Customer Reviews:
Monk's Hood - Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael.......2007-02-09
I love these books! Especially good for herb lovers.
Great Development in an Interesting Story.......2006-02-01
Now that I've finished Monk's Hood, I have found a new appreciation for Ellis Peters' work. After one death too many, I was expecting a rather static setting that would seem to change, but in truth, it would really change from book to book. I am definitely the product of watching too many American sitcoms and am glad my expectation was not met.
The story begins with Father Abbot Heribert leaving Shrewsbury to a council being held to reassess the leadership of the Church in England. He believes is going to be replaced so he leaves any legal matters unsigned so the new Abbot could determine the course of things once appointed. In the meantime, the Bonel household was going to cede its holdings to the abbey in exchange for a quiet retirement. The contract was left unsigned by the Abbot and shortly after Gervase Bonel, the head of the household, was murdered by way of poison, a medicine called Monk's Hook made by Cadfael himself.
The book is filled with a wonderful assortment of characters. None of which are good or bad. They have their own strengths, aspirations and failings. Once of things I enjoy about the Cadfael stories is he passes very little judgment against others (Brother Jerome and Prior Robert being exceptions). We have a new assistant - Brother Mark, his former fiancé - Richaldis, the return of Hugh Beringer, not to mention a number others. Even the murderer in the end is a many Cadfael felt sympathy for and helps. Yes, there is a sense of right and wrong in these books, but the means to right are often rather unorthodox and thus enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to anyone continuing to read the stories of Cadfael. They would appeal to a mystery reader and perhaps a fantasy reader as well. Definitely someone who likes historical fiction. I know I am well hooked into the series now.
Wasn't this a tasty dish?.......2005-12-29
Brother Cadfael is both pleased and displeased when his old love, Richildis, arrives at the Abbey with her husband, to take up residence as a permanent lodger. In return for permanent food, shelter and all things comfortable, Richildis's husband, Gervase Bonel, proposes to deed the ownership of his manor to the Abbey, a fact which does not sit well with his stepson, Edwin, to whom was promised ownership of the manor. In old age, Gervase had grown cantankerous and had taken a spiteful pleasure in goading Edwin into a rage about reneging on his promise of passing on the ownership of the manor to him. After eating a highly spiced and sauced dish of partridge, Gervase dies, and suspicion immediately falls on Edwin. The dish was poisoned with monkshood, an oil made of which, was brewed by Cadfael to use as a liniment for the old and arthritic monks. As usual in a Cadfael story, there are several characters who have equal reason and opportunity to have committed the murder, so it's up to Cadfael to sort out the mystery. It's another fascinating story, set in the 12th century, with a wealth of detail about mediaeval life and with Brother Cadfael sorting out the clues.
Derek Jacobi returns heard but not seen as BROTHER CADFAEL in more than just an interesting plot-twister!.......2005-09-14
I have always believed that the BBC made the finest adaptations for radio and television, and indeed the BROTHER CADFAEL series is no exception; Bert Coules (who most recently adapted Sherlock Holmes for BBC radio) and the fine actor Philip Madoc brought Cadfael to life in three adaptations which are well worth listening to if you can: MONKS HOOD, THE VIRGIN IN THE ICE and DEAD MAN'S RANSOM. However, Sir Derek Jacobi was an excellent Cadfael for television ... even if some of the teleplays didn't quite follow the plot of the original novels. Acorn Audio did something quite extraordinary when they turned the audio tracks of the four teleplays of the first Cadfael TV series into an audio series, adding a narrator to fill in the gaps and adding some slight commentary on the action which could not be seen on an audiotape; in doing so, they tightened up the narrative to keep the stories moving at a good clip so that the listener would not lose interest, and Stephen Flynn's narration is well-read and well-written. This story brings Brother Cadfael's pre-cloistered past back to haunt him while he struggles to both solve a murder and protect the son of his former love and has enough twists and turns in the plot to keep the viewer (or listener in this case!) rivetted, and I have to say in this recording's favor that the telepay follows the book very closely, more so than many of those in the TV series. I am sorry that Acorn Audio hasn't adapted the rest of the televised Cadfael stories into this format, and the only grievance I have is that the cast of characters is not read out at the end of each story (all we get to know is that Sir Derek Jacobi plays Brother Cadfael, when there are some fine actors in each of the stories). This is something entirely new, coming somewhere in between actual radio drama and books-on-tape, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Brother Cadfael series. The listener will not lose anything by not seeing the action on a TV screen, and the acting you will HEAR combined with the narration will definitely provide an ejoyable listening experience.
