Victoria Books

I read the book in the original Hebrew. The writing was stark: I don't know if Michael's bare style has been maintained in the translation. Perhaps the most touching aspect of this deeply moving book, of the difficult life of an Iraqi Jewish woman and her family in Baghdad and later in Israel, is that at the end - her roving, roaming, cheating husband loves her deeply enough to lie to her one last time, for the sake of her dignity.

I read it years ago in the original Hebrew. Ever since I have been wondering whether it has been translated into English and whether Sami Michael will ever get a Nobel prize... I realize now that it has been translated. I recommend it to readers who have have enjoyed Mann, Garcia, Mahfouz, Singer and some of the other modern classical masters. "Victoria" is the touching and intimate story of several generations of a Jewish family in Iraq which emigrated to Israel. A fascinating masterpiece by my favorite contemporaneous Israeli author.

Seating back at the New England winter I could still feel the 50 degrees (celsius)heat of Bagdad. I couldn't leave the book from the moment I got it in my hand. It took me so far into that world described in such talent that I felt like I'm the old lady whose body had carried so many babies (Victoria's mother) and yet no one respected.

I agree with the previous reviewer and I probably won't use it because it's just too nice. I also bought the pocket sized one. A must for any dedicated follower of fashion!

This lovely desk-size 2008 diary is actually a companion to the spectacular book "The Golden Age of Couture" (edited by Claire Wilcox), which is itself a companion to the Victoria and Albert Museum's 2007-08 exhibit on the fashions of the decade from 1947 to 1957. As such, the chief attraction here is nearly a hundred photos and illustrations, in mixed color and B&W, most of which don't appear in the book. You probably will want to buy two copies - one for your permanent library, one to scribble in. :) A pocket-size version, with many of the same pictures (but also with some different ones) is also available. If you can't afford the big book, by all means get this one!

The Victoria & Albert museum in London puts out two engagement diaries every year. There is a desk diary and a smaller purse sized diary. The desk diary is printed on beautiful quality stock. Each two page spread covers one week, with a good-sized blank space for each day. There are 2008 and 2009 calendars up front, an integrated bookmark and a couple of blank pages at the end of the diary for notes.

What really sets the V&A diaries apart is the quality of the photographs. Every year a different theme is chosen from the V&A's vast collection: recent themes have included Middle Eastern Art and details of vintage fabrics. The photographs are always beautifully composed and pleasingly varied.

The theme for this year's diary is "The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957" and it makes full use of the extensive couture clothing collection held by the museum. Illustrations include fashion photography from the 40s and 50s, catwalk sketches, advertisements and detailed photographs of dresses, hats, shoes and jewellery from the V&A collection. Designers who are featured include (but are not limited to) Balmain, Dior, Worth, Chaumont, Desses, Cavanagh and Fath.

This would be an excellent gift for anyone who has an interest in photography or fashion - or just culture in general. It does a beautiful job of capturing a golden decade of high glamor.

I received this book as a ninth birthday present and absolutely fell in love with it. I read it many times over the years when I was younger but had the misfortune to misplace it during a move. It had such an impact on me even as a child and a young adult that I found it imperative to find another copy so that I may pass along some of its magic to the next generation. I hope that my own children enjoy it as much as I did.

The book is labeled "A Fable for Adults," but I think an intelligent, perceptive child of nine and up would get a lot out of it too. I would highly recommend that elementary-school librarians introduce any real-life Victorias in their school to this book. It could help them feel less alone.

I first read this book in 1981 after a visit to the library, and haven't been able to find it anywhere since. I was prompted to look for it on the Internet because of a letter to a children's advice column I read last week. The parent was distressed by her 4-year-old's imaginary playmates and wondered how she could get him to "act normal". Thank God that she was advised to let him be his own wonderful, imaginative self. Victoria At Nine showed the tyranny of forcing children to conform to our own ideas of normalcy. Victoria was a very intelligent, imaginative child, and talking to her stuffed animals helped her make sense of the confusing, frightening adult world in which she lived. As I was reading, the animals seemed real to me, too. Her parents' desperate attempts to get her to conform; to "be more normal" were cruel and terrible, including forcing her to bury her stuffed friends in the back yard. I was riveted by this book and have never forgotten it. I was very surprised to see that it is out of print. I now have a beautiful child of my own, and encourage his imagination and creative spirit. This book is a must for parents. Victoria At Nine is a very special, memorable book indeed.

