IPhone 3G used's review (Great resource for printers) 『This is an old book but it is still relevant to anyone who is designing for print. The book has every color combination of the four-color press process, in steps of 5% (i.e. 15% magenta, 75% cyan, 10% black and 25% yellow) in a grid format. You'll be able to accurately pick any color you are looking for.
It doesn't have different paper stock, so that is the only part missing, but it uses the most common bright white coated paper.
A cheap alternative to a Pantone Color book.』
(Shouldn't be without it...) 『20-odd years in the design industry and I have no idea why I haven't had a book like this yet. I've been mentally mixing colors for a long time now, and yet it's a fantastic thing to be able to see what that subtle difference is between 25c+100y and 30c+100y looks like in print. OK, it only approximates based on one press and coated paper, but at the end of the day, it's better than your monitor. So get the book and dispense with a good bit of guesswork. It takes a minute to get used to how to find exactly what you're looking for, but it's there!』
(Excellent reference book) 『I owned a previous version of this book at my last job and plan to purchase this for my own use. As others have said, it contains an amazing number of combinations not available in most books. It takes a little bit of flipping through the book to understand how it is laid out, but the concept is very difficult anyway to put down on paper. I think that this book has accomplished making it as simple as it can get while still being very comprehensive.』
(Process Color Manual) 『Buy this. Discover what you have been missing on this exceptionally complicated subject. Learn how to match the use of color(s) to your project. Take your usage of color to a level well beyond your experience with the easy to understand non-techno language. Excellent investment. 』
(Nice book) 『Well, I've been using CorelDraw for a short time, and this book helped me a lot about printing preview colors.』 『Today graphic design is done almost exclusively on screen, where colors look different than when they are printed. To help designers and the people who work with them address this critical disparity, authors Michael and Pat Rogondino have completely revised and expanded their standard manual, Computer Color (0-87701-739-5). A boon for all designers, production people, artists, and printers, Process Color Manual provides an astounding 24,000 colors that match from computer display to printed page. The standard-issue Pantone color books, by comparison, can cost as much as $175 and offer only 3000 colors! Also included with the book is a handy cardboard mask, white on one side and black on the other, that allows the user to isolate a specific block of color. This sturdy color guide partly came about due to demand from the people who have sworn by the previous edition: Chronicle Books designers. For accuracy, accessability, value, and sheer volume,Process Color Manualis indispensible to everyone who works with graphics and colors.』
Kakaku：848 saved$8.48
Watson-Guptill
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Look no further!) 『This is by far the best color reference book I have ever used. I am a residential design professional and there is a palette for everyone on your list in this book. It even provides you with the American paint suppliers and paint names/reference numbers. The brief histories are a plus as well. It is simply the fastest way to help yourself with color palettes for all architectural styles from antiquity to the present.』
(Overly complex to use) 『Save your money and buy the Color Bible. While this does have some historical references, unless you are doing a period home, do you care? I re-read the "how to use this book" 5 times. Couldn't find the numeric references to the palettes ("on palette 17.....etc"). Asked a few friends to help cause I was obviously missing something.
Not worth the work. Buy a color wheel and a painters fan deck instead.
』
(Most useful book on color palettes I could find) 『I bought this book while trying to plan a color palette for our new house. I've always liked houses with some color on the walls and different colors in different rooms. The challenge is finding colors that match the furnishings of each room and yet still coordinate with the other room colors.
The book provides broader and more versatile palettes than I was able to find in any other book. Better yet, it provided some scattered advice about what colors to use in particular situations (i.e. exterior vs. interior, main color vs. accent, cloudy climate vs. sunny climate). It also offered advice about how to put together color combinations that work. For example, I found it's advice about the surprising utility of purple colors in bringing a complex palette together was quite useful.
