Shoes Books

This, the second book written by Jessie Hunter was phenomonal! Once I picked it up I could not put it down.

The story is written superbly, the characters come to life.

If thrillers and serial killers are your cup of tea, jump at the chance to pick up this book.

Hopefully this is not the last we've heard from Ms. Hunter!

I am currently reading One Two Buckle My Shoe by Jessie Hunter. A serial killer whose targets young boys mistakeningly nabs a little girl and it throws his entire routine out of whack. The story takes place in New York in December 1996, beginning two days before Christmas, when the girl is first taken.

The narrative, written in third person, shows us how each main character reacts to the situation. Emily Rose, the victim, is a very astute nine-year-old who has every intention of staying alive and running away. Her mother, Laurie, is worried sick at home and finds herself reliving her own past. George, aka The Chocolate Man, the serial killer, is obsessed with the number seven, repetition and cleaning. The detectives on the special Task Force that has been trying to locate The Chocolate Man for years are determined to find this man and child. Readers are also privvy to the thoughts and lives of various witnesses, neighbors, friends and strangers whose lives are somehow connected to those involved in the case. My favorite character is Emily Rose, who is aware of her surroundings and her situation. Her love for her mother, her vivid imagination and her passion for Nancy Drew mysteries help to keep her strong.

It is written in a very direct style. Since you know from the start - from the book jacket itself - the identities of the kidnapper and of the victim, the story is more about the psychological impact on the murderer, on the child, on her mother. The bulk of the story takes place in 24 hours - a day in the life of many.

If you enjoy novels about missing persons and prefer characters with heart rather than characters ripping out people's hearts, give this book a try.

This book was awsome! Very intense and a real nail biter! I loved the way the author put you in the minds of all the characters involved. I started the book late in the eveining and ended up staying up all night long. There just was not a stopping point, I literally could not put the book down until I found out if Emily was able to escape her real-life nightmare! Oh! My poor nails! The only reason I did not give it five stars is because of the ending. I wish the author would have told in more detail of what happened to all the characters. Still, I would recommend this to anyone who loves suspense. It was a wonderful fast paced book. I have no idea why the other people say this book was slow and boring. Are they sure it was THIS book they were reading?!?

This was an interesting book. The pace was slow and it took a while to remain intriged by the book. I constantly had to remind myself that eventually the pace would pick up and I would be eager to continue reading the book. In the long run, the book was wonderfully written, and it keeps you wondering when the plot will finally come into place, and you will understand the book. I recommend this book if you are the type of person who doesn't mind waiting for the action to pick up.

The theme and the beginning of the story is fine but nothing seems to happen after that. The pace too slow and the incidents are too trivial. The pace the story is slow but the speed of your finger flipping the page is fast.

Yes, this is a fast read, but it's boring! I was looking for more spice, which is something very much missing from this book. Honestly, this book will appeal to women who are wowed by educated women dabbling as strippers and who don't want to hear about the real realities of this business. Moreover, I think this book lacks an edginess because lucklily the author was in a good life position---she had a high-paying "W-2 job," family support, an education and part-time employment in a well-managed bikini club---things most women who find themselves in the stripping business won't ever have!

When a 32-year-old married mother of two, struggling with depression and a mid-life crisis, decides to step out and become a stripper, this nonfiction book chronicles her thoughts. Done as a series of vignettes, "Stipper Shoes" has neither axe to grind nor point to prove: instead it simply relates some of the author's experiences and observations from on and behind the stage in an interesting and funny way.

Despite the author's PhD, she approches the subject from a personal perspective rather than an academic one. She talks about applying for the job, the rules of the club, interactions between the strippers, her first experience with the stage, all in a very non-judgemental, anecdotal way. The book delivers plenty of humor, and, for a book about the sex industry, remains remarkably (and refreshingly) agenda-free. The second half drops off a bit, as the author starts comparing stripping to other aspects of her life, and realizing that despite her experience, she still doesn't have the answers. And the ones she does have are ultimately (and admittedly) rather neutral.

As a warning, there is a good deal of space spent on quoting. Songs, lyrics, and sayings by Thoreau and Neitzche, all make it into the book at the beginning of each "chapter"; and while some are relevant, some just take up space.

Overall, it's a short read, and an enjoyable one. Not without its faults, but those chapters are easy to skip. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read about the industry without getting preached at.

After reading, I didn't think it was too bad. The only reason I had against this book was it being general info on the subject.

