Book Description
Relive 25 years of red carpet glamour in this unprecedented collection of photographs by veteran celebrity photographer Frank Trapper. Trapper has had a front row seat to nearly every major star-studded Hollywood event for the past three decades. He shares this very exclusive point of view for the first time in Red Carpet, an unending runway show of images that capture high fashion and fabulous footwear, style dos and don'ts, glitzy gowns and immaculate grooming, and the public-private lives of the entertainment industry's most celebrated personalities.

Trapper's extensive collection is organized chronolically, with tons of topic features--Shoes! Jewels! Starlets! Heartthrobs!--and covers every type of red carpet event for the past 30 years, from the high-profile Academy Awards to the dressed-down movie premieres that capture celebrities as you've never seen them before. Experience again the famous--and the infamous--red carpet fashions, three decades of screen sirens--from Elizabeth Taylor to Scarlett Johanson--and the romances you've followed faithfully along the way. Even includes up-to-the-minute photographs from the 2007 Academy Awards.

Stylish enough to belong on the red carpet itself, this book has a velvet-covered and foil-stamped case. At 500 pages and over 1000 full-color photographs, this chunky, jam-packed, flamboyant volume is the ultimate treat for fashion fans and celebrity stargazers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

ok...
the book is very well done in photography but the pages began ripping after first looking through it.also the cover was partly damaged.
good pictures.
bad product.

fun book, beautiful pictures
This is a fun book, with beautiful pictures. Just wish it had gone further back to the sixties and seventies.
... Read more

Book Description
"One of the most useful books to cover the whole of the field...Mr. Ford is to be congratulated on having produced a work that should stand the test of time."—Carpet Review Weekly

In this comprehensive survey, P. R. J. Ford shows readers how to recognize the different structural and design features of oriental rugs and carpets. The designs are grouped according to their essential characteristics. This approach illuminates the cultural background of each, revealing at once the similarities and the differences between the various carpet-weaving areas

Illustrations of modern types, with descriptions of their key characteristics—construction, materials, sizes, colors—and of the clues that establish a rug's precise origins, appear together with a balanced appraisal of the qualities of modern production from towns, villages, and tribal areas. Extensive cross-referencing and detailed indexes make this an invaluable reference guide for dealers and collectors, and for anyone who has an appreciation of and interest in rugs. 800+ illustrations and photographs, 400 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

THE Rug Book
I've spent years of my life looking for a well-written book on rugs. I've poured hundreds of dollars into recommend volumes, only to be dismayed by their lack of coverage, and horrified by their exclusive focus on tribal rugs. Eiland's "Oriental Carpets" was a joke of epic proportions, and Eiland must be a confidence trickster of notable talent if his book is the benchmark in rug analysis; he must have been paid by the word, as I have yet to encounter so much outright nonsense condensed into the pages of one book.

Quite by chance, I found Ford's book at a local thrift shop. The book was in impeccable condition, so I was keen to give it a chance. What a contrast between his book on rugs and all of the other "scholarly" volumes unnecessarily clogging up the world.

Ford's coverage is not on a global scale-primarily Iran-but his focus on design and construction made for a refreshing change of pace. Ford groups his analysis not by region, but by design; rugs are primarily identified by their design. With this in mind, Ford categorizes rugs by their dominant motifs, i.e. Botah, Herati, Geometric, and Floral patterns. Equipped with this knowledge of patterns, construction, and dyes, it's easy to extrapolate a rug's origins with some degree of reliability.

Ford emphasizes 20th century rugs, as his expectation is that the bulk of his readers will lack the means to collect antique rugs of flawless provenance. In this respect, Ford shines out from his competitors; the book is infinitely useable, as other tomes tend to focus on rugs of the highest pedigree.

Lastly, I was won over to Ford, because he does not over-emphasize one particular design, or one region, over another. Every other book on rugs will heap high praise on rugs from the Caucasus, and consign 20th century curvilinear floral rugs to the lowest order of damnation.

Oriental Carpet Design
This is an excellent book to find all the information one needs on Persian and Oriental carpets.Very informative, and beautiful colour plates.

This is a terrific resource
This book has the best information I've found on distinguing one type of rug from another.Many books give information about the major types of rugs...they're a dime a dozen.Ford breaks everything down into what specific tribes and villages weave, and tells us what the weavers use for warps and wefts, distinguishing colors, area motifs and designs, and more.

This book is definitely academic in nature, but this is exactly the kind of fact-filled information I've been searching for.I had thought I would find it in Peter Stone's works, but even Stone's 2004 book on motifs does not come close to what Ford did twenty years ago. I currently own about 50 books on oriental rugs, and Ford's book offers the most comprehensive, detailed information of any of them.

If you want to move from being a novice to becoming a more knowledgeable buyer and rug lover, you will want this book.

An Excellent Textbook
I collect Oriental rugs and Oriental rug books.This book is not for the beginner, but is meant for in-depth study of the subject of Oriental rugs.As you read you are directed to other pages for study and comparison.This is a time consuming but valuable process.If one wants to really study Oriental rugs this book can elevate you from beginner to a person who is comfortable with the subject and able to talk with experts. I used this book as a self teaching text book and loved it.

Wonderful!
I bought this book after going to the library and checking out a number of carpet books - I was looking for a reference that would teach me some of the history of rug making and the people who make these incredible pieces of art as well as the practical side such as what to look for in a rug.This book is great at teaching about the different types of rugs.There are color pictures on every page, there are drawings of specific patterns so you can see specifically what make a rug one type rather than another, there are uncommon examples of types of rugs shown, etc.Its quite a good book (which is why I bought it after returning the library copy).This book is ok at teaching about the history/people or about how to tell a good quality rug - the intro goes into some good detail about things like knot types, weaves, use of synthetic dyes, chinese rugs etc but it's a fanatsic guide to decoding the different traditional motifs and patterns. I'm giving it 4 stars rather than 5 only because the text is so dry and they don't really give the stories - they give more dry facts such as this type of rug was woven in this manufacturing/village setting in x,y,z town.It would have been niceto have more details about the people and about the symbolism of the motifs.But, like I said, I knew all that before I bought the book since I had checked t out at the library.I use this book to augment others that I ended up buying that do tell more of the stories. ... Read more

Book Description
The master storyteller’s debut novel.

