Chile Death: A China Bayles Mystery

Amazon.com

Chile is the pepper; chili (or sometimes chilli) is the spicy stew made with it. That's the first of many lessons about food, love, and death in Susan Wittig Albert's latest mystery about China Bayles, the Texas Hill Country lawyer turned herbalist and crime solver. Although Albert lives in the Texas Hill Country herself, she swears that China's hometown, Pecan Springs (which must have a higher per capita death rate than anyplace outside of Jessica Fletcher's Maine village), is fictional. So we have to believe that nobody really killed one of the judges of the annual Cedar Choppers Chili Cook-off by adding peanuts to his tasting sample and causing a deadly allergic reaction.

But China and her lover, ex-cop Mike McQuaid, believe it--especially after the dead chili judge, Jerry Jeff Cody, turns out to have a swampful of dirty secrets. So Albert begins a clever dance, keeping Bayles and the bedridden McQuaid (shot while working for the Texas Rangers) in just enough danger to maintain an atmosphere of suspense while also slipping in enough chile lore to outfit a chain of Taco Bells. The format may be familiar, but Albert is one of the best in the business at making it look newly hatched. Other Bayles books include Love Lies Bleeding, Thyme of Death, and Rueful Death. --Dick Adler

Book Description

She planted the seeds of mystery stardom with her first book, Thyme of Death. She continued growing with such highly-praised follow-ups as Witches' Bane and Love Lies Bleeding. Now Susan Wittig Albert's career blooms with a flourish--with the brand-new offering Chile Death.

An annual chili cookoff, a womanizing judge, and a crisis in China's personal life add up to a novel that will delight fans of this fast-rising author, a nominee for both the Anthony and Agatha Awards--and attract a whole new audience to this "appealing series that just keeps getting better." (Booklist)

Customer Reviews:

Meandering story with a quick conclusion.......2005-05-31

Chile Death is a book NOT about someone dying due to a chile pepper, but about someone eating peanut ridden chili and dying due to an allergic reaction to peanuts, so the title is quite misleading.

During the first 100 pages of the story, the book explores the ins and outs of the various character personalities and their interaction with one another. The author touches slightly on the individuals that are somehow connected to the murder. However the author seems to hapazardly use characters as if they are bullets in a machine gun.

Take page 16 for example. I counted a total of 7 characters: Lila, Mike, Hark, Jerry Jeff Cody, Wanda Rathbottom, Grady Stice, Arlene. If you add page 17, that adds another two, to a grand total of NINE characters introduced or mentioned in just two pages. My brain has a hard time consuming so many all at once.

The story meanders on until page 100 or so, when the actual murder occurs. Then the author in my opinion leads you down two or three obvious dead ends, in a hope to induce suspense into the reader. Didn't happen for me. There are also times, when the author provided unnecessary dialogue as if she had to fill a quota of words. For example take page 166.

"I just got off the phone with Bubba..." I won't repeat it here, but the whole long paragraph is an exact rehash of her conversation with Bubba a paragraph before being retold to her boyfriend Mike. Why would you do this? You could easily use this technique: "I told Mike what Bubba said."

Finally the ending comes off quickly and quite incredibly. You have a hard time swallowing the events as actually happening. Either China Bayles is incredibly lucky, or the author had to wrap things up quickly.

For a light read the book is entertaining. But mostly it is a disappointment.

Best in the series, so far.......2004-09-04

China Bayles feels she is in limbo when her plans for a tea room adjoining her herb shop and her marriage to Mike McQuaid are put on hold. The reason for this is Mike's ongoing rehabilitation as the result of a shooting which occurred during one of his recent investigations. Added to this, China's mother has come to help out and their relationship has always been tenuous at best. China is temporarily distracted from her problems when the whole town begins preparing for its annual chili cook-off. McQuaid is also pulled from his depresssion when the cook-off sponsors persuade him to return to his annual role as a judge in the contest. All seems to be going well when one of the other judges dies after tasting several of the chili recipes which have been submitted. China and McQuaid begin to help the police by tracking down who could have tampered with the chili and who had a motive for killing the judge. The judge was considered quite a ladies' man and was in the middle of a nasty divorce, so suspects abound. Albert takes the reader on a round of plausible red herrings before the killer is finally revealed. This book develops the characters of China, McQuaid, and China's friend Ruby to a new level and really shows Albert's skill as a writer. The many interesting facts about chili peppers sprinkled throughout the book also add to the readers' enjoyment.

