Amazon.com
Tess Uriza Holthe writes with a mixture of metaphor and fact, a combination of the supernatural and the all-too-real. When the Elephants Dance opens, in fact, with an apposite metaphor for a horrible reality: "Papa explains the war like this: 'When the elephants dance, the chickens must be careful.'" The elephants in question are the Americans and the Japanese, fighting for possession of the Philippines. The chickens are, of course, the ordinary Filipinos. Three of these "chickens" by turns tell us the story of the Japanese occupation as a small neighborhood near Manila literally goes underground, hiding in the cellar and swapping stories. Holthe takes her onus as a seminal Filipino voice seriously; she sometimes seems determined to cram every bit of tradition, history, and myth into her novel, to the detriment of the plot's propulsion. But readers who stay with her will be rewarded with an extraordinary display of historical color, and will certainly root for her three narrators. --Claire Dederer
Book Description
In the waning days of World War II, the Filipino people were caught between a brutal Japanese occupation and battling U.S. forces. In this compelling, incandescent novel, thirteen-year-old Alejandro Karangalan, his spirited older sister Isabelle, and Domingo, a passionate guerilla commander, narrate the story of the Karangalans-a family who huddle with their neighbors in the cellar of a house near Manila to wait out the war. In their crowded refuge, the group shares magical stories of Filipino myth and legend. Spellbinding, with a dazzling array of ghosts, witches, supernatural creatures, and courageous Filipinos from history, these tales transport the listeners and give them new resolve to survive.
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"Papa explains the war like this: 'When the elephants dance, the chickens must be careful.' The great beasts, as they circle one another, shaking the trees and trumpeting loudly, are the Amerikanos and the Japanese as they fight. And our Philippine Islands? We are the small chickens."
Once in a great while comes a storyteller who can illuminate worlds large and small, magical and true to life. When the Elephants Dance introduces us to the incandescent voice of Tess Uriza Holthe, who sets her remarkable first novel in the waning days of World War II, as the Japanese and the Americans engage in a fierce battle for possession of the Philippine Islands. The Karangalan family and their neighbors huddle for survival in the cellar of a house a few miles from Manila. Outside the safety of their little refuge the war rages on—fiery bombs torch the beautiful Filipino countryside, Japanese soldiers round up and interrogate innocent people, and from the hills guerillas wage a desperate campaign against the enemy. Inside the cellar, these men, women, and children put their hopes and dreams on hold as they wait out the war, only emerging to look for food, water, and medicine.
Through the eyes of three narrators, thirteen-year-old Alejandro Karangalan, his spirited older sister Isabelle, and Domingo, a passionate guerilla commander, we see how ordinary people must learn to live in the midst of extraordinary uncertainty, how they must find hope for survival where none seems to exist. They find this hope in the dramatic history of the Philippine Islands and the passion and bravery of its people. Crowded together in the cellar, the Karangalans and their friends and neighbors tell magical stories to one another based on Filipino myth and legend to fuel their courage, pass the time, and teach important lessons. The group is held spellbound by these stories, which feature a dazzling array of ghosts, witches, supernatural creatures, and courageous Filipinos who changed the course of history with their actions. These profoundly moving stories transport the listeners from the chaos of the war around them and give them new resolve to fight on.
With When the Elephants Dance Holthe has not only written a gripping narrative of how Alejandro, Isabelle, Domingo and their community fight for survival, but a loving tribute to the magical realism that infuses Filipino culture. The stories shared by her characters are based on the same tales handed down to Holthe from her Filipino father and lola, her grandmother. This stunning debut novel is the first to celebrate in such richness and depth the spirit of the Filipino people and their fascinating story and marks the introduction of a talented new author who will join the ranks of writers such as Arundhati Roy, Manil Suri, and Amy Tan.
"When the Elephants Dance is a moving and vivid tribute to the power of love, hope, and storytelling during a time of crisis."
KEVIN BAKER, AUTHOR OF
DREAMLAND
"A magical and powerful tale of a makeshift family of villagers, trying to survive by courage and imagination during Japan's brutal occupation of the Philippines in World War II—a part of history we always need to remember."
LISA HUANG FLEISCHMAN, AUTHOR OF DREAM OF THE WALLED CITY
"In the same breath sensual and political, urgent and transporting, Hothe's brave novel tantalizes as it inspires."
LAURIE FOX, AUTHOR OF MY SISTER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
"
Customer Reviews:
A "Must Read".......2007-09-11
In addition to being an excellent historical novel and great read, "When the Elephants Dance" is also a must read for anyone contemplating a visit to the Philippines whether short term or long term. Whether the visit is for pleasure or business, this book puts the Philippine experience in a historical perspective and helps the visitor or outsider to have a bit of an understanding of the culture and helps to remove some preconceived ideas. I read this book after returning from the Philippines and will now be able to use the perspective for my return visits.
a stunning masterpiece.......2007-07-05
It usually takes me a couple of pages (or chapters for that matter) to really get into a book. but "When the elephants dance" had me hook, line, and sinker from the first paragraph. I was immediately drawn to Holthe's powerful storytelling abilities. When I read that there would be interwoven stories, I wondered if the connections would feel disjointed. Much to my surprise, the stories from each of the characters flowed so seamlessly I forgot I was reading a separate story.
"Ghost Children", told by one of the characters, Aling Ana had me crying buckets. It's been a long while since a book was able to tug at my heartstrings like that.
