Just reading the pierogi dough & stuffing recipes sent me right back to Babcha's kitchen! Now I remember her secrets & will always have them at hand. This is the "bible" for all Polish kitchens & those who appreciate Polish food. I bought my mother a wonderful Polish cook book many years ago, but waite 'til she sees this one!

This is the bible on good Polish home cooking.

You'll find at least one recipe for most dishes you can think of. They are clear, easy to follow, and the results taste just like my grandmother's cooking (she wonders how I do it without asking her for help).

There is an excellent section on ingredients and good directions for things like making your own bialy ser/twarog so that you can produce good Polish cooking regardless of how well or poorly stocked your local delicatessen is.

I occassionally feel that Pan Strybel is a little bossy, but the results justify it - my chicken soup has never been better.

Younger cooks may choose to ignore some of the garnishing suggestions as they are somewhat dated.

The index is really good, making it easy to find what you're looking for (in Polish or in English).

And when you're feeling a little tired and missing Poland, just curl up and read.

This book is excellent and highly recommended. A very comprehensive collection of Polish recipes.

"I believe we, reportage photographers of the human condition, have a moral duty to get as close as we can to the people we photograph and to draw attention to all the dignity in the world, as Nubar Alexanian has managed to do so well in this book. It gave me immense pleasure to see my Latin-American people portrayed with so much tenderness."

"...an authentic expression of our geography and our people making at the same time a personal statement which is artistically original and morally compelling."

"Anyone thinking of going to Peru or, for that matter any Andean Republic, on a photographic assignment should study this author and photographer's work with great care. He demonstrates great empathy with the people he photographs--his main subject-matter. The photographer should be heartily congratulated for his exceptional ability to study and understand his subject-matter, achieve spontaneity and yet at the same time maintain high standards of composition and outstanding technical quality."

This has become one of my favorite children's books! I fell in love with the story and the drawings the very first time I read it and I've bought several copies for all the little girls I know. Arianna's thoughtful delight in being a little girl and exploring grown up places makes her worthy of occupying the same shelves as Madeline and Eloise.

If you're looking for a children's book that hasn't been overmarketed yet and will warm the hearts of people of any age, I highly recommend ARIANNA AND THE STRAWBERRY TEA.

This is a delightful tale in which Arianna's unwitting, uninhibited and confident behavior shows children that they, too, can make a difference in the adult world. It has an immediate appeal to all children. What child has not wished to eat with grown-ups in a fancy restaurant or even at an adults-only dinner party, let alone in the Grand Hotel? The book offers both a fanciful and a realistic view of an exclusive, traditional hotel both through the descriptions and the engaging illustrations. Monsieur Le Bear, the supporting character, both by his demeanor and his silence, adds immeasurably to the enjoyment of the story as children love to see him mimic Arianna's behavior. The book's well balanced and at time rhythmic narrative holds children's attention through to the satisfying ending. The unique and simple recipes at the end of the book are an added bonus, and I can imagine that lots of children have already sat down to strawberry tea and chocolate tarts after reading this tale. The story, illustrations and recipes make for a brilliantly enjoyable combination. On a practical level, parents will appreciate that the story can help children build confidence in themselves and offers opportunties for vocabulary development and discussion. My family hopes for a sequel!

The drawings in this book are the best I have seen in a long time. They are all done by hand by a very talented artist and nothing was done using a computer!

Ms. Perillo's second book holds clear and compelling images of the sacred and the mundane. She examines topics from disability to the Beatles. She is in top form in this book. I have recommended this book to many of my friends.

I love Lucia's writing because it touches my soul I hate her writing because it touches my soul. When I read her poetry I feel the weight of it.

Heard her on NPR. One of my favorites is "Skin" which I've since seen in other anthologies. I think her work is brilliant! Her other book, Dangerous Life, is also great. I've recommended her to a number of friends. She has an amazing command of the language.

When our 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with a Brainstem Glioma, the hospital and Child Cancer Foundation (in New Zealand) gave us books to read, if you wanted to wade through all the technical stuff, personally I couldn't cope with it all. Then when I was looking at sites on the internet, I read about this book. I had a look at it at Amazon, and thought about it for a few days, trying to weigh up if it would be relevant to NZ'ers. I finally took the plunge and got it. I am soooo relieved that I did. Suddenly I was able to read something and actually get some benefit from it. The inserts from the parents are wonderful - suddenly I don't feel so alone, and the advice is universal. It relates to anyone in any country going through this nightmare.

