Leather Books

"Originating in Great Britain and spreading to America, the arts and crafts movement--not just a reaction to the overwrought designs of the nineteenth century--grew from a belief that industrialization was suffocating design quality and craftsmanship. To counter the effects of the 'Satanic mills,' as William Blake described them, the arts and crafts style sought to revive the joy of labor in creating unique, handcrafted objects. Inspired by this idyllic and simple expression, the designs within this journal are a reflection of the beauty in decorative arts.

"Click on either picture for a closer look. Size: 5 x 7". Genuine brown leather embossed slip jacket and removable journal insert with full-color laminated covers and colorful designs throughout. 144 lined pages with lay-flat binding and ribbon marker. Woodfree paper suitable for both pencil and pen. ISBN: 0-7649-1685-8.

"Arts & Crafts Journal Insert Refill. Replacement insert for 5 x 7" Arts & Crafts leather journal. ISBN: 0-7649-1702-1. $10.95"--© Pomegranate

In the 1st book in the Mitford series, we are introduced to Father Tim, a kindly rector who is overworked, overwhelmed, and is thinking of leaving his town parish in Mitford, North Carolina. He doesn't eat right, exercises only in his walks around town (he gave up his car for Lent 9-years-ago), and will not take a vacation. Being called the "portly priest" embarrasses him, but it is not until he discovers that he has diabetes does he make major changes to his life. Cutting out his beloved Little Debbie snack cakes, jogging three days a week, and finding house-help does much to improve Father Tim's physical health. But his mental health still suffers from his lack of time to relax. And several events that happen to Father Tim over the course of this lovely story initially only add to his frustration and fatigue.

First, he becomes adopted by a huge, furry dog that he names Barnabas, and quickly learns that the large dog is controlled only by the bellowing of scripture. He then takes in an orphaned boy, whose alcoholic mother decided to "get rid of" all of her five children. The boy, Dooley Barlowe, goes to stay with his grandpa, and when he becomes gravelly ill, Father Tim steps in to care for the boy full time. One of Father Tim's closest friends becomes romantically involved with a dying woman after the recent death of his wife, and Father Tim worries about the heartache that his friend will feel when he loses another loved one. And, after over sixty years of living alone, Father Tim discovers a romantic stirring in his own heart over his new neighbor, Cynthia Coppersmith. In the end, Father Tim realizes that all of these things have been a big blessing in his life, and that the Lord does indeed have big plans for himself and his cherished home in Mitford.

Taking a break from the cozy mysteries that I normally read, I was looking for a series that both my mother and I might enjoy. Based on the many glowing recommendations that I found, I picked up a copy of the books on tape for both of us. We both loved this charming and lovely book! As other reviewers have mentioned, the book grew on me the longer that I listened to it. It took awhile for the story to unfold, and for the characters and setting to become real to me. But after that...I found myself unable to read anything else, or stop myself from listening to the tapes! My mind kept drifting off to Mitford, wondering what Father Tim was doing, or if he would finally express his interest in Cynthia. I laughed, I cried, and at times I yelled at the cassette player. Father Tim can be exasperating at times...he won't take a break, and he bumbles his way around a romance with Cynthia. But, he is also kind, gentle, devout to Christ, and selfless...all of the things that make him such a rich, charming character. I can't say enough about this wonderful series...except that I was more content and felt more blessed in my own life after listening to it.

The next book in the series is called "A Light in the Window". Enjoy!

In the 1st book in the Mitford series, we are introduced to Father Tim, a kindly rector who is overworked, overwhelmed, and is thinking of leaving his town parish in Mitford, North Carolina. He doesn't eat right, exercises only in his walks around town (he gave up his car for Lent 9-years-ago), and will not take a vacation. Being called the "portly priest" embarrasses him, but it is not until he discovers that he has diabetes does he make major changes to his life. Cutting out his beloved Little Debbie snack cakes, jogging three days a week, and finding house-help does much to improve Father Tim's physical health. But his mental health still suffers from his lack of time to relax. And several events that happen to Father Tim over the course of this lovely story initially only add to his frustration and fatigue.

