promises to transform even the plainest of women into creatures of poise and grace. It is a fairy godmother in print, an A-to-Z manual with essential advice that Louise vows to take to heart. But within its pages lie not only clues from her past, but also powerful lessons for the future. And as the old Louise gives way to the stunning new, she's about to find out that there's more to every life than what appears on the surface ... and that everything, even elegance, has its price.

Customer Reviews:

Good but not that funny........2007-07-05

I have found the book interesting but do not agree that this is a hilarious or even funny book. I think, perhaps, the first two chapters are the most humorous in the book. It's sort of like when you rent a movie that's labeled a comedy (like Barton Fink)& can't quite appreciate it, like you should, the first time around, because you were expecting it to make you laugh, & it's not. So, if you buy this book, don't buy it expecting lots of laughs like in Bridget Jones. It's about Louise shaking up all aspects of her life up by not only dressing better but realizing the deep seated issues that brought her to her current unhappy frumpy state. But on a lighter note -- I just LOVE the cover.

Good Read for Chick Lit.......2007-03-30

This book is not literature, but it is a fun chick lit book.

MUST READ for All Modern Women.......2007-03-05

I fell in love w/this book only a few pgs in, and immediately bought a copy for my friend... we both raved about it to the last pg. The story rings true for so many women; I certainly recognized my own mentality/fears/triumphs in Louise. And as a critical reader/writer, I was initially skeptical about such a book (often trite)...but Tessaro's writing is brilliant!! One of the few books I'll read again, and will continue to recommend...

Yet another for the Wodehouse inheritor list.......2006-09-03

There seems to be a small club of us who own and/or have read "Elegance" by Genevieve A. Dariaux. Although I came across Tessaro's version as a freebie, wrapped in a magazine along with a Galaxy bar, the title immediately piqued my interest, and I had a great time flapping through it while resting, sick as a dog, in a less than luxurious bed at the London Ritz (yes, really ... the rooms are gorgeous, but the beds slurch). A year later, I've just reread it, and it's just as tasty a bonbon as it was the first time. Far more fun than the original (which I still own, and is still, in its own precious way, hysterically campy!)

Amy in New York City

Better than I expected.......2006-06-10

I enjoy chick lit but was a little daunted when I found this book shelved in the Romance section at my local used book store (sorry Amazon -- I live in Portland and we all love Powell's). I was pleasantly pleased, and frankly found it much more worthy of the Literature section than many of the C-L genre.
The characters are nicely drawn, the story moved along at a pleasant pace. I read it over the course of a week and was sorry to put it down. I would recommend it to women friends.

Average customer rating:

Just wondering

The Bora-Bora Dress
Carole Lexa Schaefer
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0763612340
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Book Description

It takes a special kind of dress to get Lindsay to change her ways in this lyrical tale told with sprightly illustrations.

Slish — the dress slid off its hanger. Lindsay read the little tag inside: "Made in Bora-Bora for you."

Fabulous Aunt Fiona is throwing an end-of-the-summer, snazzy, ritzy party, and Lindsay can't wait to go. There’s just one hitch: she has to wear a dress, and Lindsay never ever ever wears a dress. She wears her baggy shorts to run on the beach. She wears her patch overalls to jump in piles of leaves. But that's before Lindsay sees a wonderful sundress shaped like a wedge of pie, with a parrot painted on front that seems to wink at her. If Lindsay goes to the party in a dress from a magical island far away, who can predict what will happen?

Customer Reviews:

Just wondering.......2005-08-23

This is a question rather than a review. Since you want to sell books, and this book, The Bora Bora Dress, has a starred review from Booklist, why do you carry this sour review from School Library Journal? Couldn't you at least include the Booklist review to balance the one from SLJ?

Technique of North American Indian Beadwork

Average customer rating:

Depends on what your looking for.
A Book for Beginners

Technique of North American Indian Beadwork
Monte Smith
Manufacturer: Eagles View Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0943604028

Book Description

This informative and easy to read book was written by noted author and editor Monte Smith and contains complete instructions on every facet of doing beadwork. Included is information on selecting and buying beads; materials used (and how to use them); an examination of Indian beadwork designs, their development, significance and uses, with special emphasis on tribal differences; step-by-step instructions on how to make your own beadwork loom, doing loom work and the variations of loom work; appliqu stitches including the lazy stitch, "crow" stitch, running stitch, spot stitch and return stitch; bead wrapping and peyote stitch; how to make rosettes; making beaded necklaces; and, a special section on beadwork edging.