In the beginning there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet… ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Down among the warp and woof
The story behind this story is nearly the best story of all:"This book had two authors, one aged seventeen, one aged forty-three.Both of them were Terry Pratchett."Having penned this tale and had it lapse into obscurity, Pratchett is impelled by his editors to revive it years later.Rightly so.For the dedicated PTerry fan, this example of his early writing is an illuminating read.Many views expressed in the Discworld books are readily perceived here.For someone new to Pratchett, it's a great introduction to the scope of his ideas and his writing skills.For any reader, it's simply a delight to enjoy.

The story is a fine example of Pratchett's ability to view the world from a fresh perspective.If there's a fantasy novel lacking a dark forest and mysterious creatures, i've missed it.Pratchett, never a formula writer, simply shrinks the scope.His forested world is a thickly napped rug.Instead of pines or oaks, it's nylon and wool "hairs".The creatures are there, the snargs, the hymetors and others - including silverfish, who live under the world.There are also people - the Munrungs, the Deftmenes and - the Dumii.They interact, sometimes violently.Deep down in the pile, these people and their communities are invisible to humans.Something, however, sends terror through the forest peoples - Fray.This immensely destructive force topples cities and obliterates villages.

Pratchett builds a story of the conflict of respected traditions countered by innovation and invention.There is an Empire, to which taxes are due.That means clerks, organisation, regulations.While the Munrungs have always met the demands for revenue, others have opposed the imposition, hence, the Empire.Could two such peoples find a common cause?It seems unlikely, but the best way to unite two dissimilar tribes is having a common enemy.

Except for the conflict of good and evil, this story avoids formula approaches to fantasy.There are many characters, all of them reflected by people around us.Snibril, a Munrung, stands out but a little from the rest.One of his attributes is that he suffers sinus trouble.This isn't normally a heroic virtue, but it proves valuable here.There's also a philosopher.Everybody thinks to some extent.Philosophers are typified by telling about it in an interesting way.This description, of course, fits Pratchett admirably. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

If nothing else, read the Introduction
The introduction to this book is the best part.I burst out laughing right in the bookstore.

The Carpet People is Pratchett's first published work but has been extensively rewritten since then.As he puts it, this is now "a collaboration" between the younger author and the older.

I love Pratchett's Discworld series and the only reason I can't give this book more stars is because his other work sets the bar so high.I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A look at Pratchett's Early Work
Many readers are familiar with Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and its delicious range of unforgettable characters, satirical creations and dialogue and thought-provoking themes. Less known are his earlier works, including The Carpet People, which Pratchett first wrote as a teenager and had published, then went back to years later and rewrote the book to reflect his change in viewpoint.

The Carpet People feels more like a children's, or young adult story, although if it can be found, it will often be placed with Pratchett's Discworld titles in the fantasy section. The story is a delightful bit of imagination, entire societies coexisting within the world of the Carpet. These tiny creatures go about adventure on the epic scale, with Pratchett's typical ironic observations and humorous interpretations. Our hero, Snibril has to set out on a quest to save a kingdom from enemies and to stop the destruction of a force known only as The Fray.

This is not one of Pratchett's most seamless works by a long shot. I don't think he intended it to be.A lot of the themes and world-building elements he puts into practice for this work are later fulfilled with much more skill and elegance in his Discworld novels and Bromeliad trilogy.For any Pratchett fan, this book is a delight simply from its standpoint in the evolution of Pratchett's writing.

I gave this book four stars because I do not feel it is Pratchett's best work. It shouldn't be, this story was one of his earliest.This is a wonderful way to introduce younger readers to Pratchett, along with his Bromeliad trilogy.If you are discovering Terry Pratchett with this book, be aware that his writing only gets better from here! ^_^

Great;
For kiddies and adults alike (just read the entire series). In a grand adventure the carpet people must be saved.It's in Pratchett's usual cheerfull, commical and enthralling style of writing.

Enjoy ;)

A rebellion against oppression.
The story takes place between the tall and multicoloured hairs of a carpet, in a place called the Dumii empire.

Under the omnipresent threat of Fray and after the destruction of their village, a group of carpet people decide to march against the evil mouls and snargs. Along the way, they meet other tribes with other ways of living and other points of view, and they know they'll have to ally with them in order to win the battle.

What sort of disappointed me is that Terry Pratchett almost doesn't take any advantage of the setting of his story, i.e. an actual carpet, at all and in the end you realize it could have happened anywhere. However, he approaches many great themes, like proving that in union, there is strength, and in a way this is a pretty good early sketch for his later masterpiece: the Bromeliad. ... Read more

Book Description
An element of drama has always attended Rupert Everett, even before he first rose to fame with his outstanding performance in Another Country. He has spent his life surrounded by extraordinary people, and has witnessed extraordinary events. He was in Moscow during the fall of communism; in Berlin the night the wall came down; and at home in downtown Manhattan on September 11th. By the age of seventeen he was friends with Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger, and since then he has been up close and personal with some of the most famous women in the world: Julia Roberts, Madonna, Sharon Stone, and Donatella Versace. Whether sweeping the stage for the Royal Shakespeare Company or costarring with Faye Dunaway and an orangutan in Dunstan Checks In (they both took ages to get ready), Rupert Everett always brings as much energy and talent to his life as he does to his career. Who else has lived in Paris with Beatrice Dalle, modelled for Versace and Valentino, been possessed by the spirit of Anthony Perkins, and played bridge with Christopher Isherwood? A superb raconteur and a keen observer of human folly (especially his own), Rupert Everett turns his life into a captivating story of love, nostalgia, fame, glamour, gossip, and drama. From the eccentricities of the British upper classes to the madness of Hollywood, from the Russian steppes to an Easter egg hunt in Elizabeth Taylor's garden, Everett reveals himself as a consummate storyteller and a charming guide to life lived in the fast lane. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

What a Boring Read!
I have to tell you that I had the highest expectations for Mr. Everett's autobiography, but found it to be one of the dullest tomes that I have ever read - and I have read many.There are few redeeming factors in his writing; and it would have been helpful too if the editor/publisher had proof-read the galleys for typos.It's really a sad tale of a performer that was happy to be around the edges of performance, but I gather had a core of self-defeatism - but had extreme talents and a background to be a break out star.Perhaps it's because Mr. Everett is an extremely talented musician and actor - not to mention one of the most handsome men in the world - that he squandered his bountiful gifts and then unfortunately told the tale in a manner that would bore the most ardent fan.He is spreading himself too thin.Red Carpets is a rag tag tale of his associations with some famous (such as Andy Warhol - my mother, actress Jean Parker, met Mr. Warhol in 1973, and was terrified by him)who he describes as a blank poseur, or really blank; and a bunch of Euro Trash and vapid, talentless hangers on.

