Majorelle: A Moroccan Oasis (Small Books of Great Gardens)

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Majorelle A Moroccan Oasis.......2001-04-29

The quality of the photography is unsurpassed. The color is magnificent! Anyone who enjoys books, gardens, Morocco, or the color blue (Majorelle Blue) will love this book.

MAJORELLE tells the history of the gardens in Marrakesh, first laid out by Louis Majorelle in the 1920's. The beautiful shade of blue that is used throughout the gardens, in the tile work, the paint, the walkways, the ponds and the plants and flowers themselves, was the start of the term "Majorelle Blue". The grounds are now owned by Yves Saint Laurent and are open for tours.

The back of the book shows the layout of the gardens, old photos of Marrakesh, the interior of the salon in Majorelle's villa and a photo of Majorelle, himself.

The small size of this book gives it an added preciousness that makes it a great choice for gift giving.

Product Description

THE BOOK THAT HAD TO WAIT FOR BRANDO TO DIE The mysteries that enveloped the late superstar MARLON BRANDO (1924-2004) are unwrapped and exposed in a richly anecdotal warts-and-all biography, BRANDO UNZIPPED! by bestselling biographer, Darwin Porter. The greatest film actor of the 20th century lives again in these pages, each meticulously researched over a period of more than 40 years. Each of the people Porter interviewed, including many of Brandos loversboth male and female--had a different story to tell. Many of them contradicted heretofore published accounts of how those encounters evolved. Hostile witness or loving friend, each subject added a piece to the mosaic. The result is a fully rounded view of a revolutionary actor who, like lightning on legs, electrified the world in Streetcar Named Desire, where he played Stanley Kowalski in the Broadway version of 1947, and the film version in 1951. The book also describes his Oscar-winning turn as Terry Malloy, the boxer who could have been a contender in On the Waterfront in 1954, and his electrifying comeback as Vito Corleone in The Godfather in 1972. The combative, moody, iconoclastic, polarizing, and enigmatic figure appears as a flesh-and-blood creation in this revelation-studded bio. Its all here: The Rebel Without a Cause who made rebellion hip. The suicide attempts of former girlfriends, Startling stories about Sleeping with the Enemy (bedding a stalker who turned out to be a cannibal in disguise). His involvement with the Black Panthers. The ill-fated marriages, bitter divorces, and child-custody battles. A son with a murder rap. Jealous actors who wanted to seduce Brando and then become Brando on screen. With candor, the author unveils the details of that ongoing disaster that Brando called my life. The charismatic personality of The Wild One is recaptured in all its brooding power that seemed forever ready to explode at any moment. The same animalistic intensity that Brando brought to the role of Stanley Kowalski lives again within the pages of this bio. From sex symbol of the 1950s to a swollen, overweight slob who became a tabloid scandal in the 90s, Brando was one of filmdoms true originals. Women wanted him, and certain men wanted him, and Brando was willing to share his charms with a string of lovers whose hangouts ranged from the A-list boudoirs of New York and Hollywood to the back alleys of a string of cities from New York to the slums of the South Pacific. Throughout this biography, Brandos quirky and sometimes bizarre humor often bubbles to the top. As an example, once, when he was asked for a summation of his life, Brando said: Ive never been circumcised, and my noble tool has performed its duties through thick and thin without fail! More than the story of Brando himself, the biography chronicles the loves of his life, most of which were of short duration but played out with the same kind of intensity he brought to the screen. Regardless of their origins, his affairs invariably crossed the American plains to land on the opposite coast. His lovers were as mercurial as his own personality. They included Doris Duke, the richest woman in the world, and Burt Lancaster, the actor originally targeted for the role of Stanley in Streetcar. The true story of his explosive relationships with Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra is printed for the first time, as is an array of friendships and/or feuds with such unlikely figures as Richard Burton, Charlie Chaplin, and (believe it or not), Michael Jackson. The roles Brando lived off-screen were even more provocative and intriguing than those he created on screen. He paraded through the bedrooms of such luminaries as an aging Marlene Dietrich, and enjoyed one-night stands with both Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy. His tortured relationships and love affairs with James Dean and Montgomery Clift are explored in depth, as is the pass

Customer Reviews:

"Brando Unzipped..." - Mostly A Work Of Fiction???.......2007-08-15

I am not sure what to think regarding this book, "Brando Unzipped: A Revisionist and Very Private Look at America's Greatest Actor." I believe some of the contents of the book to be accurate based on my reading on Brando and interviews he has done, but I felt in reading the book that there was a large amount of content that seemed to be mere conjecture and gossip on the parts of "sources" - "sources" I am not sure were real, legitimate, or entirely truthful. In addition, in some cases, sources were not cited at all and statements were made that sounded to me as if the author "thought" certain things "may" have occurred and included those as well. If this is true, then I am concerned about a possible lack of journalistic integrity.