The book features examples and photos of beadwork from 1835 to the present time from twenty-three tribes. Photos include beaded articles from the Apache, Arapaho, Assiniboine, Bannock, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Chippewa-Cree, Commanche, Cree, Crow, Flathead, Gros Ventre, Huron, Kiowa, Mohawk, Navajo, Ojibiwa, Omaha, Otto, Piaute, Pottawatomi, Sac & Fox, Shoshone, Sioux, Umatilla, Ute, Winnebago and Yakima tribes. There is also a section of notes, a selected bibliography and an index.

A time tested best seller. Anyone interested in the craft work of the North American Indian will profit from owning this book.

200 illustrations; 167 photographs; 4 pages in full color.

Customer Reviews:

Depends on what your looking for........2004-07-15

I just got this book the other night, so I haven't had the chance to thoroughly read it yet. So far, I think the text part is better than the photography. I find it easy to read and it seems to touch on several topics. Unfortunately, not being well versed in Native American/Indian history, I don't know how accurate that information is, so I'm no help in analyzing that part of the book. He seems to me to do a good job describing techinques, and the illustrations are helpful to me. If you're looking for good photos though, I would not recommend this book.

A Book for Beginners.......2000-08-23

Monte Smith has produced an excellent book for anyone wishing to begin authentic beadwork. He provides complete information regarding the materials and supplies needed. There is a lot of information about the technical aspects of this craft. The book has excellent illustrations on how to make the various stitches with beads on leather, which interested me the most. He has also included numerous photos of original artifacts that a person can use for design ideas. There is also a coded (by letters) reference under the photos which indicates the museums that have those items on display. The only improvement this basic book could have would be color photos which would be of help in selecting beads for a project.

Walk in Splendor: Ceremonial Dress and the Minangkabau (Textile Series, 4)

Average customer rating:

Beautiful and comprehensive

Walk in Splendor: Ceremonial Dress and the Minangkabau (Textile Series, 4)

Manufacturer: UCLA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0930741730

Book Description

Embellished with incredibly sophisticated gold, silver, and silk patterning, the refined ceremonial textiles of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra are often so complicated that even a highly skilled weaver can complete only a few centimeters in a full day at her loom. Motif patterns woven into these exquisite cloths reflect the Minangkabau adat ñ the indigenous ideology that prescribes roles for all activities and speech. In this lavishly illustrated volume, 13 contributing authors--9 of them Minangkabau--consider ceremonial dress, motifs, fibers, patterning techniques, traditional architecture, ceremonies, jewelry, music, dance, literature, and historiography.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and comprehensive.......2004-03-03

This is a coffeetable book about the Minangkabau of West Sumatra. Though the exhibition was about textiles, the book is more comprehensive with articles on history, architecture, food, literature, etc. by leading experts -- including a couple of Minangkabau academics (Usman and Anwar) who died as the book was going to press.

The photos are excellent. Production is top-notch. And the price is substantially discounted since there are so many remaindered.

Book Description

Jamela gets in trouble when she takes the material intended for a new dress for Mama, parades it in the street, and allows it to become dirty and torn. But there is a happy ending in store for "Kwela Jamela African Queen," and just in time.

Customer Reviews:

Jamela's Dress .......2004-12-02

Jamela's Dress celebrates the youthful spirit of Jamela, a young South African girl. Jamela and her Mama shop for some material with which her mother will make a new dress to be worn on the occasion of a family wedding. They take it home, wash it, and hang it up to dry. As Jamela guards it against harm she becomes so excited by the beauty of the cloth that she wraps it about herself and parades through the town. Inevitably the cloth is ruined but through a clever plot device all turns out well and Jamela redeems herself. The wonderfully warm watercolors bring Jamela's neighborhood to life in all its energy and drama. An author's note traces the changing meaning of the word "kwela" through the changing history of his country and so illuminating some of the reasons new South Africa may have to exhibit a youthful spirit similar to Jamela's.
For children from three to six.

The African Queen.......2004-10-20

I've read French, and British, and Australian, and American, and a whole host of picture books from around the world. Yet one of the countries I've never really read a picture book from is beautiful South Africa. Here we have a country steeped in color and beauty and yet the schoolchildren of America know relatively little about it. Heck, I'll go so far as to say that MOST U.S. schoolchildren probably couldn't even find it on a map. Fortunately, that's all changed with the presence of author/illustrator Niki Daly and his heroine Jamela. If you've met Jamela in the past, you know what to expect from her. If you've never met her before, you're in for a real treat.