I'd really like to see Rupert try again - keep his pithy remarks but for god's sake learn to tell a story.

Bob Hanks, Redondo Beach, CA

Exactly what I expected.
The book is entertaining and interesting (to me).The man lives the life of a movie actor, and that's what the book details clearly.Reading it gave me fresh insight into show business.I appreciate that Rupert is a relatively young man to write an autobiography, and that if he writes another in 30 or 40 years it may show a life reflected upon by a more mature man.

Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins
I loved Rupert Everett's HELLO, DARLING,ARE YOU WORKING? so much that I knew I would like this autobiography RED CARPETS AND OTHER BANANA SKINS for one of his nine lives.The dish is excellent for the characters of the extreme worlds of which he is part--I loved the Warhol connections and especially the recurring puzzle pieces for Roddy McDowell's enigmatic appearances.His veneer of morose circumstances for his roller coaster career is easily ripped by his mirth and my laughter.The frame vignettes of Mo, his black lab, do humanize the pretty, pouty man's account of himself.I feel he leaves many of his lovable warts in this book; I thank him for that.Even more, I loved that he points to all others' warts as well.Hello, Darling, Are You Working?Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins: The Autobiography

Rupert. Absolutely. Everett. Fabulous
I had no idea that Rupert was just as brilliantly talented as a writer as he is an actor. This book is an incredible journey of his life, from childhood all the way up to... it feels like today. Rupert can cleverly toss off a bon mot the way only a truly seasoned, clever, worldly sophisticate can.

He does, on occasion, skip a beat, and he doesn't connect every single dot. But ultimately, it didn't matter. He is able to observe in minute detail the most bizarre, unique, unusual, and hysterically funny moments of not only the lives around him, but his own life as well. There were times I had tears streaming down my face and my partner told me to leave the room. I just couldn't stop laughing. When someone can make me do that with the written word, I think they're golden.

Rupert, I adore you. I am going to buy all your books and see every other film of yours I haven't yet seen... and then I am going to write a film for you, because I think you are so incredibly wonderful and funny and talented that Hollywood should be kissing your feet. I highly recommend your book and will be giving it as gifts to all my friends. Fabulous!!!

Good But Not As Exciting As I Thought
This book was pitched to me as a scathing tell-all.Actually it reads more like snippets here and there from Everett's life.Certainly he has a way of telling a story and there are a few humorous moments as well.If you've read his novels you should know that his style doesn't change when talking about his own life.It is an interesting read if not completely entertaining. ... Read more

Book Description
It's always the same. The jets scream overhead. They've seen me. I'm running to slowly, dragging my mother and sister behind.In a flowerless war-torn world where every inch of land must be used to grow precious food, a young boy weaves roses in his carpets as he masters the skills that may save his family from a life of poverty.For a young refugee living with loss and terror-filled memoriers, time is measured by the next bucket of water, the next portion of bread, and the next call to prayer. Here where everything-walls, floor, courtyard-is mud, a boy's heart can still long for freedom, independence, and safety. And here, where life is terribly fragile, the strength to endure grows out of need. But the strength to dream comes from within. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Book
Dealing with refugee children i must say this is a great book, it realy captures the heartache of the afgahni experience.

"It's always the same. The jets scream overhead."
"It's always the same. The jets scream overhead." is the powerful first line of this story that resonates even more forcefully in the wake of the September 11th attacks. The Roses in My Carpets is a masterful tale of a young Afghan refugee by Toronto writer Rukhsana Khan. It is based on a true story, that of the author's foster child in Peshawar, Pakistan. With the unfolding of historical events, it is probably destined to be a classic.

Spare, grim and unsentimental, the story is a beautifully woven narrative of a young fatherless refugee boy caring for his mother and sister in a war-torn world. Symbolic of the loss of identity suffered by refugees, the boy remains nameless throughout the story. Movingly, he struggles to survive with his family within the sombre parameters that govern his universe. Escape finally arrives when he goes to his job as an apprentice carpet weaver. There he makes sure "there are plenty of roses in my carpets". As the story ends, hope surfaces in the young boy's dream of finding "a space, the size of a carpet, where the bombs cannot touch us."

Ronald Himler's watercolour and pencil drawings look overwhelmingly familiar with the images that now flood our homes through television. I have read Roses to my four year old many times and she appreciated the opportunity to comprehend the devastating effect of war on families. I would highly recommend it to other parents and teachers.

A very poignant story about a child refugee
I think this is a great book for encouraging discussion of diversity in the classroom.

In the school where I teach a lot of the children come from refugee backgrounds and this story was something they could reallyrelate to.But the other kids could relate to it too.

The imagery ispowerful and the kids loved it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent intro to Persia
I recommend this book, and books like this one, to all parents who wish tointroduce other cultures to their children. The story is simple and welltold. The illustrations are absolutely fabulous and are faithful to thePersian architecture.
If I may respond to the reviewers, folk storiesdo not always follow the Hollywood goodguy-badguy plot. This story doeshave morales: We should not get attached to material things because theyare not permanent, friendship is more important that diamonds, a little kidcan come up with a great idea, great achievements are made by workingtogether.
There is some truth to the legend too. A carpet dubbed as`Bahar of Khosrow' (spring of Khosrow), existed at the Palace of Ctesiphonewhich is referred to in Persian scripts as the `Arch Palace of Ctesiphone'.The carpet was 450 feet long and 90 feet wide, made for Sassanid kingKhosrow and for this reason it was named `Bahar of Khosrow'.In the book,the king character is named "Balash", which was the name of fiveof the Sassanid kings.
One minor critique though, the Sassanid dynastywas pre-islamic. The illustrations in the book, both the architecture andpeoples costumes, are obviously post-islamic. :-)

Visually beautiful, engrossing tale
This beautifully written and illustrated tale for children ages 5 to 10, shows the power of childrens' kindness and ingenuity in a cleverly written story set in ancient Persia. Told like an old folktale, this storyengrossed my two boys, ages 7 and 10, who thoroughly enjoyed the richimages the story and the pictures created. A good purchase for home or theclassroom studying different cultures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Great way to get introduced to the world of rugs
This is an excellent way to learn about rugs from top to bottom -- it eases you slowly into a comprehensive knowledge of rugs. I feel that this will help me greatly in my work - I just started doing customer service for a rug company. Great buy to anyone who wants to be educated thoroughly on the business of rugs.

