Switzerland Books

Great book at fraction of original price. Really helped me out on my trip. Very informative.

The book is well researched and laid out. I had talked and written to the Author both before and after publication, but have lost contact. Was a real help on my family research and she had taken photos of some of the hard to find small cemeteries including all the stones, which I was able to obtain. A must for every Library.

The noted Swiss conductor and philanthropist Paul Sacher was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century music. Sacher's life and career are presented here by author Lesley Stephenson, who had extensive contact with Sacher in his later years.

Symphony of Dreams is an easy read, and an enjoyable one. Ms. Stephenson does not attempt an encyclopedic biography, a scholarly tome full of minute detail, but rather gives us a touching overview of the man and his relationships. The book is thus aimed at the general reader who simply wants to know more about Sacher's life. Her view of her subject is both balanced and clear, delineating the various, sometimes contradictory, aspects of Sacher's character.

Ms. Stephenson captures the personality of the energetic yet secretive Sacher very well in these pages. Symphony of Dreams is well worth reading for anyone interested in the life and work of this pioneering conductor.

Beautifully written for children ages 4 and older by Eveline Hasler and superbly illustrated by Kathi Bhend with both color and black/white images, "A Tale Of Two Brothers" is the picturebook story of two brothers who lived in a valley and were burdened with having humps on their backs. While one brother was good, kind, helpful and friendly, the other was mean, selfish, and hostile -- until one truly magical night when the lives of the brothers would change forever! "A Tale Of Two Brothers" is in the mold of a classic fairytale with an underlying message about personal values, and would make an excellent and popular addition to both school and community library picturebook shelves.

We were discussing Switzerland recently, and someone asked, 'What do the Swiss eat, anyway?' Apart from the obvious -- cheese and chocolate -- I had no idea. But then I found this attractive book, and now my questions are answered.

Sue Style here tackles the difficult task of giving us a culinary portrait of a nation which, as she points out in her introduction, is 'at least four countries rolled into one,' not counting influences from neighboring countries and cultures. The key, she says, is in realizing that Swiss food, wine, and tastes aren't monolithic, but rather vary (sometimes widely) from canton to canton.

Aided by John Miller's skilled photography of landscapes (sometimes I wonder if it's even possible to take an unattractive photo of Switzerland), people, and ... not least of all ... food, Style not only gives us a wide variety of recipes, but also shows how those foods fit into the broader Swiss lifestyle. Bread, cheese, chocolate, and sausage ... each gets its own chapter, as do Swiss winemaking (who knew? -- 'Many Swiss wines never make it beyond the confines of the canton, let alone the country' -- yet some are apparently quite nice) and the art of the Swiss innkeeper.

In all, whether you have no experience of Swiss food at all, or are a former visitor or resident looking to recreate happy memories, Sue Style's book seems like an excellent way to explore the surprisingly varied world of Swiss tastes.

If you couldn't get to Dallas, Texas to see the magnificent Meadows Museum exhibit, Texas Vision, the next best thing is browsing through this comprehensive volume of the Barrett Collection.

With 200 pages, 27 black and white images, and 93 color plates, this book is representative of the fine works in the private collection of Dallas philanthropists Nona and Richard Barrett. Theirs is an assembly, put together over the past 20 years, of works by not only Texas artists but also by modernist Swiss and Czech painters.

The Barretts are best described by former Meadows Museum Director Edmund . Pillsbury in his insightful commentary, "The Barretts have pursued not only what they love but what they wanted others to love - in the end what they believe is important. They never bought for financial gain and have never sold or even exchanged works from their collection. Rather, they have made generous donations over the years to share their collection and assist the artists."

With Texas works featured in the primary portion of the volume, we find pieces by such artists as Julian Onderdonk, Jerry Bywaters, and Frank Reaugh. An early Texas abstract painter, Ben L. Culwell, is also represented as are contemporary artists Linda Rdgway and John Pomara.

Modern art of Switzerland is not overlooked plus prime examples of paintings by Giovanni Giacometti, the father of the better known sculptor Alberto Giacometti, and Ferdinand Hodler.

"Texas Vision" is not only a tribute to the foresight and munificence of the Barretts but a treasure for all who appreciate lasting works of art.

- Gail Cooke

This is the true story translated from the French journal of a young boy who, with his grandfather, gets trapped in a summer hut in the early fall. Because of the Grandfathers poor health and the deep, unexpected snow, they must remain for 3 months living on fresh goat milk, a few potatoes, and a few bottles of wine. It is my all time favorite book. This is the most beautiful, truthful story of repentance and survival. You will cry!!

In this collection of letters written by Saint Francis de Sales, it's easy to see that people are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Saint Francis' gentle advice and counsel is as appropriate today as it was 300+ years ago. He clearly teaches his correspondents how to achieve holiness in whatever walk of life they find themselves in. Although a few of these letters are written to men and women in religious life, most are to ordinary laywomen (mostly) and laymen. Great spiritual reading!

I haven't read this novel, but the statement that this is Otto F. Walter's first English language book is incorrect. In 1962 Grove Press published an amazing novel of his called THE MUTE.

It is a classic son-in-search-of-his-father book. One of the best I've read. Experimental, yet completely understandable. I recommend it.

Reader's please note that the Publisher's Weekly review is not a review of the book listed above. The book reviewed is an entirely different book by the same author.