While this book could have been a cliched or snarky rambling observation more than an exposition, it is an honest, funny and frequently hot little read. The genuine straightforwardness, strength and humor it took for the author to not only do these things, but to later write about them in a way that did not require diminution of the strippers or herself is the nicest part of the whole book. Completely lacking an academic's "bug in the jar" approach within the book, the author's Ph.D. is just another fact in the mix. And she made me want to wear stripper shoes, too.

A fascinating journey backstage leads to an honest self-examination, looking for love in all the wrong places. A voyeur's delight. Recommended reading. You go girl-great job!!

I loved this book. It is well written and full of information on how to become a professional writer.

This book really explained how to publish your work. Before I read it, I was kind of clueless, but now, I'm in the know!

this book is so good! it even helped me publish a book

I have to agree on several points with the Scholastic reviewer. This is definitely NOT the first book you want to give an aspiring young writer. It does have some good info on the publisher-author-editor relationship, and a few interesting quotes, but it has a number of serious problems.

First, the organization of it is very frustrating. Nothing proceeds logically.

Second, it's unclear what age group is targeted. In one breath the author is unsure whether her readers know what paragraphs are; in the next she's talking about hiring a lawyer.

Third, some of the recommended reading is wildly inappropriate for most kids. It ranges from strange New Age stuff to out-of-date science to Huysmans.

Fourth, the book is primarily aimed at British kids, and Grant's attempts to internationalize it fall short.

Fifth, Grant is just plain not very encouraging. If I were a young person just starting out, this book wouldn't do all that much to encourage me to explore writing further, or think of it as very potentially enjoyable.

In all, this book could be somewhat useful to a young person who's been writing for a while. But for a beginner--no, really for anybody--the book of choice is Stephen Tchudi's "The Young Writer's Handbook." Do what you have to do within the bounds of sanity and legality to get hold of THAT!

This book is truly a must read book. Between the covers, it is packed with the guidelines for teenagers like me to understand why they write and what they write. It's not another creative writing book, this is for aspiring writers who really want o ahve a career in the literary world. Step by step plans are detailed and yet you still do have the freedom to manuver around and explore. But personally, there were some parts where re-reading had to be done as the statements were not exactly clear.

It has inspired me and helped me along with writing exercises known as "Writer's Notebook" and encourage me to develop my writing passion.

I read this fairly quickly, and found that I already knew most of it. There were some good tips though. I had previously sold on ebay a few years ago, and had hoped that this would give me more actual examples of resources and ideas, but, not so much. However, if you are just getting into ebay selling, this is a good overview.

This is really a great little book. Most of the info is actually common sense, but it's all together in one book. It makes for an excellent reference as you get to know how things work on eBay. It may say it applies to Clothing, Shoes and Accessories, but the how-to-do-it applies equally well to almost any item you want to sell.
I know my sales on eBay have gone from zero (yes that's right) to probably around 80% of items I list now. Way cool!
I would strongly recommend this book to beginners, who shouldsit down with a highlighter pen, and read through it. For the professional seller - also a good read, as there will be things you have forgotten....

This was the first "How-to-sell-on-eBay" book that I have read and it was a great start. Davis writes in a clear and concise style how to do everything, from start to finish. She de-mystifies the online selling process, and spreads useful tips and hints throughout the book.

I am a "small-time" seller on ebay and I was looking to "up my game" with this book. For me, it was a complete waste of money.

The information in this book can be gleaned from just using ebay a few times. If you have never bought anything on ebay and can't navigate the ebay website or learn things there for yourself, this is the book for you. (However, if you know nothing about ebay, websites, help files or computers, maybe an ebay business selling clothing, shoes and accessories isn't a business you should be thinking about starting? Since there are a lot of people already way ahead of you?)

If it was called "Ebay for Dummies" or "An Absolute Beginners Guide To Ebay", then I think it would be more accurately sold and marketed, and an excellent guide.

90% of the information in the book pertains to ebay selling basics and only 10% is specific information that would help you sell clothing, shoes and accessories, if you had never done so before.

Example: you are told that,to start your ebay business, you will need a computer and a modem (and describes what a modem is), etc.

I think a lot of people would like to sell on ebay and don't know anything about it. They are more comfortable with a book format than a website for learning. This is a wonderful book for them. However, the book description should be more accurate for those of us who shop for books online and can't page through the book.

