Meticulous reproduction of the now-rare catalog — originally issued in 1887 — includes 1;500 detailed drawings of floor plans; elevations; perspective views; architectural details; and interior ornamentation; designs for villas; farmhouses; town and country places; barns; and city brick block houses; and fine-lined illustrations of windows; eaves; and other architectural elements.
#1620061 in eBooks 2013-01-18 2013-01-18File Name: B00A73J05G
Review
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful. Curious ReviewBy obubblesChristopher John Francis Boone is a fifteen year old boy who lives with his father; loves animals; and doesnt understand human emotions-including his own. With help he has learned what makes him feel :) good; like orange crush and licorice laces; and Toby his rat and starring up at the stars at night. And he knows what makes him feel :( bad; like new places; people; too much information; or anyone touching him. But he doesnt understand a lot of the faces that Siobhan from school shows him or Mr. Jeavons the school psychiatrist asks him about. Christopher is different from a lot of other teenage boys and he goes to a special kind of school with other special students. He doesnt like to be compared to them because he thinks a lot of them are stupid; but hes not allowed to use that word or call them that according to what his mother used to say or Siobhan at school; hes supposed to say they have learning difficulties or that they have special needs (but thats stupid too because everyone has learning difficulties). But it is his book so he can write what he wants in it. Hes keeping this book for his investigation. Hes investigating like Sherlock Holmes and he is investigating a murder. There was a murder on his street of Wellington the big poodle at Mrs. Shears house; which is right down the street from his house and Mrs. Shears is a friend of theirs and so was Wellington because Christopher likes dogs. The Police and Siobhan says that killing a dog isnt the same thing as killing a human and they dont investigate or search as hard for things like that because it isnt a human; but Christopher liked Wellington and he thinks dogs are just a good as humans; in fact he likes them more.This is a book written from the first-person point of view of a fifteen year old boy with autism and a very good understanding of facts and numbers (maths). He focuses and relies on the here and now; the real things of this world; and math problems. He doesnt like idioms; similes; metaphors; slang; or imagination. Facts are much more preferred; thank you. The book starts on the night that he finds Wellington skewered with a garden fork on Mrs. Shears front lawn; an event that he is later blamed and questioned about. He determines that he has to find out who murdered Wellington and the life that he thought he knew and was comfortable with swiftly begins to unravel. For a boy who doesnt understand human emotions a lot of events puzzle him and he has a hard time coping and understanding why some people do and choose the things that they do; its not logical; even if it is human.Mark Haddon does a remarkable job at capturing the mindset and ideas of an individual with autism and expressing it in a way readers can relate to. This book illustrates how some mindsets can be different. Where some individuals focus on feelings; others enjoy literature; and still others are focused on numbers and facts; things that are measurable and recordable; like Christopher. Sometimes different mindsets make certain things easy for individuals to understand while other topics and ideas are alien and something that makes ones head spin. This is a tale of murder; mystery; a hidden past; and an unsure future of a boy who likes to deal in absolutes and certainties. But all it takes is one variable in the equation to change for the outcome be to a different world entirely.Overall this book is really well-written and an interesting read. Highly recommended for those working with individuals with autism or other neo-neurological learning disabilities. Also a good read for those looking for different perspectives or books that make you question the writer/reporters point of view.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A true gift from Mark HaddonBy Sharyn L. FlanaganI read this as a part of "One Book; One Philadelphia" series and applaud this pick. Mark Haddon s writing bring main character Christopher John Francis Boone and his circuitous mind into colorful existence beyond the book. The first-person narrative shows a high-functioning 15-year-old with obvious behavioral issues deal with everyday things such as meeting new people; doing new things and commuting in an almost painful way. As a reader I wanted to reach out; fan my fingers and befriend Christopher so that I could help and protect him. My 12-year-old daughter also read and enjoyed it and we saw different things to like in Haddons mystery novel. Thats a big plus in my reading household. I highly recommend this book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This is a Keeper!By BookWomanThere are books that you read to pass the time. There are others that you buckle down and wade through with much effort. This elegant book by Mark Haddon is neither of those. Luminous in its spare prose; deep in empathy and lively in the way it gets you to examine thinking; people and life via the world of a bright autistic boy...this is a book to be kept; reread; cherished. It is immediately engaging and once begun; hard to put down. There are delightful whimsical touches; throughout. What other book numbers its chapters in ascending prime numbers?! Yet it also touches that tender and easily bruised center we all carry inside. Go with Christopher on his mystery adventure. Its about much more than the dog.