Murder Can Botch Up Your Birthday (Desiree Shapiro Mystery)

Average customer rating:

Interesting....until the end.

Wonderful Addition to the 'Desiree Shapiro' Series

Not nearly as good as usual

Desiree Shapiro Shines

Desiree Shapiro is at it again!

Murder Can Botch Up Your Birthday (Desiree Shapiro Mystery)
Selma Eichler
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0451211529
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Book Description

On Vicky Pirrelli's sixth birthday, her father, Victor, was charged with murdering his mistress. Now ten years later, Vicki wants pudgy P.I. Desiree Shapiro to clear his name. But since the case is ten years old, the evidence is likely to be tainted. To top it off, Victor just recently died in prison.

Meanwhile, Desiree's new boyfriend, Nick, is showing a serious interest in her-and Desiree is ready for seconds...

Customer Reviews:

Interesting....until the end........2005-04-10

This book had me all the way through and then the ending was so...dissapointing. It ended way too neatly, with the conclusion falling into her lap. Having said that, it was mostly an enjoyable read and the character of Desiree Shapiro is entertaining and funny. Still worth reading!

Wonderful Addition to the 'Desiree Shapiro' Series.......2004-12-22

Ten-years-ago, on Vicky Pirrelli's sixth-birthday, her Father was accused of murdering his eighteen-year-old mistress. Now, at the age of sixteen-years-old, Vicky has decided to enlist the help of a Private Investigator to clear her Father's name. The only problem, her Father was recently murdered in a jail fight, and there isn't much to go on. That's where Desiree Shapiro, the plus-sized private eye steps in. Desiree doesn't have much to go on at all, and the fact that her client can only pay her with saved-up baby-sitting money makes her quiver at the thought of not being able to pay her bills on time. But, alas, she takes the case, and comes up with a mere four suspects. Unfortunately, one of these suspects is her client's Mother. And, as if the case weren't enough to make someone blow a gasket, Desiree's love interest, Nick, is finally giving her some attention, but now his vicious nine-year-old son has decided that he wants his Father back with his Mother, and will do anything to deter Desiree from pursuing his Father any longer.

I have read two previous Desiree Shapiro novels in the past, and had enjoyed them both. Hence, I decided to purchase the latest installment in the series, MURDER CAN BOTCH UP YOUR BIRTHDAY, and I can honestly say that it was quite the birthday treat. Desiree's wit and humor is at an all-time high. As a teenager myself, I adored the role of Vicky Pirrelli, and would love to see her pop-up in another Desiree Shapiro mystery in the future, as far-fetched as that sounds. Overall, this was a fabulous addition to the mystery genre that will be loved by all.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Not nearly as good as usual.......2004-12-16

This installment of the series had my interest up until the end...and then it just fell apart. It was too pat and convenient, without Desiree having to do any legwork or dig for the truth. Add that to the fact that we never found out the resolution to the "sub-mystery," and I finished this book feeling really disappointed, which doesn't usually happen with Desiree.

Desiree Shapiro Shines.......2004-11-13

Great book. Light, enjoyable reading that is difficult to put down. It is so nice to read about a PI who seems like a real person. She is not a kick boxing, skull crashing, superwoman but rather someone that reminds you of real people that you know. A wonderful book and I look forward to reading more and more of Selma Eichler's books.

Desiree Shapiro is at it again!.......2004-06-24

This is a great cozy. It is a quick read. Very enjoyable!

Desiree Shapiro is a private investigator in New York City. She is not your stereotypical P.I. She is five-two and considers her best feature to be her glorious hennaed hair.

Teenager Vicky Pirrelli comes to Desiree's office to ask for her help. Her dad, Victor, was convicted of killing his mistress, Christina. Recently he told Vicky that he didn't do it. She wants Desiree to help clear her dad's name. The kicker is that the crime happened ten years ago and her dad died two weeks ago in prison. Vicky's only source of income is babysitting and working a few days a week at Frank `n' Burgers, but Desiree agrees to help her anyway.

