In the Pink: Dorothy Draper--America's Most Fabulous Decorator

Book Description

From the Greenbrier resort in West Virginia and Quitandinha in Brazil to her important fabrics for F. Schumacher & Co. and her automobile and airplane interiors of the 1950s, Draper continues to influence designers today.

Customer Reviews:

The Height of Glamour.......2007-07-12

When High STYLE was "in-style" Dorothy Draper was the queen of design... Every page reflects her understanding of space, light and perfection!!! This isa great read for the design professional as well as the casual reader. Her life story and her work are inseperable - she loved beautiful things and had an un-erring eye for the dramatic. "In the Pink: Dorothy Draper --America's Most Fabulous Decorator" is a visual treat as much as it is a fun read! As an iterior designer I see her design principles are as easily applied today as it was in the age of glamour. I would give it a 5!!! all across the board.

The gorgeous terror of excess, or "How I was blinded with ornament".......2007-06-01

While Kelly Wearstler was still in the womb, Dorothy Draper was jetsetting the style world in a solid gold Deusenburg that was fueled exclusively on Chanel no. 5. Her contribution to the interiors and custom fabricated furnitures and fixtures has forever seared a scar into the homes of hollywood and beyond. Liberace himself would be sent into a seizure over Dorothy's hallucinagenic oppulence and fearless approach to her indulgent, decorative torture chambers. Get this book and blow your mind.

Absolutely gorgeous book.......2007-04-06

It took a while for me to finally decide to drop that kind of coin on a book, but its absolutely gorgeous and worth the price. Very cool to page through and see her imprint on decorating and design through the 30's up to now. You page through a Domino magazine and see a cool black and white modern print on a white french chair and think 'wow' and then you page through the book and see that she was doing it in the 40's. Just makes me wish I had my own chandelier fabricator and my own master plasterer as those seem to be her tricks of the trade. Beautifully put together and one of the few decorating books I actually wanted to READ every word and not just page through for the pretty pics.

As History & Biography: Bravo! As Design Inspiration: Blah!.......2007-04-02

I bought this book for my wife, who is an artist and color consultant, because I thought she'd enjoy seeing an iconic designer known for her bold use of color and thematic environments -- especially done on a grand scale. And, yes, you will find page after page after page of grand ballrooms, hotel lobbies, mansion-size dining rooms, and so on here.

80% of them, unfortunately, are photographed in black & white. So much for the bold use of color.

There are two great color photos -- pages 161 and 207 -- that show off Draper's lush, vibrant style. But the rest of the book is either slightly out of focus color photos, color illustrations and old ads, or black & white photos. It's just sad in how it under-represents Dorothy Draper.

"But be fair," you say. "Dorothy Draper's peak took place before the advent of color photography." That's fine. But this book is a perfect example of the rare publishing project that truly is BEGGING for Photoshop colorization. On page 53, for example, the text refers to a House & Garden magazine article which declared one of Draper's most visible design projects, Hampshire House, to be "a gold mine of decorating ideas, particularly in color." And yet all four photos on that spread are in black & white, as are the spreads before and after it. A very good Photoshop artist -- and several do perfect, true-to-life work -- could give those old black & white shots the vivid, vibrant colors that would represent Dorothy Draper properly and accurately without changing Draper's style one iota.

As I say in my title, as a history (of the advent of superstar designers) and a biography (of Draper), this is a very good book that should not be overlooked. But how can you do a history of bold interior design, or a biography of a top interior designer, without SHOWING the vivacious use of color which was central to both? That's like doing a bio of Abe Lincoln without including the Gettysburg Address.

So is this worth seeing? Definitely. Worth buying used? Probably. Worth buying new? Only if you're rich.

MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT.......2007-03-19

I HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THIS BOOK FOR SUCH A LONG TIME AND NOW I AM SO DISAPPOINTED.....WHILE THE COVER IS STUNNING AND IT PULLS YOU IN TO LOOK AT THE REST OF THE BOOK THE PHOTOGRAPHS INSIDE ARE NOT GOOD AT ALL...I AM SURPRISED WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY THE PHOTOS WERE NOT BETTER....IT ALSO SHOWED ME THAT THE DORTHY DRAPER STYLE WAS NOT AS CLASSICAL AND LONG LASTING, EXCEPT FOR THE GREENBRIAR HOTEL WHICH IS STILL BEAUTIFUL...MOST OF THE INTERIORS THAT SHE EXECUTED AND WERE SHOWN WERE LIKE AN AMATEUR DID THEM..SORRY D.D. AND MR. VARNEY.....SOMEONE OK'D A BOOK THAT NEEDED TO BE RE-THOUGHT AND RE-EXECUTED BEFORE IT WAS PUBLISHED......MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT..........