This is definitely a book that I would read over and over again. I highly recommend "When the Elephants Dance" anyone and everyone. You will not be disappointed!
A Must Read!.......2007-03-27
When the Elephants Dance is the story of the Philippine's during WWII after the Japanese had taken control of the islands. Due to exorbitant costs and danger of death most families at that time hid with local neighbors and friends, only going out to trade or search for food to survive. This book is the story of one family - hiding in their basement with 11 neighbors and friends.
The book is broken down into 3 main parts - the first being told by the 2nd child Alenjandro, the second being told by the older sister Isabelle and the third being told by the guerilla leader (and friend of this family) Domingo. Interwoven into each of these three parts are stories from the elders that are hiding with them - stories from their childhood that teach lessons or morals pertaining to what that narrator is going through in that moment.
These lyrical stories interwoven with the desperation of the times make for a breathtaking story and subtly teaches you a lot about the Philippines. The character description in this book is phenomenal - it's one of those stories that you won't want to put down because it's riveting but that you won't want to end because you know you're going to miss the characters when it's over.
This is a MUST read!
WE ♥ THIS BOOK!!!!.......2007-01-25
This book is a compelling read. We couldn't believe that a book was written about our Philippine culture. We were truly moved! Most of the events were so enduring and powerful that it actually made one of us cries our eyes out! The journeys that Alejandro, Domingo and Isabelle go through are so intense and nerve wrecking that it kept us turning the page for hours! When the Elephants Dance is very informative of events we have never known really happened. The in depth detail is so accurate that it seems like the author truly witnessed what happened right before her eyes! The adjectives are so accurate it feels like you can actually hear, taste or feel what is happening! We believe that Tess Uriza Holthe is truly a gifted writer. She should write more books such as these! The book was fats paced and easy to read! We love the way the book is brutally yet beautifully stirred! We love this book and we really recommend it not only to our fellow Filipinos but to all other cultures and nationalities as well! Mabuhay!
Global Studies 9.......2007-01-13
Our group read the book When the Elephants Dance for this unit. This book was full of shocking scenes which people went through during World War II. The story is told by Alejandro Karangalan, Isabelle Karangalan and Domingo Matapang. They all explain the situations that they went through during this awful war. Other characters like Carlos Karangalan, Aling Ana, Fredrico Jacinto-Basta, etc. entretain everybody with tales of their life, full of magic and wonders of life. This family goes through a lot of horrible things. They were tortured, humiliated, discriminated and dishonored, yet they fought to the end. Not only the main story, but each of the tales has a message to learn, a message that might help the people out so that nobody will experience the awful things that these characters went through.
Average customer rating:
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When Elephants Learn to Dance - the Story of the Transformation of Financial Services into a Highly Competitive Industry
E Daniel
Manufacturer: Wiley Eastern
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Business & Investing
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| Books
| Accounting
| Biography & History
| Business Life
| By Publisher
| Economics
| Finance
| General
| Industries & Professions
| International
| Investing
| Job Hunting & Careers
| Management & Leadership
| Marketing & Sales
| Organizational Behavior
| Personal Finance
| Popular Economics
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| Skills
| Small Business & Entrepreneurship
| Women & Business
ASIN: 0471479098 |
Average customer rating:
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When the Elephants Dance
Manufacturer: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0606284109 |
Average customer rating:
- Lots of shorty short sexy stories
- Hot, Hot, and did I mention Hot?
- 10 Fantastic Holiday Stories!
- Jingle Balls
- Snippets of pure "'Tis the Season" decadence
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A Changeling For All Seasons
Angela Knight ,
Kate Douglas ,
Shelby Morgen ,
Kate Hill ,
Sahara Kelly ,
Judy Mays ,
Marteeka Karland ,
Willa Okati , and
Lacey Savage
Manufacturer: Changeling Press LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Adult Fiction | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Anthologies | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Anthologies | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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All Wrapped Up
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Secrets: The Best in Women's Erotic Romance Vol. 14 (Secrets (Red Sage))
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ASIN: 1595962808 |
Book Description
A Changeling For All Seasons Ten unforgettable Erotic Tales to warm your nights and keep you in holiday spirits all year long! Angela Knight - A Vampire Christmas Sahara Kelly - A Christmas Pageant Judy Mays - Jingle Balls Marteeka Karland - Sealed With A Kiss Kate Douglas - My Valentine Shelby Morgen - Changeling Willa Okati - Elven Enchantment Kate Hill - Jolene's Pooka Lacey Savage - Chemistry to Burn Shelby Morgen - Troll Under The Bridge Filled with the unexpected, A Changeling For All Seasons offers something to savor for every palate. From humorous to magical, from Christmas to St. Patrick's Day to the 4th of July, these stories are alight with unbridled lust, sensuous passion, and hot, hot sex, guaranteed to entangle your senses and leave you breathless. www.ChangelingPress.com A Vacation For Your Mind -- No Passport Required.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of shorty short sexy stories.......2006-05-16
The 10 stories in this book are hot and mostly good: two I really liked (those by Angela Knight and Kate Douglas) and the others are enjoyable. There is only one story that was so bad - bad story, bad writing - I did not even finish it. Every story presents a paranormal caracter and a holiday (Christmas + Vampire, St.Valentine's + St.Valentine, 4th of July + Troll, St.Patrick's + Pooka, etc.) Also, as the stories are so short, they go quickly to the point (which is, hum... sex. With a happy end, of course).
All in all, the buy is worth it.
