Jump the Kennebec

Book Description

Why do people jump from bridges? The hero of Jump the Kennebec, a young teacher named Jeremy Fischer, confronts this question as he gradually wakes to the horrible realization that his family history of mental illness has begun to show in him. His increasingly bizarre behavior at a small prep school in Maine peaks in a wild trip to New Orleans that leaves him in a mental hospital. The novel explores the depressive and manic sides of bipolar disorder, climaxing in a trip to the top of the bridge from which Jeremy's aunt had leaped to her death many years ago.

Customer Reviews:

mike.......2006-02-18

Mr. Kalkstein read his book to us in class today, and i thought that it was pretty good. He is also a great joke teller. He told us not to read his other book because we would find them boring. Maybe he's right????? Who knows!

Customer Reviews:

Gotrek at his best as he slays Giants and slaughters Orcs, Goblins, Beastmen and Wizards.......2007-01-26

I've been reading the Felix and Gotrek series as I come across them, and not in any particular order, enjoying them as I get the chance. I actually came across them purely by chance and offhand, I think the Warhammer series by William King are a superb collection of game-based literature, bringing the game's atmosphere to life quite credibly.

The series is written in chronological order, following the adventures of Felix Jaeger and the Dwarven Slayer Gotrek Gurnisson, ostensibly told in a series of volumes by Felix Jaeger entitled "My Travels with Gotrek." It's definitely not a series for the faint at heart who dislike blood, gore and mindless violence. On the other hand, if you enjoy a well-written tale involving the afore-mentioned subjects, this series is for you.....

This particular book, #7 in the series and currently the last, takes up where Vampireslayer leaves off, with Felix, Gotrek Gurnnison, Snorri Nosebiter (another Dwarven Slayer and compatriot of Gotrek's) and Max the wizard in Sylvania where they have just finished off a rather nasty vampire. There's a bit of a continuity issue between Vampireslayer and this book if you're picky - in Vampireslayer all the Kislevian spearchuckers were slaughtered and all that were left were our trusty heroes, Gotrek and Felix, along with Snorri, Max, the Countess and Ulrika (now, sadly, a vampire). But at the start of Giantslayer, all of a sudden there are surviving Kislevian spearchuckers. A bit disconcerting to those of us to whom continuity is not just a pretty word. But a mere minor flaw in the greater scheme of things.

A new character, the High-Elf mage Teclis, is introduced near the start, along with portents of doom which set him off on a mission to bring an end to a Chaos attack on the magic that holds the World together. The book the notches up the action as our 4 heroes are (in the best of traditions) attacked by hordes of beastmen lead by a fearsome chaos warrior (slaughtered by Gotrek of course). Felix and Gotrek stray into magical pathways in the course of the fight and encounter Teclis, with whom they team up. At this stage, Snorrri and MAx exit, stage right, never to reappear in this novel.

There are some unforgettable and hilarious exchanges between Gotrek and the High-Elf Teclis (no love lost between elves and dwarves here) as they are thrown together thru force of circumstances. They emerge in the land of Albion and, with new companions, who of course, are all sluaghtered in battles against the hordes of evil, battle their way through the massed forces of evil and chaos to a climatic final battle where Gotrek slays a Giant (surprise, that....) and assists Teclis in slaying the evil mage twins, Kelmain and Lhoigor. The final battle is Felix and Gotrek at their best, Gotrek slaying hordes with abandon. The High-Elf Mage, Teclis, has a few tricks of his own and a particularly nasty laugh that's beautifully described. Felix, of course, survives.

All in all, one of the better books on the series, with a lot more hack and slash gore and violence and a bit less in the way of scene setting and character development than Vampireslayer. For readers that have enjoyed the previous books in the series and want action, action and more action, this will definitely not be a disappointment. Unfortunately, as of January 2007, this is the last in the series.

Best Felix & Gotrek since "Daemonslayer". King strong again!.......2004-10-29

After a rather dull and disappointing showing in the previous book "Vampireslayer", in this, the 7th book in the Felix & Gotrek series (--after "Trollslayer", "Skavenslayer", "Daemonslayer", "Dragonslayer", "Beastslayer" and "Vampireslayer"--) William King bounces back and gives us one of the strongest entries in the series so far.