A mystery in every bite..........2004-07-16

Albert's books are great fun to read. I enjoy them so much...she is a more than adequate writer, fairly good at drawing her characters in words, and the plots make good sense (well as far as mysteries go...why do the protagonists insist on going into bad situation by themselves?)

I knew from the minute that it became obvious there was going to be a 'tasting' that someone was going to get poisoned. It's probably one of the oldest forms of murders there is. Yet, poisoning is not exactly what happened. The murderer took into account the victim's own allergies and used that against him. The victim was one of these annoying insurance guys who use their looks to sell their insurance, as well as use scare tactics to sell to older people. He had plenty of enemies, and China and McQuaid have to sort through an overabundance of information to find the most pertinent info.

As usual Albert puts in a bit of history, a lot of recipes, and some information on the sad disease that is Alzheimer's.
A good summer read...

Karen Sadler

Good Book.......2002-03-29

I Love this series. They are easy to read with good characters and an interesting but never too violent mystery.

Satisfying.......2001-12-13

This is the first China Bayles novel I have ever read and will be reading more. I liked the Texas setting with a true Texas Chili Cookoff in the Texas Hill Country. The recipes are great. The mystery kept you guessing until the very end. Easy, quick to read and very satisfying.

Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:
Chile Death : A China Bayles Mystery
Susan Wittig Albert
Manufacturer: Berkley Prime Crime
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UD0RIC

Average customer rating:
4 PBs by Suan Wittig Albert: Thyme of Death, Chile Death, Mistletoe Man, Rosemary Remembered (China Bayles Mysteries)
Susan Wittig Albert
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UXBET8

Product Description

Paperbacks

5 Titles By Susan Wittig Albert China Bayles Series (3-7) : 3. Hangman's Root 4. Rosemary Remembered 5. Rueful Death 6. Love Lies Bleeding 7. Chile Death

Average customer rating:

5 Titles By Susan Wittig Albert China Bayles Series (3-7) : 3. Hangman's Root 4. Rosemary Remembered 5. Rueful Death 6. Love Lies Bleeding 7. Chile Death
Susan Wittig Albert
Manufacturer: Berkley Prime Crime
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Product Description

multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.

Book Description

In the world of Warhammer, dark elves reign supreme for their sophisticated savagery, and no member of this race is more infamous than Malus Darkblade. Possessed by a daemon, Malus has but a year to find five magical artefacts before his soul becomes forfeit.

Customer Reviews:

Reaping a Whirlwind of a Read.......2007-02-15

Dan Abnett and Mike Lee's 3rd book in the Darkblade series once again takes readers down a dark and gothic fantasy adventure that spills gallons of blood and gore.

The cover art in these books are utterly cool and fantastic, giving the reader a clear picture of the look and feel to this dark, medieval world full of daemons and dark elves that ride neat prehistoric beasts into battle.

Although I give this series overall a 3.5 star rating, it is still a fun read full of intrigue and action. I always feel the first half of the books are always better than the overall latter half of the novels. I don't know if that is a penchant for a specific author, or just that I feel the steam kinda runs out halfway through.

I still look forward to the next installment: WARPSWORD, coming out in February or March 2007. The cover art on that book is amazing as well.

Fantastic.......2006-11-08

Once again Dan Abnett kept me hooked. I love the dark writing style and the sick sense of humor of the dark elves in general..... Great Book

Many, many shocking surprises but the weakest of the three.......2006-09-08

As you may have already read from previous reviews of this book, yes there are more twists and surprises, that is a given if you are familiar with the series. But it's the kind of surprises towards the end that were shocking and in the case of Hacluir and the retainers, were sad.

The first book, Daemon's Curse, felt like a new adventure to the unknown with Malus' devious character at its worst. Paranoid and not a care in the world, driven purely by greed and ambition. Great insite into his mind and how little worth other people's lives are to him. They encounter wood elves, barbarians and beastmen. The end of the book is just the beginning of his quest. Great adventure book, shocking ending.