As a parent to a child who had a brain tumor, I feel that this book covers all the major topics. When our son was diagnosed back in '98, I searched for such a book but none existed. Our son has since passed away but we are thankful that this book is available - particularly for newly diagnosed families. We purchased copies for our public library and for The Jimmy Fund in memory of our three year-old son, Kevin Kirsch. Thank you for writing this much needed guide. It will be a resource for caregivers and medical professionals alike.

Having a daughter die of a Brain Stem Glioma, this book would have helped tremendously.

"The authors have skillfully woven a fine tapestry of events, with each chapter identified by a distinct color. This unique treatment allows the reader an unprecedented, near-touching closeness to Callas, as she sets her thoughts on the past. With each fact of her career and private life meticulously studied, this impresive book, with its enormous amount of compelling information, will lay to rest the belief that Maria Callas was not human."

I found this book the most riveting yet about our dear Maria.

As an avid opera goer I relished this book from cover to cover. All that I knew about Maria Callas I learned as a child from news headlines regarding her stormy relationsip with Aristotle Onassis. After reading this book, I wanted to rush out to buy her music to experience the legendary voice so acclaimed by her fans. If you are not a fan when you begin this book, you will be by the end.

Chapter by chapter the authors allow you to re-live the highs and lows that made Maria the artist that she was. Thank you, Mr. Pero and Mr. Byrne for this unbiased account. You brought her back to life.

The Color of Callas is a SMASHING CONTRIBUTION to the "Art World". What a gift to us. Wonderful cover, quality paper and printing, attractive hard cover and strong professional binding, BUT those things are not central to it's main value.
Colors of Callas is different!
It is both informative and factual.
But, it is yet exciting and entertaining. This book must be purchased by any serious Opera or creative arts person. I love it! The authors have affectuated a most worthy cause. Plus, they have done it excellently and with flare, accuracy and excitement.
I find most books boring. This one is NOT!
Peter Belmont, Jr.
Editor
SHOWSIGHTS Magazine

This is an excellent novel that mixes deep and sometimes painful emotion with an engaging and realistic story. 11-year old Sofia Ruth DiMarco, named after the Babe by her baseball-loving family, is a young phenom'even 'Sports Illustrated' sends out a writer for a major feature about her. But what the writer, the emotionally suppressed father, and Ruthie herself discover is the pain, longing, and isolation hidden behind her dazzling on-field brilliance.

Ruth is the only girl on her team and in her family, her pioneering fight fighter mother having been killed several years before. Her future in baseball is doubtful because of her gender, and her family doesn't recognize her claims to grief and her desires to remember her mother. With the help of the sportswriter, her feminist friend Ellie, and, especially, her own courage in confronting her family, she discovers her true, multifaceted identity. The pride and confidence she feels on the field are, at the story's conclusion, extended to her feelings about herself. I recommend this to older kids because of the mature themes: Baseball is really just a subtext for a very psychological portrayal of a young woman. Yet, it's both serious and fun at the same time. This winner of the Marguerite De Angeli Prize for a first novel for middle-grade readers is a well-written story of some of the pains and joys of growing up. Recommended.

Maria Testa's SOME KIND OF PRIDE is one of those rare books that will make you laugh and cry and teach you something while you're at it. Male or female, child or adult, this is the type of novel everyone should read. The characters are real, the story is fun and the message is never overstated. I highly recommend this novel for teen and pre-teen girls and reluctant readers.

This book breaks new ground in sports fiction for kids by offering both a compelling coming-of-age story and a real appreciation for one child's love of baseball. And to top it all off, it's about a girl! The author's expertise in her craft and in her sport shines through. This is a sometimes emotional, always enjoyable, and ultimately satisfying read.

Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, had a glorious history and at one time was the capital of ancient Rus'. Yet the Ukraine gained independence only upon the collapse of the Soviet Union. Oppressed by both Poland and Russia/Soviet Union, many Ukrainians felt resentful and hostile towards both Poles and Russians. During World War II, the Soviet Union and Poland fought on the allied side, so an enemy of the Soviet Union, such as the UPA, became an enemy of the West. While the Ukrainians fought heroically both for the Soviet Union and against, they obviously had no monopoly on heroism. There is also some reliable evidence of the UPA members killing innocent Polish and Jewish civilians. Unfortunately, some Poles retaliated against the UPA atrocities in a revengeful manner. This is an important book, which should be read by all those interested in the war on the Eastern Front during World War II.