Sadly Lacking
A veritable stream of meaningless gibberish masquerading as fount of knowledge, this book is the benchmark in specious academicism. With his bias firmly planted in the Caucusus, the author skips merrily past the last century of rug design, and completely dismisses Turkish curvilinear rugs altogether.This book is trumpeted in the industry as being the first and last word on the subject.In my estimation, it is the clarion call for a more gifted author to prepare an unbiased, unpretentious, and well-researched book on the subject.If you've read Ford's "Oriental Carpet Design"then you know that the call has already been heeded.

Oriental Carpets: A Complete Guide - The Classic Reference
Bought for myself as a tool to help teach myself about Persian rugs, this book is so wonderful I gave it as a housewarming present to a friend of mine, freshly divorced who is decorating his new house.Perfect! The authors, the Murray Eilands Jr. and III, a father and son team, are experts in their field.The father, a practicing psychiatrist in California, has been studying and collecting Oriental rugs for almost 40 years, and his son has a doctorate from Oxford in Near Eastern archeology (including textile development), so you would be learning from very special, knowledgeable accomplished folks who love their textiles and rugs. I recommend this book highly.

My best reference book on rugs
Easy to use and I think a must for anyone seriously wishing to acquire a sound knowlege of oriental rugs whatever his or her aims. Delighted with the clear and elegant text. Good image collection too.

Disappointing
This is a beautiful book, but the coverage is overwhelmingly for geometric oriental rugs, with a large section added for Chinese.I was looking for the more ornate styles (Heriz, Tabriz, Sultanabad, and so on) that are so very beautiful.These are grossly underrepresented in this book, if at all (e.g., most are not).I am sorry I purchased the book. ... Read more

Book Description
This is the complete carpet installation training handbook.It covers all of the beginner through advanced terms and technologies.This handbook walks you through all of the installation procedures step by step. The handbook includes: measuring for carpet, stretch-in carpet procedures, hand sewing, glue down carpet, steps, non-stretchable carpets, carpeting around posts and over ledges, among other valuable information. The Carpet Installation Training Handbook is illustrated with action photographs of real installers working on real jobs, unlike other dull technical instruction books that leave you in a daze.It's written in plain English and packed with information.It is one of the best books on the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Never seen carpet installed but want to do it yourself anyway?Get this book.
This book is thorough enough to teach you, on it's own, how to install stretch-in carpet in your home.I used it to learn what I needed to know to install stretch-in carpet in a basement bedroom with a concrete floor and on my bullnose staircase.Its the only comprehensive carpet installation reference I could find, but luckily, it was all I needed.

As others have noted, it is riddled with misspelling and covers lots of information a DIY carpet installer doesn't need-- like how to dress and how to handle customers.None of that bothered me since it did a fine job teaching me what I wanted to learn.

Great book on carpet installation
I work for a property management firm. We just started doing out carpet in house.I searched for installation training as was unable to find any.I even went to many different flooring tool suppliers and I was still unable to come up with any references on the subject.This book is an invaluable training aid for new installers.A follow up video would be great.

Good data - Horribleediting
This is a good book on how to lay carpet.The carpet on my stairs was wearing out and I wanted to replace it myself from extra carpet I had from the original installation.Eric Larson's book gave me the information to do the job.

I read the rest of the book and, although I did not use the data, the information seemed complete and the instructions were generally clear.It's clear that Eric wrote the book for apprentice carpet installers and I applaud his textbook-like approach with the questions and answers after each chapter.Based on the information contained and the approach used to teach it, I would give the book four to four and a half stars.

My complaint is about the editing, which is attributed to Dr. William G. Burns of San Antonio.The English used in the book is atrocious.Sentences and clauses run together without any punctuation, sort of the way someone would speak in informal speech.Many of the sentences are just fragments, either without a verb or without a subject.Possessive forms do not use an apostrophe (Jacks hammer instead of Jack's hammer).It's clear that this book was written on a word processor and the spell check was used without any human judgment.There are many places in the book where the wrong word is used, but not misspelled.That is, "their" is used where it should be "there"."To" is used when it should be "too"."And" is used when it should be "an" ("three eights of and inch"). The book is riddled with errors of this nature.My favorite is where Eric writes that "...the installer should asses the job..." instead of "assess".

I realize that Eric is a carpet installer and not an English major, and I do not fault him for the poor English usage.I do fault him for not realizing his weakness and finding a better editor, even if that editor would drive him crazy with rewrites and markups.There's simply no excuse for putting out a book, especially one that is to be used as a textbook, with such poor English usage.

However, if you can get past the mangling of the language, the book does have some good information on carpet installation. ... Read more

Book Description
The definitive guide for superior customer service

The Celebrity Experience combines the best practices of the business world with those of the celebrity world to create a practical and proactive guide for those who want to bring their internal and external customer service to the level of star treatment. The premise of this book is based on the unique ways that celebrities are often treated. The Celebrity Experience shares techniques for businesses that want to treat their customers with the same level of red-carpet service. Donna Cutting shares research interviews, stories from celebrities themselves, examples from great customer service companies, celebrity ideas that readers can instantly implement, and much more. This is the ultimate guide for anyone who wants to learn to treat customers like stars for a sustained competitive advantage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

ENERGIZED BY THE VERY THOUGHT OF BEING EXTRAORDINARY
You know what I was completely unprepared for when reading this book? The way my blood started--literally--vibrating! My brain was whirling around with this vision: what would it look like if I treated the people I work with in extraordinary ways? Who would I become? Who might the people around me become? What would have to happen in my life in order to, quite simply, start seeing the world through a different lens: the lens of treating someone like a star!? The book is fantastic--a totally unexpected surprise. It's SOOO easy to read, so well laid out, such a nice mix of professionalism and fun, such agreat showcase for inspiring story after inspiring story. But really, now, folks: It is a really good thing the last four pages of the book are blank. WERE blank, I should say. I could NOT STOP flipping to the back and scribbling down one incredible idea after another for ways to treat my customers in a manner that would blow them away. A lot of the ideas I wrote down came straight out of the book. You don't have to work too hard--Donna's more than happy to lay it all out and make it easy for you. But, you know what? TONS of the ideas I wrote on those back pages came straight out of my own brain!I got inspired. The stories and suggestions turned out to be just a springboard for my own revelations about just how engaged and creative and attuned I am actually capable of being with my clients!I read the book yesterday, in one fell swoop! I filled up those four blank back pages as I went. And today--no kidding--I have spend the entire day creating amazing emails, making amazing phone calls, and concocting plans for a whole new way of thinking about honoring those people who are good enough to cast their lot with me! Take a deep breath, pick up this book, and get ready to amaze YOURSELF! I am a total and utter "Celebrity Experience" convert!

