I had never read anything by M.M. Kaye. I have passed her books in the stores and they never seemed to jump out at me. However, this time I gave it a try and it was wonderful. First of all, it took place in the late 30's before World War II when the British were ruling India and it was chock full of characters, house, food, dances, etc., that fit right in to that period. Plus. several murders and two young girls trying to solve the murders without getting killed themselves. Just brimming with mystery and intrique.

When was the last time you curled up on a rainy day with a good whodunit? "Death in the Andamans" is the perfect book if you enjoy the "locked door" variety of murder mystery. The plot and characters can be found in many similar books - what separates this one is the good writing. It's all there: spunky young heroine, dark enigmatic stranger, a cast of suspects - all marrooned on an island during a hurricane. The outcome - a dead body and a murderer on the loose among them. Throw in some unearthly sightings and some clever detecting and you've got yourself a nice read. M.M. Kaye is one of my top five writers. In addition to her mysteries, she also wrote historical fiction. Try "Trade Wind", "Shadow of the Moon" or "The Far Pavillions" and you'll see how talented a writer she is.

Perhaps my favorite of M.M. Kaye's 'Death in' series. I wanted to visit the house in this book myself. All her mysteries take place in exotic locales under British rule. A favorite style of mine, the late 1930's to early 1950's. Tourists sightseeing, meeting for cocktails, planning murders, etc. All the fun British characters, without being heavy or too 'vedy vedy British'. I great read!

Virginia's intimate words flow easily, evoking vivid images and feelings about familial relationships and childhood memories. I have never read so many poems in one sitting!

Virginia Chase Sutton's poems create a world of sensual detail and brutal honesty that pull the reader into a journey they would not dare travel on their own. Every day objects and events become exotic images capturing the fragility of the moment. Embellishments is to be read over and over again as a constant reminder of the power and possibilites of the heart. If I could recommend only one book of poetry this year, Embellishments would be it.

Here one finds poems of hope and renewal. Virginia Chase Sutton's book offers to take the reader into a circle of fierce light where the constructs of an "ordinary American life" are savagely rendered. Yet, utlimately, the reader is made aware of an authentic voice which speaks with brutal empathy about the complex nature of human relationships. Finally, this book stubbornly refuses to "give up." Despite it's unflinching look at despair, these poems shimmer with an unspoken clarity of vision which sees--and believes in--in our common future.

Knowing Professor Dalzell and Mrs. Dalzell personally, I was incredibly curious to see how they blended the two seemingly connected but perhaps contrasting topics of George Washington and his home. Essentially, they were connected very successfully. The entire history of the home itself is told vividly with photographs, anecdotes, and objective descriptions of its development. Following, Washington's own personal, military, and political history is told in light of the times, and in the book's shining ability, in relation to the home itself. The Dalzell's cleverly-melded arguments and discussions leads the reader to a full knowledge of Mt. Vernon and its inspiring owner.

I openned this book expecting to read a story about a house and how it was built. I was surprised, and impressed, to discover that what went on as Mt. Vernon took form was far more interesting than I had expected. This is not so much a book about a house as it is the story of how George Washington related to the slaves on whom he relied to execute his architecture. In other words, the story here reverberates far beyond the boundaries of the plantation. It went to the heart of the republic, and it goes to the heart of this nation. Slavery is encoded in our national DNA (sorry, Jefferson). The Dalzells make it clear that it is also mortared in the wood and plaster (cut and painted to look like stone) of our national edifice. Are you tormented, or at least intrigued, that a slaveowner could style himself father of a republic dedicated to freedom? Maybe Washington was, too. Find out. Visit Mt. Vernon, and do it by reading this book.

Mount Vernon was both architecturally innovative and a true mirror of Washington's feelings and mind. He never wrote an autobiography and his diaries consist largely of farm accounts, but in Mount Vernon, the authors write, "he produced a text from which it is possible to coax a remarkably full sense of his political convictions and of how, over time, they changed." The book, George Washington's Mount Vernon, combines the public and the private sides of his life and uses the combination to enrich our understanding of both.

I was blown away by the enormous amount of information about the area's character, history, and interesting places. The portraits of the people and places are facinating. This is a unique guide which I'm looking forward to soon explore on the ground.

Fabulous color photographs, readable, enjoyable, interactive and fun. Many times I drive through a beautiful backroads town and wonder about it's history, it's people, and it's sights. Now I have a guide that will answer my questions and more.

This book is packed with great information, beautiful pictures and fun little "games". WONDERFUL JOB Ms. Forbes!!!!!!!!!!!

The houses are unbelievable and some of our best treasures. For example; Falaise a house built by the Harry Guggenheim, is absolutely beautiful. It is not untastefully large, just right, a dream house. As an architect I am going to try to use some of this house's style in some future designs. By the way, the book failed to mention the house was used for the interior shots for the movie magnate's house in the "Godfather". Try to guess which room was used for the horse's head scene.