Masterful Medieval Mystery........................2003-07-28
This is the first Brother Cadfael mystery that I have read. In the past I have enjoyed the Brother Cadfael Mysteries on PBS and that is what prompted me to read one for myself.
The language is difficult to understand at times, (I suggest keeping a dictionary handy)but the mystery is a masterful "who done it". In this story the husband of a former love of Cadfaels suddenly dies and it is discovered that the victim was poisoned by the deadly Monk's Hood. The same tincture that Brother Cadfael himself has prepared for medicinal purposes. There is a large cast of characters that may have purpose and reason to murder Gervase Bonel but when the authorities believe the murderer to be his young stepson Brother Cadfael takes matters into his own hands to prove the youth innocent.
This is not a light read. Stick with it. You will enjoy it.
Book Description
Chance Falconer, the mischievous 13 year old daughter of Lucas Falconer, acts as the mystical guardian for the city of Devil's Echo. Devil's Echo finds itself facing an all-new threat, as classic matinee monsters literally come to life and walk off a movie screen to begin their reign of terror! It's all-out excitement as Chance and her friends try to stop them, but the most shocking secret of all is who is really behind the mayhem!
Customer Reviews:
The fun continues.......2006-07-12
Chance, daughter of Devil's Echo's occult investigator the Falconer, wants to assume the mantle of the Falconer which has been passed from father to son for generations. But Lucas Falconer has no intention of passing the responsibility on to his little girl. Chance is always trying to prove herself and always getting into trouble. But unlike some comics, this girl is usually able to get herself out of trouble without the help of Daddy or some other big strong man. (She does get help from her pet dragon though).
This volume collects issues 9-11. Only three comics in this one instead of four like the other volumes. And, as far as I know at the time of this writing, this is the last volume which is disappointing.
In our last volume, Chance was sent off to boarding school, but after saving the school from a ghost pirate her father brought her home to be educated by a private tutor and hopefully keep her out of trouble. But in Devil's Echo, where magic is an everyday occurance, staying out of trouble is easier said than done.
Our first story is a two-parter in which movie monsters similar to (but legally distinct from) Dracula, the Wolf-man, the Mummy, and Frankenstein's Monster all walk out of the movie screen and start to terrorize the town. Lucas Falconer has his hands full fighting these monsters who don't conform to the normal weaknesses of vampires, werewolves, etc. But Chance discovers that unleashing these monsters was just a distraction and she has go where the real action is by herself.
In the second story a star hockey player is murdered and it looks like Devil's Echo's hockey team is going to lose the Stanley Cup. But when the player comes back from the dead to try and lead his team to victory, the people who had him killed aren't too happy. Attending the Stanley Cup finals, Chance and her father get caught in the middle.
These stories are a lot of fun. Chance has a great energy. Paul Smith's artwork is, as always, excellent. My only complaints with the story are that when the hockey player died, everyone was more concerned about the team winning the Stanley Cup than they were about the man's death, and that the mystery villain behind the living movie monsters was never revealed. Also I was disappointed to find only three issues in this collection, and to find that there aren't any more out there. I WANT MORE CHANCE!!!!
Great Expectations..........2003-11-20
Although I have yet to get this volume in the Leave It to Chance series, I have read (and re-read) both earlier books. This is a very good, goth-style drawn comic that I actually think well of -which I don't do often. It is pretty PG, although the characters could scare some younger kids, and the action isn't as dramatic, nor as sickeningly constant, as in norm. comics such as Batman, etc., so we get to know our characters well, yet they continue to surprise in each volume... amazingly! Chance is a "human heroine", a very relatable and curious teenager, that is on a mission to prove that she can handle her father's sorcerous legacy... even if she is a girl. Go girl! But it is okay for guys as well, don't get me wrong. The line IS more fantasy than barbary, however Chance is pretty cute in a tomboy-ish kind of way ^_^. So while I haven't gotten this one, I definitely recommend it. It's on my Wish List already!
Average customer rating:
- A Full Body Workout
- Excellent book, informative, concise, witty...
