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Book reviews for "Sumichrast,_Michael_M." sorted by average review score:

BayWolf Restaurant Cookbook
Published in Hardcover by Ten Speed Press (2003)
Authors: Michael Wild, Lauren Lyle, G. Earl Darny, and Adele Novelli Crady
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Deliciously Wild!
The Bay Wolf Restaurant Cookbook reads less like an ordinary cookbook and more like a well-written letter from a dear friend. The reader is, in essence, invited into the charming and interesting world of Michael Wild and The Bay Wolf. The photography is stunning, recipes inspired, and the cover art by Rupert Garcia is brilliant.

It is clear why the restaurant has such devoted clientele, employees, and merchants whose satisfaction is unmistakable. After reading The Bay Wolf Restaurant Cookbook I was inspired to hop the metro nearest my little Parisian apartment, buy a bottle of Californian wine from the local Wine Bar, and make a Duck Cassoulet. . .in the middle of August.

Bravo to Michael Wild, Lauren Lyle, G. Earl Darny and Adele Novelli Crady!

NEW COOKBOOK FROM A FAMOUS OAKLAND CHEF AND HIS FRIENDS
This handsome, well-illustrated book is organized around seasonal menus and features over 100 of Michael Wild's recipes from Bay Wolf Restaurant. The book is a masterpiece of text and layout, allowing the reader-cook to lay the book flat while following the recipes, each of which is printed entirely on a single page. The photography is appetite whetting. My favorite part was the short, charming, italicized prose rapture which introduces each recipe. It is astounding that such a lush production can sell for such a small price.

Bay Wolf Restaurant Cookbook
Surprising though it may be for one living in Ireland, I have known of the Bay Wolf Restaurant for many years - though friends in the Berkeley / Oakland Area. I must confess, however, to never having partaken of its cuisine. I acquired the book through said friends who undoubtedly are trying to tempt me, knowing my passion for good food.

The book has a flavour all its own, metaphorically speaking. It tells the tale of the restaurant in a very personal manner that paints a picture not only of recipes, but the art and philosophy of cooking as seen through the eyes of those seeking to express it. The flavour is what? Friendly, inviting, tempting, tantalising and definitely Californian with the marketplace at its fingertips. Where else would a colege lecturer seek to express his inner creativity through cooking? Not that it mightn't be done, but such things are expected in California. The inspiration for recipes and foods might have had its grounding in Europe, but it was in California that the creative expression emerged.

As history appeals to me, I enjoyed the background of the restaurant and its owners which allowed me to imagine the atmosphere. I also like the seasonal aspect which helps in discovering what is available throughout the year. Much in Ireland is now imported, but the concept of expermentation appeals to me and makes me want to be more creative with Irish produce.

Having my own herb garden where I also grow some vegetables, I am slightly envious of the variety available in the marketplaces in California. In Ireland the only place one can consistently get duck is at the local Chinese takeaway. That does not mean to say that ingredients are not available in Ireland - it just takes rather longer to locate a source.

To deal with the somewhat complex recipes - or at least the availability of ingredients, I have organised a Bay Wolf dinner party whereby each dinner guest will select a recipe to cook and bring and thereby reduce the burden of searching for ingredients required. As I am doing the duck, I am fortunate to be only a block away from the local takeaway.

The photography and graphics were tastefully done (that pun just slipped out) and allowed a smile - almost a sign of satisfaction. The menus were an added touch, though being from Ireland, I noted those with Irish connotations. I puzzled over the one for 18th March 1984 - presumably in honour of St. Patrick's Day - though with James Joyce tones. For some reason I do not associate the two. In Ireland Jocean scholars have chosen 16th June, Bloomsday, to honour their guru. I am sure Michael Wild will understand why.

I would like to say "well done" to the group that produced it. My only real complaint is that the format is too large and awkward for comfortable bedtime reading.


The Complete Idiot's Guide to Calculus
Published in Paperback by Alpha Books (15 June, 2002)
Author: W. Michael Kelley
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Taking Calculus, get this book!!
Twelve years after my first degree, I am going for another. I am taking Calculus for the physical sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey. I have to say, this course is a lot of work. Mr. Kelley's books is extremely clear and fun to read. He doesn't get deep into theorems, but he does pack this book full of everything else. I used this text as an essential resource when studying for my first midterm exam (yes we have 2 midterms). I only used my notes and class text to go over certain theorems. Hats off to Mr. Kelley for creating such a wonderful book. Oh BTW...first midterm exam score B+. Second midterm exam score B+! Final Grade: B+ hip hip wooha!

