I just finished reading Dear Alice. I found it extremely helpful in preparing myself mentally for an upcoming trip to China. The letters were quite authentic and honest, often revealing small details about the enigma of life in China. While I can't assume that I'll have a similar experience to that of the writers, I feel comforted to know that others have dealt with China and survived. A great book if you're curious about this foreign culture and an especially illuminating book for those of you from the United States and who are interested in the ways Americans might react to "The land on the other side of the looking glass."

First of all, I would like to mention that I had the opportunity to teach for one year in Xi'an, the ancient capital of China, and now the capital of Shaanxi province. I am thankful to Alice Renouf, the "Alice" of the title "Dear Alice", for making this dream come true. I went in 1992, if I remember correctly. Since I began reading this wonderful book, I have been unable to put it down. So many forgotten memories and subtle emotions came pouring into my consciousness. From the shock of the first weeks in China to standing in front of the classroom to the everday rush of life which I was part of, to eating in the nightmarket. Reading this book is a vivid and emotional experience. Second only to going to China oneself. Though, I feel it is a must read for anyone planning to go; either as teacher, student, tourist, businessman, politician. In fact, I feel it is not only important for those going to China, but also for anyone who intends to immerse themself in another culture. But even if you just want to read a good book, either while sitting on a warm and glistening sandy beach, with the waves lapping against the shore; or while sitting in your living room sipping a cup of coffee or tea; this is certainly a worthwhile, entertaining, and educational book. After all, it is about becoming sensitive to another culture, and discovering one's own, in the process. I highly recommend "Dear Alice". You will certainly enjoy it.

"Dear Alice" is a must read for anyone headed for China. It's a collection of hundreds of letters by English teachers from America, who arrived to discover China was a bit too different. Often in desperation, but usually with great wit and insight, they sought a shoulder to cry on. So they wrote barrel-fulls of letters to the person who sent them there; hence, Dear Alice .... Alice Renouf, the author, began sending teachers to China years ago and now runs a full-fledged human resources firm helping people who want to teach English in a truly different, challenging environment. Even the locals will tell you China is a crazy place -- a soviet-style bureaucracy trying to run a 3,000 year old society on a marathon of change. Some of the 1.2 runners are at 'start' and some in the 20th centruy. The route changes hourly, and the finishline is definitely "mei you." But if you want to know people who suffer awful frustration with courage, you're in the right place. The best part of the book is learning how many Americans overcome their initial shock, and why they don't flee to the nearest airport. The common strategy seems to be (1) Talk about it (2) Make friends with fellow suffers first, i.e. other Americans. This sounds a bit stand-offish considering you've gone all the way to China to meet Chinese, but it isn't, (3) Learn Chinese if you can, but failing that develop a busy schedule. China is truly ugly, but always interesting, so don't allow yourself an idle minute to examine your (usually) wretched physical surroundings, (4) Take enough money, or make enough. China isn't cheap, and a "mental holiday" in a place like China (dinner at a joint venture hotel) is many times costlier than in the US, (5) Travel and see the country. Make the experience count, and (6) Be prepared for the ultimate culture shock -- ending up where you may have started -- wiser and more tolerant perhaps, but believing your own culture makes considerably more sense.

This book is wonderful, both as an aid to personal daily devotions and altar visits.

I recomend this book to anyone wishing to start a habit of daily prayers

I received this book the other day (just in time for February). I have used it daily from the moment I received it. For those searching for a method of guided daily prayer, I highly recommend. I have found that spending time in prayer with this book has helped me to center, ground, and reflect throughout the day.

Tickle completes her trilogy of excellent prayer manuals with this volume. This is the best prayer book released in the past thirty years. Be assured that Tickle has chosen her selections and arrangements with great sensitivity to the time, day, and season of the year. For more info, see my reviews of the first two volumes.

We have found so many tasty and easy recipes in this collection. From the Meatloaf, to the Potato Soup, to the Whoppie Pies... We could go on and on. All the ingredients you will generally have on hand. Simply the BEST.

Have enjoyed the easy to follow, tasty recipes repeatedly over the past 5 years. Especially like the soups! If you're seeking a good all-around basic 'down home' cookbook...this is a good one!

I have purchased 7 of these books to give as gifts. Everyone who recieved one loved it. The pies, casseroles and soups will please everyone you serve.

This book is a treasure and lives up to it's name.

I have tried many of the recipes that are included in this book and all of them have been easy to prepare and fun. The rose petal jelly was very easy and was a big hit at my office party. I used the recipes on making herbal vinigers to make Christmas Presents.

