It's not usual to devour a cookbook from cover to cover in one sitting, but so thoroughly engaging - and lovely to look at -- is Terry Tan's 'Asian Cook' that I read all 144 pages at once before dashing into my kitchen to check what I needed to make nonya-style pork curry. Nonya cooking, so Tan has taught me, is distinctly Southeast Asian, an exotic blend of ethnic Chinese and Singaporean, Indonesia and Malaysian practices and ingredients. Now I know too that there are seven principal types of cooking styles in Japan (from 'yakimono' which means grilled to 'itememono' meaning sautéed or pan-fried). And that religion has impacted more on the various cuisines of the Indian Sub-Continent than geography.

Indeed, to refer to 'Asian Cook' as a cookbook is to do Tan a grave injustice. This is a lavish but functional compendium of the 'tools and techniques' beloved of cooks of Asian cuisine, be they food writers for the San Francisco Chronicle or top Indian chefs in London. I suspect that if Tan had his way, the kitchenware department would be situated right next to jewellery.

Tan's authority stems from his experience and expertise as a cookery teacher and food historian. He gives us wonderful descriptions of what makes an Asian cook - the historical background and geographical origins that in turn determine the utensils, implements, ingredients (whether fish, fowl or offal) and spices used. Artfully photographed pots, woks, tandoors, cooking tools, accessories and tableware are accompanied by simple but illuminating points and pointers. For example, did you know that for some Asians, knives are considered 'too barbaric to be used at the table' and that they are in any case superfluous, given that 'all ingredients are cut into bite-size pieces during preparation'?

Asian Cook offers a wide-range of easy to follow, relatively inexpensive recipes for the discerning palate, with dishes from yang zhou fried rice to roast chicken madurai masala to bamboo leaf dumplings. But they are here to provide a colourful backdrop - and final flourish -- to the tools and techniques that made them. Tan tells us that Asian chefs have 'always been at the cutting edge when it comes to presentation skills'. I was particularly intrigued by how one produces an 'edible basket' with the right molds (which, surprisingly, are two perforated ladles shaped to fit one inside the other). A prawns in yam basket should go down very nicely at my next supper party. This book is a treasure, if not a secret weapon.

Michael Foreman's whispy watercolours are the perfect accent to these lovely little stories written by Terry Jones (Former member of Monty Python) They are also perfect for reading aloud to a child, and there is even a nice little moral for each tale. The Fishy story teaches you not to be full of yourself, and the Beastie story teaches children not to eat too much sugar (among other things) You may be surprised to find that Terry Jones is in fact an excellent writer of Childrend's stories, and Of course Foreman's illustrations are always beautiful. I would recommend this book to anyone who has young children, or someone that simply loves Fairy Tales or whimsical art. (Like myself)

Butterfly Kisses is an excellent book for couples to read together. It will spark conversations that might not otherwise take place. The ideas presented in this book are a good foundation to start with when building a relationship. It also makes an excellent wedding gift!

Rambo, Reed, Cuc and DiGregorio's collection of essays on the topic of The Challenges of Highland Development in Vietnam proves to be a very informative yet concise guide to anyone interested in development work. The collection came about from a conference on this subject, and the publication includes topics ranging from developing human resources, approaches to sustainable development, comparative analyses of policy, forests, coffee growers, as well as abstracts on health care, education, watershed development, and immigration to the highlands. This resource is extremely helpful for anyone wishing to learn more about this dynamic and growing region of the world.

This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the history and future of zoos and animal parks, as well as offering an assessment of present day facilities. Pro and con essays on a variety of topics related to zoo management, aquisition of animals and captive breeding provide both sides of the controversial issue of maintaining animals in captivity. Slight bias toward the view of zoos as the only viable future situation for wildlife but still offers critical analysis of

issues involved.

After going to college for a rough two years and bogged down with work, I was given a break. It came to me in the form a freshman named Megan. I was once full of life, energy and laughter. College had drained most of that. Megan reminded me that life is about what you make of it. Life had little to do with the essays, exams and resumes. Life is fun. After knowing her for two months, Megan loaned me a battered, old book, Fairy Tales by Terry Jones. She suggested the tale of Tim O' Leary.

A farmer friend of Tim O'Leary met a goblin who claimed to be Tim. The goblin said that if the farmer would retrieve a witch's treasure, he would turn back into Tim. After undergoing a horrible ordeal, the farmer retrieves the treasure and the goblin steals it away. Disappointed with the loss, the farmer heads home and meets Tim. He explains how he parted with the riches. Tim comforts and thanks him for sacrificing the money. Tim reminds him that all the treasure isn't worth the friendship they have.

The other fairy tales follow suit, and give new life to the realm of fantasy. New twists wrapping Corn Dollies, rainbow cats, and magic wine give the reader a world to explore. Those parents exhausted of sending their children to sleep nightly with the same glass slipper and big bad wolf should seriously consider a new collection of the freshest fairy tales since Grimm.

I was lucky enough to attend a screening where Terry Jones read these stories aloud to an audience, and adults laughed as much as the children. I've been looking for this book to buy to read my nieces and nephews ever since. Very silly, unpredictable stories that kids will want to hear again and again.

Dear Readers, I think this book is a very good book. Some of the stories are similar to some of Terry Jones' other books. Part of The reason I read this book was because I liked another book "Nicobobinus" so much. "Fantastic Stories" was very nicely written and Terry Jones' humor comes out often in this, along with his wildly spread and unusual imagination. Micheal Foreman's illustrations were excellent. I believe Terry Jones and Micheal Foreman make a good team. Together, the two individuals have created a very interesting and wonderful book. I would recommend it to anyone who loves fairy tales, especially those with a twist. sincerely, Michelle Barbara O'Loughlin

As a chiled my father read me this story and it scaired the s*** out of me. my bed was under a sky light so I thought I was easy prey, because nobody could resist the call of the fly by night I thought. I had the biggest scaire one night when I woke up to a neabors BLACK CAT walking accross my window!! If you havent read this story or anny other terry jones faerie tales, log off and make you're way to the library. or just order them, all of them! and I doesent matter how old you are, Adults can apreciate the stories as much as children, maybe more. these stories are fresh and alive. I cherish my coppy of Fairy Tales ( the colection fly by night came from), It shaires a place in my heart with my OLD coppyes of grim and anderson fairy tales (the good ones with unhappyness, death and loss of limbs),narnia and the terrible horrible no good verry bad day. If you like fairy tales/ the fly by night check out: the curse of the vampire socks fantastic stories other terry jones books. If you like kids poems like Where the sidewalk ends you will definetly enjoy The curse of the vampire socks. I could go on forever about kids books, if you want to talk e-mail me

I love this book, I wont let my friends touch it. It's totallyworth the dollars, it tells you about the greatest NFL players ever. For example: Steve Young, the best left-handed Quarterback ever,and Jerry Rice, the greatest all-time wide receiver ever.