Book Description
For those looking to raise a family in a storybook American town, or a change of pace from hectic city life, this book is the answer.
Book Description
In the $40 billion furniture industry, 35 percent of all home furniture manufactured in the world is produced in North Carolina. More important, leading furniture manufacturers, such as Broyhill, Thomasville, and Henridon, sell their top-quality furniture at deep discounts straight from their factories in North Carolina.
Shopping the North Carolina Furniture Outlets breaks down the door to this undiscovered world of North Carolina furniture and teaches you how to shop and save 50 to 80 percent on your next furniture purchase, whether you go to North Carolina or shop from home! In this amazing, first-of-its-kind sourcebook, Ellen Shapiro, who has
written about North Carolina furniture for years, gives you:
• All the prep work you should do before you go to North Carolina, such as making floor plans, taking measurements and photographs, and shopping locally to get ideas
• The best way to get to North Carolina—flying versus renting a truck or van
• Comprehensive listings, descriptions, and ratings of North Carolina’s hundreds of furniture factory outlets and stores, a complete guide to furniture brands, and key insider tips from veteran salespeople and store owners
• Detailed information on how to buy furniture from home, either by phone or on
the Internet
• Extensive travel tips on hotels, restaurants, and nearby attractions
• Stories of actual couples who went to North Carolina with budget ranges, illustrating how each saved hundreds of dollars
For anyone who is looking to save big money on furniture,
Shopping the North Carolina Furniture Outlets is the only resource for creating a game plan and taking advantage of super deals from furniture manufacturer showrooms, stores, and outlets in North Carolina.
Customer Reviews:
Outdated.......2007-08-04
Although I knew the copyright on the book was 2003, I bought the book and went shopping in NC in June 2007. A lot of the retailers are gone. I was looking forward to shopping at Rose and Utility Craft and both were closed for business. Blacks has moved. Furnitureland South has 1 million sq. feet of furniture and a good place to look, but prices were better at Blacks. Also be careful because a lot of the furniture is not from NC, but from Asia. This book was probably helpful years ago, but now is very outdated.
Savings are Overrated.......2006-03-07
I agree with a couple of previous reviewers that this book is a bit dated now and to check specifics before making the trip. I used this book before my first trip to shop High Point, and have made two subsequent trips. I agree that the savings are not that great, and if you have to ship, plus now pay tax, you will probably not save over your local retailer. I priced a Henredon bed and dresser at Boyle's, and my local store quoted the exact same price. In the end, Boyle's offered a 10% discount, free shipping (as they should on the amount I was spending) and no tax, so I saved a bit over my local store who would not offer a 10% reduction, but it was probably a wash after the trip expenses. You may save more if you live in an extremely price-inflated area. On the flip-side, you can indeed look, touch, and feel an incredibly wide variety of furniture in one day. Sitting on that couch that you are spending a couple of grand on cannot replace ordering it from your local retailer's catalog sight unseen. Second, if you live in a more rural area like I do - we have only one good furniture store - you get a much better idea of what is available to you. This book gives you some good basic information on the stores and the lines they carry. I agree with other reviewers that the service is not that great at most stores. I have never been able to get anyone to give me "design help" and the sales staff at most places will clearly size you up based on appearance, so if you want serious help, dress like you have some money to spend. Otherwise they are just order-takers. Be sure to visit manufacturer websites before you go to narrow down what you are looking for.
Very Soft on Rating Customer Service.......2006-02-11
I used this book to shop for furniture in the High Point area. It was useful in locating stores and in knowing what product lines each store offered. There are two main problems I have; (1) I think the savings are overstated - it is probably more in the area of 20 percent off, and (2) I think the author was uninformed or else very soft on rating the customer service side of things. The salespeople treat you like family (as stated in this book) when they are trying to make the sale, but for me, that was where the good customer service ended. I bought almost all of my furniture at Rose Furniture. They were very helpful and responsive until after some items arrived damaged. That is where all the competence and responsiveness ended. If you read Ms. Shapiro's review of Rose Furniture, she only talks about how wonderful the sales people are - she offers no information about treatment after the sale. I think this is a huge oversight. What you want in a furniture retailer is good service - this is all they do. They don't build furniture, they service the customer. I waited 5 months for my order to be delivered - Rose estimates an 8 to 10 week delivery timeframe. Rose Furniture would consistently tell me something that just wasn't true. After waiting 5 months for my items, one of the items would not even function properly and was covered with some dark, gummy substance - all over the finish. I refused delivery and I'm seeking a refund. Rose Furniture has a condescending way of dealing with people that is very aggravating. They have a pleasant exterior appearance while all the time they could care less.
not very helpful.......2005-11-15
I just returned from a trip to NC for furniture having purchased this book as a guide. As it turned out, the book was not very helpful and I wasted a lot of time by relying on its recommendations. For starters, it's very outdated and the author's website for updates is no longer online. Many of the recommendations are based on the author's personal opinions without explanations that readers could use to judge for themselves. She lists her favorite stores and downplays others without providing a basis for her reasoning. Much of the information provided on the various dealers is straight out of the stores' marketing materials. There are a few useful tips scattered through the book but overall it wasn't very helpful.
