The Double Bind: A Novel

Amazon.com

Best known for the provocative and powerful novel, Midwives (an Oprah Book Club® Selection), Chris Bohjalian writes beautiful and riveting fiction featuring what the San Francisco Chronicle dubbed "ordinary people in heartbreaking circumstances behaving with grace and dignity." In his new novel, The Double Bind, a literary thriller with references to (and including characters from) The Great Gatsby, Bohjalian takes readers on a haunting journey through one woman's obsession with uncovering a dark secret. We think Bohjalian fans will be thrilled with this compelling and unforgettable read, but just to be sure, we asked bestselling author Jodi Picoult to read The Double Bind and give us her take. Check out her review below. --Daphne Durham

Guest Reviewer: Jodi Picoult

From the provocative and gut-wrenching The Pact, to the brilliant genre-bending The Tenth Circle, to her latest novel about a high school shooting Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult's riveting novels center on family and relationships, and bring to light questions and issues that remain with a reader long after the last page is turned.

I once heard a fellow novelist call writing "successful schizophrenia"--we invent people and worlds that don't exist; but instead of being medicated, we are paid for it. Although countless novels succeed in whisking the reader away on the heels of such fabrications, there are very few that pull the curtain away from the craft, allowing us inside the mind of a working novelist as he combines reality and fantasy. Chris Bohjalian's The Double Bind is not just one of these; it's the finest example I've ever read of a book that tips its hat to both the beauty of the literary creation, as well as the magical act of creating.

Fact and fiction become indistinguishable in The Double Bind: The story centers on Laurel Estabrook, a young social worker and survivor of a near-rape, who stumbles across photographs taken by a formerly homeless client and tries to understand how a man who'd taken snapshots of celebrities in the 50s and 60s might have wound up on the streets. However, an author's note tells us that Bohjalian conceived this book after being shown a batch of old photographs taken by a once-homeless man; and the actual photos of Bob "Soupy" Campbell are peppered throughout the text. In another neat twist, Bohjalian's resurrects details from The Great Gatsby, which become "real" in the context of his own novel--Laurel lives in West Egg; part of her hunt for her photographer's past involves meeting with the descendants of Daisy and Tom Buchanan.

As a writer who counts The Great Gatsby as one of the books that changed her life, this inclusion was both startling and remarkable for me. Who doesn't want one's favorite characters to come to life--even if it's only within the constraints of another fictional work? But Bohjalian chose his text wisely: no discussion of The Great Gatsby is complete without alluding to missed opportunities and unreliable sources--critical elements in Laurel's quest. And therein lies Bohjalian's true double bind: all stories--even the ones we tell ourselves--are subject to our own interpretation, and to the degree we can make others believe them.

The Double Bind may flirt with the classics, but it's not your father's stuffy old tome: it's the sort of book you want to read in one sitting, and it packs a twist at the end that will leave you speechless. It also, worthily, spotlights the cause of homelessness in a way that isn't preachy, but honest and explanatory. Ultimately, what Bohjalian's done is offer his lucky readers another reminder of why he's such an extraordinary author: by creating characters that become so real we lose the distinction between truth and embellishment; by reminding us that the story of any life--whether fictional, functional, or marginal--is one to be savored. --Jodi Picoult

Book Description

Throughout his career, Chris Bohjalian has earned a reputation for writing novels that examine some of the most important issues of our time. With Midwives, he explored the literal and metaphoric place of birth in our culture. In The Buffalo Soldier, he introduced us to one of contemporary literature’s most beloved foster children. And in Before You Know Kindness, he plumbed animal rights, gun control, and what it means to be a parent.

Chris Bohjalian’s riveting fiction keeps us awake deep into the night. As The New York Times has said, “Few writers can manipulate a plot with Bohjalian’s grace and power.” Now he is back with an ambitious new novel that travels between Jay Gatsby’s Long Island and rural New England, between the Roaring Twenties and the twenty-first century.

When college sophomore Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont’s back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, Laurel withdraws into her photography and begins to work at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs that he won’t let anyone see. When Bobbie dies suddenly, Laurel discovers that he was telling the truth: before he was homeless, Bobbie Crocker was a successful photographer who had indeed worked with such legends as Chuck Berry, Robert Frost, and Eartha Kitt.

As Laurel’s fascination with Bobbie’s former life begins to merge into obsession, she becomes convinced that some of his photographs reveal a deeply hidden, dark family secret. Her search for the truth will lead her further from her old life—and into a cat-and-mouse game with pursuers who claim they want to save her.