Get an A in Calculus!!
I wish I had discovered this book during my first semester of calculus. Unfortunately I bought it during the last weeks of my second semester calculus class, but if I hadn't gotten it, I wouldn't have been able to ace the class. We were learning some new concepts and I couldn't understand it. Finals were coming up real soon. I needed something to help me through these methods and LO AND BEHOLD!! Idiot's Guide to Calculus! Of course! I'm an idiot when it comes to calculus! This book helped me understand areas that were left oblivious to me while trying to learn in class. The book has some humor to it, making learning calculus KINDA fun!! (I know, WHAT?) So if you're studying calculus I and II, buy this book!! It's worth it if you want a good grade.

Enthusiastic thumbs up!
From the title you can guess that I highly recommend this book. "CIG to Calculus" covers all of the topics from the first year of a university calculus course. The vast majority of the topics are explained in plain, clear and concise english, which is the strength of the book. This book is not meant to be a replacement to a textbook, but as a supplement. The shame is that there is a need for books such as these because the "so called experts" cannot clearly communicate the subject matter in lecture or written form.

If you are planning to take calculus for the first time, use this book to help your understanding of your textbook and lecture notes. If this is for self-study, read this book and use a book with a lot of solved problems to cement your understanding.

Again, this, in my opinion, is the best book to date on beginning calculus.


Crichton Thrillers-4 Vol. Boxed Set (Andromeda Strain, Sphere, The Great Train Robbery, Terminal Man)
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Ballantine Books (1995)
Author: Michael Crichton
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All Michael Crichton's books are the best.
I enjoy Michael Crichton's books very much. He is the only author I'll read. The first book I read was Andromeda Strain. I coudn't put it down. When I read Sphere I didn't eat for two days.I hope that Michael Crichton never stops writing books.

Michael Crichton Rocks!
I have read practially every book he has made, and I'm only 12! Im in 7th grade and I know two other people that have all his books like I do. I cannot wait to see "Sphere" when it comes out. I hope he writes many more novels for me and my friends to enjoy!

Awesome Collection
Here in this excellent omnibus we have three of MC's best works (The Andromeda Strain, Sphere, and The Great Train Robbery), and the sub-par for Crichton, but still good by normal standards, novel The Terminal Man. The three other books I can gurantee you are all top tier works, full of suspense, action, and technological questions that force you to THINK. All of it written, of course, in Crichton's trademark documentary style. Unless you have already read these books, this is an impossible collection to pass up.


El Parque Jurasico
Published in Paperback by Ediciones Universal (1994)
Author: Michael Crichton
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Micheal Crichton's fabulous book, Jurassic Park
I was in the sixth grade when I saw Jurassic Park on the big screen. I immediately picked up the book. Even though I was in sixth grade I understood it immensly and enjoyed thoroughly. I went on to read the book 3 more times, watch the movie twenty times, listen to the Audio Book twice, and read other greatly written books by Mr. Crichton. I have almost read all of them. Jurassic Park is a glorious read and is one of the most thrilling books there is. It is very descriptive and it has an addictive story line. If you've seen the movie don't pass up the book because it is so much better. The movie couldn't have a budget large enough to depict the whole book, but your mind needs no help from money to put the story into motion! A definite read!! (Also, don't get me wrong the movie is awesome!

One of the best I've ever read
This is one great book. This book has some great characters, storylines, and is indeed very intense. The characters are dynamic and the storyline is ever-changing. The sequel to Jurassic Park, The Lost World answers many questions. If you have a few spare moments a day, you'll make it at least half an hour of spare time a day. You WILL READ THIS BOOK! It's that good.

It was a great book
I thought it was a great book.My friends who read it thought it was great also


Bearing Witness
Published in Paperback by E P Dutton (1999)
Author: Michael Kahn
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Better and Better
I have enjoyed all of the Rachel Gold series novels. However, this one may be the very best. It combines humor, history and an incredible plot .The book has a very poignant side concerning anti-semitism. I don't think anyone could read it without shaking their head in disbelief at the acts of anti-semitism portrayed in the book. Rachel Gold and Benny Goldberg are my favorite mystery duo. I went through this book non-stop. One of my favorite humorous references was to Graceland. Rachel likened the jungle room in Graceland to a hill billy decorator on LSD let loose in a Pier One Imports store. Having just visited Graceland the month before that was a most accurate description. I highly recommend this book for both the fun and serious side of the plot. I do hope Mr Kahn continues the Rachel Gold series.

worth the wait
I loved this book! I have guilty feelings though because as I sat reading it on Sunday, I ignored my family all day because I couldn't put it down. I have always enjoyed the Rachel Gold character as well as her supporting characters, and I found this particular story exciting, interesting,and fast paced. Now,unfortunately, I have to wait for the next one. Mr. Kahn, do you have to wait so long between books? If you have never read a Rachel Gold novel,I'm sure you would enjoy this anyway, but go back and read the others, it's a great series.

