Product Description
Tips on stance, grip, and swing are combined with the official rules of the US Croquet Association to create the complete guide to this enjoyable game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

croquet basics
this is a great beginner croquet book; the basics are explained easily and clearly. i ordered 70 of them for a croquet tournament. the delivery was early which was great and i am giving the books to the tournament players to take back home and give to their own beginner players! a great way to spread the word!

A must have rule book.
I hadn't played the game of croquet since I was a child. When I purchaseda set, I decided that the small pamphlet that came with the set, did notanswer all my questions on the sport. I wanted one book with good courtset-up diagrams, rules for various games one can play in croquet,a glossaryof terms, and perhaps some tips on techniques. I found all of this and morein Mr. Boga's book.In typical instruction books, Iusually skip the"history of" chapter and get right to the "meat" of thebook. I read, and finished,this chapter before realizing it. It offeredsome interesting tidbits that I now regal my family with in-between wacksof my mallet. This is a wonderful book for a returning croquet playerlike me who had forgottenjust about every aspect of the game, except forthe thrill of sending an opponent's ball off. For those who already have agood grap of the basics, it has additional chapters on strategy, winningthe mental game, and getting better.One last bonus of this book is it'ssmall size. It is quite easy to whip out and reference when there is adisagreement on the official rules of the game. ... Read more

Product Description
Including books, pamphlets, periodicals, catalogs, trading cards, newspapers, photographs, postcards, scrapbooks, art prints, and advertisements, this subject bibliography of 679 references to croquet is based on the collection of varied material assembled by the late Dr. Rendell Rhoades, Professor of Biology at Ashland University, OH. The resulting collection encompasses the role croquet has played in literature, in biography, in art and music, in manufacturing and advertising, and in the attendant publicity. With an index of joint authors, pseudonyms, illustrators, and other pertinent information; and a chronological list of books on croquet compiled by Dr. R.W. Bray, Member of the British Croquet Association. ... Read more

Product Description
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

Part fairy tale, part mystery, part coming-of-age novel, this novel tells the story of Isobel Fairfax, a girl growing up in Lythe, a typical 1960s British suburb. But Lythe was once the heart of an Elizabethan feudal estate and home to a young English tutor named William Shakespeare, and as Isobel investigates the strange history of her family, her neighbors, and her village, she occasionally gets caught in Shakespearean time warps. Meanwhile, she gets closer to the shocking truths about her missing mother, her war-hero father, and the hidden lives of her close friends and classmates. A stunning feat of imagination and storytelling, Human Croquet is rich with the disappointments and possibilities every family shares.
Amazon.com Review
Human Croquet is a game in which some people act as hoopswhile others propel a blindfolded "ball" around thecourse. Though the game is never actually played in Kate Atkinson'sremarkable novel, Human Croquet, the parallels between plot andpastime are undeniable. Atkinson, winner of the 1995 Whitbread Awardin Britain, tells the story of Isobel Fairfax and her older brother,Charles. The children's parents vanished when they were young, leavingthem to the care of their grandmother, now dead, and their AuntVinny. Recently their father has returned with "theDebbie-wife" in tow, and they all live in Arden, the family'sancestral home built on the foundations of the original manor housethat burned to the ground in 1605. According to family legend, thefirst Fairfax took a wife who mysteriously disappeared one day, leaving in her wake acurse on the Fairfax name. More than 300 years later, Fairfaxdescendants are still struggling with this painful legacy.

Atkinson's novel is obviously not rooted in dull reality. NarratorIsobel has an uncanny knowledge of past and future events; Charles isobsessed with the concept of parallel universes and time travel; and afaery curse hangs over everybody. Fortunately, Kate Atkinson is amasterful writer who manages to keep her world of wonders in check.Human Croquet is no ordinary novel, and readers who ventureinto the Fairfax universe are in for a magical ride. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Boring
Kate Atkinson has the potential to be a great story teller.The plot of this book was unique and interesting and I liked how she brought it all together near the end.The story had many areas that just dragged on and on and on.She spent extreme amounts of time focusing on insignificant details.There was one section of the book (about 50 pages) that was execeptional and I wanted to continue reading.If she could keep the momentum going throughout the book I would definitely be a fan.

