Foolish Undertaking

Average customer rating:

strong investigative tale

A terrific book in a very good series.

Foolish Undertaking
Mark de Castrique
Manufacturer: Poisoned Pen Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1590582276

Book Description

The night before a funeral that will thrust the mountain town of Gainesboro, North Carolina, into the national spotlight, the body is stolen from the embalming room and funeral director Barry Clayton is knocked unconscious. Ouch. How will Clayton & Clayton deal with the relatives of Y'Grok Eban, the Montagnard hero who aided US troops during the Vietnam War, or the U.S. Senator, three-star general, and famous Hollywood star en route to Y'Grok's service?

Barry's friend, Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins has a very personal interest in the missing Y'Grok--the Montagnard had saved his life. So does the Boston detective who also owes his life to Y'Grok and received a death-bed summons from the cancer-stricken old man: "Raven has come home." The three men pledge to crack Y'Grok's code, recover not just the body but a piece of a long-buried past, and deal with new death and betrayal. Is it a heroic or a foolish undertaking?

Customer Reviews:

strong investigative tale .......2006-03-13

In Gainesboro, North Carolina, just before dying from cancer Montagnard expatriate Y'Grok Eban informs Boston cop Kevin Malone that the "Raven has come home" scaring the street tough police officer though he is not totally sure why. The brave Y'Grok saved many American lives during the Viet Nam war, but the exile never went home once he fled for the Carolina hills. Now a grand funeral befitting a genuine hero is planned that has caught the attention of the national media.

However, someone enters the Clayton & Clayton Funeral Home, knocking unconscious director Barry Clayton before apparently stealing the corpse of Y'Grok. Barry's friend local Sheriff Tommy Lee Watkins is upset for personal reasons because four decades ago Y'Grok saved his life when he served in Nam. Kevin, coming south for the funeral, joins forces with Tommy Lee and Barry an ex-cop to locate the body, learn the meaning of Y'Grok's last cryptic message and find out why something that happened forty years ago suddenly haunts those still living today over an ocean and a continent away.

Using a contemporary mystery, Mark de Castrique provides an intriguing look (through the memories of those gathering for the funeral) of the Viet Nam War in which the Montagnard served as loyal allies to the American troops. The search for the stolen corpse and the efforts to break Y'Grok's enigmatic last words turn into a strong investigative tale that spins into much more as the war still haunts these men while they each reflect back to try to define what the final words of their late brother in arms meant. FOOLISH UNDERTAKING is a fabulous thriller that grips the audience from the moment the corpse is purloined and never slows down until Raven comes home.

Harriet Klausner

A terrific book in a very good series........2006-02-13

Berry is a terrific main character, a former copy-a patrolman, not a detective-with a strong relationship to his family and friends. I enjoyed the secondary characters but a weakness was that his girlfriend Susan seemed unsympathetic in this book, so you didn't quite understand the ending. The sense of place is well done, there's good tension and a couple twists along the way. I particularly liked learning about the Montagnards of Viet Nam, about whom I had never heard. This is a very good series, well written series and is perfect for those who like some action but nothing overly dark

A story of a great horse and a foolish undertaking

Average customer rating:

A story of a great horse and a foolish undertaking
William J Clothier
Manufacturer: Published for Private Distribution, S.A. Wilson Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007FCJIO

Customer Reviews:

Ugh...most stories were simply sub-par and boring.......2004-01-24

I admit that I bought this book because it had an all-too-rare Changeling: The Dreaming story in it. Turns out, it's the last story in the book, is only a handful of pages and not even remotely resembling the actual plot, rules or storyline of the game. I DID read through all of the stories though and here's my take.

The Five Petals of the Lotus by Kevin Andrew Murphy (Kindred of the East) was a pretty ho-hum opening to the book. They didn't bother cluing you in on game terms or anything so if you're not familiar with the system (as I was not) it took a bit to force you way through things which simply weren't explained. Didn't really go anywhere and you didn't feel like you accomplished anything when it was done. It also ends rather abruptly. The concept seems interesting enough, and perhaps if given a full novel treatment it could have been good, but as it stands it just wasn't anything that great.

