California Books

I found this collection of short stories to be amazingly gripping and enjoyable. Each of the stories were well written and kept my attention from start to finish. I've not been a fan of locked room mysteries, however, I must admit that Phil Mann's "Touch Of A Vanish'd Hand" not only kept my attention but spurred me to purchase more books in this specific genre. Joan Myers' "Copycat" was another personal favorite. I tip my hat to each of these authors as well as the three editors. Thank you for such a wonderful piece of modern literature.

Although I'm a voracious mystery fan, I tend to shy away from short stories as they never seem well developed enough. This anthology, however, has changed my mind. Each story is exceptionally well crafted with well defined characters, clever plot lines and lots of twists along the way. There is a mystery here to satisfy every taste and type. And there isn't a red herring in the bunch. Plaudits to the members of SinCLA - keep 'em coming!

The Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime has released a captivating short story collection centering on what else: murder and mayhem. The twelve stories are fun to read as they vary in methods, means, and motives, but share a common background: the LA area and a common theme: of entertaining the reader. Characters run the gamut from the underbelly of society to the elite, but act as culprits dispensing murder. Though this is the "sisterhood", two of the collaborators are males, but the audience would not know gender if the stories were contributed anonymously because they are all strong entries.

Fans of murder and mystery anthologies will fully relish this collection. For the most part, the authors are just starting to become known, but in some cases, this reviewer has never previously read a work by a particular contributor. That error will be corrected as each writer holds up his or her end of the book, making for a wonderful reading experience.

Harriet Klausner

A Deadly Dozen is a compilation of short stories, naturally involving murders, written by the Sisters in Crime in Los Angeles, California. Featuring a deadly dozen stories from such authors as: Kris Neri, Cynthia Lawrence, Cory Newman, Lisa Seidman, and others, these stories provide a platform for these writers to dip their pens into stories with a twist. This group, which formed in 1986, led by Sara Paretsky, Sisters in Crime is now a respected national organization. The Los Angeles Chapter was formed by Phyllis Miller in 1989. In recent years, male writers have been welcomed into the organization. A Deadly Dozen is the second anthology published by this group.

The problem...and the thrill...of short stories is that the characters have to introduce themselves to the reader early and completely. The reader has to immediately descend into the world that the author has created, and be ready for a real jolt at the end. Kris Neri's chilling "Sentence Imposed" does just that:

"Call it fate, call it chance--either way, it'll change your life. Sometimes you just find yourself staring into a crowd, your gaze floating aimlessly over a sea of faces you won't remember the instant you look away--until one person's eyes seem to grab hold of yours and you make a connection. You can't explain it, but somehow your life and that stranger's become bound together. When I made that link, it was with a little girl."

Whatever the subject, these writers know how to pull no punches. "Wifely Duties" is a Hitchcockian tale of a wife who plots to kill her husband, and ends up as a victim herself. "Push Comes to Shove" is a wrestler's nightmare. "Fatal Tears" is a classic sibling rivalry piece. A Deadly Dozen exposure is like taking in several episodes of "Night Gallery," with cataloging students catching a murderer in "Miss Parker and the Cutter-Sanborn Tables."

Shelley Glodowski, Reviewer

A DEADLY DOZEN (TALES OF MURDER FROM LOS ANGELES ) is the third anthology following the 1997 DESSERTICIDE (DESSERTS TO DIE FOR ) and 1998 MURDER BY THIRTEEN.

The Los Angles chapter of Sisters in Crime has released a book of twelve short stories, based on murder and mayhem. I usually do not like to read short stories, but these stories were fully contained with well-crafted plots and well defined characters. My favorites were Wifely Duties, because every woman can identify with Lucy and her discontent with her marriage, but I would like to think that we would not go to the lengths that she did, and with such a startling conclusion. Cats and Jammer was another favorite, it's about a teen-age detective that finds a body and the suspects are many.

Stories included are: Sentience Imposed by Kris Neri Wifely Duties by Cory Newman Push Comes To Shove by Nathan Walpow Fatal Tears by Ekaterine Nikas Miss Parker and the Cutter Sanborn Tablets by Gay Tolti Kinman Driven To Kill by Jamie Wallace Touch Of A Vanish'd Hand by Phil Mann Ai Witness by Kate Tornton Over My Shoulder by Lisa Seidman The Cats And Jammer, by Gayle McGary Copy Cat by Joan Myers Midnight by Dorothy Rellas

This book is well worth the read.

One family's fight to reform the medical system is documented in this excellent, but gut-wrenching book. The author, Dorothy Cancilla, a bright and feisty woman, who learned the hard way how callous and incompetent some medical providers can be. Death by HMO documents her daughter Jennifer's eight years of painful illness that eventually led to a premature and avoidable death. Jennifer died four days before her 30th birthday.

I'm amazed at how much information and detail is compiled into this 132-page book. The reader gets an education on the human body, and the tragic errors made by doctors at every turn become very clear.