The book introduces an interesting new character, ages-old High Elf mage Teclis. In the midst of the ongoing Chaos onslaught on the Old World, Teclis becomes aware of a plot to harness powers which could hold dire consequences for the entire Warhammer world. Can he stop it in time?

Naturally along the way he runs into our intrepid twosome, and they proceed to have an unforgettable adventure which takes them from the very edges of reality (eat your heart out, Dr.Strange!) to the midst of an epic battle between massed rival forces of evil.

As much of the book's action takes place on the isle of Albion, the counterpart in the Warhammer world to William King's native Scotland, King must have especially enjoyed writing this part. He also makes very effective use of playing off the tensions between Elves and Dwarves in the often strained relationship between Gotrek and Teclis.

I was happy to see my favourite Felix & Gotrek villains of all, evil twin albino mages Kelmain & Lhoigor back again. But I was a bit disappointed that we did not spend much time with them this time out compared to their previous appearance in "Beastslayer". I think they are truly worthy and most importantly INTERESTING adversaries and I hope William King will bring them back again sometime in the future (--hey, any writer truly worth his salt can always figure out a cool way to bring back a beloved villain everyone thought defeated for good ;) ). I LOVED their backstory in "Beastslayer" and want to hear MORE! (--Or how about giving them their own book?!)

Overall, I think I would rate this installment as my #2 favourite in the series after "Daemonslayer". While I did love the siege of Praag seen in "Beastslayer", I think this book was even more enjoyable because our heroes were on the move again, taking them through some very interesting and mysterious places. And the build-up of tension in the book kept me eagerly turning the pages as they continued on their quest. It's a wild ride that takes us to some fantastic places we've never seen before, and my only minor criticism is that the ending could have been a bit stronger.

For those new to the series, I'd probably recommend "Daemonslayer" first. But for those who have already read that great work and are hungry for more of the same calibre, this book is just what the manling ordered!

But now that I've read this, the most recent installment, I find myself with no more fresh Felix & Gotrek left. :( It's been a year and a half already. Where is the next book??? Come on William King, don't keep the fans waiting! We need MORE. I can't get enough of these guys!

Oh well, guess I'll go sharpen my battle-axe or something... You never know when the forces of Chaos will strike again next!

Great Story, but enough already.......2004-03-04

Great story. Fun read. But Gotrek has been trying to get himself killed through 6 books now, and still hasnt managed to do it. Now he travels with a powerful elf mage to kill more bad guys.

There is more foreshadowing of Gotreks' eventual fate, but he still manages to survive the novel. So, lets bring this series to an end before we rename it 'Wheel of Time 2'

I think King is running out of foes..........2004-02-17

Giants?
What do giants have to do with huge demon hordes?
Teclis?
What buisness do the elves have with anything. I think elves should just die somewhere or something.
Yes, there are perfectally good reasons for everything. But it just seems a bit forced with GIANTS?
How can Gotrek, killer of countless deamons and chaos warriors lose to some lamo giant? He's killed a bloodthirster of the same goddamned size, for jeebus's sake.
And pairing up the most powerful warrior EVER with the most powerful magictian EVER and it's a bit hard to lose.
Dont get me wrong, this was a great book. At least up to King's usuall standard of writing and intricate detail. It just seemed strange about them being warped half the way across the world to far-off albrion to kill a giant?
I'm wondering what's next. Beastslayer 2? Chaosslayer? Lizardslayer? Elfslayer (I damned well am praying for the last one!)
Grand book, but the setting seems a bit forced.

A book with Gotrek and Felix can never be wrong!.......2003-09-30

Once agien William King has done it! Another amazing book, with some of the best action ever! For those of you who are looking for a fantasy book get trollslayer (the first of the series), and work your way up to the fantastic Giantslayer. Now their are some bad reviews of Giantslayer as well as the other slayer books. IGNORE THEM! The people who wrote them are the same people who failed their SAT's and got the great job as a trash man. I have read all of William King's books over and over and would give them nothing short of 5 stars. Giantslayer may lack a bit of action compared to others, but it's finale battle makes up for that and more!