As far as whether NC is worth the trip- it IS, but only if you are already looking to buy very high quality name brand furniture (pieces that typically are special ordered in your pick of fabrics and finishes). NC is not a great place to go if you're shopping primarily based on budget. You aren't going to find very low priced furniture, but if you were already prepared to pay $4000 for a leather Natuzzi couch from a local retailer, it's worth the trip to save 40% on it. If budget is your most important criteria, you're better off at IKEA or a local retailer that carries lesser known manufacturers catering to a lower price point. Just from personal experience, we did great at Furnitureland South- AMAZING selection and service in one stop. This author had little good to say about FLS but her hands-down favorite- Rose Furniture- was a total bomb- rotten service, cramped showroom and so-so selection.
The book is good, the savings are not.......2005-09-30
My wife and I decided to make a trip to NC for our 10th wedding anniversary. Figured since we were going to spend the money to go someplace anyway, we'd go figure out the NC furniture mysteries. This book was a great guide to helping us plan the trip. As for the contents, it is everything you need. But, make sure to update the store hours via the web or phone calls before you travel. Many of the stores had changed hours/days. In fact, one location that is prominantly mentioned as a cluster of many retailers, a good one stop shop, is almost out of business. Most retailers have left.
As for whether you save money shopping in NC, I really don't believe it. Before we left, we had found some furniture groups we liked here locally. We called several of the stores in this book for competitive quotes. The actual per piece price was about the same. Some were cheaper, some were more expensive, so the group price was about the same. Then you have to add on shipping. BTW, NC is collecting sales tax for most states now, so you won't save that, either. It would have cost more to buy in NC.
So we took the trip. Even writing off the entire cost of the trip, which is not insignificant, but since we were going to spend it to go someplace anyway, we didn't count it, we didn't see where you could save money if you have to have the furniture shipped. At best the savings were $50-$100 per peice. The liquidation outlets are something of a joke. We saw two women get into a fight over who could buy something that was damaged. We saw a bedroom suite "on clearance" that was within $100 as a group of what we saw it new for in a showroom earlier that morning. You might get lucky in a clearance center, but having seen what we did, I'd never go back. The Thomasville factory outlet was OK, but the selection was extraordinarily limited, and if you wanted a group, you were out of luck. But, it is the only way to get Thomasville cheaper than your local store.
Overall, the book is good, and it would be valuable to give you a few numbers to call to check your local retailer's prices. I am one of those people who research for a year before buying anything, and it is a good resource. However, unless you live in an increcibly inflated area such as New England/DC/NY area, you are going to end up spending the same or more by shopping NC. About the only advantage of going there in person is you can make one stop in Highpoint, by Furnitureland South, and in one day you can basically see every single piece of furniture currently made between the 6 stores clustered right there.
Book Description
Can this country survive another Clinton presidency? Two terms of “Slick Willy” were bad enough. Now, numerous political experts and people close to the Clinton family hint that Hillary is plotting to retake the White House and ring in another four—or eight—years of a Clinton as commander in chief.
She denies any presidential bid is in the works. But a few years before she entered the Senate race, Hillary claimed she would never run for any elective office whatsoever.
In shocking detail,
Hillary’s Scheme confirms the worst fear of tens of millions of Americans: that Hillary Clinton indeed plans to run for president within the next few years. This explosive, behind-the-scenes book by investigative journalist Carl Limbacher blows the lid off the New York senator’s plans for a grand political coup, something she has been carefully and quietly plotting for more than 20 years. Limbacher conducted extensive research into Hillary’s past and secured exclusive interviews with Clinton insiders—and even questioned Hillary herself—to bring you the real story. What he uncovers are the truly juicy morsels, the backroom deals, and the insider wrangling around Hillary’s presidential ambitions that aren’t being reported in the mainstream press. If you love to hate Hillary or are just curious about one of America’s most controversial figures, there’s plenty in this book to get your blood boiling. You’ll discover the answers to questions Hillary is unwilling to address in public, including:
Why is she not likely to wait until 2008 to enter the race for president?