Jennifer's problems began with frequent abdominal pain and vomiting. While doctors debated about the cause of her suffering, she trusted her doctor who literally butchered her by removing her pancreas, instead of her gallbladder. Jennifer, who was somebody's mother, wife, daughter and sister, tried to live a normal life around many hospital stays and surgeries. Cancilla portrays her youngest daughter as heroic. Anyone reading this book will fall in love with Jennifer, but what pulls at my heart is Cancilla's loss--a mother's loss--that never goes away. She honors her daughter and family by writing this book.

People need to know what can happen to any of us once we put ourselves in someone else's hands. We must advocate for ourselves and our loved ones. We cannot assume that the doctor is always right. We have to keep in mind that the only body we have has to last us a lifetime. We are the ones who are affected by wrong decisions. Ultimately we must consider the medical professionals as part of our team. They are expert consultants and sometimes gifted surgeons. But even the most dedicated doctors are imperfect, not God-like. Even decent medical people may be cajoled into betraying their patients by the HMO who pays their salary.

Death by HMO will surprise and dismay you. But you will be inspired by the courage of Dorothy Cancilla and her family. This story has all the elements for a great movie.

> This is a very well written and documented story of a family trying to get professional medical care for their daughter (Jenny) at Kaiser Hospital...

> Jenny's family took it for granted that all Hospitals were "100% Dedicated at Maintaining a Very High Standard and keeping all of their patients in Excellent Health"...

> Without going into detail their daughter who was in her early 20's had a medical condition that seemed to be getting worse...

> This family was in for a Rude Awakening when they took Jenny to Kaiser Hospital to be diagnosed and treated...

> What they found out is that Kaiser Hospital did not want acknowledge or admit anything was wrong with "Jenny" and Refused to provide the Correct Diagnostic Tests that "would or would not" verify that she had medical condition that needed treated ASAP...

> Jenny's family spent the next "8" years trying to have their daughter Correctly Diagnosed and Treated at Kaiser Hospital with the end result being that the only thing "this hospital" had to offer them were Lies, Deception and Denial by repeatedly telling them that their daughter "did not" have any medical problems at all...

> What was found out later in Court by Professional Medical Experts and Doctors was that Jenny was provided with "100% Extreme Sub-Standard Medical Care" at "this HMO" starting with her very first visit...

> To put it simply: This young lady could have been Diagnosed - Treated and Cured by the Lowest 10% of the Graduates fresh out of Medical School because as it turned out Jenny had an Elementary Medical Condition that could have been Easily Diagnosed and Cured with Proper Professional Treatment...

> After Eight Years of "Extreme Sub-Standard Medical Care" at Kaiser Hospital and combined with Six Un-Needed Operations: Jenny Died a Horrible Death at the young age of "29 Years Old"...

***** THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT "YOU WILL LEARN FROM THIS EXCELLENT BOOK":

#1 The Red Flags that will tell You to change Doctors or Staff and get an Outside Second Opinion...

#2 To be able to Locate the "Many Great Doctors" that are available at Kaiser Hospital...

#3 To Understand the Fact that you have Zero-Support from some HMO's...

#4 I know that it is a "Known Fact" that there are some "Doctors and Staff" at "This Hospital" who Do Not care at all if you Die or Severely Damaged by their Major or Minor Medical Malpractice Mistakes and they will do nothing at all to save you - Rather than admit they made a Serious
Mistake and Save You - They will keep this a Complete Secret...

#5 Also Keep in Mind that there are "Many Great Doctors and Staff" at Kaiser who have Perfomed Miracles and saved patients who had almost no chance at all of Surviving and / or perfomed Incredibly Complicated Operations or Treatments with Fantastic Results...

#6 It is a "Known Fact" that some very "Unqualified Doctors or Staff" at Kaiser who will: Lie, Destroy and / or Lose Critical Medical Records, XRAYS, Radiology Reports, Dr's & Nurse's Notes, and any Info. that would Show or Prove they Commited a Major or Minor Malpractice Mistake that Killed or Severely Injured You...

#7 You may think so but you WILL NOT get any Support from "Some" Outside Medical "Watchdog" groups that you are told watches out for Sub-Standard Medical Care - This gives some people a Job to get Paid to Do Nothing and they are paid by you the tax-payer...

#8 The Exception to #7 is MEDICARE - "They do an EXCEPTIONAL JOB" at making sure you are OK... >>> BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE RED FLAGS
YOURSELF BEFORE IT IS TO LATE...

#9 Before it is to late this HMO will have to Re-Evaluate their Game-Plan and put their Members & Patients in Priority Position #1... Income and Profits should be Priority Position #2... And #3 Should be to Weed-Out Any and All Unqualified Employees and Staff and hire Only Qualified and Professional Employee's who Desire to be the "Best of th Best" in the Kaiser Hospital System...

#10 If I had to make an Evaluation of the Kaiser Hospital HMO at this time after reading this excellent book and also being a past member of this this HMO - The Words that Clearly come to Mind Are:
***** THIS HAS TO BE THE MEDICAL SCAM of the CENTURY *****...

If Denzel Washington Touched Your Heart in The New Movie "John Q" Than read.....Jennifer's Story...DEATH BY HMO...A Real Life Tragedy.

