Touches the Sky: A Novel

Customer Reviews:

A story to pierce your heart.......2004-10-24

This is one of the best books I have ever read, and I read all the time, every kind of book, you name it. People complain that Christian fiction lacks reality, that it is poorly written, that it tends toward pious gush. They should read this book and know better.
Told in companionable, muscular prose, "Touches the Sky" takes place on the Great Plains, after the disappearance of the buffalo but before the trains. Against a background of doomed Indian Ghost Dancers and Dutch Reform settlers, a young white man is murdered. The narrator, Jan, has lost his first wife and two young children, and thereby his faith. Jan and his second wife try to find and help the pregnant Sioux woman the murdered man left behind. There is a mystery to solve: who killed the white man? But that problem swiftly gives way the deeper mystery of faith in times of loss, and those questions we all have about the ways of God. Jan's second marriage is to a strong, compassionate and determined woman, a missionary who identifies with the Sioux in all they have suffered. Their marriage makes good reading, for they are both independent and iconoclastic, yet able to love and respect each other deeply. Their love is at the heart of what makes this book alive.
Although "Touches the Sky" is published by a Christian publisher, it transcends the Christian/secular categories, much like "Peace Like a River" or "Anna Karenina." Schaap is one of those great story tellers who knows just how to keep you turning the pages instead of turning out the light and going to bed. When the last pages of the book came, I read out loud. I wanted to hold the words in my mouth. I started crying then, because something deep in me was being broken by the truth in this book. The ending is sad indeed, and also triumphant in the way few things ever are in stories or in life.

A deeply moving historical novel.......2004-05-15

Dr. Schaap has succedded in capturing some important truth about American history that most of us had rather deny, discaount or distort. His story is deeply moving in a deeply humane manner in it's treatment of a clash between two cultures. He writes with obvious respect for both cultures. He writes with a passion for the truth, much like Dee Brown did in BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE. If you have not dicoveres the work of Jim Schaap, I urge you to do so.

A Good, Multi-Layered Novel.......2004-01-25

I asked to review this book --- which I knew only by title --- because I recognized the author's name, having read and liked some of his contemporary short stories. This means I had no idea that James Calvin Schaap's new novel was set in 1890, in western South Dakota. Until I saw the cover, a tinted photo of Sioux hunters, I did not imagine that the title, TOUCHES THE SKY, might be someone's name. Had I known that this was a "western," probing the tension between settlers and the Sioux, I probably would have passed it over. Another genre please.

What a mistake that would have been. This a good, multi-layered novel written in the first-person voice of Jan Ellerbroek, who had impulsively left his Dutch community in Michigan and moved west, embittered after the sudden deaths of his young wife and baby. When the book opens, he has unexpectedly and happily married again, to Dalitha, a long-tenured and well-respected teacher on the Rosebud Reservation.

So narrator Jan, a liveryman who claims no Christian faith, has entrée to two cultures, each distrustful and afraid of the other. East of the reservation, a Dutch farmhand has been killed. His boss, known as a taskmaster, blames Sioux horse thieves. Jan isn't convinced. The ground is laid for a who-done-it, but that question is thrown aside when Jan is beckoned and confidentially asked to deliver a bag of coins to the reservation in order to satisfy the dying man's last-breath request: that his final wages be sent to an unnamed squaw who was carrying his child.

Hearing of Jan's task and acting on not much more than a hunch, Dalitha leads Jan on an extended search for her former student and aide, Anna Crow, who has quickly married and gone farther west to join forces with a new messiah-cult known as the ghost dancers. "Like their stomachs," Jan notes, "their hearts are hungry."

The Sioux have learned enough of Jesus to understand his love and his story's hope. Anna's father, Broken Antler, says to Dalitha, "It is a story for our people and yours, you told me....I believed you....And now my daughter says this Jesus has come again, to us, because we are poor and suffering and because [the white people] put him on a cross to die. 'He is here,' she tells me, 'and now he loves us.' " He is miraculously going to bring back the buffalo herds and destroy all the interloping whites. "Why should I believe you and not my own daughter?"

