I'm glad I didn't "buy" this book and went to the Library
first. I was looking for more "whimsical" ideas and the
ones offered in this book seem to be the basic, traditional
ones.

Like all her books Barbara Milo Ohrbach displays class.loved the book and I couldn't wait to the try out her ideas on our next unsuspecting dinner guests.She is an inspiration to all collectors and lovers of fine things and good taste.If you loved this book you must read the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book gives you lots of great ideas for every occasion of entertaining. I have some of the china patterns in the book and it is fun to see how they are used. The linens, flowers and table settings are all done to perfection. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dishes and/or loves to entertain.

Between my husband and I , we must have read this book hundreds of times. My daughter always found it a source of comfort before bedtime. Why? Who knows for sure, but it is a lyrical, yet matter of fact, tale of a family that produces all it needs to live that is reassuring and lovely.

I used this book with my third grade class in talking about the skills that our ancestors needed in order to survive. The book is about a man who takes a cart load of goods to town and sells everything including the ox! My students loved the ending, but I won't give that away. This is a must have for the classroom.

The journey of a settler who packs up his cart with surplus that was grown, handmade, and raised on a farm in historical New England. The story takes the reader through what a family has to do to survive during this time period and what each part the family had in that survival. From a historical perspective an awesome book. With the love of history that I have on a personal note this story gives me clues to my own ancestors survival needs. I have two copies of this book one at home and one in my classroom. Very detailed illustrations, very accurate information on the settler's way of life and need for trading or selling off goods that the family helped make. The portrayal of the family with no electricity and providing their own means of survival. The story tells us that the farmer travelled ten days to reach the village of Portsmouth. I would've like to know which direction he came from, whether he had to travel from the south, the north or thewest of the village. I would've also like to have know what he saw and who he might have met along the way.
Classroom Activities I do with this book:
Math - Seasons, Sequencing, Money, Trading/Selling, TimeArt - Draw the seasons, quilts, weaving, looms, broom making,Science - Make candles, grow a pototo from a seed, make maple sugar,
Social Studies - 13 Colonies, Mapping Skills, Clothing, Occupations, Cooking
Reading - Write a sequel or pre-story to this book, illustrate one aspect of story or write about who he might have met along the way and which direction he came from.

Barbara Michaels seems to have no new ideas, if you've read a couple of her books, there is no need to read this one, it is a variation of all her other books.

I've read almost all of Barbara Michaels books, and I've never had to put one down yet. She's my favorite author.

This story is Barbara Michaels at her best. The story moves along fast and keeps you wanting more, you never suspect what the out come will be. There are many plot twists that will surprise even the most avid Michaels fans. This is one of my favorites.

Perhaps my favorite thing about Barbara Michaels (aka Elizabeth Peters) is her ability to teach as she entertains. She's so sly about this, readers barely realize they are getting mini-lessons with each book. In the instance of "Shattered Silk" we learn about vintage clothing. And the lesson is so entertaining and interesting, we're more likely to soak up the info than if someone handed us a text reference. While Karen Nevitt is house-sitting for her aunt and uncle in Georgetown (and recooping from her broken marriage) she goes to work for an old not-quite-so- friendly friend at an antique shop. Her imagination comes to life in this setting, and knowing her aunt and her aunt's friends have a wealth of vintage clothing, begins to toss around the idea of establishing a shop of her own. And in the midst of acquiring merchandise, she also acquires something of unimaginable importance to someone, and this person will stop at nothing to get it back. The suspense keeps building to an unexpected ending, and with this cast of characters, you're never short on suspects. (On another note: if you've read Michael's "Ammie, Come Home" or "Stitches in Time" you'll recognize some familiar characters. Read "Ammie" the "Shattered" then "Stitches". And could it be that the young man from "Shattered" who goes with Mrs. Mac to Borneo be one of the main characters in "Stitches"?)

Barbara Michaels is at her best in this enjoyable mystery, weaving together all the elements that have made her novels in both pseudonyms so very popular.

The book opens as Karen Nevitt arrives at her Georgetown uncle and aunt's house, as they are leaving on vacation. Karen has just been dumped by her husband of ten years, who is marrying his svelte, efficient, pretty teenage secretary. Karen, who is twenty nine, somewhat overweight, and has been stuck in a doormat routine for many years, feels ashamed to meet the friends (and former boyfriends) who are still in Georgetown. She tries to avoid her old boyfriend Mark (who warned her against marrying her husband), but ends up befriending his sister Cheryl.

She takes a small job looking after a friend's antique shop, but soon becomes sucked into the world of vintage clothing. A distant relative allows her to purchase an assortment of old valuable dresses, and soon old ladies are selling their dresses, veils, and slips to Karen. Soon she and Cheryl are starting their own business, with some very rare items. Additionally, Mark and a handsome cop are both becoming quite attentive.

But someone is after an item among Karen's newly-bought things. One of the crumpled old dresses hides more than mold and dust, a secret that someone is willing to kill to keep hidden.

This book is enjoyable on levels other than just a ripping good murder mystery. It also shows Karen's evolution from a dull housewife with low self-esteem and a stagnant marriage, to an independent woman with newly-found courage and a rising business. Her relationship with her husband starkly contrasts with Mark's, as one is mindless and unemotional and the other is smart and respectful. It can also be seen as Karen's evolution into a more assured person, as she learns to "fight back."