Hot, Hot, and did I mention Hot?.......2005-11-29
Those familiar with Changeling Press already know this book is a scorcher. For those unfamiliar with Changeling Press's fantastically erotic e-books, let me just say, they have made the transition to print with stories that will blow your pants off. I loved it! It features vamps, fairies, elves, trolls, and more to satisfy your paranormal cravings! And with authors like Angela Knight, Kate Douglas, Shelby Morgen, and the rest, you can't go wrong. The only bad choice you could make is to NOT buy it! Definitely 5 stars from this reviewer.
10 Fantastic Holiday Stories!.......2005-11-19
This is a collection of excellent holiday stories from Changeling Press by nine wonderful authors.
They are hot, steamy and wonderfully written.
Highly Recommended!
Jingle Balls .......2005-11-19
JINGLE BALLS is a witty, seductive story that grabs you from the very beginning. Richard and Jessica are well-written characters who quite simply intrigued this reviewer... Jingle Bells is one of my all-time favorite carols but after reading JINGLE BALLS .., I will never think of that song again without laughing. With its humor-filled plotline, captivating characters, and some of the most amusing scenes I've ever read, this is one story that readers will enjoy for sure.
Sinclair Reid
Romance Reviews Today
http://www.romrevtoday.com/
Snippets of pure "'Tis the Season" decadence.......2005-11-17
That's what you'll find in this holiday treat! A taste of each fabulous Changeling author, rolled into a delightful concotion of sumptuous,delightful, sinfully good reading. Savor these sweet morsels of sensual exploration, revel in adventures that are brimming with naughty fantasies!
The perfect way to spend an evening with some of the best of the best the erotic writing world has to offer!
Dakota Cassidy :)
Average customer rating:
- This Book Changed my Life
- Suzanne Somers is giving middle aged women false hope
- Suzanne or Marilu--who will be your guru?
- Get Skinny by Suzanne Somer
- Just plain delicious!
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Suzanne Somers' Get Skinny on Fabulous Food
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
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| Baking
| Canning & Preserving
| Cooking by Ingredient
| Culinary Arts & Techniques
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| General
| Meals
| Natural Foods
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Weight Loss
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Weight Maintenance
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Low Sugar
| Special Conditions
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General
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Similar Items:
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Suzanne Somers' Eat, Cheat, and Melt the Fat Away
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Suzanne Somers' Eat Great, Lose Weight
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Suzanne Somers' Fast and Easy: Lose Weight the Somersize Way with Quick, Delicious Meals for the Entire Family!
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Somersize Desserts
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Suzanne Somers' Slim and Sexy Forever: The Hormone Solution for Permanent Weight Loss and Optimal Living
Accessories:
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
ASIN: 0609601628
Release Date: 1999-04-20 |
Amazon.com
"I got skinny on fat," claims Suzanne Somers. It sounds too good to be true--a weight-loss program that lets you "eat incredible, rich foods in abundant portions while the unwanted pounds effortlessly melt away." Most nutritionists would cringe at the idea that people trying to lose weight don't need to restrict their dietary fat, but Suzanne Somers and her "Somercizers" insist it works. Fat (even saturated fat) isn't the enemy, she claims--it's "products loaded with sugar, white flour, hydrogenated oils, and chemicals and preservatives that replace real fats." Get Skinny on Fabulous Food follows Somers's Eat Great, Lose Weight with a recap of the Somersize program, which involves eliminating "funky foods" like sugar and starch and using a type of food combining. Also included are grateful letters from followers of the program, menu suggestions, and 150 new recipes. Recipes include such fat-filled dishes as Leslie's Mushroom Broccoli and Egg Cupcakes (with butter, oil, Swiss cheese, and nine large eggs), Beef Stroganoff (with butter, oil, and two cups of heavy cream), Ginger Creme Brûlée (with butter, heavy cream, nine large egg yolks, and even the enemy: sugar), Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake (with cream cheese, eggs, chocolate, sour cream, and--yup--sugar). No calorie counts or nutritional breakdowns are included. --Joan Price
Book Description
After the phenomenal success of
Eat Great, Lose Weight, Suzanne Somers was flooded with letters and phone calls from people who had lost weight the "Somersize" way. They had followed Suzanne's satisfying and effective program and for the first time had gained control over their weight and their health. There was no more dieting, no more deprivation, and the pounds just seemed to melt away.
Now, Suzanne takes readers to the next step toward greater health and fitness in
Suzanne Somers' Get Skinny on Fabulous Food. With breakthrough research on food and our bodies, an easy-to-follow weight-loss plan, and more than 130 amazing new Somersized recipes, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to shed pounds or maintain their weight--even while eating meat, cheese, butter, dressings, desserts, and other delicious foods not found on most eating plans. Backed up by renowned endocrinologist Dr. Diana Schwarzbein, Suzanne tells how sugar, not fat, is responsible for weight gain, and how combining food properly and eating a diet that is low in carbohydrates and that includes plenty of natural fats and proteins will not only help you lose weight but also can reprogram your metabolism, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, and give you more energy.
Somersizing is not a diet, but a way of life. In
Get Skinny on Fabulous Food you will find inspiring testimonials from some of Suzanne's greatest success stories, people who have lost weight, lowered blood pressure, and eliminated digestive problems by Somersizing. And you can join Suzanne and her family as they celebrate good food and good times throughout the year with dinners, brunches, and other special-occasion meals that are perfectly Somersized yet perfectly delicious. It is almost impossible to believe you can lose weight and still feel so indulged!