Schaap writes a taut story from the start, hinting at disaster. If I had been a better student of American history, I would have known that the plot was careening toward the massacre at Wounded Knee in December 1890. But that historical storyline is of course overlain with Jan's personal story. He and Dalitha aren't the only people looking for Anna and her child. An unexpected visit with his always-distant clergyman father confronts Jan with the rigid Calvinism in which he was raised. The God he has tried to run away from pursues him, through and beyond tragedy.

This is a serious novel --- not for people looking for easy answers or a light read. It raises issues still relevant today: Who speaks for God? Can we trust personal revelation? Do any of us know truth fully? How vast is God's grace? How does fear of "them" motivate or control "us"?

But this is not a difficult or dark novel. The narrator's voice is well controlled, from the beginning planting clues of trouble and seeds of hope. After all, the title is TOUCHES THE SKY.

--- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence

Customer Reviews:

Warm stories with rich, authentic detail of the culture.......2003-01-06

The stories are so well told, I found it hard to put down the book. They are full of warmth and are rich with authentic detail. This book is hard to categorize because it works equally well as interesting stories of the islands and as a cultural insight into two cultures meeting. Would recommend it to anyone interested in Pacific life, cross-cultural themes, or just warm stories of human sensitivity in a foreign setting.

Paradise in trust;: A report on Americans in Micronesia, 1946-1958

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Paradise in trust;: A report on Americans in Micronesia, 1946-1958
Robert Trumbull
Manufacturer: W. Sloane Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Australia & Oceania | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007DMP4O

My Ever Dear Charlie: Letters Home from the Dakota Territory

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Authentic account of prairie life

My Ever Dear Charlie: Letters Home from the Dakota Territory
The Draper Family Trust
Manufacturer: Two Dot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Letters & Correspondence | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0762739525

Customer Reviews:

Authentic account of prairie life.......2005-11-09

The beauty of this book is that you are stepping inside the intimate circles of a real American family who resolutely and regularly corresponded with warmth and wit, and sometimes despair. This is not a fictionalized narrative; it is a collection of real letters, edited by a descendent of the writers. Still, you can imagine it being turned into a movie starring Meryl Streep as the heroine (Fannie McClurg) a 40-year-old mother of six, alone with her father on the Dakota frontier, fondly, longingly, writing to her husband back in Missouri.

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America's paradise lost
Willard Price
Manufacturer: John Day Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Americans as governors of natives in the Pacific

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Americans as governors of natives in the Pacific
John Useem
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007JQQNE

Checklist of vertebrates of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and Canada (SuDoc I 49.66:166)

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Checklist of vertebrates of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and Canada (SuDoc I 49.66:166)
U.S. Dept of Interior
Manufacturer: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service National Technical Information Service [distributor]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B000101Z5I

The Congress of Micronesia: Development of the Legislative Process in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

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The Congress of Micronesia: Development of the Legislative Process in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Norman Meller
Manufacturer: U. of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PUJH90

The Congress of Micronesia: Development of the Legislative Process in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Signed By the Author)

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The Congress of Micronesia: Development of the Legislative Process in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Signed By the Author)
Norman Meller
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Australia | Australia & Oceania | History | Subjects | Books

General | Australia & Oceania | History | Subjects | Books

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The Congress of Micronesia;: Development of the legislative process in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Norman Meller
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Congresses, Senates, & Legislative Bodies | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Constitutionalism in Micronesia
Norman Meller
Manufacturer: Brigham Young Univ Inst Polynesian
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Constitutions | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Bloodname (Battletech: Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Volume 2)
Average customer rating:

Classic Battletech at its very best

The Best

It does not get any better.

interesting and action pack a must for battletech fans

Bloodname (Battletech: Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Volume 2)
Robert Thurston
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0451451171

Customer Reviews:

Classic Battletech at its very best.......2004-07-15

Reading Bloodname, the second book in The Jade Phoenix Trilogy, it is easy to see why the Battletech series has been so popular for so long. This novel has battles galore, and the main characters, already well developed in the Way of the Clans, continue to grow in the fullest, most intriguing, of ways. Battletech is about much more than armed conflict between gigantic behemoths piloted by warriors; Thurston delivers a penetrating study of clan society, human motivation within that society, and the type of heroism that is not limited to action on the battlefield. As a relative newcomer to the Battletech universe, I was also delighted to find so many different kinds of Battlemechs involved in the action, as it gave me a most helpful footing in the technology and weapon-related tactics employed in this futuristic world.