The second book, Blood Storm so far is considered the most superior. It starts with pure torture and carnage at the hands of his own father, followed by an extravagant party full of sex, drugs and people dying from overindulgence, only to realise that the expensive party thrown for him did not come without a steep price and expectations. Shortly it is followed by a fast chase from another brother only to be tortured again. All this and more in just the first few chapters before the real adventure and betrayals begin aboard a warship in the high seas in a campaign against the diseased Skinriders.

This third book, Reaper of Souls starts off excellent. Malus barely makes it too land in a battered ship where dead bodies are found every morning, and the gloom morale of the salors along with boat load of gold taken from the Skinriders defeat keeps Malus from torturing people for clues and answers. The docking in Clar Karond is where the fast fun chasing and begins. Unfortunatly it is in Clar Karondalso where the fun ends and fast.
While this book indeed has more twists than the previous two, I felt that it failed to maintain the energy and anticipation unlike the previous two books. The hunt for him never stops and I doubt it will ever for Malus (that's good). One of the last twists has him commanding a vast army against Hag Graef his home and one of the most feared cities. The shock value comes from the characters who die, those involved in his curse, and those along with himself that are left in the end with nothing.

Fun note: In this book Malus is the pawn and only Nagaira and Malus' mother really know how evil yet great a warrior Malus truly is, with Nagaira finding out the hard way. The dagger thrown perfectly at the chest of an important character was a pleasant read and remeniscent of Indiana Jones shooting a blade wielding show-off, even Nagaira was impressed with his throw.

Malus Darkblade continues the hunt for his soul.......2006-08-09

'Reaper Of Souls' is the third installment of the Malus Darkblade books. Read 'The Daemon's Curse' and then 'Bloodstorm' to catch the full story. Otherwise, you might be a little lost in this installment.

Betrayed by kin and foe, not to mention his own greed, Malus has been possessed by the daemon Tz'arkan. In order to free his soul from the daemon, he must find five relics in one year or suffer the daemon forever. Already in possession of the Octagon Of Praan and the Idol Of Kolkuth, 'Reaper Of Souls' continues to follow Malus Darkblade as he seeks out the Dagger Of Torxus. The dagger is said to be resting at the tomb of Eleuril The Damned in a dark crypt-city called the houses of the dead.

From the first page to the last, 'Reaper Of Souls' is a long bloody battle interspersed with deceit, betrayal, vengeance, sorcery, vicious sibling rivalry, and furious bloodthirstiness. Just another day in the life of a dark elf.

The Dagger Of Torxus is the most dangerous relic Malus has sought so far. With his brother Bruglir dead, Urial has claimed Yasmir, disappearing with her after he takes possession of her. To get the dagger, Malus must face the Shades and conquer a vicious warlord. After the face of the warlord is revealed, Malus is labeled Kinslayer and flees for his life to his uncle Balneth Bale. Bale is a witch lord, residing over the vast Black Ark Of Naggor. But uncle Bale has a surprise for Malus. Bale's vile son, Fuerlan, has a new betrothed: none other than Malus's sister Nagaira who disappeared in a violent storm and was thought to be dead.

Have I revealed too much? No, indeed, by this time the plots and twists are so thick you won't know who is dealing for what favor. Malus has his work cut out for him now. With every person he's ever known out to use him or cut his throat, he must find a way to retrieve his relics and stay alive in the process. There's a big surprise at the ending that will leave you breathless as you wait for the fourth installment.

Some series slow down around the third book, but not this one. You don't have to be a fan of the Warhammer game to enjoy this bloody dark elf adventure, but it would help to be a fan of dark elves. The 'Tale Of Malus Darkblade' series is action-packed, fast-faced, bloody, seriously deviant and wicked, and a treat for fans of either fantasy or horror. Enjoy!