Best of all, Suzanne shares more than 130 new mouthwatering Somersized recipes, including Milanese Beef with Sautéed Onions and Mushrooms in a Port Wine Sauce, Spicy Rock Shrimp Salad, Fried Rice with Shiitake Mushrooms, Decadent White Chocolate Cake, and Crême Brulée. Once again, Suzanne Somers proves that you really can get, and stay, skinny on fabulous food!
Look for
Eat Great, Lose Weight now available in paperback
Customer Reviews:
This Book Changed my Life.......2006-08-16
At 16 years old, I was gravely obese at 330 lbs. I was depressed and desperate, trying things from cutting portions to, at one point, eating nothing but bread and water for two weeks. I still gained weight no matter what I did.
I visited my dad one summer, and he introduced me to Somersizing and gave me this book to read. Long story short, I lost 100 lbs in about 12 months without ANY excercise, ON AND OFF this plan, WITHOUT cutting any of my portions (NOTE: Author recommends regular excersize and committing to this plan). Even though I didn't go at it 100%, I STILL managed to lose weight. I say this to illustrate the potential Suzanne's plan has.
The book itself is an easy and quick read. I couldn't put it down. Suzanne also does a great job of emphasizing the important points so you can't miss them. She even includes really handy quick reference pages in the back. I love how she includes technical stuff that is not necessary to understand in order to start her plan, but is helpful in explaining the science if you are interested.
"I DONT HAVE WEIGHT PROBLEMS" you say? Suzanne recommends this plan for OVERALL WELL BEING. She discusses how skinny people may LOOK healthy, but can have damaged systems from starches and sugars. More particularly, how indigestion, brittle nails, thin hair, dry skin, liver problems, and other problems seemingly unrelated to weight can be caused by replacing fats/proteins that our body needs with unbeneficial sugars.
Thanks to Suzanne, I am healthier, happier, more confident, and most importantly, more critical about mainstream information I come across.
Suzanne Somers is giving middle aged women false hope.......2006-06-20
Suzanne Somers is partial scam artist. She claims that if you follow the advice in her books, prepare her recipes, use her skin products, etc. you can look as good as she does for her age. She never mentions all the cosmetic surgery and lipo suction she has had done. I know a number of Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists, and they all claim that there is no way that her face and body can look as good as it does for her age without Cosmetic Surgery on her face and body and touch-ups along the way. However, her books with their beautiful pictures of her and her recipes are lovely to look at but she is giving women who are in their 50's and beyond false hope. She should really write a book about all the work she has had done, what it was like, the cost (which the average woman cannot afford), etc.
Suzanne or Marilu--who will be your guru?.......2004-02-09
I have just read this book as well as Marilu Henner's book. In some ways they are similar: both feature beautiful, healthy, glamourous, rich, 70s-sitcom-starring celebrities. Both claim to have discovered the secrets to health and vitality and slimness. Both are enjoyable to read and seem like someone you'd like to have as a friend. But the food...there's the big difference. Being an aficionado of the famous Eat Right 4 Your Type way of eating I have discovered that as a type O+ I feel much better on a protein/veggies/fruits regimen versus an almost vegetarian (fishaterian?) grains and veggies approach. I spent 6 years basically doing the Henner approach but found a much higher energy level and ability to maintain a healthy weight AFTER I quit eating so much starch and started eating meat again. As I read this book I couldn't help but notice that it is very close to what Dr. D'adamo recommends for Blood Type As in his book; lots of soy, grains and legumes, avoiding dairy and meat and keeping fat intake low. I am convinced that this is the best approach for some people, probably the Type As! Suzanne Somers' book which allows meats, dairy and fat (properly combined of course) works really well for me and probably other type Os who really do need protein to maintain their health and energy. Speaking strictly as a cook and an enthusiastic eater, the Somers book is much more fun. I found recipes in this book that I will definitely use. Therefore, my advice to these readers is: If you are a type O, then check out Suzanne's (and Peter D'adamo's ER4YT of course!) book and enjoy a tasty dinner!!! An aside--I saw Ms Sommers in person in Palm springs two years ago and she looks absolutely lovely. She must be doing something right!
Get Skinny by Suzanne Somer.......2003-11-06
The work explores the positive and negative aspects of dieting.
The author explores ways to reprogram the metabolism.
The first important food group is pro/fats consisting of meats/
poultry, fish and eggs. Next is the low starch veggie group
followed by carbs which consist of pasta, cereal, bread and
non-fat dairy. The author recommends eliminating all kinds of
junk food; such as, sugars, starch, caffeine , alcohol and
processed foods in general. She tells us to eat fruit on an
empty stomach. Foods should be eaten in combinations.
For instance fats are to be eaten with veggies or carbs
should be combined with veggies. The objective is to promote
hormonal balance. Meals should never be skipped. In fact,
the protocol calls for 3 meals each day. Stage 1 aims at
losing weight while the subsequent stages are weight
maintenance. The author recommends utilizing generous portions
of herbs; such as, ginger and extra virgin olive oil in place
of heavier oils. Many sample recipes are supplied.
Finally, the author speaks of a glycemic index and provides
sample food statistics. For instance, high glycemic foods
are in the 60-110 range. These foods consist of beer, white
bread, potato, jam, popcorn, pasta and brown rice. These foods
should be avoided or minimized. Dairy (non-fat), fresh fruit,
soy and green vegetables are in the 15-35 or low glycemic
category. This book is a good purchase. It will assist in
formulating and maintaining a diet which is manageable over
the long term.