This book is much much more than one which relays the horrible medical treatment that Jennifer received "While In The Hands of Kaiser" which resulted in her death.

This book is also about an organization that is more concerned about profit and image than the lives of any of it's patients. They will lie, they will trick, they will deny care in any manner possible until it is too late to save the patient if a patient is no longer profitable to them in the long run.

President Nixon when he was considering allowing the creation of the HMO Act was advised by Mr. John D. Ehrlichman who had received information on how Kaiser is run from the then CEO of Kaiser - Edgar Kaiser. Mr. Erlichman stated "...the less care they give them, the more money they make" and that just about sums up everything about this company.

Jennifer was tortured and abused by this corporation and like countless others she and her family found the inconceivable taking place right before their eyes. Medical personnel were not performing their prescribed duties in a professional nor competent manner. The medical staff with their conduct appeared to be a bunch of bumbling fools.

The Kaiser system is intentionally set up so that the patient and their family will choose to believe that a series of errors or incomptent events is taking place. These are really premeditated actions by a corporation that has put in place a system intentionlly fraught with systemic problems to delay treatment until the patient goes away one way or another.

For anyone that would question that statement how else can you explain how a doctor that goes to school for a decade to learn to be a physician and then passes a test to get a license could be so clueless over and over again.

It simply costs Kaiser less to settle an arbitration than it would to provide proper medical care in the long run.

Jennifer's family should be praised. They had the courage, the fortitude and the belief in themselves to put aside their pain and to focus their thoughts so that the public would have the opportunity to learn and avoid the never ending nightmare that they were all forced to endure by Kaiser and the for profit Permanente Medical Group.

This book is must reading for all people. If you must do business with Kaiser then at least be aware of what their business practices are so you can avoid the eternal suffering that Jennifers family must go through.

Jennifer's death was not in vain. She has lived on in this book to tell the story of what happened and to light the way for those that will listen.

This is a very disturbing indictment of modern health care. Dorothy Cancilla exhibits an extraordinary amount of restraint in recalling the preventable death of her daughter at the hands of inept doctors and an unforgiving system.

It's ironic that a organization whose charter is to maintain people's health can actually compromise their lives when the bottom line might be in jeopardy.

Kudos to Mrs. Cancilla for having the courage to face her demons by sharing them with others.

I received this book as a gift and I loved it then and still love it now. After seeing the PBS (television) show on this subject I became intrigued and wanted to learn more.
This book does not disappoint. It goes into great detail as to what really happened in 1906 (whether it was reported by the Media or not).

During the 1906 S.F Earthquake (aka: "The 1906 FIRE") the media was influenced by the politicians (& other institutions) , and this book shows what might have truly happened. Well researched.

Ten years ago, I discovered Denial of Disaster and was floored by what I read. This is the definitive historical work on the greatest natural disaster in U.S. History. The research by Gladys Hansen and her team, former Fire Chief Emmett Condon and the superb journalist David Fowler, forever destroys the official lies that have lasted nearly a century. The official death toll is 478: Gladys has proven that more than 3,500 died. The death toll is easily over 6,000. The photographs are superb, the text strong and inviting, the eyewitness accounts are breath taking. Yes, I may be biased: my novel, 1906, is a fictional account of the last, great days of the city of San Francisco as it once was. But my response to this book was immediate and dramatic, long before it inspired me to write my novel. Periodically, I revisit it like an old friend. There is nothing quite like it in the entire book world. It makes history come alive. James Dalessandro

I got this book because it was so highly recommended, after I had finished reading the fiction, 1906. That book gave a lot of information that was new to me, even though I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and my father worked in SF. This book is simply incredible. The amount of photographs of all kinds, including panoramic scenes meant for stereotopic viewers that were popular at that time, and postcards that were 'colored' made this book an incredible find. Not only have I been through it several times, but also I brought it back to my father and mother who were in awe of the detail and the photography provided by the author of this book. Her information concerning individuals, concerning the inability of the fire companies to successfully fight any of the fires (water pipes were broken as were roads made inaccessible)...intrigued me and my father who was a civil engineer.

Then my nephew who is studying at a nearby college came and went through the book, as he is studying urban planning. He was very interested in the modern day SF and the author's explanations of why SF is in an even more precarious position should another quake as strong as the 1906 quake happen, due to continued ignoring of the need for quake proof buildings and water lines, breaks between houses, the fact that SF actually has less fire departments now then in 1906 and other major problems.

I love San Francisco as a city and where I grew up, but quite frankly, I would never dream of moving back there, partly because of this book. Yet there are other cities equally at risk over poor urban planning (new Orleans for one), and this book would be a good required reading for those going into urban planning and environmental impact on human populations.

A truly great book...

Karen Sadler

As somewhat of a history buff, this book fascinated me. The photos are simply astounding and easy to get lost in. If you're interested in the real story of the quake, check out the DVD documentary "Disaster by the Bay", also available here. I've seen all the documentaries on this subject and "Disaster" is the best by far.