Jamela and her mother, residents of South Africa, are out shopping for dress fabric on fine and frolicksome day. After locating a beautiful but costly skein of orange/yellow weave, the two buy it up and wash the stiffness out of it. As the fabric dries on the line, Jamela's mama tells her daughter, in no uncertain terms, to keep the dog off of it. She doesn't want anything messing it up. Technically, Jamela obeys her mother's orders. The dog never gets the fabric dirty. Jamela, on the other hand, takes it on a joyous walk down the street, drawing the attention of many friends and neighbors. Too soon, however, Jamela must face the consequences of her actions and her mama is left unconsolable. It's only through an odd quirk of fate that Jamela is inadvertently responsible for her mother's new dress and a little surprise of her own.

Niki Daly must have kids. I've never said that about a single picture book illustrator before, but I think I have to say it now. There's something in Jamela's face that is dead on. When she wraps herself in the lovely remains of the fabric as her acquaintance Archie takes her picture, her face is a glowing combination of smugness and preschool pride. In fact, Daly has also captured the movements of his characters beautifully in this story. From Jamela's traipse along the dusty dirty street to the rambunctious clamering of friends and neighbors, Daly has an eye for natural human relations. There are delightful tiny details to observe as well. Note that when Jamela takes her walk she has obviously outfitted herself as well in her mama's too large red sandals.

And then there are the colors and fabrics in this story. The only picture book I've read that rivals this one in delightful material selection would have to be Lloyd Alexander's, "The Fortune Teller". Together, these two books would make one heckuva good storytime session. In this book, every person in this book wears realistic and fitting clothing. Archie sports a remarkable matching print suit while Jamela eventual comes to wear an elephant infused jumper. And Daly's so adept that you can sometimes make out the shifting colors and shades that make up each one of Jamela's dredlocks.

In an Author's Note at the end, Niki Daly gives some additional information about the history of the term "Kwela" (a word that pops up more than once in this book) giving the reader a little more information about South Africa itself. It fits the book well. I'd often heard wonderful things about the Jamela book series, but I'd never had the pleasure of actually reading one before. Now that I have, I'm happy to have found it. It's a vibrant and entirely pleasing concoction.

Jamela's Dress.......2001-05-07

"Just one more time" are the words uttered by my two year old after we finish reading about "Kwela Jamela African Queen". Jamela's Dress is a unique representation of the simple joys in a child's life and how imagination can sometimes lead to trouble. Niki Daly's illustrations are a brilliant use of color that not only are appealing to the eye but also represent that of the African culture. This is definately a story that ties in a silly sence of children's adventure with a mother-daughter bond and cultural richness.

A lovely book to share with your daughters..........2000-04-18

"I first saw this book in my book club magazine, I became really interested in it because I wanted a book that my daughters could enjoy. So I got it, and I loved it and then they did. One cannot help but love "Kwela Jamela, The African Queen" Basically, it is about a young girl who takes some cloth that her mother bought for a dress, and she marches up and down the streets with it only to find out that it became soiled and damaged. Despite that, the ending will leave a smile on yours and your kid's faces. I don't only see this as a ethnic book, the theme is universal and something that any child can relate to.

A lovely book to share with your daughters..........2000-04-18

What People Wore: 1,800 Illustrations from Ancient Times to the Early Twentieth Century

Average customer rating:

Good secondary resource
Mixed bag
Great reference, especially for early clothing and hair
Designs minus beauty
Not even a tertiary source - redrawings of redrawings

What People Wore: 1,800 Illustrations from Ancient Times to the Early Twentieth Century
Douglas Gorsline
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486281620

Book Description

Fascinating panorama of styles — from diaphanous gowns of Egyptian royalty to 1920s wardrobe of American flapper. Accessories and hairstyles. Illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Good secondary resource.......2007-05-16

The black and white illustrations are well researched, and many are reminiscent of fashion plates and other primary resources. While designers and historians should be skeptical of original illustrations because of artistic liberties and accidental changes to the shape, style, and accuracy of the garment, this book is pretty decent/trustworthy.

Gorsline also gives specific dates for the illustrations, which is very helpful in researching, and puts in helpful details like accessories (corsets, gloves, hats, shoes, etc.) and hairstyles. It mentions nationality, when appropriate, as well as the style (the name of the artist, when applicable, that inspired the illustration). It shows a range of variations within a given period, demonstrates different ways to wear various garments, and provides a wonderfully diverse sampling of clothes to give any researching a great start in their exploration. As with all secondary resources, be sure to cross-reference for accuracy.

