Alvis Reviews

First, for those who are not familiar with Joyce Williams, let me offer my humble opinion that she is one of the most inventive knitters alive today. Joyce has an amazing ability to solve little nagging problems that have been deemed "unsolvable" by the greater universe of knitters. This book is chock full of these solutions.

The first 30-plus pages of the book concern techniques - including a nice write up Joyce's great two needle circular method (no more double pointed needles when knitting socks!!!) This part of the book is worth the price all by itself.

The bulk of the book are Joyce's designs for a variety of garments, most of which are knit in the fair isle or stranding tradition. These are gorgeous garments. One blessing/caveat -- I was lucky enough to participate in a showing of these garments at Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp and they are very heavy and warm. It's also important to note that Joyce deliberately leaves out needle sizes and yarn amounts for these patterns. Why? Because most of the sizing is accomplished by changing needles and guage. Her instructions on this are clear but the presentation is likely to be disconcerting for knitters who are used to conventional "blind following" of patterns.

The final segment of the book is a terrific collection of charts for stranded or textured knitting. This is where the "Latvian" aspect figures into the art. All of these patterns are based on Latvian weaving patterns. The result is nice group of charts (and resulting knitting) that strongly resembles it's Nordic "cousins" but has its own sort of spice.

Bottom-line: An absolute keeper for the technique and charts alone. Not recommended for novices or beginners who are heavily reliant on patterns. A wonderful addition for thinking knitters who miss Elizabeth Zimmermann's works.

And was not disappointed. Joyce Williams is a real artist and genius. She's adapted Latvian weaving designs to knitting and...so much more. She has the most innovative techniques for using modules of knitting, I-cord and colors. This is one of the most unique books on knitting, and it's very inspirational. It was worth the wait.

Latvian Dreams contains so much information for the thinking knitter that the reviewer's job is difficult. Should I concentrate on the innovative techniques Joyce Williams has come up with--I-cord variations, built-in hems, buttonholes with facings, and on and on? Or should I focus on the pages and pages of charts she painstakingly created from the Latvian originals? But I cannot leave out the garments themselves--sweaters, jackets, socks, vests--knit in a number of weights and showing the reader many ways to use the charts. This book is filled to overflowing with exciting and empowering techniques and ways of seeing (really seeing) the possibilities of knitting.

For all these reasons I am very impressed with this book. But most importantly, Joyce is one of those authors who inspires knitters to create their own designs. She lets us see how she combined elements to make her vision come alive, and then she gives us the information we need to plunge in ourselves. This is exactly what I look for in a knitting book--the "you can do it too" teacher with spirit, technical know-how, and humor.

I have found this book to be very informative, easy to read and comprehensive of all issues surrounding hair loss.

I would certainly recommend it to anyone.

Excellent book!!!

I find this book very well written, easy to read and informative.

There is nothing that it does not cover. It clearly tells you what you can do about your hair loss.

Excellent!!!

This winter break I went on a Shakespeare buying spree, and this book is one of the fine gems I found. A large, but fascinating book, this work of great scholarship and excitement takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Shakespeare, even into rather obscure corners of his works (Trollius and Cressida, Timon of Athens). This book is a must read for any would be deep thinker about Shakespeare.

Shakespeare as Political Thinker is a must for everyone interested in the political thought of William Shakespeare. This reprint will finally allow new comers to become familair with a commonsensical approach to Shakespeare's plays. The introductory chapter by John Alvis is worth the price. Perhaps the best Shakespearean critic alive, Alvis has an uncanny ability to show Shakespeare's moral seriousness without making the bard an unquestioning adherent to any political school or theological creed. Many of the essays that follow are also well done: Jaffa's chapter on Shakespeare's entire corpus, Laurence Berns' meditation on Lear etc.

The second printing of Shakespeare as Political Thinker gives hope to those interested in relearning ancient wisdom and pays tribute to its inspiration, Shakespeare's Politics (Allan Bloom).

This is the best book for the beginning electrical engineer or an embedded programmer trying to understand what is going on.It is clearly written and covers all of they important aspects. It is better than a book I recently paid for on this subject.

This brother has an excellent understanding of the emotional and mental makeup of Black men. For all those sistahs that believe men only want them for one thing, Mr. Davis and the men interviewed for this book disagree. The Black man is looking for love, just like you are, but due to his male socialization, puts more emphasis on sexual prowess than his ability to be a good husband and stable family man. A Black man will test you with plays and maneuvers that would be the envy of Michael Jordan! And if you think that sex is the way to get commitment, or that you can get what you want from a man by playing games, then you have important things to learn. You can get a Black man's heart and lifelong commitment if you know what to do, and how to do it. This book, read with an open mind, will show you the way.

This book received the 1997 Ohio Farm Bureau Women's Award for Children's Literature for books with an agricultural theme. It is a wonderful resource for teachers to include when they teach georgraphy, science, math and the language arts.

Cris Peterson and Alvis Upitis have done it again!! This book combines well-written text with gorgeous pictures. It shows the importance of draft horses in the early 20th century in agriculture in the United States. This should be in every primary classroom to show kids how far we have come in 100 years. Mrs. Peterson writes clearly and in simple language for children to understand tough concepts.

After narrowing my breed choice down to the Kuvasz, I purchased this book for more information. It's very informative and breed specific and the pictures are absolutely beautiful!

I highly recommend this book to any Kuvasz fancier and/or owner! There should be more books like it!

People say a lot about this magazine but they never mention how hilarious it is. I never laugh out loud reading books (OK maybe Confederacy of Dunces but that was when I was 13). I laughed out loud so hard reading their fashion section's dos and don'ts that I was embarassed. The cover price is worth it just for that section - but the rest is funny too.

I'm impressed with Dave Alvin's sensitivity and ability. He paints stark, clear images with his words and has a real knack for evoking emotions. His most touching poetry revolves around family members and coming of age issues. This book is obviously autobiographical. Be forewarned: Alvin uses the vernacular. Nonetheless, his poetry touches you. I read this slim volume in one sitting -- I literally could not put it down. The messages are worthwhile; the story is absorbing. Its a nice complement to his music, which also touches the listener.

First off, if you don't know Alvin's music, go get some now, as you are truly missing out.

This book of narrative poems present vivid and moving stories that are quick and never grow repetitive. You don't need a PHD to understand what it being said here by Dave Alvin and we would all be better off if this were the way more poetry was crafted.

The Crazy Ones, his new book, has been delayed for, what? 3 or 4 years now? Something outrageous and I have heard that Incommunicado has folded. I hope someone picks it up and releases soon.

Any Friend of Charles Bukowski 's is worth taking a look at. This work stands alone, Alvin has said what most can't.

One Great Read.

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