I never wrote review for any books or anything on-line before. But when I couldn't buy a copy of Karlson on the Roof anywhere in the US, except from the zshop, I felt the urge to tell everyone what a wonderfull book it is. I read Karlsson On the Roof in China when I was a kid. I was my favorate for many years. Once when I was in college I recommanded my friends to read it but couldn't find it any where in my room. I was so dissappointed that I turned my room up-side-down several times for this. In my opinion, Karlsson On the Roof is nothing less than Harry Potter. It is about a common, lonely kid with an exordinary friend, Karlsson, who is generous, humourous, smart, and who can fly with a small propeller on his back. Karlsson alway thought himself as adult, just like kids do, and yet don't quite like adaults. Their fight with two thieves, without help from adults of course, was hilarious. Now that I have not read it for ten years and I miss it so much. I tried very hard to find its english name, the copy I read was named "little flying man" while translated into Chinese and I did not remember the auther, only to find out that all I can buy here is used ones dated 1971. It is such a pity that so many people here have missed such a great book. I hope that when my children reach 8 or 9 years old, I can share this book with them.

This book is about a 7-year old boy and his unusual friend, Karlsson, who has a little cozy house, which is strangely located...on the roof. At first, noone believes the little boy. Everyone thinks that the boy is lonely and bored, and that he made himself an imagenary friend. However, how much his mom, dad, brother and sister are surprised when they find out that this little man really exists...

I read this book when I was 7 years old in Russia, and this book has stayed as one of the greatest memories from my childhood. It is great that Astrid Lindgren's books are translated into English. I only wish that American kids will get a chance to read/listen to these books. I have a copy of it, which I've read to my little son several times, and he loves it.
So, if you ever come across a copy of this book, please, read it. Once you start, you wouldn't be able to stop.
And, yes, it is as good as or maybe even better than Harry Potter.

There are some books everyone should read, books that warm the hearts of children and adults alike - Winnie The Pooh, The Little Prince, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Ronia The Robber's Daughter, The Wizard Of Oz and, of course, Karlsson-On-The-Roof.

Karlsson-On-The-Roof is greatly underrated - this slightly ironical, but still very sweet book seems to be an acquired taste - except many people do not even try to acquire it! However, this book is definitely worth a read, and I daresay it will become one of your favourite books of all time if you do.

This book has a very special meaning to me since I'm from the town of Wisby(nowdays spelled Visby). Born and raised on the island Gotland and lived most of my life thete. I'v built several of these coats of armour and so far everyone I've tried on have been of satisfatcion. The book is so far the best resource book I've ever found. I have for a long time tried to find the first edition, but IF you can find it somewhere it's incredibly expensive. So jus imagine my joy when I saw there was a reissue! And very soon I'm going to be proud owner of this masterpiece...
The book is really easy to use and have exceptional drawings and scetches. Transforming the scale of the objects in the book to original size is really easy and there's a lot of information i general. At last a recommendation for all you SCA-fighters out there. Try out armour no.6 and no.9 because they give very good protection and are comfortable to wear.

I've made armor using the diagrams of existing armor types from this book. I didn't much care for some of the strapping arrangements described, so I designed my own. (Hey, this is the armor the regular fighters left behind - Wisby was defended by the teens and the oldsters to judge from the age of the bodies. This suggests the men of prime fighting-age were elsewhere, with their primary armor.) It worked, well, and protected me in combat. And the illustrations and text were clear, clear, clear.

This is the complete version of the orginal book all in one book, not two sets like the first. There is just a little intro added by Price. BUY THIS BOOK! It has wonderful information on the skeletal finds, plus it shows the orginal armor that was found, sketches of it, and recreations done by Bengt and company. I am thrilled they republished this book! It is impossible to find the orginal two volume set.

"Beyond the Market and the State is a work that in a fruitful and exciting way combines theory, empirical research and political visions...can be recommended to anyone who is interested in contemporary changes of the European welfare state...there is no doubt that the visionary character of the book will be obvious to any reader. The vision Pestoff provides is well grounded in both theory and empirical research and is certainly well worth further discussion." - Journal of Social Policy

"...addresses the need to develop social accounting procedures for organisations...considers whether the social enterprise and civil democracy can serve as a model for rejuvenating the welfare state in the new millennium" - Journal of Economic Literature

"Everyone - politicians and theoreticians alike - seems to be searching for 'the third way' these days. Victor Pestoff has come as close as anyone to finding it. In this stimulating book, not only does he explore conceptually a wide range of 'social enterprises', and their differing impact upon improving the work environment and empowering their citizens/consumers, but he also examines empirically how these voluntary service-providing associations came about and how they have come to complement both state and commercial providers. ... The message is clear, powerful and compelling: beyond (or between) the market and the state lie many of the solutions for reforming social welfare in an era of globalization and enhanced competitiveness." - Philippe C. Schmitter, European University Institute

By all means, buy this edition if it is your only way to enter the marvelous world that Sienkiewicz has given to Poland and to posterity. Discover why the Trilogy has been a best-seller in its native land for more than a century. Epic adventure, star-crossed love, villains, heroes, treachery, heartbreak and humor. Sienkiewicz wrote to lift up the hearts of his people, and if he doesn't lift yours, double-check to make sure you still have a pulse.