Fields of Reading: Motives for Writing, Seventh Edition

Average customer rating:

Some Interesting Essays, Some Surprising Lapses
Motives for Teaching?
Phenomenal Reading!

Fields of Reading: Motives for Writing, Seventh Edition
Nancy R. Comley , David Hamilton , and Carl H. Klaus
Manufacturer: Bedford/St. Martin's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Readers | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers (8th Edition) (MyCompLab Series)
Strategies for Successful Writing: A Rhetoric, Research Guide, Reader and Handbook (7th Edition)
Strategies for Successful Writing: A Rhetoric, Research Guide, Reader and Handbook (8th Edition) (MyCompLab Series)
A Writer's Reference: 2003 MLA Update
Writing Analytically

ASIN: 0312404719

Customer Reviews:

Some Interesting Essays, Some Surprising Lapses.......2007-06-26

The good: The book lavishes the mandatory amount of space on the usual topics such as racism and women, but fortunately reaches out to a larger audience. There is good material on science and technology as well as social sciences and public affairs. There's also a good selection of material of various rhetorical styles of writing. And the discussion questions after the essays generally avoid biasing the discussion. Very useable for class.

The so-so: One reviewer refers to the liberal bent of the texts. And it's abundantly clear that some perspectives receive very privileged status in Fields of Reading. So if you're looking for one version of current ivory tower orthodoxy, here it is. In that sense, there is little diversity in this book, really. So many other possible sources for writing and insights, from Fortune and BusinessWeek to Wired and The Wall Street Journal...I wish the authors had thought a little more outside their box.

The bad: Surprisingly unreliable editing. Incredibly, despite having five academics work on this, they still get important facts flat-out wrong. They apparently confused the number of wounded at Pearl Harbor with the number killed: they cite 1177 deaths in an editorial footnote, whereas knowledgeable writers (Prange) cite 2403 dead and 1178 wounded. And page 234 of my edition refers to the "missile" which hit Nagasaki!

I quote from the instructor's edition for the seventh edition; perhaps they bothered with fact-checking for the new edition. How these errors of fact endured this far is a mystery only the editors can answer. But perhaps the hidden text here is that there are only certain things these academics really care about getting right.

Motives for Teaching?.......2004-10-25

When you contemplate the long list of standard authors, Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize-winners, worthy of emulation by students, what names spring to the forefront of your mind? Adam Gopnick, Vivian Gornick, Zoe Tracy Hardy? If not, you are out of touch with Ms. Magazine, The Village Voice, and The New Republic, those repositories of great literature, from which these and other authors are selected. You may not realize that "nonverbal courtship patterns in women" is on a par with the Declaration of Independence, or that war, racism, government, big business, fast food and most white people are all bad, or that minorities, women, homosexuals, and New York City are all good. You MIGHT, however, question whether this is really an English 101 textbook, as it pretends, or a social tract promulgating the doctrinaire beliefs of the political left. It is interesting reading, but whether or not one agrees with the selected authors, it is emphatically not a student textbook on writing, and it is not a good choice for that purpose compared to other texts available. It is not what it pretends to be.

Phenomenal Reading!.......2003-02-10

I had to purchase this book for my english course, but after only two weeks of reading and discussion I feel such an empowerment by the selections. I wouldn't be able to choose a favorite author because each one is represented so uniquely by their stories. After my class is over, I look forward to sitting down and reading those that were not assigned and re-reading those icons of society that were picked by my professor. If you want a short introduction to various famous authors then this is definitely a book you will enjoy!

Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style

Average customer rating:

Excellent & Inspiring
Eye candy
A beautiful book
Are Kelly and Jonathan The Same Person?
Fifteen Minutes of Drama.

Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style
Kelly Wearstler
Manufacturer: Collins Design
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Domicilium Decoratus
Domicilium Decoratus: Hillcrest Estate, Beverly Hills, California
My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living
In the Pink: Dorothy Draper--America's Most Fabulous Decorator
Maison--Christian Liaigre

ASIN: 0060394420
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Book Description

In this lavishly illustrated book, Hollywood's hottest new interior designer shows readers how mixing and matching designs from different eras and adding an element of the unexpected can redefine any room–residential or commercial.

With a painter's eye for colour, unwavering esteem for the historic, and a finely tuned sense of detail, Kelly Wearstler, one of Hollywood's most talked about young interior designers, has led her Los Angeles–based interior design firm, kwid (Kelly Wearstler Interior Design), to national prominence with an array of noted residential and commercial projects. Now, she shares her famous design philosophies and secrets, and inspires readers to create unexpected style in their own homes. Through full–colour photographs and sketches and informative text, Kelly explains the elements of unexpected style: inspiration, shapes and forms, graphics, texture and colour, masculine vs. feminine, and unusual details. Kelly takes readers through the creative process and shows how a Franco–Chinese piece of vintage wallpaper led her to a shopping spree in Paris and inspired the layered, classic look of the hotel Maison 140 in Beverly Hills. She explains the need for "icebreakers" in a room and how unexpected designs and details can lighten a room's load.

