One of the great pleasures of this book (there are many) is the copy. It is incredibly witty and filled with literary and social references that leave the reader in stitches. The "Rose Pierott" is just one example of Bird really hitting her mark!

Ellwand's incredible creations set my imagination on fire. Looking through his designs reminded me of playing in the woods as a little boy, building stone and bark homes for gnomes. He takes my youthful imagination to a whole new level, though.

This is THE catalogue for the well-dressed fairie and a must-own for artist and dreamer alike!

The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous; this is one of the most stunning coffee table books I've ever seen. Since I am not acquainted with the world of couture, I can't tell you how well it succeeds as a send-up of high fashion catalogues. (I've gathered that there are many "in-jokes" within the text: I didn't get them, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of this in the least).

This isn't just a book, it's a work of art. Highly, highly recommended.

If you want to know who's burning up the runways with the season's haute couture, look no further! Enjoy this detailed catalogue of The Fashion Collection known as Fairie-ality from the innovative and expressive House of Ellwand, designer to the Folk, par excellence.
I would have to say this is the most beautiful book I've seen in years and that it is one of my favorite books in my entire library, if not THE favorite. It is an elegant, beautifully crafted coffee table volume in a gold hard cover edition. It is delightfully witty and captures the fashion world's nuances and idosyncracies in good fun and high style. Whimsical water color sketches of a type from fashion's heyday in Vogue Magazine introduce the various themes and creations while full dazzling color photographs present exquisitely detailed and meticulously handcrafted high fashion of the fairy realm. The commentary is breezy and bright and oh, so, in the know! Charming inserts such as a mix and match catalogue, invitations, and advance notices are sprinkled throughout the book. The artistry is unparalleled and uses the finest of natural materials, including feathers, seeds, and myriad examples of the exotic floral and other botanical resources joined with a master's eye for flair, movement, and color. Enjoy eclectic designs filled with flash from shoes to hats and everything in between. Not only are you invited into this exclusive world of fashion but you are made privy to the parties, the cotillions, moonbeam swims, firefly hunting, midnight dancing and all of the biggest names in fairy society. Fashions for ladies and gentlemen grace these pages as do fashions for the entire wedding party from the flower girl to the bride. As the wedding fashions featured in this collection indicate, it is a very chic bride who will walk the bridal runway on the arm of her proud father this season. There is so much detail here and so much witty humor that this book can be enjoyed for hours upon hours and over and over again with each foray seeming to present new delicacies of fashion delight. The descriptions for the designs are each more breath-taking than the one before as evidenced by this commentary for the astonishing Maid of Honor dress: "Silky crow feathers and a single green parrot feather gather in layers, creating the touch-me velveteen look of the skirt - spellbinding. The bodice and straps are lily leaves; the overbodice, a whispering tracery of skeleton leaf. Sumptuous."
This book is a true work of art from begining to end and I can't think of a single person that wouldn't at least admire it's detail and perfection of execution. Fairie friends will, of course, be enraptured by it. Any creative, artistic, whimsical, young at heart, fashion conscious, costume or dress-up aficionado will treasure it. Get yourself a copy and give several away. It's the pick of the crop. Tre chic!

I am not a fan of bull riders in the least. But when given this book, I couldn't put it down! This is a must read for anyone and everyone. Not only is it a great depiction of the life of Chis LeDoux, but shows all readers what a passion for something can help you accomplish. Every moment in this book, made me want to get off my butt and do something with my life too. I credit Chris LeDoux for all his efforts and the author for a wonderful book put into print. There is no way my words can come close to letting you know the emotion and triumph involved in this book. All I can really say is READ IT!

This book is by David Brown as told to him by Chris LeDoux. It starts when Chris was a child learning to ride horses and living in Texas, later moving to Cheyenne as a teenager, and follows his life through attainment of his dream of becoming a World Champion bareback bronc rider. It was written before he became world famous for his musical talent but describes the beginnings of his musical career as well. Chris describes one special memory of standing in the empty, quiet arena at Cheyenne Frontier Park as a teenager dreaming of being able to ride in the Frontier Days Rodeo. I can just feel the emptiness of the big arena and hear the Wyoming wind whistling through it. When Chris performs in Cheyenne, it is always very special to him. With all that Chris has attained since this book was written, there is definitely a need for a sequel. I don't think Chris ever even dreamed he would be a World Champion western singer too

I think Gold Buckle Dreams is fantastic. Chris LeDoux represents what is great about our country about rodeo, and about country music. Gold Buckle Dreams lets us see some of the stories of the life of an American rodeo legend. It is great to find someone with such talent, also being someone of such dignity, and heart. Chris LeDoux's music brings to life these stories from his life. Buy the music, then read the book! Chris' songs had pieced together a story of his life in my mind , and Gold Buckle Dreams opened the door to see even more of the life of a champion.

