Fantastic photos and the carved panel hearses are so different
921748
Fantastic photos and the carved panel hearses are so different. I don't think I have ever heard of them being in Australia. I worked in the funeral industry for about six years and the carved panel hearses in this book certainly have a charm of their own.

Regards

Karl
376754
This is an incredible volume of paranormal and art!

What you essentially have here is a combination of a photo art book and true paranormal history stories. Craig has gone through extensive deep dive research into the haunted history of each of his locations. Then, he hosts an array of gorgeously rendered original photos from his own creative photo shoots taken at the exact location. Each of the photos provide a portrait of models in various attire for the time period and displayed with great artist expression.

You're impressed by the photographs and then enamored by the history and the haunted folklore of the location. Craig also describes in detail any evidence or experiences collected during his investigations and shoot and it all makes for very addictive reading. I had the benefit of preordering direct from the author and so I received my copy just a few weeks ago. This is a big huge volume of tremendous effort and great work.

I will treasure my copy for years to go and it will hold a permanent place on my coffee table.
3896087
The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage is a gorgeous coffee table book, which highlights significant Biblical places (e.g., Gethsemane and Cana) and churches of importance (e.g., Ascension Chapel). The book is divided into the following eight geographical sections:

1. Bethlehem and Ein Karem
2. Jerusalem Old City
3. Mount of Olives
4. East of Jerusalem
5. Mount Zion
6. North of Jerusalem
7. Western Galilee
8. The Sea of Galilee

When I first opened this book, I went through it and only looked at the pictures. I must confess that if this book included nothing but those pictures, it would be worth the price for the pictures alone. After my surface investigation of this book, I decided to get serious and take the time to actually read the accompanying text. His descriptions and attention to detail make you feel like you are on an actual pilgrimage with Fr. Pacwa. It also makes you wish for even more pictures in the book or perhaps for an accompanying DVD tour. Each chapter then ends with a prayer, which can be used for guided meditation. So far I have only had time to quietly reflect on a couple of these places. I plan to re-visit the book many times in the future though, especially when the places tie in with major feast days in the Church.

My favorite place to read about was a toss-up between The Holy Sepulcher Church and the Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Sepulcher Church is venerated as the site where Jesus was both crucified and buried. Underneath the altar is an actual rock from Calvary. How awesome this place must be in which to worship. There is a yearly miracle that occurs here, which Fr. Pacwa failed to mention, and that is the Miracle of Holy Fire. I chose the Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary as my second favorite chapter for Fr. Pacwa's inclusion of an excerpt from "The Book of the Passing of the Most Holy Virgin, the Mother of God." This was incredibly fascinating to read, and it sheds light on questions of "Did Mary die?" or "Why was Mary assumed into Heaven?"

If going to the Holy Land sounds awesome but you currently lack the funds or opportunity, then I would recommend this book instead. While it's not the same as an actual pilgrimage (Really, what is?) it will at least provide you an introduction, a sampling of what is in the Holy Land. When you finish the book, do not casually put it on your bookshelf only to forget about it. Instead, place it on your coffee table or another place where you will see it everyday. It is a book you can visit multiple times throughout the Church Year to meditate with, especially seasons like Advent or Lent, and grow closer to God.
3052113
Purchased a used copy through Amazon. It was in very good condition and arrived quickly. The book is wonderful with interesting articles and information about the restoration. The pictures are beautiful. If you google search Sistine Chapel, you will find a virtual 360 degree tour online. Stunning. I have never been and it is unlikely that I will go. This book and the online tour make for a full experience of the glory of this work, even remotely.
663159
I love 'then-and-now' photo books that show how cities have evolved over the years. T. John Hughes' APPARITIONS, ARCHITECTURE THAT HAS DISAPPEARED FROM OUR CITIES is a 'then-and-now' photo book with a difference. Rather than using side-by-side vintage and contemporary pix of various buildings/city blocks, he transposes a 'ghost' vintage shot over the contemporary pix to create a wonderfully appealing tribute to the ever-changing face of various American cities.

Hughes presents some 70-odd 'ghost views' of such landmarks as New Orleans' French Opera House, Chicago's Republic Building, Cincinnati's Music Hall, Philadelphia's Broad Street Theater, Madison's Frank Lloyd Wright boathouse,  Seattle's Carnegie Library,  St. Louis' World Fair, Pittsburgh's North Side Point Bridge, New York's Vanderbilt residence, Las Vegas' Landmark Hotel,  Salt Lake City's Salt Palace, Charlotte's City Hall, Atlanta's Frances Hotel, Cleveland's 9th Street Pier, Milwaukee's Industrial Exposition Building and so on. My favorite view is that of San Francisco's Sutro Bathhouse but there are lots of other great shots. Since the photographs are presented in no particular order, you can just jump in at a random page and enjoy.