Just plain delicious!.......2003-07-27
Whether or not you follow the somersize program, you will love the recipes from Suzanne Somers! They are very tasty! And for anyone looking to find delicious ways to include more vegetables in your diet you'll find lots of ways to incorporate them.
Product Description
Three book set as follows: Fast & Easy is a hardcover with dustjacket published in 2002 by Crown Publishers; Get Skinny is a hardcover with dustjacket published in 1999 by Crown Publishers; Eat, Cheat, and Melt the Fat Away is a softcover published in 2001 by Three Rivers Press.
Product Description
Set of 3 Books By Suzanne Somers - The Sexy Years; Eat Great, Lose Weight; Get Skinny on Fabulous Food.
Amazon.com
The American food writer M.F.K. Fisher struggled in her time and writing to establish a way of talking about food. The British food writer Elizabeth David, who overlapped Fisher at about the time World War II was winding down, struggled to bring an accurate sense of the foods of the Mediterranean to the table. Both ladies had their cranky sides. There are moments reading David when it feels as though she has just cracked the back of your knuckles with the handle of a wooden spoon. There are times, too, when she pulls you up close to the stove and fans the aroma of delicious food up toward your face, and enjoys the way your nostrils quiver. In both cases David is there to wake you up.
South Wind Through the Kitchen is a collection of the best of Elizabeth David's writings, selected by food writers and food professionals who dearly loved the woman and who were deeply affected by her brilliance. There's nothing quite like a David prose passage that sets place and time, personality and ingredients, and then as almost an afterthought delivers her notes on how a dish is assembled, like this one from Mediterranean Food:
Displayed in enormous round shallow pans, these tomatoes (stuffed tomatoes àl la Grecque), together with pimentos and small marrows cooked in the same way, are a feature of every Athenian taverna, where one goes into the kitchen and chooses one's meal from the pans arrayed on the stove.... Peering into every stewpan, trying a spoonful of this, a morsel of that, it is easy to lose one's head and order a dish of everything on the menu.
Cut off the tops of a dozen large tomatoes, scoop out the flesh and mix it with 2 cups of cooked rice. To this mixture add 2 tablespoons of chopped onion, 2 tablespoons of currants, some chopped garlic, pepper, and salt, and, if you have it, some leftover lamb or beef. Stuff the tomatoes with this mixture and bake them in a covered dish in the oven (350 degrees) with olive oil.
She was out there early, wandering around France and Italy, setting a stage and a tone for everyone who has followed. She traipsed through the Mediterranean countries, the Levant, North Africa, opening up a world of flavor, spice, and technique that must have seemed wildly exotic to a postwar Great Britain struggling with the remains of wartime food rationing. The clouds parted, and there was Elizabeth David, full and warm.
And like the sun, she remained something of a unique presence unto her own. It's interesting that these two grand dames of food writing were both essentially loners. You will find in M.F.K. Fisher the language of food. You will find in this lovely collection of Elizabeth David's writing the language of food, and all the rest, too. --Schuyler Ingle
Book Description
An irresistible, charming, and inspired selection from the work of one of this century's great food writers.
Like M.F.K. Fisher and Julia Child, Elizabeth David changed the way we think about and prepare food. David's nine books, written with impeccable wit and considerable brilliance, helped educate the taste (and taste buds) of the postwar generation. Insisting on authentic recipes and fresh ingredients, she showed that food need not be complicated to be good.
A Book of Mediterranean Food, published in 1950, introduced the ingredients of a sunnier world (olive oil, garlic, eggplant, basil), celebrating their smell and taste and above all highlighting the concept that food reflects a way of life and should be a source of joy. Subsequent books on French and Italian cooking and a stream of provocative articles followed. Later, David's monumental English Bread and Yeast Cookery became the champion of the Real Bread movement. Her last book, Harvest of the Cold Months, is a fascinating historical account of food preservation, eating habits, and the astonishing worldwide food trade in snow and ice.
Many of the recipes and excerpts here were chosen by David's friends and by the chefs and writers she inspired (including Alice Waters and Barbara Kafka). This collection will enable some of us to discover and others to remember what made David one of our most influential and best-loved food writers.
Customer Reviews:
The majority of us who don't own her classic books will find the best of her works neatly under one cover, along with nearly 200.......2006-10-15
Elizabeth David died in 1992, but her books changed the world of food writing, celebrating fresh ingredients and elevating British postwar cooking. SOUTH WIND THROUGH THE KITCHEN gathers the best of her writings, so those who already have extensive David books might find little new here - but the majority of us who don't own her classic books will find the best of her works neatly under one cover, along with nearly 200 recipes.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
A Digest of Great Culinary Writing. Suggest you read originals.......2005-07-23
`South Wind Through the Kitchen' is a collection of sections from the books of premier English food writer, Elizabeth David by her literary executor, Jill Norman, with suggestions on what to include by a wide variety of Ms. David's colleagues and professional fans.
The problem with this book is that one must decide whether it is more appropriate to review Ms. David's work or the way in which pieces of it have been assembled in this volume. As I have already reviewed most of Elizabeth David's major works that are digested in this volume, I think it is clear to me that the thing to do is judge the way in which the pieces have been assembled.
