Monet Talks (Den of Antiquity)

Book Description

Since she doesn't happen to have a priceless masterpiece on hand -- and since a mynahless existence isn't all that distasteful a prospect -- Abby figures she'll let the thief keep the annoying avian. But when her mama Mozella is abducted by the craven birdnapper, Abby must leap into the fray to rescue mater and mynah alike ... before the feathers really start to fly!

Customer Reviews:

A plot gets lost.......2006-03-10

The plot, such as it is, gets forgotten quickly in this novel, overshadowed by the humid atmosphere of summertime Charleston and the SOBs, the antique dealers, restauranteers, etc. What intrigues the reader, in all of the novels by Tamar Myers, is not the plot, the denouement, but the journey and the people along the way. Our heroine, Abby, throws in hilarious asides, such as her lament on the perils of making love after drinking orange juice and several cups of coffee.

Despite the lack of plot (and there's no point in outlining it, such as it is), I'd read any novel with Tamar Myers' name on the cover. It may be froth, but it is very good froth.

Mama Mozella MIA.......2005-09-28

When it comes to this type of warm fuzzy mystery it is no surprise when the mystery itself is distinctly a background player. That in and of itself is not a problem because the characters are usually such that their antics make up for the lack of plot and a deep engrossing mystery. The books in this series usually follow this formula pretty closely and Mrs. Myers has created a wonderful cast that is normally able to more than make up for the sometimes-weak plot. As entertaining and fun as these characters are however, they were not able to completely make up for the almost non-existent plot in this book.

The whole thing starts out when Charleston antiques dealer Abigail Washburn pays the unbelievable sum of ten-thousand dollars at an auction for a birdcage that is built to look like the Taj Mahal. The cage comes complete with a talking mynah bird named Monet which quickly begins to charm Abby's customers with it's chatter. Then the disappearances begin as first Monet, and then Abby's mother, Abby's husband, her shop assistant and even her cat all vanish. Abby is of course shell-shocked and begins with the help of her friends the Rob-Bobs, to look for clues. Up to this point I was sure that this was going to be one of the better entries in this series, but it is at this point that the mystery fizzles.

Although Abby isn't quiet sure what happened to her husband and her assistant she is pretty sure that her mother and Monet have been kidnapped and here arises the main problem with this book. Instead of being completely out of her head with worry, Abby embarks on a leisurely search for any clues that might lead her to her mother's kidnapper. The adventures she has while making this search are hilarious and the people she meets along the way are all interesting and sometimes just downright odd but I found that I was often more worried about what had happened to Mozella than her daughter was. Abby's lack of concern was driven home again and again as she stopped to eat at almost every restaurant in Charleston. Granted, some of her eating stops were necessary to her investigation but by the time it was all said and done it seemed as if Abby was grazing rather than eating.

Fortunately, the previously developed characters along with the ones created for this story helped to save this book from being a total loss. There isn't much of a mystery and I would definitely not recommend that someone start reading this series with this book. Fans of this series will however enjoy the continuing adventures of Abby, Mozella, CJ, the Rob-Bobs and the whole crew. Charleston may never be the same again.

puffy.......2005-07-16

First and last book I read by her. Boring, stupid and a waste of time.

Put it down!!!.......2005-06-17

This was the first book by Myers I have read; I won't bother to read another. This book is not amusing, the plot is transparent and the characters are one-dimentional. The premise is plausible enough and Charleston is always a good setting, but there is nothing after that. Our heroine's mother is kidnapped, but does she involve the police?; of course not. She does continue having tete-e-tete's with the city's socialites and dropping into the best restaurants, although she never seems to eat a meal. All in all this was one of the worse books I have read in some time. I finished it just to see if there was some saving grace somewhere. There wasn't.

Missing bird.......2005-06-15

Antique dealer Abby Washburn falls in love with a beautiful birdcage built to look like the Taj Mahal. She bids on it at an auction and wins the birdcage, and also a bird named Monet.
Abby's customers are charmed by the bird, but soon the mynah disappears. Abby is not too concerned about the missing bird and she and her mother sneak into an exclusive ball in disguise. Her mother is the next person who disappears, soon to be followed by her best friend CJ and her husband. Abby is frantic. Not too frantic, however, to stop her adventures with fellow business owners Rob and Bob. Abby spins through one adventure after another before she discovers where all the missing people are. This is a book which is geared more towards humor than to the mystery at hand, but it is a pleasant read.

