Product Description
It's startling enough to have a phoenix hatch in your house, but even more startling when it talks. The vain and ancient bird accompanies the children on a series of adventures through time and space which are rarely straightforward, but always exciting. ... Read more

Product Description
In the fifth installment of the action-packed adventures of Horace Splattly, the pint-sized ten-year-old turned superhero, Horace must tackle an invading alien shag carpet creature while soothing grouchy relatives at the Splattly-Blattly family reunion. Can our hero save the world from a hungry, blue carpet monster and end an age-old family feud? It’s a crusade tailor-made for everyone’s favorite lovable superhero! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

cool man you will love this!
I love when he eats the cupcakes! it is so cool man!read it now!I said now! go! go!go!read it I love it so moch. did I really write this when I was 6?

A sweet treat for young readers!
Imagine what a news report this would be: Scientist Sister Creates Superhero Brother! It's certainly a story you'd want to read.

Poor Horace Splatley is not only the shortest kid in town, he has a sister who is bigger and younger! After experimenting with a crazy recipe for strange purple cupcakes, she forces Horace to eat them and wear a purple costume. (It's sure not easy having mad scientist in the family!)

But little Horace has the soul of a hero, and soon finds himself flying around town and confronting a giant guinea pig who appears in the schoolyard. Will Horace save the town? The story is fast-paced, very silly and very entertaining.

Horace Splattley: The Cupcaked Crusader is sure to have young readers begging for a second helping of laughs.

Horace Splattly: The Cupcaked Crusader
This is coolio as my friend says.I also L-O-V-E it.Who wouldn't?Everybody would like if they read it.If you don't you're C-R-A-Z-Y!All the books are cool.It's so cool when Horace eats the cupcakes and you guess what superpowers he gets!His controling sis is so scientific!

the coolest book in the universe
this is the best book you will ever read. it is about a kid who eats her sisters cupcakes and turns into a superheroe.he has to fight a giant monster and an evil scientist.this book is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!i hope you read it!

Buy this book, it's very exciting
My mommy bought me this book.I liked this book very much.It was very funny.I liked that the cupcaked crusader had superpowers because he ate cupcakes, that was exciting. The powers only last for a few hours and it was sad when he lost them.I like that this book is about a boy, there are many books about girls already.The pictures very neat too.
I am now reading the second book and hope it is as good as the first one.Maybe it will be even better. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides authoritative information on the installation of all types of carpeting. Chapters provide facts on construction, identification, measuring, estimating, and installation. Learn the hows and whys of hundreds of recommended procedures written in a clear step by step procedural format. A valuable resource for carpet installers, retailers, buyers, architects, cleaning crews and inspectors. An industry classic, limited supply available. ... Read more

Product Description
This book shows how to repair fringes and kelim ends, how to repile, reweave, patch and mend tears and splits, and even how to deal with a rug that has been damaged beyond normal repair.A final section covers stain removal cleaning and daily maintenance.Clean and concise instructions, photographs and step-by-step drawings make the sometimes daunting task of mending a valuable rug not only possible but also enjoyable. ... Read more

Product Description
The little Gaulish village where Asterix and Obelix live has just one drawback - its bard is the worst musician in the entire ancient world. When Cacofonix strikes up, his singing sends the sun behind clouds and makes rain begin to fall. But that's just what they want in the distant Eastern kingdom of Rajah Watzit, where the guru Hoodunnit, with his sidekick Owzat, is threatening to end a terrible drought by sacrificing the lovely Princess Orinjade. The fakir Watziznehm arrives by flying carpet to ask the Gauls for help - and just for once, after many adventures, Cacofonix can feel that his talents are properly appreciated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Always 5 star adventures
I grew up with Asterix in French when I lived overseas.The English translations are very good and capture the double-entendre names, puns and funny references quite deftly. Always a treat to see what mischief the Gauls are causing. Good reading for children and adults with a healthy sense of humor!

Funny
Asterix and Obelix go to India! Umm...this one should have struck close to home, but i was a little disappointed with the stereotyped portrayal of India. Let me settle this once and for all. India is not elephants,tigers,mystics and magic spells. Ok, i got that out of my system.

Anyway, Cacophonix is elevated to the status of a hero by an Indian mystic Watziznehm who believes that the bard can make it rain. He wants the bard to accompany him to India and save Princess Orinjade from being sacrificed to the Gods. Asterix and Obelix join the adventure.

