The Madman's Tale: A Novel

Book Description

It’s been twenty years since Western State Hospital was closed down and the last of its inmates reintegrated into society. Francis Petrel was barely out of his teens when his family committed him to the asylum, after his erratic behavior culminated in a terrifying outburst. Now middle-aged, he leads an aimless, solitary life housed in a cheap apartment, periodically tended to by his sisters, and perpetually medicated to quiet the chorus of voices in his head. But a reunion on the grounds of the shuttered institution stirs something deep in Francis’s troubled mind: dark memories he thought he had laid to rest, about the grisly events that led to Western State Hospital’s demise.

It begins in 1979, when twenty-one-year-old Petrel descends into the state-run purgatory of an overcrowded, understaffed Massachusetts mental hospital. Surrounded by inmates roaming the halls like drugged zombies and raving behind locked doors, well-meaning orderlies, jaded nurses, and patronizing doctors, Francis finds friendship with a motley assortment of fellow patients: a would-be Napoleon, a wise ex-firefighter, and a man obsessed with battling imagined devils. But there’s nothing imaginary about the young nurse found sexually assaulted and brutally murdered late one night after lights-out.

The police suspect an inmate, while patients whisper about visions of a white-shrouded “angel.” But the striking and mysterious prosecuting attorney who arrives to investigate has her own chilling theory—about the grim, telltale “signature” left on the victim’s body, a string of unsolved sex killings, and a very real devil who, by chance or design, has come to turn a madhouse into a slaughterhouse.

Now, with the past creeping back to haunt his thoughts, and nothing but a pencil and the bare walls of his bleak apartment, Francis surrenders to the overwhelming need to tell the story of those nightmarish days. But because the crime was never solved, it’s a story doomed to remain unfinished. Until, like Francis’s long-buried recollections, the killer resurfaces . . . with a vengeance.

A tour de force narrative journey through the eerily unpredictable mind of an utterly unusual hero, The Madman’s Tale will keep even the most astute thriller reader uncertain, unnerved, and unable to resist the tantalizing twists and turns of this fiendishly suspenseful shadow show.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

John Katzenbach has written eight previous novels: the Edgar Award¿nominated In the Heat of the Summer, which was adapted for the screen as The Mean Season; the New York Times bestseller The Traveler; Day of Reckoning; Just Cause, which was also made into a movie; The Shadow Man (another Edgar nominee); State of Mind; Hart¿s War, which was also a major motion picture; and The Analyst. Katzenbach has been a criminal court reporter for The Miami Herald and Miami News and a featured writer for the Herald¿s Tropic magazine. He lives in western Massachusetts.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Very put-down-able!.......2007-08-16

Well I would call this book many things, but "impossible to put down" is defintitely not one of them. I have never had such a hard time finishing a book! I have literally set this book aside twice to read other books, yet for some reason I keep going back to it, thinking, "This better have an awesome ending." I just find the book to be extremely repetitive, slow moving (how many times does a character say something "slowly"? Way, way too many!), and dull. I think the premise of a murderer inside a mental insitution is a great one - I guess I was expecting a bit more action and substance. Sure, there's amazing attention to detail, but that detail seems to be repeated over and over... slowly. Something about the author's style does appeal to me - he has an almost poetic way of writing - I just wish what he was writing about was a bit more interesting. I have 100 pages yet to go, so I may think this was the greatest book I've ever read once I'm at the end, but I sure am having a hell of a time getting there!

Like bad sex.......2007-01-09

I read this book on vacation and found it to be intersting enough not to put down but kept hopeing it would get better or have some great twist (involving the main character) at the finish. I was expecting a lot from the ending but was sadly let down. It was alright (I didn't throw it away) but could have been better.

Only mildly entertaining.......2006-12-17

Francis Petrel is insane. That much is established early on in John Katzenbach's The Madman's Tale. Fortunately, a couple decades after being treated for his mental illness (probably schizophrenia), he is a semi-functioning member of society. Constantly taking medication, he is able to live a simple life without hearing the voices that used to torment him. Everything is moving smoothly enough until he receives an invitation to visit the site of Western State Hospital, where he had once been confined and which is now about to razed for future development. This brings back old memories that were best forgotten.