The Silver Crown by William Bridges (Werewolf: The Apocalypse) came up next and it was pretty decent. Again, I'm not all that familiar with Werewolf, but while they didn't really explain things per se, you didn't feel left out of the story. It flowed along well enough, telling the tale of the Heir to the throne's return to werewolf society, his challenge (and loss) to claim his crown, and his quest within the Umbra for a legendary treasure to help remove the Wyrm infestation threatening his homeland.

Mister Magick by Edo Van Belkom (Mage: The Ascension) was probably the best story of the lot. It actually made me interested in reading up some more on the Mage series. It's quite long actually, and starts off as the growing-up story of an impoverished kid in Canada and his love of stage magic. It progresses through his journey to stardom and his meeting and eventual apprentiship to a famous magician - and Mage. Has a good overall story and brings you along on the generalities of the Mage world.

Beyond the Shroud by Rick Hautala (Wraith: The Oblivion) was by far and without a doubt the WORST story in the book. It was simply a HORROR. First off, I can't ever imagine, if the game was anything like the story, that anyone would ever in their right mind, want to play this unbelievably depressing and repetitively boring game. The story itself is well over two hundred pages and only had plot for about fifty. I don't know how many times you can read about the main character feeling disoriented, lost for time, falling in a pit of blackness, feeling the darkness pulling at him, thinking that he should just give up (and then, mustering his courage not to - until the next scene where we repeat ad nasuem), the fact that everything is distant and muffled, etc. etc. etc. but my gods, it just drags on. This story just shouldn't be. There are no redeeming qualities to it and it's just a huge waste of paper.

The Muse by Jody Lynn Nye (Changeling: The Dreaming) wraps up the book with a scant TWENTY PAGES (were most stories took around a couple HUNDRED pages). But, it doesn't matter because I don't know what it's trying to talk about, but it's certainly not Changeling. Yeah, there's some vague, kithless and undescribed fae who's inspiring some artist and then there's also some faceless "seelie" (again, no kith, description or even physical characters) trying to stop her from reopening a gate to Arcadia. But...there are so many things wrong with this story, that listing them would take up more pages then the story itself. It's such a shame that no one took the time to tap this HUGE resource of Changeling storyline into fiction and novel (possessing only the Immortal Eyes Novel Trilogy, The Vampire/Changeling cross-over "Pomegranates Full and Fine", and the anthology "The Splendor Falls" as the entire novel catalog). I mean, it's a game about the limitless possibility of Dreams for crying out loud! *sighs*

Anyway, the Werewolf and the Mage stories were the only ones worth reading. The book's in no way worth it's $15.99 cover price, but if you can borrow it from the library or a friend, those two tales aren't half-bad. Beyond that, I'd say pass this one by.

This book was great, for all WoD games.......2000-03-26

I liked this book because it helped me to understand the World of Darkness better. It helped my Chronical to reach new heights. I made me relize how cool this game could really be. Look whoevers reading this if you are new to the World of Darkness or just need new ideas then this book is for you.This is the long lost holy grail for WoD

Average customer rating:

A Personal Experience

Time Saving Exercise

If only 8 minutes a day can improve your life it's worth trying

Have followed the plan and have seen NO results!

Great Exercises!

8 Minutes in the Morning to a Flat Belly: Lose Up to 6 Inches in Less than 4 Weeks--Guaranteed!
Jorge Cruise
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Weight Loss | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Weight Maintenance | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Quick Workouts | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Training | Sports | Subjects | Books
All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
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The 3-Hour Diet (TM): Lose up to 10 Pounds in Just 2 Weeks by Eating Every 3 Hours!