Patchy writing, scattered story
I wouldn't recommend this book.Although I like the author's language and writing in general, this book did not live up to its promise.The story plods along and then skips suddenly somewhere else, and somewhere else again.I liked Emotionally Weird very much, though, and look forward to her other books.

Not a favorite
I really liked "Case Histories" and was quite excited about starting this one. I am not the type of reader that only likes linear, neat storylines. Far from it. In fact, I like the challenge of a non-traditional novel, but this one didn't work for me. I liked parts of it quite a bit. Atkinson's sense of humor is really funny. Some of the dream sequences were interesting and well-developed. But, as a whole, the book just didn't work for me. I felt like it's unfinished and in real need of some editing, particularly all the run-ons and comma splices. As an English teacher, these really annoyed me, and made me want to bring out my grading pen! But, it's really the shifting narrators that bothered me. I don't think the story came together in any logical way. So, I can't say I recommend this one.

Didn't even finish the book
Although I normally enjoy Kate Atkinson's books, I didn't like this one.It goes back and forth between dreams and reality and it is hard to tell which is which.I didn't even finish reading the book, although, I must admit, I did read the last chapter.

Amazing and Absorbing
I found myself overwhelmed by this story and atmosphere in which it was told.Every now and then I had to just stop reading and absorb the newest information.Kate Atkinson's writing is multidimensional and stunning, as she interwove times, people, and plots so that they were overlaid upon each other...yet not.I am amazed that anyone can write like this.Now I will have to re-read the book to understand what was "really" happening.And I cannot see the final pages as an ending with "too much reality" because I'm asking myself 'is that how it really ended?' or how Isobel wanted it to end? ... Read more

Product Description
Croquet is back! Once again, its popularity is exploding and Croquet captures its charm, with the fine points of playing and entertaining. 75 full-color photographs and 35 black-and-white drawings. ... Read more

Product Description
Few people have attempted to write about croquet, and those who have done so have written for either the complete novice or the expert. This left a huge gape of knowledge for the average club players to find out for themselves.

In the early 90's John Riches began a series of booklets that have aimed to fill this void.

This book has brought together and updated these writings so that they are in accordance with the modern practices.

Anyone who has any interest in croquet will find this a fascinating collection, and a must for their personal library! ... Read more

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Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

They don't make 'em like this anymore
I give five stars to "The Croquet Player" by HG Wells not only because it is one of his better, more symbolically controlled works, but because of its overall modern styling & texture. In a mere novella, Wells is able to build up a powerful character analysis that still has far-reaching implications to Western Civilization. Of course, much of the finesse of the narrative is in its openness of interpretation. When I read this book, I think of Orson Welles directing the action in his high, sinister style. The narrative is framed by a man in his thirties whose life has been shaped by his single aunt's wealth. They are excellent croquet players, & live a life of ease. One day meets a man on a terrace, a man with an unusual story. From there it gets more & more intense--& then another man appears--& suddenly answers & questions become indistinguishable! The role of croquet is skillfully understated yet poignant, culminating in more than an evening's worth of introspection/discussion. One of the better writings of Wells', challenging any living writer to express timeless ideas so artistically & succinctly. Plus, for the time investment, this book gives a thousand times back in stimulation! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Croquet strategy
The book is a modern and up to date coverage of a long established traditional sport.

The information is well presented and readily usable by croquet players of all level, from absolute beginners to advanced international standard players.All should gain useful information from the book.

There are also useful comments on the present state of the game and possible future developments ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
This reproduction was printed from a digital file created at the Library of Congress as part of an extensive scanning effort started with a generous donation from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.The Library is pleased to offer much of its public domain holdings free of charge online and at a modest price in this printed format.Seeing these older volumes from our collections rediscovered by new generations of readers renews our own passion for books and scholarship. ... Read more

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Product Description
The Know the Game series is firmly established as the leading introduction toa huge range of sports. For 50 years they have been the first step intoa new sport for many people, children and adults alike. The series hasnow been relaunched in a new format with a modern design - making the best even better. The aim has been to make the books more accessible, and they are now packed with colour photos andillustrations, top tips and interesting facts. Each book containseverything you need to know about the sport, including equipment,rules, techniques and training tips. There's even information on how tofind a club and meet new people to play the sport with. And having beenwritten and endorsed by the sport's professional body, you can be sure that you are getting the best information available. ... Read more