I would have liked to have found a book that offered more systematic advice or a palette that was precisely what I needed, but using the principles and some of the examples in this book I was able to put a household palette together that I am reasonably pleased with.』
(A top pick for any lending library strong in home and garden guides.) 『Kevin McCloud is an authority on residential architecture and design, and his personal choice of the best colors to use in every type of home makes choosing a snap in CHOOSING COLORS, which includes over 700 color swatches and tips for home decor ranging from historical to modern. From early period colors to modern earth tones and mixes, there are plenty of outstanding examples perfect for selecting the right color shade and combination, making this a top pick for any lending library strong in home and garden guides.』
(Great help for anyone choosing paint colors) 『This was exactly the book I was hoping it would be. It truly helps you choose colors from the popular brands of paint available. I was most interested in colors for a room with only a northern exposure. Every color I tried seemed to turn green on the walls. This book was extremely helpful in this regard. The only reason I gave it only 4 stars instead of 5 is the same reason others have commented on. The paint colors used in palette 28 and 29 were omitted from the reference guide in the rear of the book. It covers blue which is most people's favorite color so the omission is significant. Fortunately, for me, blue is my least favorite color.』 『
Any hardware store has more than enough paint chips to utterly confuse both homeowners and designers.Choosing Colorsmakes choosing just the right colors simple and rewarding. Internationally acclaimed designer Kevin McCloud has created an invaluable sourcebook packed with his personal tips and ideas on using more than 1,000 color chips presented in over 80 palettes. Each palette is a blueprint for a decorative plan, and the stunning full-color photos show those remarkable plans in action. For greatest color accuracy, the entire book is printed in six colors rather than the usual four. All swatches are identified with manufacturers’ numbers, and a complete list of suppliers rounds out this beautiful, indispensable reference book.
Kakaku：510 saved$5.10
Perigee Trade
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Unknowing Adults Get Help From This Book) 『This book helps me explain to others who don't know anything about SSS (even though they may have it and not know it), what it is, when I flip to the colored pages in the book, and have them try to read text on those colored pages, which makes it hard for them to read! There's also other cute self-tests in the book that are very helpful too.
If you want to get an idea of how hard it is for anyone to read who has SSS, flip to the colored pages in the book, and see which colors are easier and harder for you to read. Even though one might have terribly strong reading skills, as one gets older, and muscles become strained, one could be helped by the information in this book. After all, don't we change the fonts and color backgrounds on our computers so that we can see them better?
I was 38 years old, recovering from an auto accident, when I was referred to the author's clinic, to see if I could find any help for transposing numbers when I took telephone messages working as a secretary so that I wouldn't have to spend time on the job reading back phone numbers to the phone caller to make sure that I'd got the phone number correct. It was so surprising to find that I a very fast and strong reader (and very intelligent too) was diagnosed with SSS, and that I'd had it all my life without knowing it! During the exam I was shown that for my eyes, words were actually not lying flat on the page, and this was why I was having to take extra time on the job with those phone numbers! My reading skills were so strong they were overcoming the SSS issue, to a large degree. But because I was recovering from an auto accident, my muscles became fatigued earlier, thus the SSS diagnosis.』
(If you or someone has reading struggles related to seeing the words, this might help) 『I have absolutely no expertise in the areas related to this book and make no judgment about the validity of this method of reading improvement for certain types of dyslexic individuals. However, this book was given to me by a friend whom I respect a great deal. He is a pharmacist and has told me several times how much this method and his colored lenses have improved his life. I know that in science personal testimony has no weight, but I do know that if a person finds real help that persists over time, it is worth considering. Personally, I don't have any reading difficulties except that I might do too much of it. I know that my ability to read very quickly with retention is a gift and a blessing for which I am very grateful. The suffering of people who struggle with reading is very real and can damage confidence and progress in life.
Let me share another example. I personally have no use for chiropractic. However, my mother was nearly killed by a drunk driver in a car accident and had severe neck pain. She was called a malingerer by the insurance company and medical doctors wanted to perform certain kinds of fusing surgeries that did guarantee certain decreases in quality of life without the guarantee of fixing the pain. So, with nothing left to lose, she tried a chiropractor recommended by a friend. It worked for her. We were so happy to have her pain removed and her restored ability to work. I don't know what the injury was or how the chiropractor helped her. But I loved the change and improvement in my mother's life.
It is the same with my friend and the others who use this method and find real improvement in their reading. In the final analysis, that others say this doesn't help them or doesn't map out in this or that study isn't really the point. And I am not qualified to judge any of the studies pro or con. What is the point is that people who couldn't read before can now. And it is more than a few.
