In my 16 years of existence, I have read the complete Sherlock Holmes 4 times, yet they still continue to amaze me. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a genius, and it shows through his whole series. This book combines 4 of the many great mysteries that make the Holmes legend live on. Definitely worth much more than the 80 cents!

I have read the Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes and The Adventure of the Dancing Men and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories and in all his stories he reveals that marvelous skill of deduction through keen observation. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is showing us through his writing how much information you can get about a person, place or thing just by observing it. I was amazed as to how he was able to discipher the code of the dancing men. Before he reveals the answer you should try to figure it out because it is possible.

I like this book because you can open it anywhere for anecotes about the famous people the author took pictures of for Life Magazine and business magazines. It's funny, and in parts about his own life, is quite touching. I gave a copy to a friend in the hospital. He said he liked looking at the pictures because the captions told little stories and his visitors had something to read while he dosed. I gave it to another friend who keeps it on her coffee table, as she adores dogs. The picture on the cover makes her feel good. Its a wonderful, beautifully written book to give as gifts to friends and relatives. Its nuttier than fruit cake, sweeter than chocolate, and it last longer.

We expect photographers to reveal the world of the 'other'. Art Shay has been doing this for 50 years. "Album for an Age' depicts the lives and deaths of the famous and the infamous, as well as the ugly and the beautiful. We see them in social and historical contexts, and in private and public settings. There are portraits that Hollywood celebrities, artists and poets have posed for, and photos of underworld characters taken in secret by cameras hidden in his or his wife's clothing. There is humor in timely juxtapositions of people and places. One of my favorites is a close-up of a disheveled, grinning, toothless man, living in an Indiana poorhouse, holding aloft a bottle of Coca-Cola in a bizarre evocation of a slick advertisement. The unique contribution of this book, however, is when Art Shay turns his lens on himself, his family , and his feelings. The camera, no longer hidden, becomes a personal journal and a probe. He contrasts photos taken as an observer of an early heart by-pass procedure, with those taken 30 years later of himself, being prepped to receive a pig's aortic valve to replace his own, his only "non-Kosher" part. Most poignant are Art Shay's reminiscences about his oldest son, Harmon, named for his father, Herman, who was murdered at the age of 20. The man who has spent his life photographing celebrities and world leaders, as well as murderers and their victims is now the subject. This book, with its cover photo of a very young Marlon Brando playing with his dog, should appeal to a wide variety of people.

I first read this book about seventeen years ago. As a young child, I was drawn into it immediately and was unable to put it down. The plot line was enjoyable and I found the fast pace and action preferable to all other juvenile mysteries. Within a year, I had read the entire Three Investigators mystery series twice and continued to read them as they came out. Now that I have a young son of my own, I re-read the Mystery of the Talking Skull and quickly discovered that it is still a great book! I recommend it for any child and any parent... it's just too bad they've gotten so hard to find!

This was a great book. I liked it so very much. A quick review of the plot. The teens that we all know and love, Jupiter Jones and his Friends Bob Andrews and Pete Crenshaw buy a strange trunk at a auction. Needless to say the mysterious trunk brings them action and suspense to the reader: A. an $100 offer for the trunk. B. visits to Gypsies, the police station, and other places, C. A capture by a gang, and a slick spy on to them. The whole thing dissolves into a funny yet satisfying ending. This is a Heavily Recommended Book. What a great mystery this is. Read if you like any kind of mysteries. The 3 Investigator stories do a great job of combining aspects of a great mystery book. Mike Lee (A heavy mystery reader)

This is simply an excellent reference work -- but also a
wonderful general reading work -- filled with the detail
and chronology -- and flow of American history. It is
difficult to try to convey what the experience of using
this work is like. The "history" of the United States is
presented in crisp, clear, but meaningful style and
point. Each year of the history of the United States
(starting with the 1st section of the CHRONOLOGY, cited
as 1010-1013, but actually beginning with the date of 986:
"Norse navigator Bjorn Herjulfson is blown off course
while searching for Eric the Red's coastal Greenland
settlement, founded in 986." [There is a bit more to
this citation -- the delightful irony, of course, is
the subtle inference that the discovery of "America"
has always been a sort of accident, or unintentional
error...]is filled with the citations of events for
that year arranged in chronological order.
Though there are numerous citations, by day-month-year,
in the work, concerning not just what is happening in
the English colonies, but also in the surrounding land
adjacent to the colonies, the main thrust after 1607,
is to concentrate the citations on the events within
the colonies, and later states. But still, the flow
of the work is what is so amazing -- for one sees the
events unfolding before one's mind on a day to day
basis (instead of reading a clipped general sentence
or two in a general American history book).
This work is divided into 5 major sections -- each
introduced by a noted writer. The "Introduction" is
by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., the General Editor.
Schlesinger beings his "Introduction" in a very
provocative fashion: "'In the beginning,' wrote John
Locke in the _Second Treatise on Civil Government_, 'all
the world was America.' Locke intended only a metaphor
for the state of nature that preceded the establishment
of civil society. But his metaphor evokes much more.

