Gene (3rd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Good content, just presented poorly
Review: (Please note that I'm referring to the first edition of this book.) I have to agree with other reviewers who have been horrified by the sloppy presentation of this book. Our girl Gene deserves much, much better. I can only hope the second edition has addressed the poor copy editing and color photography of the first. The information, however, is valuable and informative for the Gene collector. Therefore, I consider it a "MUST HAVE" item for my bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: Gene Marshall deserves MUCH better.
Review:
Gene, the book, showed a lot of promise. The first book published on the popular fashion doll, collectors were excited -- indeed a bit crazed -- waiting for the "definitive" guide to their idol, Gene Marshall. What a disappointment. Although the book appears to have been fairly well researched and includes lots of tidbits concerning the doll's origins from first concept to finished product, so much more could have been done and said.

However, what is really unforgivable is the sloppy presentation of the book. What a shame, too. Poorly designed and poorly printed, it's a horror for the eye to read. Why didn't someone hire a professional graphic designer to put this book together!?!? Printing errors abound such as severe color varations and overprinting. For example, the colors on one of the pictured costumes, Gold Sensation, vary from a lemon-yellow to a deep orange-gold from one photo to the next -- photos that had been laid out right next to each other on the page! Graphic layout of the book was also very poor with additional sophomoric mistakes -- literally dozens of spelling errors, typographical, and grammatical mistakes -- that lead one to believe that the book had been slapped together moments before going to press. Even costumes, such as "Pink Lightning", failed to catch the proofer's eye, being misspelled as "Pink Lightening" throughout the book. It doesn't take a professional to figure out that these kinds of mistakes could have -- should have -- been caught before publishing. A really poor effort for such a proud subject; surely Gene Marshall deserves better.

For a beginning Gene collector the book MIGHT be a good reference, but you might want to WAIT for another book to be released (or, perhaps, a corrected second-printing of this book). Better yet, research Gene online and find out even more from the thousands of great Gene collectors out there.

Rating:
Summary: Gene Book--Worth the Wait
Review: Fantastic! Worth the wait! Great photos, a lot of information not available to the average collector. This book is a godsend for Gene fans.

Rating:
Summary: Best Yet
Review: I've read these reviews only to realize that most are about the first and second editions of this book. The third edition is now out and is not only informative, but very stylish. It gives all the latest on Gene, Trent, and a sneak peek at Violet who I'm sure will get more coverage in the next revision. I encourage any Gene lover to update their library with this beautiful 3rd edition.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent in every way-including photos and design!
Review: If you are a lover of Gene, then this book is a must for you. The photographs of the dolls and outfits are just wonderful. This book is filled with Gene 'trivia' and terrific profiles of all the people responsible for Gene. I would highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: Truly a collector's dream come true
Review: The story of Gene is like a fantasy for the adult collector. I've now invested a lot into Gene and have seen the rewards of my purchases increase in value already! This book, which has my first and favorite Gene doll on the cover, "Red Venus," dramatically describe's designer Mel's journey as well as those of the many dress designers'. The photos are gorgeous, and the stories make a collector like myself glad doll designers are out there! I must admit, I first got into Gene because I am a Scarlett O'Hara doll fan, and "Red Venus" looks like Scarlett O'Hara. I quickly acquired other dolls as my knowledge increased. Collecting is truly better than any savings account I know, since the value increases rapidly! Of course, would we ever sell our beauties?

Rating:
Summary: Best Yet
Review: This is a great book! The pictures are stunning! As is the description and time line of most every outfit and doll. I hope they come out with this sort of book every year. Or at least do another one starting with where they left off!