Book Description

Driven from his rural home for insulting the village priest, young Jake Thomas boards a freighter in New Orleans, entering the exotic world of a ship and the sea. As the vessel sails into the sultry Southern Hemisphere, Jake encounters bizarre characters and courageously faces danger, but falters when the voyage turns into a spiritual and emotional odyssey.

Under the stern navigational tutelage of the captain and second mate, Jake, a midshipman, struggles to master the three star fix, even as he abandons his moral compass in the back-alleys of the South American ports. In Valparaiso, the mariner's Mecca, Jake follows the wicked sailor Fletcher into an intoxicating labyrinth of pleasure and violence, resulting in heartrending retribution homebound.

On Jake's maiden voyage, he delights in the wonders of the wide outer world while navigating a rocky inner passage of beauty, desire and love.

Customer Reviews:

An "okay" book........2004-08-19

This is the kind of novel you could tear into two parts; hate one part, and like the other. I absolutely loathed the first 240 pages or so, and at that brief moment, almost stopped reading it. However, I enjoyed the last 100 pages of the book.

I was frankly befuddled at my own ambivalence to the first two thirds of the novel. I wasn't quite sure what to think of "Three Star Fix", until I took some time to brood a little bit. It's not what I had expected after reading the other two glorifying reviews that it got. It did not stimulate me at all. I was very disappointed.

There were a few parts in the book that were interesting. But these were too few and too spread apart throughout the whole 342 pages. As you can imagine, this leaves boring lulls in-between that can make you want to quit reading the book. Jake Thomas's descriptions of his work as a mariner were highly irritating. I also found his obsessive tales of sex quite obnoxious. His sexual escapades with poor third-world prostitutes were rather a turn-off for me. It was rather disturbing.

I also found myself wondering why the book was so unnecessarily long, when in fact most of the occurrences were variegated repeats of past chapters. All chapters oscillated between Jake's travel, work, confused brooding, and whoring!

The tide changed a little bit after the first two thirds of the novel, when Ana Elena enters the picture. That is when the novel reaches the climax...in Valparaiso. Jake realizes that he's been used by Ana Elena - a girl who he had started loving greatly in their first two days together. He finds out that she is to be married, and that she was just using him for sex. Jake is frustrated...gets himself on drugs, and then sleeps with Rosa. This was driven by the combination of inebriation and a broken heart. Jake assumes Rosa is killed by Fletcher (her boyfriend) while they were "making love". He gets gonorrhea...and the story goes on. All this starts the self-questioning of Jake. This is when he really starts taking in lessens about life and love from a special friend.

There were some nice moments in the book too. Jack's various inner conflicts, the storm, and the ominous ring were all nice additives.

Jablonski could have made his book shorter, and better. For this reason and others, I give the book a whapping 3 stars!!!

Clear, accomplished, and honest.......2003-01-26

Mr. Jablonski's first novel is a fine piece of work: a classic Bildungsroman of the sea, in which 19-year-old Jake Thomas makes his first sea voyage in the merchant marine aboard the freighter "Gulf Trader." A virginal midshipman who has run out on his drunken father and given the finger to his Catholic upbringing in Nebraska, Jake learns about life, women, love, and the sea on his maiden voyage from New Orleans to Valparaiso, Chile and back in about five weeks of the summer of 1967.

Jablonski tells a solid, honest tale, cutting few corners and making fewer narrative missteps. His hero visits a number of brothels, with more and less satisfying results; falls in love with an unearthly beauty in Chile; witnesses at least one killing; trip-sits for a shipmate, then does a tab of acid himself; reads _Crime and Punishment_ and ponders his similarities and differences with Raskolnikov; identifies the soul buddies on board, as well as the baddies to stay clear of; and tries to learn the tricky job of making a "three star fix," in which the sea navigator pinpoints his ship's exact location by sighting familiar stars along the celestial sphere.