When she begins investigating, she quickly determines there are four suspects, including Vicky's own mother. Victor's lawyer Blossom Goody is still around and is able to give Desiree some information for her case. Tony, Victor's brother and now Vicky's stepfather, is tough to pin down. When Desiree does finally meet with him, he isn't much help. Desiree has her work cut out for her. Then some strange things happen that scare Desiree. Can she find Christina's murder and clear Victor's name without putting herself in more danger?

Her personal life isn't going real well either. Nick's nine year old son, Derek, is not too happy his dad is dating Desiree and lets her know it. Will Derek turn Nick off to her?

This series is always so much fun. I like Desiree. She is the kind of P.I. I'd want to hire if I had to. I feel like she would be on your side pulling for you. She is also very competent and gets to the bottom of things. New York is a great setting for a P.I. novel.

There's even a recipe at the back of the book! I highly recommend this book.

Customer Reviews:

Good, but predicatable.......2004-06-09

While "some" of these tales have been previously printed in _Tales from the New Twilight Zone_, they all have that flavor -- the setup, the odd goings-on, the twist, the strangely just conclusion. The bad guys get theirs, and the good guys, too, perhaps with a bit of poignancy tossed in. It's the formula that Rod Serling (and, even better, Richard Matheson) honed to a sharp edge during the orignal run of TZ, and JMS picks it up and runs with it admirably.

That, perhaps, is the primary problem with this collection. The stories end up feeling formulaic, and once you assume that there will be a twist ending, you end up spending more time trying to figure out what it will be than enjoying the trip there.

I recommend this book for JMS fans, and TZ fans, and for folks who Like That Sort of Thing. But it's not Joe's most imaginative or intelligent work. No regrets for having bought it, and I'm sure I'll pull it down off the shelf again, but I'm not going to send out copies of it at Christms, either.

Note: While the book is actually titled _Straczynski Unplugged_, Amazon continues to list it under the proposed title _JMS Unplugged_. The (rather washed-out) cover shot shows the correct title.

Book Description

This book contains tips, techniques, and shortcuts learned from personal experience and arranged in categories of daily activities for easy reference. Each chapter begins with insights and observaitons of people living with Parkinson's. Readers then learn basic time and energy conservaiton driven by three principles: alternate activity with rest, plan ahead, and use labor-saving devices and new technology There are many varied strategies readers can use to become more independent, including realistic organizational skills, working smarter, if not faster, streamlining daily activities, staying involved and in touch, and discovering local state and national resources. The book also contains tips for caregivers.

Customer Reviews:

Helpful.......2004-09-21

This book gave me great ideas on how to take care of, prepare for the future and deal with my husbands PD. Very informative!

Excellent tips for people with PD.......2003-01-16

This book is a great resource for people with PD. It has a chapter about the special challenges of eating/swallowing with PD, which was very detailed and informative. I'd recommend the book.

Average customer rating:

Prettily written pretensions

Good cookbook, will use often

Great food, great life lessons

The Bounty and Beauty of Western Colorado

As refreshing and soul-stirring as a Rocky Mountain breeze

At Mesa's Edge: Cooking and Ranching in Colorado's North Fork Valley
Eugenia Bone
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
West | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0618221263

Book Description

Eugenia Bone was perfectly happy with her life as a New York City food writer, but she knew that her husband, a transplanted westerner, was filled with a discontent he couldn't explain. So when he returned from a fishing trip in the Rockies one day and announced that he wanted to buy a forty-five-acre ranch in Crawford, Colorado (population 255), she reluctantly said yes. Then she loaded imported pasta, artichokes in oil, and cured Italian salami into her duffle bag and headed west with her two young children. At Mesa's Edge is the witty, often moving story of ranch restoration and of struggles with defiant skunks, barbed wire, marauding cows, and loneliness. Eugenia learns to garden in the drought, to fly-fish, and to forage. In the process, she discovers the bounty of the region. She fries zucchini flowers in batter and dips them in cilantro-flavored mayonnaise, grills flavorful T-bones from the local ranchers' grass-fed beef, pan-fries trout, fills crepes with wild mushrooms, and makes cherry pies with thick, sugary crusts. Gradually, she begins to adjust to the rhythms of the land. Partly a memoir, partly a cookbook with 150 appealing recipes, At Mesa's Edge is a transporting tale of rejuvenation, a celebration of everything local, and a reminder that the best food is to be found in our own back yards.