Average customer rating:

Monet Talks (Den of Antiquity)

Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739454048

Product Description

Charleston antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake Washburn is thrilled by her recent estate auction purchase of a spectacular bejeweled birdcage from India, but not so much by its occupant, a mouthy mynah named Monet. Still, her customers at the Den of Antiquity seem charmed by the insufferable birdbrain, so Abby figures she's stuck with him. That is, until she finds a stuffed starling resting on his usual perch with a ransom note demanding a real Monet (the painted variety) in exchange for her purloined pet. Since she doesn't happen to have a priceless masterpiece on hand -- and since a mynahless existence isn't all that distasteful a prospect -- Abby figures she'll let the thief keep the annoying avian. But when her mama Mozella is abducted by the craven birdnapper, Abby must leap into the fray to rescue mater and mynah alike ... before the feathers really start to fly!

Average customer rating:

Monet Talks
Tamar Myers
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OESNHE

Customer Reviews:

ARRANGED BATTLES.......2006-06-19

After 3 volumes of manga, the Getbackers are STILL trying to find the "IL", which they've discovered is actually an "implosion lens", an essential part of making an atomic bomb. After wasting their time trying to reach the top of the Inifinity Fortress, they have to turn around when they figure out that Makubex, the master of the Fortress, and the person with the IL, is BENEATH them, not above. The Getbackers are split into two person teams, but Makubex is manipulating them into falling into a perfectly calculated battles they are destined to lose as he has his own cronies with superpowers waiting to fight them one by one.

Getbackers 8 was bad. I guess I'm just sick of this storyline. They have been trying to get the IL for 4 volumes now, which means over 400 pages of senseless and goofy battles with characters screaming out their attacks like "Mera no Shiora Viper Embrace!", "Maya Flood Engulf!", "Water Cannon!" and "Poison Moth!" It's all become a tad too stupid for me so I'm going to stop reading this manga. The characters have not evolved over 8 volumes. If anything, they've gotten shallower. Ginji is especially annoying. We're supposed to believe that he used to be some heartless killer and gangleader, but now he's a dangerously effeminate and lapdog weirdo who hangs all over Ban. The art is just as great as it's always been, but so many panels are squeezed onto a small page that you really have to strain your eyes sometimes to see the asides in small print. Some of the edges have been cropped, making some of the lettering come close to being cut off. The writing of this title really destroyed any interest I had in it. Oh, for the good old days when Ban and Ginji were homeless and would take a job like finding a lost videogame! I think Aoki wanted to emulate American superhero comic books and unfortunately succeeded. In my mind, the book has been on a downward spiral since the 4th volume, just about the time this storyline started up. It should have taken one volume to tell it.

SHOULD WE BE GOING DOWN INSTEAD?.......2006-04-21

The battle to reach the top of the Infinity Fortress, and from there to find the mysteriuos "IL" the Getbackers have been hired to find continues in this volume. Our heroes, or heroes and PSYCHO, if you count the heartless killer Dr. Jackal, have become seperated into reluctant teams of two due to the constant attacks of Makubex, the leader of the forces arrayed against them. He has yet to unleash his ultimate power, the ability to create "wire dolls", a method by which he can computer control human beings to do his bidding. Some new super-powered villains are added to the mix, including the deadly fighter Fudou, whose ability, "Insight" allows him to predict his opponent's moves before they make them in realtime. And then there's the "Bloody Joker", who is the master of the Rouran dancing whip. Besides these new powerful enemies, the Getbackers are beginning to realize that maybe Makubex isn't above them, but BELOW in the lower levels. Adding to the urgency is the fact that Hevn and Lady Poison have been taken prisoner.

GetBackers Volume 7 is another installment in what has become a pure fighting manga with relatively miniscule character development, if even that. Or maybe it's just this Infinity Fortress storyline that has shaped it thus. Being a battle manga isn't all that bad though. The characters are JUST interesting enough for us to care about their plights, but this might get old after a while. There is SOME plot occurring, but it's more of the Homeresque type of epic heroes battling with superhuman abilities. We also get a glimpse of what made Ginji the gangleader of the Volts in the old days before the Getbackers when he was respected and feared by everyone he had contact with. Good manga if you're more into superheroes than Japanese manga.