Although there are many striking incidents and an occasional exquisite passage throughout this sexually frank but not explicit book, for my money the best chapter occurs in the middle of the story, when Jake visits an infamous whorehouse in Callao known as the Trockadero. Sharp details mingle with hallucinatory descriptions of events and emotions; it would have made a lovely short story by itself.

Jablonski's publisher, Gardenia Press of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has done a mixed job by its author. There are a fair number of typoes, although most of them are not of the leap-off-the-page-at-you variety. His editors seem to have had particular difficulty keeping an apostrophe out of the possessive "its," and they've invariably allowed their word processing software to substitute an open quotation mark for an initial apostrophe (as in " 'Cuz" and "How 'bout you?"). Some of the more amusing ones included egg "yoke," "Universite de Columbia," and "a small steep trail -- not much more than a lama path. . . ." But the cover art is marvelous, and the book is well produced for a paperback.

Not being an experienced seaman (I crossed the Atlantic to Tangiers on a Yugoslav freighter once, but as a 10-year-old tourist passenger), I can't vouch for the accuracy of the descriptions of the crafts and trade, but I wouldn't doubt they are as on target as the rest of the book seems to be.

An admirable effort. I hope Mr. Jablonski keeps writing.

An Excellent -- Intellectual -- Maritime Adventure.......2002-12-15

Mr. Jablonski's focal character, Jake Thomas -- a cadet on his first voyage out to sea -- encounters the realities of navel life. With a poet's lust for life, Jake slips in and out third world ports and coastal -- whorehouses, like a young man on a do-or-die mission to lose his virginity. He finds love, lots of love, as he discovers the feminine role as a necessary adjunct to professional seamanship.
This work will surely become known as a fine maritime maturation tale, par excellence. I loved the word portraits Joe Jablonski painted of the good guys and bad guys. Moral codes and the basic philosophical ought are openly questioned throughout this lusty, masterful novel. From this day forward, when I hear the words "Must Read" I will immediately think, "Three Star Fix." It most certainly is -- a "Must Read."

Amazon.com

The Celtic Crusades is a trilogy of stories about a noble Scottish family whose successive generations venture to the Holy Land at the time of the Crusades to retrieve sacred relics. In the first book, The Iron Lance, Murdo Ranulfson went to Jerusalem and brought back the iron lance used at the crucifixion. Now Duncan, Murdo's son, must find and preserve the Black Rood--a piece of the true cross. As in The Iron Lance, the main narrative is framed by the memoirs of Gordon Murray, nineteenth century scion of the ancient Scottish clan and member of a Christian secret society whose mission is to bring the world back to the true path.

This middle volume follows a format familiar to fantasy readers: an unformed youth leaves home to find himself and fulfill his destiny. In his travels through distant and dangerous lands, our hero rescues and is rescued by a series of quirky characters who join his quest, encountering divine visions, politics in the court of the Caliph, and cult assassins. He returns from his adventures older and wiser, triumphantly clutching the Black Rood, and accompanied, as an added bonus, by a new and beautiful wife.

Lawhead sprinkles his tale with delicious hints about revelations regarding the potential offspring of Jesus, which, if expanded upon in the final volume, threaten to elevate this fiction from competent to genuinely intriguing. --Luc Duplessis

Book Description

In the second book in the exciting Celtic Crusades series, Murdo and his family search for a piece of the cross of Christ.

Download Description

In the second book in the exciting Celtic Crusades series, Murdo and his family search for a piece of the cross of Christ.

Customer Reviews:

Second Book in the Celtic Crusade Series.......2007-09-26

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion. Lawhead makes his home in Austria with his wife. Stephen Lawhead is one of my all time favourite authors and I am only sorry that he does not write more often.

This book is a continuation of the Iron Lance. I found this book The Black Rood) to be even better than the Iron Lance which is saying something because I enjoyed that tremendously. Perhaps it is because you are more familiar with the characters or the storyline, I am not sure, but I can hardly wait for the third book, The Mystic Rose.