Book 3.......2006-08-01

Malus Darkblade's soul is still under ransom to the ancient daemon Tz'arkan. Two of the five cursed relics have been retrieved. Now Malus goes after the Dagger of Torkus. The dagger is sealed within Prince Eleuril's crypt, which resides in the Houses of the Dead. Malus must not only find the secret entrance, but survive the booby traps and magical traps that lay within. You'd think that would be enough to overcome. Malus is already called a warrior, betrayer, and monster. Yet in order to claim the dagger, he must gain a new title: kinslayer. With this new title, Malus's life is worth nothing. No one will give him safe harbor. No one will claim him as friend or their dread lord. Malus must somehow stay ahead of the warriors that hunt him, and they are very close. His only hope is to reach his uncle, Balneth Bale. Bale's realm is in the icy wastes and the Black Ark of Naggor.

Balneth Bale is the Witch Lord. He accepts Malus into his service. Malus learns that he is not the only family member that has betrayed his home and kin. Nagaira, his sorceress sister, seems to have survived the previous explosion. Bale has gathered his allies and devised a devious strategy to overtake Hag Graef and crown his own deformed son as king of the newly conquered realm.

***** That is but half of the plot in this, the third within a savage series of blood and mayhem. Prophecies are being fulfilled, no one is even a tad honest, all betray on multiple levels. Twists and surprises abound throughout the novel. No, you will not be bored at all with this installment. As usual, I could bang my head in frustration that I must wait for the next tale in order to see which relic this dark elf will slaughter for next. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Average customer rating:

super book!! One of the best self help books I have ever purchased!

Common Sense

Shallow, superficial

Tactical and senario based! Highly helpful, if you are flexible and smart enough

So-So information

How to Change Anybody: Proven Techniques to Reshape Anyone's Attitude, Behavior, Feelings, or Beliefs
David J. Lieberman
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Get Anyone to Do Anything: Never Feel Powerless Again--With Psychological Secrets to Control and Influence Every Situation

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Make Peace With Anyone: Breakthrough Strategies to Quickly End Any Conflict, Feud, or Estrangement

Instant Analysis

You Can Read Anyone

ASIN: 031232474X
Release Date: 2005-01-13

Book Description

Don't let crazy people drive you crazy. Don't let annoying, obnoxious, petty people get under your skin. Stop having to ask the same thing over and over again. Whether it's your kids, spouse, friend, client, patient, or co-worker, why try to "deal" with people when you can change them?New York Times bestselling author David Lieberman is a master at interpersonal relationships, and this is his most useful collection of easy psychological tactics yet.This book gives you the psychological tools to reshape and remake anyone into a better person. Before you break up with your boyfriend, fire your employee, or write off your mother-in-law, try changing them into someone new. With clear, easy-to-use techniques, How to Change Anybody tells you how to: * Make anyone more loyal* Eliminate prejudice in anybody* Stop passive aggressive behavior forever* Infuse anyone with more self-esteem and confidence* Eliminate self-destructive behaviors in anyone * Make a wallflower into a social butterfly*Turn a lazy bum into an ambitious go-getter* And much more!David Lieberman is an expert in simple behavioral strategies that work every time. These tried-and-true techniques give you the tools to permanently change anyone, faster and easier than you ever thought possible-and, in the process, to change your life!

Customer Reviews:

super book!! One of the best self help books I have ever purchased!.......2006-12-20

I have used a number of techniques from this book in my personal and professional life with GREAT sucess. Can't wait for the next book!

Common Sense.......2006-11-12

I must confess I did not read the entire book word for word because it struck me as being pure common sense. I would not recommend the book unless you are just starting out in life and do not have much experience dealing with people.

Shallow, superficial.......2006-09-18

Great title, poor product.

The only way to permanently change anyone's behavior is to change their mindset. And it is not possible to change ones mindset with the simplistic examples presented in this book.

Some examples in the book came from Cialdini's Influence Science and Practice. However Cialdini went into great detail explaining the underlying theory behind the behavior and how behavior was influenced. Lieberman on the other hand just skimmed over the underlying theory. Simnply suggesting simple techniques for changing behavior. If things were that simple, all the professional psychiatrists and psychologists would be out of a job.

The book tried to cover too much material and therefore could only cover it in a superficial manner.