FIGHTING FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT?.......2006-03-06

In this, the sixth volume of Getbackers, our heroes have entered Underground Shinjuku, the lawless slum, ruled over by Makubex, a former friend of Ginji, in order to retrieve the mysterious "I.L" and find themselves in a heap of trouble. After escaping from poison gas, the Getbackers and their allies find themselves split into groups of two, with some pretty tenuous partnerships. Ginji is stuck with the murderous and sadistic Dr. Jackal while Ban is teamed with Shido the Beast Master, who share a mutual hate for each other. The best team seems to be Kazuki and Himiko but theirs might be the most dangerous. It would probably save everyone a lot of trouble and pain if they knew exactly what it was they were looking for, since Makubex is not going to make it easy for them, sending super-powered assassins to dog their every step!

Getbackers is about the closest thing to an American style comic book that Japanese manga-ka are going to get. A key difference that makes Getbackers different is its grit and violence coupled with humor. The art is exquisite and the story keeps you turning pages. Even though it is suffused with action pieces, unlike American comics, you always have a sense of danger with the characters. You have the sense that besides Ban and Ginji, any character is capable of being killed, and not to be resurrected X-Men style. This is a great series to start out with if you're trying to get into manga from comic books.

VAN GOGH'S 13TH SUNFLOWER.......2005-12-30

GetBackers Volume 5 is divided into two Acts. In the first, Gin and Ban are hired by a department store museum to get back a stolen Van Gogh sunflower painting from a mysterious thief named Clayman. Clayman is also getting help from Lady Poison, Ban's enemy and ex-lover. What makes the painting so valuable is that it is the 13th sunflower painting that was done by Van Gogh. Up until this time, there were only twelve in existence. Whether it's a fake or not, the owners are paying big yen for its return.
In the second Act, almost all the major heroes and villains introduced in the series so far are brought together for Hevn-san's next assignment. The team has been hired to retrieve "I.L". The masked group that employs them doesn't give them a clue as to what I.L. is but they do give them its location. Within the Infinity Fortress. A building in the middle of the crime ridden slums of Underground Shinjuku, from which a vicious gang rules the turf. A gang, by the way, that Gin used to lead.

GetBackers is the nearest manga I've seen that comes close to a Western style super-hero comic in the tradition of the Fantastic Four or the Avengers. The difference is that no Western comic would put two idiots like Ban and Gin as the main characters and also rely on humor equally with action to power the comic. The art by Yuya Aoki is magnificent and ultra-realistic. It is never cluttered and the action is always clear. The story could use a little work as it too often falls into battle after battle with no character development in between. But you almost forgive this fault for now, because the manga is so exciting. Hopefully, the writer will come to a slower movement in the future, because we've come a long way since the first volume when Ban and Gin were homeless, carless, and clueless.

Average customer rating:

Paradigmatic, memorable stories

Philip the Faust

Thought provoking cynical fun

A Sheer Joy

A First-Rate Satirist

Immodest Proposals: The Complete Science Fiction of William Tenn, Volume 1
William Tenn , James A. Mann , and Mary C. Tabasko
Manufacturer: Nesfa Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Short Stories | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Here Comes Civilization: The Complete Science Fiction of William Tenn, Volume 2

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The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith

ASIN: 1886778191

Book Description

William Tenn ranks with Pohl and Kornbluth as one of SF's greatest satirists. This volume contains most of his short fiction (the remainder will be printed in volume two). Dustjacket art by H. R. Van Dongen.

Customer Reviews:

Paradigmatic, memorable stories.......2006-06-30

This and the other volume collecting the stories of William Tenn contain some of the most memorable stories ever written in the S-F field, paradigmatic stories comparable to Asimov's "Nightfall" and Clarke's "The Star" and "The Nine Billion Names of God".
I first read such Tenn stories as "Lisbon Cubed", "The Discovery of Morniel Mathaway", and "The Masculinist Revolt" almost thirty years ago, but never forgot them, and for all that time, anything which reminded me of these stories would not fail to bring a chuckle to my lips.