But beg or borrow if you can, and steal if you must, the translation by W.S. Kuniczak that was published in the early 1990s. Discover what happens when a novelist translates. Kuniczak is true not just to the sentences, but to the spirit of the work. He blows the dust out of the century-old writing and lets it shine. And for readers not on intimate terms with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 17th Century (admit it), he effortlessly drops in helpful hints.

Here's how Curtin starts:

There was in Jmud a powerful family, the Billeviches, descended from Mendog, connected with many, and respected, beyond all, in the district of Rossyeni. ... Their native nest, existing to this day, was called Billeviche; ... In later times they branched out into a number of houses, the members of which lost sight of one another. They all assembled only when there was a census at Rossyeni of the general militia of Jmud on the plain of the invited Estates.

And Kuniczak:

In the part of the old Grand Duchy of Lithuania that was known as Zmudya, and which antedated the times of recorded history, there lived an ancient family named Billevitch, widely connected with many other houses of Lithuanian gentry, and respected more than any other in the Rosyen region. ... Their family seat, known as Billevitche ... so that in time they split into several branches that seldom saw each other. Some of them got together now and then when the Zmudyan gentry gathered for the annual military census near Rosyen on a plain called Stany...

Honestly, which version would you rather spend 1700 pages with? The native nest or the family seat?

(And just by the by, when will a smart publisher sell the Sienkiewicz Trilogy alongside Tolkien? Why do they squirrel it away with the Serious Literature in Translation that mostly gathers dust? There's millions and millions of dollars in these books, lying around, waiting for someone to market them properly.)

The DEluge as with the rest of SIenkiewicz's works is literature of the highest quality. It summarizes the heart and soul of a nation and few other nations can claim to have such an outstanding piece of literature that touches the nations souls as does SIenkiewicz. The DEluge is thelargest of the three books of the Trilogy butlike the others you will simply not be able to put it down. The character development is so real - it is as if you know these people in your personal life - the plots - the action - the human drama - the history - it is simply outstanding. I do not understand why a mini series has not been made out of these novels - It is work of the highest quality which seems to have laid undiscoverd for nealy a century now!

The DEluge centers about Swedens march into POland. POland initially accepted their incursion, however, as the situation worsens the POles srrike back. The Swedish war machine was beleived to be unstoppable throguhout Europe and they did march through Poland but they made a mistake - attacking the town of Czestochowa (pronounced Ches toe hova) which had significant religous importance to the POles. The POles were rallied by a Bishop who held out against the Swedes under great odds and touched the soul of Poland. It is something we need to learn in our country - that we must put country above our personal needs to exist and win in the world. Sienkiewicz brings this point home again and again throughout the novel. Mike Niziol

Nor ears heard what Sienkewicz has prepared for those who love his works! Number two in the trilogy on the history of Poland, this is the best I have read in a long, long time. It stands alone as a story, but many of its characters have been proven in war in other stories of Sienkiewicz. If for that alone, it is worth reading this book after "With Fire and Sword". It tells the love story of a man and a woman tragically separated by foolishness, pride, confusion and the Swedish invation of Poland in the 1500s which divided a nation against itself and drew the best and worst out of its citizens. Above all, this is a romantic novel, but with enough battles, action and virtues to outdo the Illiad. You will cry and laugh as you read it; you will hope against hope; you will feel in the middle of the battle; you will want to unsheath your sword and run after the neighbours... In sum, another Sienkiewicz masterpiece. Written from a Catholic perspective, this book summarizes well the soul of the Polish nation and its love for the Church.

I bought this book a couple of month ago for my girlfriend(non Swedish). She never read the book, but I did. And I must say I enjoyed every minute of it.
Fun reading, but I don't think you will fully understand how Swedes thinks unless you actually move there... Brrrr...
I do not agree with the statement that Swedes are annoying polite and says 'Thank you' to everything. After living in USA for two years I feel that Swedes are quite rude.
The book felt a little outdated but still the best around.

I am 24 year old American male who has previously lived in Sweden for 2 years as an exchange student and has also worked for a Swedish forestry products company. This book is amazingly enlightening! I have to admit that when I first came across it I was somewhat speculative of whole concept. By reading the title you'd almost get the impression that they were talking about interfacing with life from another planet! However, what I found in the book was very well researched and well written -- a fairly accurate portrayal of my experiences and observations of life in Sweden. Highly recommended!