I had previously read Davis' book, Make Big Profits on eBay (co-written with Jacquelyn Lynn), and immensely enjoyed it while learning how to improve my eBay business. So when the new pocket guides came out, I grabbed them in great anticipation. This is the first book I have read in the series and I was not disappointed. I have learned where and how to find quality clothing and accessories (both new and used) in places that I never considered before. Plus I have learned different ways to take pictures to show my items off to their best advantage - a must for any eBay seller. I also like the interesting sellers that are introduced to readers because they are every day people like you and me who have managed to make a success of their eBay business in a short amount of time. After reading this book, I feel confident that I can succeed in the clothing, shoes and accessories category.

Road Shoes is a page-turner that you won't want to put down. Reading it took a serious toll on my slumber for two days, but it was worth the sleep deprivation. Ms. Worden has written Road Shoes with a wry sense of humor, exploring a woman's deepest yearnings and fears. Who hasn't tried to prop up a failing relationship with the hope that it will turn out all right in the end? Laura Von Baden's move from the city to "40 acres of cowpies" is a vivid, sometimes funny and often poignant metaphor for the journey that unearths her own dreams and longings. In confronting the truth about her marriage and facing her fears, she discovers true love and ultimately, her true self.

The idyll of escaping to the country to find happiness is nearly as old as literature itself. Rather than stultifying the senses with rural dreariness or encouraging Woody Allen bug phobias, the Greek, Romans, and Renaissance writers thought the country life stimulating and healthy. Milton's, "a happy rural seat of various view," come to mind.

But Milton, as we know, was blind.

Sometimes country life goes awry, as it does in Darla Worden's Road Shoes. Instead of marital harmony, Thomas and Laura Von Baden find that rural life rents their lives asunder. Weary of Denver's crowds and yearning to find a haven for growing flowers, Thomas and Laura purchase 40 acres of land in the Rockies. They are immediately confronted by disingenuous neighbors and the perils of verbal agreements. But these unpleasantries are small beer when compared to the state of the Von Baden's marriage, which seems to sink with every step of altitude they gain. Thomas, bit by bit, looses his grip on sanity. Laura seeks succor outside her marriage and becomes pregnant, father unknown.

There aren't many books about westerners escaping to the mountains. Often rural escape books are about easterners finding solace in places like Colorado. So Worden is on relatively new ground here. She does her job well, wielding a skillful and knowledgeable pen about how the rural west works. She also documents, with painful and moving detail, what it is like to have a partner lose their grip on reality and, as a result, have a union dissolve. She writes beautiful about flowers and how life folds and unfolds with their seasons. There a some really lovely passages on foliage and flowers in the book. "Road Shoes" is well worth the read.

Road Shoes hooked me from the beginning. I like the way she introduces her chapters and the twists and turns of the plot. In this book, not everything is what it seems. Worden sets up the scenes well and truly develops her vivid characters. Whether you love them or hate them (and trust me, some will engender strong emotions), you want to know what happens to them all. Her descriptions of Steamboat Springs, CO, are poetic in their beauty and paint a vivid picture of the landscape. I wasn't sure what to expect from Road Shoes but finished it with a satisfied tear in my eye. It's an impressive first novel. I look forward to her next work!

When newly married gardening magazine editor Laura Von Baden and her financier husband Thomas purchase 40 acres of ranch land in the Colorado Rockies, she believes they've staked a claim for their future, envisioning a landscaped homestead for generations rising out of the scabby, brown fields. But a flash flood of calamaties unleashed by the legal shenanigans of unscrupulous neighbors quickly erodes her dreams; exposing the gaping flaws she'd failed to notice in the man she thought she loved.

A wryly realized tale of deception and heartbreak, Darla Worden's Road Shoes follows Laura's journey of self-discovery buoyed by a supporting cast of eccentric characers including a crystal-gazing best friend, a brother who vacillates from cowboy to New Age drummer, and a Lakota spiritualist turned cop who teaches Laura a thing or two about the enduring land around her and the nature of love itself. Laura's reverence for the environemnt deepens as the child inside her grows, propelling her toward maturity and real, grownup love--the kind that, like the land itself, can never truly be owned.

Funny and bittersweet, Road Shoes is must reading for all returning-to-nature wannabees as well as the newly betrothed. I highly recommend it.

Road Shoes hooked me from the beginning. I like the way she introduces her chapters and the twists and turns of the plot. In this book, not everything is what it seems. Worden sets up the scenes well and truly develops her characters. Whether you love them or hate them (and trust me, some will engender strong emotions), you want to know what happens to them all. Her descriptions of Steamboat Springs, CO, are poetic in their beauty and paint a vivid picture of the landscape. I wasn't sure what to expect from Road Shoes but finished it with a satisfied tear in my eye. It's an impressive first novel. I look forward to her next work!