A Magic (Red) Carpet Ride!
If you are in any sort of service-related field, do yourself a favor and buy this book! As the manager of a service department I know I will be using the tools I learned in The Celebrity Experience for years to come. I was not a third of the way through when I realized I already wanted to read the book again. The first read to just enjoy it and let the concepts and stories wash over me. The second read to really drill down and discover how I could use it as a guide to help my department provide better service and to help me celebrate my own staff. It showed me how to lay out the red carpet in both directions. And it didn't hurt that the book was so entertaining. After just finishing three dry, snooze-inducing business books, The Celebrity Experience was a refreshing joy to read. I laughed, I cried, I learned something. Bravo Donna Cutting!

Just Say Yes
I'm so glad that Donna has written this book.From the very first chapter my head started jumping with ideas that we could implement immediately for little or no cost.In fact, many of the pratical ideas and suggestions Donna has are all about thinking in new ways about ordinary events - which can then change how we are acting in those moments - which creates the opportunity for WOW!

Donna shows how easy and fun it is to treat each other well; you will be asking yourself, "Why in the heck haven't we been doing this from day one?"Even if your goal is only to create more fun in the workplace, this book will have you waking up in the middle of the night to write down the deluge of ideas that will come.

For example, we have some new job titles, like SURPRISE and DELIGHT,and DIRECTOR of WOW. At staff meetings everyone gets to spend time "bragging" about how they fulfilled those roles; exchanging ideas for even better service. A very simple change, with powerful influence as people take the roles seriously.

Donna has shown us that we can do anything we want and have a great time doing it.

I've realized there's so much more I can do!
I read this book in one sitting.It's terrific.If you think you're giving your customers the best customer service - think again.There is always room for improvement as I've realized reading this book.With an extensive customer service background, I quite often patted myself on the back for the service I give my clients - yet I picked up so many wonderful new ideas from reading this book.It's chock full of great, real life stories, and examples and ideas on how to make your clients feel like the stars that they are.

On the Cutting Edge of Outstanding Customer Service
Donna is on the "cutting" edge of the seismic shift that needs to happen in our thinking in order for customer service to live up to its name. Donna's book, The Celebrity Experience, is an invitation to each of us, no matter what our role, to ramp up our customers' experience. She's a master storyteller with dynamic examples ranging from Gaylord's Opryland Hotel Celebrity Services Team to the employee from Tabitha Health Care Services who made a patient's trolley wish come true. From the very first chapter Donna had me asking how we could create a celebrity experience for every person we serve.If you only read one business book this entire year -this is the one to read! If you read it and apply the concepts to your own business, the ideas in this book will help you keep your customers coming back for life.

... Read more

Book Description
Molds are everywhere:we inhale their microscopic spores from birth to death.But when an investigation in Ohio revealed that babies suffering from a serious lung illness had been exposed to a toxic black mold in their homes, millions of Americans became nervous about patches of mold in their own basements and bathrooms.Before long, lawsuits were filed by the residents of mold-contaminated homes in every state.By failing to address water damage, building contractors, plumbers, and insurance agents were held liable for exposing families to an unprecedented microbiological hazard.The mold crisis soon developed into a fully-fledged media circus.In Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores, Nicholas Money explores the science behind the headlines and courtroom dramas, and profiles the toxin-producing mold that is a common inhabitant of water-damaged buildings.Nicholas Money tells the most important mycological story since potato blight, with his inimitable style of scientific clarity and dark humor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Carpet Monters & Killer Spores review
Outstanding! This is the best and most interesting book on fungi. I highly recommend it to anyone with any interest in the subject. One of the best books I have ever read on any subject.

a sequel please
All things black and slimy.I loved your book Dr. Money.Lets add the nasty Chaetomium next time also neurogenic fungus.
How about the politics of the wood industry and Dr.Jeff Morrell who appears to be teaching that "mold and mildew do not cause wood rot".Is this related to the wood industry and building industry not wanting mold reported in inspections and promptly forgetting about soft rots while endangering occupant health?I have this in print from the State of Washington Department of Agriculture- what fun we could have with them.

Funny Fungi
If Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) were reincarnated as a mycologist, he would have written this book. Dr. Money's liberal dose of irreverent humor makes his very detailed, erudite book on toxic mold easy and enjoyable to read.

In the preface, Dr. Money says, "Widespread fears about black-mold toxins are a product of the new millennium and deserve a critical, balanced, scientific inquirty. Though I cannot promise anything that boring, I do hope I can dispel some of the media myths about these microorganisms while identifying the real threat that can be posed by a few of these fungi."

Stachybotrys plays a key role in this book. In Chapter 5, Dr. Money discusses the 1993 outbreak of pulmonary hemmorraging (bleeding lungs) in poor children living in Cleveland. When Dr. Money began his book, he first thought that stachybotrys might be an innocent victim of media hype. However, he discovered that stachybotrys chrtarum can produce highly toxic spores. Along with the Cleveland outbreak, he discusses an outbreak of stachybotryotoxicosis in the Soviet Union in the 1940's, and illnesses linked to Stachybotrys among horticulture workers in Europe. Dr. Money also talks about the science used to evaluate the links between Stachybotrys and illnesses, and some of the political issues at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that caused the CDC to soft-pedal Stachybotrys.

This book has a thorough, although daunting, discussion of how allergic reactions are triggered in individuals. The body's allergic reaction is, as Dr. Money points out in Chapter 3 -- Carpet Monsters, an intricate mechanism. Until I read this book, I didn't realize that four types of cells primarily respond to allergens - dendritic cells, T lymphocytes (T cells). B lymphocytes (B cells) and mast cells. Dr. Money talks about each cell type's responses to allergens, and the creation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.

"Your Verdict, Please" (Chapter 6) is an overview of mold litigation. It has a very thorough discussion of what happened to Melinda Ballard's home, the resulting litigation, and a breakdown of what the jury awarded Ms. Ballard - and why. Dr. Money also discusses the reduction of the $32 million award to $4 million. This chapter also has a good discussion of how the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Daubert affected the Ballard case.

Dr. Money also discusses mycological warfare -- and he is not using the term as an analogy to what happens in a house with mold. He is discussing the development of mycotoxins as a weapon in armed conflicts.