The craft ideas are not impossible. I liked all the ideas for wedding using herbs/flowers. How very nice. The nosegays, wreaths, and other crafts were lovely.

There was a wealth of information regarding uses of herbs, recipes, garden plans, crafts, meaning of herbs, storing herbs, drying herbs, and other ideas.

I find that I turn to this book many times when looking for Christmas ideas, craft bazaar ideas, information regarding herbs etc.

I am glad I have this book on my shelves.

So much to do so little time. This is one of the most inspiring herb books ever written. The basic idea of Herbal Treasures is to provide activities centered around both the garden and the time of year. Each month is given its own chapter that is chock full of a myriad of suggestions for herbally fun things to do for that month. For instance, June is for brides. Ms. Shaudy's provides everything from wedding gardens to wedding punch, all laced with the rich tradition of herbs. There are so many crafts and recipes that it takes more than a year for most of us to do them all. Herbal Treasures is a wonderful warm book you won't want to put down. Herbal Treasures is the continuation of Ms. Shaudy's previous work The Pleasure of Herbs. The Pleasure of Herbs is also a month to month compendium overflowing with creative herbal excitement.

This is a very enjoyable book. If you like crafts, gardening, cooking and just enjoyable reading I'm sure you will find this book to be on your favorite list. I enjoyed reading about her daughters wedding preparation.

It's not easy to cover such a huge subject, but these two architects do a remarkable job. The illustrator gets equal billing, and it's well-deserved, as the drawings alone are worth the price of the book. The best part is on design. I've never seen a book that allowed you to figure loads and size columns, or provided a worksheet to calculate heating requirements. The final section on construction is more of an overview but the important issues are always addressed. You'll need to supplement your reading, especially since newer technologies--housewrap, truss roofs, engineered lumber--are not covered, but everything in this book is useful.

Anybody can sit down and draw a rough floor plan. But this book tells you to think in terms of how you use space rather than rooms. That simple piece of advice makes you think differently about what you want in a house and what you need. If you are thinking of building, GET THIS BOOK. Even if you're going to a contractor or architect, get the book and sit down with your whole family to make plans. You'll find out about personal privacy issues, how your rooms and spaces should flow, how to make your house more efficient not from an energy standpoint, but from a "how I use my house" point of view.

I used this book to design and build my first house 15 years ago. I am now a general building contractor and continue to use it so much that that first copy is worn out and I'm buying a replacement. It offers a wonderful combination of design ideas, structural tables, and common sense advice.

Dr. Phyllis Mindell begins her work with an opening that outlines the benefits you will gain as a reader, and advice for making the most of the book. Among Dr. Mindell's long list of promises are some very audacious ones, such as "influence policy decisions at the top" "improve your career" and "lead and manage successfully". Upon reading this intro, I was intrigued but highly skeptical. After all, Phyllis didn't know my particular situation, the politics in my company, or the people with whom I am dealing. How then, I wondered, could she guarantee me such dramatic results? After reading the book and seeing immediate improvement in my professional life, I understand that that is the point indeed--the issues faced by women in all professions and at all levels have common roots! Dr. Mindell has discovered the true cause of women's relative lack of success in the workplace when compared to men: a failure to appreciate and utilize the power of language. Unfortunately, we are often guilty of self-sabotage in which we undermine our own effectiveness with weak language or an attempt to imitate the "strong" language of men.Fortunately, Dr. Mindell has developed a language style for women and she teaches it in a practical, actionable way with lots of examples and tools to show the reader "how to transform your life by transforming your language". She also discusses style and dressing for success, as well as power reading, both important issues related to that of language. The book's effect on me was immediate, as I was reading it on a plane on the way to Brazil: I had to write a presentation to give in Sao Paulo and was "cheating" by using my time to read instead. However, when I got to the chapter on organizing and writing effective presentations, I simply followed the outline and got mine done in half the time. I also received many compliments for my apparent "off the cuff" speech the next day at the Energy conference. Little did they know that I had the help of an "expert"! I loved the whole book and read it in a couple of sittings although it is not a "light read" by any means. I am now recommending "How to Say it For Women" to all my women colleagues and friends. The book is a good investment and a steal at that price.

How to Say It For Women delivers an action plan to convey confidence in today's business environment. Whether it is in speech, writing or behavior, the guidelines outlined provide a common sense approach to successful business communication.

