A quality Baron's addition.
354365
This cover is pure quality, easy to install and adds a definite sparkle to an otherwise dull part of the motor.  Baron's came through again.  BTW, the image is upside-down.
643402
Just about everyone who buys a Marvel Masterwork volume pretty much knows what he can expect in the way of content. The major issue for collections such as these is whether the reproduction does justice to the original material. As is almost a given for Marvel Masterworks since Cory Sedlmeier became the Collection Editor, this volume meets that criterion with ease. It is a lovely looking volume.

But it stacks up well taken on its own intrinsic merits as well. Gil Kane and John Romita divide the pencilling chores between them and combined with their inkers (Romita himself for two issues) turn in a fabulous effort. The scripting is not quite what it was in previous volumes as Stan Lee had hit the wall by then but Lee and Roy Thomas turn in some fine efforts. Noteworthy here is the introduction of future Marvel minor league character Morbius, the Living Vampire and the start of the redemption of Flash Thompson from Peter Parker's least favorite guy to close friend.

The book also has both an introduction by Roy Thomas and an afterward by John Romita, both entertaining and informative reads. There are also as usual some original artwork pages as bonus material. Missing are creator biographies but perhaps it was felt that repeating them would not be the best use of the space.

No comic fan will be disappointed with this volume.
397961
This is among the most satisfying Holmes-Watson films.

Brett's hamminess is fun, unlike the scenery-eating sonorities of Williamson, Plummer, et. al.  But Cushing shares Rathbone's ability to convey the rapier intelligence of Holmes as intrinsic, "matter-of-fact brilliance."

And fondness for Bruce's Watson suggests that many subsequent Watsons have either been stodgily underplayed (which is fine) or else "enriched" with personal embellishments (notably Mason's engaging but speciously enhanced characterization in MURDER BY DECREE).

Indeed it is comparison to MURDER BY DECREE that enables one to appreciate the superiority of MASKS OF DEATH.  Mills's Watson achieves audience appreciation by playing him as neither a buffoon nor a drab social-class-bound observer.  His recurring bit about Holmes's fingers provides a subtle indicator of their relationship.

Except for fade-outs for presumed commercial breaks, every aspect of the physical production is superior to DECREE.  The narrative covers virtually all the bases (violin, cap & pipe, disguises, Mrs. Hudson, but not the drug addiction) with straightforward respect and skill.

One disappointment is Anne Baxter as "the woman," since she doesn't convey requisite complexity and intelligence for Irene Adler.  A glamorous older actress with the steely subtlety of Joan Hickson (especially in a tea room scene with Miss Bunner in A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED) would have made the potential nemesis much more interesting.

In sum, this version of the immortal franchise makes me want to see many more Cushing performances--preferably those not "Hammered" with faux ghoulishness.
4672734
The venerable piano virtuoso Earl Wild continues to challenge commonsense notions about aging as he keeps on delivering excellent performances of major works, such as those embodied in this new remastering of the 1992 recording of all 27 of Chopin's tudes (Op. 10, Op. 25, and the three later tudes). Playing a favored Baldwin concert grand piano in Fernleaf Abbey located in his home town of Columbus, Ohio, he made the original 20-bit digital recordings over a period of just five days. The sound is lively, resonant, and spatially well-imaged, with clear details and sensuous tone quality. Since I've not had access to the original 1992 recording, I cannot say how this 24-bit remastered disk (Ivory Classics 76003) compares with it, but it seems likely--on technical grounds, at least--to be a significant improvement.

Mr. Wild was 77 when he made this recording, but his technique appears to have been more than adequate to the task. His articulation of rapid passages is neat, clean, and even, with enough pedal to yield smoothness, but not so much as to blur details. His greatest contribution here, though, is in the poetry and musicality of his interpretations. He captures the musical essence of these fine miniatures--the shortest is less than one minute and the longest hardly more than five--and conveys it delightfully.  This is perhaps the most enjoyable recording of the tudes available!

Chopin's tudes remind me somewhat of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, with its 24 preludes and fugues touching all major and minor keys. Chopin, however, while working in the majority of keys, does not attempt to include every one. Notable omissions are D major and minor, G major and minor, B-flat major and minor, as well as F-sharp minor, A major, and B major. Perhaps his favorite keys for the tudes are A-flat major, F minor, and A minor, each of which gets three. (Note that this doesn't prove an overall key preference among Chopin's works, which include several important works in keys omitted from the tudes.)

As a sometime wannabe pianist, I've attempted three or four of these works, with results I'd rather not discuss. Still, that limited exposure to the scores has embued me with admiration for the works, as well as for those who successfully perform them. These tudes are treasured monuments of the piano literature!

