Bean Books

Leah Hager Cohen ends this books with the words: everywhere you rest your eyes, invisible stories blossom. Well, in this book it is her intention to tell you every possible story about every possible thing and person that relates to every possible other thing and person, starting from her having a cup of coffee and readin the Sunday paper. This is "world in a grain of sand" gone mad. The premise is a good one, and was in fact why I bought the book in the first place. But how much is enough? Cohen doesn't appear to even care to ask the question; her editor, if there was one on the project, was probably cowering in a corner, subject to Cohen's steadfast refusal to edit out one precious word. Precious. That is the main word that comes to mind to describe this. While Cohen on the surface has intentions of getting to the root of things, to the connectedness of things, she writes in a way that calls more attention to her style of writing than to what she is trying to describe. She is a very talented writer. What comes to mind is the most talented girl in high-school, doing her best to show off and please the teacher, and get the best boy. But only now after a degree in writing.

An example, her description of fog in Mexico: "Everyone knows that the mist nourishes the coffee plants, caresses them like handmaidens with damp, cool fingers, cradles them in a moist pellicle all through the dry months." Never mind that the person she is observing only made it to the 12th grade. Never mind that I don't even know what the heck "pellicle" means, let alone him. And handmaidens in Mexico? Give me a break.

For paper, she follows a guy with a state of the art tree harvester that slices through trees like butter. Well, sure, that is the source of paper, but this is hardly a getting to know where paper is made or even one person who has their hands in the pulp.

The descriptions are rather lop-sized, weighted toward the fellow in Mexico for some inexplicible reason. And, that in and of itself could have made for an interesting study. But so many pages devoted to him, and so fewer to the lady at the glass factory (and all sorts of nonsense about her time off work) as well as that guy cutting down trees (for both lumber and paper)... well, maybe you get the idea. Cohen had an epiphany in a cafe, presumably had an editor that she could sweetalk into approving her airfare to Canada, Ohio and Mexico, and then ran (and ran) with the idea. And ran on with the sentences.

If you really want to know about glass paper or beans, you'd be better off buying seperate histories of them. And, while you will come away from this book with three portraits, of varying degrees of intimacy, you will likely also be saying to yourself.... get on with it Cohen. What does Ruth's arthritis have to do with the price of eggs?

And you know what? She could probably write you a whole book to answer that question.

This is one of those books that resonates with me yearsafter having read it. The book's starting point is the author sitting in a cafe drinking coffee in a glass mug, reading a paper. She realizes that she has no idea where the stuff she is surrounded by comes from. This book answers the question in the beautiful prose I have come to expect from this gifted writer. The story of each item is told from historic and personal viewpoints. This is an essential book!

Glass, Paper, Beans is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. I have just completed it for the second time. Each time I read it, it opens my eyes a little more to the idea that to everything, there is a story. We as adults are often like little children who think milk comes from a store, having little or no concept of the work it took to get it there. It is comforting in a way to know that I am connected to so many people through the ordinary things of life, and those people lives are complex, creative, and hold a beauty all their own. I enjoyed Cohen's insight into three lives and how they interacted with initial stages of each product, bringing details of their private lives into play, weaving the two together. Cohen's book brings with it a greater appreciation for the ordinary things in my life. I know that people are behind them, not a new revelation, but now brought to life.

and finally gave it away. While I think it's a great concept, I don't find it a page turner, or enough to make me care about any of the three characters Ms. Hager Cohen follows throughout the book.

I loved this book! The author starts with a simple train of thought and follows it on a sort of quest to investigate the "stories" behind everyday objects. In the course of her investigations she examines myths, histories and philosophies surrounding these things. The book is kept from becoming dry by the vivid pictures she makes of the people she meets in her investigations. Beautifully, almost poetically written, she uses simple language to convey some very complex ideas. ...A book to make you think.

This is a very good book. It is well written and will leave you unable to put it down. This is another hit for C.N. Bean!

The continuing saga of investigator Rita Trible (from A Soul To Take) only gets better. Like a slow moving freight train you are gathered up into the encredibly real life of Rita. Then it picks up speed and never lets you off until the stunning last stop. Hold your breath!

it was good but a soul to take was much better. it has a good story to it. I woul like to see more books by C.N.BEAN. Hes a good writer.

. . .as in his first novel, Bean crafts another psychological murder mystery -- but, like his first two, with some serious flaws.

Again set in Southeastern Wisconsin, it is clear that Bean is reasonably familiar with the area. That is a plus. There are not many other plusses.

The first victim? The mentor of his main character. Other victims? Like in his previous books, young children. Many readers may well have a difficulty with this aspect of the book. His ultimate villian was completely unbelievable, the motive was weak and the resolution non-existent.