Aidan is a remarkable protagonist - his dreams of becoming a warrior had seemingly been quashed by his last-minute failure in his Trial, but his commander had defied clan law by secretly giving him a second chance. The catch had been that he must compete under the identity of a freeborn cadet. In clan society, freeborns are treated as second-class citizens, even those who manage to earn the name of warrior. This war-focused society creates its best warriors through the artificial manipulation of the genetic material of trueborn warriors - it is the hope and dream of each trueborn warrior that he earn a Bloodname and thus contribute his/her own material to the gene pool. Aidan very much wants to earn his own Bloodname, but this honor is now forbidden him given his new existence as a freeborn. While Aidan actually finds a happier life among freeborn compatriots, his pride and ambition refuses to let him give up his dreams of securing the Pryde Bloodname.

Now stationed on Glory Point, Aidan finally gets the chance to engage in real combat when a contingent of soldiers from the Wolf Clan seeks to steal the genetic legacy of the base commander there. He is also reunited with Falconer Joanna, under whom he studied in warrior training. Joanna hates him for many reasons, yet she somehow becomes a strange ally of sorts when Aidan lets the proverbial cat out of the bag. Not only does he announce the fact that he is in fact a trueborn, he demands the right to compete for a Bloodname. The odds are stacked heavily against him, as he must face a Court of Falconers just to maintain his warrior status and then, if he makes it through that, earn a spot in the Bloodname competition in a massive melee of competitors - and, even if he wins the spot, he still faces the Trial of Bloodright, the actual tournament for the right to the Pryde Bloodname. There is also the added difficulty of his opponents' fiery hatred for him - the only thing the trueborn hate more than a freeborn is a trueborn who earned his warrior status in the guise of a freeborn.

Bloodname is the best Battletech novel I have read so far. The characters are immensely complex, especially Aidan and Joanna, and each of the many Battlemech engagements is even more exciting than the last. You'll want to read Way of the Clans, the first book of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy, before this one, and then you will surely want to dive immediately into Falcon Guard, the third and final book of the series.

The Best.......2002-09-13

The whole Trilogy is definetely the best of the Battletech Series.

It does not get any better........1999-07-02

This book is perfect. A long-time fan of the Battletech universe, I have read most of their books. This is absolutely one of my favorites. The Jade Pheonix Trilogy is a must for any science fiction fan.

interesting and action pack a must for battletech fans.......1998-11-11

As part of the jade faclon history and our 1st in sight to the clans and the way they work and live it a must for all battletech fans

Battletech: Legend of the Jade Phoenix: Vol. 1-Way of the Clans, Vol. 2-Bloodname, Vol. 3-Falcon Guard

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Battletech: Legend of the Jade Phoenix: Vol. 1-Way of the Clans, Vol. 2-Bloodname, Vol. 3-Falcon Guard
Robert Thurston
Manufacturer: ROC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000U0OXI0

Bloodname (Battletech Ser.: Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Vol. 2)

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Bloodname (Battletech Ser.: Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Vol. 2)
Robert Thurston
Manufacturer: Penguin Books Canada, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HMZYEI

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Bloodname

Manufacturer: New American Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

The scientist in the kitchen tells us more about what makes our foods tick.

This sequel to the best-selling What Einstein Told His Cook continues Bob Wolke's investigations into the science behind our foods—from the farm or factory to the market, and through the kitchen to the table. In response to ongoing questions from the readers of his nationally syndicated Washington Post column, "Food 101," Wolke continues to debunk misconceptions with reliable, commonsense answers. He has also added a new feature for curious cooks and budding scientists, "Sidebar Science," which details the chemical processes that underlie food and cooking.

In the same plain language that made the first book a hit with both techies and foodies, Wolke combines the authority, clarity, and wit of a renowned research scientist, writer, and teacher. All those who cook, or for that matter go to the market and eat, will become wiser consumers, better cooks, and happier gastronomes for understanding their food. 20 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

appeals to the cook and the geek in me!.......2007-02-21

Very entertaining, well organized and actually informative. Since I have a pretty extensive bioscience background, I wasn't confused by his explanations so I am not sure how a non-science person would react. But I think he does a pretty nice job of it, coats it in sugar, etc.