I am highly doubtful that all of the sexual liaisons author, Darwin Porter, describes in this book are accurate or balanced. I doubt that Porter was present during Marlon Brando's sexual encounters and I do not think the scant few "sources" cited in the book were present either. Some of this author's inclusions do not ring true to me. I wonder if the author's own feelings, desires, and personal obsessions got in the way of telling a completely truthful and balanced story.

With regard to the writing, I think this was a tedious read in some respects - the pace was too slow, the book was too lengthy, and there were too many unnecessary details that led to boredom for me as the reader. It could have been better edited. Having said that, it is not the worst I have read, but it is not one I would have purchased for the price I did ($30 including S&H) had I known it was not the great book I thought it would be. To me, it is just an average book, at best, and I am left with doubt as to its integrity.

The Tale of the Noble Tool.......2007-07-21

Well this book certainly destroyed the myth of many of Hollywood's most famous stars. It was a fasinating read full of gossip, some known and some not previously revealed. However, I had problems with verbatim conversations that were not properly footnoted. Was there a fly on the wall? Brando was not someone I would want to know!

Pure rubbish through and through...??? (revised).......2007-07-09

While reading this book, it made me want to shower after each chapter read. Salacious, depraved detail after detail with dubious posthumous dialogue between Brando, his conquests/"f**k buddies", and friends. I don't know what to believe after reading this mess. This book will definitely have you not like Marlon Brando, even to the point of disgustful hatred. With all the screwing around he did, it's a wonder his genitals didn't rot off. If he lived today he would surely be HIV positive. Having been sexually molested/abused by a nanny, and purportedly his own mother, I could think of no other reason for him to have lived so pathologically promiscuous. Brando was definitely a very "unwell", psychically damaged man; this was well-proven up into his last days. I can't really say if this book was exaggerated to say the least, but it sure left me feeling like I discovered something I wish I hadn't. I will never see or look at another Marlon Brando film or photo the same way again. If you want to know more about Marlon Brando, I suggest you read elsewhere, as I will. I gave it a chance, but came to the conclusion of it being cheap, exploitative tabloid [...] instead.

This book just had me shaking my head in disbelief exclaiming "NOT MY MAN!", rendering me mortified...and saying a prayer for his immortal soul.

The infamous "picture" half-way through had me petrified. Just proves the author was banking on sleazy shock value to generate interest and sales. Mr. Porter obviously got my attention, but I'm glad I kept the receipt.

Brando: The Man or the Myth?.......2007-06-22

It's hard to know what to make of this book. Over 600 pages of bedroom revelation covering a mere 15 year period, and make no mistake, each page contains multiple couplings with the famous and not-so-famous. If only a fraction are true, Brando qualifies as a world-class sexual athlete. And that's the trouble. The reader can't know how much to believe since the vignettes pass by rapidly and without attribution. There're some named sources cited at volume's end, but these remain vague and without specifics. Given Brando's proven allure and prodigious talent (at least, during the early years), it's a good bet many are true. But which ones and to what extent, we can only imagine. Author Darwin Porter's narrative resembles a scorecard more than a biography, zipped, unzipped or flagging in the wind. In fact, the narrative leaves much to be desired. The thread, such as it is, follows a rough time-line from about 1943 to 1960, though dates are rarely cited. Instead, the episodes unfold fluidly without framing, merging ultimately into a kind of orgiastic reverie. I hate to say so, but the piling-on becomes repetitive and eventually rather monotonous. Anyone looking to better understand Brando, the man or the artist, better look elsewhere. And in what may be the unkindest reaction of all-- the author manages to turn this legend's rich private life into what is finally a rather tiresome read.

Salacious, gossipy unorthodox bio........2007-01-19

Has such a salacious biography ever been written on a major Hollywood star before?.

Forget the Brando that most of my generation became acqainted with in movies like The Godfather. In the late 40's; 50's and possibly into the 60's before the huge weight gain...he was quite the sex god. According to Darwin Potters book he must have slept with half of Hollywood, male and female and unapologetic or ashamed about his bisexuality.

