If you love things historical but don't necessarily love reading history, this book is a delightful way to learn about the South--not from a historian or a scholar, but from a mother teaching her children how to live in the times they were born in, nearly 100 years ago.

Sometimes we meet a person in a book we'd like to claim as family. Reading these letters of Ina Dillard Russell's found me wishing I were one of her 13 children--with a few dozen of these letters to call my very own.

The letters themselves are full of life-- as it was lived by real people-- in rural Georgia from the early part of this century to the Great Depression. They tell the story of a remarkable Southern family, headed by a remarkable Southern woman.

Born in 1868, Ina Dillard Russell grew up during Reconstruction. She married an Athens lawyer and future chief justice of the Georgia supreme court in 1891, and raised her family (which included future GA governor and U.S. senator Richard Russell) with a generous spirit, prudent advice, and loving guidance.

It's all there in the letters, which Ina wrote on any scrap of paper handy, usually as she held a baby on her lap! I found her comments on the challenges life presents and on how to rise gracefully to them, her tips on hygiene, diet, manners, and fashion, on study, perserverance and spirit, not only a tonic and a charm, but a key to the tenor of the times.

Since we can't all be Ina's children, the recipients of most of these treasures, we have Ina's editor (and grandaughter) Sally Russell to thank for selecting them from the nearly 3000 letters Ina wrote and passing them on. Russell's editorial comments to each of the five chapters are rich in anecdote, history and heart. She explains just enough about the people involved, and then wisely allows Ina to speak for herself.

For the letters themselves tell Ina's story better than narrative ever could. She gives herself so freely to the page, expends her energy so fully on paper, that by the end of the book I'd come to feel I'd actually met her, had spent time with her in the kitchen or on the front porch swing. She's part of my family now, and I refuse to let her go.

For anyone who ever took a film course, we are taught via the writings of Laura Mulvey that it is the women who is subjected in film. Screening the Male provides the research conducted in examining the filp side of Mulvey's theory. This book is extremely valuable for anyone who is interested in how men are present in film.

This is a wonderful book, full of Alaska Native history, names, places/maps, languages, music. Absolutely priceless. Worth every penny if you can get your hands on it. Written ABOUT the people BY the people. An absolute MUST for researchers.

This is an amazingly wonderful book! Ina Yalof has complied a collection of nearly 100 letters from women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Some are newly diagnosed; others have survived more than 50 years. They're from all walks of life, all ages with one things in common....the will to live. These letters give a glimpse into the hearts of these survivors. These are their personal accounts of the battles they have fought and their struggles to live their lives to the fullest. They all echo the same thing....life goes on. For any woman who needs an emotional recharge from the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer, this book will lift your spirits like no other.

Being completely ignorant about yoga except wanting to learn about it, this is a great book to start with. I have been able to start practicing yoga at home, by following the author's advice and instruction. The chapters preceding the exercises are interesting and informative. The instructions on how to do the exercises are easy to follow and the illustrations make it possible for you to begin practicing yoga at home. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to improve their health and well-being.

I did enjoy reading this book, with some minor things I hope become updated in future publishings.

It was written in the 70's, so while births were often described in a very personal, loving and spiritual manner, terminology such as "psychedelic," "trippy," "far out," and getting naturally "high" were often used and someone looking for straightforward talk may find it a little weird.

The only other thing I might update is the common use of layman's terms when describing anatomy - I prefer reading the formal medical terms and find some lay terms a bit on the vulgar side.

Overall I found the book to be a good read. It was packed with every possible kind of birth, including a couple of stories about unfortunate deaths (while it's not a nice subject, there is always a possibility, and the people who experienced it share their feelings about it and about their outlook towards getting pregnant again). Each story is unique, as told by the birth parent or the midwife(s) who attended, and it allows people a chance to see how different it can be for everyone, but also how wonderful it can be at the same time.

I recommend this book more for the individual stories than for the sections about how midwives can help deliver babies. I would recommend more a book called "Birthing From Within" by Pam England which discusses natural childbirth, how to find a doctor or birth attendant who's philosophies more closely match yours, how to decide what kind of birth is right for you, and how to avoid being talked into something you don't want.

This book changed my life! Iread it about 13 years ago and it was the deciding factor in my going to nursing school. (at that time direct entry midwives were illegal in Florida). This book totally reinforces "birth" as a spiritual and natural event. Ina May also stresses the importance of babies in the birthing process and in our lives, as well as the relationship of the mother and father. This book offers positive affirmations of the birthing process that it should be read by anyone who is pregnant or wants to be.

Over eighteen years ago, this book was a guide, a source of comfort and an inspiration when I had my first child at home. The wisdom it contains supported me through the vastly more confrontational process of having my second child in hospital four years later. When a good friend became pregnant last year, I was delighted to find it on the shelves at the local bookstore, and immediately bought a copy to give her.