Basically if you like books like "The Turk", Devil in the White City, Salt, Freakonomics, etc. then this should be up your alley!

lWhat Einstein Told His Cook 2: The Sequel: Further Adventures in Kitchen Science.......2006-03-14

Actually, I never read the book. I bought this for my ex-wife. I'd purchased her "What Einstein Told His Cook", & "What Einstein Told His Barber". She just loved "Cook" & would give it 5 stars, but once she got "Cook 2: The Sequel", she liked it even better than the original, so both books get 5 stars from her. This from a woman who rarely reads books.

Entertaining Foodie Read plus Superior Explanations. .......2005-05-16

`What Einstein Told His Cook 2, The Sequel' by retired chemistry professor and columnist, Robert Wolke is in the same format as the first volume, of which I said:

"This book of what science can tell us about working with food. It is one answer to my wish that every TV chef who is attempting to teach cooking to us foodies take a two semester course in chemistry. The book is not a rigorous approach to the chemistry of sugars, salt, fats, chemical leavenings, heat, acids, bases, and the like. Rather, it is a collection of enhanced answers to questions posed to the author in a regular newspaper column. This makes the book more interesting to read, if a little less available as a resource to applying its teachings to new situations."

This statement is equally true of the second volume. And, I must believe Professor Wolke has read this comment in my review or elsewhere. In his introduction he recognizes that his little columns are all answers to specific questions; however, science, by its nature, is `all tied together' in theories which enable its predictive and explanatory powers. Thus, Wolke says that in order to explain the answer to two related questions, we may find him repeating himself now and then, as he does over and over when he invokes how proteins denature by unwinding themselves and wrapping themselves into tight knots, leading to, for example, cooked eggs or tough cooked meat. I have absolutely no problem with that within the context of his format of question and answer.

On the other hand, this format does not lend itself to be used as a source for looking up specific answers to questions that were not asked by the people writing into Dr. Wolke at the Washington Post. This is a small but real problem, made all the more frustrating because buried in the answers to some questions are some real gems of wisdom such as Table 5 on page 222 which gives the best kinds of sauces for various shapes of hard pasta. As good as the battalions of Italian cookbook writers are in covering their field, none of them has, to my recollection, put things quite so succinctly. This illustrates that genius in writing about cooking is not so much in what science you use, but in how well you present the answer. And, with a few small reservations, it is in this talent where Professor Wolke is a champion. While I may still vote for Alton Brown as my favorite TV foodie, Wolke has mastered the connection between Science, English, Food, and his audience.

One of my favorite examples of how Wolke successfully addresses an issue is on the matter of cutting onions and tears. For starters, he corrects Alton Brown's error in attributing the tearing to sulfur trioxide dissolving in the moisture in your eyes, thus creating a weak sulfuric acid solution. In fact, if any sulfur oxide gas is involved, it is much more likely to be sulfur dioxide which, when dissolved in water, creates the much weaker sulfurous acid. Wolke goes on to say that the phenomena is due to a number of different causes, which makes absolute sense, because if there were a single cause, then the chances of finding relief would be much higher. Wolke goes on to show the problems with all the various remedies. He and Alton agree on the importance of a sharp knife, although I use an extremely sharp Japanese vegetable knife when dicing onions, and I tear like a two-year-old on a jag. Sticking with onions, Wolke gives an excellent explanation of the French vintner's notion of `terroir' and how it relates to the lower bite of Vidalia onions. And, he correctly points out that it is fewer nasty compounds rather than more sugars which make the Vidalia and its cousins milder.