This is the perfect book for anyone looking for new and creative ways to decorate their homes. Whether it's shopping for a bedside table, putting reflective paint on the underside of a dining room table, or finishing a ceiling with high–gloss paint, she inspires readers to add an element of the unexpected to their homes. Others will enjoy living vicariously through Kelly's shopping sprees throughout the US, Asia, and Europe and appreciate discovering how each item found is a starting off point for a fresh and fun room design.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent & Inspiring.......2007-10-05

Kelly Wearstler's creative expressions inspire in her book, Modern Glamour. I found the book to be beautifully presented and packed with ideas I'd love to incorporate into my own work & home.

Eye candy.......2007-08-06

I was pleasantly surprised as to what an interesting read this book is - having bought a copy of this after her second book "Domicillium Decoratus", I wasn't expecting a lot of text. It's not revolutionary, but still an interesting insight to her processes. For those who are fans of Wearstler's style there are lots of photos of completed projects, some I'd previously not seen before - like her old LA apartment, and others of her buying up antiques and art in exotic locations. As a designer, I think this is a good book to add to your reference library. Kelly is a master at combining styles and colours that are seemingly disparate, so it's a great source of inspiration - or even just a bit of eye candy.

A beautiful book.......2007-02-12

Kelly Wearstler's top projects (including her old apartment and her current office) are photographed beautifully and can really provide inspiration if you enjoy her graphic, bold and irreverent style. There's a bit of Dorothy Draper in her aesthetic, in that she too takes classic influences and twists them in a way that is thoroughly modern and completely beautiful. A lovely book.

Are Kelly and Jonathan The Same Person?.......2006-09-27

Is Kelly Wearstler Jonathan Adler in drag? Or vice versa? Both are wildly talented people, who just happen to use the same things in their work, same colors, etc. Jonathan is an artist, who adoringly references and copycats retro pottery, and makes it unqiuely his own. Kelly is a cool chick, good dresser, has tons of style and can make a pretty room out of old glam junk and ideas. I love them both, and their books are worth having. I wish Kelly had more personal rooms. Too many hotel rooms which are very stagey. In the book she says she didn't like doing set design, yet that's what she does - designs sets for cool people like her to inhabit. Hollywood Regency is the word bandied about to describe both Jonathan & Kelly, he sometimes getting the East coast moniker of Palm Beach Style too (and she the West coast of Palm Springs). I say if you shop on eBay you will see all this great junk (just search Hollywood Regency) that I call eBay Regency. Both books give you a few ideas of how to put it together. Jonathan is more playful, Kelly more serious, but both make wonderful, zany, colorful, retro inspired modern human rooms. I think they bring back the words INTERIOR DECORATOR, so refreshing after everyone and his mother is a DESIGNER (used to be everyone's mother was a station wagon driving decorator with a business on the side). I wonder if these two have ever met, and if so do they like one another, or are they really the same person?
By the way get his book too, if you don't already have it JONATHAN ADLER PRESCRIPTION FOR ANTI DEPRESSIVE LIVING - they have it here at Amazon.

Fifteen Minutes of Drama........2006-08-11

This designer clearly aims for exclamations of surprises from viewers. She has an admirable eye for color. But for real class and style, refer to and study truly great and original minds like the late David Hicks, Madeleine Castaing, Jacques Garcia, and the highly intellectual Jacques Grange. Then re-interpret to suit your life and add your own sense drama for a real originality.

How to Read a Painting: Lessons from the Old Masters

Average customer rating:

excellent reference
Baroque
Fascinating read for any art lover!
Thought-provoking book on European Art Masterpieces
An amazing European art history course

How to Read a Painting: Lessons from the Old Masters
Patrick De Rynck
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Symbols and Allegories in Art (Guide to Imagery Series)
How to Read a Modern Painting: Lessons from the Modern Masters
Nature and Its Symbols (Guide to Imagery Series)
Isms: Understanding Art
Angels and Demons in Art (Guide to Imagery Series)

ASIN: 0810955768

Book Description

Clues to the meaning of many of the masterpieces of art history lie in a rich system of symbols, themes, and motifs that often eludes modern museum-goers. The intimate knowledge of Christian theology, Greek and Roman mythology, and folklore that was so vivid in the minds of viewers during the Renaissance is rarely part of the preparation the contemporary viewer brings to a painting. This insightful, anecdotal, portable book-with 1,000 gorgeous color illustrations-helps to fill in those gaps by decoding the imagery of more than 150 of the most influential and admired artworks of all time.