So, if you or your child is suffering from reading difficulties that appear to be vision related, here is something to consider that doesn't seem to be too costly and might offer some hope.』
(An important difference between screeners and diagnosticians) 『After 9 years of searching for all the answers to my daughter's learning disorders, I came across the Irlen method. It's not a cure-all for every disorder but it does explain why my daughter can read in near-dark and the Irlen lenses work beautifully for her. I'm very pleased with the results as they relate to visual processing/perceptual disorder and dyslexia. There is a caution, however. We asked our school district to test for Irlen Syndrome; my feeling is that if there's even a 5% chance something will work, I'm willing to try it. The district said they had the appropriate testing measures so I put my faith in them. What I found out (nearly two and a half years later when I found this book) was that the district 'expert' was a screener, not a diagnostician. In order to find out the exact Irlen color, one must see a diagnostician which we were not told at the time. Plus, the color of the overlay is not necessarily the color of the lenses. Irlen lenses are a specific type of lens, not just a colored lens. So, we ended up purchasing the wrong color on the wrong lens. While it's my understanding that no harm was probably done, her progress was probably delayed. You can go to www.irleninstitute.com for a list of local diagnosticians and other important information. Be aware that Irlen syndrome is controversial but there is no denying the many, many people who have been helped by Helen Irlen.』
(Overal good info but too much Sale-oriented) 『If I'm giving 3 stars rating to this book it is for all the great information and description it contains and for providing a better understanding of this condition I have called Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome. But to me the book seems too much sale-oriented and was turned-off by that.
Before even knowing about this book, I had noticed on my own that different color background had an effect on the perceived text on a page and I had begun experiencing with different background and text colors - Needless to say that when I found out about "Reading by the colors" and what it was about, I was very curious and eager to read it. The idea of using color overlays and lens suggested by Helen Irlen through this book didn't sound ridiculous to me at all. It's a smart idea however, there is one detail witch seems to have escaped the author... While I know it is true that one can reduce perceptual distortions caused by contrast on a page of text with the use of color overlays or lens, I've also noticed and know for a fact that lighting condition have an effect on how colors are perceived - We all know that. Impressionist artist Van Goth among others has demonstrated that very well - Therefore if lighting affects how colors are perceived and that colors can be used to reduce distortions caused by SSS, a specific color overlay and/or lens will only be the most efficient if the same lighting conditions there were during the SSS screening are reproduced exactly - That may not be a problem for someone who wishes to read always at the same place, it is easy to accommodate the lighting condition and work with color overlays - But for the person who travels and thus reads in various places, or for the person with a more severe case of SSS and has to wear lens all the time, no need to explain how complicated that become.
I agree with the author when she says that SSS is part of the puzzle for dyslexia and other LDs as they often co-exist together, but I was turned-down by her tenaciousness to stress that SSS and dyslexia are two very different conditions, yet the author fails to explain clearly what the difference is - It doesn't date from yesterday that many dyslexics have reported seeing distortions within printed text. These reported distortions are not the result of a visual problem but rather the result of a perceptual problem (just like what the author claims SSS to be) - It is as if the author wishes to justify her discovering of SSS to give credibility to the suggested remediation of using color lens/overlays and her persistent claim that SSS can only be screened/diagnosed by an Irlen centre specialist and that only Irlen lenses and overlay work - Fact: Colorimetry is a science that doesn't date from yesterday either and colored lens have been used/prescribed by opticians since the 1940's
The cost of the overlays or lens, but first the cost of the screening and then the cost of the exam to determinate the right color is absolutely outrageous. I have been living 30 years with SSS not knowing what it was. Although I would really wish to find a cure, there is no way that I will spend that much money (nor that I can afford) for a solution that may help a little only under a specific lighting conditions.
There are more research that need yet to be done on the subject of SSS, Dyslexia and other LDs. If there is one good thing which this book provides is awareness but it is certainly no excuse for making a business out of it.』
(Outdated) 『Irlen's original hypothesis was interesting. It has been proven to be outdated, and this book (and the whole Irlen approach) ought to disappear from the helping-the-dyslexic shelf.
Dyslexia is not a visual problem, it is a neurological processing problem. Glasses or colored overlays won't raise a kid's reading level--getting the brain to recognize sounds and the relation to symbols is the answer. The International Dyslexia Association has reliable information.
I am sure there are people who are bothered by lights and so on who feel better when they wear dark glasses or whatever. It is just not a cure for specific language disabilities.