As a mother, I really like it when a book has something meaningful to say. Some books are frivolous; they teach no lessons because they're just for the fun of it. The book "If You Were My Bunny" is both fun and meaningful. This book is about the relationship between mothers and their children, and in this slim story, five animal moms tell their respective animal babies how very precious they are. My two-year-old daughter loves this book so much, she requests it every night. The songs which accompany the text (lyrics are sung to the tune of familiar lullabies) have become her bedtime songs. The lyrics are so sweet, I'm no longer allowed to sing "the old words". The sentiment of this book is wonderful, and the songs are catchy. I would recommend, however, looking at the last page before your first read - this way, you'll know what tune to use for each of the five animal's songs. The illustrations are superbly done, and just right for the 2-4 age group. It's so important to read to your kids, and when they love a book as much as my daughter loves this one, you can look forward to a special time together.

I am so glad we bought this book! It's been in our bedtime story rotation for about a year now and our two 4 year olds still request it over and over. The structure of the book presents an opportunity for the parent to both read sweet, sleepy stories and sing soft lullabies. My children now sing them with me and are ready for bed when we're done. The illustrations are beautiful.

i am buying it for the second time , we lost the 1st one and our son , who is 2 and a half, asks to read it all the time.He even sings some of the songs in it to himself at bed time.

For anyone who wants to know the truth about marijuana, its benefits and the conspiricy to prevent its use by freedom-loving Americans, this book provides documented proof on those issues as well as many others. Every member of Congress should read it, so that they have the facts. Author Ford's research is impeccable, the way he offers it is both interesting and entertaining, and the information he gives us not only instills tolerance for those who use this beneficial medicine, but provides hope for any of us who may find ourselves at some future date in need of the benefits marijuana can provide. Hooray for Mr. Ford and those who know the difference between fact and fiction, truth and propaganda, and are not afraid to tell it to anyone willing to listen or read. Parents, especially, should read it, so that they are properly prepared to inform their children about marijuana when the time comes. And the time will come, because marijuana is here to stay. Unlike liquor, an "acceptable" drug that kills, marijuana is a medicine that kills only pain. It's an outstanding book and it stands out from all the lies we have been given in the past and are still being given today.

After reading "Marijuana Not Guilty As Charged" I have decided to become active in this marijuana movement. This book made me realize that marijuana is a medicine. I wonder how long our federal government is going to be wrong(about medical marijuana) to try to prove that they are right. This book addresses their own DEA administrative judge Francis Young and his support of marijuana. David R. Ford also talks about the "steppingstone theory" and addresses the fact that marijuana was once legal in this country and what happened among many other issues. This book has changed a part of my life. I now know that I cannot sit back and let everyone else do the work in the marijuana movement I have to join the fight. Like David R. Ford, I too can do courageous things to help. This book is a must read. In the book David Ford dedicates a chapter to NORML(National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws) and ten things that you can do to relegalize marijuana.
David R. Ford is so sure of the benefits of marijuana he offers a $50,000 reward to anyone who can scientifically prove marijuana is not medicine. I think this book is a must for the "non-users" of marijuana as well as the users to gain some insight into this misinformed subject. Read this book it's possible that it could help you make the quality of life better for someone you might know or for yourself.

Author David R Ford brilliantly confirms marijuana's medical value. A "must read" for every politician.(and anyone who wants to know the truth!)

