F Books

I have not been able to read the entire book yet, but what I have read is very interesting. Some of the foods I have never heard of or seen. The food that the mountaineers have prepared seem very comforting. Will review more when I finish the book.

This book is a treasure trove of authentic recipes, stories, music and folklore that celebrate the Appalachian region. The book makes the food and the people who cook it come alive. It's as though someone's grandmother opened her recipe box, her home and her heart to us. Anyone who appreciates a heartfelt study of how history, culture and cuisine come together to define a region will love Appalachian Home Cooking.

Appalachia is one of the poorest areas of the country economically but one of the richest areas in terms of heritage, culture, scenery, and food. This cookbook is much more than a collection of old-timey recipes, it is a glimpse of the cuisine that nourishes the people of this unique American region.

Culinary histories like this one don't come along every day. I have read this book several times, and I never cease to enjoy it. It is well written and is both informative and entertaining.

My older sister, who is a very good Appalachian cook from eastern Kentucky, received a copy for Christmas and she said it has helped her reminisce about her childhood days. She still cooks many of the basics but she had forgotten about some of the foods we used to eat when we were growing up, so she is happy to have this collection of recipes on her shelf.

Mark doesn't leave out anything. He tells us everything we could possibly want to know about the foods he shares. If you have any connection to the Appalachian area, whether you were born here and have lived here all your life or you left early in life and have only a grandmother still residing here, this book is a must-have. It doesn't even matter whether you want to cook (though, believe me, you will want to try many of these recipes), you will want this book for the food descriptions themselves.

If you have no connection at all to Appalachia, then you will want to buy the book because you can learn a great deal about our foods and our culture--as well as enjoy the recipes. Vegetables, side dishes, school lunches, herbs and game, chicken, lamb, breakfast foods, sauces, salads and soups, and sweet treats--they're all here, waiting for you to get into the kitchen, alone or with your family and friends, and whip up something delightful.

The book is wonderfully indexed and has gorgeous pictures of tantalizing foods. You will find mail-order sources and a glossary of terms to help you understand anything that is new or different to you.

This book is a treasure. I would suggest you click on "Add to cart" now! And for further information about the book, click on Sohn's web page at www.marksohn.com .

Luckily for twenty-first century cooks, the trend in cookbooks is to contextualize. Where is the recipe from? How has it been adapted for the American cook? What is the history of this food? As a fan of Mark Sohn's food writing, I can attest to the fact that he's been doing this for fifteen years. His most recent book takes contextualization to a whole new level. By the end of the first section you feel like you've walked up the hollers of Central Appalachia and tasted the food made over the years.

In addition to the food culture and history, the book is packed with signature Sohn recipes-easy to follow and concise. There are no extra steps in the Chocolate Gravy recipe and you know just how long it is going to take from start to finish.

As an avid cookbook reader and lover of Appalachian culture, Appalachian Home Cooking adds a whole new layer to my understanding of the region.

Probably, the only reason I can not give this 5 stars is because I was spoiled by Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors." This is a sparkling piece of art. It is easy to see how Greek Mythology inspired Shakespeare. The Greek gods have human desires, impulses, and weaknesses. And often, their people suffer because of them. In this play, several characters are hindered (although unintentionally) by the bickering Oberon and Titania. It is easy to see the similarities between Zeus and Hera. The play also offers situation comedy, young lovers, frustrated parents, sparkling images, and a happy ending. CAUTION-ENTER THIS MYSTICAL WONDERLAND AT YOUR OWN RISK.

This was truely one of Shakespear's best plays. The way it was put into a movie was absolutely brilliant. I've seen few of his plays on film. But I bet even if I saw them all, A Midsummer Nights Dream would be my favorite along with Taming of the Shrew.