In this spellbinding literary thriller, rich with complex and compelling characters—including Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan—Chris Bohjalian takes readers on his most intriguing, most haunting, and most unforgettable journey yet.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent as usual.......2007-10-05

I love reading his books. i am in the world he creates. Each book is a new experience. He is definitely not a formula author. Our book club selected another of his books for discussion. We enjoyed it and the discussion. We want to invite him to conference call with us.

Long and winding middle of the road writing.......2007-09-29

Author Chris Plot Twist Bohjalian is at it again. As with his breakout novel, Midwives, The Double Bind is filled with twists and turns and things are never what they seem. Due to that fact, little that can be said without spoiling the plot. A young woman who has survived a harrowing ordeal lands a job at a homeless shelter. After being given a box of photographs belonging to a recently deceased client of the place, she tries to find out as much as possible about the man and his family. Although her coworkers, friends and acquaintances believe that she is going overboard in her quest, she is undeterred and doggedly pursues the truth. In a number of places, the reader will likely find him or herself wondering about certain coincidences and unlikelihoods, but if he or she is can just go with it - things will eventually become clear. Clever plotting aside, the book has its problems: it is long, long, long and the writing is not exactly compelling; there are two sections (within the prologue and again in the Chapter 28) that contain profanity and graphically described violence; except for some discussion of the fact that the homeless often suffer from mental illness and Laurel's encounter with a homeless man (during which she throws caution to the wind, telling her companions that she will escort the strange man to the shelter ALONE), the whole "homeless" angle of the story seems pretty sanitized; and anyone unfamiliar with The Great Gatsby is sure to have a tough time of it. The story's highlights can be found by reading the following (if you plan to read it in its entirety, don't read on): the prologue, page 200 (for "the double bind" explained), and chapter twenty-eight through the reader's guide. Best thing about the book - the surprises - worst - the writing. Midwives is a better choice.

WOW........2007-09-27

I am rarely as enthralled with a book as I was this one...couldn't put it down, and I will recommend it to many people! Very different, brilliantly creative, and breathtaking. READ IT.

A Painful Reality.......2007-09-17

No matter how lurid, misunderstood, violent or repugnant the subject, Chris Bohjalian wrests his themes from the daily news, fleshes them out with realistic details and spins a compelling tale that both enchants
and educates the reader. His latest book, The Double Bind, deals with the aftermath of a brutally senseless attack on a compassionate young social worker.

The author aced this one, and I will never again see a young woman pass by on a bicycle without reliving in my mind the horror of a cruel encounter on a bright fall day along a Vermont country lane. The event and the subsequent unfolding of the residual pain are told with
compassion and a surreal weave of reality and fantasy. It's hard to imagine where this talented writer will take us next!

Izzie Hayes, avid Bohjalian fan

A literary game not played by fair rules.......2007-09-17

I have to give Mr. Bohjalian 5 stars for chutzpah. How many authors would so tightly link their own work to one of the American classics of the 20th century--perhaps the Great American Novel itself--forcing any reader to compare Bohjalian to Fitzgerald? I can assure you that, if this work is representative, Mr. Bohjalian is no Fitzgerald; they hardly speak the same language.

But wait, the chutzpah gets even more extreme! It is possible that Mr. Bohjalian has deliberately given us this rambling, slack style--sometimes seemingly deliberately hanging with Spanish-moss-like clumps of unfocused, clicheed phrases that only a nonwriter would dare have appear under his own name--for a literary purpose. Without revealing too much--and the book is all about the series of relevations that progressively emerge--I think I can safely suggest that Mr. Bohjalian may be dropping a (perhaps massive) clue about where the story is heading by writing in such a slack, nonliterary style. Chutzpah indeed to set himself up so close to a master stylist like Fitzgerald just to make himself look like a bad writer to advance his own plot.

Or maybe not. Maybe the book really isn't that coherent. It teems with references to The Great Gatsby on many levels. It invites the reader to hear these references in multiple voices speaking in the primary narrator's voice. But for the life of me, I can't distinguish where one voice starts and another leaves off. Shifts appear to occur in the middle of paragraphs. Or at least, the story can be viewed as coherent only if this is going on. As a reader, I feel like one of the early German scholars of the Bible trying to sort through the distinct voices present in the text and wondering what scribe could have edited these voices together in such a haphazard patchwork. What was the scribe trying to do?! What is the author trying to do here?