Marijuana has proven medical value, as published March 17,1999 by the Institute of Medicine, a division of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. Why then is it still prohibited medicine by the federal government? Author, and former CBS television journalist from Hawaii, David R. Ford reports the facts in his easy to read book. Ford explains how the federal government created a systematic campaign of deception that began in the 1930's. U.S. legislators were duped into outlawing this relatively harnless plant--along with hemp, it's versatile NONINTOXICATING cousin. The author paints a clear picture, with credible references, that marijuana is intentionally kept as a Schedule One drug, with heroin,(too dangerous to prescribe, and with no medical value!) At the same time, Marinol, the synthetic pot capsule is easily available, but can cost up to $1,000 a month. Other than the federal government, the war on marijuana is funded by the alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical companies. Marijuana is their competition. An herb cannot be patented. The book includes dozen's of patient's stories,(including the author's, who is a cancer survivor.) Marijuana: Not Guilty as Charged, also includes about every myth regarding pot for the past 60 years. This book is a MUST READ, written by a man who has spent over 50 years studying this subject.

This classic is listed under the age group of four to eight, and as a Poohphile I am quite appalled that it is. Winnie the Pooh books have such wit, wisdom, and humor that gets better every time I read them. Their not just for children, they are for everyone. Over the years, Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo have become some of my dearest chums. I once heard someone say, or perhaps I read it, that "books are like dear friends, and who has too many friends?" I am quite inclined to agree with that statement. This book is a dear friend of mine and I hope that you shall make it yours. :)

This book is a really good and funny book. My fav is Piglet because he is so shy and just goes along with what ever Pooh does. I think I read this book because Pooh and all his friends are coming back in now, to prove I love pooh I have a Pooh and FriendsPencil case.

Attention: all cranky four year olds, five year olds, eight year olds and thirty-five year olds on long car trips.

Attention all parents burned out by reading The Pokey Little Puppy over and over again.

Attention cynics whose primary memory of Winnie-the-Pooh is the Dorothy Parker quote (from her "Constant Reader" column in the New Yorker) "Tontant Weader frowed-up".

This book is a treasure for all who hear it. There is gentleness and not a little wit in these stories. Contray to the book description above, the book is read by the late Charles Kuralt. His inflection adds much to the story. One senses that he is amused; but he is never condesending. Now I will always prefer Kuralt's version to my own bedtime efforts with my children. Charles Kuralt must have loved Winne-the-Pooh mightily. How lucky we are that he left this delightful gift behind.

If They Mated is one of my favorite skits on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, so I just had to buy this book. I am glad I did, it is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Even if you never saw the show before, or this skit, I highly recommend getting this book, I guaranty you'll laugh! I would have rated it a 5 but the pictures in the book are grayscale, color would have been much better, but it is still a great book.

Ive always loved Conans humor. He is the king of couch humor. A classic comedian. In this book he showcases my favorite, and I think everyone elses too, jokes that he does. IF THEY MATED. Very funny book. Purchase this now.

Conan O'Brien is one of the funniest men alieve and this book proves that!This book evolved from a sketch on the show(one of the best, other than Pimpbot 5000). He and the Late Night Writers are amazing,they come up with so many diffrent sketches that its not even funny. If you have ever wondered what celebrities babies looked like this book is a must have.
HAIL CONAN!

heart,
ivy the barbarian

It's a little misleading to have this billed as for "Ages 9 to 12": it's worth reading by people of any age. I'd heard the book recommended by several people that I'd hiked with in Maine, and it lived up to the recommendations, and more so. A simple story, but surprisingly moving. Read it if you plan to climb Katahdin (or climb anywhere above treeline, in the Whites, for example): beware, this could happen to you! My only reservation, at the risk of sounding like an grump, is that the writing style leaves a bit to be desired: I thought I'd scream if the author used the word "fellow" once more! Did kids really talk like this in 1939?

When I was a kid, our school librarian would read this book every year to the second grade class. I remember my classmates and I being spellbound by this story. Every child can identify with being lost and afraid even if they've never been in as dangerous a situation as being alone on a mountain top.

I also learned some valuable survival lessons even at that young age. Last year I was hiking with some friends. They wanted to take a shortcut through the woods, but I insisted on staying on the trail. A lesson I learned from this book!

This book is a "must-read" for any person. Forget about the 9-12 age category. It is easily one of the most moving books I have ever read, and you can't possibly put it down until you reach the harrowing end. I felt so sad for Donn Fendler, and could share every single emotion he must have felt. When reading the story, you couldn't help but want to comfort him in his lonely world. It is a true lesson in keeping Faith and believing in God. May God bless you, Donn Fendler. You will always be one of the world's greatest heros of all time.