The examples were rather simple and there was no indepth discussion of what happens when the person you are trying to change does not react in the way that Lieberman suggest they will. People are not single dimension creatures. People are extremely complex and by the time they are adults, their mindset is deeply ingrained. A very small percentage of adults make significant permanent changes.

I rarely dispose of a book that I read. This will be a rare exception. I find no reason to keep it for future reference.

Tactical and senario based! Highly helpful, if you are flexible and smart enough.......2006-06-12

Personally I like very much the author's provision of tons of techniques/solutions to various scenarios organised in individual chapters. However, as per those negative reviews here, this tactical and scenario based style of writing may not satisfy the needs and tastes of some readers.

To make the best use of it, one may need to know his/her own question/problem/objective well before applying the technique/tactic suggested by the author. The catch is that the technique described in Chapter/Scenario/Problem A may be more powerful in Chapter/Scenario/Probelm B. In short, this is a very demanding book, and the applicant must be very flexible and smart himself/herself. However, if you really wanna acquire some good skillset to enhance your personal relationship, this is it. Highly recommended!

p.s. The story on page 62 about how a sage turned a mad prince, who thought that he was a turkey, back to normal (at least behavior wise) is really mind blowing!

So-So information.......2006-03-24

First of all, it does not seem possible to change anybody, especially when one does not believe they need to change. This book gives techniques and examples that we all are able to relate to someone we know, but those techniques don't work on everybody. The advice and techniques are not earth-shattering and certainly don't work in every situation. If you're buying this book for a quick fix; good luck.

How to Change Anybody: Proven Techniques to Reshape Anyone's Attitude, Behavior, Feelings, or Beliefs

Average customer rating:

How to Change Anybody: Proven Techniques to Reshape Anyone's Attitude, Behavior, Feelings, or Beliefs
David J. Lieberman
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTGCPY

Average customer rating:

Very Fun

Lives up to title

The Wine Tasting Party Kit: Everything You Need to Host a Fun & Easy Wine Tasting Party at Home
St. Pierre
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0811848930

Book Description

Whether it's a casual afternoon in the backyard or a more formal soir e, a wine tasting party is fun and educational for everyone from novices to sophisticated sippers. Within this all-inclusive kit are the elements to be a terrific host, including cloth wine bottle covers, tasting score pads, a cheat sheet, glass markers, and an entertaining book that introduces you to the ins and outs of tasting wine in a comfortable, festive, social setting your own home.

Includes:
- 64-page illustrated book
- Tasting notepads
- Wineglass markers
- Six reusable linen wine bottle covers
- "Cheat sheet" of tasting terms

Customer Reviews:

Very Fun.......2006-08-08

This kit is perfect for beginners. I didn't have a clue of how to get started in planning a party and this kit took the guess work out of EVERYTHING. However, it is very interactive and I reccomend keeping your guest list small (4-5 people/4-5 bottles).

Lives up to title.......2006-03-22

The Wine Tasting Party Kit was a real hit and included six reusable cloth bags to hide the wine bottles, rating sheets, and wine glass stem labels. The enclosed book is very basic but can provide a jumping off point to select a theme for your party. A good investment if you want to have a series of parties with your friends.

Customer Reviews:

3 Cheers for Liz!.......2005-01-14

This book is wonderful. It's simple to read and I've had great success following the training techniques. Liz teaches the importance of training your cocker with a firm, but loving hand; as well as how to train your cocker to have manners and do some pretty impressive tricks! Knowing how to work with my dog, has given us a wonderful and fun relationship. I bought a few other books on Cockers, but this one by far is my favorite!

Nice tips on how to TRAIN.......2002-12-08

You won't be confused when you get to the training part. The book explains the stuff well, and at the same time the pictures of Cockers are cute and colorful. My friend read this, and since our friend lives in our house, we will have tips on how to train the best dog in the world, the COCKER SPANIEL!!!

Customer Reviews:

Impressionist bouquets.......2000-08-06

I have just received this book from Amazon and am absolutely thrilled with it. As a floral art judge I found it most informative and very well laid out. I would highly recommend it to all floral designers an artists. This is one of the few floral art books that really is worth its weight in gold.

Impressionist bouquets.......2000-08-06

Average customer rating:

...