This is one of my favorite, if not my VERY favorite of Shakespeare's works. It is certainly my favorite of the comedies and I do not hesitate to rank this as one of the greatest works of literature of all-time. By the way, I LOVE this play. Oh yeah, have I mentioned that...well enough of that. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of the funniest plays of all-time. I was literally laughing out loud during the performance of "The Most Lamentable Comedy..." at the play's end. The "dream" world within the forest is a magical fantasy world in which the humans are manipulated by faries to fall in or out of love. Within this world, in which most of the play occurs, the powers of the imagination are heightened and the characters are helpless against their imaginations, which guide everything they do and say. This is one of the play's major themes: the imagination. Even out of the "dream world" the characters are guided by their imaginations. Duke Theseus (the plays strongest critic of such a notion) even admits that in order to enjoy such a performance (as the one put on by the unforgettable Bottom, and his comrades-in-folly), one must use one's imagination. I honestly believe that this is Shakespeare at his best. I would recommend this work to anyone!

Anyone who has read this play will say that it was a riot. What's even better than reading it, though, is seeing it performed live. My face hurt because I was laughing so hard! But if you do read it, and you have that problem about understanding what it's saying, not a big deal! The flavorful but easy to read dialouge makes it simple to understand what's going on. But, you can always get the New Folger edition that has explanations of certain parts on the opposite page (very helpful for when Shakespeare makes a joke that doesn't make any sense to us now). This play is laugh-out-loud funny and almost anyone can enjoy it.

I disagree with the reader who said there is no substance in this play. Certainly, all works of good literature have substance, espcially this one. One of the great aspects of A Midsummer Night's Dream is the fantasy that the characters are led to believe. Compare this to As You Like It, where the only fantasy is the fantasy that characters want to believe.

This is the perfect book for whoever wants to learn about what falconry was like a long time ago. However, I would not reccommend it to anyone who wants to learn about present day falconry. After you get your license, I would reccommend it. The reason I say this is because it can confuse the apprentice. It confused me. It does teach a lot though, and can give insight to diff. ways of training hawks. Belongs in every falconers library!

Frederick II was one of the very few brilliant minds of the Middle Ages who opossed the Pope and the teachings of the Church, even, it is said, declaring Jesus, Moses and Muhammad [...]. Patron of arts and Science, warrior and writer, it is also said that he spoke nine toungues (in an era when most members of the highest nobility were unable even to read). He was known as Stupor Mundi (Astonishment of the World), a Pope declared him the Antichrist, was twice excommunicated, and Dante sent him to the fires of Hell in the Divine Comedy. This book, about one of his passions, hunting, should therefore be in the shelves of every learned reader of the world. It is a fantastic source of information for falconers, historians (both of the Middle Ages and of Science) and for everyone interested in the history or the life of this great King, who, when crowned, wore a robe with this inscription wrote in Arabic: "May the Emperor be received well, may he enjoy vast prosperity, great generosity and high splendor, fame and magnificent endowments, and the fulfillment of his wishes and hopes. May his days and nights go in pleasure without end or change". So be it.

Beisdes being an incredible tract on falconry (modern ornithology has yet to surpass it, really. Doubly impressive, considering Frederick was writing some three centuries before the scientific revolution). This book is a cross-section of one of the most profound minds in all of Western history. Frederick the Second was the most magnificient of all the latter day emperors. From nothing he raised the throne of the Roman Empire to transcendant limits, defied both God and the Church, and brought in the fabled "third age" for the superstitious people of medieval Europe, who believed that he was either the bringer of Peace before the apocalypse or the Anti-Christ himself. His memorable utterance "...I am tired of being the anvil. Now I shall be the hammer!" was the inspiration behind Nietszche's work 600 years later. The Empire died with the next brilliant generation of the Hohenstaufen.

In light of all this, his book of falconry is indespensible. It shows us Frederick the Renaissance man, engaging in Scientific method in an era of revealed truths, and it shows us Frederick the hunter: shrewd, catching every detail, and always for the love of the chase. This book will amaze you to no ends!

