2 comments about Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes.

1. I really enjoyed reading this book - even though I will probably never try the recipes. I read the whole book through in one sitting (although, to be truthful, it's a small book.) Besides being an interesting memoir of the author's childhood in Egypt during WWII, in a wealthy Jewish family, it's also an honest account of her alienation from her mother, which really spoke to me. The author is a good writer, which makes the book easy and rewarding to read.



2. This was one of my favorite all-time books. I purchased one as a gift for my sister also. I love to read about other cultures, and this was an enjoyable read.

5 comments about The Stolen Blue: A Claire Reynier Mystery.

1. mystery/murder books have always been overlooked by me. plots and themes are too predictable.

   i ordered this from University of New Mexico Press. since i live in the Southwest, i was naturally 'drawn' to this book. the main setting is Albuquerque. i've lived there and will always love that city.

   five pages into the reading; i could not put it down. sure, i'm biased towards the Southwest.

   This particular book can appeal to anyone. (like Tony Hillerman appeals to just about anyone).

   i 'sailed' through it the first time. took a few days off reading other books. then, i found myself re-reading: THE STOLEN BLUE.

   i seldom,if ever, recommend a book. but this time, i WOULD recommend it to anyone.

   ...like Tony Hillerman's writings are popular EVEYWHERE, Judith Van Gieson has bestselling potential here.

   rarely do i find myself re-reading a book so soon. THE STOLEN BLUE was one of those books.

   'nuff said?




2. This is the first in this series featuring Claire Reynier, Acquisitions Librarian for New Mexico's Center for Southwest Research. Her mentor summons her to his house to witness his will in which he gives her Center his extensive book collection and his house to his daughter. When a portion of the collection is stolen from her truck, Claire sets out to recover the books, find out who stole the books since only a handful of people knew she had them, and why anyone would want to steal them in the first place. There isn't much mystery here, but there is tons of atmosphere. Van Gieson's New Mexico comes alive with her skillful pen - you can almost smell the creosote smoke in the air. However, this slim book moves along at a very leisurely pace so if you like the kind of mysteries with lots of twists and turns and a mad dash to the denouement, this is not the book for you. If you like your mysteries in the cozy genre, grab this book up.



3. As a lover of the Southwest, I found Stolen Blue was very satisfying. I found myself underlining all sorts of places, books, etc. mentioned in the text to follow up. The "atmosphere" was terrific..

   The negative was that the "mystery" aspects of the book were transparent. You KNEW the books would be stolen from her car, you KNEW the "History of the Blue" would be the important stolen book (the title alone gave it away!)so there weren't so many "surprises" that mysteries often have. And the eventual "killer" seemed somewhat arbitrary.

   Still, the the writing drew you in, the atmosphere held you there, and the "mystery" pulled you through! The quasi-intellectual aspects were also a plus.

   More!!




4. Author Judith Van Gieson took time out from her mystery series starring Neil Hamel, to create a second series. This is the first book in what I believe is a superior series to Hamel.

   The book's a gift to booklovers (much like John Dunning's work), in that, as a rare-books librarian at a University campus, heroine Claire takes us into the world of collectors, readers, what makes value, and just the love of all things "bookish". She's an interesting heroine, with grown children, newly divorced from a marriage that makes you wonder (why did she stay?)and a new job in the often cutthroat world of academia.

   A wealthy mentor has died, leaving his books collection to the University where Claire is employed. It's a feather in her cap, but she also finds herself needing to agree to be the executor of his estate. His odd family and his ranch, in a rancher vs. naturalist part of New Mexico have you saying silently to her..."What, are you nuts?"

   From both the donation and the need to be the executor come the mysteries. I must say, I thought the culprit in each would be different, but I was proven wrong. The mystery line is gentle, probably a good way to introduce a librarian into the world of crime solving.

   The real star in this book, however, is Gieson's imagery and depth of feeling for the New Mexico landscape. Both the raw power and beauty of the area are on display for all to see and enjoy. She's really given the reader something solid here, as I found myself homesick, and wishing I had a Southwestern desert vacation planned. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.