8 Minutes in the Morning to Lean Hips and Thin Thighs : Lose Up to 4 Inches in Less Than 4 Weeks-- Guaranteed!

The 3-Hour Diet On the Go (Collins Gem)

8 Minutes in the Morning: A Simple Way to Start Your Day That Burns Fat and Sheds the Pounds

8 Minutes in the Morning for Real Shapes, Real Sizes: Specifically Designed for People Who Want to Lose 30 Pounds or More

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 157954715X

Book Description

Well-known in the media, with testimonials from countless clients and experts such as Dr. Andrew Weil, Jorge Cruise condenses his successful '8 Minute' formula to focus on the challenge of toning the belly in two easy steps. The first step provides powerful visualizations to motivate you and help avoid self-sabotage. The second step is a new plan to build lean muscle by performing Cruise Moves focusing on your belly 3 days a week, and on your upper and lower body 2 days a week. The easy-to-follow Cruise Down Plate spotlights vegetable fiber, such as beans, that flattens the stomach. Protein, fat, and water help maintain your new muscles. A bonus chapter on intestinal health shows you specific foods to eat to avoid 'false fat'-further shrinking your belly. These tips and suggestions will give you even better and faster results! 8 Minutes in the Morning

Customer Reviews:

A Personal Experience.......2007-04-09

The author of this weight loss manual knows from personal experience how difficult it can be to lose weight. He used his own experiences to develop this weight loss plan.

Time Saving Exercise.......2007-03-12

The exercise introduced in the book
is precise and easy to do, also time
saving.

The book looks like brand new, thanks.

If only 8 minutes a day can improve your life it's worth trying.......2007-02-15

Jorge Cruise has built a successful career around weight loss through books, appearances and his website. His personal experience struggling with weight as a young child and adult have won him over an audience that can relate. With this kit the New York Times Best selling author guarantees users will lose up to 6" in less than 4 weeks. I think it's more important to focus on the increased muscle strength and tone your body will have rather than the number of inches lost and that's how I went into this review.

This 8 Minutes in the Morning to a Flat Belly Kit includes an instructional CD (not DVD) of a 33 minute personal coaching session with Jorge and 26 daily workout cards made of very thick cardstock. The purpose of this kit is to help busy people lose two pounds a week by getting their muscles to burn fat 24/7.

THE CD

The CD Breakdown:

* Intro/Welcome
* Get Ready to Start
* How to Lose 6" in 4 Weeks
* Kit Overview
* Your New Life
* Your Challenge

Jorge explains the focus of this kit is using exercises to build muscle, not increasing your cardio like most weight loss programs. Cardio is good for your heart but it's not effective for weight loss but still he recommends some form of cardio activity three times a week for 20-30 minutes to strengthen your heart muscle. The exercises restore metabolism by building muscles that will burn more calories than fat. Jorge swears the biggest cause of muscle loss is fad diets.

As for eating, Jorge only touches on this. He wants participants to eat to make muscle, avoiding calorie counting, eat every three hours (breakfast, lunch, supper, two snacks and an evening treat), use the Cruise down plate (visual image of protein, carbs, veggies on your plate) and stop eating three hours before bed. The biggest asset here is the flat belly planner (you make copies for each day of the week) to organize and log success by tracking food, water and exercise.

He touches a bit on emotional eating and again touts his website for 24/7 support and meal plans but I couldn't find anything other than ads to buy meals, books and vitamins. The CD closes with an inspirational talk about enjoying your life.

THE CARDS

The specialized fold out cards are a multi level "strength training plan". Each card contains four one minute moves which you repeat once giving you an 8 minute workout. There is a card for every day of the week with a weekend card covering both Saturday and Sunday.

There are three levels of intensity to choose from. Level 1 is for the beginner and requires no equipment other than a chair, table, wall and the kit box. Jorge recommends everyone start at level one. If you haven't had any physical activity, I totally agree. Level 1 is by no means for wimps but it is doable. After 8 minutes you can definitely tell you've worked your muscles. Level 2 is more challenging; again, with only a chair and wall as your required equipment. In Level 3 the exercises are advanced using a fitness ball and medicine ball. The three levels are colour coded in pink, yellow, and blue for easy searching.

If you follow the recommended cards you only actually work the belly 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Tuesday is for the upper body and Thursday is for the lower body. On Sunday Jorge recommends a body cleanse using a Psyllium shake. The card and CD recommend you visit his website for further details on the shake but all I found was a link to buy the powdered product. The natural Psyllium husk can be found in a bulk food store if you need more fiber in your diet.