Murdo Ranulfsson has been through the harrowing and frightening experience of being part of the Great Crusade in Jerusalem and no one is more surprised than himself that he has lived to tell the tale. He has returned to his beloved Scotland and there has founded a clan that is both powerful and god fearing. Life is also good for Duncan, Murdo's son, that is until his young wife dies in childbirth . . .

For lovers of Templars.......2005-03-10

Book 2 in this series by Stephen Lawhead (Celtic Crusades) carries on one generation after the events of the Holy Lance.

Book 1 described the first crusade, and gave some feel for the passion of the crusaders and the enormity of their achievement in "liberating" Jereusalem.

In this book Duncan, the son of Murdo, undertakes his own pilgrimage to the holy land following the death of his wife. He makes a vow to find and bring back the "Holy Rood" a piece of the true cross.

What we get along the way is a view of Medieval France, and a tour of the Eastern Mediterranean in the period after the first Crusade.

We follow Bohemond II on his ill advised invasion of Armenian and Turkish lands, we visit Famagusta and Paphos in Cyprus, Damietta and the Caliphates of Damascus and Cairo.

This tale lacks much of the punch of the first novel in the series, but more than makes up for this with the richness of detail concerning the crusader kingdoms.

And behind all that is going on are the Noble Knights Templar, the new monastic order of Sword Brothers, pleged to defend the roads and holy places for Pilgrims.

A trifle disappointing.......2005-02-15

I am not a lover of books written in first-person, because they center too much in the main character, who is not always the most interesting, and limits the actions of other players in the story. This is such a case.
From the beginning, Duncan proves to be much less interesting than his father, Murdo, and his adventures are not as thrilling. He is indeed helped by "Fortuna", for whatever he is seeking appears exactly where he is looking. Too fortuitous for my taste.
I always look forward to sequels, but not always do you find a worthy one. Again, this is such a case.
The Black Rood is much less interesting than its predecesor. Even the story inside the story is less appealing in this book than it was in the first one.

More of the same..........2004-05-21

Lawhead's "Celtic Crusades" continue with the next generation, Duncan, son of Murdo (familiar to readers of Vol. 1 in the series, "The Iron Lance"). One again the action revolves around a sacred relic, this time the black rood, a remnant of Christ's true cross, which Duncan aspires to obtain in a crusade to the Holy Land. The narrative of Duncan's vision of Christ's death in connection with this relic is one of the central passages of the book (p334-347). In his quest, Duncan is accompanied by the Cele De priest Padraig and Prince Roupen of Armenia, and must deal with danger at the hands of the Moslems (Seljuq Turks) and the more mysterious intrigues of the Templar Knights. As in the first novel of the series, the story is framed by the memoirs of Gordon Murray, a member of a nineteenth century secret society, but Murray's connection to the plot is still enshrouded in mystery and will only become clear in the final volume of the series.

There's no question that the novel is rich in historical detail and adventure, and there are some solid Christian themes. Typical are sentences like: "the Swift Sure Hand does bend all things to the good of those who love him." Despite this, "The Black Rood" lacks the gripping suspense of Lawhead's historical epic "Byzantium", and the passion and imagination of his forays into fantasy. I look forward to when Lawhead leaves the realm of historical fiction and returns to fantasy. -GODLY GADFLY

Iron Lance is better, but this is still very good.......2003-11-18

As I mention in the title I enjoyed the Iron Lance a little more than this. It's a subjective thing - the Iron Lance just grabbed me a little more than this one.

Howver, this is still a pretty decent book, worth reading. The lead character is Duncan Murdosson, son of Murdo Ranulfson from the Iron Lance. Duncan's uncle, Murdo's brother, has come home from the Holy Land where he stayed after the Great Pilgrimage. He has harrowing tales of life in the Holy Land, but also plants in Duncan the seed of knowledge of the existence of the the Black Rood, a piece of the cross of Christ. After enduring a great tragedy, and against the will of his father, Duncan goes on a quest for the Black Rood. This quest will take him on a long journey through many lands and adventures and much intrigue. Along the way he will find the object of his quest, as well as love and restoration to the True Path.