The first 2/3 of the book is really good and believable. The writing still is not impressive, but I read 2/3 of the book in something like 2 days, and I was very amused and entertained. But the ending of the book was way too cheesy for my, and I really had a hard time believing in the book (it's like the 3rd Lord of the Rings movie... the last half an hour should also have been cut out). The book became so bad in the end that it toke me 2 weeks to read the last 1/3 of the book. And I did not enjoy reading the end at all... A shame the ending was so bad, because the book really had potential! 4 starts for the first 2/3 of the book and 0 starts for the ending.

This is a fun read about some very serious issues -- mental illness in the family, what learning issues to a person's self esteem, how estrangement from family can eat at someone's soul for years. I love Jennifer Weiner novels, they are fun to read, but with this one, she earned my respect as a writer. I especially enjoyed and appreciated her fully drawn portraits of the older adults, they are full human beings with power, passion, and even guile when necessary, a real break from the stereotyped treatment of older adults often found in light reading.

I would highly recommend this book or any book by Jennifer Weiner. It is a definite read for anyone who has a sister.

I am currently on a misson to read all of Jennifer Weiner's work. I started with Good in bed ( slow start, but a great book) then on to Good Night Nobody ( I really connected with this book, loved it) Little Eathquakes ( my current Favorite) and just finished In her shoes. I really enjoyed, In her Shoes. I read this book in two days, as a busy working Mom that is nearly impossible. Take the plunge, read all JW's books! I am startting on Certain girls next!

Two sisters could not be more different. Rose, the together, prim and proper attorney and Maggie, the beautiful, disorganized, mess. They are forced to cohabitate after Maggie runs short of money, causing a shock to Rose's world. However, they both have some things in common: they hate their stepmother, they would like to meet the grandmother they were cut off from when their mother passed away, and they are looking for men who will not turn out to be jerks (which does not turn out to be an easy task).

Quote: "Maggie showed no signs of leaving . . . and, Rose noticed, the money she'd given her had magically disappeared."

I liked this book somewhat - it takes different chapters from the viewpoints of various main characters, which I dislike. I found myself skipping over certain characters to keep with the story I was into at the time, because I like that continuity (then, of course, I had to go back and read the other characters' chapters in a row), until eventually the different characters more or less come together. It is a nice vacation read, if a little bit predictable.

Great book about the greatest sneakers ever made...Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars. I am a fan of the black hi top Chucks. They are the best.

actually i'm expecting catalogue for All Star product ,
can't find too many items here

I was very excited in the last fall when I heard that a book about "Chucks" was being published. I raced to get my copy quickly, and had it within the first month. It was a very fast read and had some great information and cool pictures. However, I would have liked to see more "vintage" photos from the "Chucks as basketball shoes" era. Also, I thought there was perhaps too much focus on the classic black chucks (although admittingly they are by far the most popular style. There was also a huge error in the book. The author claims that "Optical white" was the second Chuck Taylor model to be released. Actually, unbleached is clearly the older of the two. Optical weren't invented until at least the 1960s and were still pretty rare into the 1990s, although they are much more common than the unbleached now (which are still a "core color"). It was clearly the unbleached and NOT the Optical that Mr. Taylor liked the best. I suppose Peterson was confused because advertisements before the 1960s were never taken from photographs and what was drawn looked like optical white.
Peterson's comments about "nothing saying 1950s like Chuck Taylors" are also off-base. Although they existed at the time, it is quite difficult to find any TV or movie clips prior to the 1970s that feature them (oddly one of the most famous examples-Opie Taylor on the extremely popular Andy Griffith Show, was not mentioned in the book). A better way to phrase it would have been "nothing says "pretending to be the 1950s like Chuck Taylors." Chances are if a movie or TV show made in the last 35 years is set in the 1950s or 1960s, you will probably see some guy wearing Chucks. If he isn't a basketball player, it's probably not realistic. It would be interesting to explore exactly why so many people in charge of wardrobe for these retro movies/TV shows seem to think all the guys wore Chucks in those days. Overall, a pretty good book and I've ordered many pairs of shoelaces from the website.

Converse made and continues to make the best and coolest sneakers ever. This book tells the story of Chucks in words and lots of color pictures. A must have for every Converse fan.

