Wisconsin Books

This is a terribly intimate book that says much about the experience of being a male in our violent culture. The question it raised for me is: How can a man who conforms to the masculine imperative to remain detached from pathos, to remain callous to the pain and death of gentle innocent creatures, manage a psychological confrontation with the unexpected death of his own young son? Certainly, the author does not state this dramatic question explicitly. This is a book, after all, that says what it has to say poetically. But the question lurks behind every stitch in the fabric of Robert Peters powerful story. Masculinity may prepare one for battle, for danger, for risk, but it does not prepare one for an ordinary afternoon to rip the life out of one's own child. And so the question is, what happens to toughness when one loses a son?

The book's poetic answer to this question of masculinity and caring builds itself gradually out of zigzagging wafts of seemingly disconnected recollections, recollections that, weave themselve into a psychologically coherent picture. Then, through this experiential picture the reader sees what happens: such a masculine man learns to feel and cherish the warmth of his love, to recognize and accept own his own tenderness -- and so the dying son bequeaths his father a gift.

But this book is more than a psychological tale about the author. It is story to be experienced deeply by the reader and those with the courage to read this shocking book will, I believe, end up more in touch with their own tenderness.

..Lois Shawver
author of And the Flag Was Still There

This lively book of recipes & remembrances of Italian holidays thoughout the year reminded me of my Sicilian grandmother's traditions.

Well-written, informative, & fun! I enjoyed reading it & actually use it from time to time.

Michelle Berriedale-Johnson is an expert in recreating historical recipes. In Festive Feasts Cookbook, Michelle presents 50 timeless dishes from world history that have been modernized and tested, complete with alternative ingredients and serving suggestions. 60 color and 20 line illustrations add visual delights to exotic cuisine ranging from a Jewish Passover supper to the banquets of the Forbidden City to what the Mughal emperors used to consider delicacies, and much more. A remarkable culinary tour through the ages, with text as devoted to giving a feel for the era and circumstance of its offered recipes as how-to instructions to prepare the food itself, especially for cooks seeking inspiration, succulence, and variety worthy of royalty, Festive Feasts Cookbook is a very welcome addition to any dedicated, multicultural, culinary history cookbook collection.

A Field Guide to the Heavens is a much anticipated third book of poetry by this gifted craftsman. And the wait yielded a maturity that is astonishing.

Gaspar's grasp on his place, in relation to his environment and to the universe as a whole, is the play we're invited to join. I suggest this book be read at one sitting in order to appreciate the fullness of its reach.

Poems of extaordinary merit include: Metropolis, I Work Late at My Table in Summer, July in the Street of Fevers, The Lemons, A Spell Against Ruins,

and especially,

Psalms in August.

There are far too many to mention here. This is a pure, honest book of poems that delight both the soul and the tongue.

On the night of October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire began, killing some 300 people. Much less known, however, is the fact that in the "thumb" region of Wisconsin, on the very same night, a fire swept through the pine forests, overtaking many farms and small towns - killing some 1200-2500 people! Indeed, the damage was so extensive that the true number of dead will never be known.

In this book, the author brings that night to life, showing the heroism, the cowardice, the stupidity, and the unrelenting horror. Overall, I thought that the author did an excellent job, telling the story with candor and clarity. I really enjoyed this book, and think that you will as well.

Often when I read a poem by Rony Someck I wish I had written it - such sparks fly when such antithetical subjects are encompassed in a single poem, a few lines. But now when I read the translations of Dor and Goldberg, I wish I had been able to do translations like that! To render the erotic and the political, the historical and the contemporary like that! One example, "On the Way to Arad" in which a simple description of lambs in the desert resonates with the terror and responsibility of living in the Holy Land. "The white lambs on the way to Arad/are like milk teeth in the desert's jaw. The war goes on, the wolf/who will dwell among them not yet born." Living in a time between the Biblical prophecies and the uncertain future, Someck captures the memory and anticipation, the fear and the hope.

Since there is no description of this book I am using this review to inform buyers of the contents of this volume. Part IV Chapter 1: Photographs of handguns - Automatic pistols arranged by caliber. Chapter 2: Revolvers and nonautomatic pistols arranged by caliber. PART V Other Illustrations of handguns Chapter 1: Automatic pistols arranged alphabetically Chapter 2: Revolvers and nonautomatic pistols arranged alphabetically. PART VI Photographs of trade marks and other indentification marks.

"First the Seed" is a wonderfully documented account of the history of agriculture since the "discovery" of America. I found this book when I was doing research on threats to genetic diversity in Mexico under NAFTA and the book gave me an insightful lens to understand the problems that are occuring from the mechenization of agriculture and the patenting of genetic material.

Anyone who is studying food production systems must have this book in their library.

This is one of a series of fishing guidebooks to northern Wisconsin by this publisher. This review equally applies to all other books of the series. I have found these books invaluable for planning my fishing trips to northern Wisconsin. This particular book covers 68 lakes in 140 square miles surrounding Eagle River, Wisconsin. It contains maps and information about each lake's size, depth, fertility, public access, fish species, and describes the best fishing spots and recommended lures and techniques. The book is a convenient size (8 1/2 x 5 1/2) and fits into a tackle box. The other volumes of the series are similar. These books went out of print because the publisher found it more profitable to sell individual lake maps. Their maps provide the same information but are available only for the most popular lakes, and a book is easier to use than a pile of maps. Using these books to plan my fishing trips, I can fish more lakes and spend my time on the most productive spots. This is especially important to me because I live over 2,000 miles away and visit this area only once every five years. I fish for muskies but bass, walleye, and pan fishermen also will find these books handy. I give them 5 stars because the information is very complete and not readily available otherwise. I was not paid for this review and have no affiliation with the publisher. I am simply a fisherman who likes this product a lot for the reasons stated above.

Each piece is so different in content, and in some cases style as well, yet what remains consistent is the beautiful storytelling conducted by a translator who makes you feel as though you are truly there--there in the rural jungles of Columbia, there in a small town barbershop, there on the steps of the urban catholic school. A can't miss collection for those who know nothing of Columbia and for those who know it quite well.