You could think of this as a coffee-table version of the McAlester's Field Guide to American Houses (which I also recommend.) In this case each house is an historical landmark as well as an exemplar of an architectural style, and the photos are suitably sumptuous. I like coffee-table books that also give you solid information as well as pretty pictures, and this one succeeds admirably on both counts. It may not have every artist's or magnate's house you can think of, but it has a lot of them. A modern classic.

My wife and I love this book. It explains architectural styles by profiling oustanding examples found throughout the United States. The McAlesters not only explain the architectural elements that make a house extraordinary, they also give the fascinating history of the homes and their owners, which include Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain, and Thomas Edison. In each profile, they also include simple line drawings that clearly identify the features of the style. Since buying this book, we have visited eight of the 25 houses and plan on seeing them all. This book will not gather dust on your coffee table.

hello everybody this is a great book its easy to read and the receipes are wonderful my favorite receipe was the fudge its to die for

As a resident of Washington state, I was familiar with Hazel's high quality candies and was delighted to see that a recipe book of their delicous confections was available. I recall the amazing rich flavors of their candies. This book is filled with detailed yet easy to follow recipes for just about any of Hazel's candys you wish to make. I also enjoyed reading the family story; it's like a page out of American history. This book is a real treasure and an essential addition to your cookbook library.

I am an amateur cook and love to make candy. I remember buying candy at Hazel's Candies when they had stores in the malls in Washington and Oregon. I was really excited to see that they had written a candy cookbook using their original recipes that they scaled down for home use. My favorites are the Victorian creams and the fudge recipes. This book tells you exactly what ingredients you will need and a step by step recipe. If you do have a problem it walks you through a list of questions and what you might have done that caused the problem. I would recommend this candy cookbook as a gift to ones self and also a gift for others for any occasion.

Strolling through the Mall I decided to stop in for a brief visit to the mass market oriented bookstore. Thumbing through the Civil War offerings I picked up this outstanding book. I did not recognize the name of George Walsh. He is a Yankee writing on the army whose story has been so well told from Southern superstars such as Douglass Southall Freeman, Clfford
Dowdey and Shelby Foote. Why plunk down a Visa card to purchase it?
Curiosity satisfied is the answer! Walsh writes in a personal style introducing the men and the units making up Lee's fabled Army of Northern Virgnia. Even an old Civil War buff such as I learned new things about the Victorian warriors of Dixieland who lend the forces of Lee against the enemy.
This book is an excellent survey of the war in the Eastern theatre. It is a valuable additon to my Civil War library. I highly recommend Walsh's book to anyone even casually interested in learning more about the American Illiad that is our Civil War!

George Walsh hit a grand slam with DAMAGE THEM ALL YOU CAN: ROBERT E. LEE'S ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. Told almost exclusively from the point of view of the Confederate side this book does a wonderful job of getting into the hearts and minds of the men who fought for the Confederacy. The stereotypes of the lost cause or southerners as a pack of racists are replaced by a very human portrait of the men (and sometimes their loved ones too) who fought and died for what they believed in. Walsh has done a very real service to the memory of the Army of Northern Virginia. The battle narratives are really good as is the analysis of Lee's thoughts, decisions and occasional frustration with his subordinates. An excellent treatment!

"Damage Them All You Can:" Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia written by George Walsh is quite frankly one of the best accounts of The Army of Northern Virginia that I've ever read. General Robert E. Lee assembled the best army to ever, to this point in time, fight on American soil. In fact, The Army of Northern Virginia man for man, out Generaled, out fought all that the North could throw against it.

Walsh's book is a true delight to read, the principles in the book seem to come alive as you read on in the book. The prose is written with vivid descriptions and the author gives the reader insights albeit shrewd of how the battles were fought.

I got the inpression that I was there with the incisive insights the author gives the reader, from the Generals, to the commanders, right down to the trenches, told with deeply moving detail. I encourage anyone interested in reading about the Civil War or the "Yankee War of Aggression" to read this book.

I've read Foote, McPherson, and Catton's writings about this time in American History, but Walsh's account here is the best and most personal one that I've ever read, with a probing into the character and the battles that made them feel like they were fought right before your eyes.

This book is, by all accounts, for a single volume the best book written about one of the best fighting armies the Confederacy ever had... the Army of Northern Virginia. This book is worthy of a place in your library on American History.

I bought this book for my mother for Christmas and she has not been able to lay it down since she started reading it. She loves it and I am sure that I will be reading it when she gets finished. My mother lived in Page, WV during her teenage years and has been able to relate to the area that she is reading about which only made the book more interesting, I'm sure. She lived there during the great flood of 1932 and this is discussed in the book. She would like to see more by this author and I can hardly wait to get started.

