This book does what it aims to very well: it describes (and includes photos of) some very unusual plants. However, please be aware that many of these plants do not have mass appeal; that is why, after all, they are still rare and unusual, rather than having been picked up by your local garden centers.

I found myself using this book mostly as a specific adjunct to the Heronswood Nursery catalogue, looking up some photos and cultural information for a few of the plants listed in the catalogue. If this is YOUR intended use, please be aware that you may be able to get this information for a lot less money by just using Heronswood's website, now that it is expanded to include a good variety of plant photos.

This is an excellent book. Dan Hinkley is a funny and engaging writer and speaker. I highly recommend this for the gardener who appreciates subtle yet beautiful flowers and foliage. Many of the plants that he discusses are from Asia where he has travelled extensively. The book is a great companion to the thick Heronswood Nursery catalog and web site since it has a number of photos. Dan discusses care and propagation of the plants as well.

A well researched, well thought out guide to some wonderful plants that, to quote the author's witty prose, should be on a good many gardener's 'lust list'. Good photography, HONEST descriptions of the plant (without 'catalog-ese') and cultural information all add to a fine addition to the hort books out there.

A very complete coverage of the principles and construction offireworks, but there is very little detail on any particulartype of device. Has good references to other works, and is a good compliment to works that delve deeper into fewer subjects.

An updated version of a classic work. Builds from the foundation up, enlightening the reader with a well-rounded, solid presentation of the principles behind pyrotechnic compounds and devices, as well as delivering practical methodology for the professional. A must-have for the serious fire-artist.

An all-encompassing review of a multitude of pyrotechnic topics. This is an excellent reference manual and an exceptional formula bank, with hundreds of applications, both to the experimenter and the experienced pyrotechnist. Slightly overpriced, but not overvalued, this is a must-have text for anyone even considering beginning a collection of pyrotechnic literature.

I read P.L. Lancaster's book in two sittings. The author so excellently painted the dialogues and situations with such descriptive language, that I felt as if I was actually there. I felt a sense of being in the story. You can tell he did a lot of research and possibly had first hand experience. I am awaiting the release of book two.

An exciting apocalyptic suspense novel that follows the main character's quest for understanding when is young daughter and others vanish suddenly without a trace. An enjoyable and Biblically accurate read!

An awesome apoocalyptic thriller for the thinking person! Part mystery, part detective story; this book follows the main character on his spiritual quest that is quite engaging, and biblically sound.

Margaret Frazer documents the interesting world of 15th century England in her series about Dame Frevisse, a nun in St Frideswide's priory in the English countryside.

In this installment of the series, Frevisse accompanies her prioress on a journey to St Mary's nunnery to visit the prioress's dying sister. Upon arrival, Frevisse is immersed in the aftermath of a murder of a much hated local official which occurred on the nunnery grounds. There is no lack of suspects, and due to her reputation in solving other murders, Dame Frevisse is asked to participate in the investigation.

We learn about the main characters and the property dispute the official was mediating when he was murdered. A love triangle and another murder make the plot interesting.

For me, however, the most interesting aspect of this book was not the murder mystery but the insight into daily life of this time. Frazer focuses on the life of women in the middle ages: nuns, wives and widows.It surprised me to learn, for example, that widows could hold property in their own name and led fairly independent lives. While Frazer's extensive documentation and research was evident in her work, I was a little disappointed in the character of Dame Frevisse. While she has a sharp, inquiring mind, she had few interpersonal relationships so we could see little but her pious character. As a contrast, Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael (of the 12th century in England) has both a colorful past and is a multidimensonal character. However I did enjoy this book and will probably read more of the series.

This is one of the most satisfying historical mysteries I have read recently. Margaret Frazer's latest Dame Frevisse story is meticulous in its 15th centruy backdrop, if a bit slow-paced in the unfolding of the plot. Dame Frevisse is a Benedictine nun and the granddaughter of Geoffry Chaucer. The titles of the series sound as if they are lifted from Canterbury Tales, though only a few actually are.

