These are short (and I mean SHORT) stories of 50 words - no more and no less. And they are literally mini sagas! A in terms of literature they are little gems - as you can imagine when you must write exactly 50 words, you chose those words very carefully indeed.

There are all sorts of stories here - murder stories, stories of love in old age - everything. It is a book you can pick up and dip into like a treasure chest, and always find something interesting.

This is an anthology of Mini Sagas - these are 50 word essays - not 49 or 51 words, they must be exactly 50 words. This takes the idea of short stories a stage further. This was the brainwave of Brian Aldiss, the well-known science fiction writer. Brian Aldiss also edits the anthology. Mini Sagas are published in the UK newspaper "The Daily Telegraph" and this book - and other volumes - are the result of stories written by members of the public, in response to a competition, together with some commissioned stories from well-known authors and celebrities. The rules are simple, the stories must be exactly 50 words long and the title must be no more than 15 words long. The stories are judged by a panel and the best stories are published. The overall winner and runner-up, together with some highly commended stories are all noted as such, as are the commissioned stories. There is something here for everyone. Many of the stories tend to follow a number of common themes and the editor uses these to group the stories loosely together into sections.

If you read this book, it should inspire you to write your own Mini Saga. This competition runs every two years. Consequently, there is plenty of time for you to practice before submitting your own story next time.

A great book that captures the feel of Hawaii. Victoria's Hawaii is gone but the 'feel' of the place is timeless. Her description of Hawaiian music,plate lunches and hundreds of other details of island life are right on target. If you've been captivated by the idea of island life...read this book. You'll be on the beach,breathing in plumerias as long as your eyes cross the words.

I was introduced to this book by a writer who had lived in Hawaii for most of the '70s, and she felt that it was one of the best personal memoirs of living in Hawaii that she had read. Nelson taught at the University of Hawaii in the '70s, and traveled throughout the islands. She captures the beauty, the sadness, the cultural tensions and improbable harmonies of a people and a setting that is so much more than a Waikiki Beach tourist-trap destination. Her description of the people of Moloka'i was one my motivations to find the true meaning of **Aloha** and visit what may be the friendliest place in Hawai'i. St. Martin's should at least bring it back in trade paperback - the travel sections of most bookstores are dying for a distinctly different look at one of the most fascinating and spiritual places in the world

As a science teacher, I always have to be prepared to answer questions from left field. This book has many of the commonly asked questions that you won't find in a textbook. It's well wriiten and easy to understand--and entertaining too!

It was a wonderful book! It was very informative. I didn't even know i wanted to know that much.

I discovered an earlier edition of this truly great book in my local book shop and have since walked most of the walks in both the earlier and this current edition. It has to be the bible for anyone wanting to experience the joys the State of Victoria in Australia has to offer. The track notes are concise, yet easy to follow and are accompanied by useful maps for each walk. The publishers would be advised to re-think their layout designs as the book has a decidedly old fashion feel about it, BUT this does not detract from the usefulness of the book. WELL DONE MR THOMAS !

A diverse range of hikes for all grades of walkers from families to hard-core adventurers. Includes contour maps for each hike as well as photographs and illustrations to accompany the comprehensive route descriptions. The destinations include the Australian Alps, the magnificent Grampians, Wilsons Promontory and Gippsland. Sixty of the walks are with 60 miles of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria. Introductory chapters include advice on equipment, food suggestions, first aid, etc etc.

Welcome to Paradise Bay - Where The Day Begins. When Trish Taylor found herself on the other side of the world from the safe, secure life she led in New York, she was less than overjoyed. But with her wedding to boring and predicable Elliot a mere 4 months away, her step-father felt she needed some time away from the wedding preparations to give some final thought to the relationship she was about to commit to for the rest of her life. Elliot was all wrong for Trish and Russ hoped Trish's time in paradise would make her see that.

Elliot was everything Trish wanted in her life. Safety. Stability. Security. There was no excitement or adventure with Elliot, but those things were overrated. Upon her arrival at Paradise Bay, Trish met Jack Kendall and discovered that the two of them would be working together to design and build a vacation resort on the island paradise. When she wasn't fighting with Jack, she began to question her plans for the future. Soon, Trish put thoughts of Elliot and her upcoming wedding aside and found herself thinking of Jack instead.

Jack was everything Elliot was not, and that both infuriated and intrigued Trish. And it wasn't long until she found herself drawn into the excitement and adventure that was Jack. But would his unknown family identity ruin his hopes for happiness with Trish?

Victoria Alexander has crafted a humorous tale with vivid imagery and multi-dimensional characters. If I was to be stranded on an island paradise to welcome the new millennium, I'd want that paradise to be "Paradise Bay" and my companion to be Jack Kendall. This book is a surefire winner. Don't pass it up!

That's the only word that will come to mind after finishing _Paradise Bay_. This was the first book I'd ever read by Victoria Alexander and I was definitely not disappointed. The characters are not only believable but endearing. Trish's sarcastic wit and conversations with herself will leave you laughing aloud and Jack's sensuality definitely turns up the heat. Thrust together under unusual circumstances, the passion that ignites between Trish and Jack almost burns the pages with the intensity. This book exudes an electricity that draws you in and leaves you powerless to resist. From the first page I couldn't put it down. You'll cry when Jack realizes he loves Trish and you'll hold your breath until Trish admits it herself. Smoldering romance that's sure to make you search out all of Ms. Alexander's work.

So, don't hesitate to read about the wonderful island of Paradise Bay . . .

Where the magic and the majestic scenery will cause you to do things you never would have before.

