The true story of thirteen women who took a risk on an expensive diamond necklace and, in the process, changed not only themselves but a community.
Four years ago, in Ventura, California, Jonell McLain saw a diamond necklace in a local jewelry store display window. The necklace aroused desire first, then a provocative question: Why are personal luxuries so plentiful yet accessible to so few? What if we shared what we desired? Several weeks, dozens of phone calls, and a leap of faith later, Jonell bought the necklace with twelve other women, with the goal of sharing it.
Part charm, part metaphor, part mirror, the necklace weaves in and out of each woman’s life, reflecting her past, defining her present, making promises for her future. Lending sparkle in surprising and unexpected ways, the necklace comes to mean something dramatically different to each of the thirteen women. With vastly dissimilar histories and lives, the women show us how they transcended their individual personalities and politics to join together in an uncommon journey. What started as a quirky social experiment became something far richer and deeper, as the women transformed a symbol of exclusivity into a symbol of inclusiveness. They discovered that sharing the necklace among themselves was only the beginning; The more they shared with others, the more profound this experience–and experiment–became.
Original, resonant, and beautifully told, this book is an inspiring story about a necklace that became greater than the sum of its links, and about thirteen ordinary women who understood the power of possibility, who touched the lives of a community, and who together created one extraordinary experience.
REVIEW
Heartwarming This book tells the true story of a group of women who threw in money in order to buy a lavish diamond necklace, which they agreed to pass around to each other.
Jonell was the brains behind the idea. She fell in love with the necklace in a jewelry store window and started to question why things that we love are so expensive, and why only a few can buy fancy jewelry. She decided to work out an inventive time-share program with other women she knew.
At first many of the women were reluctant. They thought sharing a necklace would never work. Some of their husbands gave them a hard time about spending over a thousand dollars on something they wouldn't actually own. Some of the women were uncomfortable entering such a close relationship with others they barely knew.
After just a few months of passing the necklace around at group dinners, though, the women realized that not only was the sharing of the necklace working brilliantly, but they got more out of the group dynamics than any of them ever could have expected.
I liked that this was a true story of women who realized that companionship was an important part of life that they had been missing. As members of this group, they were able to grow in different ways than they had been able to before, and taking part in ownership of the necklace allowed them to do more in the community than they had expected.
This book was a bit simplistic, with a chapter devoted to each of the women involved in the necklace share. I only felt a surface connection to each of the women, and thought maybe the story could have been told with more depth if just one of the women had been the focus of the story, and the necklace's history had been explored through her viewpoint. Overall, though, the story itself was heartwarming and inspirational.
More artists make necklaces than any other form of jewelry—and these pieces are among the most exquisite ever created. Selected from over 5,000 entries, they range from unique chokers to artful collars. Some showcase precious metals and gems, while others use more unusual materials, including plastic, wood, paper, and glass. They’re forged, cast, and woven, and have surface embellishments that run the gamut from inlay to enameling. And the variety is simply astonishing: Classic bejeweled chains appear next to avant-garde felted wool constructions. Some of the eye-catching, full-color images feature enlightening quotes from the creators themselves. Jewelers, students, collectors, and anyone who loves beautiful objects will treasure this extensive collection—the largest of its kind.
REVIEW
Could Have Been Great, But Falls Short With way more than 500 amazing necklaces out there in the world that could have been in this book, it's frustrating to have some of the pages dedicated to what would better be described as "scarves" or to see the redundancy of including many similar pieces by the same artists (for example, one piece from the "Guarded Gestures" series would have been enough). While I don't expect everything to be wearable, I would have thought the editors would have narrowed their definition of "necklace" to exclude a 2.5-meter arrangement of rocks on the ground. Overall, it's a good picture book with some amazing pieces, but it could have been better.
An exciting, romantic novel set against the feverish backdrop of the French Revolution.
Clever and head-turningly attractive, fourteen-yearold Yann is an orphan who has been raised in Paris by Têtu, a dwarf with secrets he has yet to reveal to the gypsy boy. It’s the winter of 1789, and the duo have been working for a vain magician named Topolain. On the night when Topolain’s vanity brings his own death, Yann’s life truly begins. That’s the night he meets shy Sido, an heiress with an ice-cold father, a young girl who has only known loneliness until now. Though they have the shortest of conversations, an attachment is born that will influence both their paths.
And what paths those will be! Revolution is afoot in France, and Sido is being used as a pawn. Only Yann will dare to rescue her, and he’ll be up against a fearful villain who goes by the name Count Kalliovski, but who has often been called the devil. It’ll take all of Yann’s newly discovered talent to unravel the mysteries of his past and Sido’s and to fight the devilish count.
As in the award-winning I, Coriander, Sally Gardner has masterfully combined the historical and the fantastical in this sumptuous, riveting adventure.