This book is the must have for anyone interested in this history of San Francisco. As a fifth generation native of the "City" who had reilitives who lived through this natural disaster, I can wholeheartedly say that this is the the quinticental book on the subject. It is filled with never before published pictures of both the distruction and the notiable public figures of the day. and dose a very good job of correcting some of the misinformation attributed to the original official record of the earthquake and fire. Simple a great book.

No two ways about it--I just loved this book. Every story is a gem, but best of all was the last and longest tale, Sing Fat and the Imperial Duchess of Woo. While the previous several stories all enchanted me, Sing Fat was really a tour de force of writing, with exotic characters and language specific to a time period. The words are evocative of powerful emotions and the characters just come right off the page into your reading room.

Steinbeck has mastered the literary genre of the short story, just as have two of his contemporaries, Annie Proulx and Jhumpa Lahiri. With the right screenwriter, the story of Sing Fat could be as successful a movie as Brokeback Mountain, adapted from Proulx's short story, or The Namesake, the movie adapted from Lahiri's brief novel by the same name. It's remarkable how easy it is to visualize Steinbeck's characters as his words and writing are that good. For anyone who likes short stories, or for anyone else for that matter, this is a great selection.

Ballantine isn't a small publishing house, but few would have bothered with a book of short stories.

Down To A Soundless Sea by Thomas Steinbeck, son of the California literary legend, John. A collection of seven (which must be a magic number) short stories, all of which takes place in Big Sur. A limited geography with unlimited stories to tell. Steinbeck is every bit the writer that his father was, and it was better that the son waited until he was absolutely ready before he tossed his fate upon the fickle tastes of the reading public. This book is a gem and like all good things, was worth the wait.

Being a life-long John Steinbeck fan, I began reading this book with the clear objective of "being gracious" and trying not to expect too much, since it might fall short of his father's talents. I was so pleasantly proven wrong! Thomas Steinbeck has NOT had to fall back on his family name to be successful. His writing can stand alone on its own merit. I love this book, and while I have already recommended it to friends and associates, I will not be getting rid of it by passing it on, as I often do. It's a "keeper" and I will read it again. Thomas Steinbeck can clearly turn a phrase, and it appears that he can do so naturally. He clearly possesses acute observational skills, and knows human personalities. His characters are full of life and are fully three-dimensional. One does not walk away from this book wondering "Why was this guy or that girl in the plot?" They all hold intrinsic and valuable places in the whole. Not only are these stories interesting and often entertaining, they hold social redeeming values. Thomas Steinbeck, with one book, has shown serious readers that a new kid is on the block, and is a force to be reckoned with. This book is a must read.

Just finished Thomas Steinbeck's book and did enjoy it very much. The characters are odd and varied and all seem perfectly real....I expect most are based on real people. Most of these stories, for this is a collection of (not too) short stories, are stories that were repeated around the Steinbeck dinner table when Thomas's dad, John, was still alive.
The writing style of some of these stories is quite formal, stiff almost at times, and yet they still seem to work. Although the writing is formalized it does have a beauty to it often, a lyrical quality, great selection of words.
In many ways this writing of the son of Steinbeck does remind me of the writing of the father, and certainly that's a good thing. I live on the Central Coast of California where most of these stories take place, and the history in these episodes is right on the money.
If I had one complaint, it would be the same one I've always had for John Steinbeck's writing too: both authors are perhaps overly fond of the tragic ending...which I find odd. I myself am a writer (Birthday Boy, Happy Hour, Safe Sex in the Garden, Allergy-Free Gardening, etc.) and I don't prentend to been even in the same league as John Steinbeck, but still: Every writer I ever met was first of all, dying to get published; then they were dying to make some good sales, to get good reviews, to make some money, to savor some fame. Few writers quite pull this off, but John Steinbeck did so and then some. He was a smash success at an early age and sold books like mad for most of his adult life. I would think his view of the world would be strongly positive, but the opposite seems to be the case. The red pony dies, the huge pearl ruins everything, the big guy accidentally kills the girl, the funny guy trips on a board and breaks his neck. Thomas Steinbeck gets into this tragedy groove too, certainly in the last story in the book, which is the best one too, the strongest,,,,but not to give away the ending.
I think, bottom line is this: it is a really good book, very interesting and well worth reading. The son writes darn well. Must be in his blood.

I thoroughly enjoyed Thomas Steinbeck's storytelling. Vivid images, superb words, lots of nice surprises. I plan to read several of these stories to my 12 year old son -- who I know will also enjoy. Should be recommended high school reading.

A really fun book. I loved the relationship between T. Lawrence and Madison. Well written and enjoyable. The who stalker stuff was kinda dumb, but a fun, quick read.

This has to be Jennifer Sully's best book to date. It is funny, sexy and the heroine has a thing for her boss who is balding and an accountant. But it doesn't stop there. Madison has a stalker who cleans her apartment and along with the fact that she needs to fall in love before she turns 28 because she thinks she will die because her father did at that age. She has two weeks to find the right man. And when T. Larry, her boss finds out what she has planned, her makes it his goal to watch her like a guard dog as she dates who she thinks may be her perfect man.
T. (We don't find out what the "T" stands for till the very end) calls himself Laurence, but Madison nicknames him Larry. Larry wears glasses and is a no nonsense type of guy. Madison is the complete opposite. She is a bit naïve in her thinking and a tad like "Little Mary Sunshine".
So you can just imagine what happens when Larry starts to fall for his Madison, who happens to also be is secretary.
This is one cute and zany story. Madison is an incredible woman who is genuinely kind and sweet. T. Larry is also a good guy, but just a little too stiff. Hey, he likes numbers! And when these two start to heat up the sheets- WOW very hot!
A much recommended read for anyone who likes sexy comedies with wonderful characters.