The liner notes include an excellent discussion of the tudes by James E. Frazier, and a good summary of Mr. Wild's long and outstanding career to date.

Congratulations are due to Mr. Wild for this five-star contribution to the recorded piano literature!
3181832
I liked the calendar.  I had no issue with the advertising.  The cover is amazing- love the Red Baron.  The cause is good.  Tasteful - not trashy.
154614
The year is 1365, and Hugh de Singleton a surgeon turned bailiff returns to the town of Oxford, England. Singleton stumbles upon a mystery surrounding his friend Master John Wycliffe, Warden of Canterbury Hall. As it happens, Hugh de Singleton has a flair for solving mysteries, and apprehending the offenders. This time, the crime involves a scholar's library -- and Hugh's own heart.

Author Mel Starr, in "A Trail of Ink", enthralls us with his third installment of his "Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon". The mystery and intrigue of life in the medieval age are brought to life through Starr's attention to detail in his descriptions of life in Oxford. He takes us to taverns and inns, college halls and monasteries, castle anterooms and dungeons -- virtually every corner of Oxford. Starr also illustrates courting customs, legal proceedings, surgical procedures, and even roof repair through Hugh's adventures in the story.

Not having read the first two books in the series didn't really impact my enjoyment of this tale. The characters are all sufficiently introduced again for new readers. While the story is told from Hugh's point of view, primarily, he has a faithful sidekick as a companion on his misadventures. We learn some of John Wycliffe and Singleton's Lord Gilbert. Kate, the damsel Hugh's entranced by, also wins our attention.

The plot has numerous twists and turns, and the pace of the book speeds up from its somewhat slow beginning. The fun in reading this book is entering the world of 14th Century England. Singleton also has ample time for spiritual reflection in between his jaunts as surgeon, detective and bailiff. Christian readers won't find objectionable content in this book. It's a fun and interesting tale, with a unique setting. I'll be looking out for the first two books in this series, and the promised fourth adventure.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Kregel Books (distributors for Monarch Books) for review as part of the Lit-Fuse Publicity Blog Tour. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
2612634
The burgundy color is more like port-wine, but the tie is a nice weight and is a welcome addition to my rotation. A very good, value purchase.
1508607
Valen, Lord St Evert's father is very ill.  In fact, he may be dead before long.  He has a request of his son.  Their relationship has never been a strong one, but Valen has promised his father to do as he wants.  He goes to London at his father's request.

Valen is a strong and handsome man.  And he has a wicked sense of humor as well as an even more wicked sense of justice.

While in London, he sees an old friend, Robert Hampton.  Sir Robert introduces Valen to his sister, Lady Elizabeth (Izzie).  She is in the market for a husband and she has very specific qualities in mind.  The main quality is wealth.  She and Robert are in need of money.

Valen does not admire the nobility.  Though he is of noble birth, he believes they have no sense of what is important in a person.  So, while he is in London, he is dressing as though he has a severe head injury.  Bright and ugly coats and even uglier pantaloons are the uniform of his day.

In spite of the poor appearance he makes, Valen is a handsome, intelligent and charming man when he chooses.  Izzie is unable to ignore the fact that he is a very interesting man.  They are drawn to one another because of the sparks that fly every time they meet.

These two play mind games and word games with one another.  The dialogue between Izzie and Valen is wonderful.  And Valen's Aunt Honore, encourages every word game and trick.

Along with the lovely dialogue and growing relationship, there is a danger which appears.  Izzie, has been a witness to a murder.  The murderer was unable to kill her at that time, but he is determined to find her and kill her.

All the characters whether primary or secondary add a great deal to this story.  Each of them present a complete picture of a complete person.

This is the first book I have read by Ms Baldwin.  It will not be the last.  She writes beautifully and her character development is terrific.  She has created a plot which moves along quickly and is entertaining all along the way.

If you are interested in adventure, romance and witty conversation filled with humor, this is a book you will enjoy.
3532718
HIS EXCELLENCY may be the sixth of the series in order of composition, but Zola made it clear that it was meant to be read as the second of the series.  (See my comments on the Mondial edition of FORTUNE for the preferred order.)

Just as THE FORTUNE OF THE ROUGONS established Zola's style of backtracking and dovetailing events that occur within the same time frame, it can be seen as a model for the whole series.  HIS EXCELLENCY proceeds in a straight chronological line, but in subsequent novels we will backtrack to this same period and cover it from different perspectives.

The most distinguished thing about HIS EXCELLENCY is the nuance with which Zola develops the antagonistic ambitions of Eugne Rougon and Clorinde.  The first chapter very cleverly introduces Clorinde first, but builds up the later entrance of Rougon, establishing the ambiguity over who is the protagonist and who the antagonist.