During Francis's stay back in 1979, there had also been a murderer among the patients. In the present day, this recollection will make Francis try and chronicle the story of his stay; lacking paper, he will do it on the walls of his apartment. The Madman's Tale thus becomes a dual race: in the past, a race to find the killer; in the present, framing story, a race to tell his story before insanity takes hold again.

In 1979, when a nurse with short blond hair is brutally raped and murdered, prosecutor Lucy Jones decides to investigate, noticing similarities between the nurse's death and those of several other women with short blond hair. While the administrators at Western State are only minimally cooperative, she gets better assistance from Francis and Peter, an ex-fire investigator who is incarcerated though he may actually be sane. Together, the three of them will hunt the killer known as the Angel. In a world where most people have a slim grip on reality, however, finding a clever killer is going to be quite a challenge.

Of the five or so Katzenbach books I have read, sadly, this is the weakest. Although by no means bad, the book suffers from its relatively weak protagonist. Despite bits of cleverness, Francis is generally a man of inaction, relegated to the sidelines while Lucy and Peter do most of the work. While this may make sense based on how the character is defined, it still makes the book somehow not as interesting. Compared to other Katzenbach books, this one was not as much of a page-turner, and I rate it only a high three-stars. For fans of suspense fiction, I recommend reading other Katzenbach books (such as The Shadow Man or The Analyst) before this one.

Not enough drive for so many pages.......2006-07-24

Katzenbach usually creates his own little microcosms for his novels. He writes intelligently and with lots of details about his special worlds. He does this here too, but it is not enough to carry the story for over 500 pages.
The small world here is a mental hospital, the main actors are two patients and a prosecutor, who team up, not exactly very plausibly, to find a serial killer who is assumed to be hiding in the hospital.
The story is told by one of the patients. This device for the narration works for a long time: C-Bird writes his recollection on his appartment walls, 20 years after the events. In the process he wrestles with his demons all over again.
What made me give up after struggling on for over 400 pages was the fact that the investigation does not seem to get anywhere. One finds it hard to quite believe that prosecutor Lucy Jones is such a crack at what she does. She doesn't seem to actually investigate or take action. Most of the time she is seen rather helpless and lost in the crazy world of hospital bureaucracy and one would like to help her. She does not take advice from readers though. Her chief assistant, Peter the Fireman, is not really a very plausible element in the story either. He is in a way too good to be true; his private war with the Catholic Church is somewhat artificially added.
One has to take into account that the story is set in the 70s, i.e. before major breakthroughs in forensic methods. That accounts for many things that are not done by the team. But on the other hand, the hospital management's resistance against a full fledged investigation is just not plausible.

Mostly disappointed.......2006-02-08

I read this because I had read Katzenbach's "The Analyst", and while that book was a little long it was interesting enough to hold my interest and I liked the entire story. This one had the same problem of being too long, but this time the story didn't support the length. The best thing I can say is that some of the characters are fairly well drawn and memorable, but the book is way too long to sustain suspense and the end was letdown.

Average customer rating:

Thought provoking

in your mind's mind

Find Insight into the Meaning of Life
Mindlings: Encounters Within Inner Space
Normand, R. Bernier
Manufacturer: Hats Off Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1587363976

Book Description

When Professor John Robis becomes a subject in a secretive sensory-input experiment, he doesn't anticipate that he will enter a portal more mysterious than a black hole. Crossing a chasm between matter and spirit, he discovers a world inhabited by mindlings, beings much like ourselves who live within us. His odyssey propels him into a strange medieval world, where the mindlings who comprise his identity struggle among themselves.

In a riveting struggle between love and power, John and his inner allies confront a fate that neither he nor they could have imagined. His final discovery, which brings him face to face with death itself, has the power to transform those who dare to journey with him.

