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News Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

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Miss Spider's ABC (Board Book)
Published in Board book by Scholastic Press (2000-03-01)
Author:
List price: $8.95
New price: $2.64
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $17.99

Average review score:

Our absolute favorite!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-21
I received this book as a baby gift when my daughter was born. It was my favorite book to read her as an infant, she seemed mesmerized by the bright pictures even when she was only a few months old. The illustrations are bright and beautiful. Now as a toddler, she still loves to read it, making the "shhhh" motion and clapping and giggling at the "suprise" at the end. We own the board book version and even so our pages show a lot of wear. I think this book is so wonderful for babies that I have purchased several copies as baby gifts as well.

I will note, if you're looking for the perfect ABC book to teach your preschooler his/her alphabet, this probably isn't the book you want. The letters are a little curly-que and only capitol letters are shown. However, it a great book for introduction to the alphabet and is very entertaining for children. I also recommend purchasing the board book version on its own (not as part of the set). The board book is much sturdier and the books in the set are a bit more abbreviated in their illustrations--which to me are the best part of this series. Of course the hardcover version has paper pages, which is impractical for a toddler to whom this book is well-suited.

Wonderful book and highly recommended!

Great book!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-19
i bought this for my 14 month old daughter and she loves it!! although she is a fan of the miss spider tv show too. her big brother, 6 years old reads it to her which i love to see. it is colorful and not too big so i can take it in my bag when we go out and she can hold it herself. nicole

great ABC book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-09
My kids love this engaging abc book. Its artwork is beautiful, and its bug theme is fun. My son learned the whole upper case alphabet (at the age of 3) just from having this book read to him (he wanted it again and again).

A Sublime ABC Board Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-11
Even after almost three years, I still love to read and re-read these books to my girls. David Kirk's artwork is rich and deeply textured and the words are not your usual fare ("K" is for "Katydid"), roll of the tongue, and, in my experience, pique children's interest -- I particularly love introducing my girls to "hummingbirds hide inside irises" and "jumping june bugs kiss katydids" His books are where poetry meets art for the under five set. Added plus: I get a break from chanting "Brown, Bear"! For this alone I am grateful.

my son's first favorite book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-26
This is a great book for a young child. The bright illustrations and the engaging text have kept my son entertained for many months, and he in turn has kept me entertained, as he fandangos with the fireflies, kisses the katydid and laughs with the ladybugs.
At least as important as the entertainment is the fact that at 22 months, my son is learning to recognize the letters of the alphabet and the different sounds that they make, and he has been exposed to words, like fandango, that probably would not have come up in our every day world.

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Mommy I'm Still in Here: Raising Children with Bipolar Disorder
Published in Paperback by Behler Publications (2008-02-01)
Author: Kate McLaughlin
List price: $13.95
New price: $8.81
Used price: $9.91

Average review score:

Must Read book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-14
I am a parent of a son who is almost 12, diagnosed a few years back with bipolar and ADHD. I am continually looking for books to help me along this journey. This is a must read book for any parent of a bipolar child. It is written by a mother - and it is very candid. It makes you realize as a parent that you are not alone in this struggle. It has given me renewed hope as we have to face the future. I highly recommend this book. After I finished reading it, my husband is now reading it and I have been telling everyone about it.

Interview with Kate McLaughlin
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-08
I had the pleasure of discovering Kate McLaughlin's, Mommy I'm Still In Here, a memoir of a mother's efforts to hold her family together during the crisis of having two of her three children diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Then I had the good fortune to interview her.

The book was moving and frightening, but ultimately hopeful and eminently practical. There is no adult demographic that I can think of that wouldn't benefit from this easy and fascinating read. If you never need the information on bipolar disorder for the management of your own circumstances, you can only come away enlightened, more compassionate, weighed with important questions and, most importantly, buoyed with hope.

Ms. McLaughlin's eldest daughter, Chloe, suffers from the most difficult to treat cascade of symptoms, and her brother, Michael, wrestles with substance abuse issues in his low times, and yet, with their strength of family and perseverance, they've achieved satisfaction and competence in their lives. Ms. McLaughlin is a shining example of someone able to map the big picture and offers a way to develop perspective. She soars high.