The births of both my children were intervention-free, and I credit that in no small measure to Ina May Gaskin's wonderful book. Yeah, the birth stories are goofy, but in such a homey, loving way! It's like e-mail from your slightly nutso friends. You save it and re-read it because it makes you smile.

I've used this book to prepare for several parties, and I found the recipes easy to follow and the results tasty. However, for a book focused on entertaining, one that suggests preparing as much as possible in advance, there are no specific directions on when to stop preparing, when to add finishing touches and reheat. (It took a LONG time for the refrigerated Parmesan Smashed Potatoes to get hot -- the whole dinner was delayed.) I am not a pro, and I need the advice. Books like Lora Brody's Entertaining Survival Guide are more useful, in giving advice on doubling the recipe, freezing, etc. This is an irritating oversight in such a beautiful book. The Indonesian Ginger Chicken took a lot of chopping of ginger and garlic to make the sauce and after all that effort tasted just like Teriyaki sauce.

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook was entertaining to read cover to cover. It was easy to read in an hour, and I often caught myself mentally planning to use several recipes and ideas. The side notes are very helpful in making the recipes successful and simple. Most recipes were ones that I would use for special family events and for entertaining. The best cookbook that I've read that includes detailed descriptions in parenthesis with the ingredients listed in the recipe. I enjoyed the forward by Martha Stewart and the intro from Ina Garten. The photos were vivid and personable. The sources are listed for specialty foods also. If you like to cook simple specialty dishes for family or friends, this is a cookbook to read and use. Ina Garten's book is not just your ordinary cookbook.

I cook, a lot. My friends cook, alot. I really dread trying to buy cookbooks on line, hoping that they are worth not only the shelf space but the shipping and handling. I recieved this cookbook a year ago but never really explored it. I made one or two dishes, all were delicious, but until recently I had not delved into its pages. Wow. what a treat. Kind of like finding forgotten money in your pant pocket.I strongly encourage people to try the swordfish,carrots, fennel, beef bouruigon, banana muffins--I could go on and on. Every recipe is a crowd pleaser and they are easy. Garten's recipes involve fresh ingredients--most of which you already have on hand-- that are simply cooked with surprising twists. The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook is a must have for all aspiring and inspiring cooks. Makes a great gift and is a valuable addition to every cook's collection regardless of expertise.

The author of this Reading Rainbow Selection is wise; she knows how eating styles and habits can separate people and be inhibiting. The narrator recalls how her parents met: a white American sailor and a Japanese woman from the port city of Yokohama. The girl tells the reader that some days, in her house, they eat with chopsticks, and on some days with knives and forks. In the clear, muted watercolors, the reader finds her eating with chopsticks with a rice cooker on the first page, and eating with a knife and fork with a toaster on the last. Somewhat like O. Henry's story, The gift of the Magi, the sailor is too embarrassed to eat with Aiko, since he cant use chopsticks. And Aiko is frightened to eat with John, for she has never used a fork. But the port call is ending in a few weeks, so both rush to learn the other's ways, and an eating date is finally arranged. Love conquers all.

A bi-racial child tells the story of how her Japanese mother and American father met, fell in love, struggled to understand each other's ways, and finally married. It's a wonderful portrait of diversity, showing children that superficial differences in cultures don't really mean much and shouldn't get in the way of people appreciating each other. But just as important to me is the fact that this is one of the few children's books I know of that shows adults falling in love in a realistic way - no fairy tale, love at first sight kind of thing, but a picture of love growing as two people learn more about each other. Those two qualities - its appreciation of cultural diversity and its honest portrait of love - make it a little gem.

"How My Parents Learned To Eat" presents Japanese and American cultures in a story. The readers read about the cultural values through a little girl's first person narrative. From her telling, the readers will understand Japanese customs in its cultural context, such as bowing for greeting and drinking soup from the bowl. These concepts may be foreign or even funny to Americans who are unfamiliar Japanese culture. The author, however, successfully weave elements from both Ameriacn and Japanese cultures into the story. The respect for both Japanese and American cultures is also evident in the book. Not only did the mother (Japanese) want to learn the Western way of eating, but the father (American) is also willingly to learn the Japanese way of eating. So, in the end of the story, the little girl says again, "That's why at our house some days we eat with chopsticks and some days we eat with knives and forks" (p. 32).

I love the way Ina Gartner wrote this cookbook - the style is that of your best friend confiding her best secrets for successful entertaining. Basically her tenants are that entertaining is about the guests and the hosts interacting, not the food, and that cooking should be replaced as often as possible with "assembling". Hear! Hear!

This cookbook offers a wonderful *style* or approach to cooking and entertaining. Frankly, I don't think the recipes are in themselves all that special, but that's hardly the point. Gartner offers you a way to learn to entertain and to LOVE it. Thankfully, on that front, Barefoot Contessa Parties! really delivers. The book is devided into seasons and offers a complete menu for each party - a Valentine dinner, a football party, an afternoon tea, a not-Thanksgiving dinner, etc. She also offers her philosphy towards approaching the theme of the party, and also gives examples of her best and worst parties and why they worked (or didn't). Overall, the book is really entertaining in itself and makes you want to get into the spirit and have your own party, whether you use her recipes or not.