In reviewing this book, some other Amazon.com reviewers have taken the alternate course and focused on the work of Ms. David herself. In doing so, I feel they have misjudged Elizabeth David's place in culinary writing. For starters, Ms. David was not the `English Julia Child'. Ms. David and Ms. Child had slightly different agendas, which should be clear when you examine the way they go about presenting a recipe. While Julia Child is the consummate teacher in `Mastering the Art of French Cooking' and her subsequent books and TV series, Elizabeth David is the scholar and analyst. Her recipes, especially in her major early works, `Mediterranean Food', `French Provincial Cooking', and `Italian Food' tend to be briefer, but with a whole lot more explanations on the backgrounds of dishes, where Ms. David first encountered the recipe, and why the recipe is done the way it is. While Julia Child has a great way about her writing that makes reading her recipes almost as much fun as watching her PBS shows, there is not much personal material. Julia Child is writing the great classic cookbook. Elizabeth David is recording her experiences with food. That does not mean that Elizabeth David is playing the epicure, giving us a record of her experiences and reactions to food, as you find in the writings of M.F.K. Fisher. She is giving us the scholar's diary of what she has learned about her subject. The best fit to this model of Ms. David's work is her first book in 1950, `A Book of Mediterranean Food' which was literally assembled from her culinary diary begun in 1939.
This same reviewer devalues Ms. David's work as being good but not great for emphasizing fresh local ingredients. The reviewer makes the mistake of saying that Elizabeth David anticipated this great mantra of modern culinary doctrine. This principle is, in fact much older than Elizabeth David's writing. She is simply reporting it. My favorite illustration of how old and well established this doctrine is comes from the practice of the great 19th century New York City restaurant, Delmonicos, which maintained its own truck farm in New Jersey from which it got almost all its greens and vegetables in season.
If any one thing is to set Elizabeth David's writing apart from most others, aside from the sheer quality of her composition, it is the fact that she downplays rules and conventions and speaks to us about the properties of ingredients, what people do with them, and what we may be encouraged to do with them. The finest example of this is her great little piece on omelet technique from `French Provincial Cooking' that is reprinted in this book. Before presenting what is the best ever description of the classic technique I have ever read she says that the right way to make an omelet is the way you want to make it! I see the same freedom from convention expressed in many of her other writings in this book.
So how about the quality of this book? My opinion, which may or may not suit your needs, is that virtually everyone who enjoys reading culinary writings would do better by acquiring copies of Ms. David's major complete works rather than spending money on this volume. I believe the quality of her writing was so consistently high that you will not find any rough or uninteresting patches as you read the three books I mentioned above. I will say that the book `English Bread and Yeast Cookery' may not be for everyone. It may not even be for everyone interested in bread baking. But the original article is superior to the short snippets from that book you get in this volume. And, this is in spite of the fact that one of those snippets has a really excellent technique for making Irish Soda Bread, one of my favorite quickbread preparations.
This book has one very good use. If you have no previous exposure to Ms. David's writing, this is a better sampler of her mainstream work than the collection of newspaper and magazine pieces, `An Omelette and a Glass of Wine'.
As the words are from the incomparable writer, Elizabeth David, I must give this at least four stars, but as I think you are better served by reading her original works, I do not give it five stars, especially as all of her major works are available in incredibly cheap Penguin editions.
Tasty, but a bit unfocused.......2004-06-01
Like many food writing and cookbook collections from the past 30-odd years, 'South Wind Through the Kitchen' aims ridiculously high: illustrating how its author was ahead of her time (emphasizing fresh ingredients, regional cuisines--especially of France and Italy--and "authentic" food), historically important ("the British Julia Child," if that's not oxymoronic) and relevant to modern cooks. A roughly organized collection of recipes followed by notes from esteemed cooks strain to hammer these points home.
I'll admit I'm tiring of these efforts. To be fair, 'South Wind' is hardly alone here, but I'd surely wish books of this sort decide on an angle and stick with it. Attempting to show the author's prescience, cooking knowledge (via well-worn or annotated recipes), writing wit, *and* recent gastronomy historical significance, the editors here clearly overreach. The result is far from a disaster, but I was certainly left occasionally frustrated if for no other reason than I was only shown a glimpse of David's brilliance.
And brilliance it is--at least at times. David's recipe format, for example, displays delightful informality; eschewing the traditional list of ingredients followed by turgid instructions, she simply writes freeform paragraphs and intersperses clever and reassuring comments ("a tablespoon of rum won't hurt," "don't be alarmed by ..."). The recipes seem solid, if occasionally dated and betraying an English slant . David's clear and confident writing comes through strongest, however, in her essays--of which this volume contains not nearly enough. The last three ('Ladies Halves,' 'Table Jewellery,' and 'Cathay to Caledonia') are simply brilliant, and compensated for me for an unfocused and shallow format.
An example of this unfortunate style is evidenced by the "chosen by" notes following many of the recipes and essays. Though surely intended to display David's influence on many of today's cooks, these accolades often just came across as intimate anecdotes. Reading how Ms. David was so re-assuring or insightful to someone at some point in the distant past is mildly interesting but often struck me like a speech at an awards show: only important to those being thanked. By only excerpting a sample, the editors here do not convince; more often than not an admonition to simply read the original book would have been far preferable to a watered-down quote.
As an accomplished writer and well-traveled gourmet Elizabeth David was, no doubt, quite an inspiration to the despairing and deprived cooks of a rationing and gray post-war England. I'll brook no arguments there, and this collection of essays and recipes may indeed be "the best of" her work. But if her gastronomy knighthood rests on this volume alone I'm far from convinced that she was a *great* food writer. A good one, and inspiring to boot, but I can't elevate her to the Child-Beard pantheon based on this evidence which I can only recommend--excepting historical interest--to hard-core foodies.