Average customer rating:

Giantslayer

Manufacturer: GAMES WORKSHOP (ABS)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GSUC18

Average customer rating:

Pretty good effort

A lot of GREAT info for star wars enthuist.

StarWars Ultimate Alien Anthology

Loads of Aliens!

Excelent book for any fan of Star Wars.

Ultimate Alien Anthology (Star Wars Roleplaying Game)
Eric Cagle , Michael Mikaelian , Steve Miller , and Owen K. C. Stephens
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Role Playing & Fantasy | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Miller, Steve | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Arms and Equipment Guide (Star Wars Roleplaying Game)

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Hero's Guide (Star Wars Roleplaying Game)

ASIN: 0786928883
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Book Description

Every Star System Has Its Heroes.

From the Outer Rim to the Galactic Core, countless different species populate the galaxy. While most members of each of these alien races share similar characteristics, among every species--from Geonosians and Jawas to Clawdites and Krish--great heroes and despicable villains can be found.

This sourcebook features:
• Descriptions of 180 alien species, including those from Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
• New prestige classes, including the Aerobat, the Changeling, and the Findsman.
• Species-specific gear and weapons, including Nagai electromesh armor, the Cerean meditation crystal, and the Kerestian darkstick.

To use this sourcebook, you also need the Star Wars Roleplaying Game Revised Core Rulebook.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good effort.......2007-01-10

One of the problems with Star Wars these days from an RPG perspective is that the prequels generated about a thousand new alien races -- and not all of them are all that memorable. Some are, and they are worthy additions here. I guess it's hardly a criticism to say there's too much material, but that's almost what it feels like sometimes with this book. Still useful for both the SW book collector and obviously the RPG fan.

A lot of GREAT info for star wars enthuist........2006-03-23

I really enjoyed looking over the TONS of aliens species in this book. It expanded options for players and gm's alike for choices they could do. I enjoyed the many options that were available to you as either a player or gm, or just curious to see what was in the star wars universe. I've never really encountered such depth and brevity together in a sci-fi universe. I did like the way they expanded on the core rulebook races. As for monsters, well, the star wars universe is about interacting more with others then it is about killing monsters, but this is d20 and there are PLENTY of monster compendium and ultimate advesaries can help you with that. I did like the art work but it was clear that differant artist did do the work and it isn't always done smoothly. But there is enough there to get an idea, even if it isn't always to scale as per the 'real' alien. I wouldn't pay $250.00 for this book though. But if you need some fresh ideas about alien races or just more characters then this would be for you. I liked the descriptions thourough but not overdone in the least. The book gives you enough to get you started and if that isn't enough gives you guidelines on how to make your own race. I'm not sure what is seriously lacking in this book.

StarWars Ultimate Alien Anthology.......2005-09-15

This book ROCKS! One look at it and it starts to sink in exactly how diverse the StarWars universe has become. It expands upon races in the Core Rulebook as well as introducing huge numbers of interesting aliens. Also included are a few new feats and a couple of Prestige classes that are very welcome.

Whether you play this game or not, getting this book just for background info on races in StarWars makes this book worth it to me.

Loads of Aliens!.......2005-08-04

I would definitely recommend buying this as your second book after the core rulebook. Basically, it's just pack from front to back with a few hundred alien species. All stats are given, so every alien type is available for player or GM characters. Some have complained that there are no creatures in this book, but the Star Wars series has never been about dungeon crawling. If you need creatures, the famous ones are in the core book, and if you want new ones, there's a good creature creation section there too. This book, on the other hand, gets to the meat of Star Wars encounters--facing down aliens of all races and types. You'll definitely want to pick this up to populate your campaigns. Before long, you'll be able to recreate your very own alien cantina. Perhaps my only complaint is that the artwork was done by several artists, and some of the artwork isn't as good as it could be. Hopefully in a future edition, some of the sketchy artwork will be replaced.