The cards also contain a Power Thought and Visualization. Jorge Thoughts provide useful suggestions for improving your health and mental wealth. Some of the visualizations are corny, i.e. visualizing a first date with someone after you've reached your goal and their response to your body. The first week of visualizations center around how others see you, looking better to get a response from others and feeling better because of their response. Sometimes there are hints on emotional eating and success stories about people who have used Jorge's plan.

Does it work? Yes, but like any routine meant to put you in shape it is a life long plan of action, not a miracle cure. This kit is easy to understand and the exercises are doable. Obese people can do these exercises (week one and two anyway) but might have to slightly modify the moves due to surrounding flesh and extra weight. I found it helpful to have a small minute timer to do the one minute exercises as there are no repetitions to keep track of. I felt reasonably energized after only 8 minutes. It actually works out to ten if you include the warm up and cool down stretches.

Even if you didn't follow his dietary suggestions these exercises will be of benefit. If only 8 minutes a day can improve your life it's worth trying and we all can spare 8 minutes for some activity. Reviewed by M. E. Wood.

Have followed the plan and have seen NO results!.......2006-09-28

As far as I am concerned, '8 Minutes in the Morning to a Flat Belly' was a total waste of my money. I've been following this workout and eating plan for over four months now and have seen no reduction in neither my belly size nor my weight. Frankly, I was seeing more results from my old Denise Austin Low Impact Aerobic Workout tape than this, so it looks like I'm saying goodbye to Jorge and going back to Denise. Sorry Jorge, I gave it my best shot but your plan just doesn't work for me.

Great Exercises!.......2006-09-13

I really love the exercises in this book, and they really do help me! I have been adding more than just these exercises to my routine (mostly walking), but for toning, I love these.

As for the rest of the book, I am not sure that I agree with his ideas. If you are looking just for some great exercises to do in a small amount of time, this is an awesome book!

Average customer rating:

wartime recipes

This book has great recipes!

Just what I wanted

The Greatest Generation of Cooks

A look back in time to our "home front"

Grandma's Wartime Kitchen: World War II and the Way We Cooked
Joanne Lamb Hayes
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

History | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312253230

Book Description

An affectionate and informative look at women on the Home Front in the 1940s, Grandma's Wartime Kitchen presents more than 150 classic recipes (updated for today's kitchens) along with anecdotes, advertisements, advice, and archival recipes from a unique and defining period in America's history.With details and personal voices that make the material come to life, the book covers: * The U.S. government's food rules and ration books * Substitutes for rationed sugar, and the delicious dessert recipes they inspired * Stretching butter, meat, coffee, and other staples * Cooking and baking for the troops abroad * Wartime entertaining including Defense Parties, progressive parties, and a traditional Thanksgiving dinner using wartime commodities * Monday Meatloaf, Mother's Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Apple Dumplings, Vermont Johnny Cake, Honey Apple Pie, and many other recipes. At a time when America is saluting the soldierswho fought in World War II, this one-of-a-kind collection offers a portrait of the courageous (and delicious) contributions of the women who stayed behind.

Customer Reviews:

wartime recipes.......2006-11-06

This book brought back many childhood memories for me. I found recipes that my grandma used to make and I enjoyed. I thought of our victory garden and the canning that my mother and grandmother did. We made lots of sacrifices and didn't complain. I wonder why we didn't have to make
any sacrifices for this present war? --like gasoline!

This book has great recipes!.......2006-10-03

Recently I served as a cook at a weekend training event. The cook staff tried 7 recipes in this book and everyone loved them. We made several cakes, muffins and the No Knead rolls. The Crybabies were a great hit. The other cooks on the staff are planning to get their own copies.

Just what I wanted.......2006-01-15

I am writing a book sent during WW2, and I needed a good sense of day-to-day life in the era. This book provides that with authentic recipes and loads of other information about food purchasing and cooking tips that help to explain the era. I think this would be a useful and fun book for students of the era, regardless of their age.