My wife was born in Sweden and immigrated with her parents to this country when she was 9 years old. Married 6 years, Lena was continually questioning why she viewed the world in certain ways while others couldn't see things the same way. The insights in this book got her thinking about what was special in her Swedish upbringing and why she was taught to look at some subjects differently. Reward systems, her acceptance of certain conflicts and her questioning mind were revealed to her as a result of reading this book. Since then, I have purchased an additional copy to share with a colleague recently hired by a Swedish company and Lena has given her Dad a copy. A must read for both Swedes and Americans who interact with Swedish people.

This is a great idea book- or lovely gift for a gardening friend. The illustrations are lovely. There are gardens from various climates, formal and informal- If you buy it for a gift, you may not want to give it up.

This book is a wonderful addition to any Landscape Architects shelf, the photographs emphasize the technique used by these two talented designers, and the pictorial key to their frequently used plant material acts as a springboard for your own interpretation on these very modern, yet naturalistic designs.

I am absolutely positive that you cannot go wrong with this book, or any other by these two incredible designers. With an emphasis on ornamental grasses and very "naturalistic" design styles that are beautiful year round, you'll have a hard time putting this one down. Photographs are absolutely beautiful!! You will definitely not be dissapointed!!!

Much as I hate to admit it, editors add more value than authors often appreciate. This book is a good example of missed potential for good editing.

The book contains almost 500 Absolut ads, and some of the rejects. What I did not realize until I looked at this book was how much bad Absolut advertising has appeared. Clearly, this volume would have been greatly improved by eliminating about 450 of the images in it. There is also a lot of text about how the ads are created, with a lot of pats on the back for the importers and agency involved. But there is relatively little about the creative process, and what works and what doesn't.

If you want to learn more interesting details about Absolut, I suggest that you acquire the newer book, Absolut, the History of the Bottle, instead.

Absolut advertising is all built around the formula of the word "Absolut" followed by some other word or words intending to say "Absolute X." While the lines are almost always good, the execution of how well the images fit with the text often leaves something or a lot to be desired. In other cases, the visuals are just plain ugly.

As the text suggests here, the idea was that "Absolut would be a product that could laugh at itself." That position is missed when the image is either almost irrelevant or unattractive. It just makes Absolut seem like it is a reflection of bad taste.

The mood for the ads was supposed to be light to " . . . add a dollop of humor so the 'We're the best' claim wouldn't be quite so boring or prententious." Well, you'll have to judge for yourself, but the ads seemed to have badly strayed from that standard.

Just so you won't think I dislike the campaign, here are my favorite ads in the book (I have eliminated "Absolut" from the titles to save space): Perfection, Joy, Peak, 19th, Harmony, L.A., Manhattan, Haring, and Appeal.

The other thought that bothered me was treating expensive vodka advertising as art. What's the social benefit here?

After you have finished considering the book, I suggest that you examine how you can add beauty to the world through your life and your work.

A votre sante!

"Absolut Book" covers the evolution of advertisements for Absolut Vodka and the people behind these ads. Most of the book is dedicated to the actual ads, broken up into groups, with captions detailing the ideas and providing additional information. Fascinating for its insight into the Absolut ads creation process. The book also includes some never published prints. An absolut must for collectors or anyone who enjoys print advertising.

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in photography , advertising and art in general. You get hundreds of beautifuly printed images for a good price. After reviewing the book , I also came to a conclusion that the Absolut ads "forte" was (is) the combination of photography and clever ideas. The fashion and painted art ads to me were repetitive and has little impact when compared to the clever product shots. It was great to see this collection in a book format though. lous@mail.idt.net

Pippi Longstocking is frequently one of the first chapter books read to children, and as a first grade teacher, I can attest to the value of its choice. Pippi is a larger than life character who does so many things that young children find absolutely wonderful and satisfying. * * * * * * * * * * * Pippi, an *orphan* with braids askew, lives all by herself at Villa Villekulla. Her only companions are her monkey and a horse (who lives on her porch).Children get to know Pippi through Annika and Tommy, *proper* children who live next door. Pippi looks at things as obliquely as her braids; she usually sees the positive side of things, unless she is requested to go to school or learn the multiplication tables. She has her own ideas about things, and simply cannot be made to follow the rules, but her way of disobeying is amusing and quite chathartic for children who ALWAYS have to follow the rules that adults make. She does not inspire kids to break the rules;she just makes them laugh with glee at her absurdity. She has *powers* that they adore!