- confusion over "functional strength"
- Strength Training and not Bodybuilding
- Losing weght
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New Rules of Lifting: Six Basic Moves for Maximum Muscle
Lou Schuler , and
Alwyn Cosgrove
Manufacturer: Avery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Exercise & Fitness
| Health, Mind & Body
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General
| Health, Mind & Body
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Bodybuilding & Weight Training
| Training
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Physiology
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Similar Items:
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Muscle Logic : Escalating Density Training
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Core Performance Essentials: The Revolutionary Nutrition and Exercise Plan Adapted for Everyday Use
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COMPLETE BOOK OF CORE TRAINING, THE: THE DEFINITIVE RESOURCE FOR SHAPING AND STRENGTHENING THE "CORE" -- THE MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMEN, BUTT, HIPS, AND LOWER BACK
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Core Performance: The Revolutionary Workout Program to Transform Your Body and Your Life
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Men's Health: The Book of Muscle--The World's Most Authoritative Guide to Building Your Body
ASIN: 1583332383 |
Book Description
A revolutionary method of weight lifting using today's science for maximum results.
In The New Rules of Lifting, fitness guru Lou Schuler and strength-training expert Alwyn Cosgrove boil down the most recent findings on weight lifting and fitness to create a program of workouts that focuses on the movements at which the body naturally excels. These six "real-life" movements-squat, bend, lunge, push, pull, and twist-compose three complete programs for three distinct goals: fat loss, muscle gain, and strength improvement.
At home or at the gym, these routines can be mixed and matched for a year's worth of workouts that will keep boredom at bay and lifters challenged long after most plans have called it quits. And while coordinated, useful muscles will always turn heads at the beach, they'll also help you live better and longer. Besides providing comprehensive workout programs, The New Rules of Lifting covers much-needed background on aspects of lifting that are often overlooked, like warming up, nutrition, and meal planning. Throughout, Schuler and Cosgrove debunk strength-training myths, troubleshoot dangerous pitfalls, and clearly illustrate moves with black-and-white photographs.
Customer Reviews:
A Full Body Workout.......2007-07-27
This is a great book with a very good workout plan to fit your goals.
Excellent book, informative, concise, witty..........2007-07-27
About the only thing that could have made this book the perfect purchase would have been an included CD-ROM/DVD with video of what some of the more complex moves really look like in motion. Aside from that, the principles are articulated with wit and clarity. Read this book, never do another boring bicep curl, and make working out fun and challenging once more.
confusion over "functional strength".......2007-07-17
This is a good book, but not always for the reasons given. Contrary to what many trainers are selling nowadays, 'functional strength' is -not- an alternative method in opposition to bodybuilding. Functional strength is not developed by any particular exercise that -resembles- real-life needs. Functional strength is exemplifed in the -specific- activities that you actually do to survive, work, or have fun. No weight movement will , alone, make you carry groceries better , swing a hammer better, or hit home runs more often. The functional exericises for those things, ARE those things. Exercising with weights increases your strength/ability to do the exercise -itself-, with little or no transfer to any other activity, UNLESS, it also develops lean mass. Lean mass/muscle, when applied to other activites, will assist in developing strength at any activity you practice. Bodybuilding, in this sense, is what weight training is, or should be, all about. Don't let the extremists and pros throw you off course. Build muscle, and unless you wish to compete at lifting, forget function until you get to your chosen function. The 'little' exericises like leg extensions, leg curls, abduction , and adduction that are called "not functional" are only called that because they don't help increase your barbell squat ..so what? Is that really your goal?
Strength Training and not Bodybuilding.......2007-06-06
The book is in fact not a book for traditional bodybuilders and it adresses rather the newbies than the experienced lifters. Yet I myself have been lifting weights for almost 16 years. And over those years I made many mistakes. The average bodybuilding routine and gulping down supplements was one of those big mistakes. After having "wasted" years with just pumping up and building hypertrophy I had jumped onto the bandwaggon of old school strength training. I definetly did not regret that, because the BB trining did simply build mass. But I lacked functional strength. Cosgrove and Schuler address this problem in this book and I would not agree that the book just covers some basics of lifting. It is just that their "shared wisdom" is nothing brandnew or complicated. Yet they were able to teach someone like me a few new things and the workout programs by Alwyn Cosgrove are definetly worth the price of the book.