The Greatest Generation of Cooks.......2001-02-02

Those of us living in this age of plenty have no idea what it was like to cook during World War II when sugar, butter, meat and oh, so many canned foods were rationed. I was a very little girl then and didn't understand so many of the hardships my mother endured. This book answers so many of the questions left unanswered and for me it is a joy to read. I do remember many of the recipes included here and for old times sake, I plan to give many of them a try. This book is a must for anyone interested in food or food history. We may not cook this way today-- we don't have to. But these old make-do recipes can teach us all a lot.

A look back in time to our "home front".......2000-12-27

I just purchased this book for my mother as a Christmas present, as she was born just before the USA's involvement in WWII. I gave it to her yesterday at our family gathering. Once she saw the cover, it was VERY difficult to get her to stop looking through it...she had to force herself to put it away!

I did check it out before I wrapped it...like Mom, I enjoy reading cookbooks in general, as well as being an American history buff. I don't know if I would actually try any of the recipes in this book (just not the kind of stuff I usually eat these days) but the chapters on food rationing and wartime entertaining (usually just glossed over in most books about the era) were very interesting! I just gave this book three stars since I would have liked more historical photos, as well as pictures of some of the completed dishes. If you enjoyed this book, I would also recommend the "Culinary Arts Institute Encyclopedic Cookbook" which was first published in the 40's, as another view of American cookery at that point in time.

Book Description

At last, a series of dog guides written from the dog's point of view! Each Love Guide offers the reader humorous (but true)insight into the needs, expectations, virtues and personality quirks of the subject breed. Each breed specific book will include four, full-color postcards, immunization chart and a lined journal to record memories. Dog lovers will find these books to be as useful as they are entertaining; a happy way to learn how to win a dog's love for life.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-09-13

This little book is not exactly what I thought it would be. It mostly has some poem like chapters about Welsh Corgis. The Charts it has are handy and the postcards are cute.

cute & useful.......2007-03-31

Goofy photos, information that is concise but useful, and a great "baby book" section to record information on your new corgi pup.

Amazon.com

Though the text is minimal and the illustrations are black and white, Vintage Clothing is packed with ideas for costume designers, clothing collectors and restorers, and even experienced home sewers who'd like to incorporate some historic flair into their designs. Using a combination of period fashion illustrations, old photographs, contemporary photos of period clothes, and detailed captions, the volume traces the evolution of a century of clothing styles. Although not as nicely produced as many other costume/fashion history books, the sheer variety and number of details on every page make it a worthwhile reference. Also included are estimates of the outfits' worth in today's market.

Customer Reviews:

Vintage Clothing: Worthy of having in your fashion library.......2004-05-18

This book deserves better reviews than it has received here. First of all, it was one of the very first "guides" written for vintage clothing collectors, and I still appreciate and value the nearly 300 pages of fashion images both illustrative and photographic.

As for the "value" guide; we know, or should know, that prices of vintage clothing can vary wildly depending on where you live, what is hot and what is not, if the seller wants to sell low and if the buyer wants to buy high. I think the prices indicated in this guide, though nearly ten years old, are still fairly accurate, adding 30 to 40 percent to the higher-end, rarer pieces and giving or taking 10 to 20 percent on the low end.

I believe Maryanne Dolan knows vintage clothing, and knows the field well. Her historical research is good, and her appreciation and passion for costume is inspiring. Her overviews of the periods at the beginning of each chapter are well-written, clear and easy to read.

It is true, however, that the book needs an index, some copy editing and perhaps a more sophisticated design layout for today's collectors. All seriously considered books need an index; just a fact of life in a costume or fashion researcher's world. Perhaps in a next edition?

It is wise to note that one isn't going to get rich buying and selling vintage clothing today -- a nice living perhaps, if you have a decent collection already established -- but a fantastic hobby is always a possibility.

An update is in order, but all in all, this is a good book worth having in your fashion history, vintage clothing or collecting library. Besides, when you can get 300 pages of pretty decent material for less than $10, how can you go wrong?

beware!!.......2003-02-03

I have a number of vintage clothing books in my library and have been collecting vintage clothing and accessories for almost 20 years. This book is the only one I have regretted buying. Many of the "illustrations" are black and white drawings that explain color and cut. The descriptions are not adequate-there are few if any makers names listed and there's no index to help in the process of looking up an item. Many of the models that are used do not carry the clothing well and since the photographs are in black and white you cannot see the pieces properly. The one thing that I can say that's positive is that she does list the time periods for the items she shows, and she does pack many plates into her book.