All I can do is recommend Mommy I'm Still In Here.

To hear the audio of the interview, go to PsychJourney dot com.

An Excellent Read
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-25
Mommy I'm Still in Here is an incredibly thought provoking and educational account of one families authentic journey of living with Bipolar Disorder. Kate McLaughlin shares straight from the heart of here experiences of raising children with a challenging mental illness and truly illuminates the beauty that the challenges provoked. Kate's story offers true inspiration about continuing perseverance in the toughest of times and how hanging in there for the ride despite the readiness to give up is worth it.

Heart and Hope
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-17
Kate McLaughlin inspires and teaches in this incredible journey through her experiences with bipolar disorder in her children. She opens her heart and deepest thoughts to the reader to allow us to join her in the emotions and roller coaster ride she lives through. This book was a quick read and will teach you about this condition but more about how a family survives together and that there is beauty and love to be found in every experience. Her writing is beautiful, riveting, real and impactful. I especially appreciate her acknowledgements that not everyone is blessed to have the resources to deal with the ongoing trials. She is a beautiful woman, mother and author and we can only hope that she will write another book to continue the chronicles so we can all benefit from her wisdom and attitude. She shows us how to live with challenges honestly, openly, and gracefully. Thank you!

A Passionate Story of a Family's Dealings with Bipolar Disorder
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-01
In "Mommy I'm Still in Here," Kate McCloughlin tells the unforgettable story of her family's experiences with bipolar disorder. As two of her children suffer from this condition, Kate shares a lifetime of observances and experiences, including the effect of the disease on her entire family and between siblings. The book is a wealth of knowledge for those suffering from or dealing with the effects bipolar disorder. But more than that, Kate's great strength and love for her children leave one feeling optimistic and hopeful. Kate is an inspiration to all--a symbol of hope and strength, a role model of motherly love and perseverance, and a concerned parent wishing to help others by sharing her experiences.

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Mouse Tales (I Can Read Book 2)
Published in Library Binding by HarperCollins (1972-09-27)
Author:
List price: $16.89
New price: $7.95
Used price: $0.38
Collectible price: $20.00

Average review score:

A favorite!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-25
This was my favorite book as a little girl, and it is now my 4-year old son's favorite book. All of the stories are adorable, especially "The Journey".

Mouse Tales
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-07
ISBN 0064440133 - Based on the reading level, Mouse Tales is for 6-8 year olds, but I think younger children will enjoy it quite a bit, as well.

Papa tucks his seven boys into bed and promises them seven stories, so long as they promise to go right to sleep. Once they've promised, he starts with The Wishing Well... and tells the seven stories, ending with The Bath. His boys have all fallen asleep by then and Papa says good night.

The stories are all so short that just recapping them would be pretty much the same thing as retelling them! There are great possibilities within the very few pages of this book. With simple words and a fairly large font, the stories can be read by a child easily. He or she will find them fun and engaging. They can be read to a child by an adult, who might like to explain the deeper meanings of some of the stories (for instance why, once the mouse in The Wishing Well helped the well, all of her wishes came true). But, much to my surprise, there's a little Aesop's Fables feel to the stories, which might be one of the most unexpected ways to read this little book - as an adult! This isn't true for every story - if it is, I haven't found the message in the story of the mouse who wears out his feet and gets new ones. Still, all around a charming set of bedtime stories with nicely done illustrations that don't take up three-quarters of every page.

Mouse Tales
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-15
There are seven short tales, all involving mice, and bookended by a father mouse who is telling these stories to his children at bed time, one per child. The seven stories included are: The Wishing Well, Clouds, Very Tall Mouse and Very Short Mouse, The Mouse and the Winds, The Journey, The Old Mouse, and The Bath. Of the seven, my favorite is The Wishing Well as it takes an unusual and humorous approach to the usual wishing well story. The most disturbing of the stories is The Journey because it involves replacement feet. Knowing Sean, I think his favorite will be The Bath because of the absurd bath/flood the little mouse creates just to get clean.