This book is written in an interesting style. Most of it is written in first person narrative with Duncan as the narrator, writing a story of his travels while in prison awaiting execution as the hands of Muslims. He is writing this for the sake of his daughter, whom he expects never to see again. One of the high spots of the book is the tale of his deliverance from prison.

Average customer rating:

A Violent Saga with Strange Creatures A-Plenty

Conan catches a case of Lycanthropy and kills half the world

Conan and the Shaman's Curse (Conan)
Sean A. Moore
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Moore, Sean A. | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Conan and the Treasure of Python (Conan)

Conan at the Demon's Gate (Conan)

Conan the Great (Conan)

Conan The Hunter (Conan)

Conan The Defiant (Conan)

ASIN: 0812552652

Customer Reviews:

A Violent Saga with Strange Creatures A-Plenty.......2007-05-27

A more-unique Conan read for its strange creatures and atypical characters, such as a race of giants. This is one of the more violent Conan spinoffs, very bloody and unrelenting in its action. The battles against humans and creatures are vivid and gory. The cast of characters are likeable and compelling. Conan is lost on an island inhabited by a race of giants cut off from the rest of the world. Although these giants have a few feet on Conan (who is supposedly about 7 feet tall already) somehow Conan is as strong as they are. In any case, the adventure is compelling. The actual "shaman's curse" afflicting Conan is more like a side story than a central feature of the tale, so it loses points for that. There are far worse Conan tales out there. This is one of the better ones.

Conan catches a case of Lycanthropy and kills half the world.......1997-06-05

What do you get when you combine a lycantherope barbarian with man-eating vultures and a race of 9-foot primatives? A really wierd Conan tale. The tale opens with a typical scene of complete carnage. Conan and a band of 200 mercenaries were hired to fight a battle, and after 24 hours of blood-spilling, head-bashing, limb-severing fun, there are only a handful of survivors. Those survivors were Conan and a dozen of the enemy troops. Conan makes short work of the enemy rabble (and in doing so becomes the sole survivor of the battle) but before the last victim dies, he puts a hex on Conan (you guessed it, the Shaman). The plot becomes even more unrealistic and disjointed as the book wears on. He burns his comrads in a pyre after the battle, then out runs a horde of vengefull horsemen, swims a mile out to sea and hops on board a pirateship, kills all the pirates....and so on, and so on.... For the most part the plot was just too unbelievable to take seriously. On top of all of this, Conan becomes a lycantherope of sorts (I think he actually turns into a killer ape when the moon is full...) as a result of the curse. For me this was very disappointing. For those of us who are Conan fans, we realize just how much the Cimmerian loathes sorcery, so to see him turned in to a were-ape, or whatever, is, in a way, tarnishing his image. I think this aspect of the curse could have been done just as well if it was one of Conan's lady friends who get's smitten. I just don't like to see Conan himself devouring human entrails and drinking blood. The story wasn't bad, just excessive. There is only so much a hero in a fantasy tale can pull off before the reader starts to think: "Oh come ON...You have GOT to be joking !" Moore just keeps piling it on until Conan is no longer a mighty Cimmerian, but a muscle bound god in a loincloth. The Verdict: If you are a die-hard Conan fan, pick it up. You may enjoy this type of Sword and Sorcery, myself, I could barely put up with it. It get's better as it wears on, but throughout the entire book I just couldn't forget the "Conan-the-Giant-Ape-Jumping-About-Eating-Pirates" style beginning. It spolied the rest of the tale

Average customer rating:

I published the book & knew Dumitru well

Hallelujah! The Lord is ever-present!

The book has some interesting ideas...