As a practical guide to modern falconry, I don't believe this book would be as helpful as some on the market, but as a primary source from the middle ages it is first rate. The intricacies and details of the hunt, the housing, the care given to the birds, hounds, etc. . . . for this, the book is priceless. If you are looking for summaries of the hunting practices in the middle ages, Marcelle Thiebeaux and Anne Rooney are among the best authors to seek. If you want the actual details of the way it was by someone living at the time it was practiced, there is no better source than Frederick II's book (and few even close).

An absolute must for anyone interested in the lore and history of falconry. Also a good primary source for historical research involving the middle ages. Here is truly an opportunity for an apprentice falconer to learn the basics, terminology, and philosophy of the sport. Frederick II practiced the art of falconry out of a profound love for the sport and for his birds. The modern falconer who reads this volume is inspired to do the same. I highly recommend that anyone who is at all interested in birds of prey obtain this book. It will quickly become one of your most treasured possessions.

Derby is a great man....he is pretty silent about his service in Vietnam....most guys that were there are...he's my friend...I've known him for 6 years....he and his wife are great people...best I've ever known....I haven't had the chance to read the book him and his wife wrote..but did read Six Silent Men By Reynel Martinez. It's about they went thru in Nam....It's an awful good read..My son even loved it...Very well written...362 pages of what the men went thru...It really makes you think...Derby survived to write this book...I just want to say....he's a great guy...and I Love him and his wife...

This is a read I couldn't put down.You can feel what the author feels as he goes through all the exploits of his life. Its full of history of early 1900's life.Roaring 20's drama at its best.I highly recomend it to anyone that enjoys autobiograhys.

This is a book that rings as true as any of John Steinbeck's most memorable characters. A Bandit Called Derby is a son's tribute to his often wayward father's early years where Oliver Franklin Jones roared through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Idaho bootlegging,gambling, and robbing an occasional casino or bank.
It's not a glossed over version of the Rip Roaring 20s but a hard scrabble look at the hellbent life and times of a reflective man, who after doing his time offers a better route for his children, including his son, Derby- a decorated Vietnam veteran, a former Airborne Ranger and Sergeant Major, and to his friends one decent man. I'm biased. I know Derby Jones and he's truly one of the good people. This book is not only a touching tribute to his father but a true slice of Americana and look at a time we thought we knew. Thanks to Derby Jones (both of them) and Derby's wife, Sheryl, we all just got a better view!

This was an excellent read. I got a genuine first hand account of how life during that period of time. For those who want to know what hard time was this is a book for them. Oliver (Derby) Jones was a hard man who's life was worthy of being told for all generations.

I thorougly enjoyed this book. It was an interesting sampling of "real" americana from a slightly different, but definitely humorous point of view. I recommend this read highly!!!!

Beginning each day with Fr. Behrens' meditations lifts my spirits and helps me find the humor, joy and love of God in seemingly ordinary things. His personal experiences and thoughts shine a fresh light on each day's Scripture passage. I also find that his vignettes of the daily lives of the monks demystify holiness and help me pursue it in my daily life.

This book is full of "story sparks" that only take seconds to read but open the doors to considerable wisdom and hope - with humor as a bonus. The deft way that each is connected to a few lines of well-chosen scriptures breaks open that medium as well, connecting it unforgettably to lived experience.

This book contains a daily dose of wisdom to go along with that morning coffee, toast and multi vitamin. It's easy to digest and helps nourish the mind and soul throughout the day. The snippets of scripture and Fr. Behrens life stories, cause us to slow down and take another, deeper look into ourselves and our past.