I can't be more detailed without revealing key elements of the story. Let me say simply this. I came to the book with great expectations. I actually lived in F. Scott Fitzgerald's dorm room in college and had a classmate who saw himself and his girlfriend as the reincarnations of F. Scott and Zelda. (Sounds like part of some alternative take off on Gatsby, but this one wasn't fiction ;-)). I felt a literary mystery story unfolding through the pages of The Double Bind and my expectations rose. I love a good literary game. But as the revelations unfolded, I couldn't make them hold together. Other readers I have spoken to have had the same reaction. At the end of the day, I can't tell what the author actually intended us to believe happened in his story. More than anything, I felt as though he had not played fairly by any set of rules he had set for the game. Or maybe more mercifully, the game didn't have coherent rules to begin with. Takes Mr. Bohjalian off the hook, but it takes any fun out of the game. I came away frustrated and disappointed.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter)

Average customer rating:

Still relevant even after two LR updates
Excellent resource!
A bit common sense
Good information, if a little too "cute"
Not bad

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter)
Scott Kelby
Manufacturer: New Riders Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0321492161

Product Description

This book takes you beyond showing you which sliders do what to reveal the secrets of the new digital photography workflow using Adobe Lightroom, and he does it using three simple techniques that make this just a great learning tool: 1) Throughout the book Scott shares his own personal settings and studio tested techniques he s developed using Lightroom for his own photography workflow since well before Adobe released even the first Beta version. He knows what really works, what doesn t, and he tells you flat out which tools to use, which to avoid, and why. 2) The entire book is laid out in a real workflow order with everything step-by-step, so you can jump right in using Lightroom like a pro from the very start and sidestep a lot of productivity killing road blocks and time-wasting frustrations that might have tripped you up along the way. 3) In the last two bonus chapters Scott visually answers his No.1 most-asked Lightroom question, which is: Exactly what order am I supposed to do things in, and where does Photoshop fit in? Scott teaches this by showing every step of the entire process, from the initial shoot to the final prints. Both chapters start with an on-location photo shoot, including full details on the equipment, camera settings, and even the lighting techniques. You ll see it all as he takes the photos from each shoot all the way through the entire workflow process, to the final output of the 16x20 prints for the client.

Customer Reviews:

Still relevant even after two LR updates.......2007-10-10

I struggled before buying this book because Adobe has updated LR with two revisions since this book was released. Scott Kelby does provide an update to the 1.1 release for free, but not 1.2. Actually, the 1.2 release was minor. I've found the book to be extremely helpful as written. There are a lot of tips included that I would not have otherwise found.

Scott has a different sense of humor in his writing, but the test is easy to read and informative.

Excellent resource!.......2007-10-06

As a new Lightroom user I am quickly learning the ins and outs of this program. Laid out in an easy to read, step by step format. Can also get the 1.1 supplement on Peachpit Press, although we're at version 1.2 now.

A bit common sense.......2007-10-05

I took a previous book from Kelby from the library: Photoshop CS book for digital photographers. That was incredible for my intro to digital image editing, and no doubt the CS3 version is just as good (I also bought that, haven't gotten a chance to read it yet). When I got Lightroom, I figured this book would be just as helpful. It is, but it just isn't that compelling a read. I read the users manual from Adobe and played with the program for a week or two and got the hang of it. By the time this book came, the introductory stuff bored me, and I only skimmed the advance stuff, as opposed to reading it cover to cover like the Photoshop CS book. No doubt this is a great book and great if you have no experience whatsoever, but if you get the hang of such an intuitive program without it, you might not need this book as much.

Good information, if a little too "cute".......2007-10-04

Scott Kelby is one of the most prolific technical writers in the business. By his own acclamation he is the world's #1 best-selling author of all computer and technology books, across all categories. That means a lot of people must like his books and buy a lot of them (either that or he's really rich and just publishes tons of them that sit in warehouses somewhere). So what's his style like? How about up-beat, jocular, full of punny side remarks and allusions intended to be humorous, forever positive, anything is possible, never boring...unless you get just a little tired of the incessant pandering to keep the reader's attention. But he knows the software and is good with tips on how to make it work, and even though he's a Mac evangelist, he takes the time to address cross-platform issues whenever they come up.