Philip the Faust.......2006-05-19

William Tenn is often referred to as a satirist, and his "satire" is of the socially observant and subversive stripe. Tenn certainly poked and prodded at human weaknesses and political hypocrisy in his classic short stories. Meanwhile, in a fashion that reminds me of another under-appreciated sci-fi genius, Alfred Bester, Tenn also built stories around the contradictions and credibility gaps in stock sci-fi archetypes. Have you ever wondered why sci-fi aliens look human and speak English? Wouldn't aliens be so different from humans that they would find us bizarre and disgusting? When characters travel through time do they alter history, and if they do, does anyone notice? Or how could all humans possibly unite against an alien menace without breaking down into factions? In Tenn's often expertly considered and intricately plotted tales, he explored these contradictions, and constructed fascinating stories that every science fiction historian should know better.

Granted, there are some clunkers in Tenn's body of work, in which he fell into the satirist's trap of creating an improbable fictional universe which would then be used for thin statements about social problems. Some examples here include "The Masculinist Revolt" and "Venus is a Man's World," which merely switch gender domination roles to comment on sexism. Some of Tenn's non-satirical stories such as "The Ghost Standard" and "The Tenants" are held back by quaint explorations of human nature that aren't too illuminating. But these problems are rare in Tenn's repertoire. His winning satires truly bring the weaknesses of sci-fi writing, and humanity, into broad focus, and he was amazingly ahead of his time in some of his political explorations. (Most of the stories here were written for the golden age mags in the 40s and 50s.)

The look at human cruelty and celebrity is truly astonishing in this collection's most insightful story, "Time in Advance," in which criminals have the option to serve their time before committing the crime. Other winning stories explore how humanity doesn't have the inherent strengths to reach for the stars or rise above infighting – including the outstanding "Alexander the Bait," "The Servant Problem," "Project Hush," and several others. Meanwhile, Tenn comes up with absolutely fascinating subversions of sci-fi archetypes, like time travel in "Winthrop Was Stubborn" and "Lisbon Cubed," and the troublesome relations between closed-minded humans and extremely non-human aliens in "The Flat-Eyed Monster," "Venus and the Seven Sexes," and "The Last Bounce," among others. The contrarian and thought-provoking nature of Tenn's works may explain why he's not better known to modern sci-fi fans. Deep-thinking readers can consider the injustice of that while wrapping their minds around Tenn's very sharp and pointed works. [~doomsdayer520~]

Thought provoking cynical fun.......2004-05-29

Though not a totally stellar collection, there are some stories that I consider real clunkers in this, it is a nice collection by an author not widely known to many people.

The stories aren't sheer entertainment here, they are entertaining, generally, but of a higher caliber, thought-provoking and displaying a wide-breadth of subject matter and technique. As I mentioned, they can be somewhat cynical, sometimes whimsical,and always satirical.

Tenn's afterwords to each story provide some interesting insights, and in a couple cases give good reason anyone would display some cynicism

Overall it was good enough that I shall be trying to get the second volume. The good stories repaid the effort put into reading them and more than made up for the stories I personally did not like.

A Sheer Joy.......2002-03-25

I brought a second hand copy of this collection and i regret it. It should have been brand new and in hardback- it's that good. And the money would have gone to the author, for he surely deserves it. I'd never read any of his stuff before, only Bradbury, Dick, Wells Sheckley, Asimov, Bester and Knight. Having finished it, i'd have to place him up their among the legends of sf.
This collection is worth it, if only for one story. But their are many that belong among the all time great masterpieces of the short story; 'The Liberation of Earth'- about an devastating future war in which mankind can be no more than a witness to ir's own extinction, 'Down Among the Dead Men'- zombies reconstituted from the remains of the dead help out the human troops on the front againsts an insect race in a interstellar war, 'The Tenants'- a subtle and fragile fantasy, 'The Sevant Problem'- an astounding and frighteningly funny tale of power manipulation among tha powerful elite of a totalitarin society top strata, 'Time in Advance' has criminals do time for commiting the crime, seven years in this case for murder, who find themselves in demand by people who'd like them to snub out somebody for them and held in fear by those that've wronged them int he past. Other classics include the famous 'Brooklyn Project', the horrorifying 'Wednesday's Child' ( a supperior sequel to the much anthologised 'Child's Play'). Others to note are 'The Generation of Noah''Winthrop was Stubborn' , 'Null-P'and his personal favourite 'The Custodian'. 'Lisborn Cubed' may remind some of the film 'Men in Black' but is vastly more rewarding. A master craftmans, most of his stories seem to have been painstakling put together and the general opinion is of a humanitarian (he almost always sides with the underdog or minorities) taking a aceberic look at the sheer blinding egotistical hyprocrisy of human kind. A blissful way to be entertained. It's companion volume is also a must.