One of Uderzo's better solo efforts.
Albert Uderzo, Asterix and the Magic Carpet (Dargaud, 1987)

This is one of the three Asterix books I know I've already read during this marathon, but can't find any evidence I ever actually reviewed. Oops. In any case, a fakir has heard of Cacofonix's newfound ability to make rain fall with his singing, and heads off to the indomitable Gaulish village to seek his assistance. Along with Asterix and Obelix, Cacofonix accompanies the fair, Whatsisnehm, to India, passing a number of sites of their earlier exploits along the way. This is one to read after you've read the previous books in the series, otherwise there are a number of panels that won't make any sense. In any case, it's a pretty good entry in the series (and "pretty good" got more and more rare as Uderzo continued on, which makes this one something special). ***

Asterix and Obelix sans Romans in India
You just have to like Asterix and Obelix!These guys could conquer the world in their sleep, but as long as their village is safe, there is no need to!

In Asterix and the Magic Carpet, an Indian fakir seeks out their bard, Cacofonix, to return with him to to the Ganges and jump start the monsoon season.They agree, and the adventures begin.

I didn't realize how much I enjoy the banter and interactions of the Gauls and the Romans.This is what defines the daily lives of Asterix and company, and is absent from this book.Asterix and Obelix with no Romans to harass?Say it ain't so!

One of the worst asterix comics
I am a great fan of Asterix & Co.But this is one of the worst among the 30 odd Asterix books. This book was both written and illustrated by Uderzo. May be if Goscinny was there it might have turned out better. The drawings are drab and the jokes more stereo-typed than funny. It starts well, but after few pages the author doesn't know how to proceed. I am surprised that the author didn't do the usual research about the theme, here about India. Remember how the Asterix and Cleopatra turned out to be a master piece.Total lack of knowledge about India and its environments and relying solely on stereo-type based jokes ruined the storey. ... Read more

Product Description
Oriental carpets have always been prized in the West as luxurious and beautiful objects, but understanding their structure is essential to fully appreciating them. This books showcases 100 superb examples from the Victoria and Albert Museum's outstanding collection, which represents all the major carpet-weaving traditions from China to Turkey and is of great interest to today's many collectors and connoisseurs of these precious works.

The text clearly explains the basic techniques involved in carpet weaving throughout the East, while diagrams and photographic details explain how to examine and interpret the structure of any carpet. Excellent color reproductions of the most important and interesting carpets in the V&A's collections, including the world-famous Ardabil carpet, are accompanied by individual commentaries. Many of the carpets shown here have never been published before. ... Read more

Product Description
Christopher Alexander owns what many now believe to be the finest collection of early Turkish carpets in the western world, with perhaps half being the only specimens of their kind anywhere.In this richly illustrated, oversized volume--featuring four hundred illustrations, eighty in full color--Alexander takes readers on an engaging tour of his fabulous collection.

Readers will see a 13th-century Seljuk Carpet with Dragons, a 15th-century Animal Carpet, a scarlet-niched Transylvanian Prayer Rug, a turquoise Lattice Carpet from Alcaraz, a 16th-century blue Medallion Keyhole Design from Bergama, a rare 16th-century White Field Bird Carpet, the dazzling color and brilliant geometry of a 15th-century Karapinar with Three Gulls, and perhaps Alexander's favorite, a 15th-century Star Karapinar with Flowers (whose designs he describes as "the high point of all Sufi art, the state of liberation, in which the artist is so free, that he is able to be completely natural").In addition, Alexander elaborates on his theory that these carpets teach structure to artists and architects through the beauty of their form.

This lavishly produced volume makes an important contribution to the world of rug scholarship.Equally important, Alexander's thoughtful meditations on these pieces will fascinate the many architects, artists, and planners who follow his work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A pearl of great value
I love and leave my books, but I'll never part with this one. I look at it daily and always find something new and edifying.

The book's raison d'etere is Alexander's magnificent collection, displayed in glorious photos. But if you feel frustrated/disgusted or uncomfortable/uneasy toward modern design, art, or architecture, you'll appreciate Alexander's axioms for objectively evaluating the aesthetic quality of the carpets.Alexander hopes that a generalized version of these axioms will save us from the ugliness of modernism and get human beings back into the business of creating truly beautiful things, whether carpets, buildings, comptuer programs, etc.That's why he titled it "A foreshadowing..."

Alexander comments on each carpet in the collection, describing the fascinating detective work that went into placing and dating each piece, as well as pointing out the most noteworthy elements of the patterns and colors. His commentary causes me to appreciate each carpet as a historical piece with tremendous significance to today -- the carpets are seemingly messengers from the past, reminding us of truths that have long been dormant in the human spirit.