Karen and Cheryl are excellent foils for each other, with enough similarities to make then sisters in all but blood, but different enough that they are not redundant. Mark is vintage Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels: Funny, sweet, sexy, attractive, with just enough crabbiness to make him real. There are also the two socialites, snotty Shreve and dead-eyed Miriam. A couple of creepy widows. And, of course, the rotten little dog Alexander who takes a bite out of any available legs.

This is an immensely enjoyable book, one of my favorite mysteries. I strongly urge anyone to read it.

Barbara Michaels books are like peanuts, you can't stop once you start, but Shattered Silk is still the best. Michaels attention to detail when dealing with antique clothing just adds to the delightful story. However, the best element of this book is her character development. I was delighted to become reacquainted with some characters from previous books. It was like getting a letter from a friend I haven't heard from in a long time.

In a small town with few problems and low crime, the death of a friend and fellow pediatrician stuns a practice, a town, and throws all rules out of the window. Add to this the secrets that it seems all people keep, and once things start coming to light, you aren't sure if you want to cry with them, or wish you were a character in the story to help hold everyone together.

While I enjoyed the book so much that I read it straight through, I felt that B. Delinsky portrayed the women in this book as being controlling to the point of not being able to see their own lives and the inevitable lonely paths that they were choosing in their shortsightedness, until, of course, the men around them were able to "bring them to their senses." This may be the typical theme in many romance novels, but usually it isn't so obvious in Ms. Delinsky's books, so in this way I was disappointed.

Otherwise though, it had mystery, wrongdoing, some knights in shining armor, even princesses and queens in shining armor, and some tasteful steamy romance scenes. All in all, it was a great book, it just had that one downside to it...

After surviving a suicide in my own family, I could really relate to the characters in this novel. B. Delinsky really hit on the feelings and emotions involved for survivors of suicide. I missed the characters when I was finished with the book!

This is the first book of Delinsky's that I have read, and it won't be the last. First, I loved the fact that, besides the main story, there were two additional storylines that intertwined with the main story. The characters were well rounded. Second, when friend and co-worker Mara dies, those closest to her are forced to take a long look at their lives and what they want from them. This was one of the best books I've read in a while. I am looking forward to reading more of Delinsky's books.

This is a award-winning cookbook, just picture it, a table filled with delicious recipes. Everything here is foolproof and yummy, it isn't very hard to make them. The price isn't so expensive, it's worth buying! If you're a desserts lover like me, this is a must buy! Don't be left out in the stardust!

I have dozens of cookbooks. This one, along with the original Recipe Hall of fame cookbook, is my most-used cookbook!! This one does not collect dust!! Impressive desserts that only LOOK like you took all day to make!! And the ingredients are not something you have to go cross-the-city to an highly expensive gourmet store for!! Most recipes are easy to make, easy to clean-up, and always a hit--not a dud yet!!

I thought the Recipe Hall of Fame Quick & Easy Cookbook : Winning Recipes from Hometown America was so good that I picked up this cookbook, too. There were so many delicious recipes that I had to try several over a weekend. Then I had to walk three miles a day the next week to burn off the extra calories! But it was worth it. Recipes for desserts adaptable to summer or winter menus, casual or formal entertaining, light or rich meal-enders, this cookbook has it all.

Indonesian culture? A bit like saying Western culture... a rather broad term. But this book acknowledges that right away and does an admirable job of isolating the most important manners for visitors to know and use.

The book's practical tips are especially useful, and these are organized with finger-tip simplicity (Do's and Don't's appendix is great), making this book easy to consult at a moment's notice. Business section and home help section ("Translating Needs into Action") are especially helpful.

There are also meaty and interesting sections about Indonesian values, social structure, and food. It's a good read, will serve well the traveler or expat.

Cultural quiz at the end, a test so silly no one could fail it, is the only negative to this guide.

Indeed a very helpful and informative book for understanding Indonesian people and culture. Haveing spent almost two years living and working in Indonesia I found myself referring to this book often. I found myself explaining to my fellow expatriates why certain things happened the way they do in this country often referring to things I read. From conducting business to accomplishing everyday tasks, this book offers excellent example and explantions. Definately a book for expatraites living in Indonesia, business travellers, but also beneficial to the traveller wanting to ascertain a deeper, more sincere understanding of Indonesian people and culture.

This was one of the first books I purchased when I discovered we were going to be posted to Jakarta, Indonesia. Now almost 3 years later, I find that I still enjoy reading this book and have found its examples of every day life to be accurate. The book is very informative and many of its stories are humerous which enables an easy read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is planning a move to Indonesia and even to those who are just planning a trip.

I just finished reading this book and though it wasn't a page-turner, it wasn't bad. It was a bit more exciting than the last Delinksy book I've read. Reading her back covers, the stories sound as if they're going to be fantastic, but then the book has a tendency to disappoint. They need a bit more excitement and the characters need a bit more personality. It's not a bad read, but not one of the better books I've read.

I read this book when it was first published in the late 80's. This was one of Ms Delinsky's first longer stories. I have enjoyed her writing from her Harlequins on thru to today. She was one of those you knew had a shining future. In this story Carly sees a crime and knows too much. She is relocated with a new identity. When Ryan shows great interest in her, she is very wary. Though she is greatly attracted to him, she doesn't know whether or not to trust her heart. Though one could say the story is still formula, the characters are well developed and the reader really cares what happens to them. This is a romance well worth your time.

The situation that Carly finds herself in is an interesting one... a great looking new neighbor who's very interested in her, but... she doesn't want to admit that she's interested too!

You can really feel the attraction between these two characters and can picture Ryan and Carly in your mind!

Great fast read that will have you returning again and again!