5. This who-dun-it kept me engrossed about half way through, but disappointed me at the end because the suspect was too predictable. A weak point of the plot: how could the thief know if and when Claire Reynier would leave her truck with the valuable books unattended (a dumb thing to do for such an intelligent heroine). Claire is an interesting character, but the repetitive descriptions of her daily routines get tiresome. Who cares if she lets the cat out every time she comes home from work, or eats another frozen pasta dinner (it's a wonder she can stay healthy on a diet like that!) And one gets bogged down by all those lengthy paragraphs describing traffic and road conditions every time she sets out to drive somewhere. On the positive side, the plot is refreshingly unusual and the descriptions of New Mexico and its culture are vivid.

1 comments about Mountain Time: A Western Memoir.

1. While browsing through the Large Print section of our local public library, my tired eyes lit on an old familiar title; Mountain Time. But this wasn't Ivan Doig's prose-poetry of the Montana sheep country that I expected. Instead, I was pleasantky surprised to find a different locale. the semi-desert and mountains of New Mexico. And a totally different attitude toward the land, its non-human occupants and their tanglrd relationships. The book is composed of about a hundred ( I didn't stop to count ) essays arranged chronologically, illustrating the author's gradual transition from a frustrated Eastern school teacher to a satisfed Southwestern professional writer. Each essay is self-contained, ideal for a brief literary escape from the dreary weather outside my window to the blue skies and strong sunshine of the New Mexico desert. Since you can't hop on a plane and fly to Sante Fe, this is the next best thing.
   Charlie A Allen

No comments about Home Kids.

No comments about The Last Year of the Gang (Ulverscroft Nonfiction).

No comments about Ridings High (Isis Nonfiction).

1 comments about Forty-Seven Roses.

1. "44 Dublin Made Me", was the first book written Peter Sheridan. Mr. Sheridan is also a noted playwright, and director of such films as, "My Left Foot" and "The Boxer". When I commented on his first work I felt it settled itself between the sadness that often accompanies Irish Memoirs with the traditional healthy dose of humor. This second book, "47 Roses", is not devoid of humor, but the topic that is shared is almost incompatible with humor, and certainly overwhelms the few lighter moments that are described.

   The number in the title not only describes the flowers that play a role in the book, but much more significantly the number of years a woman from England remained devoted to a man she could never marry. It was not only that the author's father was married that kept them apart, but also, and to a lesser extent, differences that unfortunately remain so prominent between Ireland and England. Intolerance was much stronger in the first half on the 20th Century, so the idea of an English Protestant and an Irish Catholic as husband and wife was dicey, especially for an Irishman whose family history was prominent in the more extreme groups of Ireland. To balance the difficulties, the English side of the family included a former member of The Black And Tans, who will remain notorious for much of Ireland no matter how many years may pass.

   Anna was the wife in Ireland and Doris was the woman in England. Both of these women had a claim on the affections of this man Peter, and he clearly had feelings that ran very deep for both of them. For 30 years Doris was a part of the author's family, through visits and even watching the children when Anna and Peter vacationed. The ultimatum that finally separated Peter and Doris was to last 17 years until his death, and then it would continue with the son trying to piece together the mystery of this extremely unusual relationship that spanned the Irish Sea.

   The feelings of both women and their actions are at times hard to fathom. Why would Doris wait for a man for 47 years, going so far as to convert to Catholicism so as to not be separated after they left their life on this world? This same woman who would come to lay flowers at Peter's grave without having seen him for the better part of 2 decades, and upon arriving in Dublin would walk 10 miles at the age of 75 to pay her respects. This same woman who had one child requested that Peter give her away at her wedding and at the same time invited Anna to attend. The questions and suspicions this request raised, the answers offered, presumptions confirmed or denied.

   This is an interesting story to read, it is also devoid of the clichés that would reasonably be expected. The author seems to be in the greatest pain, not because of what may or may not have happened, but due to his feelings about his conduct as he tries to piece together 47 years of family mystery.

   This is a remarkably personal story, and because it is, often is almost uncomfortable to read. I don't know whether the story could have been related in a different manner, and my perception may be different from others.

5 comments about Diana: Story of a Princess.

1. Tireless humanitarian and inspirationally anti-establishment figure? Or beautiful but shallow woman who loved nothing more than a good photo-op and seeing her soap-operaish life grab headlines? Most of us lean heavily toward one of the above perspectives of Princess Diana. Unfortunately, it seems that books dealing with the late princess also tend to be written in this black-and-white way.

   Yet in "Diana: Story of a Princess," authors Craig and Clayton offer material that paints a refreshingly different portrait of Diana. It certainly isn't black-and-white; instead, it emphasizes the complex and elusive character of this eternally puzzling person.