First, he becomes adopted by a huge, furry dog that he names Barnabas, and quickly learns that the large dog is controlled only by the bellowing of scripture. He then takes in an orphaned boy, whose alcoholic mother decided to "get rid of" all of her five children. The boy, Dooley Barlowe, goes to stay with his grandpa, and when he becomes gravelly ill, Father Tim steps in to care for the boy full time. One of Father Tim's closest friends becomes romantically involved with a dying woman after the recent death of his wife, and Father Tim worries about the heartache that his friend will feel when he loses another loved one. And, after over sixty years of living alone, Father Tim discovers a romantic stirring in his own heart over his new neighbor, Cynthia Coppersmith. In the end, Father Tim realizes that all of these things have been a big blessing in his life, and that the Lord does indeed have big plans for himself and his cherished home in Mitford.

Taking a break from the cozy mysteries that I normally read, I was looking for a series that both my mother and I might enjoy. Based on the many glowing recommendations that I found, I picked up a copy of the books on tape for both of us. We both loved this charming and lovely book! As other reviewers have mentioned, the book grew on me the longer that I listened to it. It took awhile for the story to unfold, and for the characters and setting to become real to me. But after that...I found myself unable to read anything else, or stop myself from listening to the tapes! My mind kept drifting off to Mitford, wondering what Father Tim was doing, or if he would finally express his interest in Cynthia. I laughed, I cried, and at times I yelled at the cassette player. Father Tim can be exasperating at times...he won't take a break, and he bumbles his way around a romance with Cynthia. But, he is also kind, gentle, devout to Christ, and selfless...all of the things that make him such a rich, charming character. I can't say enough about this wonderful series...except that I was more content and felt more blessed in my own life after listening to it.

The next book in the series is called "A Light in the Window". Enjoy!

The Little Leather Library was a series of miniature, abridged leatherbound volumes of famous speeches and works by classic literary authors. The leather covers were uniform in style and color. They were stamped with the title and author's name printed inside identical floral borders. The series was founded around 1914 and continued to be sold until 1923. Expect the pages near the covers to be age tanned by the leather.

It's Balzac's La Comédie Humaine (& not Humane). It would be nice if you could correct this in your listing. Otherwise, what can be said is that Balzac is to French novels what Shakespeare is to British plays, i.e. an author capable of writing masterpiece after masterpiece.

This is a reprint of a recent review by Lindsay Smith for the December 2008 issue of MUM magazine for the Society of American Magicians:

Martin Gardner's Foreword to Diamond Jim Tyler's book, Bamboozlers, covers many of the points I wanted to include in this review. But that's okay! Since you haven't read the book, you haven't read the Foreword.

Long Foreword short: Mr. Gardner likes the book. Long review short: So do I. And it goes without saying, so will you.

If you're already a student or a fan of bar or tabletop bets and betchas, many of these will be familiar to you. And there's a good reason for that. Many of these are classics and will be your favorites, so you'll thank Diamond Jim for collecting them in one convenient place. I betcha you'll also find a few new ones or ones that you've forgotten. And if this is a new area of interest for you, you couldn't ask for a better place to get started down this crooked path.

A new one (to me, at least) is the second scam in the book, Full of Bull. This no-gimmick puzzler will have you scurrying to the store for some cans of Red Bull so you can try this out.

An oldie that I've been doing for a long time, ever since Bob Steiner first showed it to me almost 15 years ago, is Kid Coins. Although Bob's wording was slightly different, it's the same mind-scratching puzzler that will make your spectators think until they finally arrive at that Aha! moment. It usually takes several repetitions for that to happen and, sadly, for some it never occurs. It's ideal for small groups and requires only that you have a penny, a nickel and a dime.

Subtitled The Book of Bankable Bar Betchas, Brain Bogglers, Belly Busters & Bewitchery, Bamboozlers is an impressive collection of 75 tricks, bar bets, puzzles and challenges packed into this little 128-page book. And when I say "little", I mean exactly that. The book measures 3 by 5 inches.

You'll find dozens of cute scams with coins, cards, straws, matches, glasses, bills, bottles, corks and other items you'll find on most tabletops and bar tops.

Although I can't personally verify that any of these are "chick magnet" quality (and my wife didn't want me to field-test that assertion), I can say that you will undoubtedly be able to score some free beers or drinks from your friends. Do that often enough and, as the ads say, it will pay for itself.

In spite of its small size, the book is quite easy to read, thanks to the bright white pages; a crisp, readable typeface; clear, professional illustrations by Benjamin Vincent; and excellent graphic design and page layout by Brad Aldridge.