The software. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is destined to be one of the most popular imaging programs Adobe, or anyone else, has written. To a certain degree it will very likely slow sales of the full version of Photoshop, not because that is an inherently flawed program, but because Lightroom takes a more streamlined approach in often more intuitive and elegant fashion to basic and intermediate digital imaging needs. It makes a great front end for downloading files, sorting and labeling, making quick and effective adjustments, cataloging and managing the files, and purposing them for output to print, web, or slideshow. In doing all this it doesn't replace Photoshop because Lightroom omits complex targeted adjustments, compositing, or layers, so there are very good reasons to use Lightroom in concert with Photoshop for a full-fledged imaging workflow accommodating efficiency when minor adjustments are enough, and effectiveness when an image simply requires complex work.

The book. In a nutshell, Scott's books work very well for a beginning and intermediate audience. Every individual learns in a different fashion, but the trend of the time is to be simple and visual. Scott accomplishes that through design and method. Throughout the book there are lots of pictures and screenshots with explanatory text along the outside of the pages. The ratio is about 1/3 text, 2/3 pics. And the method goes right to the heart of communication by picking a subject and then taking you right through it step by step. Most of the explanations are lucid and thorough, conveying a lot of info in a short time, and lots of clever suggestions are offered along the way. The coverage is pretty thorough. Of course reading a book does not make one a software expert; that takes lots of serious study and hands-on practice. But again, if you follow all the steps all the way through the book, you should gain pretty good facility with Lightroom.

Shortcomings? Sure; several. For one, software often changes faster than books can be published about it (that's not the book's fault of course). With this one you can register with Peachpit.com (parent of the publisher New Riders) for updates, which is a strong step in the right direction. With regard to style, I could do less with some of the humorously-intended but somewhat tiresome banter, but that's just a personal preference; don't let my view get in your way if Kelby's style helps you learn. Finally, some folks really need to know not just the "what" or "how to" but also the "why;" not too much of the "why" here. On the other hand, if all the "whys" were addressed the book would be twice as long, get boring, and probably be bought and read by far fewer people.

Conclusion. A bright tome that deserves space on the bookshelves or most new Adobe Photoshop Lightroom users, especially those who learn well from a light-hearted, mostly visual presentation. Not a bad reference for advanced users either. All in all, solidly recommended.

Not bad.......2007-10-03

This doesn't go into a great deal of depth. It is great for what it is, a good introduction to using Lightroom. However, don't expect to become a Lightroom pro with this. What I wanted was an introduction to Lightroom, and that's what I got, so I am happy with it.

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers

Average customer rating:

Really well done book
Excellent book of Lightroom
Already out of date--and you pay for the update
Is it really necessary
An insightful book for creative photography

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers
Martin Evening
Manufacturer: Adobe Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0321385438

Product Description

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book was written with photographers in mind. Best-selling author Martin Evening describes Photoshop Lightroom s features in detail from a photographer s perspective. As an established commercial and fashion photographer, Martin knows firsthand what photographers need for an efficient workflow. He s also been working with Photoshop Lightroom from the beginning, monitoring the product s development and providing feedback on the public beta. As a result, Martin knows the software inside and out, from image selection to image editing to image management.

Customer Reviews:

Really well done book.......2007-10-07

This is the best resource I've found for learning about the details of Lightroom. Martin Evening has done a really nice job describing a very powerful product. I give him (and Peachpit Press) a lot of credit for their free posting of the Lightroom 1.1 update on the website; they must have run into some unfortunate timing with the Lightroom development team and they dealt with it well. The update is a must read, as 1.1 is a more significant upgrade than I'd expect an x.1 release to be. There are some really good Lightroom video tutorials out there (Luminous Landscape, Lightroom News, NAPP), but they only enhance what's in the book, not replace it. The most significant thing I found missing from the book and its update was a section on workflow ideas, particularly how Lightroom/Photoshop interact when you need layers, masking, etc. and what is best done where. I would definitely recommend this book.

Excellent book of Lightroom.......2007-10-01

Martin Evening's book The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book is an excellent guide to using Lightroom. This book is aimed towards professional and advanced amateur photographers and provides excellent instruction on how to start using Lightroom as part of your digital workflow. It is more geared towards Mac users that PC, however Evening does provide instructions the PC users. It is a more technical book that Scott Kelby's book The Adobe Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers. Whereas Kelby shows you more tips and tricks, Evening is a master of explaining the technology behind Lightroom in clear, easy to understand prose. The book is laid out in a logical manner taking you from Import to Finish of your photos. All in all, The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book is indispensable for those wanting to get the most out of Lightroom.