Katiebabs

This quirky, off-beam, and very funny romance bears no resemblance whatsoever to the film of the same name.

The heroine is Madison O'Donnell, a feisty, kind-hearted, and mouthwateringly beautiful girl with a strong sense of fun who lives life to the full and is always willing to take the most insane risks. This is partly because she is convinced that she will die soon after her 28th birthday, which as of the start of the book is two weeks away.

Madison could have been the inspiration for the energiser bunny, and an example of her sense of humour is that she usually answers the office phone in the accountancy partnership where she works as a secretary with "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" instead of Carp, Alta, and Hobbs.

The reason Madison is convinced that she is headed for an early grave in the near future is that her father had an initial stroke in his teens and a fatal one at 28, and having had an initial stroke at age fifteen herself, she is convinced that she is heading down the same path. There is not a shred of medical evidence to support this view.

Madison is determined to experience true love before she dies. Her boss, T Laurence Hobbs, overhears her making a date with a "wrong number" caller and is horrified that she may be risking at best getting hurt and at worst her safety. His fears for Madison's safety are based on rather more than overprotective paternalism; someone is playing very nasty tricks on her, which start with slashing her car tyres and work downhill from there.

However, the novel keeps you guessing almost to the end about who is doing this. Is it Harriet the office harridan, who is threatening to sue Carp, Alta, and Hobbs over alleged sex discrimination? Is it someone connected with a potential client who the senior partner wants to take on and T Laurence Hobbs suspects may be less than squeaky clean? Or is it possible that Richard, the charming and handsome "wrong number" caller who Madison has started to date, may not be what he seems.

T Laurence, whose feelings for Madison are initially paternal, tries to protect her both from herself and from whoever is doing horrible things to her - and finds his feelings are much more complex than he had realised ...

Very funny and quirky - I thoroughly enjoyed this and can strongly recommend it.

Drop Dead Gorgeous
by Jennifer Skully was great find! Madison has been living her life to the fullest - thinking she would die at the age of 28. Her boss T. Larry has been her fantasy and her his but either did anything to push it to the next level until.... some mad man starts slashing her tires, cleaning her apartment and other weird things. Great book - off to read more by this author.

Even with the other great reviews on the book, I was a little skeptical because it seemed too long at 370+ pages. However, the book is so well written, the characters so fun, it was a fast read. The lead characters are quirky, lovable, and sexy. The dialog was great, the minor characters were well drawn and the story lines easy to follow. It had a good balance of sexual heat and humor, and although you'll figure out who is stalking the lead character immediately, you're still interested in trying to figure out the "why". It's hard to find a book that is funny AND sexy AND romantic, but this one succeeds. It is definitely a keeper.

I found this book very interesting and I'm sure you will also find this book as interesting as I did. Give it a try.

I first read this 2 years ago. Since then, I have read many of her other books as well as one from Florence Scovell Shinn. I am not the same person I was then.

You can completely change your experience of life by reading this book. Your thoughts and words are a form of energy and can be used to create the life you want for yourself.

I've been reading Catherine Ponder's work since the 70's and this book is a favorite. When I say "reading", I mean it. This book and the others that she's written, are books you will read through again and again, rereading your highlighted areas. Speaking of highlighting, be sure to have a couple handy, because you will use them as you read this book.

Not only is the message important, but her way of sharing information is important, too. She shares the stories of those people who have been helped by doing the simple things that this book suggests, and how they have been healed of their infirmities.

In addition to great advice, this book offers you strong, positive thoughts with which to fill your mind.

And yes, this book helped me tremendously to get over some childhood difficulties and to become a better and healthier person. This book, as well as all of Catherine Ponder's books are highly recommended.

This book came back to me a few days away in my mind because I probably read this book over 10 years ago, it was given to me by a very close friend whom I look at to as a second mother and at the time she let me read the book, I was not in any pain or had any health problems. She was reading Ponder's book on Prosperity and let me read this one. Well needless to say, another disguised Blessing was in the making because even though I was not sick and usually if you are not going through sickness, people would probably not think to read this book. WRONG! There was a message in the book just for me. I recall reading the secion about the Power of Release and at the time I was in a 10 year relationship that I didn't know how to get out of. I felt trapped because he was emotionally abusing me, I was scared that if I left he was going to cause me problems. There was an affirmation in the Release section of Ponder's book that went like this "I fully and freely release ___________ out of my life, I loose and let go and let God and know that he has already answered my prayers". I toke to heart this affirmation and repeated this affirmation for several months believing in my heart that God would release this person from my life FULLY AND FREELY and behold a year later I was able to walk away from that relationship without a fear in my heart and when I said I was done, I was done. I know that me reading this book and believing in this affirmation is what allowed me to be able to do it. So I say this, listen to your spirit and God does use people to Bless us and to get messages across to us when we least expect it. Never would I have thought to buy a book about Healing when I am perfectly healthy, this is another example about how God works in our lives.