How did she torpedo Al Gore’s chances for a rematch with President Bush?
Where are the millions of dollars she’s supposedly raising for the Democratic Party really going?
Why does she dodge tough questions about her husband’s abysmal record on fighting international terrorism?
And many, many more!
If you don’t think that Hillary Clinton has a fighting chance to win the presidency, you must read this book. With startling prescience, Limbacher draws parallels between today’s political environment and that which existed in 1992—the year George H. W. Bush lost the race to an upstart governor from Arkansas. You don’t need to be a member of the “vast right-wing conspiracy” or even a Republican to be concerned about what Hillary in the White House would mean for the presidency, the Constitution, and America as we know it.
Customer Reviews:
must read.......2007-06-13
A must read not because it is the best book written. A must read because America needs to know what it could be getting itself into voting for Hilary.
Telling part of the story.......2007-05-17
This is an informative book, but does not tell all of the story about Hillary. No mainstream author or publisher is very likely to do so, either. There are certain unwritten rules of journalism in America that operate to limit how much will be told about someone, even when that someone is a public figure. A book presented as fiction, but which does tell a very similar, and much more complete, story is Dr. Richard Little's book entitled The Empress Project. Some reviewers seem to believe that book is an attempt to connect dots in a way that no other book, not even this nice book by Carl Limbacher, has done.The Empress Project
why she will run in 2004!.......2007-02-05
`In Fact, it's astonishing that anyone believes Mrs. Clinton's denials that she'd consider running in 2004, given the wealth of evidence that she's planning for just that contgingency'
I know it's hindsight, but Limbacher was so very wrong here. He even quotes some people who say she won't and ridicules them, even though they were right.
He's biased, a clinton/hater and thinks the entire media is liberal/biased.
Now some plus points
1. Some of the facts are quite scary and if they are true, and I kinda fear some of them have some truth in them, they will be the characteristics of maybe the new President. Nothing new though. There are many notes in the back as well to look up the sources, which leads you to believe it might be right, even though most sources seems to be other right/wing media outlets.
It is a funny book however and well worth a read.
Flawless analysis from an objective journalist.......2005-12-26
In this brilliant book, Carl Limbacher uses sharp analysis and well-documented sources to craft an airtight case that Hillary will undeniably be running for president in 2004. Limbacher thankfully does not let petty partisanship color his analysis, since such bias could conceivably lead to an incorrect conclusion. Limbacher puts to rest any suspicion that writing for the far-right publication Newsmax could interfere with making objective, sound judgements and predictions.
Some would argue that, since it is already 2005, it is a little late for Hillary to run for president in 2004, thus casting some doubt upon the claims of this book. These people are clearly wrong, and are obviously falling for Hillary's scheme. If anyone is crafty enough to win the 2004 election well after the election has already happened, it is Hillary. One underestimates her crafty schemes to their peril.
In short, anyone interested in knowing whether Hillary will run for president in 2004 is well advised to read this book. Having become quite a fan of Limbacher's astute forecasting, I am really looking forward to his upcoming book, "Harriet Miers: A Triumphant Ascent to the Supreme Court".
For the good of Hillary or the good of the country?.......2005-08-03
Limbacher has put together an excellent analysis of what Hillary has been all about and what is behind the actions she has taken in the past and what will influence what she will do in the future.
Keep in mind,this book was published in 2003,and many might think that since the 2004 election has come and gone;it is a waste of time reading this book.Au contraire,Hillary is the same person with the same motives at work and it is even clearer to see through her now than it was 2,3 or 4 years ago.
The problem that Limbacher had with trying to figure out if Hillary would take her run at the Presidency was that Hillary couldn't have told him herself;even if she wanted to.She does not operate on any logical principles;only on what will serve her own interest at the time.This book alone, shows that to be the case time after time.Since she can't predict the outcome of events any better,and would never commit herself to a stand on any issue;her modis- operendi can only be to obstruct anything that might hinder her goal and stand back and abide her time until what she seeks is handed to her on a platter.
The Clintons have an iron clad hold on the Democratic party,and what the party does will only be what in in the best interest of the Clinton,s and whether that is in the best interests of the Party or the Country is a mute point.All one has to do is look at the past.