If you're tired of looking up information on the internet or in libraries when you have a question concerning foods, this is the book to have in your collection. If you need to know where watermelons originated and what year Americans started growing them, you'll find the information here.

Mrs. Rumble has recipes for all types of foods and how to cook them over the campfire, in the hearth and on the conventional stove. All of the recipes have been tested and proven and ingredients and cooking instructions are listed for both 19th and 21st centuries.

Of course this book would be an excellent resource for anyone that likes to cook but would also be a great reference for anyone in school that needs information about foods and their origins.

This is not just a recipe book for 19th century cooking but is pertinent for today's busy cooks. In my opinion, the best thing about the book is all of the research that was done to document the origins of foods.

A glimpse of daily life in the 19th Century through the food they ate and how it was prepared. Very well written with easy to read narrative and clear / concise recipes. More remarkable is the history of where the foods came from. For example, I was surprised to learn Oranges were native to Asia and first grown in the United States in the 1850's. From grits to Molasses Pie, the book is filled with interesting and great tasting looks at our past.

Victoria's Home Companion

There are myriad cook books that claim to accurately represent the preparation of Victorian cuisine yet fall as flat as a soufflé on close inspection. There are also numerous tomes on life and culture in 19th Century America; however, no other book captures the breath of domestic life in the United States of the 1800's as fully as Victoria R. Rumble's marvelous Victoria's Home Companion. This work is a must for any student of cultural and domestic history and de rigueur for writers of historical fiction. It is the definitive work on American material culture and other treatises pale by comparison.

Victoria's Home Companion was first brought to my attention when I was in the midst of researching a manuscript that is set in 19th Century Boston. I was in need for information on Victorian American cuisine, domestic customs and the kitchens of the period. I contacted a noted chef in Los Angeles who immediately steered me to Mrs. Rumble's website and thankfully, Victoria's Home Companion. I found the book to be full of colorful facts that were not confined simply to cooking. There were regional recipes, information on planting, a marvelous chapter on edible plants that were consumed in the 19th century, methods of preservation and preparation of meat and fish. Mrs. Rumble also gives a detailed list of canned foods that were available in the 19th century in addition to an authentic examination of American kitchens and what went on in them from the pre to post Civil War era. The book is also replete with descriptions of period cooking tools; for anyone interested in cultural history, the book is remarkably free of anachronisms.

There are a plethora of recipes, all totally authentic and presented in their original format, before Fanny Farmer revolutionized the cookbook with her accurate measurements. A recipe for Pepper Pot illustrates the authenticity of the recipe. "Stew gently in four quarts of water till reduced to three, three pounds of beef, half pound of lean ham, a bunch of dried thyme, two onions, two large potatoes, pared and sliced; then strain through a colander, and add a large fowl, cut into joints and skinned, half a pound of pickled pork, sliced the meat of one lobster, minced, and some small suet dumplings the size of a walnut. When the fowl is well boiled, add half a peck of spinach that has been boiled and rubbed through a colander, season with salt and cayenne."

In addition to recipes, there are chapters on specific foods replete with historical information. The chapter on bread was filled with anecdotal information about the staff of life and the pages overflow with jewels of information gleaned from memoirs, journals, and letters. It was a joy during the Christmas holidays to sample some of the instructions for beverages including a festive gin-punch and an 1858 recipe for eggnog.

Perhaps some of us view the "good old days" through the lens of rosy nostalgia but this marvelous work enlivens the past in a manner that illuminates and entertains.

book came more quickly than other books purchased through independent sellers. amazon got it to me quickly, wrapped in plastic, and in great condition!

This book describes the social capital found in Villa Victoria, a Boston Puerto Rican barrio. Mario Small documents how the community organized in order to create their own new community (and to fight gentrification). He then returns to Villa Victoria and describes the decline of social capital in the form of civic engagement (attending meetings, associations, etc. He also describes that although one form of social capital has declined within the community (attending meetings), that another form of social capital (bridging with middle class networks) has risen.

This book is nothing short of genius. Great work, thorough research. This book is truly a masterpiece.

As a graduate of two correspondence courses offered by the Institute of Children's Literature I can honestly say that I wish I'd seen Victoria Hanley's book, Wild Ink, before I signed up for my first course. It would have saved me from learning a lot of irrelevant material and it definitely would have saved me some bucks.

Victoria's book covers what any inspiring writer of young adult fiction needs to know, from finding your writing self to getting your manuscript published.