He describes the best carpets as evoking a presence that is both human and divine. He says that a reliable way to judge the "better" of two carpets is to ask people which of the two they would choose to represent their own self or soul.Even carpet-naive people will consistently choose the more valuable carpet, even if it's not the one they "like" best. Interesting, right?

Great but not what you would expect
Christopher Alexander is known among architects and maybe even more among computer enthusiasts. If you are one of them (us) and know his other work, you would be surprised by this book.
It deals with carpets, specifically Turkish carpets.
A friend of mine lent me this book and I was fascinated. It has a certain passion for its subject and its interesting even if you don't know anything and don't care anything about carpets. Author explains about some items in his quite large collection of carpets and why he finds them not only rare and valuable as an antique but also beautiful.
The beauty of a carpet lies in its pattern and here we get to familiar grounds (as for example in his »A Pattern Language«). A pattern consists not only of the ornament but also of the negative space, the area remaining. He explains on examples from his collection. And one wanders if there is yet another application of his theory beside architecture per se, computer design and carpets.
Still its quite expensive, but if you happen to lay your hands on it, go ahead and enjoy.

One drawback...
...shoddy binding.

Other than that, the book's great.

What I like about his writing is how relates the way your eye works to the way the carpets are designed and built.He yalks a lot about "centers" and about how a carpet can be that much more enjoyable when your eye can be drawn to sections which can be more-easily digested.

a quick & humble impression
I got to take a look at this book in the UMASS non-circulating collection. It was beautiful, covered with a gold patterned cloth. Inside, the paper and reproductions of the carpets and art work were of the very best quality.I read the introduction and skimmed through the subsequent chapters. After my breif encounter with this book, I felt as though I had found the secret heart of Alexander's architectural theories. Somehow his passion for these carpets seemed to be the kernal from which his volumes have sprung. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Decent
Book arrived sooner than USPS claimed.Reeked of smoke though.Had to air the book out for a few days due to the smell.

A Job Well Done...
I remember years back when Gail and Ken where in PSP and Gail said she was going to write a book.....Well Gail "WELL DONE" you are on the spot and tell it as it really is.
JMMZ
Chandler, Az. and still in the sky

Excellent read!
Gail Hopke writes clearly and with an obvious wealth of experience.It's good to see a book that concentrates on training in an area which has been sorely neglected.I look forward to hearing more from this well versed writer.

Best Book Ever!
This is a wonderful book for anyone who would like to be a personal flight attendant on a private jet you would be working with the rich, famous, U.S presidents, and international celebrates. Its a WINNER!!!

Beyond the Red Carpet
I read book cover to cover before putting it down.Very well written covering all the basics and more.Highly recommeded for anyone with an inkling to fly the skies and to meet interesting people!If you havn't decided where you're going in life, take a look a this, you'll be on the right runway! ... Read more

Product Description
Zahra, aged 3, and Hawra, just a few months old were the only survivors of a missile strike in Baghdad in 2003. Their parents and their five siblings all died. Unable to have children herself, Hala Jaber, an award-winning foreign correspondent, was determined to do all she could to help them. Sent to Iraq by "The Sunday Times" to cover the war, the last thing she expected was to find herself trying to save two little girls who had lost everything. But what happened next tells us far more about that conflict than any news bulletin ever could. Being a Lebanese Muslim, as well as the employee of a London paper, Hala is in the privileged position of being able to straddle two very different worlds and explain one to the other, and her beautifully written and deeply moving account affords a genuinely fresh insight into the Iraq war and its terrible human cost. The praise for "The Flying Carpet to Baghdad" include: 'I read the book in one sitting and confess I cried more than once. Jaber's story doesn't tie it all up with a neat pink ribbon, but it is all the more telling and universal for that' - "The Sunday Times".'Nothing I have read compares to Hala Jaber's mesmerizing account of how her longing for a baby drew her into an intense, often agonizing, involvement with two little Iraqi sisters orphaned by a U.S missile strike' - "The Daily Mail". 'Far from the usual gung-ho memoirs by war correspondents, this is a heart-rending and highly personal story by an incredibly brave woman' - Christina Lamb, author of "The Africa House" and "The Sewing Circles of Herat". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Flying Carpet ride
Wonderful book of real life as an insider in Iraq during war and otherwise. A tear jerker, for sure. My 88 yr old Mom reading it now, then will pass to daughter and sister and daughter in law.As a Mom and Grandmother this hit my heart. As Mom of soldiers having been there, offers a new perspective to the war. Recommend highly. ... Read more

Product Description
"The Flying Carpet" was Halliburton's fourth and most famous book and details his epic adventures flying a bi-plane through remote parts of the globe. The resultant work doesn't have a dull page. It details how Halliburton landed in Timbuktu, passed over Mount Everest, flew over the Taj Mahal upside down, and dropped down into the jungles of Borneo to visit with native head hunters. If one book could summarize all the reckless love of life and romance that symbolized Richard Halliburton, then this is the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Pretty German Aviatrix Teaches Richard About Flying
The Flying Carpet is an account of Richard Halliburton's astonishing travels in a biplane to some of the world's most exotic places. One of the things which makes this trip - one of his many - so daring is that it was completed during a time when air travel was extremely rare and required no little bravado.