Great Kids Book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-10
This is a great book with seven short stories for kids. I have three kids and they love all of them.
I also bought this book because my grandmother used to have it and I loved to read it when I was a kid.

Children's Narrative
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-10
The cozy narrative of the mouse storyteller makes this great children's book shine. The seven stories are among Lobel's best, and this is the perfect fireside tale to tell to young mice who are not quite ready for bed.

J. Lyon Layden
The Other Side of Yore

News
My New Baby And Me: A First Year Record Book For Big Brothers And Big Sisters
Published in Paperback by Little Simon (1987-01-19)
Author: Metropolitan Museum of Art
List price: $16.99
New price: $6.80
Used price: $0.25
Collectible price: $15.95

Average review score:

Get siblings involved
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-16
I bought this book for my three kids. It is actually for one child to fill out about the new baby. I have adapted it for all three kids to share. It makes them feel involved and adds to the excitement of the new baby. I think all new brothers and sisters should have this book.

Great book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-20
This book is really adorable. I can't wait for my 3 year old to fill it out with me. It has really great checklists and places for pictures for your older sibling to fill out.

Great Idea
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-04
This is a great product. I have been really worried about how my 3 year old daughter is gonna take being a big sister. She has been very spoiled her whole life. When we got this book in the mail she was so happy. I am only 13 weeks so she has plenty of time to wait until she can use the book but she thought it was really cool. I think this a good idea to keep them involved.

Great way to get siblings involved
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-14
I bought this for my 4 year old to fill out for he new baby brother. Some of the questions are hysterical and she loves filling out the information and tracing her feet and his feet. I'm sure both kids with treasure it when they're older to see what she thought of him when he was born.

A perfect book for the younger, new big brother/sister
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-14
I bought this book for my 3 year old and it is perfect for her age level. With its large text, humorous check lists, and simple art and observational activities, it is perfect for the younger, new big brother or sister (3-6 yrs). This book allows the child to compare themselves to the baby which shows them how special they are, and how much care the baby needs.

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The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power
Published in Paperback by New Life Foundation (1999-09-23)
Author: Vernon Linwood Howard
List price: $11.95
New price: $31.99
Used price: $5.78
Collectible price: $29.99

Average review score:

Good spiritual book written to sound like a practical psychology book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-14
5 stars what more can I say.

This book changed my life...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-19
I first read this book about 5 years ago. At the time I had no idea that it would have such a dramatic effect on me. Currently, I am on my 2nd copy and will probably order a 3rd soon. (just to be sure). I cant imagine life without this book to reference, espechially when times are tough. Once, when someone asked me what 3 things I would bring to a deserted island, ( Im sure youre all familiar with that question)--this book was one of the 3 things. I have trained myself to pick up this book anytime I find myself being tossed around by any difficulty I might find myself in. I can open it to any page, and there I find helpful advice on ANY problem. Not only wisdom but Truthful, honest solutions and to every problem that has ever been known to man. All the answers are contained in its pages, and I know they are all the answers that I will ever need.

Timeless Wisdom of the Ages
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-26
Of the thousands of books I have read over the years _The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power_ has been by far the most important, at least on a personal level. When I first read it - I came across it by chance - I felt a rather strange but pleasant emotion of inner freedom and release. Now I turn to this book whenever I feel anxious or oppressed and the weight just falls from my shoulders. Vernon presents some of the greatest spiritual truths of the ages in very clear language, without dogma, jargon, psychobabble or new age fluff. The 'cosmic power' he talks about is about peace and clarity of mind, about realisation of one's true self by breaking free from the conditioned ego or social self that we normally live from. Through the ages there have been a small number of men and women who knew Truth and Vernon was one of them. Read this book and find out for yourself. jonathancolman@hotmail.com