Having discovered I had cancer at end 2005 this book has help me to stay focused and has also helped my recovery (my specialist has said I am doing exceptionally well. I fully recommend this book for everyone it has answered a lot of my questions and more.

This book was great from the very beginning. It is a story about a young photographer , Edith Ivrine, and her assistant, Daisy Valentine, traveling the world to take pitures an show Ediths prints of yosemite at a convention. Their first stop is in San Fransisco where they were planning to leave straight away to sail to Australia. But isntead they found themselves enduring the overwhemliing tragedy of the San Fransisco earthquake and fire. Edith uses this disaster to record the events happening, with her camera against the will of the police officers. This novel has you feel like you are walking the streets covered in crumbled buildings alongs side these two girls.

This book was exellent. Earthquake at dawn, while maintaining the readers interest through highly interesting events, is quite informative, giving information about the earthquake and a firsthand view of what it was like through the eyes of Daisy Valentine, Edith Irvine(a famous photographer)'s assistant. Daisy and Edith arrive in San Francisco hoping to catch a boat to Australia and travel around the world. Unfortunately, disaster strikes right before they dock, and the women find themselves in the middle of one of the biggest earthquakes in history. With the help of the McGregor and Somers families and their friend, Mary Exa, the women are forced to survive in the city by any means possible. Edith does her best to capture the ruins by photograph, but the mayor threatens to shoot anybody who dares to take pictures. An exciting, informative story, Earthquake at Dawn is the perfect book for anyone who wants to learn about the earthquake, or somebody who just wants something to read.

Earthquake at Dawn is a great book. It is about Edith Irvine, a dedicated photographer, and her 15-year-old assistant Daisy. On their way to Europe, the earthquake hits and they have to stop in San Francisco, which is mostly destroyed and collapsing. After the quake, a great fire erupts and several of the city's houses and buildings they had not already fallen burn to the ground. The two are separated from Edith's father, who was traveling with them, and they become friends with a few other survivors. Meanwhile, the mayor is creating even more trouble. Men and women are threatened to being shot for using toilets or electricity, and dynamite, in an attempt to stop the fire, is being set off. But, Edith documents the trip with her photographs, even though that could mean death if she was caught by the mayor, who doesn't want the rest of the country to know the real disaster that is happening in San Francisco. In this incredibly realistic novel, Kristiana Gregory tells the exciting story, based on a letter written by survivor Mary Exa Atkin Campbell and the real photographs taken by Edith Irvine. I would highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed the book Earthquake at Dawn. It's about the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake/fire that happened at dawn (hence the name Earthquake at Dawn). Even though it is historical fiction, it had a lot of true things that made it incredibly believable. Kristina Gregory definitely made the story good by adding some subplots that kept your interest. The subplots were real things too, like Edith and Daisy getting separated from their father, and Molly dying of lack of healthcare. This was a really good, captivating book which I think many people will cherish for years to come.

Kristiana Gregory really brings out Edith Irvine as a devoted photographer. Even in the midst of all the turmoil, she snaps 60 photos, possibly more! In this true-to-life novel, the famous San Francisco earthquake takes place, however, the quake is not the worst that happens! The fire that the quake created was. It lasted three days and killed an estimated five to ten thousand people. The mayor exploded dynamite to try to get rid of the fire, but the dynamite only created more. This novel also illustrates the annoying floor length dresses that the ladies of 1906 had to wear and the automobiles of Daisy's time. In some books earthquakes are made up just for entertainment. Not this one! This earthquake was real. The first shock was on April 18, 1906 and was recorded at 5:12:05 a.m. and it lasted for 45 seconds. There were 27 earthquakes that were actually recorded that day. Mary Exa Atkins Campbell told the earthquake's story.

I suffer from CFS and I find this book has helped me quite a lot. It's clearly and well written, gatherig all the main facts about this complex illness.

If I could write a book about CFIDS/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, this is the book I would want to have written. It captures the feeling of what it's like to live with CFIDS/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome better than any book I've read (and I've read a lot of books about CFIDS). The author, Dorothy Wall, manages to move seamlessly between the personal and the larger political and medical issues of this debilitating chronic illness.

Wall grapples with many of the questions and issues I've thought about or have been forced to deal with, and which I'm sure many people with CFIDS will relate to. The role reversal of being better informed about CFIDS than the doctors you consult. The effect on your identity when your professional life is interrupted. Dealing with the expectations and advise of well-meaning friends and family. The way CFIDS forces you to reexamine the ethic of pushing yourself to exceed your boundaries and limitations. The desire to "pass" as a healthy person, if only briefly. The difference between accepting the realities of CFIDS and capitulating to them. The strain it puts on your closest relationships with spouse and family members when they are forced to become caregivers. The unexpected small joys and benefits that a constricted, slowed-down life can bring, like an appreciation of the beauty of a flower unfolding. The questions about what CFIDS and related illnesses may portend for our society.