Customer Reviews:

Prettily written pretensions.......2006-08-29

I applaud Ms. Bone's willingness to try something new, to embrace a lifestyle so foreign to her own. I appreciate her fine writing, and, while I have not made any of her recipes, they do look delicious. All that said, I am absolutely appalled by the pretentiousness of this book. There are small errors in fact, such as her description of pheasant hunting on page 75, when she writes eloquently of the green-tipped drakes rising into the air. Drakes are male ducks. Male pheasants are generally known as roosters or cocks. But it's the arrogance, the absolute tone-deafness of the book that bothers me most. I offer a few examples - Ms. Bone writes about how vital water is to this region, and how many ranchers no longer have rights to the water they need to maintain their ranches. She later notes that she and her architect husband quickly accumulated enough shares to irrigate their acreage. Does it ever occur to her that the reason western ranchers cannot afford enough land or water to profitably ranch is because urban dreamers can easily outbid them? Ms. Bone wryly comments that the young boys in her hunter safety class must have "done some hunting prior to their certification." Does it occur to her that yes, these boys have grown up around guns and hunting, and their parents have quite responsibly educated them about gun and hunting safety? I'm glad Ms. Bone was inspired by The West. I'm glad she sees the beauty in its rugged landscape and the warmth in the people who make their living there. But her belief that a summer or two on her "ranch" makes her one of them and allows her to speak for this amazing part of the world is the book's biggest failing.

Good cookbook, will use often.......2005-05-30

I am really enjoying this cookbook. I have to be honest, though, I've only skimmed over the memoir section. Having read enough similar memoirs of urbanites moving to the country, it wasn't anything too remarkable. I do admire Ms. Bone's grit, though, and her recipes are great.
With that said, there are an overwhelming number of recipes featuring cilantro. And lime. This seems out of place, since, as a previous reviewer noted, this book is being promoted by slow-foodies. Slow food doesn't necessarily mean that if you live in Colorado, you can't cook with cilantro or lime, but I'm pretty sure that neither of these ingredients are native to Colorado, (I could be wrong. I've not researched this thoroughly.) the combination reminiscent of Mexican and South-East Asian Cooking, and I feel that the frequency of use of these ingredients is at odds with a philosophy that emphasizes local produce. With that said, the recipes are great. She provides many delicious recipes for things like stuffed chile peppers and zucchini flowers which were delicious. There are also some very interesting Italian-inspired preparations of ingredients that Ms. Bone finds available near her ranch. I think that this would be a good addition to any cookbook collection.

Great food, great life lessons.......2004-12-07

I love this book. Lately I've become intrigued by all kinds of regional American cooking, which is what drew me to this book in the first place. But what I found in these pages was so much more effecting and profound...

The first section, the memoir, reads like a sort of fish-out-of-water coming-of-age tale about the author's reluctant (at first) immersion into this part of the world, and her gradual embrace of it. I found it sometimes haunting, sometimes hilarious, and always very engrossing. And tender -- yes, there's some fun poked at the locals, but it's usually the locals themselves wielding the stick as far as I could tell, and no one gets poked more often than the author. She's the one who is transformed by these encounters; she's the one who "comes of age".

Then there are the recipes, which seem to have been either informed or inspired or enhanced by the experiences described in the first section, which is a great way to approach a recipe in general, I think -- as a sort of companion piece to one life experience or another. Like listening to the soundtrack CD of a movie you loved. You definitely get the feeling these recipes could stand on their own -- they make that intuitive kind of sense on the page, and the ones that I have tried so far have been pretty sublime. But reading the memoir just made them that much tastier.