A Great Book!
Nicholas Money is an amazing writer who manages to entertain and instruct at all times. I found myself learning and laughing from cover to cover. "Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores" is a book for everyone. Not only does it provide a wonderful introduction to the study of fungi; it explores the way our lives and destinies are inextricably linked to those of the fungi. Homeowners, attorneys, and people in the insurance industry will find much to enjoy (and fear!) in this book, as will biology enthusiasts, naturalists, and readers of all persuasions.

As Money explores the "black molds" that have received so much attention in our news media, he also explores the cultural event surrounding their reception. The book is fascinating not only as a biological work, but also as a sociological study. Thorough research and diligent attention to detail provide Money with a unique, scientifically grounded perspective, and his quirky humor will have you laughing out-loud all the way through.

Importantly, Money does not provide any easy answers to the pressing questions raised by black molds. Instead, responsibly, he shows us what science knows and what it does not know, giving us a sound, factual basis for interpretation of the many wild claims we see in the media. The only negative factor involved with this book is the fact that readers everywhere have had to spend many hours (and dollars) cleaning their bathrooms like maniacs and replacing moldy shower curtains after reading it!

This explains it all
A well written book .Vary interesting and easy to understand .Great picture of Hunter The Mold Dog . ... Read more

Book Description
A beautiful, practical introduction to Oriental carpets for laymen, designers, and collectors, presented from the perspective of a successful, third-generation wholesaler. Using concise text, over 370 vivid color photographs, and more than 45 detailed line drawings, J.R. Azizollahoff explains the complexities, intricacies and irregularities in old handmade carpets and identifies the more important rug types. The combined text, photographs and drawings also bring to light what dealers look for and examine when evaluating an antique carpet. Also provided is a look at new carpets, which gives the reader a glimpse of the wonderful energy and creativity to be found in modern rugs. Approximate values are included with the photographs as a helpful guide for consumers and collectors. The book's bibliography provides useful listings for further research., 418 photos/drawings, 11" x 8 1/2", Price Guide ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

An Indispensible Tool
As a professional Antique Persian Rug Dealer I have used this wonderful book in many aspects of my work. This books value in educating someone through the beautifully presented pictures and wide variety of ages and styles of rugs can't be overstated.
Beautifully done, simple to understand and a pure pleasure to browse through. Highly recommended to beginners and old hands alike!

Great picture quality and pricing info
This is one of the few carpet books available that isn't a decade old.The picture quality and pricing information is great.Indian carpets make up 50% of the new carpet section with the rest being from Turkey, Pakistan, China, and other regions.What is missing in this section is any mention or pictures of contemporary carpets from Iran.The antique carpet section has a broad selection of carpets from all appropriate regions--including Iran.There is also around 10 pages of information on rug care and cleaning, knot count, new maching made carpets, buying carpets overseas, and judging antique carpet condition.Overall, great book!

oriental rugs
the information is broad, and the information excellent in terms of what to look for in rugs,hand made vs machine and the consumer base was detailed.

VERY weak for the price
little or no technical explanation of each carpet, just page after page ofblurry, low-color pictures, and no grouping of any kind.junk.

Best of the Best
Of the half dozen books on oriental carpets I have, this is far and away the best.While most books on the subject are often somewhat snobbish in their approach, this book is refreshinglyrealistic and inclusive.And this is comment is from someone who enjoys buying and selling oriental carpets and rugs.
Jim B., Florida ... Read more

Amazon.com
In Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, Iran, Iraq, and the Central Asian republics, carpets are viewed as objects of reverence and expressions of the highest artistic achievement. As the region's second largest export behind oil, they are also big business. "The early Muslims inhabited lands where people were born on carpets, prayed on them, and covered their tombs with them. For centuries, carpets have been a currency and an export, among the first commodities of a globalized trading system," writes author Christopher Kremmer. Even in the midst of turmoil and war, a bazaar will spring up during breaks in the fighting and carpet merchants will quickly resume business as if nothing had happened. In this detailed look at the culture and recent history of these countries, the carpet trade serves as both backdrop and metaphor for the shadowy and complex politics of the region in which trickery, illusion, and manipulation are part of the game.

The result of 10 years spent as a journalist in the region, Kremmer's book explains how the fragile web of tribal and religious alliances and the influence of outside powers have impacted the politics and economy of the area and began a continuous cycle of exile and return, along with the rise of militarism and terrorism. The book also serves as excellent travel writing, with fascinating anecdotes and telling conversations and encounters that illustrate the customs of a region that is now the focus of international attention. --Shawn CarkonenBook Description
Apart from oil, rugs are the Muslim world's best-known commodity. While rugs are found in most Western homes, the story of religious, political, and tribal strife behind their creation is virtually unknown. In The Carpet Wars, award-winning journalist Christopher Kremmer chronicles his fascinating ten-year journey along the ancient carpet trade routes that run through the world's most misunderstood and volatile regions -- Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, and the former Soviet republics of Central Asia.

Customer Reviews (8)

Unusual look at the Middle East
This is one of those books that purports to be about something, and at some levels is actually about something pretty much unrelated. The next most important industry after oil in the Middle East is carpets. The author, Kremmer, is a journalist who spent a decade travelling around the region, reporting on various events for Australian new agencies of one sort or another. This is his story of his love affair with carpets, which turns into a pretty serious study of their styles, manufacture, sale and trade, and of the significance of these items in Muslim culture. While the oil is irrelevant to Muslims, except in terms of the money it generates, carpets can tell a lot about the heritage of the Muslim world.

For the most part, this is interesting, and there's a lot to learn about Muslims and carpets. Only towards the end of the book does the author begin to veer into actual politics, and then, of course, he turns out to think that American policy in the Middle East is too agressive (this was late in the Clinton years...one shudders to think what his opinions are now). Thankfully, he at least hates Saddam Hussein and the mullahs who run Iran (journalists typically don't like governments that restrict freedom of the press, regardless of whatever else they do).

This one proviso aside, there's a lot of intersting material here, and the book is well-written, the characters drawn interestingly, and the settings well-rendered. I would recommend this book.

Tourism as history
Hand-woven carpets are one of the few products that Central Asia has consistently exported to the rest of the world, and by which the rest of the world knows of central Asia.As such, a traversal of the routes and bazaars that comprise the carpet trade would take one through many of the important places in Central Asia.Likewise, dealing with those involved in the trade would give insight into the history, economics and culture of those living in this area.This then is the subject of this book.