How to Say It for Women is the only guide to communication I'll ever need. It not only gives great tips on reading, writing, speaking, listening, style, and body language, but it even gives "crib sheets" that suggest exact words to say in hard situations (job interviews, conflicts, performance appraisals). To top it off, the checklist on leadership skills show a clear way to perfect my skills. And the idea of using Charlotte the spider as the role model is so much fun and brings me back to my own childhood.

"Kiss the Cow" has become a favorite of my 2-year-old after a recent visit to my parent's house in VA. While there, we saw cows "up close and personal", although we did not kiss any! In this book, Annalisa is one of Mama May's many children; the most curious and most stubborn. After disobeying her mother, Annalisa milks Luella, the "magic" cow. She does not kiss her afterward, however, as is required to ensure future milk production. What happens next is a lesson in learning the consequences of your actions, without being preachy. Luella will not give milk again until Annalisa kisses her, which eventually happens after much cajoling by the children and Mama May. Phyllis Root's book "What Baby Wants" is cute, too.

"Mama May lived where the earth met the sky, and her house was as wide as the prairie. It needed to be. Mama May had so many children she couldn't count them all. Among Mama May's children was one called Annalisa. She wasn't the youngest, and she wasn't the oldest, but she was the most curious and the most stubborn..." Every morning Annalisa watched as Mama May milked their cow, Luella. First she sang her magic greeting song, and Luella gave Mama all the milk she needed for her many, many children. Then she sang her thank you song, and last, but not least, she gave Luella a kiss "right on the end of her velvety, brown nose." "Ughhh!" said Annalisa. "Imagine kissing a cow!" Annalisa watch the milking day in and day out, and wondered what it would be like. Finally she just had to find out for herself. She took her pail from the sandbox and ran down to the pasture. First she sang the greeting song, and Luella filled her pail with warm, sweet milk. Then she sang the thank you song. But when it was time to kiss the cow, Annalisa absolutely would not. The next day, when Mama May came to milk the cow, Luella was dry. No matter how much she sang and kissed, there was no milk for Mama May's children..... Phyllis Root's warm and engaging text is filled with wit and energy, and begs to be read aloud and shared. Will Hillenbrand's bright, expressive, and entertaining illustrations are filled with humor and playful, eye-catching detail. Together, word and art offer a preschool crowd-please that's sure to charm both young and old alike. With its happily-ever-after ending to set everything right once again, Kiss The Cow is a winner!

This is a delightful new addition to my children's library. The illustrations are wonderfully fresh. The language is not too lengthy or involved, yet contains some wonderful descriptive references. For example, unless you are familiar with a dairy, you probably don't know that fresh cheese squeeks between your teeth. This is a book my two toddlers want to see again and again, and I can hardly wait to share it with my kindergarten class.

In all the books I have read, there has only been a few that have captured my attention and actually held it. But I have found what I have come to call a books soul or in simpler terms a books meaning. Yes this book was probably written for a young person, to put them to sleep or to just keep them occupied. But to a dragon lover this book is much more. It is in a way a ticket to another world. A world in which the imagination can be free to explore the deepest and darkest corners of the universe without being restrained by reality.
In this remarkable book there is a young boy, whose name is George, who discovers a large egg. After the egg hatches he and the dragon become great friends and they teach each other the importance of having a friend. While George teaches his new found friend all he could about being a dragon he couldn't give his friend one thing, another dragon to play with. If you want to find out what happens to this special young boy and his mystical flying friend than you want to read the book The Egg, by: M. P. Robertson.

Robertson, M.P. The Egg. New York: Phyllis Fogelman, 2001.

