Kakaku：320 saved$3.20
Greenwillow
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (sweet&real) 『I spotted this @ the bkstore sometime back&ordered it for my 9 1/2 yr old 4th grade daughter to read this fall. She read most of it out loud to me,&we could barely put it down. The end brought tears to my eyes. If you like Beverly Cleary's Ramona bks,&/or Deborah Wiles' Ruby Lavender&Each Little Bird That Sings, you will take to Marlane Kennedy's character, Mildred,&Circleville, regardless of whether or not you are interested in pumpkins. Within the focus on pumpkins, the author interweaves humor, growing up, family relationships, grieving over the death of a parent,&success&failure. We are watching for the 3/2009 release of The Dog Days of Charlotte Hays,&wishing there were more Mildred/Pumpkin Queen out there.』
(Hard Work and Determination Pay Off!) 『Who knew a book about pumpkins could be so entertaining and exhilarating. This book touches on everything from single-parent families to a young girl's coming of age and determination to make her deceased mother proud.
Mildred's determination, anticipation, and sometimes disappointing attempts at growing the largest pumpkin for the annual festival, grabs and keeps the reader's attention throughout the book. I only wish I could have read this book before I attended the Circleville Pumpkin Festival back in the 1990's. Growing a prize pumpkin such as Mildreds, definitely takes knowledge, patience, and hard work.
A very light-hearted and wonderful read. The characters in this book are truly realistic and well portrayed. We can all relate to having a family member, such as Mildred's Aunt Arlene, that can create drama in our lives as well as having a true friend such as Mildred's friend Jacob, that knows what you're thinking without speaking.
This story is set in a rural community outside of Columbus in Circleville, Ohio. Every year on the third Wednesday of October, one can visit Circleville and see hundreds of thousands of visitors all on a quest to see the largest pumpkin and eat a variety of foods made with, you guessed it....Pumpkins. A fantastic children's book that can capture a variety of audiences! Well done!
Also recommended: Dogku by Andrew Clements. A story writen about a stray dog who finds a loving home. A fantastic picture book written using Haiku poetry. Hence the name, 'Dogku.'』
(We highly recommend! An enjoyable story!) 『Very glad we picked this up. A great choice. I read it after my 8 yr old finished it. I thought it was warm and touching. What a sweet girl. Great detail on growing pumpkins-- very interesting. I had no idea how much work and special attention growing giant pumpkins required. A great first book by Ms. Kennedy-- thank you!』
(Courtesy of Teens Read Too) 『Mildred dreams big dreams in the shape of a pumpkin. This may seem strange to some people, and it especially does to her Aunt Arlene, who's convinced Mildred should start acting and dressing like girls her own age. It's not normal, according to Aunt Arlene, for 11-year-old girls to spend every single summer cultivating a tiny seed and trying to grow it into a giant pumpkin. Even if it is to win the Circleville Pumpkin Show's giant pumpkin contest.
But to Mildred, it makes perfect sense for her to try to make her mother's wish come true. The former Pumpkin Show Queen died when Mildred was only six, but Mildred still remembers how much she loved those huge pumpkins, and that she'd mentioned a desire to take home the prize for the largest pumpkin.
So, with the help of her veterinarian father and her best friend, Jacob, Mildred once again sets out on her pumpkin growing adventure, with her eye on the prize.
Librarians across the country are already selecting this book as a top choice for young students, and I can see why. The narrative voice is strong, and Mildred's control over her own world is enviable. Some challenges on her road to success bring the story home and have the reader rooting for the little girl with the big dreams.
Look for this genuinely sweet read on the shelves!
Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince』
(Warm and funny with a giant-pumpkin sized heart!) 『This is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It caught me off guard. Based on some positive reviews I'd read and the back cover blurb, I expected it to be cute. I thought I'd kind of like it. I didn't expect to be so swept up in Mildred's quest to grow the perfect giant pumpkin that I was tempted to ignore my 7th period English class today.
But I was.
Marlane Kennedy captures the voice of a fifth grader who has settled into life with her dad after her mother's death and explores the very real issues that face fifth grade girls - shopping for a first bra, getting ears pierced, and dealing with a bossy aunt. I found hints of Judy Blume in the coming of age parts of this book and big servings of warm humor on just about every page. Add to that one huge issue - growing a HUGE pumpkin, and protecting it from bugs, fungus, drought, and tornadoes - and you have one amazing book.