This gentle, faithful little book is full of wonders to be read, and re-read -- personal insights, quick asides, random thoughts, elegant sermonettes on life and living. James Stephen Behrens doesn't waste words; these quick essays are like Cistercian chapels, with no unnecessary adornment, nothing to distract the mind from the matter at hand. This makes you savor each word, contemplate each story. Sometimes, in this book, the simplest notions are the most moving -- why he thinks, for example, that the most eloquent prayer is one word, "Stay." When I started leafing through this book, I folded over the corners of pages I liked. Bad idea. Now, nearly all the pages are dog-eared. But the best news is that discovering this book has simplified my Christmas shopping. Now I know what to get people who seem to have everything: this little package of wisdom, a book that looks at commonplace things with uncommon grace.

I have just come to know James Stephen Behrens and it is a fortunate discovery! Although I have read comments comparing him to Thomas Merton, also a Trappist priest-writer,I find his bill of fare served differently. There is a profound simplicity in the reflections as presented in this book. One must chew the words slowly to savor the delicacy of the banquet Behrens puts before the reader. He has taken the common place and elevated it to the supernatural where it belongs. I cannot look at my everyday world with the same eyes since feasting on "GraceIs Everywhere."

Matthews and Foster do a wonderful job of educating parents and educators of gifted children. This book includes information on all aspect of the gifted child that a parent or educator would need to know. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with or has gifted children!

Being Smart is a great introduction to giftedness, for the parent, teacher, even administrator, those who are brand new, and those who think they "know all about gifted children." Dispelling myths and answering questions along the way, Matthews and Foster step us through giftedness from identification to education, and into social / emotional. How to answer the tricky questions, how to support gifted kids in today's egalitarian world, and what to tell the kids along the way - Being Smart covers it all.

All the while, they meet their goal: share details on how we, parents and educators, can meet the gifted child's educational and social / emotional needs. Much more than just an introduction, Being Smart should be in every gifted book collection...

The preservcie teachers in my gifted education class at OISE/UT have found Being Smart About Gifted Children to be a very good guide in their efforts to understand gifted children. As their instructor, I appreciate the current research and practical ideas, which are communicated eloquently in straightforward prose. Thus, I would strongly recommend this book to teachers and parents interested in learning more about the psychology and education of highly able learners.

The preservcie teachers in my gifted education class at OISE/UT have found Being Smart About Gifted Children to be a very good guide in their efforts to understand gifted children. As their instructor, I appreciate the current research and practical ideas, which are communicated eloquently in straightforward prose. Thus, I would strongly recommend this book to teachers and parents interested in learning more about the psychology and education of highly able learners.

This new book is the best resource I have seen for schools and
parents about the issues that surround gifted children and their
education. If you buy one book about gifted kids, make this the one.

Border Storm was one terrific book! It kept my interest from start to finish. I found the characters to be rich and real. I didn't know much about the life and culture in the south Texas border region, but by story's end I felt I had gained so much. The action was fast paced and intense. The love affair was torid but extremely well done. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to curl up with a good book. My only warning is to hang on for the whole ride... it is intense!

Wow! What a book, I could not put it down, the story and characters will captivate you and take you into a world that most people never knew existed. It takes you through a journey of love, hate and compassion between the border people of south Texas and Mexico. The ending was........(sorry, you'll have to find out for yourself)

This book sizzles like a Tex-Mex barbeque. Come along on this adventure of love, hate, friendship and murder along the Texas Border. Once you start, don't prepare to stop until the end. Mike Bisceglia sure gives you quite a story for your money!

BORDER STORM, by Michael F. Bisceglia, is a good quick read. The story moves along rapidly and keeps your interest. The characters are developed well and are believable. The ending is intense and unexpected. Pick it up and enjoy.

Penned with a vivid knowledge of the people, places, and feelings of the author's experiences, "Border Storm" weaves the reader into its lifestyle. Real characters react to real situations, gripping the reader's anger and invoking the reader's sympathy. At once, the reader can laugh, seethe, and twinge with pain. No emotion lies untouched. Whether identifying with a past brought back to life, a future too hazy to be real, or a present too good to be true, the reader can't help but become embroiled in the storm brewing at the border. Cultural differences spare no naivete; love conquers no adversity. Mr. Biscgelia captures his characters and their parched lives with humor and a remembrance of yesterday with the hope for tomorrow.