A First-Rate Satirist.......2001-03-15

A few years ago I searched the used book stalls and dealer's rooms and slowly assembled the complete sf works (all out of print) of William Tenn, and proceeded to read and review them. You can find these reviews on the Web. The stories were great fun, but what struck me most was that the satires had not lost their edge despite the passage of time. Why? Because Tenn addressed his satire to the underlying conflicts, which are timeless, rather than to the transitory phenomena that tend to be the focus of most humorists, satirists, and social critics. Just as important, Tenn's satirical sword usually has two edges, and will, to mix a metaphor, have gored everybody's ox before he's finished with his tale. First rate stuff. So the question I kept asking myself was: why isn't this guy's stuff in print?? Well now it is, in a handsome volume with an introduction by Connie Willis, and comments on each story by the Author himself. What's not to love?

Average customer rating:

great grilling!

Flavorful

Joy of Cooking: All About Grilling
Irma S. Rombauer , Marion Rombauer Becker , and Ethan Becker
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743206436

Amazon.com

Artfully styled, brilliant color photographs of glistening white lobster meat in crimson shells, succulent pork tenderloin with bright green asparagus, and a plate piled high with fuchsia, orange, red, and purple onions and peppers may look like a three-star dining experience, but they are actually tried-and-true recipes made from The Joy of Cooking: All About Grilling. Dozens of helpful tips and techniques, clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and a rainbow of recipes for everything from seafood and vegetables to pork, poultry, and beef remind us why we've always loved the classic charm of The Joy of Cooking.

Ethan Becker, son and grandson of the women who taught generations to cook with the original Joy of Cooking, has updated it with this series of All About cookbooks. With notes and techniques scattered throughout, along with helpful illustrations, Becker continues his family's tradition of offering recipes that take a reasonable amount of time to prepare but result in delicious, nutritious, family-friendly meals that are beautiful enough to serve to anyone. Grilled Sesame Scallions are quick and simple, and loaded with flavor. If you can tear yourself away from the glorious photo of Black Pepper-Crusted Grilled Sirloin with Red Onion Chutney, it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare, and the results are as mouthwatering as the photo. And if you want to get fancy, you can try Grilled Rock Cornish Hens in Spicy Port Wine Marinade, or Grilled Duck Breast with Hoisin-Ginger Sauce, or make your own homemade Ketchup or Mango Salsa. Whether you're cooking for one or entertaining in style, whatever your grilling needs, this Joy is as indispensable as ever. --Leora Y. Bloom

Book Description

The book that taught America how to cook, now illustrated with glorious color photography

All About Grilling

A fresh and original way to put the classic advice of Joy of Cooking to work -- illustrated and designed in a beautiful and easy-to-use new book.

More than 90 of Joy's recipes, including Grilled Swordfish with Tomato-Olive Relish, Grill-Smoked Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Beef Satay with Peanut Sauce, and Grilled Corn on the Cob
Dozens of recipes for marinades, dry rubs, sauces, and other flavor enhancers
Invaluable techniques and tips for laying, starting, and managing a cooking fire

Customer Reviews:

great grilling!.......2007-06-11

WONDERFUL RECIPES!
Couldn't wait to try them out and they didn't disappoint.

Flavorful.......2001-07-11

All About Grilling, is a refreshing book of new ideas for outdoor cooking and entertaining. I was very impressed with the different combinations of ingredients, the presentation of the meal, the grilled side dishes, and the rubs and sauces. I received the book as a gift and have enjoyed using it for my summer entertaining. I am now purchasing a book for a friend.

Average customer rating:

Eye-opening book!

Balanced, well-researched, and common sense facts

Buy her first book instead

The Proof Is In The Pudding!!!

A MUST READ!!!

Protect Your Pet: More Shocking Facts
Ann N. Martin
Manufacturer: NewSage Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0939165422

Book Description

Ann Martin continues her thorough investigation of pet-related issues, revealing more shocking facts. Carefully and methodically, Martin explains the ongoing problems with most commercial pet foods. She also builds a strong case against the popular raw meat diets, and questions yearly vaccinations, making a convincing link between increased cancer in pets and overvaccination. Protect Your Pet includes healthy recipes, alternative choices, and solid advice.