I see the Irlen Screeners as desperately needing more "sufferers" to justify the cost of their training. "But it worked for MEEee!" is not an acceptable answer to "where is the research?"』
『This new edition ofReading by the Colorsincludes significant breakthroughs and new applications for use with the Irlen Method to aid in the treatment of reading disabilities.』
Kakaku：638 saved$6.38
Spring Books
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (not what I was expecting) 『I was disappointed. This book was like every other color book out there. Really just page after page of color combinations and a color wheel. Was not useful and I returned it.』
(Very helpful) 『I've always been intimidated by color wheels and the like - the terminology has been beyond me as well. This book not only explained it very simply and concisely, the examples in the back and the color swatches make selecting colors for a project absolutely 'dummy proof'. A must for color dunces like myself. I'm still not an expert, but at least have the confidence that I'm not going to make ugly projects. Perfect size to take with me to the store, and it's indestructible. 』
(Wonderfully informative and creative!) 『Susan has done an incredible and very thorough job of teaching color theory in a very down to earth, non-technical, easy to understand way. This is a perfect book for anyone who wants to learn about the interaction of colors, for creating or for life! Susan presents color in so many combinations, patterns and designs and thoroughly explains how colors interact with each other. Cool color chips in the back and great small color wheel included. A MUST for anyone who wants to learn more about color, crafters and artists of all kinds.』
(No matter how confident you are about color, Color Sense is a fantastic source of ideas for color combinations of all kinds.) 『I must have read (and probably own) dozens of books about color theory. Some I've found close to worthless, some are useful, and a very few are really helpful. Color Sense is one of those. Levin, a cofounder of K1C2 (a great knitting company) and inventor of the Rainbow Color Selector, has written a book which must be the color book she has always wanted to find but hadn't. The first section, How to Use this book, cover all the basics of color. First it covers how the pages are organized, so the reader can understand the color combination pictures. Then it talks about the swatches and templates included at the back of the book. It also shows you in detail how to use the small Rainbow Color Selector that is included with the book. Before a short glossary of color terms, there is a discussion of color considerations. These aspects, proportions, undertones, value, and other factors make or break many projects. These simple explanations will help you identify problems with your color schemes and repair them. The heart of the book are the color palettes. They are divided into three large groups: combinations of one,two, three, and four colors. The main types of color combinations, like complementary or triad, are put into one of these groups. For each color combination, based on the twelve-color color wheel, there is a two-page spread. On the left page, the top contains three swatch diagrams for the combination, one light, one saturated, and one dull. Below each of these are several combinations in that particular value range showing different proportions of each of the component colors. I find this fascinating because the matter of proportion in color combinations is rarely shown but is very important, particularly in fiber arts. I'm sure you will find that some combination are much more appealing than others. The right page shows 20 more color combinations, five against each of four backgrounds. Various shades of the main colors are shown with no background and against white, gray, and black. The same combination of shades is shown against each of the backgrounds. Although the particular choice of background color also has a big effect in needlepoint, these samples can help lots in making a decision between, say, a light blue and a navy blue for a pillow background. The books ends with a set of color swatches, all printed on card stock, with 7 shades for each of the twelve colors, plus multiple swatches of black, white, and gray. You can take these out and create your own color combination or match the cards to combinations in the book and carry them with you when selecting threads. Throw in a Rainbow Color Selector and you have a wonderfully complete and usable book on color which is aimed at anyone who works with thread, yarn, or beads.』
(I Once Was Blind, But Now Can See!) 『Two things I like about a book is one that tells you what you already know but looks at it form a different angle; the other thing I like is to be surprised with something that I should have known but did not. This book has both and more.
The first chapter is on how to use the book with 20 action packed, well maybe not action packed but information packed pages on how to get the most out of the book. This is a good starting place.
The book was designed for needlework's and painters and the like. However I have two other reasons I bought the book. First for general knowledge to be able to see the world in a different way "But Now Can See!" The practical purpose is planning colors for dyeing yarn.
The book comes with a color wheel and detachable color samples to carry with you while shopping. I may have to buy a second copy as I can not force my self to dismantle the samples.
The book has a practical binding and is more than worth the cost.
Way to go Susan Levin.
Color Works: The Crafter's Guide to Color』 『
Every crafter—needleworkers, painters, scrapbookers—needs this guide! Color is one of the first things we notice about a garment, necklace, or home accessory—and it can make or break a project. That’s whyanyonewho has ever struggled to select the perfect blend of hues for a prized piece will immediately recognize its value. Here are thousands of tried-and-true combinations, all based on established tenets of color theory, to choose from. And the volume features the unique ColorSense™ color wheel and cutout templates: just place them over the colors you’re thinking of using to see how they appear in different proportions and against white or black backgrounds. Everyone from artists to home decorators will turn to this again and again.