Mystic Path to Cosmic Power
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-03
Mystic Path to Cosmic Power by Vernon Howard is a perfect book. It was written by an awakened man and it explains in clear language the way to become awakened. I attended classes and personally met this man and he embodied everything he taught about awakedness. He spoke clearly and directly to the ignorance that enslaved me and called it out for me to observe, and in that observation, I have seen freedom. There's nothing to "do" to awaken. There is something to see. Vernon Howard explains the darkness so perfectly that light becomes apparent. He was teaching these truths before so many others, yet his words are still the purest. If you are suffering, you need this book. Vernon will show you why you suffer and how to leave that suffering behind. Whether you suffer from guilt, loss, fear, jealousy, anger, or anything else, he will show you the thought patterns that have created that suffering and how those thought patterns can be seen through and risen above. Before I read Vernon's work I was depressed and hostile. His teachings have released me from this painful way of living. He can do the same for you.

Mystical Read.
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-01
The mystic path has never been so simplistically put into words. The wisdom of mysticism is hardily the best philosophy to explicate into tangible, solid practices. The nature of Howard's parables teach truths otherwise missed in daily life. The book hits on key events of typical life as seem from the eyes of mundane trivialities, though later boarders on the line of cultism. I must stress that this book reads well, as it's beautifully narrated through format and relevance. The end of the book leaves the reader with tough choices, being that the book easily compels the reader to 'act' by quickly adopting many of the advice scattered through the chapters, the final step might be beyond the realm of possibility for most. Whether you choose to fully implement your Cosmic Power into your everyday life and seek to conglomerate with others of the same 'mystic level', or extract key concepts in which you will utilize for selfish purposes, The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power will get you there.

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National Geographic's Guide to the National Parks of the United States
Published in Paperback by Natl Geographic Society (1992)
Author:
List price: $24.00
New price: $3.81
Used price: $0.18

Average review score:

Excellent guide for National Parks
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-29
If you like to visit the National Parks or just want to know more about them, this is a great source of information. All National Parks, Monuments, Wildlife Refuges and some National Forests are covered. It is full of pictures and maps that look great. Nice all in one book.

The BEST guide to the National Parks
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-09-26
We originally owned an older edition of this book and just purchased this to replace it. We have been to many National Parks over the years and have found this guide to be the best one out there. The drives as listed are fantastic... you won't miss anything if you have this book along with you!

Great Introduction To The National Parks
Helpful Votes: 22 out of 22 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-30
This is an excellent book to use as a planning guide for trips to any of the National Parks in the US. I have been to many of the parks, and without exception the book's advice about how to get there, when to go, what to look for, etc., is excellent in every way. The book is filled with excellent color photography, and accompanying explanatory text with detailed entrance information that is particularly useful in some of the busier parks. There is also some good introductory safety information presented, but as always, it is a good idea to talk to local authorities when arriving (this is especially a good idea in the Alaska parks, many of which are veritably full of bears.)

All the parks are worth seeing, and this book gives a good introduction to them. Among the favorites that I have been to and particularly recommend are Denali National Park, an easy drive from Anchorage, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, on the island of Hawaii (the "Big Island"), Zion National park in Utah, home of some of the most spectacular desert landscape in the world, and Badlands National Park in South Dakota, featuring not only spectacular landscapes, but amazing animals in abundance.

This book is a great place to start; now get going and enjoy the beautiful National Parks!

Outstanding Resource
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-07
I obtained the first edition of this book over ten years ago, and have kept that along with the latest edition in my book collection ever since. At that time I had never been to a national park, but this little book insipired me to visit 35 of them, volunteer in two, and work seasonally as a ranger at one.

This book is packed with useful and interesting information about each of the parks, and it is a pleasure to read even when not planning a trip. I highly recommend it.

Best comprehensive guide to the national parks
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-20
We recently purchased this book just before our four-national-parks tour. The book not only gives you an overview of the parks, practical information such as how to get there, and nearby lodging etc., it has very good recommendation of must-see stops, and different levels of hikes you can take and what to expect. We used the book at every park and it helped us effectively use our time and it is a joy to read even without going to the parks.