Elizabeth David is inspirational to say the least.......1999-12-04
South Wind Through The Kitchen, The Best Of Elizabeth David is a selection of Ms. David's work that was compiled by Jill Norman, who is Elizabeth David's literary trusty. Jill Norman, publisher and author, also completed Harvest Of The Cold Months, Elizabeth David's final book, which she was working on at the time of her death; it was completed using notes left by Ms. David. Many of the selections in this book were chosen by people that either knew Elizabeth David or were influenced by her-she influenced a legion of chefs and food writers, I count myself among those ranks.
Reading the writings of Elizabeth David is inspirational to say the least; she is often said to be the best food writer of her time. Her work in general is not merely a collection of recipes and essays on food; it is more akin to an autobiography telling of the people and food that she has known. While this is definitely a utilitarian book that is full of recipes, it can also easily be read cover to cover, like a novel-even the recipes read as a form of prose. A classic example of her poetic form of recipe writing is evident in her essay on Cornish Saffron Cake, which appears on pages 326-328 of this book; it originally appeared in English Bread And Yeast Cookery, which was published in 1977.
Over the years I have often found myself reading (and re-reading) the introduction in my well worn copy of A Book Of Mediterranean Cuisine for enjoyment and inspiration. A Book Of Mediterranean Cuisine was Ms. David's first book, which was published in 1950. Though it was published almost a half century ago it still rings true today. The first and last paragraphs are what I find most interesting; they are as follows (it appears in full on page 3 of South Wind Through The Kitchen):
"The cooking of the Mediterranean shores, endowed with all the natural resources, the colour and flavor of the south, is a blend of tradition and brilliant improvisation. The Latin genius flashes from the kitchen pans."
"With this selection (it does not claim to be more) of Mediterranean dishes, I hope to give some of the lovely cookery of those regions to people who do not already know them, and to stir the memories of those who have eaten this food on its native shores, and who would like sometimes to bring a flavour of those blessed lands of sun and sea and olive trees into their English kitchens."
Elizabeth David was a prolific writer who between 1950 and 1994 published nine books, most of which are considered classics amongst food professionals; portions of all of her books appear in this "best of" volume. As a cook she always strode to be as authentic as possible and often this meant writing about ingredients that were not yet known or at least not available in post-war England, and that is what I find really interesting about this book. Much of her work was published three, four, even five decades ago and is not only relevant today but is still used as reference by serious cooks around the globe.
In short, South Wind Through The Kitchen is a "must have" for any cook's library, whether a professional or a layperson. It is both an inspirational read and also an invaluable source of food information and recipes.
Reviewed by Chef Joe George of ChefTalk.Com
Average customer rating:
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Capodimonte Collectibles
Manufacturer: Publications International, Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H74BEW |
Book Description
Each of these 20 fun projects lets you experiment with color, pattern, design, and technique. “This is another offering in the popular Vogue Knitting on the Go! series...featuring designs by leading knitwear designers....This volume includes some ambitious projects...But overall there are more socks here to interest beginning and intermediate knitters....Recommended for public libraries.” —Library Journal.
Customer Reviews:
Inadequate instructions mar an otherwise nice book.......2007-08-14
There are some nice sock patterns in this book, but I agree with the other reviewers who have commented on the poor quality of the instructions. My specific complaint is about the pattern for the Domino Squared socks. It's an unusual pattern done with an interesting technique. However, the instructions are missing any guidance as to what the dimensions of the squares are supposed to be, which makes it very difficult to figure out if you're on track or to troubleshoot. I'm a seasoned enough sock knitter that I have some idea of how things should fit. I don't mind a challenge, but I'd rather have the challenge come from the technical aspects of the knitting than from figuring out the directions. Frankly, I expect more from Vogue Knitting. If you're looking for a good book of sock patterns, this is not it.
Review of Socks Two by Vogue Knitting.......2007-01-04
Excellent little book and a variety of socks to make.
A good addition to your sock pattern library.......2006-11-06
This little book has a nice variety of patterns and excellent instructions on how to make them. Having said that, to my eye there's no single pattern in the book that I would rate at 5 stars (well, maybe those medieval knee socks). I could justify buying this book based on the socks for children more than on the socks for adults. There are so many excellent sock books around these days. In my opinion, this book is a little below the excellent level due to the designs themselves.
Buyer's Regret.......2005-06-15
I agree with the reviewer who questioned the patterns in this book. I am an experienced knitter, wrestling with the construction of Red Hot Chili Peppers. If the other patterns in this book are as impossible, I shall be very disappointed with Vogue.
Has anybody knitted a pattern from this book?.......2003-11-10
I'm wondering if anybody even tested the patterns in this book before printing. How did they knit a 2 colored pattern, knitted in the round, without any specific instructions. Take the Rib and Panel socks (Red Hot chili Peppers), knitted in panels using 2 colors. I admit the pictures are pretty but the instructions are another thing.
Book Description
More photos and more ideas than any other book of window solutions.
Creative window treatments and wall colors combined for stylish, elegant home decor.
Custom solutions using curtains, valances, cornices, swags and jabots, shades, shutters, blinds, and draperies.
Tips help homeowners choose the perfect covering for any window.
Advice on working with pros for custom treatments.