I was enchanted by the story and terribly intrigued by the process of growing a giant pumpkin. I kind of want to try and grow one myself now. Mostly, though, I want to stand up and cheer for Mildred and for Marlane Kennedy. ME AND THE PUMPKIN QUEEN is a little book with a giant-pumpkin sized heart.』 『
Mildred's Guide to Growing a Giant Pumpkin
1. Get the right seeds. These days, no one grows a Pumpkin Show winner without Howard Dill's Atlantic Giant seeds.
2. Convince your dad that having a pumpkin patch in your backyard is a good idea.
3. Make sure that your dogs stay far, far away from your seedlings.
4. Don't let your busybody aunt interfere with your "pumpkin obsession," no matter how much she wishes you were interested in boys or clothes oranythingother than pumpkins.
5. Find a best friend who can help out in a pinch.
Kakaku：699 saved$6.99
Bantam
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (No gentlemen in these games.) 『Because "A Gentleman's Game," Greg Rucka's sarcastically titled spy thriller, begins with an attack on the London transit system, maybe you'll think he's exploiting a tragic event. Not at all. He was prescient. The book predates the attack.
Anyhow, after the attack the British decide to get even, and send their top assassin, Tara Chace, aka "Minder One," into Yemen to take out the mastermind. She does, but also eliminates a Saudi Prince. Upon her return to London, she discovers that the Brits have decided to sell her out to the Saudis for trial and execution so that the Saudis will, in turn, take out a terrorist training camp.
Chace, with the aid of her boss and the other two assassins in her department, escapes, and then things start to get interesting.
The author's efficient prose will keep you reading along. He has a knack for characterization, too. Apparently "Queen and Country" started as a graphic novel, but his characters are far from cartoons. That impressed me majorly. He brings to life not only Tara but also her Muslim enemies, her Israeli friends, and her British colleagues, some of whom aren't sure which they are. And don't be surprised if you read the last 40 pages without managing to take a breath. Then you'll be ready for the sequel, "Private Wars."
Notes and Asides: Yes! I agree with the reviewer who suggests Kate Beckinsale play Tara in a movie version.』
(Move over James Bond and make room for Tara Chase!!!) 『Better known for his "Atticus Kodiak" novels, Greg Rucka has started a new series about Tara Chase, a female British Secret Service agent, known as a "Minder" in the trade world of spy craft. Chase is just as tough and sexual as James Bond, but much more realistic with flaws that show up under extreme stress, not mention backstabbing by the British bureaucrats.
The first book in this new series is A Gentleman's Game and has Tara Chase still recovering from lost of an old friend and lover. When a terrorist attack on the London underground train system results in the deaths of over three hundred people, the British government decides to strike back in retaliation at the Moslems who planned this death and destruction. Chase is sent in to Yemen to assassinate the spiritual leader (Dr. Faud) of the Moslem terrorist group who instigated the attack. Faud's meeting with one of the main terrorist leaders, plus a Saudi prince, who funds many of the terrorist attacks. Chase is also working with the Israeli Mossad as a favor and has agreed to take out the two main people, if the opportunity presents itself. The mission proves to be a success from the British point of view, but to complete it, Chase had to kill Dr. Faud and the Saudi prince when they were praying in a Moslem mosque. The outrage from Saudi Arabia is intense and turns into a political embarrassment for the British government. To appease the Saudis, the British agree to turn over Chase to them so that she can be tried and executed. Chase's boss, Paul Crocker, has a bloody fit at what his government is doing and decides to save Chase by ordering her run. This leads her to Israel and the chance to win back the favor of the British government by killing the Moslem terrorist who escaped during the first mission and by taking out a camp of eighty Moslem terrorists. Chase turns to the first person she trusts, Tom Wallace, and together they attempt to do the impossible.