Absolutely a Gold medal
I discovered Rachel Gold through a short story in EQMM - thank heaven, as I don't think I would have found them otherwise; for anyone who is looking for a terrific mystery, interesting characters and courtroom drama - run don't walk to buy one of Michael Kahn's Rachel Gold books.

This is, by far, the best of the lot; full of history (Nazi treasure), present day issues(age discrimination and excellent sleuthing. The plotting and the characters are so well drawn that I find I have re-read this book several times even though I know "who dun it" and enjoyed it all over again.


Calculus
Published in Hardcover by PWS Publishing Co. (1999)
Authors: Michael Olinick, Dennis Pence, Jeffery A. Cole, and Earl William Swokowski
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Very good for calculus beginners.
I have used this book as textbook for my class. This book is easy to follow and leads students to think. I highly recommend students to work all its problems. The only drawback has nothing to do with the book rather with its price. prof. Swokowski has already passed away in 1992, but the price has absolutely no reason to stay this high.

Excellent book to learn calculus
I am teacher of calculus and I found this book an excelent reference for the beginners students of electrical engineering.

1280 pages pure and applied calculus + answers and appendix
This book is so comprehensive you can use it for any engineering and general purposes. You must also get it`s study guides and instructor`s book for an efficient study... Their study guide 1 ISBN: 0-534-936-261, 2 ISBN: 0-534-936-27X, Instructor`s manual 1 ISBN: 0-534-936-30X and 2 ISBN: 0-534-936-318.


The Crown and the Crucible (Russians, 1)
Published in Paperback by Word Publishing (1991)
Authors: Michael R. Phillips and Judith Pella
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A compelling tale of faith and friendship
Once you finish reading this story of a set of young adults coming of age, you will immediately want to start on book two. You see, this is what happened to me, except I didn't know about books three through seven until I was well into book #2! I finally finished the series earlier this year and consider it to be a major accomplishment (and a very fulfilling one). I must say that after book seven I was disappointed that I will no longer be hearing of Anna Buerenin and the illustrious characters that touched her life.

This series is typically categorized by bookstores as "religious fiction". I will say that there is an underlying message about God (after all religion plays a huge part of Russian history) but it was simply woven into the story subtly and relevantly. I have read other Pella books and found this to be the case with them as well.

This book was the start of my infatuation with historical fiction and I am thankful for it. I do recommend all seven in the series - read them, although it may take a while!

I'm So Glad I "Discovered" This Series!
When I came across this book in my church's library a week ago, I wasn't too thrilled with it. Somehow, I ended up checking it out, but my expectations were not high. I expected either a boring, dry chronicle of Russia's history or a sappy, overdone love story. Well...a week later I can assure you that that is definitely not the case. "The Crown and the Crucible", set in the 1870's, is essentially the story of two families who represent the two basic types of people that were in Russia. There is Anna Burenin, a 17-year-old whose family has always been peasants, and there is 15-year-old Katrina Fedorcenko, whose life has been that of a high-ranking Russian aristocrat. Anna and Katrina's lives become intertwined when Anna goes to the Fedorcenko household to be a kitchen servant, and by a remarkable sequence of events, becomes Katrina's personal maid. But other things are happening as well in this novel. We see how unstable life was in Russia, and read how even Viktor Fedorcenko (Katrina's father) had to guard what he said around the tsar, whom he had known since childhood. Segei Fedorcenko, Katrina's brother, also has problem. It seems that he and Anna are beginning to fall in love...and how could ever be easy since he is an aristocrat and she is a maid? And the brutal war in Turkey over Russian territory only intensify his not-so-loyal thoughts toward the government. "The Crown and the Crucible" is a magnificently written story that expertly blends history with the lives of people. The characters themselves are wonderful, and I loved seeing the changes and growth in all of them...most notably Anna's Christian influence on Katrina. There is no character who you do not like and begin to know "personally" and nothing fake about the characterization. There are few books that are so well-written, historically accurate, and filled with characters you can't forget. I'm certainly glad I came across this book! And, of course, I desperately need the sequel now...