Just don't expect to find the proverbial reinvention of the wheel in this book. It is about a few basic lifts based on natural human movements. That's it. What you will get from that is a strong and truly powerful body. As for pure slabs of muscle mass, this either depends on your genetics and effort, or otherwise stick to the old mass building routines.
Apart from that Alwyn Cosgrove's cynical and dry Scottish sense of humour makes this book a lot of fun to read. The man himself is an excellent srength coach and I recommend his programs and his expertise. However, if you are an experienced lifter or strength athlete, just do not expect to find anything in here that is totally brandnew. But which strength-training book delivers that these days anyway ?
Losing weght.......2007-05-31
Well written and easy to follow. Everything makes sense and I have already lost ten pounds three weeks into the program.
Book Description
Fast, delightful meals for every day or special occasions
Busy schedules and family demands can make it challenging to create quick, easy–and, at the same time, delicious–meals at home. This one-pot meal cookbook, which features over 125 short, scrumptious recipes, is all about convenience, taste, and presentation with minimum effort and maximum flavor. Leslie Revsin includes elegant yet unfussy dishes–Spaghetti with Pesto and Grape Tomatoes; Spanish Chicken and Garbanzo Stew; Chicken, Basil, and Peanut Stir-Fry; Roast Jerk Pork with Yams and Watercress; Sliced Steak, Baby Spinach, and Roquefort Salad; and Quick Ham Cassoulet, to name a few–that can be made from readily available supermarket ingredients and are simple in terms of the number of ingredients (no more than ten), number of steps (no more than three), and preparation time. And like every other book in The Simpler The Better series, One-Pot Meals includes quick tips, variations, and clever ideas for serving and dressing up dishes.
Customer Reviews:
Classy food - fast.......2006-02-15
I've been thrilled with this cookbook. I'm ordering several more copies to give to friends who enjoy food. The dishes come together quickly (making them great for weeknight cooking) and are loaded with flavor. They're also classy enough for company. (BTW, the cover dish really looks that good that when *you* make it!) The skills needed are basic (at least for someone who's handy in the kitchen) and the directions are clear. I heartily recommend it. Some favorites: saffron risotto with shrimp (cover), white bean and tuna salad, turkey chili with polenta, red bell pepper and pork tenderloin saute.
Book Description
Red Wing pottery, with its beautiful glazes and hand painted designs, has evolved into one of the most desired collectibles in the stoneware and art pottery markets. The vast collector following for these pieces will love this essential new reference.
Warman's(r) Red Wing Pottery covers 1,200 pieces of the most collectible Red Wing stoneware, art pottery and dinnerware, with a brilliant full-color photo of each piece as well as current pricing, historical facts and detailed descriptions to aid collectors in identification. Collectors will also find information on fakes and reproductions, ensuring secure purchases. This the most comprehensive guide they'll find anywhere.
-1,200 listings for highly collectible Red Wing pottery -Full-color photos of each piece -Current collector pricing, detailed descriptions, historical facts and tips on spotting fakes and forgeries
Customer Reviews:
A good basic guide.......2007-06-09
This book has helped identify Red Wing pottery, each type is in a separate area and the back includes a 'find by number' list.
There are some items that aren't in this book, but it would help a person get a general idea of what items are worth.
Comprehensive Red Wing Reference.......2005-06-22
This is a very comprehensive treatment of all categories of Red Wing production. Rare, seldom reviewed pieces are included. I appreciated not having to refer to an index for prices (they are provided with each listing). Nice photos. Excellent general reference for Red Wing collectors.
Very good reference book for the collector.......2005-06-18
Excellent examples of the difficult to find items. I thought the photography was excellent! Fair and not inflated prices....Thanks!
Nothing new here.......2005-06-11
This guide has a little bit of information about all areas of Red Wing pottery. Unfortunately, it tries to do too much and in doing so doesn't do justice to any of the subjects. I believe new collectors will be confused by its organization. The good news is there are already lots of good books available on Red Wing pottery.