Taken as a whole, the book is really about how a love of food, and the pursuit of good, real food, offers a doorway into all kinds of magical places that would otherwise remain shut tight. We've all heard that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. This book seems to say that the way to the heart and soul of a community is through its food -- its produce, its livestock, and all of the one-of-a-kind characters who bring those things to life, literally. It made me want to get to know all the people who grow or gather things in my own community. I bet I'll look at where I live differently after that. Probably look at myself differently, too.

Beautiful book.

The Bounty and Beauty of Western Colorado.......2004-08-30

At Mesa's Edge is a wonderful book for people who love the West and who also love cooking and good food. The Author describes the land and the residents beautifully and respectfully. She has a clear understanding of the region...from water rights to wildlife to the quality of the harvest to cattle ranching. There is nothing pretentious or self-serving in the author's description of her many "adjustments" to life on a Colorado ranch. Her description of restoring the run-down property are both amusing and amazing. The book is a fun and informative read.

I grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado, know the area well, still visit family there, and remember with great nostaligia the bounty that the wondrous land produces. I highly recommend At Mesa's Edge. I am looking forward to preparing the many interesting recipes.

As refreshing and soul-stirring as a Rocky Mountain breeze.......2004-07-25

After taking my wife and 18-month-old baby for a long month to sweltering France last summer, I resolved to do better by them this year. And so, before the first snow had fallen, we drove out to the posh resort town of Southampton, New York, to rent a modest cottage with the promise of an ocean breeze. Right off, we found a simple little house with a bonus: a rear deck designed by an extremely tasteful architect named Kevin Bone.

It turns out that, several decades ago, I had met --- and not repulsed --- the architect's wife. After we struck a real estate deal, we struck up an e-mail friendship. Only then did I learn that she would be publishing her first book. So I had the odd experience of reading Eugenia Bone's AT MESA'S EDGE: Cooking and Ranching in Colorado's North Fork Valley, in the house that she and her family abandons each summer. Confession: The Bone ranch sounds so beautiful and Eugenia's recipes are so enticing that, Hamptons be damned, I'd rather be on her porch in Colorado.

Eugenia Bone may be the Peter Mayle of the American West, but she sure didn't start out with much enthusiasm for Colorado. Her husband came home from a fishing trip and said he'd found a 45-acre ranch. She understood why: "There was an empty place in him that was not being filled." And so she signed the mortgage papers "the same way I would sign a release for Kevin to have necessary surgery; it had to be done."

Of course the place was a wreck. And Eugenia, a New York City-based food writer, was not a great candidate for assimilation. But as she comes to learn, the hard work of restoring the ranch is balanced by simple pleasures not available in Manhattan. The postmaster divides her mail into two piles: "important" and "not." The sign in front of a church reads: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SIGN FROM GOD, THIS IS IT. The woman at the gas station gives her credit: "I trust you." She cooks fish caught earlier that day. She discovers that no meat is more tender than elk.

And, slowly, she learns, mostly about the relationship of water and land. She loves to cook; she comes to realize that the land too needs to be fed. That moment of revelation seals her love of this place. And she comes to see that living in the moment --- really, the only way to live in a place so dominated by Nature --- is magical. "Time passes slower; life seems to last longer, and death, because it is daily observable in nature, is not quite as frightening."

It's a delicious life, and she shares it not only in her quiet, concise prose, but in the generous chunk of the book where she serves up recipes. Some of the dishes require ingredients not available in city markets, but anyone can master her Cold Zucchini Soup enlivened with chile powder and tortilla strips and an intensely flavored (thyme, rosemary, sage, lemon zest) Lamb Stew.

Armchair travelers, dreamers and weekend cooks should find AT MESA'S EDGE as refreshing and soul-stirring as a Rocky Mountain breeze.

--- Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth

Average customer rating:

Great information.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Special Rare-Breed Edition

A MUST HAVE FOR NEW TOLLER OWNERS AND ALL TOLLER LOVERS

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Special Rare-Breed Edition : A Comprehensive Owner's Guide (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)
Nona Kilgore Bauer
Manufacturer: Kennel Club Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Breeds | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1593783884

Book Description

Proudly waving the most famous tail in the dog world, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever lures waterfowl to his hunting master on the shores of his native Canada. Distinctive for his lustrous red coat and moderate size, the Toller is fast becoming the world's number-one "alternative retriever." Agile, intelligent and playful, this rare breed proves to be a first-rate companion dog in addition to being a superb hunter on both land and water. This Special Rare-Breed Edition is the only volume of its kind dedicated to this worthy breed, written by well-known retriever expert Nona Kilgore Bauer. With specific instructions on selecting a puppy, rearing and training the dog, this colorful book is a much-needed addition to the existing information on the Toller breed.

Providing insightful chapters on the breed's history in North America, characteristics of the breed and the Canadian breed standard, the author has given owners and potential owners all of the information necessary to care for and train this energetic and bright dog. Over 135 color photographs enliven this comprehensive text, making this book an invaluable resource for all fanciers interested in this fascinating rare breed.

Customer Reviews:

Great information........2007-05-13

If you live in an area with very few NSDTR's. Not only do you need this book, but so does your vet. Give it as a gift to the vet after you read it. It will help you and them keep your toller in the best of health.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Special Rare-Breed Edition .......2006-03-03

A rather generic book that pastes a few ducktoller specific pages in the front and inserts ducktoller pictures throughout. 90% of the content is general info about dogs.

A MUST HAVE FOR NEW TOLLER OWNERS AND ALL TOLLER LOVERS .......2005-10-23

AFTER SEARCHING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FOR SUCH A BOOK,IN PREPARATION FOR THE ADDITION OF A TOLLER PUPPY INTO OUR FAMILY, I WAS RELIEVED TO FINALLY FIND THIS BOOK FROM THE CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB ABOUT THE NOVA SCOTIA DUCK TOLLING RETRIEVER! THIS BOOK ANSWERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS WHEN WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH THE BREEDER REGARDING TRAINING, HEALTH AND CKC BREED STANDARDS, ITEMS TO BUY IN ADVANCE OF THE PUP'S ARRIVAL TO OUR HOME, ETC. IT IS AN EASY READ, CONTAINS GREAT PHOTOS OF ADULT TOLLERS 'IN ACTION' (IN THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY) AND ADORABLE "aw gee" PUPPY PIX WHILE RELATING THE HISTORY OF THE BREED AS WELL! SINCE THIS RARE BREED IS RELATIVELY NEW TO THE USA, ONLY BECOMING RECOGNIZED BY THE AKC AND FIRST ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN THE 'SPORTING DOG GROUP' IN 2003, THERE SHOULD SOON BE OTHER BOOKS AVAILABLE ABOUT THE BREED VIA THE AKC.

Customer Reviews:

Self Defense is a Civil Right.......2007-08-22

The purpose of this book is to aid a person in answering questions about the right to keep and bear arms. You can compare the arguments and the facts (p.4). The author wants a society that is more peaceful and free. Chapter 1 explains why self-defense benefits society (p.9). Cramer learned how the corporate media lies about "gun control". Chapter 2 tells how people don't change their minds because of a sole event but because of experiences in the real world. Well-written letters can affect elected officials (p.11). He gives practical advice. [It is best to write a letter, then rewrite it the next day. You will think of changes. Review and rewrite on the third day and finish.] Page 16 gives good advice on a letter to the editor, and about personal responses (p.17). Cramer discusses local organizing (p.18). Those costs can be eliminated by keeping it informal with a low overhead.