Excelent book for any fan of Star Wars........2005-05-19

Now, I don't play the card game, but I was amazed at how many races of aliens were actually in Star Wars! There is in-depth information on all of the races including home planet, culture, and fighting abilities. This is a must for anyone. The ONLY reason I gave this book a 4 was because a few races are missing. For example the Selkath. Still, buy this book

Ultimate Alien Agenda: The Re-engineering of Humankind

Average customer rating:

One of the Funniest Books I Have Ever Read.
A Great Book That Will Keep Your Juices Flowing
Worst UFO/Alien Book I ever read!!
The Aliens Might Be Making Me Write This
Interesting, but flawed

Ultimate Alien Agenda: The Re-engineering of Humankind
James L. Walden
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Supernatural | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

UFOs | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

UFOs | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 156718779X

Customer Reviews:

One of the Funniest Books I Have Ever Read........2005-09-23

Of course, the author seems to be in earnest, but that only makes him the more laughable.

In this book he describes his numerous experiences being abducted by aliens, and how he remembered more and more about the abductions via regression hypnosis, and how he hung out with other abductees comparing notes. He also brags a lot about how much the abductions and regressions expanded his mind and how much deeper his thoughts are than other people's because of it, but the only visible sign of this expansion or depth is the increasing frequency with which he spouts warmed-over hippie philosophy.

My favorite sentence in the whole book is this one: "I would never have imagined that my journey of self-discovery would lead me to an interdimensional race of lizard beings."

Neither would I.

A Great Book That Will Keep Your Juices Flowing.......2005-02-20

This book really makes you think and question all that is (for any skeptics) it teaches you to open your mind even if its not true. Thats why this world is a wreck.

Worst UFO/Alien Book I ever read!!.......2003-06-22

There are many very very good UFO/Alien books available, and many very very bad ones available. THIS BOOK IS ONE OF THE VERY VERY BAD ONES, and the worst one I have read. It is Dis-jointed, NOT believable (and many UFO books are), Sensationalist, Not Scientific at all, and purely anecdotal of the author's alleged experiences, I believe in the existence of UFO's and Aliens, but I do NOT believe much of what this author says. Don't waste your money or time on this. Buy a Timothy Good book, or Phil Corso's book, or one of many other very good books available on the topic.

The Aliens Might Be Making Me Write This.......2002-02-02

I've studied the UFO/alien subject for almost 30 years and I was aware of it and curious about it for far longer. I read material on the subject because every now and then I learn a new piece of the puzzle and can relate it directly to my personal experiences with unexplained high strangeness. I am a bit suspect of Llewellyn Publications/FATE Magazine to begin with because I feel they have a tendency to the sensationalistic and aren't overly concerned with documentation. Having said that, I did buy a copy of this book even though like so many big hairy tales of "shocking" material it is printed on cheap ragstock seemingly to make the most money possible off the sale of the book. I found a couple of interesting parallels to my own curious and unexplained experiences. I found food for thought within its pages but mostly I thought it was an exercise in imagining, brain-storming or free form associating strange experiences with conjecture and wildly far-fetched assumptions and theories. James Walden's experiences can't be dismissed out of hand just by saying they're too weird and I'm NOT saying that. I can give him the benefit of the doubt that these things he describes are true from his perspective. The idea that they are too alien for our human intelligence to comprehend or that we as humans are too fully manipulated by aliens to really know what's going on could be true but that argument makes the whole point of a book or a study on the subject moot in the first place. Dr. Walden experienced a childhood rape, experienced a life-long problem with obsessive love fantasies and is a homosexual man from a conservative state. Those factors may be the result of being manipulated and posessed by interdimentional alien beings or by being a hybrid alien (hulien) but it occurs to me that it could also be the other way around and a troubled child could have grown into a troubled man who explains his troubles by blaming them on the manipulations of aliens from a different dimension. I think it would be arrogant and unkind for me to dismiss his experiences but there is way too much speculation in this book that is reported as though it is fact. I think there is far too much reliance on psychic revelation, hypnotic recall and plain old BS sessions between people with strongly vested interests in the conclusions that are expressed in this book. It's an interesting and easy short read and you may aid your own investigations as I did by checking it out, but please keep an objective mind and in my opinion, yes, it's ok to laugh like hell if you feel like it.