Haq Clinton stepped aside at the time of his scandle,Gore would have become his replacement,completed Bill's term and as an incumbent would have easily won the Presidency and maybe even a second term.How would that have benefited the Clintons? It wouldn't have,it would have benefited Gore and the Party not the Clintons, and that is the point.Again,in the year leading up to the 2004 election Hillary,took no stand on any major issue ,put herself behind no candidate,except tentative support to anyone who would keep the Party from concealing strength with one candidate.Since she concluded she could'nt win against Bush,her only hope was that nobody else would.If it happened,that would be the end of the Clintons,,possibly for two terms and that is an eternity in politics.As the election approached the final months, and while the debates seemed to favor Kerry,emphoria over expectations of winning was running rampant throughout the Party,the Clinton's presence became obvious by the absence of their involvement. This must have been frightful days for Hillary until Bush won and the election that she side stepped was over and done.
So what next? Nothing has changed;Hillary will bide her time,take no positions,make no decisions,keep her agenda to herself,obvious as it is,pretend to be all things to all people,and hope that by the time 2007 rolls around that the voters will forget the Clintons past,and if they still hold the Party in their grip;she will have the nomination,otherwise the Clinton's reign will in fact have ended in 2001.
It's all there in this book and easily seen if one wants to know what motivated and continues to motivate both Bill and Hillary.There's going to be more books like this one in the next couple of years.Look at the Customer Reviews on "The Truth about Hillary" by Edward Klein,and its still 2 years before the action is in full swing for 2008.
It's a Guarantee Hillary can hang in if you can;it's going to be interesting!
Average customer rating:
- Not as scary as it could have been
- Wow!
- I Loved It!!!
- Thoroughly, deliciously creepy
- Thrilling Read
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The House Next Door
Anne Rivers Siddons
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
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Amazon.com
Anne Rivers Siddons is a writer of literary fiction whose one foray into the horror genre is this remarkable 1978 novel, The House Next Door. The setting is a wealthy suburb in Atlanta where an ambitious young architect is building a dramatically contemporary house. The novel uses a frame device to put three short stories under a single cover: as each of three families moves into the house in succession, we watch the bad things that happen to them and eventually force them to leave. But the frame itself--the observations of an urbane and sophisticated couple who live next door and become close friends with the architect--is the most deeply involving story in the book.
Stephen King was so impressed by The House Next Door that when he wrote Danse Macabre, his personal tour of the horror genre, he sought out Siddons for an interview. She told him, "The haunted house has always spoken specially and directly to me as the emblem of particular horror. Maybe it's because, to a woman, her house is so much more than that: it is kingdom, responsibility, comfort, total world to her.... It is an extension of ourselves; it tolls in answer to one of the most basic chords mankind will ever hear.... So basic is it that the desecration of it, the corruption, as it were, by something alien takes on a peculiar and bone-deep horror and disgust."
Siddons was also fascinated by how the supernatural has the power to disturb the complacent rich and their comfortable little world: "What has the unspeakable and the unbelievable got to do with second homes and tax shelters and private schools for the kids and a pâté in every terrine and a BMW in every garage? Primitive man might howl before his returning dead and point; his neighbor would see, and howl along with him.... The resident of Fox Run Chase who meets a ghoulie out by the hot tub is going to be frozen dead in his or her Nikes on the tennis courts the next day if he or she persists in gabbling about it. And there he is, alone with the horror and ostracized on all sides. It's a double turn of the screw."
One caveat: some people find the ending a false note that mars the effect. Even so, The House Next Door is an exquisite horror novel. --Fiona Webster
Book Description
Thirty-something Colquitt and Walter Kennedy live in a charming, peaceful suburb of the newly bustling Atlanta. Life is made up of enjoyable work, long, lazy weekends, and the company of good neighbors. Then, to their shock, construction starts on the vacant lot next door, a wooded hillside they'd believed would always remain undeveloped. Soon, though, they come to realize that more is wrong than their own diminished privacy. Surely the house can't be "haunted," yet something about it seems to destroy the goodness of every person who comes to live in it, until the entire heart of this friendly neighborhood threatens to be torn apart.
Customer Reviews:
Not as scary as it could have been.......2007-09-24
This had a great premise to the story but never really got off the ground. Very predictable.
Wow!.......2007-09-15
Colquitt Kennedy is just the kind of neighbor you'd like to have; she's kind, thoughtful, and absolutely normal. She's the sort who would bring you chicken soup if you were sick or meet your kids at the bus if you were running late. In fact, the whole neighborhood seems to be made of up of that kind of people. Solid, salt-of-the-earth types who have known each other for years, seen each others' children grow, shared holidays, and so on.
So when Colquitt begins to think there's something strange and sinister about the house next door, it's a wonder more people don't believe her.