What a wonderful story. Only a poet with a heart as big as our mountains, the keen insight of a storyteller and a love of family that is burned into her soul could do justice to this story in the manner of Rebecca Cale Camhi.
This book grabbed me on the first page and never turned me loose, I don't think I have ever gone through so many emotions while reading a book as I did with this one. The Characters were so real I had to keep reminding myself that it was a story. I kept hearing echoes of my Father, my Mother, my Grandma, my Grandpa, my Uncles and my Kin.
There is a unique mystique about being a West Virginian that few who have not been born and raised here understand. It is so hard to describe or explain, because it is spiritual. Rebecca has captured it and woven it throughout her book. It starts where her story starts and ends, well it don't end, it is still here in these hills and in our hearts.
If you have not read this book you are robbing yourself of one of life's good experiences.
I sure hope there is more where this came from.

As I turned the first page of "Deepwater Mountain", I was completely taken aback as the novel instantly involved and engrossed me. As I met Willa May and her family for the first time, I found myself caring deeply about each family member. As Willa May experienced joys and sorrows, the tears would stream freely down my cheeks (An experience that has not happened to me since "The Bridges of Madison County"). This was quite honestly, a book I could not put down. My only regret upon reaching the last page was that the story did not continue and I sincerely hope author Rebecca Camhi will consider writing a sequel. This novel, focusing on the strong Willa May will capture any woman's heart. It should be seriously considered as a selection for Oprah's Book Club.

I bought this book for my mother for Christmas and she has not been able to lay it down since she started reading it. She loves it and I am sure that I will be reading it when she gets finished. My mother lived in Page, WV during her teenage years and has been able to relate to the area that she is reading about which only made the book more interesting, I'm sure. She lived there during the great flood of 1932 and this is discussed in the book. She would like to see more by this author and I can hardly wait to get started.

What a wonderful story. Only a poet with a heart as big as our mountains, the keen insight of a storyteller and a love of family that is burned into her soul could do justice to this story in the manner of Rebecca Cale Camhi.
This book grabbed me on the first page and never turned me loose, I don't think I have ever gone through so many emotions while reading a book as I did with this one. The Characters were so real I had to keep reminding myself that it was a story. I kept hearing echoes of my Father, my Mother, my Grandma, my Grandpa, my Uncles and my Kin.
There is a unique mystique about being a West Virginian that few who have not been born and raised here understand. It is so hard to describe or explain, because it is spiritual. Rebecca has captured it and woven it throughout her book. It starts where her story starts and ends, well it don't end, it is still here in these hills and in our hearts.
If you have not read this book you are robbing yourself of one of life's good experiences.
I sure hope there is more where this came from.

As I turned the first page of "Deepwater Mountain", I was completely taken aback as the novel instantly involved and engrossed me. As I met Willa May and her family for the first time, I found myself caring deeply about each family member. As Willa May experienced joys and sorrows, the tears would stream freely down my cheeks (An experience that has not happened to me since "The Bridges of Madison County"). This was quite honestly, a book I could not put down. My only regret upon reaching the last page was that the story did not continue and I sincerely hope author Rebecca Camhi will consider writing a sequel. This novel, focusing on the strong Willa May will capture any woman's heart. It should be seriously considered as a selection for Oprah's Book Club.

Holton set out to answer the question, "Why did Virginia participate in the revolutionary movement?" His answers are tightly argued, persuasive, and often surprising. This book is certainly an expansion on the "great man" approach to history, in that it expands political motivation to include a variety of people- small farmers, slaves, and Indians- who are not often heard from in this context.

I think the book is most interesting when Holton discusses wealthy Virginians' fears of slave revolt. To me, this is the most persuasive facet of his thesis. Overall, an excellent book.

Ours is an age when we worry about consumer debt (and consumer confidence), terrorists, and an energy crisis. In other words, when we feel our society a little wobbly it is great to read Woody Holton's book and find similar concerns in pre-revolutionary Virginia. Virginians were caught up in a "web" that included a debt crisis, fear of indian raids, slave uprisings, and class struggle. "Although no one can deny their importance [great leaders], the thesis of this book has been that the Independence movement was also powerfully influenced by British merchants and by three groups that today would be called grassroots: Indians, farmers, and slaves." (p. 206)How we relate to Holton's thesis probably depends on how we feel present day worries influence voting (thinking) patterns.
While the specific subject of this book is pressures that resulted in revolution, the facts presented here could be used to make a wider case about the "web" that every generation finds itself in. What will our consumer crisis, energy shortage, fear of terrorists lead to?
Holton writes well and is to be commended for his presentation.

Prof. Holton published an outstanding article in _The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography_ about two years ago on the effects of Virginia slaves' behavior on white Virginians' debates about breaking with Great Britain. The coming book, this one, promised to be outstanding. Although this book is far too brief, Holton does show that Indians', debtors', and slaves' behavior made it necessary for Virginia gentry to require certain policies from the mother country; when those policies were not forthcoming, Virginia declared independence. This is not the same as saying that those three groups had a say in the matter.

One interesting achievement of this book is to put the war of 1861-1865 in a new light. At the end of his _The Confederate War_, Gary Gallagher asks how southerners could have sacrificed so much to a war whose aims included preservation of slavery. Holton's book shows that, at least insofar as Virginia is concerned, they had done it once before -- in 1776-1781.