Kakaku：952 saved$9.52
North Light Books
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Quite useful and innovative book) 『The explanation texts associated with photos and paintings are technically accurate and clearly comprehensive in such a way very few authors are used to doing. Subject performs diversified approaches covering watercolor, pastel and oil with in depth analyses and subtle interpretations on the alternative effects in skin paintings.The systematic organization of the matters allow every artist to follow the indicated trajetory to improve his knowledge and practice or test whatever is presented.』
(Found the way) 『Great work for painters...
The book was ordered to find out what I did wrong in painting portraits in oil. Clearly instructed by the book I now improved my skills dramatically, especially painting eyes... with the look of love.
』
(Not as useful as I had hoped) 『I happen to think the pictures in this book are beautiful. I wish I could achieve the same level of competence with color. By buying the book, I hoped to improve my ability to quickly make sound color choices, but try as I have, I just can't get the needed information from this book. I have purchased quite a few books on painting, and some have really helped me. The really frustrating thing is that it's obvious she knows what she's doing, but equally obvious she has a hard time communicating it.
If you already understood the topic, I'm sure you would get some comforting reassurance from seeing that which you have grasped reaffirmed. If you are not already a good artist, it's pure misery to try and figure out what she is saying. I have read every word and studied every picture in some cases 3 to 5 times, and I have taken little away.
I'm sure that if she were watching me paint, I would eventually understand what she is teaching, but I was not able to get much from the book. I did enjoy looking at the pictures, but the text is pure torture.』
(A need for an oil painter.) 『A very excellent reference book. A must for a novice painter.』
(Painting Beautiful Skin Tones: One of the Most Misleading Titles Ever) 『I agree with several of the previous reviewers. I believe that some of the writing on skin tones offers great insight. I also believe that most of the portraits in the book are garish at best. If there were Sears Portrait Studios around before the invention of photography there is no doubt that their portraits would look like these paintings. I would even be okay with that if it weren't for the fact that the book does not even begin to discuss skin tone until halfway through the book. I would say that 1/5 of the book is actually about skin tone. The rest of the book is just like any other beginners How-To. The basics of painting. Unfortunately there is little about skin tone.』 『Artists constantly tell us that they need guidance for rendering skin tones in their portraiture. This book helps them overcome this elusive challenge by providing a clear set of easy-to-follow principles for painting a variety of skin tones in three major mediums--oil, pastel and watercolor. The first chapter is rooted in the basics, showing artists how to recognize and use the five major elements of painting: drawing, value, color, composition and edges. From there, artists learn how to work with light, shadow and color to effectively capture the beautiful skin tones of various ethnic groups, including Caucasian, Asian, African-American and Hispanic. Next, artists discover how to execute the principles learned, using detailed instruction for color selection, mixing and application. Four mini-demos, three long demos and many examples illustrate the lessons. Artists will benefit from advice on shooting and choosing photographs to paint, how to edit their compositions and work past their limitations.』
Kakaku：1190 saved$11.90
Watson-Guptill
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Astonishing) 『So it is a nice book -- well printed, good in the hand, and done on quality paper.
I can't stop staring at this thing. There is something so utterly correct and compelling about the color sense that underlies the work here. Quite a remarkable achievement.』
(Exceptionally beautiful and practical design advice) 『I am delighted with this book, which is very current since it was just published in 2007. It covers every color in the palate, but in their muted, neutral versions. It's divided into several sections that show ideal ways to blend each neutral color family, including reds, purples, blues, yellows and greens, in addition to several shades of white, beige, gray, taupe and brown. Each section has fully referenced pictures of swatches of paints, fabrics, and flooring material. The paints are readily available in the USA from Benjamin Moore among other suppliers.
The quality of the photography is outstanding, with crisp, clear detail. The book focuses on the work of a handful of designers in USA, England and South Africa. It is nice to see the geographic dispersion -- the South African rooms, for example, contain feather headdresses on the walls which are just extraordinary and something I've never seen in USA.
If you are doing your own design, you can easily replicate what is presented here. Not only are there schemes to copy, but the author clearly presents a practical methodology to create lovely interiors using the "neutral" fabrics, paints and materials that are widely available today.