Interesting, but flawed.......2001-09-06

Interesting stuff here, fascinating too. But Walden could have done better with a good editor. Way too much repetition here, and bad sentences.

ALIEN EARTH: The Past Master; Rain Magic; Ultimate Melody; The Loot of Time; Doodad; Automaton; The People of the Crater; Franchise

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ALIEN EARTH: The Past Master; Rain Magic; Ultimate Melody; The Loot of Time; Doodad; Automaton; The People of the Crater; Franchise
Roger; Moskowitz, Sam (editors) (Edmond Hamilton; Robert Bloch; Erle Stanley Gardner; Arthur C. Clarke; Clifford D. Simak; Ray Bradbury; A. E. van Vogt; Andre Norton; Isaac Asimov) Elwood
Manufacturer: Macfadden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GVUNWI

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Alien Liaison : The Ultimate Secret
Timothy Good
Manufacturer: Arrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M4WP7K

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Alien Liaison. The Ultimate Secret.
Timothy. GOOD
Manufacturer: Cassell, 1991. 1st UK edition.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JNE586

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Alien Liaison: The Ultimate Secret
Timothy Good
Manufacturer: Century
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

UFOs | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0712621946

AVON SCIENCE FICTION READER (3) Three - 1952: The Robot Empire; P. N. 40; The Master Ants; In the Walls of Eryx; The Black Stone Statue; The Planet of Dread; The Alien Vibration; The Ultimate Paradox

Average customer rating:

AVON SCIENCE FICTION READER (3) Three - 1952: The Robot Empire; P. N. 40; The Master Ants; In the Walls of Eryx; The Black Stone Statue; The Planet of Dread; The Alien Vibration; The Ultimate Paradox
Donald A. (editor) (Frank Belknap Long; S. Fowler Wright; Francis Flagg; Kenneth Sterling; H. P. Lovecraft; Mary Elizabeth Counselman; R. F. Starzl; Hannes Bok; Thorp McClusky) Wollheim
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LCMHLW

Own the Short Game - Instructional Video for Mastering the Short Game with Your Alien Ultimate Wedge (VHS tape)

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Own the Short Game - Instructional Video for Mastering the Short Game with Your Alien Ultimate Wedge (VHS tape)
Pat Simmons
Manufacturer: Alien Sport
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000JEOQQ6

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The Ultimate Alien
Byron Preiss , John (Editor) Betancourt , and Keith R.A.(Editor) Decandido
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 044050631X
Release Date: 1995-09-01

Book Description

In this strange and exciting collection, some of the best-known authors of the fantastic explore the intricacies and speculations of human encounters with the other...with aliens. From Robert Silverberg's examination of interspecies marriage to Arthur C. Clarke's classic tale of the exploration of Venus, from Mike Resnick and Nicholas A. DiChario's hilarious look at an alien radio broadcast to Nina Kiriki Hoffman's intense study of a woman taken over by a plant-like creature -- here are spectacular stories transcending time and space.

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The Ultimate Alien Agenda: The Re-Engineering Of Humankind
James L. WALDEN
Manufacturer: Llwellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J5366G

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Adventures with the Buddha: A Buddhism Reader
Jeffery Paine
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Buddha | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Pure and Simple: The Buddhist Teachings of a Thai Laywoman

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The Life of Milarepa: A New Translation from the Tibetan

ASIN: 0393327469

Book Description

The flavor, the savor, and the sense of Buddhism as revealed through personal stories of Westerners who lived it.

Many books on Buddhism will edify you, but will they entertain you? Here, finally, is a book that yields an understanding of Buddhism—not by its metaphysics or rituals but through real characters and true stories as dramatic as those in the most imaginative novel.

Jeffery Paine has assembled the breathtaking adventures of nine Westerners who traveled in China, Tibet, and Japan, in Nepal and India, and in that new Buddhist frontier, America, chanced across Buddhism, and made it an integral part of their lives. Through vivid travel writing and gripping human tales, the reader is exposed not just to the theory of Buddhist philosophy and practice but also to what it looks like from the inside. From enchanting, now-lost kingdoms in Asia to the American workplace where a practitioner is profitably applying the dharma, Adventures with the Buddha is a tour de force across nations, generations, and, ultimately, spirituality.