Though I sometimes got confused with all the long Moslem names, A Gentleman's Game had razor-sharp suspense and crackling action that held me to the end with utter fascination. When Chase is thrown to the wolves by her own government, you feel her hurt and sense of betrayal, and then you loudly clap your hands with glee when her boss and the other agents in her department assist her in getting out of London. Tara Chase also proves to be a most interesting character that instantly demands your complete attention. She loves to drink, to have sex, and to be on the high wire of a mission. She reminded me somewhat of Adam Hall's British secret agent, Quiller. I liked her and was rooting for her throughout the book In fact, I enjoyed the novel so much that I immediately started its sequel, Private Wars, right after I finished it and read another hundred pages in just a few short hours. This is a very compelling series that is sure to bring its author, Greg Rucka, more of the fame he so richly deserves. It would also make a great movie with Kate Beckingsale as Tara Chase. For those of you who are "Atticus Kodiak" fans, prepare yourselves for the newest novel in the series, Patriot Acts, which comes out in August. All in all, a splendid read that had me wanting more! 』
(Vivid action scenes with subtle, well-done characterization) 『I've read a couple of "Queen&Country" graphic novels, and I thought the art let them down. That problem's not an issue here. Rucka writes vivid action scenes and peppers the book with subtle, well-done characterization. He knows how to make pages of conversation interesting and does a great job of disguising infodumps so the reader doesn't have to suffer through encyclopedic exposition. He manages to condense the first "Queen&Country" graphic novel into just a few pages. And there are some great plot twists. In all, an excellent read.
I should mention that Rucka's written some excellent comics over the years (particularly White Out). I'll be reevaluating the "Queen&Country" series as well as checking out some of his other work soon.』
(Excellent) 『Rucka is approaching the quality of the top political/espionage thriller writers like LeCarre, Ambler and Ross Thomas with this novel, which I prefer to his follow-up novel. His view of modern politics and espionage is more realistic than anything Ian Fleming wrote, even though Fleming's writing is way better than the Bond movies (except for the most current one). While still a bit "politically correct"/ moralistic in the underlying sentiment, the novel is showing a very possible reality of modern politics and politicians with excellent knowledge of technical aspects and weaponry as well - without the author boring the reader with too many technical details about weapons.』
(A Promising New Series from Rucka) 『A Gentleman's Game is the first in what bids to be a successful series of books from Greg Rucka, already well known for his strong Atticus Kodiak series. If you haven't read those, do so soon. It is important to read them in order. Shooting at Midnight is the best of the lot, but the whole lot is pretty compelling.
Anyway, back to A Gentleman's Game. All the blurbs keep drawing parallels to the TV series Alias. A few of the prior reviewers have also noted the similarities between an attack in the book on London's mass transit system and the tragic events of the summer of 2005. It is worth noting that there is a more useful parallal between A Gentleman's Game and another book, Mark Burnell's The Rhytym Section which also features a female assassin working for an ultra-secret British intelligence outfit where the enemy is just as likely to be a co-worker as it is a terorrist.
A Gentleman's Game compares quite favorably to The Rhytym Section, which has gone on to be the foundation of a strong series for Burnell. Rucka's ancillary characters are more finely drawn and deeper nuanced. He gets much further into the psyche of the terrorists than does Burnell, both in terms of their politics and in terms of their emotions.
There is also far more serious discussion of politics and differing threads of thought and belief in modern Islam. Islam is at least as diverse as modern Christianity is, although one would seldom think so to read most of the media in the West. How ironic to encounter a thoughtful discussion of why radical Islam believes there is a "Sixth Pillar of Wisdom" and that it is jihad in a thriler novel! Even more ironic is that an author who has spent time in the comic book genre has a lot to say about Wahhabism and why the House of Saud is at least as dangerous to the West as it is friendly.
As I mentioned earlier, Burnell has made his debut novel about a female assassin into the foundation of a series which has gotten better over time and now garners strong reviews from newspapers like The Economist. Let's hope Rucka does the same with his Tara Chace character.』 『Tara Chace may be the most dangerous woman alive. She can seduce you into believing she’s the woman of your dreams—or kill you with the icy efficiency of an executioner. As the new head of Special Operations for British Intelligence, she no longer has to court death in the field—she wants to.
Throw away the old rules, the old school, the old-boy network. The world of international espionage is about to learn the hard way that spying is no longer merely… A Gentleman's Game Greg Rucka’s electrifying thrillers have pushed the boundaries of suspense fiction to where few have dared to go. Now, inA Gentleman’s Game, one of the genre’s most fearless writers brings readers of international espionage his most fearless heroine yet: a no-holds-barred woman who’s as lethal as an assassin’s bullet.
When an unthinkable act of terror devastates London, nothing will stop Tara Chace from hunting down those responsible. Her job is simple: stop the terrorists before they strike a second time. To succeed, she’ll do anything and everything it takes. She’ll have to kill again.