The story takes place in 1446, early in the reign of Henry VI. It is a time of truce in the Hundred Years' War. Jeanne d"Arc is dead and the French have not yet begun their push to finally expel the English from their continental holdings. Most of the characters in the story are from the lesser country gentry or bourgeoisie. The doings at the royal court are only a distant rumor, but impinging on this story is the maneuvering for power between the Earl of Suffolk (to whom Frevisse's cousin is married) and Lord Lovell which presages the coming War of the Roses.

Dame Frivisse has been asked to accompany her prioress on a visit to her dying cousin, prioress of St Mary's convent in Goring, Oxfordshire. Upon arriving they find that Master Montfort, Escheator of the county, has been murdered in the garden of the convent. He was at Goring to resolve a contested inheritance. The extended families involved in the dispute are numerous and Montfort was universally disliked, so the list of suspects is long. Montfort's son, Christopher, who is also an official of the crown, has the responsibility for investigating his father's death. He secretly enlists Dame Frivisse, who has a reputation for solving murders, to help him.

The central characters are well-drawn and three-dimensional. I particularly liked Montfort's widow and Lady Agnes, the feisty grandmother of one of the claimants in the property dispute. The reader is treated to a detailed look at life among the minor gentry in medieval England -- especially their food and dress. Dame Frivisse is no jumped-up 21st century female PI in period costume, (as are too many of the detectives in historical mysteries)but is rather a smart, observant, pious nun who has a knack for untangling people's motivations.

Mystery-wise, "The Clerk's Tale" is a rather straightforward read, and the real investigation as to who had the opportunity (many had the motive)to murder Morys Montfort, only really picks up a little more than halfway through the novel. However, the reason why this mystery novel is so compelling and gripping a read, lies the manner in which Margaret Frazer has taken time and effort to allow this mystery novel to unfold. The care and detail she pays to character development; how the characters are dressed (in order to show their character traits), the manner in which the rooms (both in the nunnery of St. Mary's and Lady Agnes's manor house) are appointed -- all these add to the texture of the novel. And all these are bounties that any avid historical mystery buff (esp this one) would definitely appreciate!

Another thing I liked about this Dame Fervisse mystery in particular was that we got to appreciate another side to Dame Fervisse -- the part of her that truly appreciates and loves her life of prayer and contemplation, even as she sometimes chafes at the sameness of it all. I know that from time to time, this facet of her character comes through in the previous mystery novels, however I feel that Margaret Frazer really homed in on these somewhat contradictory yearnings that Dame Fervisse has in "The Clerk's Tale." (You esp get to see this in the wonderful manner in which Frazer contrast the hustle and bustle of what goes on in Lady Agnes's manor with the quiet of the chapel at St. Mary's.) I also liked that Frazer had Dame Fervisse really wrestle with the fact that while she abhors that a murder has been committed, she really feels very little sorrow for the victim. This feeling of guilt at the lack of charity she feels for Morys Montfort colours much of the novel and makes it a much darker and more somber tale, and added to the richness of the novel, and makes her quest to see justice done all the more noteworthy.

All in all, I say that "The clerk's Tale" is an excellent read. The mystery may take time to unfold but it is definitely worth the effort of sticking it out. Frazer does an excellent job of making us care for the characters involved and for the outcome of the mystery. A really worthwhile read.

The title of Randy-Michael Testa's "After the Fire: The Destruction of the Amish" misht lead one to believe that the book contains another dour prognosis of the unviability of the Amish way of life in the electronic global age. Instead, the book is a loving and spirited rallying call to the defense of the Amish way of life against the increasing encroachment of mainstream lifestyles and norms, often at the hands of local zoning boards or other governmental authorities.