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Grace The Table - Stories & Recipes From My Southern Revival
Alexander; Jones, Hettie Smalls
Manufacturer: Broadway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RIW4T0

Average customer rating:

Read it for the stories, not the food.

A book for the bedside & countertop

it was ok

Cooking up some good stories

Yum Baby!

Grace the Table: Stories and Recipes from My Southern Revival
Alexander Smalls , and Hettie Jones
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
South | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0060174870

Book Description

Alexander Smalls, the father of southern revival cooking and owner of the acclaimed Cafe Beulah, pens an atmospheric memoir rich with stories about the joys of food, music, and life and liberally sprinkled with his world-class recipes.

Boasting a loyal clientele that includes such luminaries as Quincy Jones, Spike Lee and Toni Morrison, Cafe Beulah has become a major Manhattan hot spot. Much of its success is due not only to its renowned approach to southern cooking--a delicious blend of traditional fare with international flair--but also to the effervescent, larger-than-life presence of its former opera singer owner, Alexander Smalls.

In Grace the Table, Smalls combines his storytelling talent with his love for food in a memoir of his journey from his hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Europe and eventually to Manhattan. "Growing, buying, preparing, serving, eating food--the whole tasty subject--captured and framed so many of my memories that in a curious way it has not only sustained me but given me life," writes Smalls, and his unabashed passion is readily apparent as he regales readers with such recollections as the first meal he ever prepared (when he was six), his accidental but rewarding encounter with Joan Sutherland, and his adventures, culinary and otherwise, while touring Europe as one of the stars of the Houston Grand Opera production of Porgy and Bess.

As a special treat, 100 of the delicious culinary creations he invented during his travels are sprinkled throughout the book, allowing readers to recreate his menus and enjoy such southern revival dishes as Cheese Corn Puppies with Fresh Herbs and Sweet Potato Coconut Cake.

Customer Reviews:

Read it for the stories, not the food. .......2006-02-06

My mother is from a little town just outside of Spartanburg so I was very interested in this cookbook. Well,as a collection of stories about Mr. Small's family and friends it's charming but as a cookbook it's weak on substance and none of my South Carolinian relatives (all great cooks) were impressed by the book either.

If you want a serious cookbook discussing classic black food try the original Ebony Cookbook or Spoonbread or Strawberry Wine instead.

A book for the bedside & countertop.......2006-01-27

This is a book that's passionate about food and culture--one that is unique to America. Like southern France, the American South has contributed so much to the national cuisine (some would argue that it IS the national cuisine). This book is a celebration of how family,food, and community can make art.

it was ok.......2005-02-01

while mr. smalls is an excellent raconteur, i found his book disappointing. some of the most deliciously described dishes were not in the book! we want the recipes for the coconut ice box cake or that orange cake that toni morrison loved so much! and the recipes that i have tried so far (caramel cake and the hoecakes) left me sorely disappointed. since my mother hails from south carolina, i had high expectations of the recipes.

i enjoyed the stories very much - but it seems as if i'll have to use my imagination for the tastes of those wonderfully described dishes.

Cooking up some good stories.......2005-01-23

Whether you're looking for a collection of colorful short stories flavored with recipes or an array of creative recipes tossed with life stories, pick up GRACE THE TABLE by Alexander Smalls. Sharing personal and family intimacies along with familiar and foreign dishes, Smalls introduces us to his world and lovingly guides us to and through all it offered him. From South Carolina to Germany, readers follow Smalls as he follows his singing passion and steadily amasses dishes and culinary techniques to tempt and satisfy even the ficklest of taste buds.