Only this time the personal stakes will be higher than ever before. For the terrorist counterstrike will require that Tara allow herself to be used as bait by the government she serves. This time she’s turning her very life into a weapon that can be used only once. But as she and her former mentor race toward destiny at a remote terrorist training camp in Saudi Arabia, Tara begins to question just who’s pulling the trigger—and who’s the real enemy. In this new kind of war, betrayal cantake any form...including one’s duty to queen and country.
Based on the graphic novel series that won the coveted Eisner Award,A Gentleman’s Gameis an electrifyingly realistic, headline-stealing thriller with an unforgettable protagonist—one who redefines every rule she doesn’t shatter.』
Kakaku：638 saved$6.38
University of Oklahoma Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Tomson Highway a master Storyteller) 『This book is lyrical, magical and touching in a very deep sense. Highway makes you see and feel the way the northern Crees must have felt when children were sent to residential schools for 10 months of the year and would come back in the summer ashamed to speak their language. Highway also conveys the Indian spirit in his book by laughing at sad issues making them all the more poignant. Overall a masterpiece of structure, language and psychological portraiture.』
(Blonde Like Me) 『THis book is excellent!!I enjoyed it at my most .I understood what the author was going through because i myself went through a stage of blonde har affairs』
(An important story) 『When does a novel of fiction become 'too' autobiographical? Is there a line in the sand that cannot be crossed, a line that seperates the purely imagined from stark reality? If there is such a line, celebrated Canadian author Tomson Highway dances on its edge many times over, in his alternately humourous and harrowing novel KISS OF THE FUR QUEEN.
FUR QUEEN tells the truly sad tale of Champion and Ooneemeetoo Okimasis, Cree brothers growing up in Northern Manitoba. At an all-too-early age, Champion and Ooneemeetoo are torn from their magical life, thrust headlong into Canada's then-enforced policy of subjecting native children to Catholic residential schools. They are renamed Jeremiah and Gabriel, force-fed a life of Christian beliefs, subjected to monstrous acts by the priests, and removed from any conception of their people's history, language, and traditions. Slowly maturing into young men, Champion (Jeremiah) begins a career as a concert pianist, while Gabriel pursues a life in dance. As they struggle to cope in a world that increasingly alienates them from their past, their heritage re-enters their lives in unexpected and sometimes tragic ways.
Highway is a gifted writer, as evident from the multitude of awards he recieved for his plays THE REZ SISTERS and DRY LIPS OUGHT TO MOVE TO KASPUSKASING (both incredible plays, by the way). His presentation of the realities of Native-Canadian life has been lauded for its sense of humanity in the face of horror, as well as for showing a world that many people would rather ignore, or refuse to believe exists. So it is with FUR QUEEN. Highway's slow evolution of the narrative is masterful, travelling from the nostalgic remembrances of a child's idyllic life to the brutalities that face Native-Canadians in the 'evolved' city of Winnipeg. His inter-twining of Cree mythology with modern prose serves to more fully involve the reader in the Okimasis's daily struggle. At times, the writing becomes a bit confusing, slightly hallucinatory, but this disparity aids the reader in understanding the warring factions that exist within the minds of Jeremiah and Gabriel. We are all products of our upbringing, and nowhere is this more evident than in the confusion and self-loathing that threatens to consume the brothers at every turn.
But when does it become too autobiographical to qualify as fiction? Granted, almost all authors could be accused of importing elements of their lives into their work, but Highway pushes the envelope. He, too, grew up in Northern Manitoba, and was forced, along with his brother Rene, to attend Catholic school. There, they were both abused at the hands of their religious teachers, in a ongoing chapter of Canadian history that must surely rank as one of its most shameful. Rene grew up to be a dancer, while Tomson slowly evolved as a writer, much as Jeremiah does. And all the while, both were subjected to the casual and blatant racism that Native-Canadians face daily.
Yet perhaps this is besides the point. Whether one's story is thinly disguised as 'fiction' or not does not alter the powerful nature of the story itself. By attributing a fictional aspect to the narrative, Highway may be better able to import the more fantastical elements that lurk behind the realism, adding the omnipresent Fur Queen as a fairy godmother of sorts, a personal angel that guides the Okimasis family through their tribulations. And whether autobiographical or not, FUR QUEEN constantly guides the reader into unexpected places.