On this celestial voyage, he flew a biplane from Paris all the way to the Manila Islands; in between, he landed in Morocco then flew across the Gobi Desert of North Africa where he touched down in Timbuctoo. Next he flew back to Paris then to Switzerland where he tightly circled the peak of the Matterhorn then flew across Europe to Turkey, to Egypt, and to Persia.

It was in Tehran, Persia where he met the person who, in my opinion, was the most fascinating character within the pages of The Flying Carpet: a pretty German aviatrix! She introduced herself by saying, "I'm a German pilot on my way from Berlin to Australia. I'm alone. My name's Elly Beinhorn." For a young girl to fly from Berlin to Australia in those times was - and is - utterly breathtaking.

One of the several dramatic photographs in The Flying Carpet is one of Elly flying her miniature Klemm biplane over the Taj Mahal - and upside down - so she could take the best picture. It is no surprise that Richard fell in love with Elly. But you must read the book to know how that romance turned out!

This is the best way to fly round the world without leaving your living room! A stunning page turner!

The great handsome adventurer
In his first book, on page one He states his happiness would be to sail off into the sunset.. and that was exactly what he did .He sailed of on a chinese junk (ship) and was never heard from again. This man was dashing ,handsome, and wonderful. In the middle of a depression when no one sold anything He managed to sell 50000 copies of his book. That says a lot.. he would have been one of the greatest authors of all time .. If he had been writting in a different time . If you love a true to life ,bigger than life ,real life adventure , all of Richard Halliburton's books will amaze and entertain you.

A gentleman and romantic with"the Right Stuff"
As one who has had the privilege to fly open cockpit biplanes across many far flung places, I understand the difficulty in sharing the view, the emotion and the experience that is unique to this mode of travel. Thus it was with incredible pleasure that I happened upon RIchard Haliburton's "Flying Carpet", a tale of travel around the globe. Haliburton accomplished this feat with a hired pilot just shortly after the first solo crossing of the Atlantic by Lindbergh. For Haliburton, the biplane was far less a technical wonder of it's time, than a magical key to enter new and unexplored kindoms. What makes his tale so rich in the telling is the lack of technical jargon. Instead Haliburton, ever the Romantic, regales the reader with the human interest side of his adventures. This makes for far more interesting reading than relentless descriptions ofhow one actually flew the plane from place to place - yet with enough sense of the daring aviation side of the adventure to leave me breathless.

Evident at all times as well is Haliburton's Princeton education, and extensive knowlege of ancient history. Although the style, some of the references, andsocio/religious commentary may be a bit dated or slanted for some readers, there is much to be learned from this wonderful tale of daring-do.

O, Glorious Adventure!
Easily one of my favorite Halliburton books (#1 on my list is New Worlds to Conquer").Young Richard was so daring and gifted, he refused to let his dreams stay dreams.His wealth and sense of entitlement led him to undertake every adventure he could think of...giving airplane rides to a REAL princess! ... living in the most notorious prisons!... sneaking in to the Foreign Legion!Swimming in the fountains at the Taj Mahal!

Not only was Halliburton a great explorer, he was also a gifted adventure writer & photographer, bringing true thrills to those of us who travel in our armchairs.

I'm so glad to see some of these books have been reprinted.They are an absolute "must read" for anyone who dreams of faraway lands! ... Read more

Product 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, newly revised to reflect current prices, are included with the photographs as a helpful guide for consumers and collectors. The book's bibliography provides useful listings for further research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

very thorough book
This is a very thorough and helpful book for the novice.Lovely pictures as well.