Everyone in this book is so realistically written (from Colquitt and Walter to their old friends and new neighbors) that when the weird stuff starts happening, you get sucked right in.
I've been home for a week with an injury, so I've been catching up on a LOT of reading, and I've read some things I really enjoyed, but this one was so hard to put down that I read it well into the night and finished it first thing when I woke up. When it was over, I was sad to say goodbye, despite the stunning, upside-down ending. I don't know what to pick up next because I'm still so entrenched in Colquitt's world.
This is my first Anne Rivers Siddons book, and from what I understand it's the only one she's written with paranormal elements, but I will be looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.
I Loved It!!!.......2007-07-20
This is the first book I have read by Anne. I couldn't put it down. The characters were like some of my neighbors. I would have changed the ending in favor of Col and Walter though. They deserved that at least.I recommend this book to anyone who wants a Rosemarys Baby type of book to read.At least that's my input.
Thoroughly, deliciously creepy.......2007-07-08
This may not be the most conventional horror story ever written, but I have to say it gave me the shivers in ways most horror stories don't. There's something silently insidious about how the house managed to ruin so many lives...granted, it's not very realistic, but who wants realism in a story about something so supernaturally horrific?
The fact that Colquitt and Walter led such normal (if charmed) lives and something like that house could so completely destroy them is horrible enough, but the things that happened to the people who lived in it took me over the edge...and the end result of what happened to the Kennedys and what they had to resort to was, in my mind, the most cruel trick of all.
This is one of those great books best read at night, or during a storm with a blanket pulled safely around you, a warm critter at your feet, and plenty of time. I loved it.
Thrilling Read.......2007-06-27
This is my first A.R.S. book and I really enjoyed it. Parts of the book were a little slow ... it is not a quick moving book, but I did not want to put it down anyway. I read a lot of true crime, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz, as well as other mysteries, and this book thrilled me and haunted me like so many of those others have.
I agree, Colquit, is a an odd name, not easy to read - as one reviewer pointed out... and as another reviewer pointed out there are no ghosts, and as other reviewers pointed out there was some killing of pets ... but these are minor flaws. Take the book as a whole and you have a haunting story and the ending leaves you hanging. (BTW: The killing of the pets went along nicely with the whole premise of the haunting - the 'evil presence' took things near and dear to these people - pets fit right in.)
One reviewer pointed out that she has not enjoyed other A.R.S. books like she enjoyed this one, so I am a little wary about reading her other books, but I will give them a try nonetheless (at least a few).
I think this book felt very real. The characters felt like real people and this brought the story home to me. It made me feel like this is possible - much like a Dean Koontz book. Many of Stephen King's books don't feel like the stories could actually happen - but this one and D.K.'s books have that quality and that is what freaks me out - and that is what I enjoy about those books - and this one!
I recommend it!
Book Description
Finally, ideas for successful ways to go to bat, or battle, against those inconsiderate or downright obnoxious neighbors. Whether the situation calls for a friendly negotiation or an all-out war, OUTWITTING NEIGHBORS is the source to call on.
Bill Adler Jr. helps navigate condo, co-op, and homeowner associations; property boundary disputes; weird and uncivilized neighbors (and advice for when you're the weird neighbor); neighbors who use their front yard as a junkyard, have bad teenage children, don't keep their large dogs leashed, have litigious tendencies, and worse.
OUTWITTING NEIGHBORS is full of humor and sound advice. It is indispensable for homeowners, apartment dwellers, and urban, suburban, and rural folks alike.
Customer Reviews:
better than average, but message is between the lines.......2003-06-24
I got this book as a gag gift, but once I read it, it did help me learn to find common ground with bad neighbors, and accept that many times the devil you know (and can endure/work with) is better than the devil you don't know. I agree with other reviewers, who note that most of the book is comprised of horror stories designed for reader support and sympathy.
However, the examples add up to a powerful and useful message: (1) When trying to resolve neighbor problems, the fastest way to make an *enemy* is to indicate that you know better than they how to run their lives. (2) The fastest way to get results is to accept the neighbors for who they are, and then explain to them how their behavior (or their kids/pets/etc.) will lead to a behavior of your own.
My own story: One of my neighbors has a dog (a big adult Weimaraner) who was allowed to run unleashed in a shared apartment-building yard space, which literally is in violation of the lease. And when I would park my car or use my garage, the dog would charge me, and once came very close to taking a chunk out of my leg. Now, I could have yelled, or beaten the dog with a tire iron, but that would of course have made an enemy of the neighbors, who otherwise are very nice people. Even worse, it wouldn't really solve the problem, which is bad pet ownership and training!