Covering the works of the Italian, Netherlandish, German, and Spanish Old Masters, from 1450 to 1750-paintings by artists such as Giotto, Botticelli, El Greco, Bruegel, Holbein, Rubens, and Vermeer, all held in public collections-How to Read a Painting not only helps the viewer to understand the significant details of a picture but also explains the relationship with similar imagery in other works. The guide to Old Master paintings that every art lover has always wanted, this indispensable museum companion will open the reader to a whole new experience of Western art's most praised and visited paintings.

Customer Reviews:

excellent reference.......2006-11-05

This book was hard to put down. Each painting was a new story that revealed information I would have never known. I started it as I was planning a trip to Rome and Florence and it opened up a world for me that I would otherwise have been ignorant of while visiting the museums where some of these paintings hung. My only critisism would be that it didn't go into much depth-just mostly basic symbolism.
Good for reference and also entertaining.

Baroque.......2006-11-02

Excellent book, the quality of the pictures if great and very useful content. It is one of the best book for your library.

Fascinating read for any art lover!.......2006-01-05

This book is a tremendous read. And you don't need to be an art historian or student to appreciate the information. Easy to understand, you will never look at those "boring old masters" the same way again.

Thought-provoking book on European Art Masterpieces.......2005-07-25

If you have never been particularly interested in art but want to start learning about the great European artists between the 14th century and the early 19th century, this is a great book to start with. And I am sure it has a lot to offer to advanced students of Art too.

The book offers comments on about 180 significant paintings painted over 500 years. The earliest painting in the book is Maestà (1308-11) by Duccio di Buoninsegna of Italy. The most modern is The Third of May, 1808 by Francisco de Goya of Spain. Every painting is dissected with numerous sub-illustrations and the various historical, artistic and social significances of it discussed in detail. Since all the paintings are European in nature, the originals are located mainly in English and European museums but a surprising number of paintings are located in American Museums too.

Here are the ones from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The Adoration of the Magi (1310) - Giotto
The Annunciation Triptych ("Merode Triptych") (1425-30) - Robert Campin
Diptych: The Crucifixion and The Last Judgement (1430s) - Jan Van Eyck
A Goldsmith in his Shop, Possibly St Eligius (1449) - Petrus Christus
The Opening of the Fifth Seal of the Apocalypse (1608-14) - El Greco
The Rape of the Sabine Women (1633-34) - Nicolas Poussin
The Preaching of St John the Baptist (1634) - Bartholomeus Breenbergh
The Death of Socrates (1787) - Jacques-Louis David

The majority of the paintings focus on Biblical topics, but there are a great number of secular and political paintings too especially in the later years. For example, there is a fascinating one called "An experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump" (1768) by Joseph Wright of Derby. It is a study of various peoples reactions to a scientific experiment in which a bird is suffocated to death in an air pump.

An amazing European art history course.......2005-05-27

This book is worth every cent, just for the 1,000 glossy photos of major European "Old Master" works!!

I wish I had read this book instead of struggling to stay awake in very boring art history classes!

Average customer rating:

not good
great
500 tattoo designs
cool, Wish it had the meanings to go with
Very Basic.

500 Tattoo Designs
Henry Ferguson
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

The Tattoo Encyclopedia : A Guide to Choosing Your Tattoo
Total Tattoo Book
Great Book of Tattoo Designs: More than 500 Body Art Designs
Ink: The Not-Just-Skin-Deep Guide to Getting a Tattoo
Tattoo

ASIN: 159223139X

Book Description

Tattoos are no longer unusual or uncommon; they are now an undeniable element of mainstream style and fashion. But tattoos are expensive and, more importantly, permanent; so choosing an image is a very big decision. Here to help is 500 Tattoo Designs, a vast reference library of popular tattoos. Neatly organized by theme, the clearly executed line drawings cover every conceivable subject area — historical and traditional to modern, from tribal imagery of native American Indians, Japanese and Chinese characters, arcane hieroglyphics to gothic skulls, Celtic amulets, and more. The book also features body positioning hints for specific designs, a discussion of color dynamics, and notes on health and safety. Whether you want to show off your design or conceal it, this book is packed with hundreds of possibilities.

Customer Reviews:

not good.......2007-05-16

This book is just bad the designs are childish, and undeveloped. I give it a two only because I have used a couple of the images but only after alot of altering.

great.......2007-03-09

this book was very helpful in designing tatt's for my friends and none the less myself. It has everything from culture to animals, even plants. i recomend this to anyone who is into designs the simplest or even detailed tatt's. Just because of it's such a simple design to base off of.