Are there better novels out there? Yes. Highway sometimes loses control of the story, and his experienced hand at dialogue is sometimes thwarted by the more descriptive nature of a novel. Despite this, KISS OF THE FUR QUEEN is an important novel, one that should be told many times over. The story is far too familiar for those in similar circumstances, and far too imcomprehensible for those lucky enough to have had a choice in where their lives would take them. By confronting the issues, as Highway does fearlessly, we can see where we've been, and maybe we can affect change as to where we're headed.』
(A symphonic journey through the spirit of Tomson Highway.) 『Once again, as in his plays 'The Rez Sisters' and 'Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing', Tomson has held me spell bound through this multi-leved spiritual journey. It is a symphony that transcends music into the printed word. The themes, fugues, melodies, will take you on a journey that bridges reality with the spritual essence of Indian culture. Meegwetch Tomson!』
(surprising, emotional combination of idyl&sadness) 『I recommend this book highly. It successfully descibes the idyllic childhood of two brothers, and how this childhood, and a Canadian aboriginal culture's attempt to adapt on its own terms to Euiropean-based culture are heartlessly ended by forced assimilation, land expropriation, and horrifying abuse. The story follows the two brothers from conception in the 1950s into their 30s in the 1980s. Once they leave home to go to a religious residential school, the tone of the story is of an ever-returning, inescapable sadness, which nothing--not flamboyance, not artistic creation, not sex, not consciousness-altering substances, not numbness, not attempting to reintegrate into aboriginal culture, not helping children of the next generation--can allay. The book had a powerful effect on me. I'm not sure whether or not it is a masterpiece, and thus deserving of 5 stars. Much of what it was telling me was so surprising, so shocking, or so emotional, that on first reading, I am unable to look at the book with enough detachment to make that call. Read it and see what you think.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Magnificent) 『After reading this book and salivating at the photographs, I'll NEVER lust after anyone else's jewellery again. Apart from the sheer magnificence of the stones and the settings, the provenance of the pieces and just how they happened to be in the possession of the various members of the royal family, is completely fascinating. It's also a very interesting look at the social mores of the various eras. In Queen Victoria's time, she tended to wear more modest jewellery, much of which had a sentimental value to her, and so the ladies of the day tended to follow her example. In the following reign, that of Edward V11, the upper classes of the day followed the example of Queen Alexandra, who was a beauty and who dressed lavishly in her own particular style, which was followed by ladies of the court and which featured high necklines, decorated heavily with diamonds and precious stones. In the following reign of a very rigid George V and Queen Mary, the court seemed to be bolstering the idea of an unapproachable royalty, above the touch of scandal and to foster this idea by literally covering the Queen in jewels from head to toe. Today's monarch jewels up only on the most formal of occasions, but it's thanks to her and to the Queens of the past that this amazing collection has been built up over the years to amaze and bedazzle lovers of beautiful jewellery everywhere.』
(will not disappoint!) 『Field has produced an excellent balance of text and pictures and has done an exceptionally thorough job of documentation. I was fascinated by his descriptions of how the jewelry was modified over the years to accommodate the fashions of the day and the taste of the current owner. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was due to the pictures. Most are black and white (for obvious reasons), however some were of very poor quality, and very few taken with the intention of displaying jewelry. There was one delightful story of a gift to the young Princess Elizabeth, a necklace and bracelet, which the Queen now refers to as "my best diamonds". But do we get to see the diamonds? No, the only available picture was a distant news photo of the young Princess sitting at an angle and the jewels nearly impossible to see. For Princess Diana fans, don't bother buying this book. There are less than a half dozen images of Diana, and nothing you haven't seen before. And just a reminder, this is her personal collection. You won't see any of the crown regalia.』
(A stunning and informative book with gorgeous photos) 『Leslie Field's "The Queen's Jewels: The Personal Collection of Elizabeth II" is a splendid, splendid book in every way. Field has gathered together hundreds of important photographs (of the nearly half million she saw altogether) of Queen Elizabeth's jewels. These are shown both in their cases and being worn by various monarchs, and we see how different royal family members have altered the look or the purpose of pieces as fashions and times changed over the years. Field has complemented these photographs with her outstanding, meticulously researched text. Even if you purchase the book mostly to drool over the photographs, you will end up being both captivated and educated by the accompanying text.