I own lots of design books. This one ranks among the very best.』
(Beautiful Book!) 『This book shows how many muted colors can become beautiful, new neutrals for your decorating. Each section is broken down into color palettes. Easy to flip to hues you are interested in. Colors used in photos (of famous int. designers) don't always agree with paint, fabric and rug swatch examples used in each section. Paint colors are all referenced, but furniture, etc are not.』
(Excellent Book!!!!) 『I don't know much of decoration and having this book makes me feel like I have the best decoration book I could wish for...full of pictures and great ideas.』
(CMG chairholder recomended) 『The book is well priced and full of beautiful color photo's showing this neutral concept that is always in style. Nice work on color boards of real materials that you can research. I see this influncing many of us to use more neurtalized colors in our palettes for our homes and places of work. As big user of the Munsel, color theory is alive and well and it shows in this book neutrals will always be in style they are the canvas and background that enhances the higher chroma colors.
This will become a resource book for me.
MS (Industral designer and colorist)』 『Use color with confidence!
* Personalized decorating without the stress * Sourcebook of product information, plus how to match and coordinate colors * Hundreds of color photos plus swatches of paint and fabric eliminate guesswork
Think neutrals are beige, cream, taupe, white, and black? Think again. In a new world of color and design, neutrals go beyond these basics to embrace real colors that real people can live with. InPerfect Neutrals, Stephanie Hopper showcases the vast variety of new neutrals--from sage green to soft lilac, from cool silver to whispered gold. With her help, anyone can put these tones together and add accents to create dramatic effects. Rich photographs demonstrate how to balance colors, how layering works with different shades of color, how to add texture with fabric, and more. Case studies feature paint and fabrics that are widely available from such national brands as Restoration Hardware, Benjamin Moore, Farrow&Ball, and other companies. In the past, choosing just the right neutral to suit a room or a mood was hard.Perfect Neutralsmakes it easy.』
Kakaku：395 saved$3.95
Dover Publications
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Book for Kids?) 『I was very disappointed with this book. It was nowhere near the quality I thought it would be. Don't waste your time, or money.』 『
The color-by-number pictures in this entertaining activity book are specially designed to help pre-school through first grade children identify numbers, colors, and objects. Great for home, school, or day care use. Each picture is accompanied by a rhyming caption. 29 full-page black-and-white illustrations.
Kakaku：260 saved$2.60
Th1nk Books
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (An awesome book for all teens) 『Kara Hendricks and Jordan Ferguson have been best friends since kindergarten, but that all changes during sophomore year when Jordan becomes a cheerleader and dumps Kara for more popular friends. Feeling betrayed, all Kara can do is sulk, hoping Jordan will take her back, but after a few weeks Kara realizes that this will not be the case. Kara starts eating lunch with an outcast, a goody-two-shoe, and a goth, all who are art geeks, but still feels the pain of losing Jordan. Then, through this unlikely bunch, Kara is introduced to the one true friend who can fill the hole in her heart, God. Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely, by Melody Carlson, was an awesome book that I would recommend to all Christian teen girls. This wonderful page turner was enticing and a fast read. Because it was filled with so much drama, this book was never boring. Also, this book is made up of many short chapters, so each chapter leaves the reader at a place where they just can't stop reading. For example, towards the middle of the book, a chapter ends with Kara running into her room, sobbing, and wishing everything could just end. The beginning of the next chapter explains why she was crying in order to keep the reader hooked. Reading this book taught me a lot about my relationships with other people, as well as my relationship with God. I have learned to value my friendships more and make the most of everyday. Also, although Kara, the main character, only represents one way to live for Christ, I think she sets a good example. From her, I realized that I should pray all the time, not only when something's wrong. I think anyone who reads this book could learn something about relationships or God. I found the characters in this book easy to relate with. I think anyone who has lost a friend or felt lonely or betrayed can relate to Kara. Others, who have lost parents, may be able to relate to another character named Edgar. There are other characters too who have assorted issues, so no matter who the reader is, he or she will be able to relate to some character in someway. I think this make the book more meaningful, enjoyable, and interesting. Dark Blue, by Melody Carlson, is a five star book filled with life lessons. Also, it is a fast read and easy to relate to. Dark Blue is the first book in the Truecolor series, which now has eleven books. Each book in the series is about a different girl and touches on a different issue faced by teens today. I recommend that any teen girl read Dark Blue, as well as the other Truecolor books to learn how to deal with any problems they might have.
