Having read both the book and the other review of it here, I'm in wholehearted agreement. But I did encounter one small downside. James Bain recommends only one source for upholstery material -- and that turns out to be a wholesaler to the trade only. I haven't checked the other recommdnations, but you should be aware that there's a possible problem here, however minor.

This book is an excellent value. It is packed with useful techniques for restoring just about any kind of furniture. The entire book is in full-color. Each project and technique includes a material and equipment list as well as clear step-by-step instructions accompanied by small photos.

The book starts out with tips on where to purchase furniture and what to look for when you do. Then it gives you the basics of getting started including tools, finishing, cleaning, stripping, and treating infestation or wood rot. It also has a wonderful section on understanding wood with a nice chart on 15 wood types, their use, advantages and disadvantages.

Consolidation of furniture including deciding what parts to keep, dismantling a piece or simply making the furniture joints stronger follows. Consolidation sections specific to chairs, tables, and a chest of drawers provide useful details. They teach things like replacing a broken chair stretcher bar, evening chair legs, mending major cracks, replacing a table chassis, carving a new leg for a tripod table or repairing worn drawer slides. There are two additional sections on metal fittings and upholstery. Molding a backplate, antiquing new metal fittings and replacing a double stuffed seat are just a few of the techniques taught here.

The next section focuses on repairing and beautifying surfaces. This includes a great guide to solving common problems like white water marks, dents and scorch marks. Veneer repairs such fixing blisters and removing an old veneer and reusing it as are also covered. It then goes on to demonstrate several surface effects including French polishing, working with gesso, gilding, aging paint, staining, graining, marbling and waxing.

The last section includes 12 projects that use the techniques previously covered. In one project, clients need a sixth chair. They find one with a matching back but must replace the entire seating structure and reupholster it. In another project an empire-style night table needs its brass fitting replaced and its tambour door dismantled and refitted. It also needs new stain, French polish and wax.

The information here will enable you to take on some tough challenges with satisfying professional results as you restore or enhance fine furniture. To help with any project there is a nice list of suppliers in the back.

The ninth of twenty volumes in O'Brian's classic nautical series, "Treason's Harbour" ties together some of the plot threads from the previous book, "Ionian Mission", but leaves some of its own questions unanswered. Ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin is back in the intelligence game in Malta, battling French agents and feeding them false information until he and Captain Aubrey are sent to the Red Sea. Their mission is disappointing, though, because of a mole in the British command whose identity is unknown but who also apparently foils the mission to Algeria that ends this book.

Two-thirds of the way into "Treason's Harbour", readers will finally hear about the capitulation of the town of Marga, which Aubrey's crew was besieging in "Ionian Mission". Similarly, in this book we never learn the fate of the Fieldings, he a naval officer escaped from a French prison to return to his wife and she with reputation ruined by Maturin's espionage machinations. This is a letdown, because we've spent so much time learning about them and watching Maturin considering their fates. We never learn the denouement of the Zambra mission but are left hanging after Aubrey has confronted three French vessels, this too is disappointing because the naval actions in this book are subdued, far less gripping than in other installments.

"Treason's Harbour" is a good book, skipping along with O'Brian's intelligent prose and complete ease with maritime matters, but is not wholly self-contained. The diving bell is fun, but this reader is still wishing to know about the Fieldings. The plot bobs and eddies but never quite runs out before the pages do.

Captain Jack Aubrey was known in the Royal Navy as "Lucky Jack" in his earlier career, but he hasn't been so lucky of late. This ninth novel in the series, which continues immediately after _The Ionian Mission_ (and appears to be the middle installment of a mini-trilogy), is a satisfying mix of naval adventure, set mostly in the Red Sea, and spy story, set in Malta and revolving around Stephen Maturin's befriending of the young wife of a captured naval captain who is working, semi-unaware, for the French intelligence service. He's much better known to his enemies now than in times past, which has increased his personal danger greatly, and -- while we all know he's going to survive -- it's interesting to see how he does it. As always, O'Brian shows himself a master of early 19th century slang and jargon, and also of droll wit. The extra fillip this time is the pair's adventures crossing the desert between the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Suez, combined with Maturin's acquisition of a massive brass diving bell. And the account of the pellmell journey down the narrow passage in pursuit of a galley hopefully filled with French gold is one of the author's best extended scenes yet.

This installment, like the rest of this series so far, is suspenseful, funny and populated with characters that seem very real. One new character, Laura Fielding, is admirably faithful to her imprisoned husband, and is, in general, a very likable character (and one that charms both Stephen and Jack). The Middle Eastern setting of this book is exotic and very vividly described. Stephen's adventures in his new scientific marvel, the diving bell, are both funny and interesting. Jack's encounters with Laura's massive dog Ponto are hilarious. The end of this book is very suspenseful because the reader has come to really care about the characters involved. The most notable thing about this book is what a great job O'Brian did of keeping this series fresh by bringing in new locations, characters and situations. O'brian did a great job of not letting this series fall into predictable formulas and repetition. The only failing of this book is that the very end is just a little disappointing and O'brian leaves the reader hanging much more than in the previous books.