I found the book Prisoners of Age to be a very powerful and revealing collection of portraits and photo essays. The images were on par with the photography of Richard Avedon and Mary Ellen Mark. This book forces you to slow down and think about our aging prison population not just as a number but as real people with hopes and dreams. This book does not attempt to pass judgment about the incarceration of the aged but lets the viewer draw his or her own conclusions. The overall quality of the book is outstanding with first rate printing and cutting edge design and layout that showcases the photography.

RIVETING!! Not only does this book graphically depict the often horrible treatment of America's aging prison population, but also serves as a sample of how Americans view the elderly in general. Our fast-paced, high-tech society places too much value on youthful vitality and pure intellect, not realizing the contribution that wisdom and decades of experience can bring to heighten our humanity and sensitivity for our fellow man. Even if you choose to ignore the deeper meaning of this book, the quality and impact of the photographs and artwork still make it a bargain for the price.

Chris

I spent hours browsing the sobering and, at times, shocking stories of these aged and infirm inmates in the prison system of the southern U.S. The portraiture, stunning design and layout of this book made it a thoroughly engaging read. I only hope the "Prisoners of Age" exhibition itself comes to the east coast so that I can have a chance to see it in person.

I have little that is critical to say about this book: I bought it with certain purposes in mind (to find a few authentic recipes for certain classic French dishes such as Coq au Vin which I first tasted in Manhattan in New York at a young age) and to find a few new ones for French HOME cooking (and not whatever is 'nouvelle cuisine,at that, about which I have only read, in any case), and it has more than fulfilled them. The recipe for Coq au Vin de Bourgogne (which I have yet to prepare but have read carefully and will be making before long), for example, is not just presented in a cut and dried fashion, but the instructions for what Elizbeth David calls "A typical Burgundian recipe, from the Cloche d'Or in Dijon", are given and then discussed by the author as to ways of proceeding, given the difficulties that she has noted, in practice, in making it. (In the case of this recipe she does not just say in her list of ingredients that is made with red wine, but specifies a sound red Burgundy, Beaujolais, or Macon. Since I had never made it, and had viewed making it with some trepidation, I appreciated the fact that not only has she included an obviously excellent recipe for it, but she has, in the course of her presentation and discussion, persuaded me that, even though I know I can't make it adequately well, perhaps if I pay attention to what she writes in this cookbook, and I just follow the(this) recipe(s), more or less, what results may be food which will be (just, at least?) good enough. Of course I was interested in her recipe for Boeuf à la Bourguiginone (which is something which, as of this time, I have yet to make, but had more than planned on cooking at this time, in that I had prepared it to the point at which it could be stored to be completed later, which became necessary, since I got into a car accident recently, and am still recovering from some trauma, so this wonderful dish has to wait until I am truly fine), which is is worth reading and paying attention to, although of that, I have others which are not to be dismissed either. A further remark or two. This cookbook has so many interesting recipes that I haven't had the time to read all that many of them (nor have I owned it that long). One section, not to be overlooked entirely, is on the preparation of vegetables, and I was grateful to read there not only a recipe or two for the lowly leek without its necessarily being the leek in leek and potato soup, or the same in just leek soup, but, the leek as, yes, a vegetable, in good standing, WITHOUT her calling it "the asparagus of the poor"!! Finally, there is a recipe for Escargots farcis for which I cannot find the 'ingredients' for in my area . The 'ingredients" I am referring to are BOTH the shells and the snails which were sold separately in a local chain supermarket in my neighborhood, years ago, on the upper East side of Manhattan. Unfortunately that supermarket is no longer there. I am glad that the recipe for Escargots is included in David's French Provincial Cooking (the cooking of the various regions and provinces of France, not just Provence, is discussed in her wonderful introduction, followed the recipes from the same), since I hope to find them here at a later date. This cookbook, then, is quite a find for me, and it will continue to be in times to come. To some extent this review is premature because I have not actually made, or even read, all that I would like to of her recipes yet, but it seems to be that time anyway, which means that already this has proved to be a wonderfully helpful cookbook (if , for example, you know how to make mayonnaise but haven't done so for a while, and need help, and even calming, along the way, what she has to say in this cookbook is well worth reading and may even help you with all of that), which I highly recommend.