500 tattoo designs.......2007-01-16

I was very happy with this book it has a lot of great pictures!

cool, Wish it had the meanings to go with.......2006-11-06

neat designs, I would like to know the means for them

Very Basic........2006-06-26

It has very basic designs.. but with a imagination you can build from the designs.

Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design

Average customer rating:

I regret buying it!!!
crossing boundries: A Global Vision of Design
great experience
Fully Flavored and a Visual Indulgence
Educatuinal and totally beautiful!

Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design
Vicente Wolf
Manufacturer: Monacelli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Decoration & Ornament | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Donghia: The Artistry of Luxury and Style
Learning to See: Bringing the World Around You Into Your Home
Axel Vervoordt: Timeless Interiors
Rooms to Inspire: Decorating With America's Best Designers
Hip Hollywood Homes: An Intimate Look at L.A.'s Hottest Trendsetters and the Inspiring Spaces They Live in

ASIN: 1580931812

Book Description

Famed interior designer Vicente Wolf is known for a modern and elegant design sensibility that is guided by integrity and simplicity. He is also a photographer of note, capturing images of his own design work and of his travels. Crossing Boundaries is a fascinating combination of the two, a spirited approach that pairs travel and design based on visits to Ethiopia, Myanmar, Syria, Madagascar, and Borneo.

Wolf is an adventurous voyager, and he is captivated by how people express themselves: in the colors and patterns of clothing, the forms and features of architecture, and so on. These influences are incorporated into his own designs, sometimes directly-a collection of brightly colored woven caps that add personality to a Wyoming log cabin-and sometimes indirectly-a composition of gray-blues and gray-greens drawn from succulent plants in a dry riverbed.

Customer Reviews:

I regret buying it!!!.......2007-08-10

I regret that i have bought this book! It does not show anything special and the objetcive of the author of showing misery people and then show glamorous spaces is a shame!!!!

crossing boundries: A Global Vision of Design.......2007-07-31

This book with it's exciting interior pictures captures interior design at it's best. Mr Wolf's incorpration of ethnic items makes these interiors personal and interesting. His use of color and his inclusion of Benjamin Moore color numbers is a nice feature. I very much like this book and his style. I am an interior designer also and I'm not easily impressed by most other designers work.

great experience.......2007-06-27

mr wolf in his travels search for inspirations in the most unusual places: ethiopia, burma, syria - most of times acquiring local handcrafted items which he will use in his decorations. Although his palette is a bit neutral, with pastel colors most of times, his interiors are extremely beautiful, with subdued elegance and charm. Interesting is how he manages to mix the objects from his travels, with modern furniture, mirrors in abondance and white walls.

Fully Flavored and a Visual Indulgence.......2007-06-26

This book takes us to various locations throughout the world where color, shape, texture, and design from various enthic cultures are integrated in modern design. The chapters are divided geographically and the first part of each chapter reveals the colors, flavors, textures, and ambience of that ethnic area's particular characteristics. Then in the second part of the chapter, the author integrates those influences into the modern westernized home showing exactly how and what he chose to influence his designs. He takes us on a journey throughout the world and we get an inside peak into how he thinks and rationalizes his ideas while mixing with the local culture. This book has loads of eye candy photos. I gave it a FIVE star rating because of the beautiful layout and richness of the photos and for the intimate writing that Vincent Wolf gives from his experience. However, personally I give it a four because, for my own personal preferences, I would have loved to see more of these ethnic influences and colors embellished more in the modern designs he created. I think he toned it down too much in the final results of his designs - but thats just my opinion. The rooms and spacial relationships of the rooms feel very real instead of "propped" like so many design books. This book makes an excellent resource book or a wonderful coffee table book for everyone's enjoyment.

Educatuinal and totally beautiful!.......2007-05-28

This book is not only a joy to look at it is a valuable tool in learning the design secrets of a master.

Art Of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives

Average customer rating:

Received
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!
The master piece that competes with Howard Lawsons' work
The "Rosetta Stone" of creative writing.
Eminently Clear and Immediately Memorable

Art Of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives
Lajos Egri
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting
Making a Good Script Great
Creating Unforgettable Characters
The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd Edition
Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters: Storytelling Secrets From the Greatest Mind in Western Civilization

ASIN: 0671213326

Amazon.com

For many years, Lajos Egri's highly opinionated but very enjoyable The Art of Dramatic Writing has been a well-guarded secret of playwrights, scriptwriters, and writers for television. Unlike many other books on playwrighting (several of which Egri criticizes during the course of this one), the author's systematic breakdown of the essentials for creating successful realistic plays and screenplays effectively demystifies the process of creative writing. Egri, who formulated his thoughts about "a well-made play" during its heyday (the 1940s and '50s), places a premium on an exhaustive analysis of characters and discussion of their psychological motivations. The writer is exhorted to find a premise to explore and to discover which characters will most effectively demonstrate this thesis, then is shown how most effectively to place them into conflict with each other. Conflict itself is also discussed, particularly how to create scenarios in which the crisis develops at a pace that feels unforced and natural. While Egri's view of the well-made play has little space for either the spare musings of Beckett and Pinter or the conscious excesses of non-narrative and other experimental writing, it nonetheless remains an essential text for writers drawn to realistic drama, and to any writer interested in the fundamental motivations of human behavior. --John Longenbaugh