The sub-plot involving the gambling difficulties of the main character's husband never did make sense to me, and did not significantly add to the overall development.

Certainly not the worst mystery writer I've encountered -- but certainly not the best either.

I gave this book more of a chance than it deserved. I actually finished it. I read 100's of books a year, and this has to be one of the top 10 losers.

The story line had potential, but there was little, if any, continuity. There are many questions left unanswered at the end, which is unsurprising as the author tried to sum it all up in 1 page. It actually feels as if the story DIDN'T end.

I haven't read anything else by C. N. Bean, and I admit it's possible his other works would be more to my liking - but this story read like a Dick and Jane book. This guy needs to read Stephen King's "On Writing" for a few tips. I doubt his other books read any better.

Do yourself a favor and try J. D. Robb's "In Death" series. You won't be sorry.

Micheal Bradley has followed the Grail Knights through their disappearance and into their explorations of North America. He has done extensive research and turned up some amazing physical evidence. I would recommend that one read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" as background for this book as Micheal seems to assume that everyone has read it (as well they should!)

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in early european visits to North America, Masonic mysteries or the Knights Templar.

I would also recommend any of Mr.Bradleys other books, as he is an accomplished writer and has some very interesting theories

Holy Blood, Holy Grail set the standard for secret histories, with a combination of humor, odd trivia, and grandeur that gets one addicted to the study. Two follow ups, The Messainic Legacy and The Temple and the Lodge were ever dimmer imitations, but the spark was still there. Real history was told, and explained with a new paradigm.

Other books, like The Tomb of God or Key to the Sacred Pattern try to mathematically prove themselves. Though the geometry is tiring, the improbably coincidences are not.

Then there's books like Holy Grail Across the Atlantic, which twist history, often unintentionally hillariously.

As proof that "Arcadian" literature (the poetic form of which involves a shepherd either romantically or sarcastically making improbable promises to his love) is inspired by a Holy Family, they say that a certain character in the story bought a painting by Pousson, and another by Teniers. Since the Pousson was was an Arcadian scene, by Teniers probably was one two. The author neglects to mention that the same source the Tenier painting was of SAINT ANTHONY THE HERMET, and that the purchaser also ordered one of the crowning of Pope Celestine V.

A hidden message in an supposedly ancient document beings with "Shepherdess, No Temptation, that Pousson, Teniers, hold the key..." the author says. The implications of the message are obvious! But the message actually says

SHEPHERDESS NO TEMPTATION THAT POUSSON TENIERS HOLD THE KEY PEACE 681 BY THE CROSS AND THIS HORSE OF GOD I COMPLETE THIS DAEMON GUARDIAN AT MIDDAY BLUE APPLES

But the author ignores this. (If you're interesteed in this part of the mystery, by Holy Blood Holy Grail instead).

The author claims that a certain document called the "Zeno Narrative" is historically accepted, and that the document refers to the Orkney Islands as "Frisland." This is untrue. The map of Frisland accompanying the document shows a large island with many cities. The same "accepted" narrative tails of how the supposed author sailed to "Icari," the small kingdom the natives say was founed by Daedulus and named after his son. (For more info on this "accepted" theory, read "Phantom Islands of the Atlantic").

Then there's pages 350-351, which show case the author's sloppy style. "Roosevelt's government financed a massive, and unprecedented, construction of interstate highways... Without the network of highways he created, called useless and worse by political opponents at th time, America could never have mobilized its industry and military to cope with World War II." The DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE PROGRAM was built by President Eisenhower, during his administration, because he was so impressed by how the GERMAN interstate ("autobahn") allowed the GERMANS to mobilize.

"The winning edge [in the race to build the atom bomb] was not the brains... but the vast quantity of electrical power available because of the "make work" project of the TVA. It is no accident Oak Ride was in Tennessee." Oak Ridge built a nuclear reactor. It was not involved in the war effort. The author's thinking of the Manhattan project, which took place in the New Mexico desert.

This is an awful, unfun book. The author is often mean spirited. If you like namecalling, get "Tomb of God." At least that one forces you to learn all about pentagons.

This is the story of the Knights Templar and how they may have landed in Nova Scotia. Ruins have been found that suggest "someone" was there before the settlers arrived. The book chronicles how this could be true and why they choose Nova Scotia. Also mentioned is Oak Island as a possible location of the holy grail. The book also raises the question if the grail was in Nova Scotia where is it now? Perhaps Montreal? A pretty interesting book.

I just finished Michail Bradley's book Holy Grail Across The Atlantic. I found it an enjoyable read, though somewhat sluggish at the end. I do believe that Bradley is on to something. There is enough evidence to demand further investigation. I guess you just can't believe everything you are taught in school. Anyway I have to apply that same skepticism to some of Bradley's assertions. He presents some interpretations that need a leap of faith. In conclusion, I definetly recomend this intriguing work. My views have been broadened and I feel a need to join in the search for the holy grail.