No one is ever bothered by a false prophet

A change your life book...(THE LORDS PROPHETS OF TODAY)

Through the Fire Without Burning
Dumitru Duduman
Manufacturer: Hand of Help, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Through the Fire: True Story of a Romanian Pastor Facing Communist Persucution

America's Last Call

The Mystery of Iniquity

Codex Magica: Secret Signs, Mysterious Symbols, and Hidden Codes of the Illuminati

A Divine Revelation of Hell

ASIN: 0963505505

Customer Reviews:

I published the book & knew Dumitru well.......2007-05-17

I met Dumitru back in the late 80's...after he was tortured & released by the Romanian Secret Police and was speaking for Open Doors Ministry at their banquets. I worked with him & his family for many years & went to Romania with him in 1990. My church helped him build an orphanage there(Bonisan by Suceava in Moldavia) after I got back.
I initially published the book myself after finally getting the (disk)manuscript from Dumitru in '91. It has since sold I believe close to 50,000 copies pretty much by word of mouth. My initial book was revised by Dumitru.
What can I say about Dumitru & his prophesies? Well it's true many of what he said, dreamed, had visions of, or said angels told him have not come true. But he also told me that America was foretold in REV 18:9 'where the great city was burning & in one Hour your judgement would come & ships would see her burning'....
Now that was pretty remarkable as on 9-11 I was watching NY burning on TV & this exact prophecy of Dumitru's burned in my mind & heart.
As someone not really of the pentecostal persuasion(more a Francis Schaefer type)I am not real sure of much of this prophecy stuff. We were in Romania seeing a woman Dumitru considered a great prophetess and she told us none of us would die but we would see Christ come back. Now I thought that was a cool promise from God and hope it's true but in the meantime of 8 or nine of us there I think 3 are still alive...so does that mean the lady was a fake? I have no idea though like Dumitru she seemed to live a holy life devoted to Christ. So I'll leave it in God's hands.
Personally I think if Dumitru's message can wake us up to be more the Bride of Christ then perhaps God is using him in spite of his imperfections and failings. All I know is he was a man of impeccable character and one of the true soldiers of Christ like Paul that I've ever met.
Chip Rohlke
Christ is Creator.com Ministry
Melbourne Florida
321-773-4020

Hallelujah! The Lord is ever-present!.......2006-12-10

The Duduman's have been a blessing to many, many, many people across decades of time. Dumitru, his wife, and daughter are now with the Lord. This book is not another story about another persecuted Christian. It contains revelation knowledge of God's plans and purposes for the near future. More is revealed on their web site, HandofHelp.

The Lord beautifully and wonderfully worked through this man's persecuted life in ways that I have only read about in this particular book. He saw angels many times. Stories of supernaturally-appointed events are throughout the book.

Only those whose name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life will listen to what the Lord has revealed through this man.

The book has some interesting ideas..........2003-03-08

A note to David Haggith: Duduman has died since he wrote this book. I am not certain of the clarity of the page time theory. Granted though, it can be rather vague. And making dates is the surest way to find out if the person is a prophet or ... I think as we are now in a situation with Iraq, this book lends itself to speculations which feed our fear. God isn't the author of fear, so consider the source.

No one is ever bothered by a false prophet.......2002-02-21

What [to] do with the fact that when Dumitru has given dates for the fulfillment of his prophecies, particularly on his web site, he has been ENTIRELY wrong? I suppose it doesn't bother Dumitru ... It never bothers a false prophet when his dates are wrong-never:

< scrawled on it. I saw all kinds of names written page after page. When I reached the end of
the book, l found that there were one and three quarter pages left blank, unwritten."