Field begins the book with the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne. Because of the Salic laws passed by the House of Hanover in 1833, Victoria was prevented from becoming ruler of both the United Kingdom and Hanover. The kingdoms were split for the first time in well over a century. Immediately, King Ernest of Hanover--an uncle of Queen Victoria--demanded his share of the royal jewels, arguing that since the kingdom had been split, so must be the gems. Victoria disagreed, and the argument went on for two decades before finally being settled in favor of Hanover. Subsequently, Victoria gave up several important pieces of jewelry to her uncle's descendants--but was already well on her way to amassing an important collection.
Victoria was the first British monarch to make clear that some pieces belonged to the Crown and were for use by any Queen to follow her--and that some pieces were her personal property, and hers to dispose of as she saw fit. British monarchs have followed in her footsteps ever since and although Field showcases many sumptuous Crown pieces in the book, the bulk of what we see are the Queen's personal pieces. And what a collection it is!
The collection is vast and jaw-droppingly beautiful. Field wisely divides the book into types of stones, from diamonds and pearls to emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, turquoise, and more. We see everything from parures (i. e., complete matching sets of everything from necklaces to brooches to rings to earrings and more) to necklaces and tiaras which were gifts from other governments or from such quaintly named organizations as "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" to pieces designed by Prince Philip expressly for his wife.
Among the many stand-outs in the book are:
- Queen Elizabeth's three-carat diamond solitaire engagement ring, designed by Prince Philip for his wife and set with a handsome diamond taken from a tiara belonging to Philip's mother (p. 85);
- The Godman Necklace, which had been bought by an English naturalist in the 1890s while on holiday in Bavaria. His daughters, many years after his death, wrote to the Lord Chamberlain saying that they felt they owned jewelry once owned by Empress Josephine of France and that the Queen might be interested in it. Although it turned out not to have been of this provenance, it was undoubtedly a stunning and valuable piece, showcasing seven large emeralds and three smaller ones, and surrounded throughout with an encrustation of diamonds and platinum filigree (p. 95);
- The Cambridge's Lover's Knot Tiara, shown being worn by the Duchess of Cambridge in 1818, the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in the 1890s, Queen Mary in 1926, Queen Mary again in 1935 (this time without the upright pearls which originally adorned it), Queen Elizabeth in 1955, and Diana, Princess of Wales in 1985. This is powerful testimony that good design and fine jewelry are both timeless (pp. 113 - 115);
- Queen Mary's "Rose of York" bracelet, which is a breathtaking ruby and diamond pendant which was eventually turned into a bracelet (p. 143).
Of course these are but a few of the many treasures in the book. It is a fascinating read, and a wonderfully complete and detailed account of what is probably the finest jewelry collection in the world today.』
(An Entertaining and Unique Piece of History) 『I was so impressed with and have gotten so much Joy from this book, it has inspired me enough to go ahead and try my first on-line review. When I noticed this was out of print I was very surprised. Even more so when I realized there was also a 1997-revised edition. I am hopeful its simply because the newly expanded volume is getting its finishing touches. With digital imaging technology having come so far since the publishing of the first two editions (87/97), the detail that is now available will hopefully be prominently featured in the next. A unique aspect of this book is the thoroughness of information presented on several different topics. The title subject is definitely covered in meticulous detail. Aside from the jewels it really is almost a complete mini-biography of most of the British Royal Family. After all the Men bought jewels too! It is amazing to see an 18th century piece on Queen Elizabeth and be able to trace it exactly from it origin through the centuries. The information in text and pictures give a much better understanding of the whole concept of continuity, with many surprises along the way. Tidbits like how Queen Victoria stubbornly refused to return gems that another Royal House insisted it owned. How important Jewels were to Queen Mary, not for their monetary value but because of their family historical importance. Its the little details like this that give you a much more personal understanding of monarchs, without being dishy or gossipy.