Dorothy Wall's background as an editor and writer show through, in the way the writing is at once spare and lyrical. She can be poetic without being flowery. The simplicity of the writing allowed her meaning to penetrate my CFIDS brain fog, so that I didn't have to read the book in five minute increments.

Let me mention what this book ISN'T. It isn't a how-to guide for living with chronic fatigue syndrome, or a textbook for "CFS 101." It doesn't include a laundry list of symptoms, suggestions for treatment, or a list of theories about the cause. In many ways, it contains more questions than answers. It does give a general overview and background, and the afterward by Dr. Nancy Klimas is a good summary of the biology of CFIDS and an overview of current research.

This is a book that I want to press into the hands of family and friends, and say "Read this! This is what it's like." I would urge anyone who either has this disease or knows someone who has it, to read this book. I'm seriously thinking about buying a second copy to give to my doctor.

I was diagnosed with post-viral CFS in 1988. This book is an excellent description of living with CFS except for one thing: 3/4 of marriages affected by chronic illness break up, which means that most of us don't have the live-in support system she had.

Some disbelieving doctors like to attribute CFS to "secondary gain" or enablers who allow the patient to "enjoy the sick role". Unfortunately, for many CFS patients, there's no enabler and the only thing you gain is the stress of trying to make ends meet with no income.

Wall tells of having someone run her bath, gently wash her, dress her, and help her back to bed. That's a luxury most of us don't enjoy. If I'm not well enough to cook, I don't get dinner; if I cannot safely get in and out of the tub by myself, I don't bathe (on a cold winter day when I needed a bath to warm up, I got stuck in the tub for over an hour because I lacked the strength to boost myself up and out, and there was no one to call for help).

Wall's live-in support structure allowed her to do what those of us who live alone can't: use all her energy to write a book to explain to the rest of the world what it's like to be trapped in a body and brain that don't function.

I recommend this not only to patients, but to their friends and family as one of the best patient-written books I've read.

I found this to be an excellent book on CFIDS. I too suffer from it and feel sometimes I am the only one in my corner of the world that has it. It is helpful to read about someone else who has the same symptoms so I realize I am not " losing it" and it is real. The author also provides comphrensive data relating to medical, historical, and social aspects of this troubling illness. I would highly suggest this to people who have CFIDS and those who want to learn more about it. It is a a very readable book that is packed with information and is not boring or dry.

I have suffered from CFS since the late 70's although I was able to "push" through the majority of those years. I am now back in an accute phase and found Dorothy Wall's book fascinating , beautifully written and helpful. It helped make my illness real for me since I have never "looked" ill and have learned to doubt that what I have is real. I found it a story of the truth, which was most refreshing and inspiring.

This book has provided so many wonderful adventures and opportunities for our family! We have been able to take our kids to amazing, educational, fun and sometimes unheard-of places here in SoCal. And, the information Susan Peterson gives about each place is so valuable: prices, deals, appropriate ages, which season is best for them, and even little known facts or insights that will help you enjoy it more. We were thrilled to find this book, and always recommend it to friends, and loan it to visiting relatives and friends.

I plan activities for our MOPS group, and this book is all I will ever need! It is so well-organized and thorough. After meeting the author, I know she was not "bought" by any of these places and means every word she says. A great gift!

This is the most impressive book of this type I have ever seen. The comprehesiveness (almost 800 pages) and organization are unparalleled. It lists locations by county that are indexed by city. Each county is divided by general themes like MUSEUMS and THE GREAT OUTDOORS that are then indexed into more specific categories like military, mission, music, etc ) It even contains a calendar at the end, which lists all the annual special events that take place each year. This really is the work of a genius. As a parent, teacher, and daytripper, I will probably open this book as frequently as any in the next several years. It makes me feel even more excited about my future with two very young children! Thank you Susan Peterson!!!

I never realized how many kid-friendly places there are in SoCal! Peterson's entries give valuable information on the location, age range, price, time spent, and highlights of each place, as well as her insightful personal opinions. The entries are enjoyable to read and informative. She covers well-known places and places I've never heard of, as well as gives tips for a fun-filled outing. A great book for moms or anyone who wants to go on an enjoyable outing with kids. Never spend a dull day at home again!

This book is amazing. The lady who wrote it must have been such an adventurer! She took her kids all over the place! You can tell that she really went to the places because she describes the best things to do there and she's always correct! I have found so many wonderful new places thanks to this book. I've been to about 50 of the places recommended and I plan to go to more. The best thing about the book is that it leads you to unknown parks and beach areas and museums that are free. It's not just a touristy book promoting all the expensive glitzy things to do in each city. Instead you find wonderful "real" places that families from the area know are the loveliest spots.

From the Orange County Register
July 7, 2006

by Judy Bart Kancigor, author of Cooking Jewish: 532 Great Recipes from the Rabinowitz Family

When I was growing up I lived for the movies. I devoured Photoplay magazine from cover to cover and daydreamed I would meet my idols like Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter. Well, Rock is long gone, but who knew that decades later I'd be eye to eye with Tab still gorgeous after all these years.