I thought that Pippi Longstocking was an excellent book. It was very exciting and full of adventure. I thought that it was cool that she had a monkey for a pet. I also liked that she lived alone, being a nine year old girl, yet she could take care of herself. If Pippi wasn't out making trouble she was at home cooking on the kitchen floor. She does everything that comes her way. She has a very high self-esteem and she is almost always up to something, whether it be dancing with the robbers or talking about her grandmother's housekeeper, Malin. I would recommend this book to older elementary students. They would have a fun time reading all the crazy things Pippi does.

For years, I've enjoyed reading, re-reading, and re-re-reading Pippi Longstocking and the three other books that follow it. This is one of the very few children's books that are, very necessarily, a staple of any good childhood. Pippi allows every child, whether it be in age, or in heart, to live out fantasies of going to the ends of the earth and of having fun adventures from which they'll always come out on top, with Pippi leading the way. Though there were few books in the series, especially compared to most other children's series, the powerful words contained within their covers more than compensate for this, raising your imagination to new heights.

I have only one message for anyone reading this: BUY THIS BOOK. Whether or not you have children, this is an exciting, completely irreverent, and just plain fun story that will have you laughing and dreaming just like a kid--again. :)

The sixth Martin Beck novel. The crime this time around is the brutal murder of a decorated police officer in his hospital bed. Beck (now divorced from his shrewish wife) and his partner Kollberg, are on the case again.

This is the best novel in the series, masterfully interweaving the virtues of Beck's patient, methodical style of detection with a damning indictment of the pointless brutality and general incompetence of modern law enforcement. The point of the book, made in a variety of ways, is that law enforcement needs better cops, not bigger guns. Excellent as both a crime thriller and social commentary.

And don't miss the cliffhanger ending.

Unfortunately, it's out of print, and hard to find. Beg, borrow, or steal a copy, and read it.

"The Abomidable Man" is one of the better entries in the ten "Martin Beck" mysteries by the husband-and-wife team of Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. It features the unforgettable characters of Martin Beck, Leonard Kollberg, and their colleagues at the newly nationalized Swedish Police Force as a particularly brutal murder of a police officer in a hospital is investigated. With few clues, Beck and his colleagues eventually solve the case, but are overtaken by events in the sort of bleak existential denouement that characterizes this unmatched series of crime stories. The authors use the police procedural as a prism through which to look at society, and their liberal outlook seems innocent and quaint given the passage of time. Search your local used bookstores and garage sales for any entries in this series (not too uncommon in paperback) and let's hope that Black Lizard rereleases the whole series. NOTE: This book was made into an outstanding Swedis! ! h film called "The Man on the Roof", available on video at certain outlets.

Another spellbinding Martin Beck mystery that invites the reader into the world of the Swedish police in the 70's. The characters are memorable, the plot is very believable, it's an excellent piece of mystery fiction.

This book isn't about everything bad that Ingrid did, even though that's the impression the title gives. This is a well and thoroughly researched and very readable biography. Donald Spoto speaks about Ingrid with respect, and although he mentions her weaknesses and failings, I don't feel he's doing it to spread dirt around. If it happened it happened, but he doesn't spend half the book talking about it.

Except where it concerns Rossellini, and that is perfectly understandable, because everyone who knows about Ingrid knows that was a real and terrible time in her life. I think it's sad that she went through all that and the marriage ended up falling apart anyway.

Anyway, basically he speaks of her work. She went crazy without it, and really as I think about it her life was work. That's what I remember froming reading this.

It is a very good book, and like everything I have read by Spoto, is well-written and highly interesting. I recommend it very much.

Is this a creative review or what? I seem to be suffering some sort of blank as far as reviews are concerned this morning.

I was a young adult when Ingrid died and I was not aware of her fame and reputation as a film star. I saw her occasionally in old movies and was fascinated by her glowing beauty and talent. I was appalled by her appearance in her role as Golda Meir; she had changed so much, but now I know why. Spoto's biography about Ingrid revealed her intimately -- from her childhood to her death, throughout her marriages and affairs, the successes of her career, and relationships with friends and family. I didn't know that she had been banned from America for her "sins", and I didn't know she had other children besides Isabella Rosselini. In spite of her foibles, Ingrid still seems like a great woman, thanks to the passionate -- and compassionate -- telling of her life story by Spoto. The audio version of the book was completely compelling to listen to, enhanced by the reader, C.M. Herbert, whose voice had a quality similar to Ingrid's, and therefore made Ingrid come even more to life.

Spellbound, Notorious, Anastasia & many other films come to mind when one thinks of Bergman.

This is a detail packed book covering her personal & professional life.

If you want to learn about her relationships, romantic & professional, how she developed & utilized her talent as an actress, & why people the world over admired, loved her & for a brief time despised her, then this is the book for you.

A wonderful collection of photographs is included, as well as an excellent Bibliography & collection of notes.

This is the story of an actress whose performances on screen & her life off the screen changed peoples ideas of what it was to be a woman, & is a must read for Movie fans.