Review of Suzanne McNeil's Zentangle Books

I'll attempt to avoid subjective criticism in my reviews, which means I won't tell you if I like or dislike an item. The point isn't whether I like something, but whether you will.  I'll try to give information that will help you decide.  If you want more information yet, Wendy T Gibson has also reviewed the books in her blog, Craft Dinner.

Suzanne McNeil has two zentangle books available at Design Originals.  There is some overlap in both the tangles and the information. I've listed what each book contains, so you can see what is offered in each. The overlapping detail is presented somewhat differently with more detail on some items in one than in the other.

Some of the tangles shown are official zentangle designs, and some are her own originals. She does show variations of some tangles and her version of Printemps is different from the pattern I know, so you may get ideas even on patterns you are familiar with (I've noted which tangles have variations in the list).

Description throughout is minimal, but clear.


Zentangle Basics
Size: 8.5 x 11
Pages: 19
Portability: Too large for most purses, but it would fit into a PeeChee folder or briefcase.
Content:
Introduction to zentangle
What is needed
How to start
Shading your Zentangle
What you learn from zentangles
Finding patterns around you
How to use Alphabet & Numbers
Ideas

Tangle Patterns
(An * indicates an original zentangle pattern.)

Moon Walk
Printemps*
Hollibaugh *
Lightning Bolt
Chartz (adaptation)
Waves
Nightsbridge* w/variation
Tagh*
Chevron (a variation of Jonqal*)
Tufts (a variation of Chillon*)
Fence w/variation
Connectors (a variation of Cadent*)
W2*
Flying Geese
Web
Flukes*
Cross Stitch
Keeko*
Squares
Growth
Cubine*
Corn Rows
Swirls
Queen’s Crown w/variation
King’s Crown w/variation
---------------------------
Zentangle 2
Size: 8.5 x 11
Pages: 19
Portability: Too large for most purses, but it would fit into a PeeChee folder or briefcase.
Content:
Introduction to zentangle
What is needed
How to start
Shading your Zentangle
Design tips
Finding patterns around you (expanded slightly from Basic)
How to use Alphabet (expanded slightly from Basic)
Ideas (some repetition, some expansion)

Tangle Patterns An * indicates an original zentangle pattern.)

Moon Walk
Printemps*
Hollibaugh*
Lightning Bolt
Pillows
Teardrops
Stonework
Mosaic
Stacks
Fans
Netting
Bundles
Knitting
Feathers w/variation
Triangles w/variation
Up and Across
Woven
Black Eyed Peas
Link to Link
Hot Dogs
Diagonals
Pinwheels
Black Box
Beelight*
Jonqal*
Peaks Border
Wavy Border
Zig Zag Border
Seaweed Border
Grass Border
Crown Border