The author travels the bazaars and trade routes of Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Kashmir looking for carpets.While doing so, his interactions with the locals open up a whole world of history, culture, religion, food, and habits that are alien to those in the west.Whether it is how to barter over goods, or the proper way to greet an older woman, the stories told by Mr. Kremmer bring to life places that many of us will never visit, yet that comprises a large part of this world both spatially and historically.

The author intersperses his accounts with character studies of the various individuals he meets, side stories to fill in local histories, and editorials that connect what he seens in these far-off places to what occurs in Washington D.C. and the stockmarkets of the West.Overall, a great travel book, a great history book, and a great story that is told.I highly recommend this book.

Painless Education
The Carpet Wars is a sampler of informal writing from Australian journalist (and avid carpet collector) Christopher Kremmer over ten years in Central Asia.Since most of it was written, and concerns events, before 9/11, when the area was not established in the West's cultural radar as it is today, it gives a view of the region that is uncluttered by hindsight reevaluations.

Kremmer writes of his time in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikstan, Kashmir, and Iran, giving us colorful and non-journalistic slices of life from each region.He enlivens his writings with vivid character studies of those he met on his travels, from dignitaries like ill-fated Afghan dictator Mohammed Najibullah and legendary guerilla Ahmad Shah Massoud to various carpet dealers Kremmer got to know over his time in the region.Between these character sketches and Kremmer's anecdotes, he delivers measured doses of regional history and politics, and he imparts a surprising amount of information about his favorite hobby, the Asian carpet.

The result is more than just some very entertaining travel writing.Kremmer's lively and discursive work also functions as an excellent introduction to the Central Asian economy and politics.Besides being for those who just like to read about travel in interesting foreign parts, The Carpet Wars will also be useful for non-scholars who want to have some idea how movements like the Taliban came to be, but want to take a spoonful of sugar with this medicine.

(Kremmer's book also taught me that I'll never know enough to bargain effectively for an Asian carpet -- but his rueful and wry work also admits that there is a certain pleasure in being cheated.)

One of the best travel books I have ever read
I finished this book about six weeks ago, and I can't stop thinking about it.
So often travel literature-type books by westerners in these kinds of far-off places can be either too clever, cynical or condescending at one end of the scale, or, at the other end too reverent, with a reverence that seems to really be an I-hate-where-I-am-from complex. Both extremes can get tiring pretty quickly.
The Carpet Wars was exactly in the middle, and it was fascinating. It was extremely informative about the history, politics, religion and, yes, even the carpets of the region from Pakistan to Iran.Carpets were merely the thread (so to speak) that held the several first-hand accounts of travels to the region.
Kremmer is a master story teller, and very funny.Sometimes it was hard to tell what was more enjoyable, the story he was telling or the way he was telling it.
His accounts of places with which he is very familiar are told in the rich tones of a deep affection.When he is in a new place, like Isfahan, the account is in the vivid colors of someone seeing something for the first time, creating some of the best travel essays I have ever read. Seven weeks ago, Isfahan was just an exotic name to me, now it's at the top of places I hope I can see before I die.
Its hard to say what recommends this book more, the fact that it is throughly enjoyable, or deeply infomrative.
I haven't read Mr. Kremmer's book about Laos, but it is probably pretty good.Books like The Carpet Wars don't stick with you so long by accident.

Original & Interesting
This is a great book! The author is not just riding the wave of interest surrounding the 9 11 incident. It looks at the Central Asian region form a very different point of view than any book I have read. The writing style is fast paced and easy to read, the author really knows this area of the world first hand. If you are interested in carpets you will find lots to interest you also. ( I don't know the first thing about carpets)

If you read it you will enjoy it! ... Read more

Book Description
Often seen as the "supporting-cast" in the lives of high profile celebrities and businessmen; Personal Assistants do more than run mere errands these days.These machines of modern business are a hybrid of secretary, project manager and confidante to their employer. PA's are demanding more responsibility, autonomy and recognition. And they're getting it.Beyond the Red Carpet provides those seeking information on how to get into this field with the requisite information to be triumphant.It also serves as a continuing education resource for working PA's.Key attributes and skills that set today's PA apart are:high level of commercial understandingPR and communication skillsflexibility and initiativeability to manage projectsintuition and empathycommitment to the organizationworking 'beyond the job description' understanding that your role is 'beyond the red carpet' Complete with tips, case studies and specific how-to information, this provides a road-map that is sure to lead readers to success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

More than a good book.
I would recommend this book if you are serious about becoming a personal assistant, or wanting new ideas of skill building.It's very resourceful and a book you'd always look back to.

Great ResourceBood
Every thing I read is great input for becoming a personal assistant.The book even provides websites for you to research

Stellar Advice for a Celebrity Personal Assistant Job Seeker
I first heard about a job as a Celebrity Personal Assistant from some overdramatized, hyped show promising all sorts of glam and goodies. When I went to begin a more serious inquiry into it as a real career I found a lot of equally useless websites and guides that just glossed over the "perks" and didn't detail any real practical advice on this topic. Until I found Beyond the Red Carpet.This is a comprehensive book that offers a complete view of the vital role that Personal Assistants play in the world of celebrities and high profile successful people. It offers a clear list of the skills, temperments and abilities required for this job as well as sound,concrete steps that you can take to be successful in this career. At about 25 bucks you get a wealth of knowledge, know-how and insight.It covers the pitfalls, expectations and some of the frustatrations one might face as well as the upside - well balanced, clearly written and practical it's obvious that the writer knew her topic throughly - living it not just reporting or glamourizing it. Despite an incredibly tight budget,I invested the extra monies to take the actual workshop at their Atlanta headquarters and found their help invaluable.This is a professional text written by a talented, focused and knowledgeable woman and is a link to a much broader network of experience and expertise.I was frustrated and lost before attending and through the staff's help, the information from this text and meeting other dynamic individuals pursuing this challenging, but exciting career; I found the inspiration to make a new, more focused start.After getting home I rewrote my resume using their suggestions and was told that my it stood out amid over 400 who had applied for an Executive Assistant/Personal Assistant job to a local CEO. The comment by the HR person was - Yours was the first resume that made me stop what I was doing and pick up the phone to call you. I've accepted the position and am happily pursuing it as the next step to building the kind of experience that will land me a Celebrity position. Don't be fooled by the sales pitch flashy books out there.If you're serious about this as a career - get this book and look into their workshop. I found the author and her entire staff to be bright, energetic and talented business professionals with the experience and connections to make great things happen. RHExecAssistant at AOL

"Entertaining, Informative and Effective...!"
Beyond the Red Carpet, is a great book that details how a high-profile person whether celebrity, professional, educator, or even a athlete can gain the necessary support to be able to concentrate on daily responsibilities for their career.Beyond the Red Carpet, entails so much rich information that every person in a profession should read!It's entertaining, informative, effective and just a great book that should be in everyone's book collection.