There are three general areas where Wolke could stand some improvement. While I was a journeyman chemist, I was an expert on linguistics and linguistic philosophy so, first, I find Wolke is occasionally a bit inconsistent in his use of works such as alkali (the opposite of acid). Early in the book, he says that alkali should be reserved for the extremely strong bases such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, yet I see him frequently using `alkali' for things that are just a tad over pH 7. The second quibble is that while science and the arts have long ago come to a détente and science and religion seem to be at an armed truce, Wolke constantly takes potshots at aspects of legal and political practice. It in incredibly easy for someone schooled in the doctrines of science to take pleasure at the apparent foibles of political practice, yet the people in the political world have problems of entirely different nature than either science or art, so cheap shots at food regulations, for example, are just that, cheap. The last problem I see is with Wolke's humor, especially in his little `Foodie's Fictionary' blurbs. I'm afraid I found not one of them very funny. Sorry. I think most of the humor in his main text is pretty basic and certainly welcome, but Alton Brown does not need to fear his position as the leading culinary class clown. The book would have been just a wee bit better with a good bibliography on food science references.

New in this sequel are sidebars on various scientific issues. Most of the really valuable reference stuff is in these sidebars. What you may wish to do is stick some of those cute little post it note tabs on the sidebarred pages and write a word describing the topic.

This is a really great book to take to your armchair and read from cover to cover. If you liked the first, you will definitely like this one as well or better. If you have read neither and you have an interest in food, buy both now!

What Einstein Told His Cook #2.......2005-05-10

If you are looking for useful information to cooking questions you've always wondered about, look elsewhere. Harold McGee's "On Food & Cooking" and Shirley Corriher's "Cookwise" are both full of useful and interesting stuff. Wolke tries to be cute, and some may like his sophomoric style, but I couldn't get past the first chapter. Now who do I know who is dumb enough to like this drivel?

Worthy Sucessor to the first book!.......2005-04-06

As a big fan of the first book in this series, I was glad to see another one pop up and quickly put it on my wish list. I was also glad to see that it was even longer than volume 1, with an extra 110 pages. The style is great -- well paced, well laid out, with the 'harder' science very skimmable and yet approachable to non-chemists. I particularly like the way he challenges conventionally held assumptions by, in many cases, doing simple experiments that seem to answer things conclusively. The inlined recipes (by his wife, Marlene Parrish) look delicious and provide a nice break to the flow of questions. Some of my favorite answers:
Why does iced tea turn cloudy? Will coffee stay hotter if I put the cream in right away or only when I'm ready to drink it? Why are there sulfites in wine? How can I get a red wine stain out of a tablecloth? Why do onions really make me cry? Why are "sweet" onions sweet? When an banana ripes and gets sweeter, does it contain more calories? What is a free radical? What makes mashed potatoes gluey? How can I best match a pasta shape with a sauce? Does marinating work? (suprising!) What's the difference between browning and caramelizing? Why do we cook with wine?

And so on. If you like cooking and like knowing more about what's going on inside the pan and aren't afraid of a few polysyllabic words (mmmm, alpha-galactosidase... don't worry, they are defined in context) then grab this book. I couldn't put it down!

What Einstein Told His Cook 2. Further Adventures in Kitchen Science. The Sequel.

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What Einstein Told His Cook 2. Further Adventures in Kitchen Science. The Sequel.

Manufacturer: W.W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0739462210

When Only the Love Remains: The Pain of Pet Loss
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Thank you Emily

Stuparyk's writing lifted my broken spirit like the wings of an angel...

Moving Account of One Woman's Loss Helps Us All

The best book on pet loss

Great book for grieving pet lovers

When Only the Love Remains: The Pain of Pet Loss
Emily Margaret Stuparyk
Manufacturer: Hushion House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Pet Loss | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0968454208

Customer Reviews:

Thank you Emily.......2006-11-08

Emily's exquisite heartfelt feelings written in "When Only The Love Remains" continue to help me deal with the tragic death of my beloved 5-1/2 year old Golden Retriever Seajay several years ago. Thank you Emily as you encourage those who are experiencing the pain of loss of a beloved pet know that the love remains, forever in their heart. Jeri

Stuparyk's writing lifted my broken spirit like the wings of an angel..........2005-12-26

For anyone who has loved and lost a beloved pet, I highly recommend "When Only the Love Remains" by Emily Margaret Stuparyk. Her words will heal a broken heart and connect your soul eternally with your pet's soul. She understands the pain of pet loss because she has experienced it. I was devastated at the loss of my bunny, a Dwarf girl named Cinderella Rubi, who lived for only two years. Emily's writing lifted my broken spirit like the wings of an angel and reflect hope and belief in the afterlife. I have learned that although my beloved Cinderella is with her Creator now, she left me a legacy of love that lives on as my inheritance. This love will continue to grow for I will always remember my precious rabbit friend. I treasure this book and also you, Emily.