Another five-star review for this book might seem a little redundant, but it's earned it. Don't be misled by its size; it's only 120 pages long, but it's PACKED with concentrated, clearly-written, QUALITY information. After wasting WAY too many bucks on books with rambling, unorganized writing and shoddy illustration, this book gets a place of honor on my shelf. It should set the standard for "how-to" books on outdoor sports.
(Just a quick correction, by the way: the author's first name is Lon, not Lou.)

One very mild criticism: there are a few too many photographs of Lon grinning next to his trophies, but what the heck - it's his book, after all...

I'm 51 years old and I wish I had this info about 35 years ago. Lou does a fine job of getting to the point of what makes the difference between being an average Joe bowhunter and a clean hitting one. I really found his finer tips excellent, that is what I was missing, and he dispelled many of the wives-tales about some items too. One item/tip in particular I hadn't thought about much was belt type straps verse Velcro for my release and also how to measure and set the proper release head position. Bottom line every serious and not so serious bowhunter would benefit by reading this book. I say well done to Lou for his fine and easy to read book.

This book covers about everything an archer needs to know in order to become a better archer. I'm sure it will be an important reference for me from this point forward. The author is a bit of a purist and takes things to an extreme that not many archers will go to. But the information is there if you want it. I do wish that he would have dealt more with how to overcome target panic though.

If you are serious about bow hunting, BUY THIS BOOK. It won't let you down, unless you own your own bow shop and even at that it would be a great reference. It is totally gear toward hunting and will make you a better shot when that moment of truth arises.

I recently purchased a hunting bow. I read another book first, to cover the basics. I could have probably done that with this book as well. However, Lou goes a step further and shares his rigorous method of perfecting shooting technique as well as tuning the bow and arrows. I think I got a good theoretical foundation to reach the next level. I highly recommend this book to any beginner.

Finally, a book that addresses stress and depression in the business world! Whether you are an advisor on Wall Street or selling real estate in California, this book provides you with the insight, skills and resources to deal with the everyday stresses of your job in this volatile economy. To be able to understand the different personality types and your own mindset and those of the people around you is something powerful to walk away with after reading this book. The book gives you the knowledge each of us can use to make clear steps in being able to deal with stressful situations and become more successful in our relationships at work, as well as at home! A must read.

Kudos to the authors! It's about time that someone with a profound knowledge of the advisory space stepped up to the plate to provide counsel on how advisors can effectively address the crucial issues we face on a daily basis: volatile markets, angry clients, demanding branch managers, anxiety, depression, burnout! As Sun Tsu's The Art of War remains perhaps the most prestigious and influential treatise on military strategies, Bullish Thinking should become financial advisors' "strategy manual", as it provides unquestionably successful tactics to excel in our business, regardless of the market environment.

It's about time someone addressed the serious problems we are facing everyday - the volatile markets, angry clients, branch managers who push us to the limit, etc. The authors clearly define the problems and obstacles that arise in this fast-paced, high stress business environment and then give you solutions that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. The book has made me take a step back and examine how my reactions to different situations may be sabatoging my success. This book is a must read for anyone in the financial industry.

Legal dan
I am not a broker or trader. In fact I don't work on Wall Street at all. Regardless, my job is extremely stressful and my work hours, extremely long. I am a corporate litigator and was emailed a blurb about this book from one of my buddies on Wall Street. I was having a tough time managing my anger at work when unpredictable things happened during one of my hearings or throughout the course of a case. I would fly off the handle at my colleagues and my wife. The Channeled Rage section of this book helped me gain control over the powerful emotion of anger. Now I no longer feel lethal with my anger. The Bullish Thinking section is also good for helping me focus on the crazy thoughts that often precede my anger and frustration. I guess there is hope for me after all. My message is that Law is just as stressful as Wall Street and anyone working in this job should read this. If you have ever seen the inside of a court room you would see that there are many angry lawyers out there!