Already out of date--and you pay for the update.......2007-09-10

This book was fine for Lightoom 1.0, but Lightroom 1.1 came out just when the book did. The publisher (Peachpit Press) should be ashamed for knowingly selling this out-of-date edition. Lightroom 1.1 is so different that Peachpit Press has had to post a 188-page PDF to document the changes. So to fully use this book, you have to buy it, then download the 188 page supplement, then print all 188 pages, then flip back and forth between the original book and the supplement. Peachpit is making us pay for buying its obsolete book by esentially self-printing a supplemental mini-book. This is like buying a Honda Civic with air conditioning, then finding out that you have to mail in a certificate for the air conditioner and then install it yourself. Wait for Peachpit to issue a revised book that covers Lightroom 1.1. I'm sending mine back--this was such a blatant ripoff by Peachpit.

Is it really necessary.......2007-09-06

A few months later, with version 1.1 of Lightroom out, book is incomplete. IMHO, manual that comes with the Lightroom is plenty enough to get you started.

An insightful book for creative photography.......2007-08-26

This is an excellent introduction to Adobe's new product. It gives a comprehensive explanation of all technical details with emphasis on artistic possibilities. The book is not intended for complete beginners -- some familiarity with basic principles of digital photography is assumed. On the other hand, a careful description of many new and ingenious techniques will delight even the most advanced photographers.

Average customer rating:

Great photography book
not a copiest
The size of this book!
A Celebration of Ugly and I Don't Care
Well ... is exactly like the title says ...

A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005

Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375505091
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

“I don’t have two lives,” Annie Leibovitz writes in the Introduction to this collection of her work from 1990—2005. “This is one life, and the personal pictures and the assignment work are all part of it.” Portraits of well-known figures–Johnny Cash, Nicole Kidman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Keith Richards, Michael Jordan, Joan Didion, R2-D2, Patti Smith, Nelson Mandela, Jack Nicholson, William Burroughs, George W. Bush with members of his Cabinet–appear alongside pictures of Leibovitz’s family and friends, reportage from the siege of Sarajevo in the early Nineties, and landscapes made even more indelible through Leibovitz’s discerning eye. The images form a narrative rich in contrasts and continuities: The photographer has a long relationship that ends with illness and death. She chronicles the celebrations and heartbreaks of her large and robust family. She has children of her own. All the while she is working, and the public work resonates with the themes of her life.

Customer Reviews:

Great photography book.......2007-09-17

I've been wanting this book for a while and to have found it here for under $75 I was excited and bought it immediately. A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005 by Annie Leibovitz mixes photos of famous faces and intimate photos of her family, close friends and a few landscapes. I really enjoyed all of the photos. The book is so big I have yet to get through the whole thing! It was well worth the money I am defiantly now a fan of Leibovitz.

not a copiest.......2007-09-14

Great artists are inspired by others and yes, one can see other photographer's work in Annie's. I consider her one of the greats, right up there with Irving Penn, Avedon, Mapplethorpe and found the text very interesting. This book is a bargain considering the depth of information and production quality.

The size of this book!.......2007-09-10

I was surprised at the size of this book! It is much thicker and larger than what I thought and I think it is good value for money. It provides the reader with an insight into the photographer's life and gives the book a very intimate feel. Not all the pictures are flattering to Ms Leibovitz and her relatives and seeing these ordinary photos of people not looking at their best makes you feel as if you are looking at people that you also know. An interesting mix of photos of celebrities and everyday people is presented.

One point of critisizm - why do they print a good photo over two pages and then cut it in half by the page break? A good picture deserves to be printed on one page so as to see it as a whole.

A Celebration of Ugly and I Don't Care.......2007-09-01

This book is perfect for today's society and culture.

Page after page I couldn't help thinking that Ms. Liebowitz was getting back at everyone because God made her so unattractive. It seems it runs in the family -- the photo of her sisters would frighten a scarecrow. Her parents look like fools, the photos of Sontag are disrespectful, and even Brad Pitt is at his worst. Ugly, ugly, ugly...

Yes the world is cruel and not everyone nor everything can be beautiful... it is merely that this book is blatantly defensive.

Well ... is exactly like the title says ..........2007-08-26

... no more no less.
Do not expect to see more than an "allowed invasion" on her life in B&W.
Self promotion, just it. But who didn't, right?
If you can take some lessons "through her personal eyes", good for you.
I believe from everything you can take something good.