JAN. 1996: The angel said to me, "Do you remember how many pages were left to fill when
I showed you last time? Now there is but one page left. When this is completed, what I have
told you will happen to America." He then told me that the time needed to complete this
last page will be SHORTER.>>

That's a clear statement. There's no ambiguity: the time remaining would be LESS than the
time between November 1993 when Dumitru saw the blank pages and 1996. If it took less than
three years for the first page to be filled, and there was only one page left, which was to be
filled in a "shorter" time, then all the events of his "America Will Burn" prophecy should
have happened by 1999. Here we are now twice that far out in time, and not a single one
of the events in that prophecy has happened:

America didn't burn.
No nuclear missile silos were bombed.
No planes full of atom bombs.
Florida's still there.
Las Vegas is still there.
California's still there.
New York's still there, though a little worse for wear, but not due to atom bombs on planes or extremist militias or Russian attacks.
No militias have sprung up in battle, not even during the chaos of Sept. 11, not even now when the government is preoccupied with external problems.
China and Japan have not arisen against Russia.
And, of course, Israel has not lost America as an ally.

All things that Dumitru prophesied that never happened in the timeframe he gave.

What's even more significant is that he missed ALL of the enormous events that really did happen in 2001! He was, in fact, AS WRONG AS IT IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO BE. ...

In the name of Jesus Christ,

David Haggith (Who's tired of false Pentecostal prophets. Now right ones would be a different matter.)

A change your life book...(THE LORDS PROPHETS OF TODAY).......2000-12-31

This book was an eye opener for myself and all others I've known that have read it. The contents reveal Christs words for this nation, this world at this end time and serves to warn and encourage those who desire a life in Christ. Not only this but it ties in with the other true prophets of Jesus Crist messages of this day, for the edifying of the Body of Christ. Our Father blesses those who head his prophets, and his message through them. My address is srlsalmon@cs.com for communications.

GOD BLESS, Sam

Average customer rating:
Kosher Italian Gourmet
Abaroni Evron , Israel Shaul , and Shaul Evron
Manufacturer: Lambda Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Italian | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1557740542

Average customer rating:
Kosher Italian Gourmet
Israel Aharoni
Manufacturer: UNSPECIFIED VENDOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UPDZ6G

Average customer rating:
Kosher Italian Gourmet
Israel & Shaul Evron Aharoni
Manufacturer: Modan Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MDKHF8

Book Description

Miller's Collector's Guides is a series of books aimed at providing an essential introduction to varied and popular subjects for the budding collector. Reflecting the growing trend in the antiques market towards "collectibles" (small, often affordable items) these practical guides are filled with ideas on how to form a collection, what to specialize in, and how to identify objects. Often showing specially photographed items, these are guides no collector can afford to be without.

Amazon.com

Surprisingly, this is not simply a useful "how-to" book about natural cleaning. It is also a beautiful book--a pleasure to read and look at, with its lovely photographs and illustrations, accompanied by Kellar's accessible, conversational writing style.

Everyone enjoys the look, feel, and smell of a freshly cleaned home, but many people in recent years have become alarmed at the number of potentially harmful chemicals and solvents in commercial cleaning products and yearn for a safer, healthier way. Here it is! Fresh cut lemons, glycerin, table salt, vanilla beans, canola oil, peat moss, vinegar, and fragrant herbs are combined by the author to create cleaning solutions for just about every kind of soiled surface or household item. More than 90 individual recipes for cleaning and deodorizing your home are described in detail, including polishes and cleaners for wood floors and furniture and dozens of inventive ways to remove stains and freshen clothing, upholstery, and carpeting.

Beyond the health and safety issues of using harsh chemical cleaners, there is also the cost issue. The natural materials used by Kellar are commonly available and inexpensive. Moreover, they work as well as more expensive and more unhealthy products. People with allergies and chemical sensitivities will love this book, as will anyone who longs for a clean, fresh-smelling, sparkling home without risking poisoning themselves or the environment. To put these strategies and recipes together in such a gorgeous and enjoyable book is an additional and unexpected bonus for the reader. This is a useful, practical, and elegant little book that would make a charming gift for any friend. --Mark A. Hetts

Book Description

This book shows readers how to let natural materials clean their home. Some ingredients include fresh-cut lemons, glycerine, table salt, vanilla beans, canola oil, peat moss, vinegar and herbs. Used alone or in the right combinations, these natural cleaners can replace harsh, commercial cleansers. Using natural ingredients not only works, but saves money, helps avoid allergic reactions, and demonstrates how to custom-clean problem areas. Every aspect of every room is covered.