Widowed Grace Johnson is content to spend her golden years feeding the birds in Central Park and pursuing a friendship with retired policeman Patrick O'Mally, though in the back of her mind there is always a sense of emptiness and a yearning for self-worth. Her children want to banish her to a rest home, themselves content with satisfying obligations at holidays and weddings. As out of touch as the Johnson brood is with their mother, they are more than surprised when Grace takes drastic measures to preserve her freedom -- namely running away from home to a homeless shelter.

It is at the shelter where Grace's life is renewed, with new friends, a new job, and growing self-confidence which comes from doing the Lord's work, as Grace might say. When a prized statue of St. Patrick is stolen for her home church and its pastor poisoned, a sense of adventure is sparked in Grace, not to mention curiosity, particularly every time would-be suitor Patrick tenses at the mention of a possible suspect. She comes to find that still waters -- and danger -- do run deep.

Janet Elaine Smith has created an endearing amateur sleuth in Grace Johnson, who sharpens with charm as the story progresses. As far as mystery goes, the storyline is a bit thin, and the abrupt disappearance of Grace's children in the first third of the book was a slight disappointment. I would like to have seen more development in that particular sub-plot, as Grace's interaction with other characters in In St. Patrick's Custody is certainly a strong element in this novel.

Grace Johnson, recently widowed New York City housewife, sits on a bench in Central Park each day and feeds the birds. Retired cop Patrick O'Mally comes to the park daily, too. Is it coincidence that just before Grace's children decide to put "mother" into a rest home, these two finally introduce themselves - and it's an instantaneous CLICK? Or is it just everything going according to plan?

I'm not a mystery reader, and that's probably because I'm not fond of formula books. But I have read and enjoyed two of Janet Elaine Smith's historicals, so I ordered IN ST. PATRICK'S CUSTODY fully expecting a good read.

I was not a bit disappointed. This "mystery without the cliches" is gently told, and filled with characters whose human foibles make them real. It's also (dare I say this, or will I scare someone away?) a curiously inspirational tale. While the author never preaches, and never allows her characters to do so, either, their faith in the Higher Power watching over their lives comes through loud and clear.

Threaded through the book, also, is another theme dear to my heart: that life for the aging Grace Johnsons and Patrick O'Mally's of this world is far from over. Their love story, and (running parallel to it) Grace's discovery that she can make a satisfying life of her own after years of being simply "wife and mother," are the tale's most memorable elements.

Grace Johnson was an unlikely candidate to be involved in solving a mystery. Grace was an elderly woman whose children wanted to put her away in a nursing home after the death of her husband, James. Grace decided that there was still some life in the old girl yet and that she wasn't quite ready to be sent to an old folk's home. She ran away from her children and her empty life. Grace ended up in a New York City homeless shelter where she found happiness in being needed.

Patrick O'Mally was an ex New York City policeman with a grudge, a grudge against the Vince Bellazoni who had killed in his son. He was also a very lonely man since his wife, Margaret, died. Meeting Grace Johnson was the best thing that had happened to him in a long time.

Someone tried to poison Father O'Brien. Who would try to kill such a beloved old priest? Someone stole the statue of St. Patrick from St. Patrick's Cathedral. Who would stoop so low as to do such a thing? Was that really a leprechaun that Grace kept seeing every time she saw that poor dirty little homeless girl? Did Vince Bellazoni really kill Patrick's son?

In Saint Patrick's Custody by Janet Elaine Smith is a lighthearted mystery chock full of surprises, twists and turns. Read along and be delighted by the story of Patrick and Grace as they try to solve the mysteries - and end up falling in love along the way.

***

Reviewed by Kristie Leigh Maguire, author of Emails from the Edge, Desert Triangle, co-author of No Lady and Her Tramp and contributor to Calliope's Mousepad...

Unless there is an unpublished manuscript hidden away somewhere, this is the last book written by Patrick O'Brian who passed away in early January, and fittingly the last of the saga of Jack Aubrey. The Jack Aubrey character was based on Lord Cochrane (see Donald Thomas' biography "Cochrane," published in 1978). While the early books in the Jack Aubrey series were quite good, the quality deteriorated in the later books, and the author lost all sense of time, trying to cram too many novels into a three year period from 1812-1815. He then invented various assignments to keep Aubrey at sea, instead of going back (like C. S. Forester did with Hornblower) to fill in Aubrey's early career. I skipped many of the later books. The present tale would have been quite good by itself, but the author rambles and digresses excessively. He also seems to change location in the middle of sentences, and skips forward leaving the reader wondering what happened in the intervening time interval. The later part of the novel, when Aubrey arrives in Chile, gets back into historical context, and the novel seems to be set in 1819 and following years - Charles Tyng, in his autobiography "Before the Wind," relates his experiences in Chile during that time period, mentioning Lord Cochran and the presence of a British frigate. Bernard Cornwell's novel, "Sharpe's Devil" (copyright 1992) also covers the action in Chile. The present novel is OK for those O'Brien fans who want the final episode on Jack Aubrey, but it is not exactly a book which holds your attention.