Its juicy, gossipy and I couldnt put it down, whilst Potter acknowledges his sources pretty close to the revelation. The only problem I had was when he recounts private conversations between Brando and his paramours verbatim...

Another side to a true legend and individual, a good buy.

Oh yes the infamous photograph is included as well.

The Famous Mr. Ed: The Unbridled Truth About America's Favorite Talking Horse (30th Anniversary Collector's Edition)

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The Famous Mr. Ed: The Unbridled Truth About America's Favorite Talking Horse (30th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
Nancy Nalven
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0446392960

Multicolored Mirror: Cultural Substance in Literature for Children and Young Adults

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Multicolored Mirror: Cultural Substance in Literature for Children and Young Adults

Manufacturer: Highsmith Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science & Technology | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0917846052

The New Press Guide to Multicultural Resources for Young Readers

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The New Press Guide to Multicultural Resources for Young Readers

Manufacturer: New Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Children's Literature Guides | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 1565843398

Book Description

With over one thousand reviews of multicultural children's books and related materials, organized by theme and reading level, The New Press Guide to Multicultural Resources for Young Readers offers a comprehensive, definitive resource guide to multicultural books for children. The reviews are organized using an innovative thematic approach designed to aid teachers and parents in integrating these works into existing reading lists and at home. In addition, the Guide includes essays on key issues in multicultural education, such as recent immigrant experiences, human rights, and building cross-cultural relationships.

The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao

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The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao
Allen M. Young
Manufacturer: University Press of Florida
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0813030447

Book Description

"Young's readers will thank him for making life a bit more pleasant, both by improving the production of chocolate and by providing such entertaining reading."--The Sciences

"Informative, valuable, and original."--Quarterly Review of Biology

"Young has new and important things to say about the ecology and biology of cacao."--Times Higher Educational Supplement

"Engaging."--Booklist

Young provides an overview of the fascinating natural and human history of one of the world's most intriguing commodities: chocolate. Cultivated for over 1,000 years in Latin America and the starting point for millions of tons of chocolate annually consumed worldwide, cacao beans have been used for beverages, as currency, and for regional trade. After the Spanish brought the delectable secret of the cacao tree back to Europe in the late 16th century, its seeds created and fed an insatiable worldwide appetite for chocolate.

The Chocolate Tree chronicles the natural and cultural history of Theobroma cacao and explores its ecological niche. Tracing cacao's journey out of the rain forest, into pre-Columbian gardens, and then onto plantations adjacent to rain forests, Young describes the production of this essential crop, the environmental price of Europeanized cultivation, and ways that current reclamation efforts for New World rain forests can improve the natural ecology of the cacao tree. Amid encounters with sloths, toucans, butterflies, giant tarantula hawk wasps, and other creatures found in cacao groves, Young identifies a tiny fly that provides a vital link between the chocolate tree and its original rain forest habitat. This discovery leads him to conclude that cacao trees in cultivation today may have lost their original insect pollinators due to the plant's long history of agricultural manipulation.

In addition to basic natural history of the cacao tree and the relationship between cacao production systems and the preservation of the rain forest, Young also presents a history of the use of cacao, from the archaeological evidence of Mesoamerica to contemporary evidence of the relationship between chocolate consumption and mental and physical health.

Book Description

In an era of both optimism and anxiety about the nation’s future, Americans in the nineteenth century focused attention on the cultivation and education of children as future citizens. Contemporary portrayals of children—in fine paintings, popular prints, illustrated primers, and advertisements—helped to shape cultural expectations: pictures of hardy country boys, intent schoolchildren, and little girls practicing embroidery were examples of the ways model Americans should look and behave. At the same time, images showing street urchins, young slaves, or children at work in factories reflected troubling conflicts in society.

This appealing book explores representations of children in relation to the currents of American culture, including urbanization, immigration, separate spheres of the genders, and the nation’s professed devotion to egalitarianism. A generous selection of illustrations includes well-loved works by such artists as Winslow Homer and Eastman Johnson, as well as fascinating archival images. With engaging depictions of children from varied economic, racial, and geographic backgrounds, Young America opens a new window on the life and culture of the United States during a century of vast change and growth.

Argentina: Marianela Forconesi's Painting : "My Father's Farm" (Young Artists of the World)

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Argentina: Marianela Forconesi's Painting : "My Father's Farm" (Young Artists of the World)
Jacquiline Touba , Marianela Forconesi , and Barbara Glasser
Manufacturer: PowerKids Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0823951006

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