So, after consulting Adler's book, I left a note for the neighbors (copied to our landlord) which indicated that I respected their decisions on how to train their dog, but that I would have Mace in my pocket at all times. So, the next time that their unleashed dog (or any others) attacked, I would have to disable the dog but leave no permanent harm. After all, the dog is just being protective, however misguided the effort. Well, lo and behold, the next day the neighbors came by with an apology, *and* a plate of cholocate chip cookies (this is absolutely true) for me, as a peace offering, and they always leash their dog now. Better still, I got to meet the dog about 2 months later, and now he treats me like a friend---one more watchdog who watches out for the right people!
Anyway, Adler's book was the key for me to understand neighbor psychology: communicate your respect for them and their ways, but also communicate in a non-threatening way what may happen if you feel you are in danger or are being harmed by their actions. And, I must say, the horror stories made me feel much less alone, and also grateful that I don't have worse problems than decent neighbors who bake cookies!
A Total Waste of Money.......2003-06-06
There is absolutely nothing in this book about "outwitting your neighbor". It's a collection of horror stories about how bad neighbor disputes can get and suggestions about making nice-nice with the people who are making your life a living hell. It left me feeling more hopeless and depressed about our situation than when I started reading it.
One of the lame-o quotes in the book implies to just wait the situation out, everything changes, dogs die, kids grow up, people move. The truth though is life's short. The years fly by. People should not be able to intentionally make other people miserable for even one day. Local governments should inact tough laws and enforce them zealously.
I think people who buy a book with a title like this have serious problems. They've surely already tried to talk it out peacefully, make ammends, even called the police, mayor and city council to no avail. They are looking for hope, helpful suggestions and effective strategies. This book offers none of the above.
The author should have called his book what my problem neighbor has shouted at me many times: "If you don't like it, just move!"
not great.......2001-11-10
Mostly a collection of bad neighbor stories. The solutions offered are pretty much common sense: "Build a fence" or "bring some home made cookies". There's a section on how to inflict revenge on you neighbor...that's pretty interesting.
Funny, with some good techniques.......2001-07-06
Bill Adler has always been a funny writer, and this book is no exception. He gives lots of real-life stories here. Once in a while, though, it feels a little as if he's making fun of the people involved- maybe a few fewer stories, and a few more techniques, would be a more effective tool.
The solutions to various neighbor problems run the gamut from sneaky, underhanded tricks involving tape recorders, to assorted legal tactics. Mediation is mentioned in several cases, although not enough in my opinion. I am fortunate to live in a city with a Dispute Resolution Center where professional mediators handle all sorts of neighborhood problems and minor legal thingies; however, I guess not every town has one, so perhaps I can't take for granted that he should recommend everyone try mediation.
The main point of this book, though, is to read the stories of all the horrible neighbors, and be glad they're not yours. If all you have is a slightly yappy dog next door, count yourself lucky. Enjoy the tales of encroaching plants, garbage, old cars, noise, parties, sunbathers, shade-tree mechanics, and downright psychotics. Make notes about what sort of resources there are. Adler names city and state departments and agencies you may not have known existed. He provides practical advice on how to document problems, and how to poll a neighborhood to bring people together to address a problem.
Many of these stories can also serve as clear instructions on how NOT to get into a 20-year feud. One thing Adler does point out in a couple of places is that if you find a problem with a neighbor, but nobody else in the neighborhood agrees with you, maybe YOU are just too sensitive. It's unlikely that the people this is aimed at will realize it, sigh...
People are strange!.......2001-05-21
This book reviews a huge variety of problems which come up between neighbors. Most of these are documented as they became legal cases, so the facts are true.
But in addition, the author does a good job winding through the stories with wit and a biting edge - helping us laugh at all the foibles and idiosyncracies of people. Usually we can find something we've seen or can identify with.
A good read.
Book Description
Now Showing--The Small House for the Next Century. Tighter zoning, rising energy costs and less available land is sure to spike demand for small houses in the 21st century. Here's your blueprint to begin capitalizing on this important new trend right now--Duo Dickinson's The Small House for the Next Century. You'll discover how 30 top architects are designing small homes that feel like big ones, function more efficiently, and invigorate the senses. For each of their projects you get: statistical analyses of space allocation for living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and more; owner and architect perspectives on why projects succeed or fail--supported by actual case studies; client and architect interviews plus 270 drawing and photos--30 in full color!; full background on the site selection process, construction plan, and budget; much more.