This is a quirky though charming little book. Told with all the intensity of a love ballad, this is the story of how Mr. Testa, an Italian-American who never lets you forget that he's from Harvard, discovered and became intimate with an Amish extended family. Much of the book consists of stories from a summer of living and working on the farm of a certain Elam Stoltzfus family, without electricity or the convenience of a modern shower. This book is part anthropoligical tale of cultural discovery, part chronical of personal self-discovery and part political tract, with the latter weighing in heavily.

This book also portrays, in Mr. Testa's colorful and personal style, the tenor of Amish day-to-day life. Certain moments in particular capture the essence of Amish existence, and its differentness from the outside, in a precise and powerful way that I have never before seen in print--for instance, the story of a dinner meeting of the Pennsylvania governor's family with the Amish bishops and their wives, and Mr. Testa's closing parable of the "cracked-egg test". Those wanting a fulsome, more academic introduction to Amish life should start with the writings of Mr. Testa's mentor, John A. Hostetler, but Mr. Testa's account does a wonderful job at putting flesh and color on Mr. Hostetler's more scholarly discussion.

On another level--as a piece of political propoganda--Mr. Testa's book is unlikely to reach those who most need to hear his message. Mr. Testa's anti-development argument has two aspects. The first is rooted in an unabashedly nostalgic vision that this historic corner of Pennsylvania should continue to maintain the qualities that for 300 years have made it unique and special. This argument will not convince the ex-Amish and Mennonites who are behind much of the development that Mr. Testa decries, for they view Amish tradition as a yoke to be shaken off, as an impediment to their not-wholly-accomplished goal of integrating into the prosperity and sophistication of the modern world. The second aspect of Mr. Testa's argument is religious, for he seems to believe strongly in the religious virtue of the Amish way of life, and he seems to view the encroachment of modernization as the secularization and neutralization of a healthy set of religious values. Again, fellow Pennsylvanians, after three centuries of seeing Pennsylvania serve as a magnet for religious protestant splinter groups of every description, are unlikely to be moved by the religious overtones of Mr. Testa's appeal. Mr. Testa's political message may communicate better if rooted in the economics of the development issue--namely, since tourism is a hugely important Lancaster County industry, it should be maintained in a tasteful and controlled manner, and this will not be possible in the long run if the Amish are not permitted to maintain their traditional lifestyle without outside interference.

Randy Testa has managed to capture what only James Agee could do in his masterpiece "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men". He has managed to draw us in to his account of living within the Lancaster Amish community by being very present to his surroundings during his journey - by being a keen social observer with a moral conscious. We begin to feel we are there along side him: making hay, eating shoe-fly pie, and of course being witness to the subtle and not so subtle destruction of Lancaster County.

Just as Agee did in his famous novel, Testa forces us to realize there is more going on than the over development of a community intended to be a Garden Spot. As the Amish are over run by the greed of the "English" around them, both "near and far", so too are our own communities - slowly, right under our eyes becoming a plethora of Wal-marts, strip malls, and townhouses. And what is our role in all of this? And where does the "destruction" end? Is it only the loss of land or is it a loss of our very foundations of collective decision making, lost because of the overwhelming power of self interest?

These are the questions that Randy Testa challenges us with as he examines one community but allows us to look at our own lives. Act locally before it's too late. His message echoes the words of Michael Stipe: "It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine". As the farm land is gobbled up in Lancaster; as we descend on the path of moral bankruptcy - I feel fine.

Thank you Dr. Testa for your wisdom; for your creative writing; and for your vision - let us hope the right people read this book!

Dan Cohn-Sherbok's JUDIASM: RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD offers the student of comparative religion and/or Judaism a brief overview of crucial themes in Judaic belief and practice. The work consists of approximately 100 pages of text, followed by a glossary and pronunciation guide (both of which should be enormously helpful to novices). The book's strengths include the following: a) readers are given a strong introduction to Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Humanistic Judaism; and b) a chapter on contemporary observance takes the reader through religious practices. I would submit that the book would be even more helpful had it offered a more extensive discussion of historical Judaism and textual exegesis. However, the author did not seek to write a comprehensive history; that which is presented is solid, well-written, and student-friendly.