With a faux leather binding, silver-gilt edges, a ribbon marker for your favorite "gotcha", what's not to like? And the words "Volume One" on the cover more than just hints at other books down the line. Let's encourage that. Buy this book. -REVIEW by Lindsay Smith

This Book of Common Prayer (1662) is the 'primary' BCP, used by the Church of England proper, the original branch of the Anglicans. There have been many books that have had the title 'Book of Common Prayer' since the first one appeared in 1549; it has been used continuously in one edition or another in the Anglican tradition since 1559; the 'main' edition remains this 1662 edition. Churches in other nations (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United States, Canada) have done revised Books of Common Prayer, but they always use this as the touchstone.

A bishop in the Episcopal church once said to me, 'We don't have a theology that we have to believe -- what we have is the prayerbook.' Please forgive the absence of context for this phrase -- while he would say that this statement in isolation is an exaggeration, and I would agree, nonetheless his statement serves to highlight both the importance of and the strength of the Book of Common Prayer.

To be an Anglican, one does not have to subscribe to any particular systematic theological framework. One does not have to practice a particular brand of liturgical style. One does not have to have an approved politico-theological viewpoint. One can be a conservative, liberal or moderate; one can be high church, low church, or broad; one can be charismatic, evangelical, or mainline traditional -- one can be any number of things in a rich diversity of choices, and the Book of Common Prayer can still be the book upon which spirituality and worship is centred.

The Book of Common Prayer is not, in fact, a book that changed my life. It is a book that changes my life. Even though it is not the primary book of my own church, it continues to provide for spiritual insight and development; it continues to guide my worship and my theology. It continues to help me grow. The words are part of a liturgy now shared by Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and other liturgical churches, in different combination and priority.

Gerry Janzen, an Anglican professor at my seminary, said to me recently as we were lunching and having a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation (in a unique way that only Gerry Janzen is capable of doing) that he strives for that kind of memory and understanding that is so complete that one forgets what one has learned. He recounted to me his experience of working with his book on Job -- he had done a lot of research, development of ideas, writing, and organisation, and then set it aside for a time. When he picked up the topic later, he decided to begin by writing, and then go back to the research, other notes and writings he had done earlier. He was surprised to see, in comparing the work, that he had in fact duplicated much of the material -- he had internalised the information, incorporated it so well into his thinking and being, that it came forward without effort. It is this kind of relationship I feel I have developed with the Book of Common Prayer.

To be sure, there are pages of information that I don't know. I haven't memorised the historical documents; I still consult the calendars; I haven't learned all of the collects by heart. But it has become a part of me. When was asked to put together a liturgy for a houseblessing for Episcopalian friends, there were rooms that called for collects that had not been written -- I wrote new collects and inserted them into the liturgy.

'Can you do that?' the householder asked, worried about the flow and the approval of the priest doing the blessing.

'I trust Kurt to write collects -- his probably belong in the BCP,' the priest said in response, and I appreciated her vote of confidence. That was perhaps the first confirmation to me of this sense of incorporation of the book into my life.

From his first edition, Cranmer distinguished in his terminology the words minister and priest, and the two should not be viewed as interchangeable. A priest is a minister, but a minister need not be a priest. This become part of the early development of the idea of all people being ministers to each other, which is also a concept that has varying acceptance and fulfillment in actual practice over the history of Anglicanism.

One of my favourite prayers derives from this book, part of the English prayer book from the very first one in 1549:

Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication unto thee, and hast promised through thy well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his name, thou wilt be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen.

This prayer, like many things in the BCP, has moved to a new location from the first edition, but nonetheless the spirit of the BCP shows a circuitous but continuous development from the first English Prayer Book to the current varieties. Likewise, other denominations have gleaned insights, prayers and structures from this and other versions of the BCP.

The Book of Common Prayer, as a single unit and as a greater tradition of which this book is a part, is an Anglican gift to the world.

The Book of Common Prayer 1662 is the official prayer book containing the services of the Church of England. This Cambridge copy is bound in French Morocco leather, which is beautiful yet affordable. Although some of the archaic English is a bit difficult to understand sometimes, this book is THE classic prayer book. Cambridge is well-known for their quality leather Bibles, and you'll use this prayer book right alongside your Bible every day. Note: The prayers for the monarch have been changed to suit the times. They do do not bear the name Charles II, the British monarch (1660-85) but rather the current Queen of England HRH Elizabeth II.

This Book of Common Prayer (1662) is the 'primary' BCP, used by the Church of England proper, the original branch of the Anglicans. There have been many books that have had the title 'Book of Common Prayer' since the first one appeared in 1549; it has been used continuously in one edition or another in the Anglican tradition since 1559; the 'main' edition remains this 1662 edition. Churches in other nations (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United States, Canada) have done revised Books of Common Prayer, but they always use this as the touchstone.