Book Description

Learn the basic techniques every successful playwright knows

Among the many "how-to" playwriting books that have appeared over the years, there have been few that attempt to analyze the mysteries of play construction. Lajos Egri's classic, The Art of Dramatic Writing, does just that, with instruction that can be applied equally well to a short story, novel, or screenplay.

Examining a play from the inside out, Egri starts with the heart of any drama: its characters. All good dramatic writing hinges on people and their relationships, which serve to move the story forward and give it life, as well as an understanding of human motives -- why people act the way that they do. Using examples from everything from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, Egri shows how it is essential for the author to have a basic premise -- a thesis, demonstrated in terms of human behavior -- and to develop the dramatic conflict on the basis of that behavior.

Using Egri's ABCs of premise, character, and conflict, The Art of Dramatic Writing is a direct, jargon-free approach to the problem of achieving

truth in writing.

Customer Reviews:

Received.......2007-09-17

Got book for Stepson, he hasn't complained about it, so I guess it was good.

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!.......2007-08-09

This novel is the perfect place to start for beginners. Although it references mostly plays and screenwriting, the guidelines set forth by Egri can be applied to any type of writing. Be sure to take plenty of notes!

The master piece that competes with Howard Lawsons' work.......2007-05-18

This book is a classic.

One of the things that makes this book a classic is its simplicity. The book start exploring how you as a dramatic writer can use Premise as the guiding sign through out the whole process of writing a story.

Once you have a premise you can work on creating your characters (using the premise to do that). To do this you'll have to know your character's physiology, sociology, pshychology, etc.

Once you have your characters you can work on creating the story using the principle of contradiction, thesis, antithesis and synthesis. You'll have to use clashing forces... (again, you use the premise as explained at the beginning of the book).

Then the author covers some of the most important elements in writing dramatic material of quality.

In my case I found the chapter of "Jumping" quite enlightening. Once you read this chapter you'll understand why many, many stories just don't work. The characters jump and then... they fall to their death... and to the apaty of the audience.

What is it that I like about this book? Well, I read it... time passes... come back to it again... time passes... and I come back again to read it!

Where as most books make you feel like writing is extremely difficult, this one always makes me feel like I'm in command and that great story telling is within my grasp.

The "Rosetta Stone" of creative writing........2007-05-07

I've read several books about screenwriting to aid me in my capacity as a story consultant, and this book far surpasses them all. You'll hear the age-old question of what's more important to story: action or character? What I got from this book is that the question is - in the end - moot. You need both - well drawn characters to the sell the action, and compelling action to reveal character. The process is tricky, but Egri lays it out with such precision and wit, you'll wonder how you ever got along without his insights. Even though this book was written over half a century ago, it applies now more than ever - especially for the cinema where writers are increasingly relying more on formula and less on the construction of truly memorable, believable characters. Originality must begin with a thorough understanding of who your characters are, how and why they come together, and what ultimate premise their interactions serve to reveal. Egri explains this process with depth and panache. If you want to improve your narrative and give the world fresh new characters that tell "your story" this is THE place to start!

Eminently Clear and Immediately Memorable.......2006-12-12

I've easily read more than 100 books on creating fiction (my focus is primarily short stories and novels), and I've done so because I'm always interested in learning what others have to say about the craft that I might find ways to improve my own.

I disagree with the reviewer who pishaws Egri's recommendation to create character biographies, saying that the "audience will never see them". The fact is, every short story, novel, play, movie is like an iceberg: what the audience reads/sees is only 10% of the whole. The rest is hidden. If a writer hasn't done her homework on a story's setting, background or, more importantly, on her characters' backgrounds, it will show, and in the worst way possible. Even if a writer is of the sort who develops her characters as she creates the story, there is still much about those characters which doesn't make it into the tale. It's rather like when you tell a cousin about a friend of yours. You don't give your cousin all the details, only those details which are relevant to giving your cousin an accurate, yet true, representation of your friend, but you can only accomplish this if you know your friend very well. The same is -- HAS TO BE! -- true of your story characters: you MUST know them very well (more than what you reveal) if you are to represent them to your audience accurately and truthfully (but not exhaustively), and that's precisely Egri's point.