The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)

Average customer rating:

Must Have "How To" Book for Photoshop CS2
Pretty Good
Kudos
An excelent book for both beginers and more advanced photographers
Another winner

The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Scott Kelby
Manufacturer: New Riders Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0321330625

Product Description

Kelby s 480-page book shows you Photoshop tips and tricks for altering your digital photo image, including a special chapter on how to set-up Photoshop s color management. You ll also learn: sharpening techniques, retouching secrets, processing RAW images, color correction, image noise reduction and more.

Customer Reviews:

Must Have "How To" Book for Photoshop CS2.......2007-10-19

If you want a "how to" book for Photoshop and not want to get into a technical discussion about the nuances of different slider settings, Buy this book.
Say you want to know how to reduce digital noise from high ISO. 3 steps and you are there.
Wonderful book. Must buy.
This book will not teach you how to shoot. So no discussion on framing, F-Stops, Apperture Priority.
This book will teach you how to post process in PS-CS2.

Pretty Good.......2007-10-03

I am a huge Scott Kelby fan; however, this showed pretty much the same techiques as the first CS book, which I already have. So, if you have the first book ... don't buy the second!

Kudos.......2007-09-27

Kudos! The product was in great shape and delivered in a timely manner, which was awesome since I recieved it the day before I had class! Thx!

An excelent book for both beginers and more advanced photographers .......2007-09-22

.The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)

I found the book to be very user friendly, clearly written and put in a methodical order. The chapters are easy and fun to follow.

Although vey funny in the begining, I too found Scott Kelby's humour to be a bit much at times and also a little repetitious, but I guess his aim is to prevent the reader from getting bored with the technical stuff. So I was more than willing to put up with it.

The book is aimed at those with at least a basic knowledge of photography, I have been a profesional film photographer and once having made the move to digital I found the book to be fantastic.
It answered my every need.

A must on the shelf of all photoshop users, unless of course you know your stuff as well as Scott does.

Another winner.......2007-09-19

Scott does Photoshop training right - quick, easy tutorials that elevate your abilities to negotiate the steep learning curve of this software. His sense of humor keeps it fun.

The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers (VOICES)

Average customer rating:

Easy to follow how-to guide
Photoshop Elements 5 for Digital Photographers
Very good reference book. -highly recommended.
Great book
disappointing

The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers (VOICES)
Scott Kelby
Manufacturer: New Riders Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0321476735

Book Description

Best-selling author Scott Kelby is well known for his plain-English style, his humorous tone, and his unparalleled ability to cut through all the technical jargon that other authors use when writing about image-editing programs. Here, Scott delivers great techniques on Photoshop Elements 5 that his readers understand and use to make the best possible images. With this newest release of Photoshop Elements, Scott shows readers how to work with their images like a pro, from importing to organization to correction to output. Readers will learn all they need to know about the digital photography workflow, as well as the latest secrets of the pros to help them create the best special effects, apply the most useful sharpening techniques, and avoid many of the hassles and problems that are encountered in digital photography (such as digital noise and color halos).

Customer Reviews:

Easy to follow how-to guide.......2007-10-18

Thankfully Scott Kelby sticked to his highly successful and proven style -instead of showing you what the program can do he simply teaches you how to do things you need to do using the program.

If you are a beginner or a beginner-intermediate user - this is exactly what you need. Personally, I don't need explanations what layers are in Photoshop - just tell me how to fix my photos (step-by-step, with every step shown as a diagram, and the whole thing described in easy-to-understand, fun tone.)

In summary, beginners - rejoice, this is what you were looking for all along!

Photoshop Elements 5 for Digital Photographers.......2007-10-17

The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers (VOICES)
Excellent , easy to follow, step by step, user friendly. Can't beat it.

Very good reference book. -highly recommended........2007-10-06

Great book, exactly what I was looking for. 1 to 2 page tips and instructions per topic. A great resource and reference type book.

Great book.......2007-10-06

I have many books about Photoshop Elements because I've purchased this software from the first release. This book is by far the best. Very easy to understand, and immediately use the tips to make my photos come to life. This is without a doubt worth buying. I use it often!

disappointing.......2007-09-30

The book is actually pretty good. I was disappointed in the chapter on raw. I am new to this software and processing in raw format. What the book shows and my version 5 is completely different. I sent an email asking if they could explain the features since it is so different. I listed each, they said "I believe that Camera Raw was updated after the publication of our book." Also they informed me that they don't have a help desk. I have seen publications print corrections etc. that you are able to obtain. If raw is unimportant get it, if you want to learn about raw get something else.