A bishop in the Episcopal church once said to me, 'We don't have a theology that we have to believe -- what we have is the prayerbook.' Please forgive the absence of context for this phrase -- while he would say that this statement in isolation is an exaggeration, and I would agree, nonetheless his statement serves to highlight both the importance of and the strength of the Book of Common Prayer.

To be an Anglican, one does not have to subscribe to any particular systematic theological framework. One does not have to practice a particular brand of liturgical style. One does not have to have an approved politico-theological viewpoint. One can be a conservative, liberal or moderate; one can be high church, low church, or broad; one can be charismatic, evangelical, or mainline traditional -- one can be any number of things in a rich diversity of choices, and the Book of Common Prayer can still be the book upon which spirituality and worship is centred.

The Book of Common Prayer is not, in fact, a book that changed my life. It is a book that changes my life. Even though it is not the primary book of my own church, it continues to provide for spiritual insight and development; it continues to guide my worship and my theology. It continues to help me grow. The words are part of a liturgy now shared by Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and other liturgical churches, in different combination and priority.

Gerry Janzen, an Anglican professor at my seminary, said to me recently as we were lunching and having a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation (in a unique way that only Gerry Janzen is capable of doing) that he strives for that kind of memory and understanding that is so complete that one forgets what one has learned. He recounted to me his experience of working with his book on Job -- he had done a lot of research, development of ideas, writing, and organisation, and then set it aside for a time. When he picked up the topic later, he decided to begin by writing, and then go back to the research, other notes and writings he had done earlier. He was surprised to see, in comparing the work, that he had in fact duplicated much of the material -- he had internalised the information, incorporated it so well into his thinking and being, that it came forward without effort. It is this kind of relationship I feel I have developed with the Book of Common Prayer.

To be sure, there are pages of information that I don't know. I haven't memorised the historical documents; I still consult the calendars; I haven't learned all of the collects by heart. But it has become a part of me. When was asked to put together a liturgy for a houseblessing for Episcopalian friends, there were rooms that called for collects that had not been written -- I wrote new collects and inserted them into the liturgy.

'Can you do that?' the householder asked, worried about the flow and the approval of the priest doing the blessing.

'I trust Kurt to write collects -- his probably belong in the BCP,' the priest said in response, and I appreciated her vote of confidence. That was perhaps the first confirmation to me of this sense of incorporation of the book into my life.

From his first edition, Cranmer distinguished in his terminology the words minister and priest, and the two should not be viewed as interchangeable. A priest is a minister, but a minister need not be a priest. This become part of the early development of the idea of all people being ministers to each other, which is also a concept that has varying acceptance and fulfillment in actual practice over the history of Anglicanism.

One of my favourite prayers derives from this book, part of the English prayer book from the very first one in 1549:

Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication unto thee, and hast promised through thy well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his name, thou wilt be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen.

This prayer, like many things in the BCP, has moved to a new location from the first edition, but nonetheless the spirit of the BCP shows a circuitous but continuous development from the first English Prayer Book to the current varieties. Likewise, other denominations have gleaned insights, prayers and structures from this and other versions of the BCP.

The Book of Common Prayer, as a single unit and as a greater tradition of which this book is a part, is an Anglican gift to the world.

If you are like me - you are trying to juggle the modern secular world and your faith all together. I am a professional woman who has been struggling with my faith over the years partly to the fact that I allow other Christians put my faith down. I have so many questions about everyday things from God and never knew where to look. I also have advance degrees in research and have been reading up on different wordly faiths (which btw I think everyone should know information about other faiths rather then be ignorant and putting them down. If we want to seek peace in Christ in this world we need to be respectful to our neighbors regardless of their faith is different. How can you share Christ if you are butchering their faith?). and needed a devotional Bible to explain historical facts to me. When I picked up this Bible I cried because I finally found what I was looking for. Every few pages they discuss questions that many women ask and may not feel open to asking other Christians. - such as being a childless, career oriented woman or dealing with judgemental Christians. I felt that the devotional scripture was written for me and that is how the Bible should be to you. It is in an easy to read translation for quick reference and the font is a comfortable size. I wish more women knew about this bible and perhaps they will stop buying devotional versions that tell them what to do and keep them in a pretty little cage. I highly recommend this to women - young and old! God Bless