Serving as an autobiography and a cookbook, GRACE THE TABLE is just as educational as it is entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed how Smalls began by centering the chapters on featured dishes and who he saw preparing them. He has written some quite enjoyable stories based on those people, delving into their lives and their role in his life. Each chapter could stand alone as a short story, a story stocked with mouthwatering descriptions that will make you want to run down to the kitchen and whip up the dish just to see what all the fuss is about. I did try out a few of the recipes. Mmmm mmmm! There are some crazy dishes in here, like a few of the low country recipes in chapter 5 where Aunt Daisy stirs up some surprises with fish heads and rabbits. Yet, however unusual the dish, the recipes are clear and easy to follow.

Reading this book was difficult at times because the passionate way Smalls describes food just kidnaps your senses and transplants you to where he is, be it Sparkle City or Paris. Aside from being a successful chef and an excellent opera singer, Smalls also proves to be a fantastic storyteller. His writing style is easy, flowing in a manner that politely demands your attention while convincing you that what he has to say is worth listening to. And it is. There are recipes here for everything from the "basics" like macaroni and cheese and cinnamon toast to the extravagant like spaghetti e Pomodoro with garlic, basil, and olive oil and spicy lamb loaf with currants. And there are stories which are just as delicious to go with each recipe. One of the things I love about Smalls is that he says recipes are just a basic outline; it's up to the cook to add the panache! This nontraditional cookbook is an added bonus for any reader and any chef. (RAW Rating: 4.5)

Reviewed by Natasha T.
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Yum Baby!.......1998-09-16

This was well written! I could almost smell the food as he described the meals, not only what they ate, but how the food was prepared, the moods of the people preparing the food.

I was reminded of the movie Soul Food and the connection between family, friends, and our love affair with good, well-prepared meals. I even tried his recipe for fried chicken and I got rave reviews from my family.

He's led an extraordinary life, one that adds to the notion that African-Americans are truly multi-facted people. The combination of Soul Food and Opera is one that doesn't come to mind immediately, but Alexander Smalls expands our thinking and shows us that anything is possible with enough drive and determination.

Well worth reading!!

Average customer rating:
Grace The Table: Stories & Recipes From My Southern Revival
Alexander Smalls
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEM2RQ

Average customer rating:

lovely book , lovely pictures

Teddy Bear Treasury a Salute to Teddy: Identification & Values
Ken Yenke
Manufacturer: Collector Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Teddy Bears | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Buying and Selling Teddy Bears Price Guide

Linda Mullins Teddy Bears & Friends Identification & Price Guide (Linda Mullins' Teddy Bears & Friends)

Miller's: Teddy Bears: A Complete Collector's Guide (Miller's Collector's Guides)

The Story of the Steiff Teddy Bear: An Illustrated History from 1902

American Teddy Bear Encyclopedia

ASIN: 157432313X

Book Description

Rare, original teddy bears, mostly from the author's collection are listed. The over 200 teddys shown are making their premier appearance in this price guide, whether in original vintage photos alongside their owners or in current photographs from the author. American and political bears, Bing bears, English, French, and German bears, and Steiff bears are featured. Once again, a free appraisal of your teddy bear from the author is available. AUTHORBIO: Ken Yenke is a reputable collector of antique teddy bears. Pieces from his collection are frequently photographed in magazine articles and price guides. He offers a free teddy bear appraisal to purchasers of his book, Teddy Bear Treasury II. REVIEW: This book is perfect to cuddle up with! The perfect compliment to the author's first volume, each item in this beautifully illustrated guide has been carefully chosen from the author's amazing personal collection.

Customer Reviews:

lovely book , lovely pictures.......2005-11-26

I love this book. Huge amount of wonderful pictures you want to look at over and over again! Prices (quite high!) also included. Beautiful and interesting.

Book Description

In the early twentieth century, the appearance of new houses across the United States shifted dramatically. Rejecting the elaborate decoration and complexity of Victorian homes, these new houses featured open, parlorless interiors and a minimalist aesthetic, radiating an aura of warmth, coziness, and naturalness. Nowhere were such residences more evident than in West Coast cities, especially Seattle, where explosive growth generated entire neighborhoods of this new house type--the bungalow. It was the nation's first modern home, and it established the essential characteristics of popular housing for the rest of the twentieth century.