Not for all of us -.......2001-04-01

If you are looking for information on clothing between 1880 and about 1919, by all means, this is the book for you. But, if you're like me and you are looking for a book on clothing from 1930 on, pass this one up. More than 3/4 of this book is dedicated to victorian clothing. You can also tell which decades this author favors. While pictures of models (if you can really call these women models) in victorian clothing are carefully posed and accessorized, the more current clothing is slapped on just about anyone who would stand still long enough to have their picture taken. Example - the 60+ year old woman in the WEDDING DRESS. There are really no clothing from the 70s or 80s in this book and the 50s and 60s are very sparse. The prices are also unreasonably high for the average collector. I was EXTREMELY disappointed with this book. But I do have to admit I did get a couple of giggles from some of the pitiful pictures.

Overall, a bit disappointing.......1998-11-03

I have just started studying and researching vintage clothing. I did not find this book to be all that helpful. The value guide seems to be very high. Some of the pictures are interesting and the summaries at the beginning of the chapters are somewhat helpful, however, I feel there are better books available for research.

Not great, but good; fun to look at, high prices........1998-08-24

Dolan's Guide is good, but not great- it is in need of some extra editing, and a wider variety of fashions. But, it is a -vast- improvenment over the first edition. Her price estimates, while they may seem high, are actually accurate reflections of the prices paid in large cities. Here in the Midwest, we cut her prices by 2/3 in order to get fair, practical prices and values. Also, the book is targeted not toward the fashion lover, or vintage clothing store owner, but to the -collector- of vintage fashion; this is why the prices are high: it's not a guide to the vintage fashion industry, but a price guide (of course, as its title suggests) for antique dealer and collector. (Personally, I find this a little unrealistic, as I've never met anyone who actually -collects- vintage fashions, but maybe I'm just mixing with the wrong crowd.) It is also a -fun- read; I own few other books I can always enjoy this much, for as little as five minutes to as long as two hours. Also, be sure to read the long introductions at the beginning of each chapter; they are as much fun as the illustrations, and provide an excellent overview of each period. Her guide to rhinestone jewelery is also good, better even than this.

Vintage Clothing 1880-1960: Identification and Value Guide

Average customer rating:

Vintage Clothing 1880-1960: Identification and Value Guide
Maryanne Dolan
Manufacturer: Books Americana
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Textile & Costume | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0896890635

Vintage Clothing 1880-1960: 1880-1960 : Identification & Value Guide

Average customer rating:

Vintage Clothing 1880-1960: 1880-1960 : Identification & Value Guide
Maryanne Dolan
Manufacturer: Books Americana
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Textile & Costume | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Beauty & Fashion | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0896890392

Customer Reviews:

Many of these motifs are ideal for mineature samplers.......2000-04-10

This collection of more than 250 cross stitch designs date to European patterns of five hundred years ago. Most charts are 1 color, some 2, but are suited to be stitched in many colors or even variegated floss. Designs include: borders, medallions, urns, flowers, snowflakes, cloverleaves, people and animals. All of the designs are simple cross stitch, some with outline stitches, suitable for beginning projects. This is a rather small book, but packed full of inspirational designs to make into a great many handmade projects.