Moving Account of One Woman's Loss Helps Us All.......2004-09-18

My beloved kitty companion of nine years died suddenly on September 16, 2004 - as I write this, just three days ago. The totally unexpected loss of Sugarpuss is a terrible shock. Stuparyk's book was recommended to me that morning and I immediately ordered it on one day delivery from amazon (and I might add it arrived on the 17th as promised - thank you, amazon). I read most of it in one sitting, crying as in my mind I put my kitty in the place of Stuparyk's beloved rabbit, Poochie, who also died on September 16th several years ago. The poems are moving, especially the final one, which is also used for the title of the book. I very much identify with the poem where the author wishes for one more chance to hold her bunny alive again, which is what I feel about my Sugarpuss. I know I will go to this book again over the next several weeks. I would particularly recommend this book of poems for someone who feels grief but has problems expressing it, or who feels "funny" being so emotional over the loss of a companion animal.

The best book on pet loss.......2004-02-23

The author could have been writing about my own pet. Her sincere, honest portrayal of her feelings touched me so much that I was able to write down my own feelings on paper about a much loved and missed pet. It was like she knew me and my pet. I could feel her pain of her loss--it matched mine. Her book gave me so many things to think about. I recommend this book highly and plan to share it with others who need help healing with the loss of a pet.

Great book for grieving pet lovers.......2003-11-08

Reading this book, while grieving for my cocker spaniel, helped me go through the tears, the emotional turmoil, the depression, and eventual glimmers of hope, that accompany the loss of a beloved pet. I recommend it highly.

Book Description

As souvenirs become a recognized source for interpreting and appreciating the artistry of the past, this authoritative and beautifully illustrated guide to one of Florida's least-known industries opens a new chapter in the study of the state's history and culture.

More than 500 color illustrations in this lavish book showcase an incredible array of travel treasures purchased by Florida's first tourists-primarily wealthy northerners-during the years 1890-1930, the golden age of Florida tourism, when souvenirs were works of art. Larry Roberts links the keepsakes to the state's history and provides expert insights into the artistic quality of the items, elevating them above the category of mere collectibles.

Beginning with an overview of the developing years of tourism in Florida from 1820 to 1880, Roberts ties the souvenir industry to an account of the state's settlement and the first great influx of tourists in the 1890s. These visitors were America's first rich and famous, with a taste for elegance, and they eagerly purchased silver, china, and carved ivory items in refined designs and decorative motifs that rendered aspects of Florida ranging from picturesque wilderness to luxurious hotels.

In this excellent reference for institutional and individual collectors alike, Roberts discusses the appeal and describes the various manufacturing processes of wood carvings, figurines, prints, jewelry, pottery, glass and metal ware, and traditional scenic china and spoons. He also examines some types of memorabilia made exclusively by Florida artists, including the obscure alligator carvers of Jacksonville, whose finely crafted canes and corkscrews are highly regarded among contemporary folk-art collectors; Olive Commons, who captured the Florida wilderness in minute detail on porcelain; E. G. Harris and Esmond Barnhill, traveling photographers who hand-tinted and printed landscapes; and the Seminole Indians, who created the colorful handsewn dolls that they still sell today.

Larry A. Roberts, a consultant for the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee and the author of articles in such publications as Antiques and Art Around Florida, has been a collector of antiques and memorabilia for more than twenty years. He lives in Gainesville, Florida, and owns an antique shop in nearby Micanopy.

Flannel Quilts (That Patchwork Place)
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Flannel Quilts (That Patchwork Place)
Sandy Bonsib
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1564773604

Book Description

Fall in Love with Flannel

Turn your next quilt into a cozy, comfy, homespun treasure with fun and versatile flannel fabrics! This step-by-step guide will show you how to create colorful quilts featuring all the latest flannels, from plaids and florals to baby prints, solids, and stripes. These fresh ideas will put flannel fabrics among your quilting favorites.