   The biography begins with Diana's childhood, and although it may initially seem a slightly dry chronicle of Spencer family history and aristocratic titles, it quickly beomces much more compelling. It is obvious that the authors have put a tremendous amount of research into the book-this research translates into well-detailed account of every pivotal moment in her life. "Diana, Story of a Princess" is, if nothing else, a complete "life portrait" that Diana fans won't want to be without.

   In my mind, however, this bio is much more than a simple chronicle of events because of the widely varying views and accounts presented about the princess. Everyone knows how Diana was a victim of the Charles-Camilla relationship, but does anyone know the disadvantages Charles faced as he entered the marriage? We all have heard of what a selfless charity worker Diana was, but did we ever know of her supposedly "darker" side during this sort of work? This book explores both "sides" of these issues and others. Through facts, first-person accounts, and their own intelligent, interesting, and balanced commentary, the authors attempt not to trash Diana or transform her into a saint, but simply to raise and explore questions about her true character.

   Overall, this biography is certainly a success. It manages to be generally informative and intriguing-while avoiding the pitfalls of being too one-sided or sensational.




2. I have never read any of the Diana biographies ~~ but I happened to see a copy of this book on the clearance rack at a bookstore and thought, why not? I was mesmerized from the first page.
   
   I was 11 when Princess Diana exploded on the scene. I watched the wedding that day ~~ and sighed over the fairytale of it all. I was 27 when she died ~~ and watched her funeral. So maybe I wasn't as keen on Diana as some of the others were, but she was an icon of my youth.
   
   This book is a fair book describing her life before she married Charles and after her divorce. It showed a side to their marriage that brought understanding on their marriage (she was too young, I thought to be married into the Royal family, who I feel is removed from the realities of their country) and how it disintegrated into the public mess that I remember reading about in college. The authors took pains not to point fingers at either one of them in the blame for their marriage's failure ~~ they reminded us that their marriage is just like any other marriage ~~ set out with high hopes and expectations, only neither was equipped to deal with the other or how to fix their problems.
   
   Then reading about how Diana manipulated the media to her advantage as well as to the advantages of her causes ~~ shows a savvy business woman who does understand the consquences of good media coverages. It was an interesting read on that account.
   
   To paint Diana in a black and white picture is not fair to her because this woman, according to the authors, was a paradox. She showed many facets of her personality that kept her interesting to all that knew her, whether they liked her or not. She was portrayed as a caring mother, a compassionate charity worker, a high-strung wife, and so on. In my opinion, she's a refreshing change from the stiff-lipped royalty in England. This book shows her growing up in the 16 years of limelight and it's a fascinating read.
   
   2-1-05



3. I've read lots about Princess Diana. This book like so many others paints Diana as a shrew and Charles as a victim. What no one seems to care about is that Charles entered his marriage with a girlfriend on his arm. Camilla did not appear "sometime after the marriage broke down".
   Too many times before the wedding and on the honeymoon Charles failed to reassure Diana regarding his real relationship with Camilla.
   He never gave Camilla up.
   That alone accounts for 99% of the problems that faced the Wales.
   Another sour point in the book is the Tiggy situation. I thought royal nannies stayed in the background. But not Tiggy. Tiggy was everywhere to be seen. Most books support Tiggy as "great" and Diana is horrible. I'm confused as to the Christmas Party where Diana sidles up to Tiggy and whispers "sorry to here about the baby".
   Everyone(and I mean everyone in the whole room heard the whispered comment. That seems strange to me. Also I've had people "hit me between the eyes" with an off-the-wall statement like that. And all I say is "beg pardon".
   I don't have to be helped from the room nor consult a lawyer.
   Seems way over played to me.
   The authors seem to dismiss Diana's good deeds as play acting for good press.
   If you are a Diana fan. Look elsewhere for a book to read about the princess.



4. As autobiographies go this was a rather interesting effort. I must say the authors treated all sides fairly when addressing the various complex issued that made up this woman's world.
   
   This book opens with her childhood and stops on various parts of her life which helped to create the woman she later became. With care and compassion the life of this woman is explained--giving insight to a world few enter or understand. Not every situation puts Diana in a glowing position which is fair as she was at time tempestuous, sassy, sad, and manipulative. In any event this is an entertaining read regarding one of the world's most beloved people. This is truly a book worth reading.