Customer Reviews:

Eye-opening book!.......2006-12-12

I purchased this book before I got my 2nd Australian Shepherd puppy. I wanted to do "everything" right for her. This book has really made me think about the food my pets eat and also about their vaccinations.

I suggest that every person who owns and cares about their pets to read this book. Either you agree with what she says or you dont, but Ann (the author) does have a lot of people backing her opinions up. She has ALL of their names/contact info in the back of her book for references. You just cant doubt what she says by the way she documents herself.

I even purchased this book for Christmas gifts this year for 2 of my family members.

BUY IT!

Balanced, well-researched, and common sense facts.......2006-06-18

Ann Martin is to be commended for her thorough research on pet foods, raw meat diets and vaccinations.

Several people on these reviews have criticized Martin for her stance on raw meat and bones. However, I am convinced by Martin's research that raw meat and bones are risky, and her findings on a percentage basis of what can go wrong is enough to sway me.

The most persisent claim made by raw-dieters is that dogs need to be given foods which mimic those of the wild. Puleeze. There are wolves and coyotes and now dogs. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years now, a home animal. They are no longer natural predators. Though evolution is slow enough to have left dogs' teeth and bone physiology intact, they are not predatory animals any longer. Being domesticated, they are dependent upon humans for their food. You send a domesticated dog out into the wild to hunt down its food and it won't do it. The instincts are not there any more. Dogs are totally dependent upon man to feed them. You can be sure that the man of the family did not share the prime cuts of a kill to a domesticated animal. When an animal was slaughtered or hunted, absolutely no part of that animal was wasted. Feathers, fur were used for bedding, clothing, trading. All the meat, organ meats, bones were used in cauldrons, smoking, seasoning, and for bone broths. One cannot think that a dog would be given precedence over its family; food was too hard to come by, too precious for preferential treatment given an animal, no matter how valuable it was to the family. Dogs, as a matter of fact, became almost exclusively pet-companion animals only in the 20th century. Prior to that, a dog was often used to guard a home or for herding, hunting. It was never sent out into the wild to get its own food. The most logical way a dog was fed was its humans' daily leftover - table scraps if you will. I believe that dogs were slopped as pigs were - given all the remains of the daily rations. It could include bits of bread, cooked grains, meat, cultured dairy, milk, eggs and their shells, vegetable remains and greens. It is highly improbable that people a long time ago cooked for or even minded the "special needs" of a dog the way people do today.
Unfortunately, even fresh food scraps have given way to kibble for dogs in the last 50-60 years, which is not even close to being nutritious.
I laud Ann Martin for taking a common sense, practical approach to pet diets. I know the way I will go: variety is the sure key here.

Buy her first book instead.......2006-06-08

Martin's first book, "Food Pets Die For," is extremely useful if you really want to know what you're feeding your pet with those cheap commercial dog foods and how it may affect them negatively. (Some people may _not_ want to know, although you owe it to your companion animal(s) to find out.) This book, however, was disappointing. Much of it was common sense or, at least, common knowledge for anyone who has cared for animals and made any attempt to learn anything about their health (e.g., anti-freeze is bad, chocolate is bad, onion is bad). This book was repetitive and dull. I'd strongly recommend the first book, but skip this one unless you are just getting your first companion animal and/or don't know much about everyday dangers.

The Proof Is In The Pudding!!!.......2006-03-14

While this book certainly has its information pros regarding the disgusting secrets kept by commercial pet food companies, it appears to disagree with the idea that a raw food diet is healthy. I could not disagree more, and here's why... I have been working in animal nutrition as a pet chef for quite some time, dabbling in several areas of nutrition from standard commercial diets to cooked/raw food diets, and the fact is that commercial pet food is just plain harmful. Let me ask you this? Just because the grocery store sells pork rinds, does that mean they are good for you? NO! So why feed your pet anything that isn't something you yourself would EVER dream of eating? When America can pour a bowl of kibble for breakfast and come out looking and feeling the picture of health, then maybe I will change my tune. Until then, I choose to not only advise EVERYONE to feed a raw and/or cooked diet, I also feed my eight cats a total raw food diet. When I changed their diet, their world became a brighter place. No dandruff, no vomiting, no loose stool, brighter eyes, a full and sleek coat, better dental health, more restful sleep... etc. In addition, I recommend reading Anitra Fraizer's "The New Natural Cat" as well as the CatNutrition.Org website. Happy Reading!