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. ... Read more

Product Description
Rug designs from Turkey, the Caucasus, and Iran, carefully reduced in scale and accurately charted, help you do a variety of handsome small take-along projects. Photographed in color and charted in black and white, the rugs provide needlecrafters with a variety of options beyond the original needlepoint. Beadwork is the latest use for these patterns.Amazon.com Review
What an absolutely perfect craft Frank Cooper has come up within these miniature needlepoint Persian, Caucasian, and Turkishcarpets! They are simple, beautiful, unusual, and portable. Theminiatures are typically between 6-9 inches in width and 10-16 inchesin length, and though they are quite detailed, the stitches are notimpossibly tiny. Cooper uses a #18 canvas (18 stitches per 2.5 cm),which allows these little jewels to work up surprisingly quickly. Theinstructions are plainly written; the charts are the book's only realdrawback, as they must really be enlarged on a copier to be usable bythe average needleworker. But the patterns are authentic, taken fromrugs Cooper has studied closely in his travels, and the colorphotographs and the historical background he adds to each rug'sdescription are alone worth the price of the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Inspirational!!!
I had been looking for some new ideas for needlepoint cushions/pillows and happened upon this quite by chance -- it is a GEM! The author must have spent hours and hours charting the designs, and I've been able to have great fun using my own colors (NB there are great designs for using up one's "stash" of colors!). The charts must be blown up on a copier, but other than that -- I highly recommend it!

Great for lovers of oriental carpets...
I couldn't resist this book! I love oriental carpets, but of course they're expensive and require a lot of space. This way I can have the designs I love, in miniature. The rugs he chose are lovely, and the designs easy to follow, plus he provides the color numbers for the yarn if you want to use his colors. (This is particularly nice if you live overseas like I do and need to order the yarn.) I would have liked some hints on how to come up with designs for other rugs, but it's easy to figure out by looking at his designs. The book is obviously for a niche market, but if you like oriental carpets and needlepoint, I doubt there's anything out there quite like this.

Making Miniature Antiques
This book is a wonderful introduction not just to making miniature rugs inneedlepoint, but also to the subject of Oriental rugs.Each of the 24 rugsis well-photographed so that you can appreciate the detail of the originalweaver's design.There is also a clear pattern for use in doing yourdesign that will copy clearly, as well as suggested colors to authenticallyrecreate the design.But the author also provides commentary on thehistory, themes and features in the rugs he included so that the readeralso learns something about what makes these rugs repre- sentatives of thecultures of their makers.I really enjoyed this book!

glorious patterns
I don't do needlepoint but used one of the Persian rug charts for a bead knit bag.The charts are big, no small projects here, but they are striking and wonderfully detailed.Really striking color photos.

This is a WONDERFUL book.
This is the book you've been looking for if you want to make pillows, footstools or "whatever" for a room that would welcome orientals.The reproductions are beautiful, the charts are clear.I just love it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

How to Start & Manage a Carpet-Cleaning Service Business
This book is only good for basic information on starting a small business. The book has nothing to do with carpet cleaning. I wonder why the word Carpet Cleaning was even used in the title?
... Read more

Product Description
Eccentric Jarvis lives in a crumbling schoolhouse overlooking the tube line, compiling his obsessive history of the Underground. A group of misfits are also drawn towards his strange house: Alice, who has run away from her husband and baby; Tom, the busker who rescues her; truant Jasper who finds his terrifying thrills on the tube; and enigmatic Axel, whose deadly secret casts a shadow over all their lives. Damaged, dispossessed, outcasts, they are brought together in violent and unforeseen ways by London's dark and dangerous underground system. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Surprisingly Unputdownable
I picked this book up just to see what it was about and to review the first page before deciding it buy it.However once i started reading I couldn't stop and just had to abandon all the other novels I was reading.I haven't finished it yet but am finding it fasinating.In typical Vine fashion this novel is rich in detail and very atmospheric.There is a lot of history explained about the underground which I've found very interesting.Highly recommended!

One of the Best Suspense Books I've Ever Read
This book is so far beyond an ordinary suspense novel that it seems in a class by itself.The many characters are fascinating, almost hypnotically so, and because this is Barbara Vine, you know that somehow, at the finish,no matter how different they are, how unrelated they may seem, they'll come together in an end you can't predict and yet, when it happens, has a horrible inevitability.

She lives up to her accolades as the best in her field, and this is one of her most ambitious and accomplished performances.A simply stunning novel.The use of multiple points of view reminds me of Stephen King's THE STAND, except, in its way, this is a far scarier story. It doesn't need the failure of the Disease Control Center in Atlanta for its aura of dread. It depends on something much more frightening: human nature.

INTERESTING READ
THE BACKGROUND INFO ON THE LONDON UNDERGROUND SYSTEM IS INTERESTING ALTHOUGH NOT MUCH MYSTERY IN IT SO FAR & I AM UP TO CHAPTER 8. ... Read more