5. 
   She was born into a wealthy aristocratic family, grew up in a privileged society, and at the young age of 20, married the Prince of Wales. Her magnetic personality and good looks attracted much attention from the media. She became an instant celebrity and a massive target for tabloid gossip. A few controversies surrounded her, but after her death in 1997, she became a public icon to many people.
   
   But what makes the story of Diana Spencer so special? Is it her rebellious attitude towards the "establishment"? Her committed volunteer work for various charities? Her tragic death in Paris? My answer is: all of the above... and then some. Yet, as the authors point out, Princess Diana played a significant role in society. Aside from being a pretty face who lived lavishly, she was also an admirable spokesperson for humanity, a philanthropist, and a loving mother to her children. At a time when most people (from all levels of society) feared having any contact with AIDS patients, Diana openly embraced them for the world to see, showing what compassion is all about. Such simple gestures had a profound impact on society, as many people began changing their opinions on AIDS patients.
   
   Diana's frequent visits to hospitals and shelter homes combined with her amicable personality easily made her a fan favorite. Her involvement with the Red Cross, and especially her efforts in bringing awareness about landmines, proved to be a huge success. However, Diana - just like everyone else - had her flaws; she had her good days and bad days. During bad days, according to the authors, she was insecure, emotionally unstable, sometimes manipulative, and often a jealous wife. The latter, was mostly due to her husband's affair with his "friend" Camilla Parker Bowles. Speaking of Charles, he too receives a fair amount of attention in this book. Diana's rollercoaster marriage to the prince is closely examined. The authors also write about Diana's own relationships and affairs with other men, most notably, her relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed.
   
   While it would be all too easy to for the authors to choose sides, they seem to be fairly neutral throughout the book. They stick to the facts and minimize any personal feelings they may have for Diana. Their treatment of the paparazzi also seems well balanced. They write about how reporters constantly chased the Princess and invaded her privacy by snapping pictures of her. However, they do not "bash" the media. As a matter of fact, many reporters are quoted in this book. The authors also explain how the media cold-heartedly "used" Diana to their advantage, and how Diana herself "used" the media to her advantage. It was an odd relationship. They also write about the paparazzi's role in her fatal car crash: are they to be blamed for it? Did they cross the line? What really happened on that night in Paris? This book will give you some answers.
   
   This is an insightful book, well-researched and balanced. If you want to know who Princess Diana was, this book will do just fine. I recommend it.

5 comments about A Song Flung Up to Heaven.

1. THIS POEM WAS THE BEST POEM I HAVE EVER READ AND I LOVE TO READ IT OVER AND OVER SO I GIVE THIS POEM 5 STARS



2. About the book: She tells her story in wonderfully simple, delightfully entertaining narrative. As a very young woman when I read her first autobiographical installment (I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings) I became an ardent fan of her craft. Her story gave me entrance into a sisterhood; some of her poetry still stirs and inspires me.
   
   However, in my listening experience, most authors (even some of my favorites) should NOT read their own works for audio publication. Maya Angelou is no exception. Instead of being transported into her experience, I heard a reading--and not (in my opinion) a particularly memorable one.
   
   Nevertheless, Ms. Angelou remains, without doubt, a voice of the time and a woman of vast accomplishment. Well dang, one person can't be perfect in all things now can they?! LOL!



3. I am an avid fan of Ms. Angelou and actively collect her books. Please continue to provide her works, especially her older books.



4. When a representative of Random House contacted Angelou with the suggestion that she write an autobiography at the tender age of forty, she demurred, and he lay down a challenge by saying that she might be right to refuse, for writing autobiography as literature is nearly impossible to do. Angelou picked up that challenge and met it squarely, for her six-volume autobiography does indeed qualify as literature. As has been noted in several reviews of her other books in this series, she writes not the dry facts of her existence but rather the colorful and expressive interpretation of those facts. Instead of recounting happenings, she paints for the reader her interpretation of them, their significance, and their place in her universe. History may underlie her writing, but it is the view that Angelou has of those historical events that gives her books interest and meaning.
   