Reading this book gives one the delightful sense of seeing a kaleidoscope in action or of seeing fractals unfold. In describing how truth is sought in letters, words, and texts, and how symbolism is applied and sought and re-applied, one starts to sense the joy and sheer intensity with which scholars probe the Torah for divine direction as well as hints about the nature of reality. These are material and insights I just would not have seen otherwise.

If you are desperately seeking information about John of Gaunt, then this is one of the few sources for it. The book does have a lot of information, but it is incredibly boring to read. Not really surprising, since most of the info seems to have been gotten from account books and inventories. The majority of the book reads along the lines of "On December 6th, 1373, he was at Pontefract castle with his wife. He wore a red shirt with silver buttons. Two months later he was back at the Savoy, apparently without his wife. He wore green hose and a black tunic." (It should be noted that I just made up that passage, but by my truth, that is how it sounds.) If you have a deep interest in John of Gaunt, then I recommend this book for you.

John, Duke of Lancaster, was the son of Edward III, father of Edward IV, uncle of Richard II, and himself the pretender to the throne of Castile. He was also the richest and most powerful subject in England for most of his life -- and probably the most deeply and widely hated. He was certainly the principal target of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. A key player in the Hundred Years War, he was also on close terms with John Wycliffe and Geoffrey Chaucer. John's controversial career is thus at the very heart of English society and European politics during one of the nation's most turbulent periods, and this semi-scholarly and authoritative examination of the duke's mental processes, institutional goals, and dynastic ambitions is very useful to the understanding of England on the brink of a three-generation civil war.

I was inspired to read this book after a 7 day bicycle trip in and around Lancaster, PA. Certainly any cultural group which resists the juggernaut and onslaught of American consumer culture bears study, and this book must be the definitive look at this group. How do you keep people interested in looking different, in downplaying their individuality in favor of the group's needs; in foregoing creature comforts like cars and electricity? And what is even more amazing is that there are many more Amish today than there were 50 years ago; unlike the Shakers, this sect is thriving. I recommend this book highly.RH

This is simply one of the most insightful books ever written about the Amish.

I learn about this book from the technician at my university. The book contains many "ready to use" circuit (well, it is a cookbook) and they are very useful and handy for projects. (It is great for a "digital person" who needs to work on analogue circuits.) One can use theses as examples, or modify them as needed. It convers clocking, flipflops and other topics. For example: how to use a 555 chip to create a 10kHz TTL signal.

It serves well as a reference book. The first few sections of the book gives some introduction of logic and circuit theory. However, if you are new to electronics, then look for an actual circuit theory book.

I have had a copy of Don's TTL Cookbook around and handy ever since 1984. During one digital electronics course I took, it just happened to be the textbook used for the course.

This book is by far the most practical and well written electronics book I have ever seen, or run across. The methods and rules to follow for using TTL are spelled out so that one can build reliable circuits. The examples given are explained so that one may draw their own conclusions, and use the examples as building blocks or teaching aids to develop one's own circuits.

Time and again, I return to this text as reference. It, along with the CMOS Cookbook, make a powerful set of tools for anyone who wants to build high-reliablility digital circuits.

Medieval sleuth Dame Frevisse is back to tackle her twelfth mystery. The year is 1447. Parliament is about to begin its session in Bury St. Edmonds, an event that brings the most powerful men of England together as they strut, posture and vie for favor. As would be expected in a gathering of politically driven personalities, egos and ambitions clash. A rumor is set afoot that the Duke of Gloucester plans to arrive with a throng of men to overthrow his nephew, King Henry. Where the rumor started is anybody's guess, but many are betting that the individual responsible is Suffolk, a bitter rival and hateful conniver. The beloved Frevisse of St. Frideswide's nunnery travels to Bury St. Edmonds with a mission --- to act as the eyes and ears for Bishop Beaufort of Winchester. In her attempts to mingle and listen, she encounters an old friend, the all-too clever Master Joliffe Noreys, as he rehearses for a play. Although she is quite happy to see him, she wonders about his allegiances. He seems a bit too oily to fully trust. Is his name really Joliffe and who does he work for? Then a lucky meeting with Bishop Pecock, a scholar and dry wit, wins her another welcome friend.