I attended the LA Times Festival of Books at UCLA in April mainly for the food demonstrations at the cooking stage, but it's a huge venue, and just about everyone hawking a new book was there, including Tab, signing his memoir for adoring fans.

Back at the cooking stage, Akasha Richmond, private chef and caterer to the stars, was dishing some Hollywood trivia herself as she demonstrated recipes from her new cookbook, "Hollywood Dish," a collection of 150 health-filled recipes interspersed with fascinating tidbits and Hollywood gossip.

Richmond's client list includes such A-list luminaries as Michael Jackson, Carrie Fisher, Al Pacino, Pierce Brosnan and Richard Gere. When Billy Bob Thornton wanted a wheat-free, dairy-free Thanksgiving dinner, he called Richmond, who began her career in the late seventies as chef of the Golden Temple, one of LA's first vegetarian restaurants. When celebrities started clamoring for her healthy menus, she began catering Hollywood parties and became personal chef to Barbra Streisand among others, later moving on to cook for the MTV awards shows, Sundance Film Festival and the Grammies.

Richmond is passionate about using healthy and organic ingredients to produce such tempting dishes as Thai Chicken and Daikon Curry, Almond Eggplant Balls, even her spectacular Sundance Chocolate Torte, her "wheat-free, soy-enhanced version" of Alice Medrich's Chocolate Walnut Torte. "I'm allergic to dairy, so I use soy milk in everything," she revealed. "The only thing I can't do with it is flan." The book does, however, offer a Honey-Goat's Milk Flan from famed spa, Rancho La Puerta, which began, she reports, as a $17.50-per-week retreat where guests brought their own tents and helped with the cooking, going on to become the exclusive getaway it is today.

"Hollywood Dish" is so much more than a collection of recipes. Richmond chronicles the history of healthful eating in America, interweaving stories of old Hollywood and the food preferences of stars from Gloria Swanson (she carried avocadoes in her handbag) to Woody Harrelson (a raw-food proponent) to Rudy Vallee, whose penchant for frozen strawberry daiquiris helped put the Waring blender on the map.

Hollywood embraced healthy eating, and the nation soon followed, Richmond noted. "At the turn of the century Germans from the communes, who were into eating healthy foods, came to California for the cheap land, abundant fruit and sunshine," she said. "They started teaching here and opened juice bars in the movie studios. The movie business came to Hollywood at the same time the health food business did."

One of Richmond's favorite appetizers is adapted from the pimento cheese sandwiches Billy Bob Thornton whipped up one year for the kitchen crew when Richmond was catering his Christmas party. She likes to cut them in quarters and serve them with a cream of tomato dip. "I made these for Frank Zapper's wedding," she said. "Everywhere I go I make these sandwiches. They're the friendliest little sandwiches I've ever seen."

PIMENTO CHEESE BITES
From "Hollywood Dish" (Avery) by Akasha Richmond

1 cup grated soy cheddar cheese or cheese of your choice
2 tablespoons vegan or light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1/4 cup diced pimentos, drained
1 tablespoon chopped green olives
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce
6 slices spelt, whole wheat or sourdough bread
Canola cooking spray
1 tablespoon nonhydrogenated soy spread or olive oil

Mix cheese, mayonnaise, green onion, pimento, olives, salt, pepper and red pepper sauce in a small bowl. Divide equally among 3 slices bread and top with remaining bread slices. Heat 10- or 12-inch nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray. Add soy spread. Brown on both sides, adding more spray or soy spread as you go along. Cut into quarters and serve.

I was very pleased with how this book flowed. There are great stories of old and new hollywood and the recipes are easy to follow, and there is not one that I have not enjoyed. If I had to pick which recipe I loved the most it would have to be the CINNAMON-RAISIN BREAD, it is just outstanding and no one in your family would be the wiser that they actually are eating healthy. A must buy for anyone!!!

Years ago Akasha Richmond won my heart with The Art Of Tofu. This time she has taken me to a whole new level. Hollywood Dish is a gem. The recipes are inventive yet easy and fun to make. The Vegan Carrot Cake tastes better than the real thing, the Kombucha Squash soup, warm and soothing and the historical stories and anecdotes are so much fun. This is the perfect gift for any foodie or novice alike.
Hats off to Akasha. Hollywood Dish is the real thing.

I loved this book! You don't even need to cook to enjoy it -- the stories and sidebars are a delightful read just by themselves. And if you do cook -- WOW! the recipes are different without being strange, with interesting twists on some standards, and some great new ideas, and all of them are healthy and yet sound utterly delicious. I've already done a dozen or so recipes, and every one was a huge hit. I have a lot of cookbooks, but this one instantly became one of my favorites. DOn't miss it!

Delicious, for the most part, but healthy? How does a book that purports to be healthy provide zero nutritional information (i.e., actual nutrient counts)? We're given none at all, so we're simply supposed to trust Ms. Richmond, but I would have far preferred nutritional information to the endless(!) celebrity name dropping.