Intriguing...You must read the entire series.
I have always loved Russian history, and I found these books an excelent way to learn more about it. After reading the series, I got the opportunity to visit St.Petersburg, Russia where much of the story takes place, and I was amazed at how accurate the books had been in history and setting. The books are so well written that you feel like you are part of the story. The characters seem like your best friend and you never want to put the books down. I found myself reading in eery spare moment I had and before I read these books, I hated to read. These are great books for teenagers to read because of their clean content. You will not be disappointed.


Federal Resume Guidebook
Published in Paperback by Jist Works (15 March, 1999)
Authors: Kathryn Kraemer Troutman and Michael Singer Dobson
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Federal Resume Guidebook, 2nd Ed.
Kathryn, Here is another one for your list of testimonials. I purchased your book and used it to re-create my résumés for Federal Employment. I also used it to create my KSAs. I was offered and accepted a position from the first Federal Agency for which I applied. I could not have done it without your help. stewart

Federal Resume Guidebook, 2nd Edition
Hi, Kathryn I have great news for you, feel free to post it on your website. I took your resume writing class in March, within a couple of weeks I had my resume ready. I applied for a couple of positions and guess what, I just got a promotion, outside of my area of expertise, just like that, and only within two months. I'm so happy! Thanks to your training, books, PC disks, tips, etc. I cannot thank you enough! The Resume Place, is the BEST! Maria

Federal Resume Guidebook by Kathryn Kraemer Troutman
Kathryn Kraemer Troutman's "Federal Resume Guidebook" is a must have for anyone seeking a position within the Federal Government. Not only does Ms. Troutman review the steps and procedures necessary to obtain employment, but she assist users in the process. This book makes getting a Federal job a breeze. The books "user friendly" approach leaves little territory uncovered. Kudos to Kathy for making the job search much easier. Watch out Federal Government Kathryn's book may just make your forms much more palatable. A must have for those seeking employment within the Federal Government.

Deborah L. Mulligan, Instructional Designer/Curriculum Developer


The Butcher's Boy
Published in Paperback by Random House Trade Paperbacks (10 June, 2003)
Authors: Thomas Perry and Michael Connelly
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Perry's first, and best
I read this book in one sitting, something I've haven't done since. It always amazed me that a movie hasn't been made out out this great story line: Hit-man on the run, young female FBI agent and Mafia hit-men on his trail. What fascinated me was the detailed picture that Perry paints on the need of a person in a business such as the 'Butcher's Boy' to blend into the background and, by all means, not get noticed. He's carried this on somewhat in his later books, which are all very good, but this is, I believe, his masterpiece.

A mile stone of new era of Thriller.A MUST READ!
This is one of the greatest books I've ever read in the last twenty years! Find it anyway you could and after finished it, try to find the sequal SLEEPING DOGS, kill both with one shot, please! This book almost became a bible to modern day thriller writers and it's plots and scenario had been sneakly if not consciously copied by many recent writers such J. Finder(the Zero Hour) and B. Branon(Devils hole). Thomas Perry is one of the great treasures in American literature(although I don't like this serious word). Mr. Perry is a most talented but sometimes with weird writing directions. If you enjoyed his BUTCHER'S BOY/SLEEPING DOGS, then please try to read his new DISAPPEARING ACT series, you will be so happy to find a great writer who obviously never lost his MUSE to find a different Hero or Heroine to entertain himself and us. A MUST READ ALL WRITER!

The book is a Killer-Thriller
Thomas Perry's first novel is a Killer-Thriller! I had read "Sleeping Dogs"(the sequal) before I read "The Butchers Boy". Both books are great. I am glad they re-printed "The Butchers Boy" because it explains a lot I missed when reading
"Sleeping Dogs". However, each book can stand alone without the other. The "Butchers Boy" is about a hitman that is double crossed by the mob after he completed some contract(killing) work for them. It also tells the story of the Department of Justice Field Agent that is trying to tie all the killings together. It is a race to the end to find the missing link that will tie the knot to this killer-thriller. Also don't miss the few chapters that introduces us to the much loved "jane whitefield series" the lady that can make you disappear. I hope Perry brings that series back-it was one of his best. "Butchers Boy is a good read!


Born Twice: Attention Shoppers
Published in Paperback by Xlibris Corporation (2001)
Author: Dennis Michael Walker
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