Both the front and back inside covers gives a complete family tree dating back to Henry VII. Inside, thirteen categories/chapters cover everything from Diamonds and Emeralds to Sapphires and Amethysts, explaining who favored a particular kind of gem or style over another. Do not expect a very in-depth education on gems, however you get a great understanding of the history and importance of gems through the centuries as a symbol of power and status. There is a generous amount of color and B&W photos perfectly balanced with the text. Generations of Royals Portraits set-up three or four to a page wearing the same Jewels over scores of decades are some of the picture highlights. I really don?t think you need to be a Royal Watcher to appreciate the images. From all the individuals listed in the Acknowledgments many of them with titles you understand this book was published with the complete cooperation and help of the entire Royal Family. Its the photography that makes you appreciate this. A perfect example of this is the cover subject. A magnificent necklace part of a set named: The Cambridge and Delhi Durbar Parure. Inside there is another full color page showing the complete set, however throughout the book you can see no less than ten or twelve different royals wearing some kind of configuration of it. Including the World Famous snapshot of the late Princess Diana wearing the necklace as a headband. You cannot help but feeling like you know the members of the various royal houses a little better after reading a few excerpts. The entire volume gives you an impression that the author truly respects, enjoys and is highly educated on her subject. This is one of the few books that I own, that I know I will never post for sale used. I hope you enjoy!』
(A labor of love) 『I can't say enough about this book. Leslie Field obviously loves her subject; the amount of research that went into this book is impressive. It is fascinating to follow a piece of jewelry through history from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana through pictures. The accompanying text is informative, but the pictures really say it all in this book.』 『The first definitive account of the priceless jewels owned by Queen Elizabeth II, published with the full cooperation of Buckingham Palace. First serial to Life. 285 illustrations, 85 in full color.』
Kakaku：259 saved$2.59
Three Rivers Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Great Harry's Little Sister) 『I own this book. I have nothing against Jean Plaidy (aka Victoria Holt); she was a fine historical fiction writer as well as one of the best romance-suspense writers around. "Mary, Queen of France" follows the story of Princess Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's high-spirited, red-haired baby sister. Plaidy has the basic facts of Mary's life down: Her marriage at 18 to the frail 52-year-old King Louis XII of France, her elopement with Charles Brandon only a week and several days after Louis's sudden death, and Mary's own death at age 38 from tuberculosis. Woven through the 287-page story is the budding romance between Mary and Charles. Plaidy gives the story a firm romance writer's touch with such sentences as "her dark, smoldering eyes", "Francois, lean and hungry...hungry for her body", and "Charles, kiss me...for the last time, kiss me." The story is enjoyable up until the last chapter, where Plaidy wraps things up a little too quickly for my liking. No doubt this is due to Mary's life becoming somewhat unexciting after returning to England as Mrs. Charles Brandon, and the fact that Mary was actually a minor character in the greater Tudor dynastic drama, but I think Plaidy could have found enough information to stretch out the final years of Mary's life for a few more pages.』
(making history personally) 『jean plaidy make you care about the person who was just a name in history long ago.i loved mary fire to finally married the man she love.stand up to henry vii keeping her head.』
(History to enjoy!) 『I love Jean Plaidy. I love how she expertly weaves me into another world, leaving me sad, happy and very satisfied. I had always been curious about Henry VIII's beloved little sister and not much is written about her. I've seen her in the Showtime series, The Tudors and to be honest I didn't much care for her. But in this book, I very much like her and feel for her. I laughed with her and I struggled with her. All my questions have been answered with this wonderful book. Mary Tudor was probably, in my opinion and based on this book, the only Tudor who was completely satisfied with her life-albeit a struggle to achieve. She looked back on her life without regret and how many of us can say that? I also liked learning about Francois I, King of France. I had no idea he was even a king. I'd gone all my life thinking the French only had Louis's that ruled their country. That's why I love Jean Plaidy. I learn history and adore it.』
(Henry VIII's baby sister) 『Mary is the younger sister of Henry VIII, and he dotes on her. This book covers much her life - her betrothals to prices of Europe, hermiserable marriage to the King of France, her love affair with Charles Brandon (the king's best friend), and finally her marriage to Brandon against her brother's wishes - a very dangerous game to play against Henry VIII.
The book's pacing was not even. At times the story raced and I flew through the pages; at other times it dragged on and seemed much longer than its 290 pages. Over all I liked the book, and I'm planning on eventually collecting all of the re-published books by Jean Plaidy.』
(interesting telling of history) 『Mary is the younger sister of Henry VIII, and he dotes on her. This book covers much her life - her betrothals to prices of Europe, hermiserable marriage to the King of France, her love affair with Charles Brandon (the king's best friend), and finally her marriage to Brandon against her brother's wishes - a very dangerous game to play against Henry VIII.
The book's pacing was not even. At times the story raced and I flew through the pages; at other times it dragged on and seemed much longer than its 290 pages. Over all I liked the book, and I'm planning on eventually collecting all of the re-published books by Jean Plaidy.』 『Legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy brings to life the story of Princess Mary Tudor, a celebrated beauty and born rebel who would defy the most powerful king in Europe—her older brother.