In The Egg, a little boy named George finds an enormous golden egg in his mother's chicken coop. He takes care of the egg until much to his surprise, it hatches into a dragon! George takes good care of the dragon until one day it leaves to find its own dragon kind. The little boy is sad and misses his good friend but receives a great surprise in the end that helps him deal with the fact that the dragon has to leave.
The Egg conveys a breakthrough in modern stereotypes. The big issue in this story that breaks through is the fact that a male character is doing the stereotypical "mothering." Starting at the very beginning of this story, the narrator stresses maternity and nurturing. Most of this is done through text but some through illustration. Most of the action pictures in this story take place on the right side of the page, setting up the anticipation of action on the next page. George finds an egg that a hen has laid, sits on top of, and keeps warm and protected in the hen house. In the full-page spread when George takes the egg inside, he immediately sits on top of it to keep it warm in his bed. In addition, the integral parts of the story, in which the dramatic action takes place between George and the dragon, and is very important for the flow of the story, appears as a full page of color with no white showing. When the author is trying to get a reader to focus on one thought or sentence, which is not as important or outstanding, he puts a small, colorful picture in the middle of a white page in order to draw your attention. George mimics the hen and takes care of the egg like he thinks a good mother would do with her young. The series of four pictures on the next page shows the egg hatching and George being pleasantly surprised that it is a dragon!
The first main time in the book when George obviously breaks through a modern stereotype is when the egg hatches, and the dragon says his first word to George: "mommy." This is taken to mean that the dragon wants the boy to be his mother, and George proceeds to take care of him like he thinks mothers do. George has obviously only ever been exposed to the traditional type of female mother figure; therefore these experiences shapes his behavior with the dragon. This is a prime example of how George breaks down traditional stereotypes because he is exhibiting a behavior that he has only learned, but does the job of "mother" so well that the dragon thinks that he is a mother. The narrator comments, "George had never been a mother before, but he knew that it was his motherly duty to teach the dragon dragony ways." Another series of pictures shows and describes how George teaches the dragon to fly, breath fire, help a damsel in distress, and defeat a knight. These lessons are synonymous with the integral and important things for dragons to know, and each one is taught to him by his "mommy." Again, George is "mothering" the dragon the only way he knows how; a way he learned from a woman, the central caregiver he has observed, and it makes no difference that he is male because he is only coping a behavior pattern. If George is the example, gender has nothing to do with good parenting.
The point in the story when George makes the largest noticeable break in stereotypical behavior, is a line that comes toward the end of the story. On a full color page, which makes it seem important, appears a night scene of the dragon and the little boy in a tree. It reads, "Every evening, as all good mothers should, George read the dragon a bedtime story." This is a great example of the proof that the behaviors he is exhibiting are stereotypical to female mothers. This indicates what a "good mother" does, but George, a male, does the "natural" things that mothers do, only he is a male. The great thing about this book is that a non-traditional character plays a traditional role. A male can be just as good a mother as a female simply because he has learned to reproduce mothering behavior. This book does a good job of showing that you do not need to be a female in order to be the picture of motherhood, you only need kindness, care and unconditional love associated with good mothering and learned rather than innate behaviors. All in all, this was simply a good, easy picture book for children, but it has a certain deeper context that we may not even notice until a child thinks it odd that a boy is doing the "motherly" jobs.

George knew something special was about to happen when he found a gigantic egg in his mother's henhouse. He carefully took it back to his room, kept the egg warm and read to it until it hatched. The dragon inside took one look at George and made a sound of happiness. George didn't speak dragon, but he knew the sound meant, "mommy" and he was determined to teach the dragon dragony ways just like any good mother would. They worked on flying and breathing fire, distressing damsels and defeating knights and every night George read his dragon bedtime stories from a book of dragon tales. But soon, George realized that the dragon was sad and lonely and missed being with other dragons..... M P Robertson has written a gentle fantasy of love and friendship that will delight youngsters with it's simple text and beautifully expressive artwork. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, The Egg is a charming bedtime story, full of imagery and colorful detail, kids will want to read again and again and a wonderful addition to all home libraries.

This book has some very nice photos of some very nice quilts. It shows how much quilts are a part of American life/culture. I also like that she has chosen to show some modern examples such as the domestic violence quilt. It shows traditional ones as well as contemporary.

It's called "Living with Quilts" but the real question is how did we ever live without them? This fascinating book caters for the real hardcore quilters like myself, yet is accessible too to those uninitiated in this fascinating craft. An ideal coffee table book for those expecting middle aged women or gay visitors.

I own many quilt books, ones with patterns, coffee table quilt books, etc. This book has the most interesting and extensive history of quilting I have ever read. It is a visual feast for the eyes. I was a little skeptical at first because I had read that Pyllis George was not a quilter, but she really knows her subject matter. Two thumbs up!

I spent years mixing Portland cement. By hand. In a wheelbarrow. This book ranges from the finest pebbles to the coarsest rocks. The briefness of the poems provides the sand. The glare of the subject matter induced tears. I read the whole thing. When I was done... no blisters! And the years have soaked my hands like so much dish detergent. Anyhow... read it without fear.

These poems find meaning, beauty, and mystery in the ordinary. With his curious eye, compassion, and spot-on imagery, Tomassi makes an impressive debut in this collection.

Mixing Cement has a true down to earth quality, and yet is aspirational in its imagery. You get a sense of place and time and persona when you read Tomassi's poetry that is immediately identifiable and refreshing. You are instantly transported into his poetry, as if you suddenly became a character in a movie you were watching. If you are into discovering new bright voices in the nebulous, modern-American poetry lanscape, then get Tomassi's book.