Mixed bag.......2003-11-10

This book is the culmination of research done by Mr. Gorsline. He has recreated the illustrations based upon research done primarily in the New York Library system. Many of his drawings have a reference... but that reference isn't formatted in such a way you could actually find out anything useful. For that reason it's not a particularly good choice for serious "historical" costumers. But if you're willing to accept that limitation, it is a nice reference, particularly the collected drawings of hair and head coverings.

Great reference, especially for early clothing and hair.......2003-06-19

I received this book as a gift, and have found it very useful in creating accurate costumes, especially for the Medieval styles. The later (Victorian, Edwardian, etc.) chapters have been less useful to me because they offer limited examples of a few different garments from each time period. Fashions changed so much more quickly after the Renaissance, that a more detailed look at the styles of each decade, or each year, in each locality after the 16th century, would be much more useful. The chapters on medieval and ancient fashions, however, are extremely useful to me, because the images are taken from contemporary manuscripts and illustrations and represent a time period for which we know comparatively little about the garments most people wore, although research continues. The drawings make it easy to see the line of each garment and its shape, which is very helpful in drafting patterns for such garments, and the illustrations of hairstyles and head coverings are also very clear and understandable. This book is most useful as one book in a library of costume publications, as it does not contain much, if any, information regarding fabric weaves, colors, embroidery, etc.

Designs minus beauty.......2003-02-15

This book contains a great deal of visual information on clothing throughout the world and through the ages. It makes a good reference. However, unlike Racinet's dazzling Historical Encyclopedia of Costumes, it is not beautiful. The images are functional, but not inspirational.

Not even a tertiary source - redrawings of redrawings.......2001-10-11

I do not recommend this volume for anyone doing serious research on costume. I would recommend going with sources closer to the original.

Ceremonial Costumes of the Pueblo Indians: Their Evolution, Fabrication, and Significance in the Prayer Drama

Average customer rating:

The classic on this subject.

Ceremonial Costumes of the Pueblo Indians: Their Evolution, Fabrication, and Significance in the Prayer Drama
Virginia More Roediger
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0520076303

Book Description

When the University of California Press first published Roediger's Ceremonial Costumes of the Pueblo Indians in 1941, it was immediately hailed as both a beautiful book and the most comprehensive description ever of the making and meaning of the Pueblo costumes of New Mexico and Arizona. It has been widely acknowledged as a classic and eagerly sought after in antiquarian bookstores.
Exactly fifty years after its original publication, here is the book back in print, with a new introduction by the renowned anthropologist Fred Eggan. Roediger's vivid paintings are reproduced once more in full color, capturing the beauty and drama of the Pueblo ceremonies--the turquoise dance moccasins, the tableted headdress of the Zuni corn maidens, the bright-blanketed Kachina maiden, and the buffalo, brilliant eagle, and horned deer costumes.
It was Roediger who first viewed the ceremony and ritual of the Pueblo peoples as dramatic performance, a view that has gained great currency since. As a student of drama at Yale University she was fascinated by the intensely theatrical dimension to Pueblo worship, and it is this original perspective that informs and illuminates her study.
After a brief survey of the history, location, and life of the Pueblo peoples, Roediger embarks on a thorough analysis of the materials used in the Pueblo costumes. She explains both their symbolic significance and their manufacture--from the weaving of cloth and the tanning of leather to the preparation of birds' feathers, evergreens, paints, and dyes. She then provides a meticulous description of the costumed dancer--body paint, garments, ornaments, accessories, and dance properties such as rattles, headdresses, and masks.
In her final section, Roediger explores the relation of the costumes to the prayer dramas, particularly to the reverential, solemn, ecstatic public dance with which these climax. Vivid details emerge here about such rituals as the animal dances from the Rio Grande region and the Rain Dance of the Zuni.
Fifty years after its original publication, Virginia Roediger's book remains the most comprehensive study of the ceremonial costumes of the Pueblo peoples. A book of great visual appeal and unrivaled detail, it will be welcomed back by scholars and general readers alike.

Customer Reviews:

The classic on this subject........1998-07-19

Being interested in this subject from the age of 14, and after searching for this long out of print book, I was ecstatic when I learned of the reprint being published. All the basics are there - what is worn for each ceremony - how it is made or acquired, what is significant about each piece. If you have the chance to visit any of the Rio Grande Pueblos or Hopi or Zuni, please do so before it is too late and these wonderful ceremonies are forever closed to the eyes of the Anglos. Reading this book before you go will give you a much better insight as to what is being seen.

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