REVIEW
Completely captivating Oh, the joy of discovering a truly captivating and original story! I am full of total love and adoration for this book. Never mind the cover -- this is not a prissy hairstyle book. It is a menacing and magical story set in Paris and London during the Reign of Terror. The characters are Yann, an orphaned gypsy boy who uses his unusual magical gifts reading minds and making an automaton speak in a third-rate theater; and Sidonie, a motherless and unloved aristocratic girl locked away in an opulent chateau filled with secret passageways. One frigid and fateful night, the magician Yann works for is summoned to perform at the chateau. A murder is committed, and lives interlace. A wonderful historical fantasy that plunges you deep in "the fictional dream" from start to finish. A chilling villain, and a beautifully wrought vision of the excesses of the French aristocracy and the nightmare they brought down on themselves. READ THIS.
Can a necklace hold the power to right a love gone wrong?
Five years ago Rafael, Duke of Sheffield, believed he was betrayed by the woman he loved and the pain haunts him still. When Rafe discovers that he was cruelly tricked, and that Danielle Duval was never unfaithful, he's desperate to win her back. But Dani is already on a steamer bound for America to marry another man. Impulsively, Rafe follows her and, trapping her in a compromising situation, quickly makes her his wife.
Promising her that with time he can prove his love and win her trust, Rafe presents her with a stunning necklace rumored to hold great power. As much as Dani wants to believe it can right the wrongs of the past, she fears there is one truth it cannot conceal, a truth that could cost her this second chance with Rafe, the only man she has ever loved . . .
REVIEW
A Second Chance At Love!!! Ms. Martin's last entry in the Bride Trilogy is not as strong as the others...but not as dismal as it could have been. This story seemed to lack the heart the previous titles offered. Still this was a nice regency romance a stand alone read if you've not read the previous titles in the series.
Five years earlier Rafe and Dani are engaged to be married. They are in love and all is right with the world until Rafe is lead to believe his Dani has been unfaithful. He finds her in a very delicate situation with another man. Crying off from the marriage, Rafe leaves Dani to face the gossips and to be shunned for her part in the escapade. She claims innocence but Rafe is to hurt to listen. Years later Rafe has learned that he has been duped. Dani had been telling the truth and he now vows to win his ladies heart back at all costs. He follows her across the Atlantic and keeps her from marrying an American...but at what cost? He has to resort to blackmail...he will do what he must because there is still a large attraction between them. Will he ever be able to win Danielle's heart for his own?
Danielle has lived the past five years in seclusion. She has been ruined in the eyes of society when Rafe ended their betrothal all those years ago. She is wants a happy ending more then her next breathe so she agrees to marry an American. She sets sail with her ladies maid and aunt for Philadelphia. There she hopes to have a fresh start with a happy ending. She is not prepared for Rafe's arrival and explanation. Or his need to have herat all costs. She agrees to marry him...but she will not love him again. At least she thinks she won't love him...but she can't forget how he makes her feel. When someone starts trying to kill them will they be able to sort out their feelings or will a killer manage to bring an end to their happy ending.
This was a push/pull romance and honestly it did start to wear a bit thin towards the end. Still Ms. Martin was able to create a wonderful secondary romance which was a pleasant addition to the story. Rafe and Dani were endearing characters but the vehicle in which Ms. Martin kept them separate did not allow for a believable romance. This was the weaker of the three stories but a fair addition to the series.
Here are eight gloriously imaginative stories for eight satisfying sessions of bedtime reading. There’s a flying apple pie, a cat that’s bigger than an elephant, a house that lays an egg, storybook animals that leap out of their books at night, and a wealth of other wonderful characters and ideas, all with the colorful, dreamlike quality of the very best fairy tales. Joan Aiken’s delicious prose is a joy to read aloud to very young listeners yet simple enough for the independent reader to savor on his or her own. Kevin Hawkes’s illustrations–nearly 60 of them–capture with great flair and fun the magical adventures and the triumph of the good over the bad.
REVIEW
A Necklace of Raindrops I happened upon this book once when I was in grade school. It made such an impression on me that I have searched for it ever since. It was a wonderful journey of exciting adventures. Making me feel like I had left my life behind and embarked on an incredible expedition. The fun and adventurous stories take the reader around the world. Fun and suspense are around every corner.
Nine memorable classics, characterized by ironic twists of plot, include "Ball of Fat," regarded by many as technically one of the finest short stories ever written, "The Necklace," "A Piece of String," "Mme. Tellier’s Establishment," "Mademoiselle Fifi," "Miss Harriet," "A Way to Wealth," "My Uncle Jules" and "The Horla."
REVIEW
This Guy isn't angry! The title story is one of the most popular stories I teach! My college students love the irony used to raise questions about where we place our values. The surprise ending always provokes the most animated discussions. "Angry guy" probably doesn't "get it." Most people do, and I know you will love reading this story and the others in the collection!