Regarding Egri and his agreements/disagreements with Aristotle, his disagreement with regard to a story's beginning has more to do with modern readers' interpretations of what constitutes a beginning. Every story must have a beginning, even if it doesn't appear on the page, on the screen, or on the stage. All the consituent parts of a story, even if they aren't put plainly before the audience, must be implied in what is. (Algis Budrys' WRITING TO THE POINT demonstrates this quite well.) Egri's disagreement with regard to Aristotle's views on plot/character, however, are, I believe, on the mark. In this case, however, the disagreement has more to do with historical/cultural/religious context. Aristotle's putting plot primary is due largely to the prevalent beliefs of his time, just as our putting character primary is due to the prevalent beliefs of ours. This, too, is a point which Egri recognizes.

After reading Egri's book, my writing will never be the same again, I'll never read another novel or short story the same way again, and I'll never see a movie or play in the same way again, either. I dare say that I'll appreciate a good novel/short story/movie/play even more with the tools that Egri provides in this book, and will now be able to elucidate far more clearly than before why I didn't like a particular novel/short story/movie/play. In like manner, I now believe that I'm better equipped, after reading Egri's book, to recognize what is wrong with any story that I've written and will, therefore, be better able to fix the problem.

After reading all the books I've read on story/character creation, I'd have to say that Egri's book is easily the best book I've ever read on the subject. While other authors of such books may have said much the same thing, Egri presents the same material in a way that makes it eminently clear and immediately memorable.

POSTSCRIPT: In defense of novels (since that is my preferred medium), unlike what was stated in one review on Egri's book, pacing is just as important in a novel as it is in a stage play. If you have one high-paced scene after another in a novel, your reader will be breathless before she's half-done with the book. Conversely, if your pacing is constantly slow, you're very likely to lose reader interest. There are all sorts of tricks to controlling pacing in a novel, from word, sentence, and paragraph length, and even down to specific word choice. There are other ways to control pacing, as well, but I shan't get into that here. It's a shame that very few books have covered this aspect of novel creation.

Traditional Mexican Style Interiors (Schiffer Design Book)

Average customer rating:

Nice book, wonderful pictures, But not the best of Mexican Interiors
Great idea book
Exactly what I was looking for.
Great ideas for learning about Mexican
Great photos of mexican homes

Traditional Mexican Style Interiors (Schiffer Design Book)
Donna McMenamin
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decoration & Ornament | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Traditional Mexican Style Exteriors
In A Mexican Garden: Courtyards, Pools, and Open-Air Living Rooms
Mexicolor: The Spirit of Mexican Design
Mexican Tiles: Color, Style, Design
New Hacienda, The pb

ASIN: 0764316931

Customer Reviews:

Nice book, wonderful pictures, But not the best of Mexican Interiors.......2007-07-25

This is definately a well layed out book, with really nice high quality pictures, my only question is why are at least half of the picture in this book of houses in the United States? Granted they are in the Southwest where there is a obvious Mexican influence, but I refuse to believe the best examples of Mexican interiors are found in Tucson Arizona! And of the interiors in this book most of the ones from Mexico are from San Miguel de Allende, or Guanajuato which are two towns a hour apart from each other. There are extraordinary colonial gems in Zacatecas, Oaxaca, Puebla, México City, ect, ect, that could have easily been included in this book instead of some American's house in the Southwest... I would have liked to have seen a book on Mexican interiors that were 100% Mexican. The book MEXICOLOR, though not entirely consisting of interiors is a far more authentic book.

Great idea book.......2007-01-12

We were looking for ideas for our outside patio area, especially colors, and this book is great for various decors with vibrant colors. You will find yourself looking through it again and again.

Exactly what I was looking for........2006-07-29

I was looking for a reference book to guide my Mexican-style remodeling and redecorating efforts, and this is the best I've found yet. (I have about a dozen!) Gorgeous pictures, and plenty of them. Each section discusses a particular room type (kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms etc.) and each room type gets a good amount of attention. Something I dislike about other books is their tendency to look only at the courtyards or living rooms of Mexican or adobe-style houses -- not so useful if you're considering how to tackle your kitchen. This one covers it all, including touching on gardens and indoor-outdoor spaces that are such an integral part of Mexican living.

Definitely pick up the companion volume, "Traditional Mexican Style Exteriors", while you're shopping. Together they paint a vivid picture of the colorful and vibrant style of Mexico.

Great ideas for learning about Mexican .......2006-03-23

This is a great resource if you want to get an idea of traditional Mexican-style decor. The book contains beautiful examples of homes in Mexico and the US. If you're looking for ideas and inspiration, this is a wonderful tool!