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The Natural Law Party: A Reason to Vote: Breaking the Two-Party Stranglehold and Bringing Effective New Solutions to America's Problems
Published in Hardcover by St. Martin's Press (1998-09-01)
Author: Robert Roth
List price: $23.95
New price: $0.87
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $23.95

Average review score:

The Natural Law Party, A Reason To Vote
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-11
A real eye opener for anyone interested in the future of our country (and the world). This book clearly illustrates how the United States has become the least democratic country in the western world. It is the responsibility of every U.S. Citizen to read this book, something the Democratic and Republican parties do not want you to do. After reading this book, you will know how to make your vote really count!

George Washington would love this book.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 1998-10-15
I don't think the founding fathers had an iron-clad 2 party monopoly based government in mind when this country was founded. In fact in was thought that the most intelligent and creative citizens would volunteer their time and energy to run the government and then return to their real vocation. What a distance we have traveled since those ideas. Robert Roth really tells it like it is, not like we hear it from the political parties. Our government is way out of control, when it cost $40 million to run for a primary in California's gubernatoral race and when big business can buy legislation almost on demand. It's time for change, and Roth's book sheds all the light we need to see how crucial and timely that change is needed. What an extraordinary book he has written and what a must it is for all of us to read it.

A Good Look At The NLP
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-25
For anyone interested in third party politics, this book offers a good snapshot of the Natural Law Party, which, along with the Libertarian, Reform, and Constitution parties stands as one of the "major minors" -- often on the ballot, with a fairly professional operation. That said, much of the book drags, as Roth preaches about NLP views on several issues at great length, and gives short shrift to the party's actual plans for future electoral action. Perhaps silliest -- though most telling about what a minor party must face -- is a lengthy section about the creation and publicity of just one press release.

Readable, funny, informative and eye-opening.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1998-11-26
This is a very humorous and readable indictment of our political process. It manages to clearly present the ways in which our democracy is not in the least democratic, without whining or complaining. It also presents the startling and surprisingly realistic proposals of the Natural Law Party.

Finally, a ray of hope and enlightenment for U.S.politics
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 1999-04-13
Bob Roth has done us all a great service with his highly readable, timely book that offers us a vision of a simple, practical way out of political gridlock and incoherence and into a more harmonious age. The new millennium is upon us. It is time we thought in new millennium terms, not in an obsolete paradigm that is bringing us down. Bravo for this book and the courage and promise it holds.

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Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick
Published in Paperback by Llewellyn Publications (2007-06-01)
Author: Ellen Dugan
List price: $16.95
New price: $8.00
Used price: $8.49

Average review score:

Informative
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-23
Elen Dugan has a way of writing that makes you feel like youre sitting in her kitchen chatting over tea. She shares personal stories and helpful information. One of my favs. All her books are a must read.

Definitely Recommended
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-09
With all the Pagan/Wicca books, this has to be one of my personal favorites.

While all other Pagan/Wiccan authors tend to take themselves too seriously, Dugan is very down-to-earth and she injects humor into what she writes -- no flowery wording, stuffy attitude, or Christian bashing (unlike Ravenwolf).

This is definitely one of the few books that I would recommend to anybody looking to studying Wicca/Paganism/Witchcraft.

Please pick it up if you find it.

Inspiring
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-24
For a long while almost everything I read about Witchcraft was authored by Silver RavenWolf. That hypocrisy and silliness was my milk-- I grew as a practitioner on those books. Now, however, I have read Natural Witchery by Ellen Dugan, and I feel changed as a Witch. I feel whole, like I've been given the whole story, not just Ellen's version of things. Because of this book I am now exploring Natural/Green magic, and am now opening up to Nature and her wonderful creations. I "tuned in" to what's going on with the Earth, and I have Ellen Dugan to thank for it. Fantastic book!

Natural Witchery
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-31
Okay for seekers on the path but too basic for anyone beyond 101. Good for curious teens.

An excellent book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-20
I love Dugan's writing style. This book is no exeption.
It is full of useful information, wisely put instructions for getting in touch with your own inner magic and personal anecdotes that light up the text.I totaly recomend it as a starting point for anyone who wants to explore the path of Natural Magic. As for those who are just concerned about their friends and family being involved in Wicca it is a good book to start too as it clarifies many misunderstandings about questions like the source of wicca's power etc. In general I loved it! It is simple and powerful. If you are looking for down to earth information on magic and having fun in the same time this is the book for you!