Customer Reviews:

Thought provoking.......2007-03-23

Enter the world of John Robis, literally. Professor Robis is invited to participate in an experiment that attempts sensory input to the extent of causing the mind to delve inward. Much like an attempt at astral projection, but in reverse. Under the direction of a benefactor and under the guidance and care of a dear mentor, John enters into himself. What he finds is a whole world, a kingdom of mindlings.

The mindlings are energy, beings that are very real and are under the lordship of John but also in control of him as well. John's will, his drive, is personified in Sir William and likewise, his other personality traits come to life before his eyes. All of these interact with each other, within the realm of Robisohm, within John Robis himself. Through the experiments being performed John is able to visit his inner kingdom and sort through conflicts that have arisen. His castle is crumbling and the mindlings need guidance. It is up to John to decipher what is going on.

Through it all he is learning what creates mental illness, what reality is, what our soul's journey's entail. In the end he must make decisions that will alter the course of his own being and those of the mindlings within him.

This is a highly thought provoking novel of fantasy. Readers will see themselves in the conflicts that must be overcome by the characters and will likely learn a little something about their own lives and mindlings. The book is very well written, the story captivating and compelling. I highly recommend Normand R. Bernier's "Mindlings" and encourage readers to take a "strange journey inward."

in your mind's mind.......2005-07-26

Rebeccasreads recommends MINDLINGS as a thoughtful trek into another world -- your mind -- which is "peopled" by the strange critters of the title.

MINDLINGS is a provocative flight of fancy & philosophy about power & love, & the "outer" & "inner" worlds we live in... or not!

Find Insight into the Meaning of Life.......2005-02-15

This thought-provoking adventure story is so rich in meaning with practical applications for enhancing the quality of your life, you'll want to read it over and over again.

Average customer rating:

Extremely informative book

A comprehensive and responsible discussion

Solid information, very thorough treatment of the subject, great buy

thorough and clear writing on an important subject

A detailed, "reader friendly", in-depth guide.

Food Allergies and Food Intolerance: The Complete Guide to Their Identification and Treatment
Jonathan Brostoff , and Linda Gamlin
Manufacturer: Healing Arts Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Allergies | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Food Allergies | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Food Allergies: The Complete Guide to Understanding and Relieving Your Food Allergies

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Your Hidden Food Allergies Are Making You Fat

Hidden Food Allergies: The Essential Guide to Uncovering Hidden Food Allergies-and Achieving Permanent Relief

The Allergy Self-Help Cookbook: Over 350 Natural Foods Recipes, Free of All Common Food Allergens: wheat-free, milk-free, egg-free, corn-free, sugar-free, yeast-free

ASIN: 0892818751
Release Date: 2000-04-01

Book Description

• A leading international authority on food allergy and intolerance provides invaluable advice for achieving dramatic and long-lasting improvements in your health.

• Explains how sensitivity to foods is responsible for many chronic and misdiagnosed ailments such as migraines, sinus problems, and persistent fatigue.

• Includes a step-by-step process for identifying food allergies and intolerances and reshaping your diet for better health.

Many people suffer from chronic, unexplained health problems--migraine headaches, poor digestion, recurring sinus symptoms, aching muscles and joints, persistent fatigue--whose causes remain elusive, even to doctors. When conventional tests fail to provide a clear-cut diagnosis, doctors often suggest that these symptoms are due to stress or anxiety, but now Jonathan Brostoff and Linda Gamlin demonstrate that quite often food allergies and food intolerance are the true culprits in these situations.

The authors provide clear explanations of the causes of, as well as the differences between, food allergies and food intolerance and offer numerous case studies on problems all too familiar to many readers. More important, they provide much-needed solutions and treatments for these problems. Along with a wealth of illustrations and charts, Food Allergies and Food Intolerance includes an invaluable step-by-step process for diagnosing food intolerance with a three-stage elimination diet and a system of gradual food reintroduction. A must for anyone who suspects a chronic condition may be linked to dietary sensitivity, Food Allergies and Food Intolerance supplies information that often results in dramatic and long-lasting improvement in people's health and in their lives.

