Books!!...on buying

After reading last several posts, I'm sure everyone feels as though my interest only lie in Gothic music and Victorian Fashion, but that is not exactly the case. I have healthy dose of other interests, one of it being books. I like reading, but I also like buying...being in possession of books.

The problem is, I don't want to pay through my nose. Of course, for certain books such as ones involving beautiful artwork or photography, I would buy brand new, but for certain others, I don't care as much.

For those who like to do thrift book shopping...
I found few sites that I'm sure you already know about to help out on your purchasing.
This is on top of what you might probably browse in bookstores and buying at the spur of the moment. ;)


Fetchbook

Pros: This sites is like google equivalent in terms of book price searching. It goes through bunch of online booksellers and lists them by their selling price so you can get the lowest price on any book, new or used.
Cons: They don't really have browsing capability
http://www.fetchbook.info
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Half.com

Off shoot of Ebay. Used books as well as brand new. You don't have to bid for it.
Pros:You can put books on wishlist that notifies you when that book is listed at certain price and certain condition so afterwards you can go purchase. Pre-order also does this, but it automatically purchases the book for you at the price and condition without you having to go do it after.
Also sells DVD, CD, and other stuff
Cons:Browsing/book info is not so great
http://www.half.com
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a1books

Similar to Half.com. This place seems to have generally lower price than half.com, but their browsing and searching is worse than half.com
http://www.a1books.com
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Amazon.com

I have to mention Amazon since it is truly the most wonderful book seller. They got gozillions of information, review, etc. on books for those who loves to browse. I normally go here to get all info on books I want to buy. If you are buying books new then this is perhaps one of the best site. It offers sometimes free shipping.

I often read the lists made by people who has certain interests in common (such as gothic music, fashion book recommendations, All about Gypsies etc.). Find a book you like and try to get other ones in similar nature.

They have this great feature where you can do a purchase on rare, out of order books and they will find it for you! I've purchased several out of print books from here which they found from somewhere I don't even know!

They also have Marketplace where you can purchase used books. Usually these are little more expensive than half.com, but sometimes you get good deals.

They also provide alerts for any new books by certain author.

http://www.amazon.com

CORSETS!

As you know, I've been trying to make myself a Victorian Bustle dress. What I forgot completely is the corset that has to go with one of those. Instead of making one myself...with truly victorian patterns an dother pattern places, I know some of you might be interested in making it yourself, but...I decided to forego the pain and buy one. SUrprisingly, there are some affordable corset places out there.

Very affordable corsets!:

Axfords
http://www.axfords.co.uk/Site/index.cfm

Gallery serpentine
(These are in Australia dollars...very low compared to US dollar)
http://www.galleryserpentine.com/overbust%20corsets.html?


Other sites:

exquisite restraint
http://www.exquisiterestraint.com/FRAMES/template.html

Lady Maeve's Closet
http://www.ladymaevescloset.com/index.asp

Black Rose.co.uk
http://www.blackroseclothes.com/index.php?br=Corsets

Meschants
http://www.meschantes.com

Odds and Ends
I guess I can't always be organized and delve into on in-depth category per post, so here are few odds and ends I discovered while surfing for various things...

Collide: My current favorite gothic band
The lead singer has wonderful voice with cool mixing producer.
Collide.net

Buy some of their music and make me little money? :) Click on the link and it will give me little commision...
Beneath the Skin
Chasing Ghost
Some kind of strange


Another gothic clothing site:
http://www.kambriel.com/catalogue.html


Mail Order costuming resources:
If you are like me who hate to actively go out in search of things...
http://costume.dm.net/mailorder.html


Underground/Gothic place where you can get oddsAnother gothic clothing site:
You can get some really cool mixed CDs and stuff for cheap price...
http://www.projekt.com/projekt/sale.asp


Gothic Beauty Magazine:
All you wanted to know about gothic beauty secrets. Sounds like an interesting stuff. I ordered few from the above link!!
http://www.projekt.com/projekt/sale.asp


More on history:
This is brief summaries of important info on different historical eras...
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/explore.html


Wanted to be historical romance writer?
Okay...so the confession comes out. I love historical romance, what can I say? Here's some cool resources you might want to check out if you want to be one.
http://www.literary-liaisons.com/articleshome.html

Few Goth CD Reviews

Recently I've purchased several supposedly "Goth" music CDs...without checking them out first, based on another's review. I know it's a bold move, but surprisingly, it's cool to sometimes discover something through blind trust. :)

1. Treasure (by Cocteau Twins)
Sort of Airy, light, few slow, but sort of ethereal sounds of female voices...not exactly dark, but still likeable.