The Complete Book of Natural Housekeeping: 95 Pure & Simple Recipes to Clean, Polish & Freshen Your Home

Average customer rating:

in response
Informative and useful
Avoid

The Complete Book of Natural Housekeeping: 95 Pure & Simple Recipes to Clean, Polish & Freshen Your Home
Casey Kellar
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Household Hints | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Green Housecleaning | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1579902294

Book Description

Save money, avoid harsh chemicals, custom-clean problem areas, and enhance your home's beauty--the natural way! To have a bright and sparkling house, jettison the abrasive commercial substances and depend on nature's gifts instead. Such kind-to-the-environment (and your health) "cleansers" as fresh-cut lemons, vinegar, glycerine, baking soda, wheat-germ oil, and fragrant herbs will polish wood floors and furniture to gleaming; remove stubborn stains from laundry, upholstery, and carpeting; and tackle dirt and grime in kitchens and bathrooms. Quick-to-make recipes include a carpet cleaner with vanilla to remove odors and peppermint or wintergreen to disinfect; handy-dandy pine wash for tile and vinyl floors; non-streak window clarifier; scouring cleanser for plastic, tile, fiberglass, and ceramic surfaces; pre-treating spray for delicate clothes; and gold polisher from liquid castile soap. There's even something for the car! Filled with helpful hints and clever solutions.

Customer Reviews:

in response.......2004-07-04

I am writing in response to a misinformed and clearly uneducated reviewer. Let me start by saying of course the author uses lye in her recipies, what do you think soap is made of? It is the combining of an alkaline solution (lye and water) with fats and or oils, this process is called saponification. Secondly it is true that lye is corrosive in it's pure form but I'm sure the author expects you to show the same caution you would with many other household products such as bleach or oven cleaner. I assure your end product will be safe and natural. Lastly I would like to suggest that perhaps this reviewer's time might be better spent reading books on grammer ("such which").

Informative and useful.......2002-06-24

I found this book to be a valuable resource. I've made a few of the 'recipes' for cleaners in the book and they've all proven both effective and less irritating than some commercial products I've used. I have 3 sons, 2 of them still in diapers, and they all have extremely sensitive skin. Add to that a mildly brain damaged cats who tends to pee on things, and a book like this comes in quite handy. I think the author my have gone a bit out of her depth with some of the car cleaning recipes, and she does start to channel Martha Stewart a bit too much in some parts, but aside from those two shortcomings I thought this was a worthwhile addition to my reference shelf.

Avoid.......2001-10-22

Avoid books by this author, there's nothing natural about her books, she reccomends in her books using lye and such which is very dangerous. Lye can eat through skin. I've also read her beauty books and their not that great either, there's nothing natural about her books.

(...)

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Siempre!, published by Thomson Gale on May 23, 2004. The length of the article is 1153 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Me encanta ser un escritor best-seller: Arthur Pérez-Reverte/Autor de El caballero de jubón amarillo.(Entrevista)
Author: Eve Gil
Publication: Siempre! (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 23, 2004
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 50 Issue: 2658 Page: 74(2)

Article Type: Entrevista

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Amazon.com

So many pyramids of acclaim have been built around Jean Renoir, director of Grand Illusion, The Rules of the Game, and The River, that the man and his films often seem removed and sterile. But Renoir was a real entertainer as well as a major filmmaker; poignancy and comedy were of equal importance to him. Throwing off the shackles of austerity, Ronald Bergen has written an intimate biography of the filmmaker. He recounts the details of Renoir's event-filled life in an easy, fluid style that makes this book easy to devour and hard to put down.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books