Customer Reviews:

Extremely informative book.......2007-02-16

This book has a tremendous amount of useful information about the relationship between food and well-being. I spent 15 years and a lot of money trying to get help for my various symptoms only to be told I was a nervous person, and my mental state was probably causing my physical problems. I recently suspected I had food allergies and took dairy out of my diet with amazing results. I suspect I'm also allergic or sensitive to other foods and am getting ready to embark on an elimination diet. This book is informative but doesn't preach that food allergies are the cause of all symptoms. It gives other possible causes for specific symptoms. It's a great tool if you've exhausted other means and hope for feeling well. I now have hope that I could feel fantastic in the not-too-distant future. I also found a wonderful doctor who actually listens to me and doesn't brush me off. It's not wise to totally self-diagnose, you need a doctor who will listen and work with you.

A comprehensive and responsible discussion.......2006-01-02

For anyone who suspects they might have food intolerance, this book can help them on the path to wellness. Symptoms, testing and potential avenues of treatment are all discussed. Be forewarned, it can be a complex and daunting task, though worth it.

I was surprised and impressed that the author addressed the concept that some manifestations of food intolerance may be psychosomatic in nature or partially so. Sometimes it's not all in your head, but sometimes it is.

Solid information, very thorough treatment of the subject, great buy.......2005-09-11

This is the best and most complete consumer book about food intolerances and allergies available. A complete rundown of topics can be found in the table of contents and index so I won't cover that here. Here are some of the things I appreciate most about this book:

* Nonsensational.
* Cites research studies, along with comments on strengths and weaknesses of each study.
* Gives lots of case studies - you're sure to find a case study that resembles your own experience.

Brostoff provides all of the details needed to complete a thorough elimination diet. He tells you what to expect, how you might feel, and what to do next according to how you feel.

It's a great book! It has a lot of information and is presented in a very readable style. The information is sensibly organized, so it is easy to choose what chapters to read and what to skip for later reading.

I've used it to identify and treat my food intolerances, and I highly recommend this book. It's hard to believe one can get this much quality information for less than $15!

thorough and clear writing on an important subject.......2001-08-29

For anyone with difficult, or unexplained illness, this is the book for you. Explains the known correlations between food sensitivity, allergy, and illnesses. This should be of particular interest to those with immune system, or digestive related problems. Highly recommended.

A detailed, "reader friendly", in-depth guide........2000-06-04

Food Allergies and Food Intolerance provides a complete guide to identification of food allergies, explaining food sensitivities, providing a process for identifying food allergies, and revealing symptoms and side effects of food related problems. The depth of details in this survey makes for an important guide which should not be missed by any studying allergies or food problems.

Average customer rating:

The easy way to get flax oil into your diet!

Flax for Life!: 101 Delicious Recipes and Tips Featuring Fabulous Flax Oil
Jade Beutler
Manufacturer: Apple Publishing Company (WA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Gittleman, Ann Louise | Authors, A-Z | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Authors, A-Z | Health, Mind & Body | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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The Fat Flush Foods : The World's Best Foods, Seasonings, and Supplements to Flush the Fat From Every Body

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1896817106

Customer Reviews:

The easy way to get flax oil into your diet!.......2001-03-18

Flax for Life has some great ordinary recipes for you to get into the habit of incorporating flax oil and flax seed into your daily diet. It gives some good basic information about the benefits of flax oil, such as getting the essential fatty acids to maintain optimum health. Flax oil is one of the best oils to ingest daily, it also helps to lower cholesterol, help with heart disease and numerous other benefits, too many to mention here. The recipes include such things as Middle Eastern Bean Dip, Barlean Butter, Fresh Fruit Breakfast Muesli, Creamy Garlic Dressing and over 95 more recipes. The book is "a good price" and is a gem in my opinion!