S. Leser』
(Dark Blue? Color me apathetic....) 『In this tepid novel two teen girls, Kara and Jordan, go from best friends to opposite ends of the pecking order at their high school. We get to hear Kara's side of the story as she drones on and on about how she has no life, no friends, no personality, etc. The book consists of an inordinate about of filler consisting of such sentences as "I took my shower. Then I brushed my teeth. Then I ate a sandwich. I thought about how great my life used to be when I had Jordan. But now she's popular. Then I watched T.V. Then I...." Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating. The many times Kara mentioned that she might as well jump off a bridge or get hit by a bus, I wanted to tell her to go for it. Never, in all the hundreds of books I've read, have I met a character who I so desperately could not bring myself to care about even one iota.
The author, Melody Carlson, tried early on to connect with the teens presumably reading this book by using words like "crap" and "lesbian" and other such utterances that are sure to make your fine Christian parents gasp. I think this was her idea: Use borderline words and concepts such as these at first to draw the kids in and make them think they're reading something "cool" and "exciting" and "edgy."
Unlike some of the other reviewers who spoke badly about this book because of its Christian aspect, that is not where I find fault. The problems with this book are as follows: average writing, atrocious character development (see above), and a terrible plot execution.
Let me explain about the plot. It was a good idea. It is a plot that nearly 100 percent of teen girls have experienced first hand at some point in their lives. But Kara was such a bloody boring character that by the time she developed half a personality, I didn't care. I spent the first half of the book wanting to smack her upside the head, and the other half rolling my eyes at how absurd the climax and conclusion were.
Kara of course, in pure Christian fashion, discovers that Jesus Christ is her one true best friend and her life turns around. She starts eating better, exercising regularly, going to church, standing up for herself, being friendly, having a personality and having self-confidence. Oh, and of course all of a sudden her now popular former best friend wants to be friends again. Hurrah! And this all happens in the course of a week.
Now, I'm not saying God can't do all of that. Because I know from personal experience He can. My problem lies in the fact that the book seemed to imply that every single aspect in your life will improve IMMEDIATELY if you just say the magic words "Jesus I want you in my life." I'm sorry, maybe it works that way for some people. But for those poor teen girls reading this book and expecting some miraculous life altering experience to happen overnight for them just like it did for Kara, they are in for a rude awakening.』
(...Color me bored) 『"Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely" is not my favorite novel on my book shelf. The concept of the book was interesting but I felt like all it was trying to do was make people want to be Christains. Now, I have absulutely nothing against any religion but I would have much preferred if the author hadn't made it seem that way for the reader.
The idea was interesting but sadly, it wasn't the book for me. I wouldn't recommend it.』
(A Real Great Book) 『I read a book called Dark Blue: from the True Color series. It starts with a girl named Kara. Her best friend named Jordan joins the cheer team and doesn't hang out with Kara. Kara feels so lonely. Kids from her art class invite her to have lunch with them in the art room. She makes a bond with them and Jesus.At the end, Jesus becomes her best friend.
I liked how Jesus becomes Kara's best friend. I also liked it when Kara defended her friend when some cheer leaders were being mean to Kara's friend. Some of the cheer leaders were Jordan's friends. I liked the part when Kara was telling Jordan she was best friends with Jesus,but Jordan didn't care. Kara was really strong when Jordan left her.
I thought it was a really good book. It was more of a Christian book. The other True color books are Christian books. If you like books about God and Jesus,I think you should read this book.』
(Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely) 『This book is about a girl named Kara, a somphmore in high school, who has just lost her best friend since kindergarten to the "popular" crowd. Devastated and lonely, Kara lets herself go almost completely, hardly talking and crying everyday after school. But then she is invited to stay in at lunch with three students in her art class, Amy, Edgar and Felicia. Although they aren't what Kara would have looked for in friends in the beginning, she actually starts becoming close with Edgar when he introduces her to faith. Kara lets God into her heart and finds she has a new best friend.
I found this book to be quite depressing throughout the first half, and almost unbearable through the second. Seeing as this was my first Melody Carlson book, I had no clue how faith-filled and religous her books were. After reading this first one, I'm not so sure if I'm going to be so willing to read the rest of the True Colors series. I am not a true Christian, and though I don't mind a little religous spirit every once in a while from friends and family, this book was just too jam-packed with i