The university where I teach allows us to choose our own composition text. After much research and personal experience with several composition texts, I use this guide. While I agree that the selected essays do have a liberal slant I do not agree that the writing is too difficult for a freshman to understand.

There is no way that I would assign the entire textbook, cover to cover, for one semester. Even the authors do not suggest this. I use the chapters on reading and writing rhetoric, research, critical data analysis, and writer conferencing with all of my composition classes. Then I pick and choose which specific writing projects/chapters I will use for different levels.

I highly recommend this textbook. It has a lot of acurate and useful information and is a great source for a composition course.

To counterbalance the liberal essays, I add in several others from many different perspectives and fields to allow students to have a wider understanding of the world.

The book contains good up to date information and it has helped me with my College writing class.

I have been required to use this text at one school where I teach, and it is a dismal experience. Most of the other instructors feel the same way, but we are overruled by a minority opinion.

The authors do not have a clue that they are writing this book for a freshman college audience. You need advanced reading skills in order to be able to understand some of the chapters in this book. For example, they overly complicate the chapter on writing evaluations.

The readings are also dry and have a noticeably liberal slant. Although, there are a couple of interesting ones, such as the essay about Sesame Street being sexist. However, there are not enough readings to provide good examples for students to use as models.

If I was not forced to use the book, I would not. This is too much money to spend on a book that is not especially useful.

I was very disappointed with this purchase. Since several pages were missing and there has been a lot of highlighting going on, I don't think that the description of the book as "like new" was truthful. Would not recommend that you purchase anything from this seller.

PRODUST WAS SHIPPED AS PROMISED. BOOK WAS IN GREAT SHAPE, PRATICALLY NEW. WILL DO BUISNESS AGAIN

The Mappes/Zembaty reader has everything one would want in an introductory primer on ethics and social policy. The editors have collected well-argued and important essays by philosophers, jurists and laymen on most of the politically charged topics of today, from abortion to pornography to environmentalism. Unfortunately, the book has not been updated to include any treatment of behaviors made newly possible by the Internet; perhaps a newer edition will accommodate this angle.

This book is in the words of Bart Simpson is," Fab-U-Lus! "

Bruce Dessau has written two books on the life and career of British comedian Rowan Atkinson. The first one that I read (simply titled ROWAN ATKINSON) was a three hundred and fifty page biography -- a detailed and concise history of the man's television, film, and theatre work. This volume, BEAN THERE DONE THAT, covers the same material in coffee-table form, but only taking one hundred and twelve pages to do so. What this book lacks in content, it makes up for in large, glossy, color photographs of the clown himself. It's a fairly good summary of Atkinson's career, though after reading the more in-depth tome, this slimmer volume can't help but feel watered down.

Like Dessau's other biography, this volume has a lot to say about the various characters that Atkinson has created over the years, but very little about his private life. This omission is more forgivable here, since one probably isn't looking for an enormous amount of insight in a book of this type. It does do quite a good job at following Atkinson's career and will especially be enjoyed by anyone who isn't overly familiar with some of the television shows he has appeared in that haven't sustained the amount of international exposure as MR BEAN.

While BEAN THERE DONE THAT suffers from many of the same flaws as the other Dessau biography, this volume should be recommended to people new to Atkinson's work. There are some excellent photographs and the text is quite adequate at the task of describing all of Rowan Atkinson's work (up to the MR. BEAN movie). It may be a bit too superficial for the Atkinson fans, however, as most of the information included is available in other forms.

While Dessau's book does cover the talented British comic's meteoric rise to success, the frantic pace and "press-bio" approach ultimately ruin what true fans await. Admirers of Atkinson's work will find themselves asking, "and then what?" on every page. We learn of his childhood surroundings, but very little of his family life. His impressive body of work is listed chronologically with no discussion of the blood, sweat and tears behind it. His classic influences are mentioned in passing, save his British similiarities to Stan Laurel. Left with very little insight into the creative process, Dessau's book reads like a coffee-table version of an Entertainment Weekly article with great photos.

'Spilling The Beans' is an amusing title and the dust cover portrays the author ('hideous' in Roy Hattersley's reported comment, though I don't commend him, either), but the work itself ain't a mucher (as some of us country folk say). One wants to be generous to an author who has suffered a lot and, by her lights, has come through to have a 'splendidly enjoyable life,' but her account is clearly not consistent with the facts in some places, and is not well-written or edited. Clarissa Dickson Wright's fans will still love it, I suppose, but I was pleased to put it down at its end and then to get on with some decent reading.