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The New York Times 60 Minute Gourmet
Published in Paperback by Ballantine Books (1982-09-12)
Author: Pierre Franey
List price: $6.95
New price: $6.87
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Rescue From The Mundane!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-24
I bless the day when I checked this book out (over and over again) from the library where I attended college. As a newlywed attending graduate school I was too poor and too time deprived to cook and eat. This book saved my life! Not knowing a thing about cooking... I happened upon perfection as a guide! Now, almost forty years later I am an accomplished cook and avid entertainer and it's all due to the foundation this book provided! I still think Jacques Pepin is the best celebrity chef on TV today.

I just ordered the newer copy so I could give it to my niece as she embarks on her own cooking start. It is what I call a foundation book. There are five or six of these that never leave my kitchen no matter what new cook book may try to abscond their place in the hierarchy of my inventory. A must have jumping-off place for any new cook and a "OMG why did it take me so long to get it" book for an established cook.

a cookbook for the busy person
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-04
I used to cut out these recipes from the N.Y.Times when they were published years ago. It's great having them altogether and the majority are quite excellent.

EXCELLENT BOOK ! This is for Beginners "OR" Master Cooks.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-16
I've owned The 60-Minute Gourmet paperback edition since 1979.
(the book is literally falling apart).

I've used this book since I was a complete novice and didn't have a clue how to boil an egg.
26 years later, I consider myself to be an excellent cook.... But I still reach for this cookbook. Why? because it contains excellent recipies.

This book is incredibly easy for a novice to understand and it will give a "seasoned" cook instructions how to prepare any dish in a new delicious way.
I simply can't praise this cookbook enough.
Another excellent cookbook is The Doubleday Cookbook by Jean Anderson & Elane Hanna.
Actually, this book should be called the cookbook bible.
Owning both these books will easily turn bad cook into a master chef!

Great Intro to Easier French Recipes. No shortcuts here!
Helpful Votes: 25 out of 28 total.
Review Date: 2005-04-12
'60 Minute Gourmet' and `More 60 Minute Gourmet' are collections of New York Times columns written by the prominent French born and trained chef Pierre Franey, who attained celebrity by being the executive chef at La Pavilion, considered by Craig Claiborne at the beginning of his New York Times career as the only truly worthy `haute cuisine' venue in New York City.

On the surface, it may seem that these volumes are simply precursors to Mark Bittman's `The Minimalist' columns in the same New York Times or to Rachael Ray's very successful 30 Minute Meal genre. While there are strong family resemblences between these three writers, there are also significant differences. Most of these differences arise from the fact that While Bittman and Ray are journalist / educator / writers, Franey was a classically trained chef.

This distinction is crystal clear in the way Franey describes his audience and how they live their lives. With the greatest of respect, I sense that Franey sees his audience as just stepping out of a `New Yorker' cartoon of upper West side coop dwellers who shop at Zabars and who may expect the likes of R. W. Appel or Ruth Reichl to drop in for a quick bite on any given Thursday evening. One may be tempted to say `this is not me', but give yourself a chance to believe that you can put yourself into this picture. Franey is saying that you can be prepared to entertain elegantly with even a minimal amount of time.

Franey is crystal clear from the introduction of the first of these two books that he is not simplifying gourmet dishes, he is picking and choosing those classic French dishes which can be made in the home within 60 minutes. His message is that contrary to expectations, a lot of French cooking, even `haute cuisine' can be made very simply. And, I have no argument with this. After browsing Escoffier's big book of recipes, I find about 50 different recipes for sautéing chicken, every one of which can easily be done in 30 minutes or less.

The most valuable lessons in these books are things that a professional chef does to expedite his own work. One of the hidden tricks behind Miss Rachael's speed is that she spends no time whatsoever looking for her ingredients. Franey reveals the technique that makes this all possible. He exhorts us to always have a place for everything and keep everything in its place. The easiest way to experience the value of this lesson is to try cooking in someone else's kitchen. His second big lesson is cleanliness, as much for efficiency as for hygiene. He says clutter and debris distract from efficiency.