This book is the memoirs of Maria Savchyn who spent 15 years of her life (from the ages of 14 to 29) in the Ukrainian underground army fighting for freedom against first the Nazis and then the Soviets. It is an exciting story of strength and determination in the face of overwhelming opposition.

In 1925 Maria Savchyn was born in a Ukrainian village east of the city of Lviv. At that time this was a part of Poland. Ukrainians living in this part of Poland formed the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) to seek independence from Poland, but in 1939 the partition of Poland put Western Ukraine under Soviet control. The OUN continued their activities for independence during this early Soviet occupation, and they formed the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) when the Nazis gained control early in World War II.Fighting first against the Nazis and then the Russians until the mid-1950s, the UPA resisted the occupation forces and fought for an independent Ukraine 50 years before the country actually gained its independence in 1991.

Maria joined the youth division of the OUN in 1940 when she was 14. Later she married a prominent leader of the group. She was an active member until 1954 when she was captured by the KGB. Involved in propaganda, Maria talks more about the day-to-day life of the underground than armed resistance. She gives a remarkably detailed account of her life in the UPA. This includes the names of the towns and villages she stayed in and the names of the people she worked with in the underground.

Its a sad story to read since during the period covered most of her fellow rebels were either captured or killed. Maria herself lost both her children to stay with the rebels. For the last nine years of the resistance she and her allies spent every winter in underground bunkers which were cramped, moist, and dark.

Yet for anyone interested in Ukrainian history or in resistance movements this is essential reading. Few members of the UPA have lived to tell their stories so Maria's book opens the door on a chapter of history long hidden from view. This is, however, not a history of the OUN and the UPA. That book remains to be written and will probably require access to KGB records.

I only wish this book came with a map that detailed the region and the villages mentioned in the text. Most English-language readers will not have sufficient geographic knowledge of the region to follow Maria's exploits without a good map.

This is a story of astonishing courage, resilience, resourcefulness and dignity in the face of the overwhelming resources of the totalitarian Soviet mammoth. The story is told plainly and simply, almost matter-of-factly about a struggle against all odds, a struggle to prevent Ukraine's being drowned in the poisons of Sovietism. Perhaps most striking is the calm dignity with which the author and her colleagues in the Ukrainian underground faced death almost daily, and their quiet determination to continue their mission, well into the 1950's, to fight for some semblance of normalcy in Ukraine no matter what the personal and familial costs to the author and those with whom she served so nobly. This is a stunner.

One of the most honest and needed collections around. This anthology is wonderfully edited with a great selection of writers and work. It is very comprehensive and is loaded with truths America needs to hear. Hats go off to the editors !

UNSETTLING AMERICA does just that. It brings into question settled ideas of American-ness and what it means to be an American. In additon the organziation of the book is such that the authors appear to be having a conversation about various aspects of conneaction and lack of connection to their own roots and cultures and to America as amelting pot and an opportunity to reinvision the promise of America. The work is clear, powerful, moving, exciting. It works out very well in a classroom or discussion group as it is very thought provoking. Also it makes great bedside reading. I relaly love this booka nd have bought many copies to share with my friends.

Forget the status quo of the Norton anthologies and the self-importance of the Best of American Poetry series; this is THE anthology that belongs on everyone's shelves. The Gillan's have compiled and arranged an eclectic selection of work from a great combination of poets both well-known and should-be-better-known. Broken into five thematic "chapters," it is laid out like a narrative, with different poets effortlessly flowing into one another and can be read from cover to cover like your favorite historical novel.

I'm not sure what this other reviewer is talking about, it has to be for another book and it ended up here. This isn't really a "book" it's just a bunch of stickers. They're nice stickers though - little reproductions of some of Chagall's artwork. Pretty high-quality as far as stickers go.

This is the most wonderful book about Chagall I've ever seen. The colorful and beautiful illustrations made me so exciting. The colors are fantastic compared with other books about Chagall. I recommend this book for any Chagall fan confidently. Though it has something to be desired because of being written in Spanish instead of English, this is only for you!

This is an extraordinary book for every Chagall fan. The quality of illustrations is just wonderful, and if you had only one book to buy on Chagall, this is the one! Don't worry, its not heavy at all; in fact, I would have added more and more pages of never-been-seen work of this incredible artist. The illustrations are colorful, vivid and beautiful, and the biography is very well written and complete. Strongly recommended!