In short, APPARITIONS is a fascinating, fun guide to evolving city architecture. Recommended.
4370183
The generous pages allow for large photos of O'Keeffe and her art. Coupled with very informative captions and contextual explanations, this book provides a far richer experience than books that only have the art and quotes, good as they are. The variety of photos of O'Keeffe over many years and photographers included many candid ones that reveal more of her humanity beyond the carefully posed icon. I especially appreciate the many photos by Maria Chabot and the notes showing her crucial role in the renovation of the Abiquiu house. Thank you so much for this gorgeous, fascinating book.
4755991
Images of America Green-Wood Cemetery certainly did give me a chairside, in depth, glimpse of the landmark cemetery. This book is a treasure of antique photos exploring the magnificant grounds of Green-Wood. I've been to this cemetery many times,but never did I see all these marvels that Alexandra managed to capture in one book. I can't wait to return in the spring, to see some of these monuments from a past time up close. This is a great guide for the seasoned traveler or New Yorker, who thinks they've seen it all. Pick up this book for your own historical tour of Green-Wood. It's beautiful in the spring.
3182026
I bought this neat coffee-table gem upon recommendation by a friend in Oxford, and I was pleasantly surprised - not by the good quality; I've seen some of authors' work before - but by the angle of the content. As a fan of urban archaeology/exploration, I love photo documentaries about desolate areas or building, particularly when juxtaposed with cityscapes. This book, though, was different: Not only does it portray a part of the world very different to my UK surroundings; it is also the most political work I own in the genre. Typically, the photos I'm drawn to show abandoned industrial facilities, subways, hospital and hotels, all locations that are innately evocative. These images are less immediately dramatic, but once one knows about their background - the conflict - they become intimate and strongly suggestive.

The atmosphere is claustrophobic and the contrast is high, but there is less distance between ruin and ongoing life than I usually see in these books. Where many photographers often aim to portray their objects as lifeless and thoroughly deserted, in "Nicosia..." people move like shadows or just-hinted blurs just beyond the walls, highlighting the absurdity of the conflict that is the reason for the existence of these buildings. My favourite photo is found on page 49: a door and a giant plush toy, both tattered and leaning against a wall, suggesting the lack of an exit and pointing to those who always suffer the most from political clashes.
1947343
Many of the photographs in this book are beautifully composed and highly evocative.  In that sense it is a must-have for all lovers of vernacular commercial architecture.  The texts that accompany the images, though, are pretentious and distracting, and often reveal a mismatch with the photographs themselves.
2103131
Unbelievably stunning book with recollections from various people and family about the life and career of Sharon Tate.  I can't believe how positive this book is and how it purposely circumvents any kind of sleaze or tabloid-like commentary on her death.  From this perspective it is easy to see how Debra Tate is focusing on Sharon as a person and not as a victim.  I believe this will go a long way helping remove some of the tarnish that has come with being part of one of the most sensationalized national murder trials in U.S. History.

While many of the photos in the book have been seen before I counted at least 40 shots that were unfamiliar to me.  There were many early family photos and some incredible VALLEY OF THE DOLLS images that surprised me when I saw them for the first time in this book.  I imagine hard-core fans of Sharon may have wished for double the images but I think it worth mentioning that what stands out is the quality of the images and the beauty of the book design.  This book is a first rate effort and not some cheaply thrown together item headed for the remainder bin.

A couple of more things. The brief opening by Roman Polanski is very moving no matter your opinion on him or his issues.  The fact he agreed to write anything at all tells you that the book has met his standards at the very least.  Also, Debra's writing is more thoughtful than one might have expected.  Overall, a beautiful book for your shelf or coffee table.  One that is guaranteed to have people noticing and commenting on it.
1485518
An unbelievable collection of rare photos! Pontiac was always first in design, and this book proves it! I have been in the collectible car business for over 30 years, and many of these great photos are new to me. Beautiful work, Don Keefe!
2414602
The attention to detail is impressive. I appreciate the modern photos in conjunction with the historical and the information about each is very interesting.
3033951
This is a great picture book with rare photographs.  Like it or not, it is published by Amtrak folks, but the pictures don't lie.  This is a worthwhile, historical record of the same caliber of the Making of the Washington DC Metro book.  It's has several photographs of rare scenes, including one of the infamous Union Station Washington DC Visitors' Center, something that has curiously few photographs to see.

If you're a fan of passenger trains and understand the significance of the forty-year anniversary of a public/private corporation that was designed to fail, you need this book.
687888
First off, I was very interested in the fact that this is a photobook. Many times, words can come across so jumbled to me when having to visualize such topics as the ills of this nation...which is such a broad topic. But being able to have photos shown in this view point of places that we would normally see so full of life really brings a lot more value, helps you look at things a little differently. I'm impressed.
1616721
If you liked the Anthology book, then you'll like this. The pictures are the best part about it because it is colour throught with hundreds of rare photos. The majority of the photos i have never seen before. And I have never heard of a lot of the stories before either.

The book is split up in hundreds of different bits. You get a page or two about one sepcific event, i.e. the london palladium show, and a couple of pictures, and then it goes onto another event.

So you can dip into the book, read a page, and then skip to another page 50 pages on without losing the thread. It sounds disjointed, but it works surprisingly well.
2474711
As sad as it is to see so many stunning structures that are long gone, it is fascinating to see what they once were.  This volume is an excellent record of many of the fine old homes of antebellum Louisiana, and a few in Mississippi.  The significance of this particular group of images is that it shows how they looked in the early 20th century before they were either lost or thoroughly restored.  The photos are so atmospheric, as though if you looked hard enough, you could see all the way back to the early nineteenth century when these houses were brand new.

Some of these images were seen previously in "Ghosts along the Mississippi" but many are, to my knowledge, published here for this first time; at least, that is, in a format that is widely available to the public.  I treasure this book for the visual documentation that it preserves of what was doubtlessly the golden age of domestic architecture in America.

This volume comes highly recommended to those interested in architecture or history.  Do yourself a favor and add this to your library.
2445423
This is another beautiful collection of Photographic Art. This time the objects are churches. The photos are brilliant in color and lighting. The varied and unusual architecture is fascinating. I have enjoyed perusing this book as much as the&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Victorian-Houses-of-Mississippi/dp/1578067812/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Victorian Houses of Mississippi</a>