Average customer rating:
- Good book for skilled woodworkers
- Poor plans
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How to Build 50 Classic Furniture Reproductions
Monte Burch
Manufacturer: Sterling Pub Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Furniture Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
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General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
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Furniture & Carpentry
| Woodworking
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ASIN: 0806903023 |
Customer Reviews:
Good book for skilled woodworkers.......1998-09-05
I found Monte Burch's book in the library while searching for woodworking titles. Having read many books like this I was drawn to this book because it offers tips and pointers that help craftsmen hone their skills. His descriptions of the projects assumes that the reader will have many woodworking skills to begin with and he speaks in a language that is easy to follow if you have a good knowledge of the craft. For me Burch's presentation of master projects is a revelation.At the end of the book are several master projects. Build any of these and you have the right to be called "master joiner". Yet you do not start with the master projects. The book is peppered with projects for many skill levels and as you build the easier projects and master the skills necessary for each project you learn another skill towards a master project. So far I have built the Pot Cupboard and am working on the Kitchen Cupboard. My goal is the Chippendale lowboy,and perhaps, in my heart there is even a Philadelphia Highboy. I recomend this book to woodworkers with a fair amount of skill who wish to become master woodworkers.
Poor plans.......1998-08-15
Most of the plans in this book are completely unintelligible. Avoid this one, there are MUCH better books out there.
Average customer rating:
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The Decorated Home: Imaginative Designs and Painting Techniques
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Decorative Arts
| Design & Decorative Arts
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General
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Painting
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| Interior Design
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ASIN: 1558705724 |
Customer Reviews:
beautiful.......2004-01-05
Hasui sings to me, whispers to me. I can feel the drizzle on my skin after looking at his work. Dr Brown captures that and a lot more. He has an expert's eye on a subject so often ignored and more than anything else, I appreciate his decision to publish a much needed volume on hasui. I've had the unique pleasure of taking a class under Dr. Brown and his easy demeanour beats the perception his authority on hasui might create. He brings a similar ease to his book. It talks to the experienced hasui collector, the enthusiastic student or just someone plain curious. His insight, although pretty unchallenged, is still quite enlightening and authoritative due to his empathy with the subject and its background and his experience as such. It was about time someone explored Hasui in words and we are lucky to read it in Dr. brown's words.
Average customer rating:
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The Book of Deacon: The Wit and Wisdom of Deacon Jones
Deacon Jones , and
John Klawitter
Manufacturer: Seven Locks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
African-American & Black
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Headslap: The Life and Times of Deacon Jones
ASIN: 0929765362 |
Book Description
As one of the greatest football players of the 20th Century Deacon Jones learned that it would take more than size and speed to be the best defensive end in the NFL. He knew that extraordinary mental toughness would keep him at the peak of his game. After he retired from football, Deacon continued to use his winning attitude to help him to recreate his success off the gridiron. The Book of Deacon is a collection of sayings that represents the mental and spiritual essence of a modern day warrior.
As an integral member of the Los Angeles Rams legendary Fearsome Foursome, Deacon Jones was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980. Deacon's combination of speed and tenacity made him one of the leading pass rushers in NFL history and the 13th greatest football player to have played in the NFL by Sporting News. Today, the Deacon Jones Foundation is instrumental in helping academically qualified inner city students find personal and financial success by providing scholarships and mentoring programs.
The Book of Deacon is a combination of down home wisdom, gridiron determination, and modern motivation to help anyone to succeed in the game of life.
Books:
- Mr. Lucky: A Novel of High Stakes (Tony Valentine Novels)
- Mrs. Malory and No Cure for Death (Sheila Malory Mysrery)
- Mrs. Pollifax on Safari
- Mrs. Pollifax Pursued (Mrs. Pollifax Mysteries)
- Murder at the Old Vicarage
- Murder Most Catholic: Divine Tales of Profane Crimes (Murder Most)
- Murder on a Kibbutz: Communal Case, A
- Murder on Naked Beach: A Lucy Ripken Mystery (Lucy Ripken)
- Name Withheld: A J.P. Beaumont Mystery
- New Year's Eve Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The First Man
- The Divided West
- Painting With Water-Soluble Colored Pencils
- Snuffed Out
- The Book on Vegas
- One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter
- The Big Sea: An Autobiography
- Great Bird Paintings of the World: The Old Masters
- Stable Isotopes and Plant Carbon-Water Relations
- Plants in Hawaiian Medicine
St. Peter's Fair: The Fourth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
A Morbid Taste for Bones: The First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
Virgin in the Ice (Brother Cadfael Mysteries)
Leper of Saint Giles (Brother Cadfael Mysteries)