Traditional Motifs for Needlework and Knitting

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Traditional Motifs for Needlework and Knitting
Carola Forg
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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

Knitting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0713635797

Customer Reviews:

Excellent memorandum of the period and more!.......2004-11-05

Miss Agnes Lee, as the daughter of the famous general, was in a unique position to record the inner workings of one of America's oldest families. She records a touchingly ordinary life of a typical 19th-century young woman; home life, going to school, her hopes and dreams. Truly interesting to historians should be her position as "teacher" for her grandfather's slaves, who were being prepared for their freedom. General Lee wanted them to be taught to read and write so they could make a living, and Miss Agnes and her beloved sister Annie (who died tragically of typhoid during the war) taught the classes. Agnes, like her sisters, never married although she had a hearbreaking love over with Orton Williams, whom the war turned into a hard-drinking man. She tearfully refused his proposal and never healed from her grief when he was hanged by Union troops. This is an invaluable resource for a young girl's life of the period. Highly recommend

A heartwarming look at a lovely girl.......2003-10-16

The Journal of Agnes Lee was written over a 5-year period while Agnes was between 12 and 17, and before the Civil War that would make her father such a legend. Don't expect breathtaking adventure here, but rather sit back and enjoy a view of this young girl coming of age in the 1850's. My strongest reaction to the book was, "How I would have loved to know Agnes!" She really does come alive here with exuberant spontaneity. Her writings provide many glimpses into the overall family life and way of thinking about her life. Agnes' love for her family is intense, and it can make the reader jealous of such closeness, rarely seen in today's society. I do recommend this book to those who want to know about General Lee's family life, and those who are interested in knowing more about this delightful girl, taken from the world by illness at age 32.

The Journal of Agnes Lee.......2000-07-25

Eleanor Agnes Lee was the daughter of General Robert E. Lee, the famous Conferderate Commander in the War Between the States. This is the journal from her girlhood. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are many books about Robert E. Lee, but there are very few about the rest of his family. This is one of the only sources on his third, beautiful daughter, Agnes, and lets us see better the life of the Lee family. It tells of her faith, her struggles, and her wonderful relationship with her family. I loved this book!

Cathy Williams: From Slave to Female Buffalo Soldier (Great novels and memoirs of World War I)

Average customer rating:

Fact or Folklore?
Review For Cathy Williams Book
interesting and well written
A Seriously Flawed Book!

Cathy Williams: From Slave to Female Buffalo Soldier (Great novels and memoirs of World War I)
Phillip Thomas Tucker
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

African-American & Black | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0811703401

Book Description

Few Americans today, black or white, know about the incredible life of Cathy Williams. From her beginnings as a slave in Independence, Missouri, to her enlistment with Company A, 38th U.S. Infantry, in November 1866, the story of this remarkable woman deserves to finally be told. By disguising herself as a man and assuming the name William Cathay, Williams became a "buffalo soldier," serving in one of the six black units formed following the Civil War. Her story tells us much about prevailing attitudes toward both race and gender in post Civil War America.

Customer Reviews:

Fact or Folklore?.......2003-05-03

There is greater awareness because of the magnitude of this book and
its message. And I'll wager that there are few Americans today, Black
or White, who know about the incredible life of Cathy Williams. This
remarkable story now has a voice.

Once a slave in Independence, Missouri, Cathy Williams lived and
worked in the 'big house' as a servant to its mistress. And though
being a house servant carried greater privilege and status than
that of the field hand, Cathy began to resent the menial tasks she
performed as much as she resented her masters.

After the death of her owner, and having the good fortune of not
being sold to pay debts, Cathy realized that the fundamental premise
of slavery was a lie and this life was not her chosen destiny. So in
November 1866 she disguised herself as a man, used the name William
Cathay, and enlisted in Company A, 38th U.S. Infantry and became a
Buffalo Soldier. As the first and only African American woman to
serve in one of the six black units formed following the Civil War.
Interestingly enough, Williams was able to become a member of the
Army without detection of her sex, and it was imperative that she
keep her true identity unknown. Her adventures took her from Missouri
to the Mexican border where she served for nearly two years. After
her military career Cathy did not envision returning to her roots in
Missouri, plus her heart was now in the West. So she married and
created a life for herself on the Western frontier, as a business-
woman in Trinidad, CO.

There is much contention surrounding the validity of Cathy's story.
Historians claim Tucker's only source about Williams' alleged service
as a Buffalo soldier is based on a newspaper account published in
1876 and that there are no official records in existence to
authenticate her Civil War service. Some believe it was easy for
Williams to get discharge certificates from the 'real' William
Cathay and pass it off as her own. And that 'Far too many of the
speculations about Williams are colored by a 21st century
"politically correct" perspective'.