Even though I believe that the Aubrey-Maturin series is one of the great works of prose fiction of the 20th century, the latest (and 20th) book in the series, Blue at the Mizzen, is a disappointment. Indeed the last few books in the series (starting with the Wine-Dark Sea, have gotten progressively weaker, but even they have always had many compelling pages. The great humor, the exciting naval action, the lovely historical feel, but above all the wonderful language and psychological acuity are missing here. The female characters are, no surprise, mere plot devices. (Both Sophie and Clarissa barely figure, and the smart and beautiful Mrs. Wood, who Maturin falls for, makes little sense as a character.) But the subordinate characters in general lack interest, even the prominently featured midshipman Hansen, the bastard son of the Duke of Clarence. The local color in early 19th century Chile seems washed out, insubstantial. Worst of all, the two principals are presented pro forma, as if O'Brian is just tired of them. While there is a satisfying (finally) move up to Admiral for Aubrey, the story (with no more Napoleonic foes, and no more money worries) has run out of gas. Is this the last of the novels? Aubrey-Maturin fans will be disappointed that we have lost track of Pullings, Babbington, Mowett, and Martin completely-what happened to them? Where oh where is to Aubrey's illegitimate son, Sam Panda, last seen in nesrby Peru-and why do Jack's thoughts never run to him? This is, of course, a must-read for Aubrey-Maturin fans, but compared to the invigorating, full-blooded novels in the series, this one reads like the weak, lukewarm tea that Jack and Stephen so detest.

Appreciation of novels -- like music, movies, and just about every thing else -- is ultimately a subjective experience. I have loved the Jack Aubrey-Stephen Maturin novels for many years, reading (and re-reading) each new entry in the series with interest. "Blue at the Mizzen" may possibly be the last novel in the series, if what Patrick O'Brian said a few years ago is true. I hope that is not the case but if it is, then "Blue at the Mizzen" would serve well enough as the end. I won't spoil the plot for anyone, but I will say that it advances the stories of the two central characters to new levels. I don't claim that "Blue at the Mizzen" is the finest book in the series, but I found it solidly satisfying, with a good number of the typical small scenes of delight which characterize the O'Brian novels. If there is little music in this book compared to previous novels in the series, there is compensation to be found in the revival of Stephen Maturin's spirits after the sorrowful events of "The Hundred Days." A new character of considerable charm and appeal makes an appearance amidst the expected familiar faces. I don't know whether I would recommend "Blue at the Mizzen" to someone not familiar with the Aubrey-Maturin books (those people I tell to start at the beginning with "Master and Commander"), but I do think that any fan of the series -- even those disappointed with the gloomy atmosphere "The Hundred Days" -- will enjoy this new book.

i'm on page 50, and i still haven't been able to determine whether this book applies only to England, or if it applies to American law as well. does anyone know?

Atiyah's introduction to the law of contract is accessible to the sutdnet beginning on this key part of their law course. However, his views are sometimes rather individual, and it may be best to have formed one's own opinions, from a variety of other sources, before tackling his chapters on, for example, the various measures of damages which are used by the courts

Joseph Campbell once said that what makes great literature is the timeless message in its theme. Patrick Smith is a classic writer when it comes to mastering the art of story telling. The universality of his small southern town's struggle to find a common ground with the challenges the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's resonates as much today as we enter the new millenium as it did when he wrote it. Not everyone is going to like what the story has to say about our home of the free and the brave. Ike Thorton is a man with the tenacity and sommon sense to recognize that what once was considered the norm in society is no longer acceptable; the segregration of blacks and whites has to be stopped according to the new laws being passed in Washington D.C.. Midvale must act quickly to assure their black folk that the whites in Midvale don't need any outside help to integrate their town. Ike knows that if you force people into something, someone's going to react. The complexities of integration prompt events and circumstances that demand an end to tolerance of human inequities. The heart of Patrick Smith's stories lie within the hearts of his characters. For they capture the spirit of life which offers hope and the belief that each day is a new beginning. This book should be on the reading list of high schools across the country.

I found this book to be loads of fun for the casual Alabama Football fan and the not so casual fan. I was reading the book with a group of friends and we talked about the ins and outs of each play and discussed the worth of each play that was included. The CD that was included was well done and brought back some cherrished memories.

This edition of the Emerald Tablet which in which Hortulanus gives commentary of the thirteen "stanzas" of the Hermes most famous work. The translation by Patrick J. Smith is readable with explanatory notes. There is a short introduction which attempts to give a concise history of the Emerald Tablet, then proceeds from there to read the Tablet in full, while thereafter is the commentary then notes. Not a long book, however the dialect of the times is enough to slow the reader down a bit, not to mention the dense subject matter. Its not an entirely entertaining book, but fascinating in itself is the Emerald Tablet. The notes are without references, however well written in a dry, scholarly form. Reccomended for the student of alchemy and occultism.

Great informative book for a non-marketing oriented professional. Segmented and focused in most important fields of the Marketing studies. It will introduce you in promotions, building marketing plan, selling and distribution. It is very practical and understandable book, and it used everyday examples of people doing marketing.