Added by: ninasimeo | Karma: 4370.39 | Fiction literature | 17 April 2010
2
The Gambler brilliantly captures the strangely powerful compulsion to bet that Dostoevsky, himself a compulsive gambler, knew so well. The hero rides an emotional roller coaster between exhilaration and despair, and secondary characters such as the Grandmother, who throws much of her fortune away at the gaming tables, are unforgettable.
Added by: susan6th | Karma: 3133.45 | Fiction literature | 16 April 2010
4
The Spirit Gate
I stopped reading Sword and Fantasy books years ago because they all felt like retreads. This is completely different from the "same old, same old" trilogies that line the shelves. It's an excellent book, full of vivid characters who are human in many ways but from a really alien set of cultures. (One of the most interesting parts of the book is the way she introduces you through the different characters to the different cultures that share this world.) As in 24, people die unexpectedly, minor characters grow in prominence, and there's a new adventure around every corner.
Character Costume Figure Drawing will develop your drawing skills to improve your renderings. Not only is this book gorgeous and inspirational, but these comprehensive visual images carefully illustrate--step-by-step--how to successfully render dynamic characters with personality and life. This book presents drawing instruction with detailed breakdowns of various types of characters. Hats, props, fabrics, and choice of medium are all thoroughly covered to ensure the ability to develop convincing lifelike characters.
Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare's play "Hamlet"--or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's players perform. As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters, villainy, and drama. "A fast-moving historical novel that introduces an important era with casual familiarity." --School Library Journal, starred review
In this guide, award-winning author Nancy Kress explores the crucial relationship between characterization and plot, illustrating how vibrant, well-constructed characters act as the driving force behind an exceptional story. In teaching writers the fundamentals of creating characters that will keep their readers spellbound, Kress utilizes: * Dozens of excerpts from well-known fiction