With the exception of these two characters, the subsidiary characters are barely types, but if we fault Zola for this, then we have also to include Dickens and Balzac.  It doesn't matter.  It is a face-off between two strong characters, and that is enough.

The style of the novel is that of long set pieces in which the fickleness of Rougon's friends help shape his fall/rise/fall from fortune.  We also get a brief glimpse into the court of Louis-Napoleon--but the real action is in the nepotism and favoritism that went on at lower levels in the Second Empire.

The Mondial editions sure have pretty covers--too bad they're full of typos.  Worse, Vizitelly's translation frequently completely omits passages considered too racy for his Victorian readership.  Some of his mistranslations are truly bonehead, to wit, the French word for "inevitably" is translated "as was fatal," making no sense whatever.  Another glaring example is the translation of the French word for "perverse" as "perverted," with unintentionally hilarious meaning.

Be that as it may, this is the translation we have.  Overall, Vizitelly has a good grasp of Zola's strengths and, liberties aside, he has rendered a very good novel into an acceptable translation.
2335915
I liked Jacquot in Marseilles.  I like him even better in Provence.  In this, the second in the Chief Inspector Jacquot series, he's called in to investigate a missing person at the Grand Lubron, a monastery converted into an exclusive hotel in one corner of which "the Master", a painter, lives.  It's no surprise that the missing person case turns into a murder mystery with a nice cast of characters that includes a surprise for Jacquot - a pleasant surprise and a promising reunion.
In this second installment O'Brien fleshes out the Jacquot character, adding depth to an already likeable detective.  As in the first book, the author plays fair with the reader, parceling out the clues, giving you enough to guess the answer, but still managing to surprise with the "reveal" at the end.
Very enjoyable and satisfying read.
1157259
A nice addition to the parasol protectorate universe.
1055204
I love the way the characters came together.  It would have be r n nice to k n ow more about the Barron and baroness
1597972
An excellent addition to the DemonLord series. The character and plot development  keep getting better.
1367897
The first thing you'll notice about this knife is of course the stag bone handle which is an attractive bone white with a charred middle.  The subtle engravings on the steel ends help to add another level of intrigue to the knife which does not stand out like the picture.  The black antique finish is none existent and is left with a subtle silver finish that makes the engraving less noticeable from a distance.  The blade is also engraved with Gerber's "Sword-in-the-Stone" looking emblem at the base of the blade.

On to the real reason you're looking at this knife...the blade.  This is a quality blade as it is of course made by Gerber.  This blade has a sturdy Firm feel to it with no wobble from the setting when it is locked open.  It's not sharp enough to shave with but it's honed well enough for any other typical cutting needs.

Does come with a velvet bag, which will probably never see use from me as I like to use my knives for more than just show.  With this knife you have functionality and beauty for a great price.

Final Breakdown:

Good:  Stag-Bone Handle, subtle engraving, quality blade, honed edge and sturdy build

Bad: nothing

Ugly:  No black antique finish like is shown in the picture.  Gives a more subtle projection which some buys might not like as compared to the Standout black shadow finish that the picture provides.

Overall: A quality knife for a great price that can be bought for personal use, a gift, or just to add to the collection.
3511268
This series is a delightful look at the past aristocracy in the UK.
It proves everyone, no matter their station in life, have stress and issues affecting their happiness, financial well being and family relationships. It is a continuing saga well played by the actors. Enjoyable.
648176
Flowy and dark, with a tie that ties and a very neat feel. Useful for Sith Lords, Vampyres, Vampires, opera phantoms, and persons assumed to be the Sheriff of Night Vale.
806638
The Baron S320 that I own (purchased and assembled elsewhere) is a great 3 burner grill.  It matches or surpasses its brand name competition in many ways.  The firebox has cast aluminum sides and, along with cast end-caps on the lid, contributes to an overall very sturdy feel.  The full cabinet hides the tank and keeps critters from exploring, the double sided cast grate system is innovative as is the burner design, the lid design allows room for a vegetable tray on the warming shelf and would probably allow for larger rotisserie items although I've not tried it.  The actual cooking area on the porcelain coated cast iron grates is slightly smaller than some 3-burners but I'm guessing that the smaller surface area explains its ability to heat quickly ( it would result in more BTU's per square inch of grate surface).  The burner control knobs also seem to have a wider range of adjustment, allowing for more sensitive control of the firebox temperature.  I also really like that it is made in North America and is sold at a very reasonable price by Amazon and others. This grill size fits the needs of my wife and I with the occasional of 2-4 guests.  I don't usually get to excited about purchases but this is a great product at a reasonable price.