I became interested in "Ten Sisters" when I noticed that the story took place in my home state of Illinois, but specifically central Illinois. I just graduated from EIU which is located in Charleston and just next door to Mattoon. Reading about the Waggoners in those towns was such a joy, but meeting nine of the sisters was an even greater honor. They signed my book at the mall in Mattoon and were extremely gracious at my interest in their stories. I wasn't able to finish the novel before I met them, but even so, reading the chapters after I had met the authors gave the book a personal touch. I was in disbelief at some of the personal trials they went through. It is amazing that any of them survived so much heartache and uncertainty! My favorite aspect of the book is how Jenny and the older sisters wrote about the same period of time, but by the time you get to Vera's, Audrey's, and Doris' chapters, you are set in a completely different timeframe with completely different lifestyles. It is amazing how so many different stories come out of one very close, very special family. They told me that they will be coming out with an audio version of the book and they'll be featured in a popular women's magazine in Nov. or Dec. I'll be sure to check it out, and you should too!

I really don't like to read...let alone do a report on something that I have read! I don't know why, but I actually like doing it for this book...... It has some really funny, sad, and just odd things in it. I mean who would have a pet goat as a kid? I am in Highschool and lots of my friends and teachers were all dying to read this book. I would sit in class and read bits and pieces and the kids around me would always want to hear more...it was weird! Stuff like having a boxing ring in the front yard, or ten sisters sleeping in one bed not knowing who wet the bed in the morning...for some reason that sparked their interest???? Then there was the sad stuff in the book that was described in detail. It really made me learn a lot more then I already knew about these ladies, it's like stepping into their shoes (although they didn't wear them too often) I really like the book, after I read it there were just soo many things to tell about it in the report I did for my sophmore English class that it ended up getting an "A"...which is odd for me! :) This book is great...there are just soo many things to like about it, so many stories. The part I really like about the book though was that sometimes the sisters had different view points about the story, it was kinda neat to see what each one said about certain things...if they remembered or included it. And living in Iowa, it was a big highlight of my life...not many things can do that here! thanx-AM

Courage comes at an early age... these women had it in 1942 and even today display that same courage. As I know each one of these women personnally, my review may be a bit biased...but anyone that reads this work will see that I am only telling the facts. Each sister is a remarkable work of art. This book is a true "Love story" about "Family" and the meaning it gives to our lives. "Divided" as a family at such an early age has given great meaning to "togetherness" as each sister worked their way from mid 20th Century to present day.... Their style of writing is free and bold as they tell of perceptions and feelings. Just to get ten sisters to sit down and author a book together is almost fiction. Yet again their spirit of "one for all" won out, and I, a reader won too. This book is "true LIFE" at its worst, and best

After picking up one or two other candymaking books, the process continued to appear daunting. I found this book and everything clicked into place.

The pictures are particualarly helpful in getting an idea of what you're going for (sometimes the descriptions aren't enough) and the section on tempering chocolate is one of the best I've encountered (although it still lacks some of the details I needed to really understand the process)

Regretably, the book doesn't really mention that as chocolate constricts it tends to force centers out through weak parts in the chocolate, so there are a few surprises like that, but everything remained quite tasty.

The recipes are generally excellent (I've made a wide range of them and used many others as a base for my own) although in a few cases, when I was first starting, I was a bit uncertain as to what I was supposed to be looking or waiting for.

Since starting with this book I've learned other techniques of dealing with some of the candies that don't really get mention (such as getting a softer/lighter truffle using methods such as piping bag) so it's good to keep perspective.

The sources at the end of the book are good but the lack web sites (the book is old enough that this isn't surprising).

All and all if you're looking to take the plunge into candymaking, this is a great place to start to turn out excellent candy starting with only a yearning to know how.

Candymaking is full of pictures for the recipes, clear instructions, great section for trouble shooting. Some sleeper hints are golden - using the electric skillet for dipping, adding small bits of chocolate to quick temper the chocolate for dipping. The pictures of hand dipping were great. It was like standing at the back of a candy shoppe and gleaning all the tips from the pros. Thanks. We can't comment on all the sections, suckers or jellies, but the recipes we tested were awesome. In the Bay Area, Ghiradelli does sell chocolate in blocks of 10 lbs. available at Trader Joe's.

The recipes and pictures in this book are the best I have ever seen for professional candies. Follow directions to the letter for dipping chocolate - right down to the temperature of the room. I have tried several times and the best method is to melt chocolate at lowest oven temperature (their preference too) in stoneware (metal or glass get too hot!). Then remove stoneware bowl and place on heating pad to stay warm. Then place your dipping dish (a miniature fry pan just large enough for two eggs is perfect size, don't use the cool electric skillet they recommend) right in front of you and scoop 3 or 4 handfulls of chocolate from the stoneware to dip. For cherries, the ones with stems still on are easiest, just drag them through the dipping pan. Warning! don't let too much excess chocolate drain from the cherries before sitting down or you'll end up with a little hole in the bottom and the juice will drain out!