This book is a thoughtful and helpful guide for anyone plagued by negative thoughts and a stressful work environment. It teaches effective techniques for dealing with others, as well as ones' self, to have a more succuessful and happy life. Highly recommended.

Si Klegg is a must read book for anyone intersted in the American Civil War. Esspecially those that are in the Cvil War Reenacting hooby. Although Si and his pard are fictional characters from company "Q". The stories and the time line are correct. Si and his pard go through the trials and tribulations of the common Civil War soldier and the reader will be able to take that information with other actual documented actions and events and apply them to what they do during living histories and demonstrations. If you are into the American Civil War this book is just as much as a must read as "Hardtack and Coffee".

I love the book Si Klegg and His Pard. It's Fantastic!

This is a very good book, much like Hardtack and Coffee, and it goes into details that John D. Billings did not cover. I give this 5 stars because it is a good insight on the camp life and more unknown things about the war for the Union. Late Lt. Col. WIlbur F. Hinman is an excellent writer with lots of humor and further insight.
I also would like to reccomend to the civil war buffs out there that they should buy it. This is a rare opportunity to buy a book that I looked for for 2 years! Never did I see it once and I was repeatedly told it was out of print and I would never find it. I never gave up my search and I decided (just for the heck of it), to search for it on amazon.com and I was amazed. One thousand thanks to Amazon.com. One cheer and a tiger for Corporal Si Klegg and his pard!!

EXCELLENT READ! ALTHOUGH A FICTIONAL CHARACTER; WE FOLLOW SI KLEGG AND HIS FRIEND SHORTY THROUGH HARD CAMPAIGNING, IN THE WESTERN THEATER. FROM HIS INITIAL ENLISTMENT IN AN INDIANA REGIMENT TO THE END OF THE WAR. THIS BOOK WAS INTERESTING AS WELL AS ENTERTAINING! IT IS OF NOTE THAT THIS NOVEL WAS WRITTEN BY A CIVIL WAR VETERAN. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. EXCELLENT.

Don't bring any expectations to this read. The less you expect... the more you will enjoy this "gem", written by an actual Civil War veteran, who served in the Ohio 65th Volunteer Infantry. Although the regiment in the story is fictitious and from Indiana instead of Ohio, its experiences, roughly follow the experiences of the author's factual regiment. The battles in the story, though purposely unnamed, will be identified by a knowlegeable reader as those fought by the Army of the Cumberland... including Stone's River, Chickamagua, Chatanooga and the Atlanta Campaign.

The book, as it's title states, is about the life of a volunteer soldier. And peppered throughout it's excellent narrative, is authentic, sincere and heartfelt dialogue. Dialogue, written in the style of the way the men spoke, with all the ye's, ter's and reckons included. It took a little while accustomising myself to it, but shortly afterwards, I enjoyed the dialogue so much that I started reading it out loud.

Josiah Klegg is a young, enthuisiastic and patriotic recruit, who is unwise in the ways of the army. And Shorty "his pard", whom Si meets shortly after enlisting (or 'listing as they call it) is a hardluck Huckleberry Finn character. Though having had a rough lot in life, Shorty is a quick thinker and wise to the ways of the world. The two of them are "stayers", and together, they travel the long hard (and often painful) path from inexperienced recruit to veteran soldier.

Their personalities play off each other wonderfully. Shorty tolerates Si, who is naive and never short for expressing an opinion. And Shorty, always faithful and yet slightly dower, is continually uplifted by Si's irrepressable enthusiam.

There is much in this story of interest for the Civil War buff, including detailed descriptions of marching (blisters and all), camp life, hospital scenes and actual combat. In the end, this story is about the bonds that tie men together. If it is at all possible to understand the feelings men had for each other, during that terrible interlude in American History, you'll get closest, reading this book.