Customer Reviews:
Ms Lv2look with champagne taste........2007-05-29
I highly recommend this book above dozens of books and magazines I have looked at and/or purchased over the years. Beautiful ideas abound. Wall and window treatments range from the sublimely simple suitable for any DIY to professionals only. A visually stunning compilation of wall and window decor. A feast to assist your imagination and help you see the possibilities. Yes, I have seen some ideas before but this book pulls them together in one guide with styles ranging through traditional to contemporary and craftsman to cottage.
Fabulous & Comrehensive!.......2007-04-08
I have many books on window treatments and decorating ideas. This book is my FAVORITE ONE! I love BHG Windows & Walls magazine, and this book had a few I'd seen there before and hundreds more. This is actually the second one of these I bought because one of my friends loved it so much she bought my first one from me. She wasn't the last one to buy this book for themselves after seeing mine! Worth every penny and more!
great windows & walls collection.......2006-07-03
this book is a great help to my clients
the visual is so important in the window treatment field
the photo are crisp and easy to see
A Wonderful and Beautiful Book!.......2006-02-27
Great Windows & Walls Collection has hundreds of pictures; this is a spectacular book that will help you create a gorgeous personal sanctuary with its ideas of furnishing, window treatment and wall finishes. This is an excellent book for inspiration, regardless of your own personal style.
The world's leading expert on window decorating.......2005-12-16
I pickup up this book at Barnes & Noble (not to actually buy it; just literally picked it up to look at it) and laughed out loud. It's actually kind of funny that Meredith Books thinks they can pull together some stock photography and then have their staff toss in some text and voila!--the public will buy another one of their dogs. I am always amazed that people actually spend hard earned money on stock photo books. Some publishers get pretty good at pulling old photos, out-of-print book photos, photos from their other books that didn't sell and try once more to dupe the public. This book seems old even though it is new. Why not go to Barnes & Noble or Borders and look at it yourself. You be the final judge, not the marketing blitz from the publisher.
Book Description
The computer has made some typographic rules obsolete while others, previously known only to typesetters, have also been forgotten. Despite this, typography remains a fundamental element of graphic design. About Face presents and explains the typography basics required by all graphic designers, from the names of the different parts of characters, typeface styles and their function, to type measurement, typeface families, and type manipulation on the computer. It also looks at typography at work and features a wealth of applied examples by leading designers from around the world, who use, and considerably extend, the rules to create effective, communicative design.
Customer Reviews:
okay.......2006-03-04
This book isn't really what I was hoping for. It talks more about the history of type and letter form. I was hoping for more ways to play with type and ideas for how to do it.
Beautifully presented with many historical examples.......2003-10-28
In an era when many books about typography principles focus on the ins and outs of specific computer programs, here is a beautiful book for beginners that focuses on principles, theory, and examples.
Not as densely written as Bringhurst's classic "Elements" book, this book nonetheless has the advantage of being more quickly scannable, and it features many spreads that present actual book designs at full size or nearly so, giving a very tactile look to the book.
Other concepts about leading, word spacing, letterforms, and so on are presented with large visual displays specifically constructed by the author.
I would recommend this book for beginning graphic design students or for libraries interested in visual arts literacy.
Average customer rating:
- "He was a mover and a shaker."
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The Hawk: The Story of Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks
Ian Wallis
Manufacturer: Quarry Music Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1550821679 |
Customer Reviews:
"He was a mover and a shaker.".......2004-07-31
Another good book on Ronnie Hawkins.This book leans heavily on the members of his band who came and went over the 30 plus years of Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks.
Both this book and the other book "Ronnie Hawkins-Last of the Good ol' boys by Hawkins and Peter Goddard,are good reads.See my review of November 13,2003. Wallis's book has a lot more photos,including all from the 1989 book and much more detail about the musical chairs of band members.However,to get a better feel of Hawkins and the many stories,I prefer the Goddard book.There are so many stories over the years around Hawkins and his friends,I found it dragged a bit when the author gets into the band mrmbers,songs and record companies.Let's not forget; it is the characters that made Country, Rockabilly and Folk the grass roots music of the people-not the industry establishment.
That's what is missing today where everything is sanitized to meet the market.
The giants of music from the 50's,60's and70's were great becuse they were outside the mold.
Hawkins was and still is one of the best Entertainers and Characters.
And to think that he got poor marks for Music in High School!
Books:
- Windswept House: A Vatican Novel
- Winter in Kandahar
- Wiseguys Say The Darndest Things: The Quotable Mafia: The Quotable Mafia
- With All Despatch (The Bolitho Novels)
- With This Ring, I'm Confused (Ashley Stockingdale Series #2)
- Woman, Thou Art Loosed! The Novel
- You Can Say You Knew Me When
- A Home at the End of the World: A Novel
- A Perilous Proposal (Carolina Cousins #1)
- A Regimental Murder (Mystery of Regency England)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Born to Run: The Unseen Photos
- Wild and Wicked in Scotland
- Therapy for Mucus-Clearance Disorders
- The Complex Networks of Economic Interactions: Essays in Agent-Based Economics and Econophysics
- Watchdogs of Democracy
- Zero Limits: The Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace, and More
- What Horses Say: How to Hear, Help and Heal Them
- Secret Gardens of Santa Fe
- The Long Island Country House 1870-1930
- Where Did I Come From
When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (Ann Arbor Paperbacks)
The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays (Penguin Classics)
Economics: Principles & Practices
Hamlet (No Fear Shakespeare)
Wit : A Play