Excellent CareerTool
"Beyond the Red Carpet" gives you a behind the scenes look at what a personal assistant is and how much hard work this position can be. This book highlights different qualities that a personal assistant should possess and how to improve these qualities. There are also case studies which include real life situations and how the personal assistant was able to handle the situation. If you are thinking of making a career change into personal assisting, this is a great tool for you to judge weather or not this is the career for you. ... Read more

Book Description
A selection of over 25 carpets and rugs to make for the dolls' house in a variety of classic styles.

This book is all you need to create beautiful carpets and rugs of all shapes, sizes and designs, whatever the size or period of the house. The historical and style details of each piece are given, with suggestions for where each one could go in the dolls' house. There are 25 stitched projects, with several variations based on the originals. Each project has a short introduction explaining the techniques used, and ways of adapting the design. There is a wide selection of canvas sizes and fabrics, with stitches including tent stitch, cross stitch and a variety of other stitches to cater for all abilities. Charts for alternative colour ways or designs are regularly included. All the designs have symbol-on-colour stitching charts, and materials, tools and techniques are fully explained, accompanied by step-by-step diagrams and photographs. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the most popular features of the UK's Country Life magazine is the Mrs. Danvers column. Readers write to ask here about problems on everything from what to do with leftover beef to repairing glass. With its practical and often unusual questions and answers, the column provides readers with entertaining and always useful information. Now, all of this information has been gathered into a book that will prove and essential reference work for all homeowners. Topics discussed include: How do you prevent salt from becoming damp? How do you re-enamel a bath? What is the best gin cocktail? And of course, just how do you remove red wine from a carpet? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Perfect fit
Traits you could use to describe me:
1) An actress
2) Top favorite actress is Audrey Hepburn
3) Dream roles include Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady"
4) Loves classic movies (and quoting from movies)

The main character in Maeve on the Red Carpet shares each of these traits with me. As I read, it was a little startling - I mean, is this author stalking me or something?!

If you have any of the above things in common with me and Maeve, you will probably like this book. It's really cute, fun, and fast-paced (albeit predictable). The book is pure fluff - if Harry Potter is a four-course meal, this is only cotton candy. But since I adore stories about filming and aspiring actresses, I adored this book. Especially since the heroine and I had so much in common. ;)

Sure to be a hit with tweens and film junkies.
The Beacon Street Girls series is part of a brand designed to empower "tweens", and help them with the transition from "toys and boys." The books feature five middle school age best friends, all from diverse backgrounds, and with distinct interests. They go to school on Beacon Street in Brookline, MA.

The books are (according to the publisher) "shaped by leading experts in adolescent development and current research on how to positively impact girls' self-esteem." Although I'm generally a bit leery of books that try explicitly to get across a particular message, I like the Beacon Street Girls books. The characters are well-drawn and realistic. They make mistakes, and learn from them. They suffer from pesky younger brothers, difficulty with math, and divorcing parents, among other ordinary tribulations. Despite their differences, they are loyal to each other. And their stories are fun!

This installment, part of a series of "adventure" titles that each feature only one of the five Beacon Street Girls, sends Maeve to movie camp. It reminds me a tiny bit of Noel Streatfeild's books (Theater Shoes, Ballet Shoes, etc., though with quite a bit more privilege). Near the start of what promises to be a boring school vacation week, with all of her friends away, Maeve learns that her father has arranged to host a New York Film Academy film camp in the family's theater. A wealthy sponsor has offered to pay for improvements to the theater, and a famous Hollywood director will be leading the camp. Maeve is over the ceiling thrilled, despite that fact that her annoying younger brother, Sam, will also be attending the camp.

When camp begins, Maeve learns a lot, works hard, and is a bit star-struck by the pampered daughter of the wealthy sponsor (who, in an amusing throwaway joke, knows the famous "Venice Doubletree"). The other kids are more down-to-earth, though the Director's son turns out to have real acting experience. Through her interactions with the other campers, and their parents, Maeve learns some hard lessons about trust, friendship, and betrayal. I must admit that I saw the betrayal coming a mile off, and I think that many readers will, too. But the point isn't so much the betrayal itself, but the way that Maeve reacts to it, and eventually bounces back.

I also enjoyed Maeve's relationship with her little brother. He follows her around with a movie camera and drives her crazy, but also stands by her in unexpected ways. Here's one of my favorite exchanges:

""Good," Sam answered. "Because I think you're the best actress in the whole world!"

I looked at Mom, who just shrugged. Sometimes little brothers could surprise you by saying the nicest thing and make you feel totally guilty for ever thinking of them as an annoying pest. Then other times...

"Last one to the theater's a rotten egg! Haha, that's you, Maeve," Sam suddenly cried."

I think that fans of the BSG books will enjoy this installment. It's nice to have a chance to focus on just one of the girls, and get to know Maeve and her family a bit better. And Maeve is fun to spend time with. She's overly dramatic, and annoyingly obsessed with her appearance, but she's not afraid to work hard or to admit her mistakes. And her genuine enthusiasm for movies is irresistible. The details about how a movie is made are interesting, too, and should be a hit with kids who are film junkies. I give Maeve on the Red Carpet four stars!

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on June 25, 2007. ... Read more

Book Description
Since the time of prehistory, carpet makers have tied intricate knots to form carpets for the court of the Emperor. These carpets are made from the hairs of their makers wives and daughters; they are so detailed and fragile that each carpetmaker finishes only one single carpet in his entire lifetime. This art has descended from father to son since the beginning of time itself. But one day the empire of the God Emperor vanishes and strangers begin to arrive from the stars in search of the hair carpets. What these strangers discover is beyond all belief, more than anything they could have ever imagined . . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

highly recommended
This book is a stunning achievement for the author, and the translation from German to English was also beautifully done.The story slowly unfolds and expands so that the life's work of one man is eventually seen in context to an entire intergalactic empire.A thought provoking plotline.I have read many science fiction books over the years.This was undoubtedly one of the best.

I envy anyone who hasn't yet read this great book!
i kept hearing how awesome this book was and it left no disappointments whatsoever. I never saw where it was going, and neither will anyone who hasn't had it spoiled ahead for them. Whatever you do DON'T let anyone tell you the ending ahead of time. I loved this book, a rare and fantastic find.