Victoria's book reads like a chatty letter from my Aunt Helen who keeps her lucky dinner guests in stitches throughout the meal. Even if you never used a single recipe, the book is worth its weight in chuckles. But it would be a shame to not cash in on the creative cooking ideas Victoria offers. If you think pesto is just something you toss with hot pasta, or that it's always basil-based, think again. I was fascinated to learn that "pesto" really means "ground or pounded up" and you can grind or pound up all kinds of tasty stuff and then use it as a seasoning in all kinds of food. It's made an efficient shift in my approach to cooking -- I've found it very handy to know how to toss a spoonful of pesto into a recipe instead of fussing with eight herbs and a bunch of slippery garlic cloves! Pesto now shows up in everything from my twice-baked potatoes to tomato soup to salmon croquettes or crusty barbecued pork chops. This book will really get your creative juices flowing as well as your salivary ones. There are even directions for how to mail-order Victoria's own innovative Bella Cucina pestos from the commercial kitchen on her Pacific Northwest farm.

I just about DIED when I tasted a concotion Victoria had put in her book. Fabulous.

May I reccommend this book to everyone who wants to re-capture friendship through the art of letter writing? When I was half-way through it I felt a quenching eagerness to write a letter right away... to anybody! It will definitely wheat your appetite to write (and read) great letters. It acomplishes this in a very practical way, through the words of great letter-writers such as Madame de Sévigné, Jane Austen and Emily Dickinson; so it's a wonderful gift for fans of these authors as well. "Victoria: the pleasures of staying in touch" is a book that invites re-reading until one can fully grasp the true jewels it presents, those jewels that have crossed oceans of time and are still here for us to enjoy: the great writers and their letters.

What's so wonderful about this book is that the author gives examples of letters that have humor and modern day references. Very well-researched and written, a pleasant reminder of why writing a letter is a gift for yourself and the person who receives the letter. A joy to read!

I had the pleasure of having Dr. Victoria E. Rinehart as a professor as an undergraduate student. She had given us a brief lecture on her research for this book along with a slide show and I was interested from that point on.

The book takes you to the era when TB was known as consumption, and the cure was fresh air, rest and sunlight (year round). The pictures take you back in time and help you to look back at the way a TB patients routine/life was in relationship to the treatment modalities of today.

The book is a poignant tribute to Dr. Trudeau and his staff who were caring, empathetc caregivers that never waivered from their primary goal, to provide the best physical, mental, spiritual and emotional support for their patients.

Kudos Vicki!

This is a lovely book that captures a very specific moment in history. At the time, the "Fresh Air Cure" was the best treatment available for tuberculosis, and the Adirondaks were a haven for so many people. Dr. Rinehart's book looks at the human side of this fascinating era. Well-researched and well-written, it is of interest to those in the health care profession, as well as those who love a well-written book of history.

As an "international development studies" major, I have leared a lot about the issue at my university but have consistently felt that something was missing or maybe wrong. After field experience in rural Bolivia and increasing doubts about the development paradigm, my advisor pointed me to this book (along with Wolfgang Sachs's "Development Dictionary"). At that moment reading these two books, which share much in common, felt like an intellectual revelation. The insights of great authors such as Escobar, Rahnema, Illich, and Shiva felt like a fresh breeze compared to my past studies. The deep insights of the writers have spurred only more questions which have occupied my time and imagination since. Given the stale manner in which development is taught and discussed in the academia and the media, I feel that this book is mandatory for any development student or practitioner regarless of experience or age. It is bound to make you think.

This book is a must have for anyone critical of the development discourse. Heavy texts from around forty different progressive scholars are accompanied by boxes with excerpts from even more, such radical thinkers and activists. Refreshing and almost invaluable!

The Pressure Cooker Gourmet showcases 225 superbly presented recipes and instructions by Victoria Wise for today's safe and easy-to-use pressure cookers that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. From Cream of Tomato Soup; Black Pepper Pot Steak with Shallots and Spicy Red Wine Gravy; American All-Beef Meat Loaf; and Duck with Green Olives, Turnips, and Turnip Greens; to Baby Artichokes and Two Sauces; Zucchini Stuffed with Spinach, Cream Cheese, and Pine Nuts; Omi's Chickpeas with Lime and Onion Ring Topping; and Chevre Rosemary Popover Pudding, The Pressure Cooker Gourmet will prove a real time saver when serving up dishes that would grace any family meal or special celebratory dining event!

The pressure cooker is making a comeback after years of disfavor. The old jiggle top units that could be opened and could cause severe burns are pretty much a thing of the past. Coincidentally, as people have less time to spend in the kitchen, the pressure cooker has come back to center stage. For people still a little leery of using one, this book will allay your fears. Victoria Wise discusses thoroughly the hows, the do's and dont's and generally instructs the reader in the proper and successful use of this versatile appliance.

The Pressure Cooker Gourmet includes recipes for soups, meat, poultry, fish, grains, vegetables, legumes, sauces and of course desserts. Although there are photographs of the finished recipes, the reader will delight in the many tips, subtitutions and suggestions that accompany many of the recipes. You will also appreciate the index of recipes with page numbers, that appear at the beginning of each chapter.

Being a poultry fan, I loved the Coq au Vin. The wine sauce was thicker than I ever remember from another method and the blend of herbs and spices was intensified by the increased pressure.

And if you can't resist a moist and rich cheesecake, try the Cheesecake with Mascarpone Cheese in Chocolate Cookie Crust. I had never tried Mascarpone (a very creamy cream cheese) and it, combined with the moist heat of a pressure cooker, was sinfully delicious.

I'm still experimenting with the recipes and there are a lot of them! It takes some 'old time' recipes and applies 21st century flavors and technology to help rekindle our culinary past. As you might imagine, I love this book and you will too! Buy it!!