Customer Reviews:
Building a Small House to Fit.......2001-05-08
This is no high-gloss, high-fluff content, coffee table book. It is, however, a great resource for anyone who is interested in architecture that keeps aesthetics, budget considerations, efficiency, and the personalities of the inhabitants in mind. I bought Duo Dickinson's book because my fiancee and I want to build our own home eventuallly. Reading this book has been inspiring and informative--it contains detailed descriptions, floor plans, hundreds of black and white photos and architectural drawings, as well as, a middle section of beautiful full page color plates. The main focus is the concept of "fit"--building the house to fit the occupants' needs. Many of the homes shown were built by the architects for themselves and/or family members. I really liked this book because it gave me a concrete set of ideas that my fiancee and I can use to build our own perfect home.
Good idea, bad book.......2000-01-18
'Small House for the Next Century' is well designed and well written. Its photographs are excellent, and drawings well done, but I can't give this more than a 'so-so' rating.
It's probably just my own knuckleheaded thinking, but 'Small House for the Next Century' should have been called 'Small Vacation Homes for the Next Century'. Clearly the concepts applied here can be applied to other small houses, but the majority of the houses in this book are for wealthy people who can afford second or part-time homes. The designs (and costs) all play to this notion.
I would encourage anyone to look at this book, but if you're interested in small, low-impact, livable and economical homes, this is not the right book.
Average customer rating:
- Good for slower readers
- A journey into madness
- Outstaning
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Goosebumps House of Horrors Boxed Set
R.L. Stine
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Spine-Chilling Horror
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Stine, R. L.
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Stine, R. L.
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Similar Items:
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Ghost Beach (Goosebumps Series)
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How To Kill A Monster (Goosebumps Series)
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Welcome to Camp Nightmare (Goosebumps Series)
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Say Cheese and Die! (Goosebumps Series)
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One Day at Horrorland (Goosebumps Series)
ASIN: 0439561302 |
Book Description
A collection of four of the most chilling tales ever written about Houses of Horror:THE GHOST NEXT DOOR: Hannah's neighborhood has gotten a little -- weird. Is she being haunted by . . . the ghost next door?IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SINK: Kat and Daniel just moved into a great new house, but something evil already lives there!STAY OUT OF THE BASEMENT: Margaret and Casey's dad is growing creepy plants in their basement -- and now their dad is becoming weedy and seedy himself!WELCOME TO DEAD HOUSE: A new house means new friends for Amanda and Josh . . . but these friends are creepy!
Customer Reviews:
Good for slower readers.......2006-01-23
Haven't read this set yet but looking forward to it, still working on the Scary Stories box set which I recommend too!
A journey into madness.......2005-03-19
Everyone who knows me knows I'm a HUGE horror fanatic, and this box set is just what I need to scratch that itch. Don't worry, it's a figurative itch. The Goosebumps series is FRIGHTfully good, and the TV show was even better, even if it did come on BEFORE Big Bad Beetle-Borgs and not after, which would have been the place of honor that it deserved. If only the TV studios weren't under the thumbs of certain political and religious groups which shall remain nameless. Anyway, this box set is SPOOKtacular, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a FRIGHTfully good time. Oops...I already did that one.
Outstaning.......2001-11-30
This is definately a collecters edal, sure its a little bit pricy , but, anyone who loves to read goosebumps books this is for you.
Book Description
Don't be another real estate victim! Get the know-how and tools you need to select, negotiate, and purchase a home on your terms Did you know that most buyers unwittingly pay thousands more for their homes than they should? Written by a nationally celebrated consumer advocate and former real estate broker, Not One Dollar More! tells you what you should know, do, and say to protect your hard-earned cash. The author takes you inside the maneuverings of the industry and explains in jargon-free English how to avoid paying top dollar for your new home. You'll learn how to arm yourself with simple tools and techniques to guard against real estate tricks and traps. And you'll discover the secrets to invisible negotiation, guaranteed to win you the best deal possible on your next home purchase—and save you a small fortune!