It implies a way America was first seen in Europe -- as
a new beginning, a break in the long, sad continuities
of history, a fresh chance for fallen humanity."
From there, Schlesinger writes of the major sources of
paradox which he sees in American history. The first
paradox, he says, is that though Americans seem to live
by experiment (William James's "pragmatic tinkering"),
they also show a recurrent weakness (Schlesinger's term)
for ideology. The second paradox lies in the antagonism
between the American affirmation of equality and the
American tolerance of inequality. The third paradox
is the continuing tension between order and violence
in American life. The fourth paradox lies in the question
of conformity versus diversity. And the final paradox
has to do with the nature of the American experiment
itself -- how Americans, themselves, have seen their
vision, or mission, or goal.
Schlesinger discusses each of these sources of paradox
in the "Introduction." The 5 sections of the work are:
Founding a Nation (986-1787), introduced by Gordon S.
Wood -- Testing a Union (1788-1865), introduced by
Marcus Cunliffe -- Forging a Nation (1866-1900),
introduced by S. L. Mayer -- Expanding Resources
(1901-1945), introduced by Richard C. Wade --and
Emerging as a World Power (1946- ), introduced by
Robert H. Ferrell.
An example of the sort of detail which is available
in this marvelous reference/general reading treasure
is this set of citations -- under the year 1762:
3 November 1762 War: In the secret Treaty of

Fontainebleau, French monarch Louis XV deeds to Spain
all French territory west of the Missisppi River and
the Isle of Orleans in Louisiana to compensate Spain
for her losses at the hands of the British [in the
French and Indian War/Seven Years War]. The French
are anxious to bring an early end to the Seven Years
War. (p. 97)
Then on p. 174, under the year 1800, comes the citation:
1 October 1800 International: In the secret Treaty of San
Ildefonso, Spain cedes Louisiana to France at the command
of Napoleon Bonaparte, who envisions a French colonial
empire on the North American continent. [This ownership,
of course, allows him to sell it to the Jefferson
led government, as the Louisiana Purchase (1803), when
Napoleon's dreams of empire die in Haiti at the
hands of Touissant L'Ouverture.]
There is also an excellent Index in the back to
find people, places, and events in the CHRONOLOGY.

This is a great book packed with useful information. It is a useful book for people who study United States history as well as fo those who want to have a history reference book.

This book has tons of color and B&W pictures and some of the best pictures of the southwest ruins you are ever going to find. It also has numerous site maps illustrating the ruins and their vicinity. The pictures are not just your everyday tourbook photos. They are spectacular. The author mixes numerous aerial shots that show you overviews of the sites and mixes in a generous amount of detail shots to help you see what the sites look like when you are there. There are also sketches and conceptual drawings which tell about the history. Just because there are a lot of photos, do not think the text is lacking. The book has all you would ever need to know about the sites including history, archeological finds etc. It accomplishes this amazingly enough without boring the reader. The most important thing about this book is that it is comprehensive. An example is its description of Mesa Verde park which is 44 pages of text and pictures. The section includes a detailed description of the stops you can make off ruins road as well as maps and pictures of sites you can't even access. Overall, this is the book you want to have when you plan your trip and the one you want on your coffee table to show your friends and family where you have been. A must have for anyone fascinated by the Anasazi culture.

I have found this to be an excellent resource for finding sites of interest and a faithfull companion for exploring the site once I have arrived. The information provides a nice addition to any anasazi library

After his father was diagnosed with cancer, Blake Morrison & his family watch him quickly deteriorate & die within a matter of weeks. In trying to come to terms with his death, the author takes you back to the times he spent with his father through childhood to adolescence & adulthood. He writes an honest account of his feelings towards his father both good & bad, alternating between memories of the past & the current trauma of watching him fade away.

His experience is not unique which makes this a very important book to read.

I very English book, a small social commentary on the parts of Britain and a class of British life that the foreign visitor rarely sees. Until recently, all through Britain the local Doctor ( or G.P. as he would also be known) was looked up to as being something else, something better and yet had contact to all classes. In the days up until the 1960's, he was perhaps the only person in a village other than the local Church of England clergyman that had been to a University; as a result the Doctor's son was considered something unusual. In my English schooldays in the 1950's, the sons of Doctors were certainly regarded so. Blake Morrison has written a book of childhood to adulthood memories of his father. The fact that the book is based on the few weeks between his father being diagnosed to be suffering terminal cancer to his death, it is in many ways not a light subject, but everywhere there is a glimmer of humour. For anyone like me, who has lost one or both parents i! t underlines that feeling you have that you have from time to time , in good and bad times , that you would like to be able to have a short chat with the old man... but now it's too late.