Average customer rating:

Extremely disappointed
AWFUL, DUMB, STUPID, WASTE OF MONEY
Makes No Sense-Waste of time
You've Been Warned
Terrible

You've Been Warned
James Patterson , and Howard Roughan
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316014508
Release Date: 2007-09-10

Book Description

Kristin Burns is making her way in New York City. Her photos are being considered at a major Manhattan gallery, she works by day with two wonderful children, and the man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. But just as everything she's ever wanted is finally within reach, her life changes forever--with one murderous nightmare. Kristin wakes up every morning from the same chilling, unforgettable dream. And suddenly, it's visiting her during the day too. As her life turns stranger by the minute, Kristin is haunted and terrified. Is it all in her head? Or is the nightmare becoming her life? Kristin searches desperately for what's real through the lens of her camera, only knowing two things for sure: that no place is safe and the fate of everyone she loves lies in her hands.

Customer Reviews:

Extremely disappointed.......2007-10-19

I thought it maybe was just me. I'm a big Patterson fan, read all his books and love them; but after finishing this one I was extremely disappointed. Not his normal stuff and I agree with other postings; reading this book was a waste of time; also glad I didn't buy it, just borrowed from the library. Come on James, let's get back to writing your kinds of books, please!

AWFUL, DUMB, STUPID, WASTE OF MONEY.......2007-10-18

I sure do wish I had checked the reviews before I put money down on this absurd, dumb book!!! What a waste of talent, time and money this was. I can't wait to buy his books but was horribly disappointed with this one. Next time I will be more careful to check the reviews.

Makes No Sense-Waste of time.......2007-10-18

I picked up this book thinking it would be good. As I was reading it, I thought that it would eventually make sense. It doesn't. What a waste of time. The last chapter makes no sense and it still leaves you wondering what the heck happened. Don't waste your time.

You've Been Warned.......2007-10-18

Not up to Patterson quality, the last two have been weak. I know he has some good stories in him, but this was not one.

Terrible.......2007-10-18

Love Patterson, HATED this book. Not worth the hours I spend reading it - could NOT have been more disappointed. Look elsewhere.

Average customer rating:

Excellent
An essential book
Process of Selection
a dissapointment
Excellent buy

Henri Cartier-Bresson: Scrapbook
Michel Frizot
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 050054333X

Book Description

Henri Cartier-Bresson's famous scrapbook from the 1940s, published in its entirety for the first time.

Henri Cartier-Bresson was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1940. After two unsuccessful attempts, he managed to escape in 1943. During this period, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, assuming that the photographer had died in the war, started preparing what they thought would be a posthumous exhibition of his work. When he reappeared, Cartier-Bresson was delighted to learn of the exhibition and decided to review his entire oeuvre and curate it himself.

In 1946 Cartier-Bresson traveled to New York with about 300 prints in his suitcase, bought a scrapbook, glued in the photos, and brought that album to MoMA's curators. His exhibition there, a celebration of his survival, opened on February 4, 1947.

In the 1990s, Cartier-Bresson once again turned his attention to this scrapbook. Following his death in 2004, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, the present owner of the prints, finished the job of restoring them, making it possible to bring a large body of his extraordinary work to the public, images that have now become a memorial collection after all.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-10-17

At first view it was very strange to see such tiny (9X12 cm) photos at large pages.Then you become to realize the author's plan to merge you into the world of HCB and you live his life reading this book as if with your pocket full of those small scrap pictures. Very recommended

Armen

An essential book.......2007-07-14

For a photographer, one of the few necessary books. HCB enacted a miracle in the 1930s w/his Leica, and here's the record of how this genius did it--a record that makes his accomplishment seem only that much more extraordinary. I think the printing of the book could have been a shade better, but that's mere grousing. If you want to understand late 20th-century photography, start here.

Process of Selection.......2007-07-02

I have liked HCB for about six years. I first saw his picture where a man, caught in mid-air,jumps across a puddle. I still think that this is one of the best photographs ever made.
In the scrapbook, the reader gets to see the many different shots, that made up the bundle from which one image got selected to be published.
While quite a few of the images not selected have their own charm, the finally published image does usually stand. A great look behind the scene of HCB photos, but also a great visual retrospective of his life.
Excellent book with superbly printed photographs.

a dissapointment.......2007-06-12

Most photos are much smaller than a full page - I returned this book.