Cramer explains the advantage of joining the National Rifle Association. [It is a large group that is responsible to its members who elect their leaders. Unlike the "Gun Control" lobbies.] His advice on good manners is excellent (pp.22-24)! Chapter 3 has excellent advice on discussing topics. Cramer's comments are correct (p.34), but he doesn't mention corporate bias. Are newspapers always accurate? Chapter 4 is one of the most important. Reading a book on Classical Logic will help you evaluate reports in the media, such as news shows. Page 41 omits any mention of the "appeal to ignorance", often used in advertising. Page 44 tells about the trick of responding to a question with another question. [Some radio talk shows are skilled in distracting a caller. Just make a note on what you want to say and refer back to your topic when the host jumps to another topic. Consider the possible responses and your answers.] Chapter 5 explains why crime statistics are not 100% correct, and surveys are sometimes designed to get the results desired by the person paying for the survey (p.54). Chapter 6 tells why statistics from other countries are often flawed (p.63). Cramer provides data on the murder rates among different groups (p.68). He shows what was overlooked; some groups in Seattle had a lower homicide rate than in Vancouver (p.72). America's higher murder rates are balanced against higher suicide rates and repressive laws in other countries (pp.74-75). Those stories about "Children and Guns" are mostly cooked up (p.87).

Chapter 8 tells why the true aim of "Handgun Control Inc." is ban all handguns. Who was its founder (p.90)? Does that explain its influence with the new media? Registration doesn't solve crimes (p.95), it is only for confiscation (p.91). That Haynes decision isn't "crazy", it merely proves that registration won't stop criminals (p.98). Registering bullets has problems (p.101). Chapter 9 discusses the "cost benefit analysis" argument. Who benefits from a loss of rights? Cramer exposes the false story about restrictions on handguns in Washington DC (pp.119-122). The murder rate skyrocketed once you adjust the murders for the population (fewer people result in fewer murders). That story about the dangers of a gun in the house was concocted (p.125). King county (Seattle and suburbs) has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Guns in the home prevent crimes such as home invasion robberies. Page 143 explains how misinformation in the media works. High capacity magazines can save lives (p.144). Chapter 11 explains why gun prohibition won't work. Both guns (p.151) and ammunition (p.153) are easily manufactured. There could be unintended consequences (p.154).

Chapter 12 discusses Constitutional rights. Gun Control advocates don't read the court decisions they claim for their support (p.159). The Bill of Rights protects Americans from state laws that deny fundamental rights (p.162). He explains "US vs Miller" so you can understand this decision. Chapter 13 says "it can't happen here" as long as citizens are well-armed. The Second Amendment is not about hunting. The right to self-defense is a human right (Chapter 14). You can't depend on the government. Violence against minorities has often occurred when local governments ignored these crimes (p.184). "Shall issue" laws have lowered murder rates (p.185). There is a short chapter on "The Media" (Chapter 15). Journalists are generalists who have to write for a general audience, they don't have the time and interest for technical details (p.188). Violent programming on television may be the main cause of increasing violence in society (pp.189-190). Don't expect the corporate media to change a policy that brings them millions (p.191). Journalists, like other employees, know the corporate rules and may have a biased outlook. Confusion about the word "semi-automatic" can be eliminated by using "self-loading". Chapter 16 recommends a number of books for further reading.

It is so accurate, I couldn't put it down.......1999-04-07

This book is an excellent way to inform oneself of their constitutional rights and arguments to win any gun debate. I recommend it with all my heart. It exposes the dirty tricks of the anti-firearm statistacs that gun control advocates have used. It also tells you the honest to god truth behind guns in america. If you haven't read this book and own a firearm you don't know the half of the damage that gun control advocates have done to the publics view on gun owners. I urge you to read this and have a accurate information explain to people the truth about guns in america.

A clearly-written guide to gun policy & activism.......1997-10-16

The first part of the book is a short guide to gun rights activism, with advice on how to write letters to newspapers and elected officials, and other tips for activists. The much larger portion of the book covers various policy topics (for example, public health, crime statistics, various frauds perpetrated by anti-gun and pro-gun advocates). The information is presented in a clear, straightforward writing style, thoroughly supported by endnotes and other documentation. Thus, Firing Back is great one-volume source to help you write letters to the editor, educate your co-workers or friends about the gun issue, and turn yourself into a more informed citizen. Review by Dave Kopel, Independence Institute, http://i2i.org.

