Buyers' Choice

September 2008

The title-underlined links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Vanity Fair : the portraits, a century of iconic images by Graydon Carter.
"Vanity Fair: The Portraits brings together 300 iconic portraits from Vanity Fair's 95-year history in a remarkable book that captures the image of modern fame - the magical thing that happens when individual talent and beauty (and sometimes genius) is caught in the spotlight of popular curiosity and passion. The photographers from Edward Steichen and Cecil Beaton to Annie Leibovitz and Mario Testino - are a glittering and celebrated group themselves. Their portraits have become the iconic likenesses of the best-known figures from the worlds of art, film, music, sports, business, and politics." (Product Description, Amazon US)

Vintage home by Judith Wilson.
"There's an enduring charm to the shabby-chic, Bohemian and ultra relaxed look we now know as Vintage. It s the perfect choice for anyone tired of modern white interiors, ideal for family living, as extra scuffs won t ruin the look, and easy to live with, as there is minimal maintenance. Yet opting for Vintage is also a way of life: once you've started scouring for finds, it will become a pleasurable habit hard to break. Best of all, going vintage has become an eco choice: the more we salvage, the better we feel. Choosing vintage is the perfect antidote to our throwaway world. After years in the wasteland of pared down architecture and identikit shopping, aren't we all ready to embrace a new style? For anyone considering going Vintage, The Vintage Home will show them how to shop cleverly, mix creatively, and put together unique, welcoming and eclectic interiors that are perfect for modern living." (Product Description, Amazon UK)

Valentino: themes and variations by Pamela Golbin.
"The name Valentino has been synonymous with high fashion for almost fifty years. Based in Rome, Valentino is the only couture house recognized by the French government outside of Paris. His exquisite designs are coveted and worn by young Hollywood and high society alike the world over. On the occasion of his last couture collection, presented in Paris in the spring of 2008, this landmark book celebrates 45 years of Valentino s remarkable career. Published in association with a prestigious exhibition at the Muse des Arts Decoratifs famed costume department in Paris, this volume focuses on Valentino's haute couture creations." (Product Description, Amazon UK)

The encyclopaedia of Christmas by G.Q. Bowler.
"Christmas comes but once a year - but how much do we really know about its history, customs and traditions around the world? In this marvelous miscellany of merrymaking, Gerry Bowler explains and celebrates every aspect of Christmas - its food, drink, carols, fables, gift-giving and traditions. Taking in everything from Wren Boys and Star Boys to mumming and wassailing; the Feast of Fools to the origins of eggnog; Santa and Babushka to robins and reindeer; and chimney and chocolate coins to mince pies and Miracle on 34th Street, The Encyclopedia of Christmas is a joyous A to Z of the festive period." (Synopsis, Amazon UK)

Body Toxic : how the hazardous chemistry of everyday things threatens our health and well-being by Nena Baker.
"Almost everything we encounter - from soap to soup cans and computers to clothing - contributes to a chemical load unique to each of us. Scientists studying the phenomenon refer to it as "chemical body burden," and in The Body Toxic, the investigative journalist Nena Baker explores the many factors that have given rise to this condition - from manufacturing breakthroughs to policy decisions to political pressure to the demands of popular culture. While chemical advances have helped raise our standard of living, making our lives easier and safer in many ways, there are costs to these conveniences that chemical companies would rather consumers never knew about." (Synopsis, Amazon UK)

Postcards by Martin Parr.
"Presented in 20 chronologically sequenced chapters, this book opens with British postcards from the beginning of the century, made to mark notable local news events such as car crashes, murders, lightning strikes and acts of suffragette vandalism. It continues through the elaborate story-telling postcards of W Gothard, whose Barnsley studio commemorated mining and shipping disasters; a collection on incidents of World War I, from scenes of bombing to celebrations of war heroes; novelty portrait postcards from the 1920's and 1930's; bizarre hand-coloured cards from the 1930's; and, the holiday postcards of John Hinde that so influenced Parrs own photographic style. This book ends in Boring Postcards territory with a selection of late 20th century postcards promoting new motorways, airports and shops." (Synopsis, Amazon UK)

Get real, get rich : conquer the 7 lies blocking you from success by Farrah Gray.
"Raised in the impoverished South Side of Chicago, Farrah Gray defied the odds and became a self-made millionaire by the age of fourteen. His success is due, in part, to his emphatic rejection of the most pervasive lies about what it takes to succeed. In Get Real, Get Rich, Dr. Gray debunks seven common myths that people perceive as barriers to achieving their goals, in chapters such as The Born Lucky Lie, The Money Lie, and The Work Hard Lie. Readers are presented with a new way to think about the road to wealth, as well as practical strategies they can use to propel themselves toward success." (Product Description, Amazon US)

Your sustainable garden by Robin Johnson.
"An invaluable and practical guide to those many home owners and keen gardeners as they struggle to cope with the challenge of continuing water restrictions in finding ways to maintain viable gardens. The book presents complex solutions in simple and easily understandable terms, well supported with botanical tables and pictorial images. Your Sustainable Garden provides sensible and practical guidance for those who love and recognize the environmental and quality-of-life values of the suburban garden; achieving even better gardens with substantially less water!" (Book cover)

Weird science and bizarre beliefs by Gregory L. Reece.
"Does the giant Yeti roam the mountain ranges of Tibet? Does a real-life Shangri-La lie waiting to be discovered in a Himalayan valley? Do transmissions from lost civilizations beam messages of salvation to humankind? What lost creatures lurk in the murky depths of Scotland's brooding Loch Ness? And who - or what - is responsible for the implacable monoliths which tower over Easter Island? The obsession that so many now have with the uncanny and unnatural is itself a mystery. It prompts serious questions which could have remarkable answers. Drinking deep from the wells of esoteric knowledge, Greg Reece undertakes a heroic quest for solutions. Braving the darkest recesses of cult belief, he stalks the twilight borderlands of contemporary culture, where, at the outer edges of mainstream thought, things become downright freaky and outlandish." (Synopsis, Amazon UK)

Steve Price : be your best by Ben Blaschke.
"Steve Price is the respected leader of the Warriors rugby league team - a 15-season veteran of the NRL who, before coming to the Warriors, was captain and stalwart of the famous Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney. Now, widely acknowledged as perhaps the Warriors' best ever "buy", Price's influence on the battling club cannot be underestimated. Price is admired right across the Australasian NRL family, having represented Australia in 10 tests and played for his beloved Queensland in 23 State of Origin matches. Such was his form in 2007 that he earned a much-deserved recall to the Kangaroos, where he again performed with distinction in their huge victory over the Kiwis. In 2008 Price is likely to achieve the rare feat of playing 300 NRL first grade games." (Product Description, Amazon UK)

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