- Packed with real-life anecdotes and case studies
- Includes the questions you should always ask, with advice on inspecting homes, making offers, unearthing facts and hidden problems, and homebuyer mistakes
- Shows you how to obtain the best home loan possible
- Helps you find an agent who will represent your interests exclusively
- Includes a comprehensive online mortgage shopping section
"One of the great books on personal finance. Shows how to get a great deal and reads like a novel.… Five stars!" —James Scoff Tiernan Jr., Executive Director, American Consumers Association "Certainly the best and most enjoyable book on homebuying. Inspiring!" —Bruce Hahn, President, American Homeowners Foundation "Shows how to hold on to your money—with GREAT anecdotes." —Andrew Tobias, author, The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for Learning Negotiation in Business & Realestate.......2007-09-25
Excellent book! Bought copies for friends (rare event) because it's so informative about sales psychology overall- not just realestate. You may get this book on buying realestate, but after reading it you'll be quite informed about buy anything else & negotiation potential is involved. The book has helped me - saved me lots of $$$. It's an easy read too.
Is there a Cliff's Notes version?.......2007-07-09
I recommend this book to home buyers who are looking to buy a house in the same area they are currently living in who also have either no or manageable time pressures. Very few tips are given to aid a buyer that must shop for and make an offer on a house when time only affords him a single trip to a new city (as my husband and I had to do)...which is not surprising, given that this is no way to get the bargains promised on the cover.
That being said, the tactics that are laid out seem reasonable and workable, but are repeated ad nauseum. An additional annoying feature of the writing is the tendency to spend several pages giving the reader a drawn out anticipatory build up to the few tactics the author will convey on the upcoming pages. The point-diluted anecdotes about poorly orchestrated buyer negotiations are followed up by several paragraphs that give the reader a pep talk without really conveying any information, making the book feel like an infomercial as one reads through it.
...This buyer acted poorly and spent way more money than he needed to. Don't want to be like him? Well you should read this book! Here's another story about a buyer that did something stupid. Don't want to be like her, either? Well, keep reading! Eventually, I'll get to the 5 sentences you need to read in order to know what to do instead...
Perhaps others would disagree, but as a reader with an engineering background, unless I'm reading a book for pleasure, I skim for the pertinent information. Separating the wheat from the chaff, this book should be about a third of the thickness that it is. However, if you have the time the time to shop around for a house (and by time, I mean *at least* a month or two to actually go out and look at houses) *and* to read through and separate the useless parts of this book from the parts that actually contain good advice and tactics, I would recommend it.
The Selling Agent's Worst Nightmare........2006-02-23
If your buying a house for the first time, whether its an investment or primary residence, read this book. plain and simple.
Reading it again........2003-12-25
I bought this book four years ago when I was shopping for my first house. I got fed up with my realtor and decided I didn't need one, as long as I could handle the negotiations myself. So I turned to this book.
The book is geared toward using a realtor or buying agent, but I found everything was just as applicable if used "going it alone." Especially some of the resources listed in the back for comps, etc. It's a very easy book to read and it doesn't try to make you a slick rapid-fire negotiator. It teaches you very simple yet effective techniques that may be common sense to some other readers, but they weren't to me. Admittedly, Cummins is repetitive in his messages, but I think the repetition serves to firmly ingrain the techniques in your mind so when you do actually get in front of the seller/realtor, you don't let your emotions get the best of you.
As a result of what I learned from this book (and also by not using a realtor), I saved $25K on a $185K house. I also used the techniques in negotiations during a car purchase and during salary negotiations for a new job. Best 17 bucks I ever spent.
Now I'm starting to look for my second house, so I'm re-reading the book (and going without a realtor again). I'm holding onto the first house as a rental, but I hope that if I ever have to sell, it's not to a buyer who's read this book!
saved me a bundle.......2002-04-24
I never would have even tried bidding on the house I eventually bought, it was so far out of my range. This book made me give it a try, and I negotiated down a whopping $50,000 less than the asking price. I'm not a natural bargainer, but the book showed me how to conduct myself from first walk through to signing.
Book Description
Emyl Jenkins provides the first accessible, user-friendly source of information on Reproduction furniture: how, when, where, and by whom these beautiful pieces were made. Includes a directory of museums and restorations where Reproduction furniture can be seen, and a listing of cabinetmakers who are currently creating handmade Reproduction furniture.
Illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
A must have book!.......1999-10-28
Well, here is another great book by Emyl Jenkins! She covers in detail the history of American reproduction furniture from the 1850s through the 1920s. The chapters give detail descriptions of the various periods of furniture design and instruct the reader in how to determine good and bad design. A great book that is well worth buying.
Books:
- Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home
- Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home
- Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (6th Edition)
- Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (6th Edition)
- Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (6th Edition)
- Mediterranean Inspiration: 125 Home Plans Inspired by Southern European Style (Inspiration (Homeplanners))
- Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style
- Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature (Schiffer Design Book)
- Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature (Schiffer Design Book)
- Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature (Schiffer Design Book)
Books Index
Books Home
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