Great photos of mexican homes.......2005-08-02

I bought this book to give me decorating ideas for a home that I am building in the Yucatan. This book is filled from cover to cover with great photographs of Mexican home interiors. From furniture to paint colors, it has given me many ideas that I have incorporated into my home.

Average customer rating:

Alien among us
Good introduction to his more complicated works

H. R. Giger's Biomechanics
H. R. Giger
Manufacturer: Morpheus International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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H. R. Giger's Necronomicon II
H. R. Giger's Necronomicon
Giger's Alien
Species Design
H. R. Giger's Retrospective: 1964-1984

ASIN: 0962344710

Customer Reviews:

Alien among us.......2004-08-02

Hans Rudi Giger, a direct descendant of Hieronymus Bosch, H.P. Lovecraft and Salvador Dali, is a unique artist whose works depict cosmological visions and nightmarish dream-state revelations. As you leaf through the glorious illustrations in 'H.R. Giger's Biomechanics', you begin to realize that it takes a deviant personality to create deviant art of this caliber. The kind of paintings on display here are something nobody could conceive without total 24/7 commitment to unleashing the subconscious for all the world to see.

Nowadays of course, H. R. Giger's style (coined 'biomechanical') has become commonplace, trivialized; you can observe his influence in computer-game graphics, movies, literature, interior design, architecture... And isn't that the greatest compliment to his work, the horde of imitators living proof that Giger has tapped into something deep for which there was no adequate vocabulary before him. It probably resided there before the genus homo existed, somewhere in the spinal cord, in the first primate dreams.

What none of HRG's imitators have reached, is his unrivaled, casual mastery of the airbrush. For HRG often uses the surrealist method, whereby his paintings are not consciously planned but rather organically grown and given the freedom to invade the canvas - an inordinately challenging modus operandi considering Giger's weapon of choice. The works of the imitators betray their predesigned origin in wavering use of the airbrush, in naively copied Giger motifs. The sycophants have no mastery over the vocabulary, method, or the medium.

Presenting HRG's artworks in roughly chronological order, 'Biomechanics' charts the evolution of the biomechanical style from the first ink drawings from the 1960s to the acrylic paintings of the late 1980s. The master's 'commentary track' runs the length of the book, explaining the impetus behind major works, such as the 'N.Y. City' series and 'Erotomechanics'. You can practically feel HRG's exitement as he details the first experiments with the airbrush. The airbrush was originally a tool for photo retouching, which remained its primary use for decades, but in the hands of HRG it turned into a weapon capable of transmuting Freudian and Jungian theories on sexual perversions into photorealistic imagery.

Designs on 'Alien' and 'Poltergeist II' are examples of how effortlessly HRG crosses the boundary between 2D and 3D, painting and sculpture. They also reveal his background as a student of architecture and industrial design at the Zurich School of Applied Arts.

Well, either you 'get it' or you don't. There are people who instinctively recognize the worth in HRG's art. If you are the sort of person who requires a rational basis for purchasing 'Biomechanics', suffice it to say that the influence of these works is so widespread that failure to trace that influence back to the source reveals a profound ignorance on contemporary visual culture.

Good introduction to his more complicated works.......1997-12-29

This was the first book of his that I bought. It is very well done like all the rest. It is a good book to get your "feet wet" and to decide if you want to go any further into his work. I liked it very much, and recommend it as an introduction.

Landmarks of Twentieth-Century Design: An Illustrated Handbook

Average customer rating:

Landmarks Help to Guide the Way

Landmarks of Twentieth-Century Design: An Illustrated Handbook
Kathryn B. Hiesinger , and George Marcus
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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The Elements of Design: A Practical Encyclopedia of the Decorative Arts from the Renaissance to the Present
The Modern Ideal: The Rise and Collapse of Idealism in the Visual Arts, From the Enlightenment to Postmodernism
Materials & Techniques in the Decorative Arts: An Illustrated Dictionary
Design 1935-1965: What Modern Was
Images, objects, and ideas: Viewing the visual arts

ASIN: 1558592792

Customer Reviews:

Landmarks Help to Guide the Way.......2005-06-22

This is a Terrific encyclopedia in the best sense of the word. Each decade receives a well written, thoughtful overview that address not only design but history and social views from many perspectives. A fine read for the this reason alone.

But wait there is more, approximately 30 individual pieces of design are chosen for each section, photographed and described in 100-300 words. The effect is like a cherished museum exhibition catalog. The choices range from iconic artworks to mass produced consumer goods, but no matter the pedigree the text and photos are illuminating and enjoyable.

In addition to all of this the designer's biographies will likely seem very familiar. This book appears to be one of the most widely used, and non-credited, sources of information on the internet.

The cost of this book has crept up in the last few years; however, it is among the few reference books that I find indispensable when researching, and more importantly it just seems to make me smile when I browse through the pages.

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