Sometimes it's hard to plan a get-together where people enter a room and enjoy themselves with good food and drink and fine conversation. Authors such as Charles Dickens and Jane Austen wrote extensively about people who got together at parties where foods and drinks were served, and wonderful conversation ensued; perhaps that's what every host and hostess would love to hear at their parties. Reading books such as Barefoot Contessa Parties! and The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook make me grateful that someone like Ina Garten took the time to figure out how an average homemaker can create nice parties where the food is not only delicious but comfortable to assemble and enjoy with friends. Before I read the book, it wasn't easy even to prepare a brunch for eight, but with sensible ideas, I can offer guests something different without trying the "omelettes for individuals", as Ina once did. Ina's Chinese Chicken Salad with the delicious peanut sauce is already in my refrigerator, as is the noodle pudding (rich and delicious). I loved the idea of pre-oiling and pre-heating the pan before creating homemade potato chips, and the Asian Grilled Salmon was a winner. Just think what 19th century authors would have accomplished if they were privy to your parties... Thanks to you and your terrific staff! What would I do without you? Sincerely, Robin

I am passionate about food and cooking and appreciate a good recommendation on cook books. This book came highly recommended by an associate at the bookstore so I thought I would give it a try. The stories are wonderful and the recipes extremely easy to follow and create(especially with a color photo to compare to).

I've made 3 recipes so far, ceasar salad, chicken chili, and chocolate chunk cookies - all to rave reviews! I decided to try the salad for a family gathering - a family of fine cooks - so I was a bit nervous trying something new. I soon realized there was no need to be nervous when the complements started and noticed some dipping their bread in the salad bowl. I knew this book was a great treasure when I received so many complements on the cookies - which I've been trying to master for years (Toll-House doesn't compare to these).

I can't wait to creat more of these wonderful recipes! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to entertain and equally loves food!

This book takes place on a remote island in china were two boys, Luo and the un-named narrator, are sent to their "re-education" in the cultural revolution. The village headman discovers their talent for story telling and they are sent to the city to watch a film and present an oral presentation to the village and make it as long as the film. They succeed in doing this and they are sent once a month to see a movie in the city afterward. In the city the boys meet the tailor's daughter the beautiful seamstress as people called her. Luo falls in love with the seamstress instantly and they visit her often. Later Luo steals some forbidden western books from a neighbor in the village and they are wrapped up in the stories of the city and love. Luo tries to educate the seamstress with books by Balzac to make her his perfect match. This is a great book I recommend it to 5th graders and up. The book has a great ending and can be read in a day but you will think about it much longer!

I absolutely loved this book. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstrees was very well written and great for the kinds of people who just like to sit down and read a good book. This book is about the Cultural Revolution of the 1960's-1970's. It takes place during "Re-education". Chairman Mao Zedong required that chinese intellects be sent up high into the mountians to be re- educated in the uncivilized villages. The main characters include two boy's (one unamed and the other named Lou) and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Through some certain happenings the two boys obtain a suitcase full of forbidden books, one of which is written by Balzac. They read them and are fascinated by these works of art. They share these stories with others in the village and through this meet the little chinese seamstress. Lou falls in love with the young seamstress and wants to reform her from a peasant girl to an educated city girl. I will not give away the ending because it is quite suprising. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress was an incrediable read.

Dai Sijie's little novel is a masterpiece of subtlety, history, and the resilience of the human mind and spirit. His characters are caught up in one of the most horrifying events of the modern era - the Chinese Cultural Revolution - and are challenged not only to survive in the physical sense, but in the intellectual sense as well. They hang on desperately to their lives, their intellect and their friendship - and their story is both moving and inspiring, and not without some healthy humor. The love story that makes up part of the plot is both a familiar and a singular one - and very touching in many ways, without being maudlin. I read the book in a single sitting, in a couple of hours - but I plan to re-read it, taking more time with it, in order to savor the language and emotions a little further.

The story told here is one that is uniquely Chinese, but one that is universal at the same time. Despite (or perhaps because of) all of the attention given to the Cultural Revolution by the media and by governments in the West, little is really known outside of China of what it was actually like to pass through this time. This book is an invaluable look at a huge event that changed the lives of millions of people forever - a look at how grand plans made by leaders (no matter how well-intentioned) can go horribly wrong when put into action.

There's a mention on the jacket of this novel that it's being made into a film - after reading it, I can easily imagine it. The writing is extremely visual - I could picture the characters and the action with little effort. In the hands of the right director and writer, it could be done with timeless results. I hope that the author is involved in the process - the gentle power and beauty of his language should be retained as much as possible.