If you have the discipline and dedication to pursue a writing career on your own then this book's for you. Commitment to being a successful writer is definitely needed, whether you take the expensive route, as I did, or take advantage of the priceless information contained within this book.

Ms. Hanley has provided an invaluable resource for the serious wannabe writer of young adult fiction. I highly recommend it.

I've had the pleasure of experiencing firsthand Victoria Hanley's gift of generously sharing her extensive knowledge with others. Wild Ink takes her gift a step further, guiding aspiring authors through the writing process all the way to submission and publication. This book is packed with advice for finding your writing self, ways to overcome common obstacles, and helpful resources for writers. However, all this information is not exclusive to YA writers. Anyone with an interest in writing will find this book useful. The interviews with agents, editors and other authors are an extra bonus.

The Seer and the Sword
The Healer's Keep
Light of the Oracle
Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write

Quick disclaimer-- I'm one of the authors interviewed for this book, but I would heartily recommend it even it I weren't! I've been looking for a book like this to recommend when I do writers' workshops, and finally, at long last... here it is! Wild Ink definitely fills the gap, and fills it beautifully. This book contains all the hard-earned wisdom and practical advice that I wished I knew before my first book was published. What I love most about Wild Ink is the compassionate, funny voice and the abundance of personal examples. Hanley covers a range of topics on writing for teens-- from overcoming self-doubt (which was a HUGE obstacle for me) to finding an authentic teen voice to submitting your manuscript. She gives a great overview of the sub-genres of young adult literature, and addresses all the common questions, such as the pluses and minuses of self-publishing, whether to include profanity or sex, and how to find your writing self. Hanley also includes interviews with agents, editors, and authors, which bring in a variety of fascinating perspectives. One thing that really sets Wild Ink apart from others of its kind is that it's obviously written from the heart, acknowledging the mysterious role of the spirit/unconscious self in writing... and as a writer who delves into this realm every day, I appreciate the way Hanley weaves it into her book.

Victoria Hanley has taken her wealth of experience and turned it into an accessible, fun and informative guide to writing young adult fiction. She even brought her colleagues along for the ride--sharing tips, stories, and musings from those who've been through the trenches of writing and publishing to help new authors get from the blank page to the bookstore rack with wisdom and savvy. What I have learned from Victoria has already pushed my writing to level where my work is receiving more professional recognition. So, I definitely recommend Wild Ink to anyone who is ready to go further with their writing.

I discovered an earlier edition of this truly great book in my local book shop and have since walked most of the walks in both the earlier and this current edition. It has to be the bible for anyone wanting to experience the joys the State of Victoria in Australia has to offer. The track notes are concise, yet easy to follow and are accompanied by useful maps for each walk. The publishers would be advised to re-think their layout designs as the book has a decidedly old fashion feel about it, BUT this does not detract from the usefulness of the book. WELL DONE MR THOMAS !

A diverse range of hikes for all grades of walkers from families to hard-core adventurers. Includes contour maps for each hike as well as photographs and illustrations to accompany the comprehensive route descriptions. The destinations include the Australian Alps, the magnificent Grampians, Wilsons Promontory and Gippsland. Sixty of the walks are with 60 miles of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria. Introductory chapters include advice on equipment, food suggestions, first aid, etc etc.

I am proud and happy to say that I have two personal friends who are deeply involved with PhotoShop and Lightroom. The first lectures over 300 days a year on PhotoShop and Lightroom, the other helped develop the software and is listed on the masthead as you open the program. I use Lightroom several hours a day in my business.

When I have a sticking point in Lightroom, I turn to Victoria's book! This is the most straight forward, easy to understand source for a wonderfully complex yet simple program. Victoria's web site [...] has in turn been my source for specific problems and relevant sources.

Buy this book!

When I first heard there was an FAQ about Lightroom in the works, I had my doubts. I have seen too many books that claimed to be Frequently Asked Questions that were in fact a collection of tips reverse-engineered into a question format. As a Lightroom author myself I spend a share of my time in the Adobe Lightroom User-to-User forum answering questions all the while trying to get a feel for the kinds of questions people have about Lightroom so I can ensure the topic is covered in my book. I always thought it would be great if someone would distill all of the questions that are posted along with the correct answers and organize them into a book. This is exactly what the author has done. She has managed to collect and organize them into a single document. These real questions that are actually asked frequently (what a concept) are organized in such a way as to be easy to find. I cannot recommend this work highly enough. I just finished a 300+ page book on Lightroom 2 and I still find myself going though my copy of her book to refresh my memory on how something is supposed to work.