· Seventeen delightful projects use quick-pieced patchwork, hand appliqué, and classic motifs such as dazzling stars, folk-art flowers, and old-fashioned baskets

· A complete primer reveals all you need to know about stitching flannel quilts, including tips for washing and pressing flannels, mixing flannel weights, and incorporating quilting cottons

· Large, simple-to-stitch blocks are perfect for mixing and matching in your own original settings--perfect for fans of sampler quilts

With this diverse collection of eye-catching quilts, you'll be inspired to get friendly with flannels!

Thimbleberries Oh Sew Cozy Flannel Quilts (Thimbleberries)
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Thimbleberries Oh Sew Cozy Flannel Quilts (Thimbleberries)
Lynette Jensen
Manufacturer: Publishing Solutions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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The Thimbleberries Book of Quilts: Quilts of All Sizes Plus Decorative Accessories for Your Home (Rodale Quilt Book)

ASIN: 1932533044

Book Description

From fabric designer, author, and quilting expert Lynette Jensen and her Thimbleberries Designs studio comes the coziest quilt book ever, Thimbleberries Oh Sew Cozy Flannel Quilts. This latest book from Jensen features over 20 quilting projects, featuring the warm and comfortable fabric pleasing to children and adults of all ages. Using the famous Thimbleberries designs, the author brings flannel into a whole new spectrum, as both a fashionable and practical fabric for the home. These pleasing quilt designs will add warmth and design interest to every decor. - 20 full -color photographs and 200 illustrations highlight each project - Features 20 easy quilting projects - Every design is tailored for flannel fabric - Includes easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions perfect for beginners as well as experienced quilters

Curl-Up Quilts: Flannel Applique and More from Piece O' Cake Designs

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Curl-Up Quilts

Curl-Up Quilts: Flannel Applique and More from Piece O' Cake Designs
Becky Goldsmith , and Linda Jenkins
Manufacturer: C&T Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Applique | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Applique Delights: 100 Irresistible Blocks from Piece O' Cake Designs
The New Applique Sampler: Learn to Applique the Piece O' Cake Way
Welcome to the North Pole: Santa's Village in Applique
Flowering Favorites from Piece O' Cake Designs
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ASIN: 1571202641

Book Description

Discover just how easy flannel appliqué can be with this guide from Piece O' Cake Designs. There are seven projects for super-cozy quilts in flannel and wool and four projects for coordinating pillows. Beginner quilters can start with a pincushion or pillow, while more advanced quilters can move directly to a cuddly quilt project. These soft, warm projects sparkle with Piece O' Cake's bright, happy style.

Great for beginners - the big, simple shapes make appliqué easy Piece O' Cake Designs is the brainchild of Linda Jenkins and Becky Goldsmith. Together, they have been designing fun, fanciful quilts since 1994 and have appeared often on HGTV's Simply Quilts. They also design fabric for P&B Textiles. Jenkins lives in Tulsa, OK. Goldsmith lives in Sherman, TX.

Customer Reviews:

Curl-Up Quilts.......2007-01-08

I love anything by Piece O' Cake, including this book. The instructions for the blocks are step-by-step, and lots of tips for applique are included. The illustrations are "right on the money."

No-Sweat Flannel Quilts: Fast and Fun Designs

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No Sweat Flannel Quilts by Beth Garretson

No-Sweat Flannel Quilts: Fast and Fun Designs
Beth Garretson
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1564775402

Book Description

Inspire anyone to snuggle with these cozy, fun-to-make flannel quilts! The large pieces in these projects guarantee that you can finish in a flash.