It is important to note that these two volumes have virtually identical tables of contents, so the `More 60-Minute Meals' is literally more of the same. It's only additional topics are on appetizers and desserts. And, unlike his La Pavilion colleague, Jacques Pepin, I suspect Pierre is not as skillful with the pastry as is Jacques. Like Rachael Ray, a very large number of the recipes in these books are for grilled, sautéed, or fried chicken, with an enormous variety of sauces. In fact, Miss Rachael just did a version of chicken Veronique that was remarkably similar to the recipe on page 22 of `60-Minute Gourmet'. I honestly prefer Franey's version, as it uses white grapes while Rachael used red, and, Franey's instructions are written in plain English while Rachael uses her Rayspeak culinary dialect for a lot of basic terms. I would suspect that Miss Rachael had cribbed this recipe from Franey except that she made a major point of stating that the recipe was acquired from her future mother-in-law.

What Rachael lacks in sophisticated technique, plain speech, and deep knowledge of French cuisine, she makes up by addressing the two of the three major issues I have with Franey. First, even 60 minutes may be a bit more than a tired Manhattenite may be able to manage, especially after a subway ride and a 5 block walk from the local supermarket. Second, Franey makes much of planning and prepping ahead of time. The fallacy of this and practically every other `quick cooking' advice is that the problem is not only that there is little time at the end of the day, there is little time throughout the week. A third potential objection to Franey's books is that if there is so many `haute cuisine' recipes which are really pretty easy, why not simply go to the mother lode and get a copy of Escoffier or Pellaprat for their 39 ways to poach eggs and 52 recipes for sautéed chicken. The problem with this solution is that the search for the good recipes takes more time and investment in studying the techniques needed to prepare the short recipe description in these texts.

Like Wolfgang Puck in a very recent book, Franey cuts down on the time required to prepare a recipe by combining into a single narrative all the steps and techniques you need so you don't have to seek out and learn a lot of ancillary recipes. Also, the classic French texts don't have the entertaining headnotes you can recite to impress your dinner guest(s).

Thus, I really think Franey's books are best used as a resource for recipes for entertaining where the plan and prep ahead time will garner big rewards with your guests. I would therefore strongly recommend Franey's books for young professional ladies or gentlemen who are out to impress a potential partner over a home-cooked dinner. I would not use these books to replace my copy of `Mastering the Art of French Cooking', as there are great realms of French cooking technique which simply lie outside Franey's 60 minutes, the most important being braising and roasting techniques.

These books are excellent introductions to how French cooking can be easy. Recommended.

how to really cook
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-26
Quite simply, Pierre Franey taught me how to cook - that is - how to combine ingredients that together transcend the sum of the parts. I came across Pierre Franey's column in the NY Times in the early nineties, and the recipes were a revelation. The techniques I learned from the recipes in this book, his column in the NY Times, and the follow up book, I use repeatedly. Unlike many other recipes, I continued cooking Franey's recipes after my kids were born. As youngsters, they would eat many of the things I prepared from this book, including the Poulet Saute Beausejour (chicken with wine and herbs) and the basic saute of fish. Franey also raised my standards of what to expect from a cook book! Very rarely does anything from his cookbooks fail to be delicious when I cook it.

News
Nightmare Hour: Time for Terror
Published in Paperback by HarperTrophy (2000-09-30)
Author: R.l. Stine
List price: $5.99
New price: $0.95
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

Awesome!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-07
This book is undoubtedly one of R.L. Stine's finest anthologies. It is awesome and consistently scary. So many of the stories are really terrifying. Here are some my favorites:

"Pumpkinhead" 9/10: Great story. I won't give too much away, but it's about a kid, his friend, and his brother who get more than they bargained for when they go pranking in a pumpkin patch.

"Nightmare Inn" 10/10: What can I say? This has it all. Werewolves, creepy inns, and weird receptionists. Great ending, by the way.