   A SONG FLUNG UP TO HEAVEN is the concluding volume of Angelou's autobiographical writings, and, by itself, it is of limited instruction for the reader. It is quite brief, easily read in a single sitting. The first short chapters present a skeletal synopsis of her personal history. The final chapter gives wing to her philosophical view of humankind. In between, the reader is given a glimpse of the frustrations leading to the Watts Riots and of the despair occasioned by the assassinations of Malcolm X and of Martin Luther King. This volume also continues earlier books' insightful descriptions of King, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin, adding much to the understanding of these men by the general public.
   
   This slim volume is indeed the conclusion of the other five books that comprise Angelou's autobiographical works detailing the first half of her life. It is no more logical to begin reading this book without having first read the others than it is to read the final chapter of a novel before enjoying all of the preceding chapters. If one is to comprehend this book fully, he must begin with I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS and follow with its successors until he reaches A SONG FLUNG UP TO HEAVEN in the proper course of things.
   
   If a criticism must be lodged against this book, it is only that its brevity is such that it scarcely warrants being published as a separate volume. It could easily have been appended to the preceding book, ALL GOD'S CHILDREN NEED TRAVELING SHOES. The fact that the end of the book comes so quickly forces the reader to wonder whether Angelou tired of her writing project, ran headlong into an ultimate publishing deadline, or wished to eke out a bit more recompense from her publisher by forcing one additional volume through his presses.
   
   Some of the preceding autobiographical volumes have been described as having perhaps a bit too much virulence against Whites, perhaps a little too much hyperbole concerning the enduring effects of historical slavery. Some of Angelou's statements reveal a "reverse racism," to use one of her own phrases. Of course, the social climate in the United States during much of Angelou's life hardly engendered loving relations between White and Black citizens, yet the non-aggression of a Martin Luther King grew and matured in this environment, making Angelou's strident condemnations of the White population as much a factor of her own personality as of her social environment, and, after many pages, that stridency becomes tiresome. This final volume, however, is free of such hostility and is much more accepting of good people regardless of their color.
   
   In brief, if one has read the first five volumes of Angelou's autobiography, then by all means do finish with this sixth one. On the other hand, picking this one up and reading it first will deprive the reader of an accurate appreciation of Angelou's artistry, in both its strengths and its weaknesses, as a prose writer and may well leave the reader with a complete mis-perception of Angelou's autobiographical books. Angelou's autobiographical series is one of those things that really should be experienced in the order of their creation, and doing so will give the reader a captivating view of this most unusual author and poet.



5. First let me say that I am a huge Maya Angelou fan! I couldn't wait to add "A Sung Flung Up to Heaven" to my library. When it arrived, I poured a cup of tea and dug in. When I finished, I felt a little cheated. It seemed that she rushed through this book, leaving me wanting more. It's a lovely book overall, but I expected more detail, more artistry... more Maya... in this final installment. I wanted more personal perspective on her relationships with Malcolm X and Dr. King. I'm still a big fan, but this book missed the mark a bit for me.

1 comments about It Really Does Happen to a Vet (Charnwood Large Print Library Series).

1. This was an enjoyable, often humorous, journey with a contemporary first-year Veterinarian. The book was written by a Brit, for Brits, and published in London. This can lead to confusion if one is reading it on the other side of the Atlantic. I have resolved to procure one of the "British-American" translation dictionaries available here on Amazon.com- possibly "Divided by a Common Language" by Christopher Davies and Jason Murphy? Some examples of the confusion are: "locum" as in "I registered with a couple of locum agencies yesterday." And Auntie Em, I don't think we're talking about Dorothy's lovely blue and white gingham number when Joe wears "Jumpers."

   It was also interesting that there was no disclaimer, as frequently appear at the front of "true" North American books like Ann Rule's, saying something to the effect of "the names of the innocent and non-major players have been changed to protect their privacy." Joe, our rookie vet and author, doesn't do this, and frequently has unkind things to say about certain farmers and pet owners. Some things, unfortunately, do not change. He says: "About one in seven vets get sued in their first year in practice." Ouch!

   Are there no laws or regulations governing the release of waste over there? Our new vet and longer-term surfer says: " I tried out a little reef break off the headland called "sewer pipe" by the locals, for obvious reasons. The break is directly out from the main sewage outfall from Westward Ho! And you have to time your surfing very carefully to avoid the times when they pump out the sewage, otherwise it gets pretty nasty!"

   All in all it's an interesting "year in the life" story. His disclosures of some of the bad veterinarial practices of others are scary and cautionary to chose one's vet wisely. And I shall never eat veal again!