Book Description

Nipping at the heels of the best-selling Legacy of the Dog, Legacy of the Puppy presents page after page, paw after paw, and ooh after ah of adorable full-color photographs of over 100 breeds in all their puppy splendor. From everybody's favorites to rare varieties, each breed portrait includes in-depth information on breed standards and history, temperament, coat care, special talents, and favorite sports to help prospective owners choose which puppy is the right fit. Legacy of the Puppy also gives extensive advice on training and raising puppies and addresses any health concerns new owners might have. The perfect book for breeders, new puppy parents, or puppy parents-to-be, Legacy of the Puppy is both a solid resource and an utterly charming collection of puppies.

Customer Reviews:

Simple & Sweet.......2006-12-29

This book is wonderful for those who are into puppies in general. This is a great learning guide for children, or people of any age that can appreciate the playful innocence of young pups. This book as an informative reference falls somewhat short, but gives a decent overview of each breed. Each page has a generous amount of pictures of a specific breed of puppy, then a picture of the corresponding breed as an adult, which is nice. The photographs are well taken and the silly poses the puppies fall into will definitly draw a smile or laugh from any reader. It's undeniably adorable and a fun book to have on the shelf. Caution: this book will create an overwhelming desire to buy a dog! ;)

good puppy stuff, ignore the zoolgist.......2005-03-14

The information about the various puppies is fairly simple and probably a good start for deciding which breeds to look into.

The pictures are excellent.

The text by "Tadaaki Imaizumi, zoologist" makes me question whether the person actually has a degree. Unlike the authors claims, dogs do indeed share morphological traits with wolves, seeing as how dogs technically share some morphological traits with humans.

The information about raising puppies at the back of the books is also fairly helpful.

If children are reading the book, especially ones interested in dogs and wolves, parents may need to explain that, contrary to what the book seems to imply, dogs are indeed canids. Not just descended from them but are actually in the Canidae family.

Following in the pawprints of "Legacy of the Dog"..........2004-12-28

Several years ago I bought "Legacy of the Dog"; yesterday, I bought "Legacy of the Puppy," having instantly recognized it as the follow-up to the first--same style, same beautiful glossy book, another picture of a terrier on the cover (this time Airedale instead of Irish). The primary reason I like this book is that it's a good one to coo over with your dog-loving friends; normally we don't get to see much of what all these breeds look like as puppies. At least, not all in one book. Not as many breeds are represented, but with over 200 pages, enough of them are, and not all are AKC-recognized. Basically, every set of pages shows pictures of a mother dog with a variety of beautiful, representative-of-breed puppies around with their ages next to them; most of the breeds follow this general format. The text is essentially the same as you'd find in any dog-breed book but is useful nonetheless; I haven't found major errors in it so far. The text also centers, of course, around the puppies of each breed but also covers what they will likely grow up to be and what to expect. Also, it includes new features like words from actual owners of each puppy breed, offering insight into what it's like to really live with one, & a handy 'diseases by breed' chart.

Looking through these pages and choosing a puppy based on which one you think is cutest is NOT the way to do it and not what the book's intended for, but when used responsibly, or just for fun, it's a great book. The maltese, Great dane, and Brittany puppies look just like my current dogs when they were tiny. My very favorite breeds--afghan hounds, borzois, salukis, and Bedlington terriers--are all represented. The book is wonderful for seeing the whimsy and curiosity of young puppies. Some of the pictures are truly excellent; the little border collies and beagles and Irish setters, for instance, are gorgeous. The Dachshunds are portrayed in a variety of uncommon and common colors, including my favorite adorable long-haired brown and blue merle combination. The Lakeland terrier 'group shot' looks like they're all smiling. One of the 55-day-old Akita puppies looks like Angel from "Lady and the Tramp 2," proving how seeing the puppy version of a breed can change your perception of how a dog will look full-grown; I'd never considered her an Akita pup before! The husky pups have sapphire blue eyes, the Shiba Inus play with pinecones, one of the French bulldogs has the greatest expression on, the Bichons and Schipperkes are precious--well, they all are, ne?