Chucks are an American staple, and Chucks is a great guide to the world of Chucks. Why are people so loyal to their Chucks? What are some special Chuck designs? This is a book for anyone who has every owned a pair.

This is a great book to get started making Doll shoes. I had thought about wanting to make Doll shoes for a long time but until I got this book I had no idea how to get started. I'm now having lots of fun making all kinds of Doll shoes. Great book to get started with.

This is a clear guide to making doll shoes. Patterns come in many styles and sizes, there is even information on changing the patterns to fit your doll. Before I got this book I thought that making my own doll shoes would be too difficult, but they aren't. The shoes are adorable and easy to make, you don't even need special supplies. I made shoes using materials I had on hand. Much more fun and cheaper than purchasing ready made doll shoes. Plus you can make them to match the dolls outfit. You can even design your own shoe styles once you have made a pair or two! Her other book on making leather shoes is also excellent! I made the leather boots and they were darling!

Very simple and easy to follow. Focuses on fabric shoes only though - so anyone looking for something on leather shoes may be disappointed. Also, the shoes are generally in the style and size of antique French dolls. I don't make clothing for those types of dolls but I found the information to be transferrable for my purposes. If you want to know how to make doll shoes, I highly recommend this book to get you started.

It is not as simple as it looks. One has to have at least some sewing skills and it is not simply explained. A good study of the book is a must before one can actually make a pair of shoes in the right size. All very confusing but after three weeks of practise, i have finally made a pair, with a lot of patience.
Conny Fairhead, The Netherlands.

This book is fairly useless unless you have a larger doll to make for and I was looking for fasion type shoes.
However it is correct in the construction of shoes for dolls as I worked in a shoe factory and saw and did every aspect of the process of making a shoe.

For the Carrie Bradshaw in all of us! Carrie taught the world how to say Manolo and now we are all obssesed it's a great keepsake for the shoe attict in all of us women!

As a woman and a fan of shoes, I'm here to tell you that you can't get any better than Manolo Blahnik. His creations are sexy, stylish, and comfortable. And thanks to Sarah Jessica Parker and "Sex & the City", they are all the rage. But there is one tiny problem...they are also VERY expensive. For those of us that can't afford to run down to Neiman Marcus and slap down $600.00 for these sexy stiletto's, there's "Manolo Blahnik" by Colin McDowell. The pictures in this book will take your breathe away. You'll find yourself salivating over everything from linen mules to toe-ring slides. The book itself is more like a work of art than a book about footwear. It's also interesting to learn how Blahnik creates these beauties.

I suggest this book for fans of Manolo or those who wish they could afford them. Beautiful book! It'll make you go out and buy a few pairs!

Gennie Bailey-Rogers

... I bought this book. I have a foot fetish, shoe fascination. I make shoes. I love this man. I came away from this book feeling that this man was very shallow.

The photos were disappointing. Those of us with shoe obsessions won't be satisfied with this book. The shoes shown aren't original; the manner in which they are shown isn't either.

Perhaps I was too hungry for something as original as Manolo.

A terrific book, depicting one of the world's greatest shoe designers and creators, Manolo Blahnik. Makes a wondeful coffee table book, which is filled with entising photographs. A fabulous book darlings!

as a long time manolo aficionado, i was deeply disappointed in colin mc dowell's tribute to one of the greatest artistic geniuses of our time, manolo blanhnik. as geniuses go, blahnik's a very complicated man, and i feel that mc dowell doesn't begin to do him justice. i came away from the book wanting to know more. besides that, i don't feel the photographs and sketches were necessarily indicative of blahnik's best work.

This book is just a pleasure for me to own.
The pictures are beautiful and inspiring.
Any creative person would enjoy this book.
If you are an Artist who enjoy things that are beautiful and interesting
then this book should be in your collection.

Exquisite array of shoes pictured, and a fascinating read! This book is a keeper and will be in my library forever!

this book has absolutely no good information the pictures are horibble and they make me want to vomit, who would want to have this much worthless information on 4 stupid centuris of high heels or flats or any kind of shoe??!! If I could I would rate this with ZERO stars.

The book is OK. It did not have enough pictures of vintage shoes to suit me. But it did have a lot of interesting information in it. And the shoes Mr. Walford pictured were very pretty and very unusual.So, If you love vintage shoes I would recommend this book!Happy reading. S Kivo

Thank you for this amazing book. The pictures are beautiful and the information is fascinating.