The book I've been searching for . . .

vague and climate-specific

Good for First Time Gardeners

somewhat misleading

Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces: A Layering System for Big Results in Small Gardens and Containers (Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
Patricia Lanza
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Container Gardening | Techniques | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0875968864

Book Description

Now you can create the garden of your dreams, no matter how limited your growing space is. Pat Lanza's proven lasagna gardening method produces amazing results in pots and small plots. Even in beds just 4 inches wide, you can grow bountiful, beautiful gardens with no digging, no weeding-- no kidding!

Customer Reviews:

..........2004-02-02

This book has received a lot of mixed reviews, so I just wanted to say: I liked it.

It's true that it's not perfect. I find that few gardening books are universally ideal. This one is oriented towards sunny locations, and it has the flaw that many small-space gardening books have--the small-space seems to get bigger and bigger until it seems like we're talking about a fair-sized garden. Also, there are tons of personal details, really to excess. And one hears a great deal about the writer's current garden/shop/restaurant, much more than is interesting. Another reviewer suggested that perhaps it'd be more interesting if there were pictures of this place, and I agree, that might be a good idea.

Nevertheless, there were some great tips in here. Lanza takes the approach that you can be very ambitious even if you have a small garden, and that suits me very well. So she points out, for example, that climbing plants and vines are a great way to use every bit of space for spectacular effect. She also has lots of little suggestions; I found especially useful the idea of storing tools etc in tupperware/sweater boxes, tucked away. Also, her description of layering compost etc in the containers was useful to me.

It's true that little in this book is original, but then, originality is not usually the strength of gardening books. Somebody somewhere almost always knows the same techniques. It's a matter of presenting things in such a way that they are helpful to the reader.

I guess I would recommend trying to get this book from the library first--as I would with most gardening books. It has some great qualities, but it's not perfect, and it's worth making sure that it's useful to you personally before buying it.

The book I've been searching for . . ........2003-06-30

Finally, a gardening book that doesn't assume you have acres of land and a barn full of expensive equipment--or that you have the money to go out and buy them.

For three years I've been limited to a small balcony, after having lived my life with a large garden. Instead of going through gardening withdrawals, I decided to fill some containers with soil and see what I could grow. I've learned a lot through trial and error, but I've also been on the lookout for a good gardening book that could give me some encouragement and some fresh ideas. "Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces" is that book.

I found Patricia Lanza's book to be extremely practical and down-to-earth. Even if you don't use her "lasagna" method to create your garden, you can still benefit from her advice about maximizing any small space you have to work with. The basic idea is if you don't have room to grow out, then grow up! And she's not just talking about flowers. She shows how easy it is to grow satisfying crops of just about any vegetable or fruit in tiny plots of land and containers. And she shows how to do it without spending any money. This book is peppered with ideas about how to use things we might consider to be trash as decorative containers, plant supports, and garden tools.

I was especially impressed with the section on pests and disease. Not only does she explain organic remedies for pest and disease problems, she spends time describing simple, natural ways to prevent pests and diseases from even becoming a problem, including a list of plants that attract beneficial insects (so you don't have to spend money to buy eggs or larvae from a catalog).

Perhaps what I am most grateful for in this book is its fearlessness. If the only space you have is a few containers on a balcony, Patricia Lanza doesn't tell you to buy some nice impatiens from the nursery--she tells you to grow an apple tree! If you've been discouraged by the typical container gardening book--you know, the kind that tells you to go out and buy a ridiculously expensive decorative pot and fill it with flashy annuals from the nursery--then give this book a try. Hopefully it will give you the courage to grow a satisfying garden--flowers, vegetables, and even fruits--with whatever space you have to work with, even just a few pots on a balcony, like I have.

vague and climate-specific.......2003-06-24

Allow me to be blunt. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

Pat Lanza gardens in upstate New York. If you don't live in a similar climate, half the book (plant recommendations) isn't going to apply to you. If you want info on in situ composting (which is what she does-- it's not her own original idea, and it's not her grandmother's either), look for books by Ruth Stout (whose books on this topic have been in print since the 1950s) or pursue info on the InterBay Mulch method from Seattle.