What I wanted was a book of unfussy French recipes to be done in 15 minutes. What I got was a book with no list of ingredients, no photos, no color, and "a useful dish for those who have to get a dinner ready when they get home from the office" taking 3 hours to cook (Daube de Boeuf Provencale). Obviously, it seemed, I had made the wrong choice.

On further reading, however, what unfolded was something beyond a "cookbook," and ultimately more useful. This is a superb book. French Provincial Cooking should be approached and read as a series of short stories, as well written and evocative as the best literature. The voice is highly personal and opinionated, sometimes sharp and catty, but always true and ultimately sympathetic. It is always entertaining.

And the recipes, it turns out, are less intimidating than at first glance. Most importantly, they work if your aim is to produce the most excellent food imaginable. There is nothing slick here, no L.A. hype or N.Y. blah blah blah, and obviously, they have been tried and perfected; what initially seem to be annoying details (e.g., for omelettes, eggs "should not really be beaten at all, but stirred," whereas for scrambled eggs, they should be "very well beaten") are actually secrets not to be skipped, that elevate a good dish to a superb one. The lesson is that good food should be done simply, but it takes care, attention to detail, and frequently, time.

I find these recipes don't stint on the butter, cream, and wine, making them seem a little frumpy, but every one I've tried has been delicious. Ratatouille, salade Nicoise, terrinee de porc, piperade are all the best I've had. It doesn't get much better than this. Deserts are a model of simplicity and elegance; peaches with sugar and white wine; bananas with sugar, kirsch, and cream; pineapple with kirsch. These ARE easy, and thankfully, E. David had the self-confidence to actually put them down in a book.

French Provincial Cooking is superb in all ways. It's the real thing!

The truly remarkable thing about Elizabeth David was not so much that she could write enthralling and compelling cookbooks ("Mediterranean Food", "French Provincial Cooking", "Italian Cooking"), but that she transformed a glum, drab post-war England by the beauty of her prose and her ability to evoke the sunshine and brilliant colours of the mediterranean. And, further north, the simple beauty of cuisine bourgeoise, home cooking french style.

It was this book that got me started on a lifetime of home cooking. Like all great cookbooks, it can be read and savored without cooking at all. Her ability to evoke time and place is startling -- for example, her recipe for little courgette souffles is wrapped in the story of how she first enjoyed them. Of course, this was in a small country restaurant where the proprietor used his own recipe to make them for her.

She talks vividly about La Mere Poulard and her Mont St. Michel omelettes, for which she offers the original recipe. Roughly translated from the french, it reads: "Monsieur, I get some good eggs, I put them in a bowl and beat vigorously. Then I put them into a pan with good butter and stir constantly. I will be very happy if this recipe gives you pleasure".

I remember, over 30 years ago, the first time I made her recipe for pork chops "to taste like wild boar". They do indeed, and very good they are. Her recipes for classics like Cassoulet, and Bouillabaisse are vivid and provide the cultural context as well as precise directions. Her description of a bouillabaisse on the beach makes you want to catch the next plane there.

She explains the environment of her recipes, their milieu, and their progenitors so that you get right inside the whole theory and practice of french cooking. This is not haute cuisine, though it is not always simple to execute. But her sympathy for the process of cooking and her ability to describe it precisely prefigured writers like Richard Olney and Alice Waters, who owe her, as do we all, a great debt.

In any case, she is directly responsible for the appalling culinary assaults I have perpetrated on family and friends for longer than I care to remember. I still use the book, though most of its pages are now stored directly in my memory.

I love the way that this book follows on from "Legend". It relates to civil war, and sets things up nicely for the sequel (Quest for lost heros). The leading three characters are fantastic. The badies bring real intrest to the story also. The Dark templar are wicked, but I think the werebeasts known as the Joinings are an absulote master stroke!! The end battle delivers more excitment than that of Legend, espicially the final stand against the Joinings.

After this, read Quest for Lost Heros strait after.

A very gripping book it is impossible to put down and it moves the reader to tears at the end. I strongly reccomend this book to all those David Eddings readers as It is 100% better than his books. It is so much easier to read.....

Lets put it this way, I bought the book the first edition it came out. Till now, I still reread it. I read Waylander before it and I couldn't believe how good that was until I got knocked off by King Beyond the Gate. I hate to compare the book to books from other authors, but seriously, the book shines even in the presence of the 200 fantasy books in my collection.