Excellent buy.......2007-05-28

One of the most profound books to come out from such an eminent photographer. Long due and much awaited. You can never get tired of looking at his work.

Average customer rating:

A Must Have - Not the Limited Edition - Did You Catch It?
Wrong Spelling?
if you don't think about five stars, you probably won't buy it
No regrets
Depending on what youare looking for...

Gonzo
Hunter S. Thompson
Manufacturer: AMMO Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0978607600

Book Description

Gonzo is a tour de force that will take you into the world of American writer and iconoclast Hunter S. Thompson.

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have - Not the Limited Edition - Did You Catch It?.......2007-10-10

This is a must have for any fan...

This is a reprint version - ignore all of the limited edition descriptions (fancy Gonzo box, around a box with numbered print) in below 2006 reviews from the exceptionally lucky...

This book came exactly how it's currently pictured ...and glorious in it's essence...

Wrong Spelling?.......2007-10-05

Loved the book but noticed that the quote near the end was incorrectly spelled. RES ISPA LOQUITUR is spelled RES ISPA LOQUITOR. Thinking about getting this tattooed so im sure glad that i checked the correct spelling before i got it. I'm pretty sure it is correct in "Generation of Swine.

if you don't think about five stars, you probably won't buy it.......2007-09-11

It is a limited numbered edition, housed in a boxed cover, itself housed in a protective, printed "gonzo" cardboard and Amazon will wrap it once more.
Considering that a standard, non large sized, edition of the book will be published in due course, you have to like the subject and know that you are paying the quality of the edition itself, otherwise wait for the standard edition.
Lovely pictures in great quality printing and a binding the edition deserves is what you pay for and what you get. You also get a separate printing which should be exclusive to this edition.
I do hope you got the point.
More a Christmas gift than a coffee table, unless you have on your table numbered editions which I don't do.

No regrets.......2007-05-21

I must admit I was incredibly hesitant about this purchase and my finger hovered over the 'confirm' button for a few seconds before biting the bullet and clicking. As soon as this book arrived all of my fears were immediately washed away. This is presented so beautifully, even the plain brown box feels special. Along with the book, the electric blue presentation box also contains a numbered print from Hunters Big Sur days.
The book itself is incredible, extremely well presented and it carries high production values throughout. The intro by Johnny Depp is a great touch.
Its a must have for any HST fan, but also for those who can appreciate how good books can be.

Depending on what youare looking for..........2007-05-14

This is either a treasure trove or an expensive dissapointment. It is essentially an enormous photoessay of periods of Dr. Thompson's life, reminiscent of the Life magazine photo collections. It is sparse in terms of text and explaination, leaving the photos to speak for themselves. It attempts to paint portraits of eras of his life, but if you are unfamiliar with these eras, the photos are devoid of meaningful context. For those who have read biographies and extensive amounts of Thompson's work, however, it is meaningful and powerful imagery. Be certain of your audience and their degree of interest before investing in this; it is genuinely rewarding only for those exquitely sensitive to the photoessay or intimately familiar with the Doctor's life.

Average customer rating:

Merce Cunningham:Fifty Years

Merce Cunningham: Fifty Years
David Vaughan , and Merce Cunningham
Manufacturer: Aperture
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0893816248
Release Date: 2005-06-15

Amazon.com

Unlike so many biographies of dance maestros, Merce Cunningham: Fifty Years offers no litany of substance or psychological abuse. The volume, assembled by the archivist of Merce Cunningham's world-renowned U.S. company, records and analyzes Cunningham's work process and documents the provenance of his modern dance classics. Heavily spiced with biographical detail, Merce Cunningham packages the choreographer's life story in a lovely design that respects his whole body and conveys a rare sense of movement in its mass of still photos.

Book Description

Merce Cunningham celebrates the career of one of the most important artists of the twentieth century, from his first innovative and explosive solo dances to the present. This unique book incorporates images of performances by many world-renowned photographers, including Imogen Cunningham, Barbara Morgan, Annie Leibovitz, Peter Hujar, and Arnold Eagle.

Customer Reviews:

Merce Cunningham:Fifty Years.......2000-08-02

An excellent resource. Insightful. Beautiful pictures. Highly recommend for folks in dance education, collaborative artists, school teachers, dancers, and children.

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