Help with a book recommendation please?

[elfmage]

I thought this would be better here than the book forum for specificity reasons, I apologise to the mods if I'm wrong!

Well, I'm just asking if anyone can recommend a good pictorial guide to crystals. I considered Melody's Love Is in the Earth - Mineralogical Pictorial: Treasures of the Earth (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0962819026/ref=pd_sim_b_2/002-8969582-1475222?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155), however several reviewers on Amazon have stated that the picture quality is rather poor.

I already have Judy Hall's Crystal Bible, and Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic, I'm just looking for something rather more comprehensive.

Any suggestions people? I appreciate it!

[elfmage]

On Amazon it says the "New Edition" (January 1994), but I don't know if the reviewers are referring to the new or old edition... Hmm, that's a thought.

So the pictures you saw were good quality, easy too identify, etc?

[SilverClaw]

Hmm Never had the chance to look at Melodys other books but the one I was going to suggest was http://www.comparebookprices.ca/book_detail/0962819034

and looking at the reviews now I am not sure what to think, but the reason I deleted my other post was i was thinking of the wrong book. Sorry about that. I could check tomorrow and see if the book you were talking about is around and have a look at the pictures.. and get back to you.

Ohh i just looked up Judy Hall's and I think I may have to go look for her stuff to sounds interesting what she has.

[elfmage]

Thank you very much for your input! :hugz:

[Wolfsong]

The pictures aren't that great in Melody's Book. There are other books like Gienger's Crystal Power Crystal Healing which has a bit better quality pictures but doesnt cover the variety Melody does. In this case it all depends on what you want more.. quantity or quality.

If you are just looking for a book to reference minerals there is The National Autubon Society's Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals but this is limited to North American rcoks and minerals. Another one would be Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals.

Personally I have all of Melody's books as well as several others by other writers. Whenever I travel to go rock collecting I always carry The National Autubon's Society's Field Guide with me cause its small and made to last and take a beating. The cover is plasic so it will even withstand a bit of rain. It's a great reference when rock collecting in North America. If I'm sitting around the house and trying to reference something the first book I go to is Melody's seeing her's covers more minerals, crystals and rocks than any other. If I cant find it in her book(s) or if the info is limited I will hit up the other books.

[elfmage]

Would you believe I didn't think about field guides until you mentioned it? :bigredblu I have an Australian minerals guide, but the pictures in it are absolutely terrible... I'll have to have a closer look around!

Thank you very much for kicking my brain back into gear!

[nouveaugoddess]

l have an excellent book for you , and it has amazing quality pictures
" crystal power , crystal healing. The complete handbook" by Michael Gienger....ISBN 0-7137-2677-6 published by cassell & co

[elfmage]

Had a look at that M. Gienger book, and it looks very very promising! ^_^

Thank you nouveaugoddess!

[business voodoo]

TThe National Autubon Society's Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals but this is limited to North American rcoks and minerals. Another one would be Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals.

i agree for pictures (and their quality of photographs) and the sheer number and variety ... then i use melody's non-picture encyclopedia for the other information ...

i like dorothy roeder's book, 'crystal co-creators' ... there's not too many crystals in there, and even fewer pictures ... but the information she brought in on the crystals she does cover is very pertinent at this time in our earthly evolution as it relates to crystals. i look at melody's book first and then see if dorothy has any supplemental info (if its in her book, she almost always has some supplemental info).

now ... if its crystal healing you want a book for ... that's a different story ...