ReadHowYouWant publishes a wide variety of best selling books in Large and Super Large fonts in partnership with leading publishers. EasyRead books are available in 11pt and 13pt. type. EasyRead Large books are available in 16pt, 16pt Bold, and 18pt Bold type. EasyRead Super Large books are available in 20pt. Bold and 24pt. Bold Type. You choose the format that is right for you.
This is Volume Volume 1 of 2-Volume Set. To purchase the complete set, you will need to order the other volumes separately: to find them, search for the following ISBNs: 9781427065674
Books for All Kinds of ReadersReadHowYouWant offers the widest selection of on-demand, accessible format editions on the market today. Each edition has been optimized for maximum readability, using our patent-pending conversion technology. We are partnering with leading publishers around the globe to create accessible editions of their titles. Our goal is to have accessible editions simultaneously released with publishers' new books so that all readers can have access to the books they want to read-today. To find more books in your format visit www.readhowyouwant.com
To find more titles in your format, Search in Books using EasyRead and the size of the font that makes reading easier and more enjoyable for you.
• More than thirtyeasy, fun, rewarding projects • Gathered from the pages of America’s most respected beading magazine
Perhaps the easiest form of beading, making necklaces, may also be the most rewarding. Just a few basic tools and techniques can turn a handful of beads into a spectacular piece of jewelry! Now the editors of Bead&Button, America’s leading beading magazine, have made it even easier to create stunning necklaces. This collection gathers more than thirty of the finest necklace projects ever featured in the magazine. Editor-tested, beader-approved, these projects are sure to inspire many beautiful creations from crafters everywhere.
REVIEW
good necklace collection Even though I already have the projects in my magazine collection, still I find it much easier to have them all in one volume and these are the more outstanding projects also. Nine stringing projects, 16 stitching or beadweaving and six wirework. Each project is reprinted exactly as it was in the magazine. Since I think the best beadweaving is to be found in the pages of Bead and Button, then it makes sense for me to own their compilations.
Written in 1961 and now back in print, this classic and fascinating true crime story stars none other than Marie Antoinette. Four years before the French Revolution, some priceless diamonds were purchased in elaborate secrecy from a court jeweler. The jewels, not yet paid for, were delivered into the hands of the first Prelate of the Church of France. He, in turn, gave it to a countess who claimed to be acting for Marie Antoinette. Although essentially an innocent bystander, the Queen became embroiled in ascandal that fatally weakened the monarchy.
REVIEW
The Scam of the century In 1785 The Queen's Necklace scandal broke over France. Queen Marie Antoinette was alleged to have bought a diamond necklace worth over 1.6 million franks and refused to pay for it, and had Cardinal Prince Rohan, a long time courtier out of favour, arrested for it along with his accomplices the Countess de la Motte-Valois and the famous mystic Count Cagliostro.
This book is a series of fascinating first person accounts of how the necklace swindle occurred and the trial that followed it. Mostof the people involved in the scandal wrote their memoirs and virtually all the court related documentation is still available in France in archives. This book is a compilation of these memoirs and legal statements made by all the parties involved in this crime which opened the monarchy and France to the fury of the revolution.
The author does not impose her own interpretation of the events on the reader, but does provide explanations to the backgrounds of the people involved and the social and political niceties of the time that explain why people acted as they did.
This book is a lively account of this important French scandal that, because of the first person accounts, reads like a novel. If the story wasn't true it would be hard to credit such a cast of interesting characters, with their extravagant and wildly different backgrounds, coming together like this to play a crucial role in the downfall of the French Monarchy. Its also very interesting to compare this book to what is portrayed in the movie of the same name. There are a number of very significant differences!
Weetzie Bat wondered. When her relationship with Secret Agent Lover Man turns cold, the forty-year-old post-punk pixie packs up, jumps into her mint-green '65 Thunderbird, and leaves to take refuge in L.A.'s enchanted Pink Hotel—with its blue-skinned receptionist, invisible cleaning lady, seductive faun, and sushi-eating mermaid who gives Weetzie the first kiss that sets the wheel of self-discovery spinning madly in motion. Though she faces some very adult problems, anything is still possible in Weetzie's world—angels, magic . . . even true love.
REVIEW
Welcome back, Weetzie! A friend gave me a copy of "Weetzie Bat" in the late 90's and told me I must read it because I was very much Weetzie. Unsure what she meant, I took the book and devoured it in one brief sitting. Sincethen, I've read all the books in the "Dangerous Angels" series, as well as other non-Weetzie titles, and go back to them often. Block's word pictures and fantasy scapes thrill me to no end. Her imagery moves me.
I recently purchased "Necklace of Kisses" and was totally blown away by this book. After recently turning 40 myself, I found I could relate to Weetzie's search for self at the beginning of midlife. This book reinforced the truth that life doesn't end at 40...in some ways, it begins anew.
To anyone contemplating this book (especially those hip New Wave/punk grrls from the 80's who are turning 40 soon) please take a chance on it. It will show you that you can still be you as you are, no matter what age you may be.