A MUST READ!!!.......2006-02-10

This is by far one of the best books I have ever read on the subject of pet food. Anybody who has a companion animal in their life should read this book.

Ann Martin starts off the book explaining what has led her to doing this investigation and the many years of research that led up to writing this book--and also her first book, "Food Pets Die For". From page one, Ms. Martin makes a credible argument about why people should know more about this topic. Throughout this book, Ms. Martin writes about the past 12 years of research that included interviewing different organizations and people about the topic of pet food. She goes into great detail about her different request to both the US and Canadian governments and pet food industry groups to get more information. Most of these requests end up as dead ends. From here, Ms. Martin does her own research by starting with veterinarian clinics, hospitals and kill shelters asking the simple question of "where do these euthanized animals go from here...?" When she gets that answer, she goes to that source and asks the same questions. In all cases, the trail goes to pet food and livestock food manufacturers.

I already knew the main ingredients of kibble when I borrowed this book from my library. I was more interested in learning more about the BARF (bones and raw food) diet. From the other reviews on this book, I thought that Ann Martin would provide a non-biased viewpoint on this topic--as it seems that most people are very divided on the subject of BARF diets. Even though my interest was primarily on BARF diets and even though I already knew what pet food is made from, it was good to read about one person's investigative experience that spanned over 12 years.

I also read "Food Pets Die For". Between these two books, I preferred this book because of the new information on the BARF diet, vaccinations, puppy mills and the animal fur business. I had also already done a considerable amount of research on these topics as well and I found Ms. Martin's information to be in line with everything I already knew about these industries.

Our beloved 13 year old Chihuahua, Yoda passed away about two weeks ago at UC Davis Veterinary Hospital. When deciding what to do with his remains, we discussed the options with the Hospital staff. We were given the option of letting the hospital "handle his remains". I then ask how they "handle" the remains. I was told that "Yoda would be sent to a rendering plant, where he undergoes a 'chemical process' and then sent to a landfill for burial". The hospital staff worker went on to explain that we could be assured that "...Yoda certainly would not end up as pet food, as this is an urban legend." The next day, I did a quick google search on "rendered dog landfill California". The first link that popped up was a report in PDF format from Los Angeles County. Here is the first paragraph from this report: What happens to the bodies of animals that are euthanized at County shelters? Deceased animals are picked up by D&D Disposal, also known as West Coast Rendering, located in Vernon, Calif. The remains are rendered into animal by-products. D&D processes hundreds of tons of animal carcasses, tissues and by-products that would otherwise end up in landfills. Here's a link to that report: http://animalcontrol.co.la.ca.us/html/pages/for%20the%20record/Rendering%20and%20food%20&%20Ag%20Report%20.pdf . Ironically, Ms. Martin uncovers the same facts about this company, D&D Disposal (AKA West Coast Rendering, located in Vernon, Calif.)

It frightens me that such a respected place like UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital is so misinformed.

Another interesting point made in this book that I can also confirm from personal experience. Ms. Martin has found that in most cases, veterinarians acquire knowledge about animal nutrition from "nutritional information" provided by Hill's Company--a well known pet food company. During Yoda's first visit at UC Davis in October 2005, the doctor sent us home with a WHOLE CASE of Hill's canned dog food and instructed us to feed Yoda this instead of the home-cooked diet he was on.

I applaud Ann N. Martin on this very important investigative research and I appreciate that she has made this information available to anyone who is interested in knowing more about what we are feeding the furry members of their family.

Book Description

Ceramic figurines of beautiful and romantic young women were made in hundreds of different poses and costumes by Josef Originals. This all-color illustrated second edition follows the art of California ceramicist Mauriel Josef George from 1945 through the 1980s. Packed with hundreds of cheerful images, this book will be an invaluable aid in the dating and identification of these abundant figurines.

Average customer rating:

The Homebrewing Cream of the Crop

Winners Circle: 10 Years of Award-Winning Homebrew Recipes
American Homebrewers Association
Manufacturer: Brewers Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Beer | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0937381144

Book Description

Brew like a winner! This fun collection of 126 original, award-winning homebrew recipes was selected from winners of the American Homebrewers Association National Homebrew Competition.