First off someone obviously made an error when originally posting this title -- cause the book just isnt l200 pages; its more like $l20, but the price is right anyway when you consider all the information you are going to receive upon cracking this book open.One thing you will not find is a book of lofty thought and religious philosophy -- in fact this is more of a how to book; a how to contact you guardian angel guide.For the authors see the subject in a ore magickal light, believing that angels are basicly invisible beings we can contact for guidance and protection and to bring riches and prosperity into our lives. There are all sorts of catagories of angels and benefits we can look for and ways and means to actually contact them and have them answer our prayers.There are even, say the authors, good times and bad times to try and communicate with these other worldly beings -- and you can even smoke them out sort of by burning candles and incense (in this regard also get yourself a copy of CANDLE BURNING WITH THE PSALMS, by Wm Alexander Oribello)to attract their attention.If you are a non believer this book will do nothing to convince you. But if you are looking for a practical way to find out all about your own individual guardian angel this is probably the best book available on the subject!

Have you ever wondered if you have a guardian angel? The belief that a benevolent presence is watching over us on an individual and personal level has persisted throughout the ages, and there is a huge amount of folklore and modern day true-life experiences that serve to reinforce the ancient belief that we have someone to watch over us when the game gets rough.

In "Angels of the Lord," coauthors Arthur Crockett and Timothy Green Beckley tackle the daunting task of explaining a subject for which not much raw data exists. You may be surprised to learn that just how little we really know about angels, but the authors do their utmost to fill in the gaps of mystery and uncertainty that come with the territory of what angels are and how they operate in our earthly plane.

The book includes an overview of many of the angel-related verses from both the Old and New Testaments. The implications of those verses teach us many things, such as the fact that angels sometimes appear in human form, usually without wings, and even eat and drink along with their mortal hosts. Stories such as the rescue of the prophet Daniel from the lions' den by an angel and the angels who came to minister to Jesus after his struggle against the devil in the wilderness remind us all that angels played a key role in many of the events in scripture.

But stories from more recent times are included as well. Particularly interesting are the reports that have come down to us from soldiers who fought in the wars of the last couple of centuries. There is more than one account in which the tide of a battle is mysteriously turned by the presence of a battalion of angels who step in and rescue the Allies from total annihilation by the Germans.

Just as fascinating are some of the real life anecdotes about people who are delivered from near-fatal accidents or other tragedies by the sudden appearance of an angel. There are many books filled with those kinds of stories, but it's always wonderful to read some new ones. These are instances where the angel's intervention was seen and understood, but, the authors ask, how about the numerous other times they were present to help us and we didn't see them at all?

As to the authors' claim that one can be taught how to contact one's own guardian angel, perhaps that is best left to the individual reader's discretion. Still, the reader may be surprised to learn that many experiences that had been filed away as bizarre and difficult to understand were actually instances when a guardian angel had come to the rescue once again. One might see certain experiences in a different light after reading "Angels of the Lord."

In any case, Crockett and Beckley favor us with an all too brief but nevertheless quite marvelous look at the historical and practical aspects of angels that not only informs and educates but also inspires.

Furst's intimate photographs are the centerpiece of this book. It is a chance to gaze into the face of one of this incredible poet. The portraits enable you to feel Anne's pain and the joy. These images are as revealing as any of her poems. This book is a must for all sincere Sexton readers.

This photographic biography lures us into the brilliant mind of poet Anne Sexton. Furst's beautiful pictures portray her as intelligent, thoughtful and sensuous, haughty and pensive, and we are drawn into the rich complex verses written in her own hand. We are allowed to peek at her personal correspondence, and look inside the poet to the woman and her spirit. Surely, this book is a "must have" for those who are looking for the real Anne Sexton.

5/6/2003

THE APPETIZER ATLAS:

A World of Small Bites

By Arthur L. Meyer and Jon M. Vann

In Spain, appetizers are called tapas, in France canapés, in North Africa mezze and in Hong Kong, it's dim sum. These days when so many of us order a couple of appetizers to make pleasing meal, this book comes just in time.

In the Atlas, authors Meyer and Vann, each seasoned chefs and experts in global regional cooking, track the history, geography and culture of foods from North America to Southeast Asia, from the Middle East to the UK. They are as professionals appealing to chefs as well as serious home cooks.

The physical arrangement for this 624-page, 400-recipe food book is superb. Twenty-eight chapters feature separate regional cuisines. They are sequenced geographically. Historical/geographical introductions open each chapter. The book's detailed 27-page glossary plus 20-page bibliography well document this important work very well. Each researched and kitchen-tested recipe comes with step-by-step instruction, handy chef notes, pointers on advance preparation and simple guidelines for expanding number of servings. Occasional color photos stimulate a good cook's appetite.