• Show off all the latest flannel fabrics in ten colorful quilt patterns

• Choose from delightful projects in child size, lap size, and twin, double, full, and queen sizes

• Become a flannel expert with great tips on washing, drying, cutting, sewing, and pressing flannels

Customer Reviews:

No Sweat Flannel Quilts by Beth Garretson.......2004-09-06

Book is designed to make working with flannel easy & successful

Yardage based on 42" fabric not 45 so that you won't run short

all setting triangles are over sized, then trimmed so that you wind up with at least 1/4" at the outside edges, you don't have to fudge or say oh well

As you sew Beth gives you the page no. to find the technique and tips that you are working on step by step, like she is right there with you

In the Bargello quilt the 1/2 step method is great, you are not having to match bulky flannel seams together, so much easier

If you are wanting some great quilts that are fast and easy for all level of quilters THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU

Thanks Beth job well done, looking forward to your next masterpiece

Average customer rating:

Flannel intro

Quick Cozy Flannel Quilts

Manufacturer: Oxmoor House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Sewing | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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The Thimbleberries Guide For Weekend Quilters: 25 Great-Looking Quilts for the Busy Quiltmaker

ASIN: 0848719484

Customer Reviews:

Flannel intro.......2000-03-14

14 quilt patterns, relying mostly on simple pieced shapes. Personnal 3 favorites that I will -probably! - do : 1) Homespun Pleasures : 54-40 or Fight blocks alternating with Courthouse Steps 2) Buzz Saw 3) The Diamond Four-Patch. p.s.: check the supremely comfy B+W cat on the Log Cabin page 33 !

Average customer rating:

Cider Hill Flannel Quilts
Lynette Jensen
Manufacturer: not applicable
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Pamphlet
ASIN: B000Q9O3DK

Cozy Quilts II: A Collection of Country Flannel Quilts

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Cozy Quilts II: A Collection of Country Flannel Quilts
Lynette Jensen
Manufacturer: Thimbleberries, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RZMWZ4

Product Description

Introduction and designs on six varieties. Oversize paperback with 31 pages and several full color photography quilts.

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Favorite Flannel Quilts

Manufacturer: Piecable Kingdom
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000BWNTM8

Favorite Flannel Quilts (Pieceable Kingdom)

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Favorite Flannel Quilts (Pieceable Kingdom)
Janet Miller , and Susan Parr
Manufacturer: Pieceable Kingdom
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006PF2OI

Average customer rating:

Favorite Flannel Quilts II

Manufacturer: Pieceable Kingdom
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ASD7PC

Product Description

Over the last few years, flannel have emerged as a growing trend in the home sewing industry. As stitchers, we delight in adding new categories of fabrics to our homes and fabric collections! We want you to catch the enthusiasm in the air for flannels. Use these wonderful new fabrics in quilts for your families and friends and you, too will be spreading the warmth and cuddly good vibes that soft flannels evoke! Flannel is the friendliest fabric in town.

Customer Reviews:

VERY NICE........2007-08-16

OVER ALL IT IS A GOOD READ. STILL, I WISH IT HAD A MORE COLORFUL PICTURE PALLET INSIDE.

I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. ESPECIALLY THE ART STUDENTS OR JUST ANYONE TRYING TO LEARN A BIT MORE ON CUBAN AMERICAN ART INFLUENCE IN THE US.

Book Description

A personal account by the celebrated Chinese-American poet offers a magical work of memory and myth that recounts a childhood of exile, his father's imprisonment, his discovery of the significance of history, and his search for identity.

Customer Reviews:

Poetic Memoir.......2005-02-02

Impressive impressionistic poetic memoir, powwerful and free, obviously not for everyone especially english instructors.

Very mesmerizing writing.......2001-04-26

a very personal look in a rather unusal life of the author.

nights, seeds..........2000-12-03

the winged seed is probably the most poetic book i have ever read. li-young lee's quiet, condensed writing style is almost sedating. he is one of the most interesting people i've met and one of the best poets i've ever read. he is what many poets strive to be.

deep rivers are quiet but faster than streams.......1999-11-20

love it as you would a sleepless nite of rain and poetry one and the same.

leaving a small imprint, claire

Vivid. Breath-taking. Brilliant........1999-03-06

Borne from nights of insomnia and kaleidascopic memories, The Winged Seed is a beautiful search for answers for the tumultous inner questions of the mind. Part poem, part waking dream, part remembrance, this haunting book will draw you in to the author's nights, where he is surrounded by the seeds of moments the past has left behind.

Average customer rating:

The Winged Seed: A Remembrance.
Li-Young. Lee
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NGRB2G

Average customer rating:

The Winged Seed - A Remembrance
Li-young Lee
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RITH7C

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