2. Cold (by Lycia)
Dark, very slow, little voices and mostly instrumental. I didn't quite like it as much since it sounded like something you'd constantly here in a vampire B-movie.

3. Annwyn, Beneath The Waves (by Faith & The Muse)
Definitely much lively, more industrial with cool male and female voices. Something you would hear in both dark wave or industrial gothic clubs. I quite liked this one.

4. Chimera (by Delerium)
I really liked the album "Karma" by Delerium so I purchased this one, but this one is more acid jazzy than gothy. Still likeable, but if you are looking for dark music, not a good choice.

5. Duality (by Die Form)
Definitely goth club music. I think I heard several on this album there. Dark, slow and fast, great voicing. Very likeable.

Brain anyone?

I guess my fascination about the "Brain" is not a recently developed interest, but since I am hoping to dedicate many years of my life into the study of it, I've become little more obsessed with the current research.

So what is it about brain that is so fascinating?
I am not quite sure except that I think it is a black box that everyone has been trying to open, but has only managed to peak into through series of holes.
Currently, we are able to scan various elements of brain, using MRI, fMRI, PET...numerous technologies are out there. And of course when you can picture brain like that, obviously, we want to be able go see further...there comes brain imaging, then further analysis into other data correlation...so the list goes on...


If you are interested in checking out, Here are some sites of interest:

University of Washington Structural Informatics Group

Dr. Paul Thompson's Research

UCLA LONI (Laboratory of Neuro Imaging)

I had this obsession with Victorian Bustle gowns as long as I can remember so I earnestly began a quest. If you found yourself drooling after taffeta gowns in Interview with the Vampire or in Dracula, you would understand my obsession. Of course, actually getting one is not an easy task. There are many, many sites out there that does custom reproductions and also sell ready-made gowns, but usually they are either too expensive, and materials are not to my liking.

I wanted a slightly different version of that Red Victorian dress from the movie "Bram Stoker's Dracula" in Dark red silk.

I decided on the course of making one myself...

Whether you are simply curious, wanting a dress and purchasing or making one for yourself, below links might be of some help...

Timeline of Costume History: Bit of History...
http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/timelinepages/1880s1.htm

If you are looking to make a dress for yourself...

Truly Victorian patterns: If you want some history AND most wonderful patterns. They are the easiest yet most greatest patterns you can obtain
http://trulyvictorian.netfirms.com/1883.html

Great costumer's shop online:
They have supplies, patterns, advices...
http://www.alteryears.com

If you have money...

Specializing in selling authentic antique Victorian Bustle dress:
http://www.bustledress.com

If you are maybe interested in purchasing the reproduction gowns...

Silk and Velvets:
Beautiful romantic gowns on top of Victorian
http://www.yosa.com/catalog.html
Gothic Victorian Gown Site:
http://www.renaissancedress.com/gothicvictoriangown.htm
Victorian Vanities:
http://www.nehelenia-designs.com/Ye_Olde_Online_Shoppe/Victorian_Vanities_/victorian_vanities_.html
Recollections:
http://recollections.biz/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=R&Category_Code=BG
Kindred Spirits: Do you want a Victorian Wedding?
http://www.bridal-originals.co.uk/index.html

Glimps into the Past, The real letters from Victoria...

I'm always writing...which means, I always have to research something weirdly specific about certain era. While I was trying to find out exactly how long it took to travel from near India to London during the late Victorian era (around 1880s I believe), I found a fascinating website where you can read actual letters written by one Victorian era lady who has done the exact travel, a personal account.

http://www.barnardf.demon.co.uk

I did a bit further inquiry into the matter. I actually wrote to the person who owns the website and he has graciously told me about other sites of note...all very fascinating.

*Other site containing actual letters:
http://www.enicholl.com/family/letters.htm

*If Victorian era India is of special interest, Passage to India:
http://users.synflux.com.au/~sylcec/index.htm

*Everything about Victorian era:
http://victorianresearch.org

Of course, there's scores of other things to talk about Victorian era...the fashion for one.

That's for later...