Yet others offer a more positive analogy, "Phillip Thomas Tucker the
prize-winning author of The Confederacy's Fighting Chaplain tells
this remarkable tale of Pvt. William Cathay of Company A, 38th U.S.
Infantry, who in fact was a big-boned, 5' 7" black woman named Cathy
Williams. This is a unique story of gender and race, time and place.

Tucker's work is a recommended read that reaches across categories,
from American, African American, and military history to Western and
women's history." -- Thomas J. Davis, Arizona State Univ.

Regardless of the controversy, this was a fascinating story presented
more in the vein of a documentary than a novel and it allows readers
to experience a non-traditional, non-typical life for a 'Colored'
woman in the 1800's. Tucker uses this storyline to captivate and
educate, and he introduces a believable character who unknowingly and
unintentionally charted a course for the role of today's women in all
branches of the military. This story vividly brings to life another
chapter of our colorful history.

Reviewed by aNN Brown
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Review For Cathy Williams Book.......2002-07-20

I just finished this wonderful book....enjoyed it very much..One can see all the truly great research that went into this book...This Missouri Author Phillip Tucker has written about 25 Civil War Books..All have best good sellers...I would recommend everyone reading his books....Dr. AJ & Janet Canpbell

interesting and well written.......2002-06-15

I found this book to be interesting and very enjoyable. It is an example of how one woman turned adversity into her triumph. I would recommend it highly.

A Seriously Flawed Book!.......2002-04-06

This is a book that should, at best, have been an article in a scholarly journal or popular magazine. The great majority of the text is what politely might be termed "fluff." There is so little actually known about the subject of the book that the author has filled his pages with generalities and speculations to lengthen to story. The first three chapters deal with Cathy Williams' supposed service with the 8th Indiana Infantry Regiment, which is based exclusively on a newspaper account published in 1876. Tucker admits "no official record existed of her Civil War service" yet takes that article at face value and attempts to find support for it. One aspect of the tale should serve to show how weak it is. Williams claimed to have been with the regiment during the Red River Campaign in 1864. This was patently impossible because, at that time, the unit was home on veteran furlough. Tucker apparently did not research this or chose to ignore the fact since it contradicts Williams' tale.

Again, there is no proof that the person calling herself "Cathy Williams" for the newspaper story had, in fact, disguised herself as a man and served as "William Cathay" in the 38th U. S. Infantry after the Civil War. The woman whose tale was published might easily have gotten the discharge certificate from the real William Cathay and then claimed it as her own. Tucker's six chapters on the service of William Cathay are also almost exclusively "fluff." They are replete with "probablys" and "might haves" since not one scintilla of evidence exists to describe Williams' activities if she actually had been in the 38th U. S. Infantry. Far too many of these speculations about Williams' feelings and thoughts are colored by a 21st century "politically correct" perspective.

Finally, in talking about a doctor who examined Williams and found her in good health, Tucker writes: "It is possible that he had not served in the Civil War or in any Indian War like Cathy Williams, and felt that he was less of a man upon meeting a female veteran of two wars." This and other comments that follow reek of "politically correct" psychobabble and impugn the reputation of a man about whom Tucker knows nothing. He too easily points a finger at "racism" and "sexism" as the reasons for denying Williams' pension application, when the truth is that there simply was no evidence to support her claim. Oddly, Tucker fails to cite Williams' pension file found in the National Archives even though it is available to any researcher. His only source is a journal article about Williams' alleged service as a Buffalo soldier.

Average customer rating:
Autobiography of a Female Slave (Banner Book Series)
Mattie Griffith , and Martha Griffith Browne
Manufacturer: University Press of Mississippi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1578060478

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Autobiography of a Female Slave
None
Manufacturer: Mnemosyne Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UUGL4O

Average customer rating:
Autobiography of a Female Slave
Mattie Griffith
Manufacturer: Negro Universities Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LOI7Q4

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Autobiography of a female slave h [microform]
Martha Griffith Browne
Manufacturer: Redfield
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B00088V9RC

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