There are no pictures of her garden in this book, despite the fact that she spends tons of time describing what her gardens are like and how she created them. I can't remember gaining any really helpful info on pests, composting decomposition, small garden planning, or landscaping techniques, either.

Doesn't sound very helpful, does it?

Good for First Time Gardeners.......2003-06-02

Lasagna refers to planting directly in layered compost. I have to think that there's a reason that gardeners don't already do this, like heat production or rate of decomposition. The value in this book are the tips for gardening in small spaces including dwarf varieties. But don't infer that this means patio gardening, as most approaches require some kind of trellis. In general, it is a good book for getting started with gardening.

somewhat misleading.......2003-01-22

while I find this book useful it really is more about small gardens and not so great if you are mainly interested in container gardening.Still searching for that ultimate indoor outdoor potted garden book..........

Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces: A Layering System for Big Results in Small Gardens and Containers (Rodale Organic Gardening Book)

Average customer rating:

Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces: A Layering System for Big Results in Small Gardens and Containers (Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
Patricia Lanza
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MC67QM

Book Description

Truly comprehensive, this volume examines a huge range of typefaces and their applications, presenting a panorama of the best and most influential typography of the past and present. Alone as typeface or in the context of posters, brochures, editorial spreads, advertisements and other printed material, the featured work exemplifies the highest creative standards. Designers include an international array of visionaries such as Fred Woodward, Paula Scher, and Alan Fletcher. A glossary, historical timeline, and contributor profiles make this book ideal for anyone seeking typography information or inspiration. 300 color illustrations.

Book Description

The role of black public intellectuals is being passionately debated both within and outside of academia. Now b /b b i Transcending the Talented Tenth /i /b offers an expansive examination of African-American intellectuals, both historically and in contemporary life. Joy James explores the work and politics of thinkers, activists, and topics from W.E.B. Du Bois to Ida B. Wells, from Ella Baker to women's autobiographies of the civil rights movement, from academic intellectualism to its relationship to Black feminists. Her original, sometimes controversial analysis will be necessary reading for all those concerned with the past and the future of African-American intellectual life.

Customer Reviews:

A Sober and Necessary Reality Check.......2000-01-13

I bought and read this book when the softcover was first released, and had the chance to glance at it again just recently. The book has not lost any of its incisiveness and sting. James' astute and direct analysis of Black intellectual life has been long in coming. She articulates opinions that many people have probably had, but have not had the guts or gumption to put out in public. It's about time that public (and well paid) intellectuals such as hooks, Gates, West, and the others got some real criticism. I highly recommend this book, which should be required reading in introductory and advanced Black Studies programs. Its incisive and on-target critique of postmodernism alone is reason enough for it to be included in the curriculum. This feminist volume is rich in ideas, insightful in its critique, and is a refreshing antidote to most of the postmodern B.S. floating around the elite caucasian, leather-coated campuses these days.

An Explosive Intellectual Achievement!!!.......1999-08-13

Joy James' radical synthesis of political philosophy and African American feminist philosophy is at once provocative and intellectually explosive. Drawing from such diverse areas of intellecual inquiry as African American philosophy, Women's Studies, African American Studies, Lesbian & Gay Studies, postmodern and postcolonial theory, Critical Race Theory, and political philosophy, Professor James puts forward a relentless critique of contemporary African American intellectual life that leaves both the "conservative" and the "radical" sides of the African American intellectual arena suspect. In her employment of insights culled from the nascent Africana philosophical tradition, and both the classical and contemporary African American social and political philosophy traditions, James critiques and offers correctives to African American public and private intellectuals of no less distinction than bell hooks, Patricia Hill Collins, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Cornel West. James' books also provides a severely needed critique of W.E.B. Du Bois' much mangled feminism, Anna Julia Cooper's often overlooked contributions to Du Bois' thought, and Ida B. Wells' anti-lyching radicalism. Applying discursive formulations and practices normally reserved for the most highly revered among the Western European philosophers, Joy James utlizes her training as a political philosopher to elucidate a path of out the impasse that African American intellectuals seem to be caught in. This book is absolutely a must read for anyone interested in African American intellectual life, African American critical theory, and/or African American feminist philosophy.

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