"I'm Not Martin" 10/10: This was my all-time-favorite of the book. My score really doesn't do it justice, seeing how absolutely nerve-wracking and disturbing this story is. I won't ruin it, only that you, no matter how much you are desensitized to horror, even you will get at least a moderate fear of hospitals. This will scare you even more than that buckets-of-gore movie "Hostel". This should be make into a big blockbuster summer movie.

"Afraid of Clowns" 9/10: Let's just say you won't want to be a clown's "assistant". EVER.

"The Dead Body" 9/10: Definitely had an awesome twist ending. That alone is worth reading this story for.

Also, the other stories in this book, with a score but no comment:

"Alien Candy" 8/10
"The Most Evil Sorcerer" 7/10
"The Black Mask" 8.5/10
"Make Me A Witch" 7.5/10
"The Ghostly Stare" 8/10

That, in a nutshell, is what I think of the book. At first, I thought it was just a wimpy kid's horror book; but after reading it, I loved it. Definitely one of the, if not the best R.L. Stine anthologies ever. I thought I have just one more thing to say: BUY IT. NOW.

Best Short Story Book Ever!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-18
This is a really excellent short story book. Each story is very original, and the art is really crazy for the books. The story synopsis are below, and the rating, just to give you an idea of what they're about.

1. Pumpkinhead: 5/5 - A crazy tale of three kids who go to a pumpkin patch at night, and the terror that lurks within. A pretty awesome tale.

2. Alien Candy: 4/5 - A strange and bizarre tale of an alien lover's club and the truth behind the kids.

3. The Most Evil Sorceror: ?/? - This probably doesn't help, but I didn't read this one. Oops!

4. Nightmare Inn: 5/5 - A pretty humurously scary tale of an abandoned inn where a young girl and her mom are renovating, and the truth about what lies within, and the truth about the nice woman who owns it, Priscilla.

5. I'm Not Martin: 6/5 - Super original tale that is so deeply distrubing because it COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!!!

6. The Black Mask: 5/5 - Almost like a mini book about a group of friends who feel that they can see the fatal past of a group of kids through a black mask found in the basement of the main character's new home.

7. Afraid Of Clowns: 4/5 - Me, being a total freak-out when it comes to clowns, didn't want to read this story, but when I finally did, it was pretty crazy!

8. The Dead Body: 5/5 - This one had a very Twilight Zone-esque feel to it. It was pretty awesomely put together.

9. Make Me A Witch: 4/5 - A pretty freaky tale about a girl who wants to become a witch. Pretty freaky!!

10. The Ghostly Stare: 4/5 - A pretty awesome story about what happens in a graveyard at night, told from the POV of a girl and her brother. The ending is pretty strange and a little unexpected, but still a great story.

Sorry about number 3. I'm gonna read it right after this review. Otherwise, I hope you get the picture and buy the book because it's really awesomely cool and fun and terrifying to read at night!

Lots of Great Stories in One Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-23
This was a really fun book to read. Each story is different. Each story is scarey. If you loved Goosebumps... this is better. Highly recommended.

R.L. Stine is the Coolest!!!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-16
R.L. Stine is one of the best authers that i have had the pleasure of reading. Even though this book is for kids, i am still reading it at the age of 16. i still get goosebumps from reading his stories.

Nightmare Hour
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-28
Genre: Scary
Three Sentence summary: There were a lot of character but the main ones were Pumkin head, The black mask, and The ghostly lady. The problem was that they were scaring people and being thiefs. The last time they were seen was in a dark cemetary.
What I liked most about the book: I liked the stories in it because they felt real.
What I didn't like and why: I did not like the ending of some stories because they were not that good.
My favorite character and why: My favorite character were the allien bugs because they were bad and thiefs.
The scene,line,or passage that meant something to me and why (page#): "He was a very good friend". Because it tells you there are good friends and bad friends and you have to appreciate the good ones. Page.121
What I would say about this book to someone else: I would say that this book is worth reading because it keeps you in suspense, and it will scare you.
One question i have after reading this book: How does R.L Stines come up with this book.
My strongest reason for recommending this book: It's a good, mysterious book that will scare your pants off.


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