Customer Reviews:

The Homebrewing Cream of the Crop.......2000-03-30

Homebrewing is a hobby that is slowly gaining in popularity around the country. This book details the beer recipes that have been selected as the best in their respective classes. The author compiled these recipes by selecting only first, second, and third place winners from the hundreds of homebrewing contests that have been held across the country.

I have been involved in hombrewing for about five years now. It is an interesting, but unpredictable hobby. No matter what you do, no matter how careful you are, no matter how precise you try to be, you still do not really know what your homemade beer will taste like until the batch is completely aged and ready to drink.

Homebrewers typically rely on books to help them in their quest for new and interesting beer recipes. This text assembles the award- winning recipes into one book, organized by style of beer, with a short description of each style at the beginning of each section.

The recipes present a well- detailed listing of the ingredients, but there are some inconsistencies among them. For one thing, some of the recipes do not include a list of instructions for making the beer. I don't know if this is because they were simply overlooked by the author, or because the owner of the recipe didn't want anyone to know the process. Whatever the reason, it does cause a little frustration for the reader. You could stumble across a really good recipe, but you won't know exactly how to prepare it. You could give it your best shot, but as mentioned before, homebrewing is a very delicate craft that can result in unwanted results if the original recipe is not followed with precision.

This book will provide you with a pretty good reference tool for preparing your next batch of homemade brew. There isn't much here, as far as reading material goes. The primary focus is on the recipes. Browse through the entire book before you make your decision on what to make. You will then be on your way to a delicious batch of homemade malt beverage. Cheers!

Book Description

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Book Description

A biography of working class men and the personas they adopted to cope in white society

Matthew Mason and Anthony Atwater, two working-class African Americans who lived and died in the American South, led double lives. To family and the black community, they were local men, fathers, and companions. In the dominant white world, where they earned their wages, they were known by their nicknames, Dr. Reet and Shine.

In this dual biography, Michael Schwalbe finds these monikers to be both endearing and degrading. Like other black men of their era, Mason and Atwater created personas as a means to cope. Mason became "Dr. Reet," a witty entertainer to his white employers. Atwater became "Shine," a streetwise stud who was skilled in love and violence. Each persona seemed like a solution, but bore unanticipated costs.

Grandson of a slave and born to a sharecropping family in 1911, Mason worked for fifty years for an all-white aristocratic fraternity, though most of his children would go on to professional careers. Atwater, born in 1933, showed great promise as a child and had ambitions to be an engineer, but by middle age had brought himself close to ruin. Both men struggled with alcoholism, both men created personas to help cope with the strains of their lives, and both men emerged from years of emotional turmoil to find peace.

Mixing biography, memoir, and journalism, Remembering Reet and Shine delves into the southern past, following Mason and Atwater as they age, decline, and die. It also explores the great contradiction of American manhood that arises between the expectation of control and the reality of powerlessness. This moving account does not herald heroes or saints, but raises the profile of ordinary men trying to reconcile the demands of manhood with the limits imposed by social forces beyond their control.

Customer Reviews:

A Must Read . . . ........2006-05-03

This is a wonderful book. Schwalbe has a clear voice that exposes the full humanity of these men, Reet and Shine, without romanticizing them. It is a powerful look at the socio-historic context of race, class, and gender in the South as experienced by two individuals. This book is strongly recommended.

A double biography of two black men who coped with the societal racism of early twentieth-century America .......2005-09-05

Sociology professor Michael Schwalbe presents Remembering Reet And Shine: Two Black Men, One Struggle, a double biography of two black men who coped with the societal racism of early twentieth-century America and the pressures of their own families in dramatically different ways, yet both of whom saw their defenses crumble as the became older. Matthew Mason adopted the persona of Dr. Reet, a witty entertainer; while Anthony Atwater became Shine, a street-smart stud and a capital player at both love and violence. Both men would turn to drink to ease their problems, and nearly destroy themselves before finding peace for themselves in old age. A straightforward account that does not herald either man as heroic, but simply offers their profile in an attempt to understand their need to reconcile the demands of being a man with the limitations imposed by social forces.

A gem.......2005-04-07

This is the most engrossing nonfiction I've read in years....Schwalbe writes elegantly, subtly, incisively and heartbreakingly. You won't forget his account of the final years of two old black men...The only thing this book lacks is somebody famous "discovering" it.....Whatever happened to Oprah?

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