Even before actually reading the essays collected inside, you will notice it is something special: The book is not your average slick paperback - it is printed by letterpress, and the cardboard cover doesn't show a shiny, colorful photograph but a monochrome woodcut.
This is an unashamedly old-fashioned book. Inside, you find excerpts from texts by Faith Baldwin and Stephanie Greene, Leigh Hunt and Malcolm X, and many others. A book for book lovers, for romantics, for anyone and everyone in any way affiliated with books.
If you enjoyed "Ex Libris" by Anne Fadiman and "Bookworms" by Carol and Graf, you will love this book!
List price: $34.95 (that's 30% off!)
This brightly-colored book is arranged topically: Signs of the Zodiac (12 designs), Flowers of the Month (4 designs), Birthstones (3 designs), and Assorted Party Cakes (14 designs). There are also two chapters devoted to Basic Recipes and Basic Instructions. Miss Peters has thoughtfully included a list of Sources for equipment and supplies at the back of the book.
Each design includes: Number of Servings, List of Ingredients, paragraph-form instructions on how to assemble and decorate the cake, a full-color photograph, and patterns (most patterns require enlargements).
While the instructions are specific, and basic instructions at the back of the book are extensive, I would not consider this a book for the beginning cake decorator. More advanced and intermediate cake decorators will enjoy creating their own cakes based on these ideas. This is a wonderful gift for the aspiring cake decorator.
Guillaumin's historical exploration of the rise of bourgeoisie as well as her analysis of naturalism as a worldview are important and deserving of reflection. I recommend this challenging (yet approachable) text to anyone interested in applying their critical thinking skills to the continuing issues of race and gender that are so pervasive in our contemporary society.