Amazon has this listing for the rare occasion when an expensive first edition of this work comes available.

If you're simply interested in reading the content of this important speech, you can find an exact facsimile of the original in an inexpensive book you will find on Amazon: Free Lover: Sex, Marriage and Eugenics the Early Speeches of Victoria Woodhull, due for release in mid-December 2005. In that book, you will also get facsimiles of three of her other major speeches on free love, two letters she wrote the New York Times on the topic and the New York Times' report on her controversial Steinway Hall speech in which she first proclaimed herself a free lover

In Free Lover Victoria Woodhull justified her free love ideas by advancing strange, mystical ideas about sex and childbearing that link it to eugenics. She also advocated radical social change in an effort to make free love seem more practical. Those changes included an end to legal marriage, payments to mothers for childbearing, and the rearing of all children by the State. In a very real sense, Aldous Huxley's classic Brave New World is a criticism of those ideas as they had evolved by 1932.

Woodhull later abandoned her ideas about free love and married a wealthy British banker. But she retained her interest in eugenics, becoming one of its earliest advocates. Over time, her ideas about eugenics became less mystical and more scientific. Her major speeches and pamphlets on eugenics can be found in another inexpensive collection: Lady Eugenist: Feminist Eugenics in the Speeches and Writings of Victoria Woodhull, also available from Amazon.

Amazon has this listing for the rare occasion when an expensive first edition of this work comes available.

If you're simply interested in reading the content of this important 1871-72 speech, you can find an exact facsimile of the original in an inexpensive book you will find on Amazon: Free Lover: Sex, Marriage and Eugenics the Early Speeches of Victoria Woodhull, due for release in mid-December 2005. In that book, you will also get facsimiles of three of her other major speeches on free love, two letters she wrote the New York Times on the topic and the New York Times' report on this Steinway Hall speech.

In Free Lover Victoria Woodhull justified her free love ideas by advancing strange, mystical ideas about sex and childbearing that link it to eugenics. She also advocated radical social change in an effort to make free love seem more practical. Those changes included an end to legal marriage, payments to mothers for childbearing, and the rearing of all children by the State. In a very real sense, Aldous Huxley's classic Brave New World is a criticism of those ideas as they had evolved by 1932.

Woodhull later abandoned her ideas about free love and married a wealthy British banker. But she retained her interest in eugenics, becoming one of its earliest advocates. Over time, her ideas about eugenics became less mystical and more scientific. Her major speeches and pamphlets on eugenics can be found in another inexpensive collection: Lady Eugenist: Feminist Eugenics in the Speeches and Writings of Victoria Woodhull, also available from Amazon.

This book is a very well written, descriptive, and an enjoyable read. I really loved being able to appreciate the natural world around me through this book. I've become more aware of the beauties that surround us. Which, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, can sometimes be forgotten.

In this pocket guide to Animal Wisdom are 29 stories of close encounters with various creatures and what the spiritual significance of their energies and the encounters with them mean to us. Victoria Hunt shares her own stories and those of her friends to help people reconnect with nature. With the assistance of her spirit guide, Balthazar, she discovered that the more she encountered animals, the more she understood them, and the more she understood, the more she appreciated them. She found she could often relate an encounter to a situation or emotion that was occurring in her own life and thus her collection of stories began. She spent the past few years collecting stories for this book and is now sharing her knowledge with the world.

I instinctively used this book as oracle when I first received it; I asked it to show me what I needed to know and opened it right up to Hummingbird. I looked up at the hummingbird feeder right outside my window and read: "With their ability to fly in any direction they choose, they remind us to be flexible no matter what path we've chosen. By being flexible we can move along our life-course easier." Considering I had just been presented an unexpected new career opportunity that morning, it made perfect sense to me. I turned to different animals in the book and read the stories and omens for a few of them, each one in their own way related to what was going on with me at the time. Later when I read them all in order I noticed a flow and personal touch that consistently brought the various Animals' stories to life for me. I found I could not put it down. There is a lot of information in this pocket sized volume that should help you along with your own shamanic journey. The stories would work well with an oracle deck; perhaps an oracle deck or another volume of Animal Omens could be in the works.

I like the experiential nature of this book and the fresh slant on various animals that was unlike any I had found in other reference books. Very highly recommended.