Hilarious, frightening, shocking, exciting, and always readable, Clarissa Dickson Wright's autobiography depicts her rollercoaster of a life in a compelling but always sympathetic manner. One of the best memoirs in recent memory.

I've enjoyed the author as a TV cook, her humor and style as one of the Two Fat Ladies was delightful. I own many of her books and have enjoyed both the cookbooks and the country books. This book about her life was a suprise to me as I had no clue she was from an abusive home. I have such respect for her. In this age of whiny delicate little flowers (BLECCH!) I admire her strength of character and ability to be thankful for her life, accepting both good and bad with dignity and grace.

A pretty good western story, set on the border of Arkansas and the Indian Territory in the 1890s. It is a good read, however, it is pure fiction. If you are looking to actually learn about the historic characters portrayed in the book, go to the library and check out a history book. This novel strays from the truth in a pretty wide manner.

All in all, it is a fun story!

This book was the first in the series that I purchased, but I definitely intend to buy the other two. The main characters, Leo and Jacque are well developed, the historical personalities they run into are represented accurately (having read biographies of Judge Parker and the real Dr. Lemat, who is presented as a relative of Leo in this book) and the details (food, tack, firearms, locations) are accurate. This is a pleasurable way for someone to learn about Ft. Smith and Indian Territory history without having to locate several of the hard-to-find books that the author's obviously studied to create this book.

Highly recommended and definitely a cut above many of the Western genre series.

How many authors of Westerns use a 15-year-old orphan as the central figure who tells the story and pairs him with a dyslexic girl? That setup alone might be enough to interest some readers of this new Western. There's plenty of action, too. The author does a fairly good job of developing the story though much of the rest of it is more traditional. A wealthy and influential rancher whose sons make trouble for any who get in their way controls the town. A stranger from New York City happens to be in town when trouble is brewing for young Nate, the orphan. Jake, the stranger, ends up sticking around to see what he can do to even the odds. The struggle between these two sides, as in many Westerns, becomes the struggle between good and evil. Perhaps this might be one of the book's weaker points. It may be a little too black and white for some. Also the dialogue occasionally sounds a little unnatural. But with the setup the way it is and the interaction that occurs, this is a book worth reading.

Crocker attempts to let his imagination carry him through his writing and scarifice (or just outright overlook) the blood, sweat, and time a learned, mature writer needs in learning the trade of poetry. His influences are more than apparent in that his work is merely veiled copies of his idols: Berryman, Bukowski. (There is an ode to Ginsberg in the collection.) One feels as if he is channelling Kerouac and getting a busy signal. There are many great works and thousands of bad ones, unfortunately this work happens fall into the latter category.

As a long-time fan of Dan Crocker, and a former editor of his work it was with much anticipation that I read his latest collection. Those familiar with Crocker's "telling like it is" approach ala PEOPLE EVERYDAY and OTHER POEMS will find nothing lacking in this volume which would detract from the brutal self honest assesment of a man coming to terms with himself, his art, and his world. This is not poetry for the timid or weak. These 63 pages have blood spurting; guts groaning; eternal question marks hanging like pieces of his own flesh from the meat-locker walls which are the gallery of modern poetic reality. Each word comes from a man who has lived each word. This alone is worth the price of admission. The third in the 2 OF SPADES trilogy, LONG LIVE THE 2 OF SPADES is a fitting capstone. I will miss reading of his further adventures, but I know the author will provide for our appetite with future poetic fare stewed up raw and delivered fresh. Just don't ask him to "do the dishes." Shine on Daniel, shine On.

This is one beautiful production. The appearance only compliments Crocker's brash, brave, and resounding poetic voice. The third and final part of Crocker's 2 of Spades trilogy takes a journey through the life of one of the small press' most accomplished young poets. Crocker has a unique ability to tap into the mechanisms of the everday person and make them shine on the page. "Father", a longer piece drawing parallels between the poet and his father, stands out as one of the many profound pieces in this collection. Dan Crocker is one of our best.

I used this book for my freshman english class and am sorry to say that I mostly didn't like it--the book is supposed to give professional examples of different writing patterns, so that the students can imporve their writing, but that's the last thing it does! The only helpful thing were the student sample, although, on the contrary to the complicated, professional essays, they are really easy and you won't learn anything from them either. Overall and simply-worded, the book won't help you that much!

Patterns of Exposition is the BEST English text I have ever had the pleasure of using. Period. The book is well organized, providing a clear and concise definition of each pattern and following it with several examples. The essays contained within are all thoughtful, diverse, and fine models of the discussed expository techniques. You will probably learn more about expository writing (and how to become a talented writer yourself) by carefully reading each essay, dissecting them, and pondering their guided questions, than you will during your entire freshman year of college.

This book is great. It can teach you writing techniques that can be helpful. The only down side is that it is a little pricy.