From North America's Southwest, find their Warm Cheese Dip with Chiles which is a savory blend of blanco, jack and longhorn cheeses, Roma tomatoes, chipolte chilies, adobo sauce, heavy cream and Ancho chili.

From Mexico, they present Wild Mushroom Turnovers with Tomatillo-Mushroom Sauce highlighted with epazote leaves and Serrano chilies.

From the Dominican Republic comes Rum-Marinated Fried Chicken Drumettes with soy, orange, lime, hot paprika and other seasonings.

From Costa Rico we find Angel Hair Pasta (Fideo) and Three-Cheese Flan which combines butter with farmer's cheese, Muenster cheese and Parmesan cheese touched off with a Serrano chili tomato sauce.

From Argentina they present Beef Pie with Apricots, sirloin served with pungent spices, wine, raisins and apricots.

From Brazil, exciting Bahian-Style Mussels come with malagueta chilies, lime, wine and coconut milk.

From Hawaii, Marinated Sea Bass in Lime Juice and Coconut Milk with the thickened coconut milk Thai green chili, green papaya and crisp greens.

From Malaysia, Sweet-and-Sour Eggplant Curry with Pineapple in Lacy Pancakes, a dish with many spices, hot red chilies, tamarind paste and fresh ginger.

From Korea, Korean-Style Crab Cakes made with soy, sesame, crushed red pepper, rice and a carrot.

From China, Pan-Fried Potsticker Dumplings made with bok choy, pork, water chestnuts, Asian sauces, dipped in a soy, vinegar, ginger, garlic, sesame and chili sauce.

From Vietnam, Shrimp Pate on Sugarcane and Lemongrass, a delight made from tamarind paste, soybean sauce, chili paste, peanut butter and roasted peanuts with a pate of shrimp, roasted rice powder, salt pork, mint lettuce, cucumber and jalapeno chilies.

From Cambodia, Spicy Pork Bundles Wrapped in Lettuce, made with galangal, red chilies, peanuts Thai chilies along with lettuce, mint, basil, mung bean sprouts, cucumber and leek.

From Thailand, Beef Meatballs in Hot Peanut Sauce made with red curry paste, thick coconut cream, peanut butter, Belgian endive leaves and dry roasted peanuts.

From the Indian Subcontinent, Curried Shrimp with Tomato and Tamarind, ghee, fenugreek, fresh curry leaves and Serrano chilies.

From the Middle East, Lebanese Steak Tartare, made with tenderloin, spices, mint and pine nuts

From Tunisia, Olives Stuffed with Ground Beef in a Spice Ragout, a dish made with Tabil spices, tomato, lemon, harissa, large Sicilian olives, toasted fennel seeds and Anaheim green chilies

From North Africa, Rice-Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Sole with Sweet and Sour Sauce made with white raisins, saffron threads, wine vinegar, orange flower water, cream of rice, almonds, ginger, Medijool dates and fish fumet.

From Scandinavia and the Baltic States (Sweden), Beef, Potato, Beet and Caper Sausage (Lindstrom's Beef) made with pickling liquid and paprika.

From Switzerland, Cheese Souffles in a Tomato Shell, Gruyere cheese and spices flavor the soufflés baked in hollowed, large tomatoes.

From Italy, Pumpkin-Filled Tortellini with Rabbit Sauce contains sage, mixed spices, balsamic vinegar, dry red wine, Parmesan cheese and finely crumbled amaretti biscuits.

From Spain, Garlic Shrimp with Sherry. This simple dish uses Anaheim chilies to accent the sherry flavor.

From France, the simple Sauteed Duck Breasts with Apples and Calvados in Pastry Cases

From Scotland, Pheasant and Leek Pies with Port Cream Sauce, utilize juniper berries, heavy cream and crimini mushrooms.

The Appetite Atlas will make a valuable addition to any food book collection.

© Marty Martindale, Largo FL, 2003

If so, adding this wonderful cookbook to your kitchen is a great start.
This compilation of morsels from around the world is sure to tickle your palate.
It's packed with offerings that are eclectic and easy to make, such as maple glazed baby back riblets, or the leek, bacon, and Emmentaler tart.
Dining with your friends using treasures from this cookbook is like going on a world tour, without leaving the comfort of your own kitchen.
The attention to preparation and presentation is outstanding and easy to follow.
I'm looking forward to our next meal prepared from this great cookbook!

This book is a question and answer book about cosmetic surgery. I used the book before my facelift and was able to properly select a real plastic surgeon, not one of those wanna-be's. I checked out his background, like this book says to do. I knew what questions to ask during my consultation. Everything worked out well and I now look 20 years younger! I can't wait for the author's next book.

This book tells it like it is! If you're going to have cosmetic surgery, you've just got to read it. It reads easily and I have bought a bunch of copies to give to friends.