Book Description

The Mediterranean climate, with its mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, gave rise to a gardening style that is very much in vogue today. Not only do Mediterranean-style gardens offer gorgeous, fragrant, soothing sanctuaries that are wonderfully easy to maintain, but water-saving planting is environmentally sound and enormously appealing whatever one's region or climatic zone. This lush, seductive volume showcases the distinctive beauty of some 25 gardens in France, Italy, Spain, and California that employ drought-tolerant plants such as agaves and other succulents, wisteria, lavenders, geraniums, and even some roses-and design features such as terraces, arbors, hedges, pergolas, topiary, statuary, decorative tile, and terra-cotta containers-that are hallmarks of the sun-drenched garden aesthetic.

Lucinda Lewis's 200 color photographs, made especially for this book, take the reader through a variety of private and public gardens, some grand and some intimate, while extended captions provide the practical information that gardeners want to know, as well as design ideas that will help them create their own place of escape or enchantment.

Customer Reviews:

olive grove in greece.......2007-08-07

Having bought an olive grove in greece, we are now setting about making a garden and found that this book gave us lots of ideas and enjoyed it thoroughly. It will be read a lot.

Vibrating Sun-Drenched Gardens.......2007-05-26

Sunshine is the most defining element of a mediterranean garden. Pliny the Younger (AD 61-113) wrote of the detached room in his own garden with its cool marble floors. It was open on all sides and covered with vines. He loved to rest in the airy green shade.

In a bright and arid climate, the contrasts provide a breathtaking visual and sensory experience that this book passionately and successfully conveys.

It features ideas such as those based on a French tese with a shady tunnel of green clipped shrubs that function as doorways to sequential rooms, - Italian gardens sliced out of terracing and covered with alluring ancient pietra dura, - niches with terra-cotta figures, grottos, and Southern Californian water features.

The lavishly, and skillfully photographed book is divided into chapters that demonstrate how to achieve the mediterranean look in plantings, introduce shade and water features, create structure with various types of enclosures, design with clipped and pruned greenery, and adroitly use gravel, stone, and other paving materials instead of lawns.

The book is an inspiration and sensory delight.

Good reference book. Wide spectrum of gardens shown.......2005-11-03

This book is serving as a good reference material for me. Living in the a sub-tropical region, where water is short and the hot/dry season is similar to a mediterrean climate I have been successfully using some of the garden ideas to landscape my own garden. I would recommend this book for the garden enthusiast who wants to start a garden where the soil is not idea and water is scarce, or just for some
one who wishes to grow plants which will thrive in subtropical regions.

Good overview of the mediterranean garden.......2005-03-09

Living in Colorado, sun-drenched, low-water gardens are pretty much required (at least in my yard: I have about 10 sq. ft. of shade). This book provides an attractive overview of the Mediterranean garden style using some textual descriptions and many photos, with an emphasis on pics of Italian and southern California gardens. Even though many of the classic Mediterranean garden plants are not hardy for me, this book is still useful for studying the structure and design elements of a Mediterranean garden. My only complaint is that the photos appear washed out. I'm sure this was deliberate --- these are "sun-drenched" gardens, after all --- but it makes the detailed structure and the individual plants difficult to discern.

Defines the Aesthetic.......2004-02-26

This an important work for those concerned with garden design. There are many examples of the Mediterranean Style, with emphasis on French, Italian, and Californian interpretations. The volume is light on text and heavy on pictures (and they are of exceptional quality). At times, the captions neglect to inform the reader of the dominant plant's identity. This is a good introductory volume for the hobbyist and would be a valuable tool for designers to use with clients to clarify and illustrate the style. Great advocacy for use of drought tolerant plants.

Book Description

The DESKTOP PUBLISHING USING PAGEMAKER books by Bradley et al. are the undisputed market leading PageMaker textbooks available. Both basic and advanced design concepts (theory and terminology) are presented in a context of desktop publishing fundamentals. DESKTOP PUBLISHING USING PAGEMAKER now features the recently released Version 6.0 and utilizes many of the elements that made the previous versions of this author team's PageMaker books so successful.

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