Princess Mary Rose is the youngest sister of Henry VIII, and one of the few people whom he adores unconditionally. Known throughout Europe for her charm and good looks, Mary is the golden child of the Tudor family and is granted her every wish.
Except when it comes to marriage. Henry VIII, locked in a political showdown with France, decides to offer up his pampered baby sister to secure peace between the two mighty kingdoms. Innocent, teenage Mary must become the wife of the elderly King Louis, a toothless, ailing man in his sixties. Horrified and furious, Mary has no choice but to sail for France. There she hones her political skills, bides her time, and remains secretly in love with Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk. When King Louis dies, after only two years of marriage, Mary is determined not to be sold into another unhappy union. She must act quickly; if she wants to be with the man she truly loves, she must defy the laws of church and state by marrying without her brother’s permission. Together, Mary and Charles devise a scheme to outwit the most ruthless king in Europe and gain their hearts’ desire, not knowing if it will lead to marital bliss or certain death.』
IPhone 3G used's review (South Mill Young Readers Book Club Review) 『I am over an African American Children's Book Club in the community and we went to meet a vendor at the Sweet Auburn Festival and the children selected this book as their next book to read. Everyone in the club "boys and girls" are very happy with this selection.
THANKS... We will tell others.
We are the members of the South Mill Young Readers Book Club in Conyers, Georgia. Seven of our members purchased, reviewed and rated this book. Our personal ratings are as follows:
Creativity B+ Enjoyment B+ Read A-Long CD A+ Price A+
As a book club, we all agree that we would recommend this book to others our age.
Typed by Book Club Instructor: mwg 』
(Queen of the Scene Book) 『The illustrations are amazing. My daughter has read this book over and over and enjoys it every time. Queen Latifah has created a sassy little girl -much like my own. I will continue to purchase her books for my daughter as long as she produces them. Thanks for such amazing books for my little girl!』
(Great) 『This book is great for little girls. My daughter loves it. It allows her to begin reading independently because of the CD. This book shows her that girls can rule the playground too. She love Queen Latifah. A must have.』
(It's Great!!!!!!) 『This book is written by a wonderful author, model, actress and singer. Queen Latifah is truly a role model for young African American girls.』
(queen of the scene) 『gave this book as a gift to granddaughters they loved it great message for girls』 『This little ruler of the playground has got game. Basketball, stickball, jump-rope, soccer-there's nothing she won't try. And watch out, boys, because she's representing all the ladies and has girl power to the max. Queen Latifah, the Grammy Award-winning First Lady of Hip-Hop, teams up with the Caldecott Honor artist Frank Morrison in a celebration of spirit and pride. Ages 3 - 8』
Kakaku：848 saved$8.48
Crown
Not yet published 『As captivating now as it was more than four centuries ago, the reign of Elizabeth I—with its scandal, intrigue, and resilience—has sparked the imaginations of generations. In her sweeping historical debut, Ella March Chase explores a thrilling possibility: that the Tudor bloodline did not end with the Virgin Queen.
Tucked away in the country estate of her beloved father, Lord Calverley, young Nell de Lacey feeds her hungry mind with philosophy, language, and studies of science. Her mother, once a devoted lady-in-waiting to Henry VIII’s last wife, Katherine Parr, would rather her daughter stop dabbling in the grand affairs of men and instead prepare for her eventual duties as a wife. She knows all too well what menace lurks in royal courts.
But Nell’s heart yearns for something more, and a chance meeting with Princess Elizabeth, then a prisoner of the Tower of London, pushes her closer toward finding it. Now, years later, Nell’s chance arrives when she is summoned to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth. Nell isentranced by the splendor and pageantry of royal life, unaware of the danger and deception that swirls around the monarch and her courtiers.
But a lingering rumor about nine unaccounted for months in the Virgin Queen’s past reignites when the flame-haired Nell—a mirror image of Her Majesty both physically and intellectually—arrives at court. Quickly she catches the eye not only of the cunning Elizabeth, but of those who would see the queen fail. With strong evidence to connect Elizabeth to her newest maidof honor and the politics of England in turmoil, the truth could send Nell and those she loves to the Tower to join in the wretched fates of those who’ve gone before her.
Engrossing and enlightening,The Virgin Queen’s Daughterbrings to life one of the greatest mysteries of one of the greatest monarchs. Ella March Chase’s vivid storytelling gives due credence to a daughter who might have been and a mother who never was.』