In The Seattle Bungalow, Janet Ore modifies the common notion that architectural change flows only from the design elite--the architects, domestic reformers, and planners who advocate for changes in domestic architecture--and argues that ordinary people played a crucial role in creating the bungalow. Through their growing power as consumers, modest-income families influenced the physical form of early twentieth-century houses and suburban landscapes. Still operating within a nineteenth-century labor and contracting system, small home builders responded to rising consumer demand for new conveniences such as electricity and central heating by simplifying their structures. Ambitious salespeople-real estate agents, plan book purveyors, and builders--created a new market for affordable small houses through astute advertising and financing. And once families acquired their homes, they used them flexibly, adapting their lives to their domestic spaces and refashioning their homes when necessary. From such efforts sprang the Seattle bungalow, an artifact of ordinary people's part in creating modern culture.

Average customer rating:

Great series for boys

Sailing for Gold
Deborah Hopkinson
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Orphans & Foster Homes | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Orphans & Foster Homes | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Adventure in Gold Town (Ready-for-Chapters)

The Long Trail (Ready-for-Chapters)

Prairie Skies: Cabin in the Snow

Our Kansas Home

Prairie Skies: Pioneer Summer

ASIN: 0689860315

Book Description

Gold Rush!

Seattle, July 1897

Ever since his mother died, Davey has had a secret plan: He's saving his money so he can run away to Alaska to find Uncle Walt, the only relative he has. No one is going to stop him -- not even mean Mrs. Tinker, who owns the Seattle boardinghouse where Davey lives and works.

When gold is discovered in the Klondike, Davey is convinced that's where he'll find his uncle. But then Davey's money disappears, and with it his hopes of finding his uncle -- until Davey comes up with a new, much more dangerous plan.

Customer Reviews:

Great series for boys.......2004-06-28

My son loves this book. It was on his summer reading list, and it's just at the perfect level for beginning or reluctant readers. Our family is headed for a summer vacation in Seattle, and we can't wait to go to the Klondike National Park in Pioneer Square and imagine what the streets looked like in 1897!

The Seattle Filmworks Home Study Course in Photographing Infants and Children/Book and 2 Cassette Tapes

Average customer rating:

The Seattle Filmworks Home Study Course in Photographing Infants and Children/Book and 2 Cassette Tapes
Eric Ericson
Manufacturer: Amer Passage Marketing Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0937649023

Seattle Home Book (Seattle Home Book, 1st ed)

Average customer rating:

Seattle Home Book (Seattle Home Book, 1st ed)

Manufacturer: Ashley Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1588620530

Book Description

The Seattle Home Book is the most complete, hands-on sourcebook to building, remodeling, decorating, furnishing and landscaping a luxury home in Seattle, the Eastside and surrounding areas. Whether interested in remodeling a kitchen or building a multi-million dollar dream home, this book can give readers the information they want to get the quality services and products they need. From Medina to Magnolia and all points in between, the Seattle Home Book compiles the most comprehensive list of design professionals who rank among the top ten in their respective fields. Most of the professionals were chosen based upon outstanding work that they have been awarded for in their fields. Let the Seattle Home Book do your homework for you! You'll find in these pages:

• More than 700 listings of professionals, specializing in 40 different trades. • Instructional information for choosing and working with architects, contractors, landscapers and interior designers. • More than 1,000 color photographs inspiring innovative interior and exterior modeling ideas. • A compilation of the area's top enhancement service providers organized by trade with easy-to-read listings.

The Home Book series is the final destination when searching for home improvement services. These comprehensive, hands-on sourcebooks to building, remodeling, decorating, furnishing, and landscaping a home, are region-specific making them required reading for the local homeowner. These hardcover volumes are the most complete and well-organized reference for the home industry. The Home Book covers all aspects of the process, including listings of hundreds of industry professionals, accompanied by informative and valuable editorial discussing the most recent trends. This handsome, easy-to-use directory is designed in a concise and organized manner, to be both practical and inspirational.

If there's one resource every current and future homeowner should own, it's a copy of his or her local Home Book. This vastly comprehensive sourcebook is the only publication of its kind—a compilation of the most recent, best ideas and information to guide readers as they remodel, build, decorate or landscape a luxury home in their local market.

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