This book is the ultimate look at the cute, happy playfulness of puppies. The kind you leave out and guests will want to go through. It's great, I recommend it.

Average customer rating:
John Wayne Movie Posters At Auction: Illustrated History Of Movies Through Posters (Illustrated History of Movies Through Posters)
Bruce Hershenson
Manufacturer: Bruce Hershenson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Posters | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Warner Brothers Movie Posters At Auction: Of The Illustrated History Through Posters (Illustrated History of Movies Through Posters)

ASIN: 1887893563

Average customer rating:

Didn't live up to the reviews

Excellent reference

The first pond book you need to read

Got/want a water feature? Get this book!

The Master Book of the Water Garden: The Ultimate Guide to the Design and Maintenance of the Water Garden
Phillip Swindells
Manufacturer: Bulfinch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Flowers | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Home & Garden | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

All About Building Waterfalls, Ponds, and Streams (Ortho's All About Gardening)

The Ponder's Bible

How to Build Ponds and Waterfalls: The Complete Guide

The Complete Guide to Water Gardens, Ponds & Fountains (Complete Guide)

Smart Guide: Ponds & Fountains: Step-by-Step Projects (Smart Guide)

ASIN: 0821227963

Book Description

Water has featured prominently in garden designs for thousands of years. Its appeal to the sensesits visually compelling light and movement and soothing splashing and bubbling soundsstill attracts the imagination of gardeners worldwide. With a wealth of practical ideas and tips on water gardening, this indispensable book helps minimize the problems faced in building and maintaining a water garden, and maximizes the pleasure a well-designed water garden can give. Including design optionsfor every aesthetic, space, and budgetthis guide is not only practical but inspirational.

Customer Reviews:

Didn't live up to the reviews.......2007-08-14

This book is beautiful to look at but not really very helpful at the nuts and bolts. Its design advice is mostly in generalities, and though its building advice is pretty good, I've found more detailed information elsewhere. The discussion of plants is useful up to a point because it has lots of nice pictures, but it, too, is short on practical specifics. For example, it doesn't define "hardy" by referring to USDA hardiness zones, nor does it explain just exactly how to plant. It will say something like 'Depth: moist soil to 6",' but what does that MEAN? For step-by-step advice on building a pond, I'd recommend the Ortho book All About Garden Pools and Fountains. I wish I could recommend a better book on the plant side of water gardening, but I haven't found it yet!

Excellent reference.......2007-06-27

We recently "inherited" a small pond when we moved to a new home and this has been a great resource to maintain the pond

The first pond book you need to read.......2006-08-27

This author describes the historical aspect of ponds, the current trends of ponds and the types of plants and animals found in each type of pond. He lists problems and solutions. Very insightful. I like the ID stuff at the end listing each important plants and animals found in a pond. (He doesn't have turtles though).

Got/want a water feature? Get this book!.......2002-10-16

When my husband & I bought a house recently, it came complete with a man-made pond, stream, and waterfall.

I borrowed every book about ponds and water features from the library. They didn't own The Master Book of the Water Garden. Too bad. This is the most complete book on the subject I've come across.

To begin with, it has wonderful pictures and makes a great coffee table book, even if you're not looking for water garden information.

There are two indices: one that's general and one that's specifically for plants. Throughout the book are "Problem Solving" asides. Sometimes entire pages are dedicated to answering questions about fish, plant depth, water quality, and much more.

But I thought its strength was the amount of very specific information on the subjects it covers. Other books dealt with just ponds, or waterfalls, or wet and dry streams. This book covers all that as well as fountains, water meadows, bogs, and containers.

Discussions include bridges, decking, walkways, lighting, filters, propagating plants, & the various kinds of liners. Cleaning and maintaining the water feature is included, as well as seasonal upkeep. Designing your water garden, picking plants, choosing a location, & deciding on size are just a few of the subjects covered. And fish subjects aren't limited to just koi and goldfish.

I was most interested in how to drain and repair a leaking pond. This has been difficult information to find. Swindells even tells you what to do with the fish while you're making repairs or changes to the pond.