While tensions mount, word ripples through Bury St. Edmonds that the Duke of Gloucester has been arrested for treason. Frevisse, more than mildly skeptical, wonders who set him up and why. Could the rancorous gossip about him be coming from Suffolk and his cronies, or maybe Dorset, or even York? Fortunately, Gloucester's illegitimate son Arteys eludes his father's accusers and falls into the care of wry Bishop Pecock, Master Noreys and Frevisse, who have joined out of necessity to form an investigative team to aid the duke, if possible.

Despite her life's chosen work as a nun, Dame Frevisse does not come across as all sweetness and light --- she's very human too. Her courage, coupled with her stalwart sense of good, averts many disasters and rights many wrongs. In the course of conversations, she delivers some philosophical insights with both religious and lay undertones. And, in the end, she delivers a satisfying conclusion.

THE BASTARD'S TALE is an engaging story, despite its slow pace. It is pleasantly peppered with medieval details and historical side trips that give us a glimpse into life in 15th century England. Most of the action comes in the latter half, allowing the reader time to savor Ms. Frazer's storytelling talents. And there is enough action to keep you turning the pages once it reaches speed. I don't know if this will be a favorite in the series (not having read any of the others) but it is sure to be a hit with loyal fans.

--- Reviewed by Kate Ayers

This is one of Margaret Frazer's best featuring Dame Frevisse. A well-plotted, well-written and well-edited book that puts you right into Medieval times along with Henry VI and the famous and infamous of history. Although I have read each entry in this series, I don't believe it is necessary to have read them to enjoy this one. In this tale, we meet again a character we've been intrigued by in other tales, Joliffe. He warns the nun to be careful with her sharp tongue that she not cut herself, but Frevisse is sharp all the way through, a thinker and observer and a true help to her cousin, Alice married to Suffolk. The story is smoothly plotted and filled with people you can care about, that you can be interested in, and that is Margaret Frazer's strength as an author. The mystery is not the focus of the story, but the people and the times are. I was sorry to see the story end. And I hope I will see more of Dame Frevisse and Joliffe in the future, preferably sooner rather than later.

In 1447 England, King Henry VI sits upon the throne but is unduly influenced by his closest councilor the Marquis of Suffolk. The Marquis has seen to it that the king's heir, his uncle the Duke of Gloucester, is looked upon with distrust and suspicion. At Bury St. Edmonds, the king, his lords and the parliament attend a council meeting. An invitation is sent to Gloucester hinting that if he attends his wife will be released from prison.

Suffolk's wife Alice is a cousin and close friend to Dame Frevisse who is very happy to live in St. Frideswide's Nunnery away from the worldly cares of corrupt men. When Frevisse is asked to go to Bury St. Edmonds to spy for Bishop Beaufort of Winchester she accepts because she wants the priory to have the property the Bishop is willing to give in return for her services. When she arrives at the site of the gathering, she becomes so involved in political affairs of the realm that she lies and perjures herself to save the live of Gloucester's illegitimate son and four of his trusted companions.

The heroine of THE BASTARD'S TALE makes a life long enemy of her cousin's husband the Marquis of Suffolk and risks an estrangement with her cousin Alice in order to prevent the death of innocents. It is obvious that Margaret Frazer has done meticulous research on the events that take place in this book so that the readers have a feel the era and an understanding of how such injustices can occur. Fans of medieval mysteries will relish the latest entry in this Edgar nominated series.

Harriet Klausner