My only criticism is that the plant index uses the Latin names for the plants. Though it does include common names, in many instances, if you're not sure what you're looking for, a specific plant may be a bit difficult to find. I must admit that there are full color pictures of the plants in the book, though my favorite water plant, horsetails, isn't included.

Book Description

Water has featured prominently in garden designs for thousands of years, and its appeal to the senses still attracts the imagination of gardeners worldwide. Ponds and other water features need careful planning, and though there are other books with wonderful ideas, many of them lack the very practical information that water gardeners need to know.

"The Master Book of the Water Garden" is the most comprehensive book on the subject. It includes detailed step-by-step illustrated instructions on all aspects of water garden construction and maintenance--from building a raised pond to propagating marginal plants. Philip Swindells also provides advice on choosing a style based on the reader's budget, time constraints, available site, and proposed function.

Customer Reviews:

ONE OF THE BEST.......2004-06-26

This book has all the information needed to build and maintain a pond. There is everything you need to know from A-Z including maintaince, plants, fish, etc. A must have.

Great coverage for building ponds and water gardens.......2001-07-19

This is an excellent book for building water gardens, ponds, pools and streams. The subject is covered thoroughly with detailed descriptions about installing fountains, lighting, islands, and landscaping. There are lots of lovely photos that will let your imagination grow as to the kinds of ponds you can design and build. You are only limited by the size of your yard. There is a large section about adding different types of water plants to specific areas of the pond. Plus, there is good coverage about adding fish, attracting wildlife, and performing seasonal maintenance. Construction techniques vary from simple to more complex designs, including waterfalls and ripple effects. Another book, Nash's The Complete Pond Builder, seems to have slightly better construction detail and also more examples of smaller ponds. However, Swindells' book is much more comprehensive and it contains a lot more information about maintenance, fish, and plants.

COMPLETE!.......2000-04-08

This Book has GREAT content. Not only does it have clear, and easy to understand diagrams of plants, but it supplied me with information to build my own pond. Now, my pond is filled with koi that rest underneath some waterlilies . The water hyacinths, (which I did not know about until reading this book) , smell soooo wonderful. My pond would never be complete without this book. I say you buy it, because it is worth it's price!

Book Description

Bishops are to be understood primarily as representatives of cultures regardless of where their people are territorially located. The vindication of this thesis has implications also for ecumenical reconciliation between episcopal and non-episcopal communions occupying the same geographical territory. The author compares the approaches and insights of both Vatican II and Lambeth 89 on this issue, and then proceeds to a historical and theological analysis of the development of the threefold Order in the early centuries, which he illuminates with the aid of contemporary sociological and cultural theory, in particular that of Durkheim. Key themes in the development of Order are identified in the classical texts of Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, Cyprian, Tertullian and the Church Order literature. The author's conclusion is that we need both to break the geographical and jurisdictional mould in which our understanding of church Order has become set.

Book Description

Electronic publishing encompasses all aspects of computer-assisted document preparation, presentation, transmittance, storage, and retrieval. It is a very active area of study, involving developments in academic and industrial arenas, with important commercial applications and implications. The papers in this volume, which are all refereed and carefully edited, reflect not only such recent trends as hypermedia and multimedia documents, but also the classical and ever-present problems of document structure and font design.

Average customer rating:

Bill Pickett, A Real American Hero

Bill Pickett, Bulldogger: The Biography of a Black Cowboy
Bailey C. Hanes
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

African-American & Black | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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Crime of the Century: The Kennedy Assassination from a Historian's Perspective

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Personal and Public Life (Library of American Biography Series) (3rd Edition) (Library of American Biography)

America Past and Present, Volume II (since 1865) (8th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)

ASIN: 080612203X

Customer Reviews:

Bill Pickett, A Real American Hero.......2001-01-07

This is a great book about a great man. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn about American history, the story is not only about Bill Pickett. It's about America as well, and other legends such as Will Rogers, Tom Mix and others.

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