Outdoors Books

My husband loves this book. There are recipes to fry anything you can think of -- candy bars, twinkies. Then there are the old stand-bys: churros, fried ice cream. He took it to work, and all the guys loved flipping through it.

My husband got me this cookbook as a holiday gift to complement the fryer he got me last year. We've been successfully enjoying the fryer, so far, but this book takes it to another level.

I've only made one recipe (Fry-Grilled Pork), but that one was a HUGE hit. We had friends over; one ONLY eats pasta with red sauce; she not only ate the pork, but loved it.

I've read through the book and look forward to making more of Rick's recipes. I'm hungry now!

There are some awsome recipes in here, including one for believe it or not, fried oreo cookies. There are useful frying tips too which I won't give away so as not to spoil the book.

I almost gave it four stars for not having any nutritional information on the recipes, but it's obvioulsy not a sin not to include it, I hope he does in a second edition however.

Like the title indicates, it has recipes for most anything you can think of frying. It also provides good information on the basics of safe frying and oil selection. I've found the general cooking times it suggests quite helpful for experimenting outside of recipes. The only problem I have is the unique names for common dishes makes finding the recipes a little challenging, but is not a big deal.

The author of this book is a dear friend of mine. I am glad to see his work get published.

the pomes were very ,very excellent i enjoyed reading them i didnt think anyone could write poems about your guys ..who are vetrens its like nobody remembers them at all no better time to write them than now with it being vetrens day today . i think people should read his book of poems he is a very good writter.im going to order 2 of his books one for me and one for my mother for christmas she would enjoy reading something like that. darlene

This is an excellent semi-autobiography, told in the form of poetry. The stories are very vivid and full of feeling and emotion. The book is very involving and makes you feel what the author felt as he survived abuse and grew to adulthood.

I recommend the book to anybody that loves poetry. I think I found the next Neruda!

This is a book that will tug at your heartstrings. I found myself turning the pages feeling the authors pain, joy and sadness.

This is a unique style of writing, and maybe it would have worked well for a novel, but the author told it the way he felt it, and the poetry works in conveying what he wanted to say! I recommend it to anyone that has been in a similiar situation and hope that it can help then understand what they have been through, and maybe help them resolve their past.

The only down side to the book is that I would have liked to read more. There are only 97 pages of actual poetry, and the author's own words, which I found to be very profound. Maybe the author's next book will be longer. I look forward to reading more of his work.

How to articles written by woodsman not salesmen. Most magazines tell hunting stories where the hunter was using some guide service which finds the game and setup the Writer to bag his trophy, usually for the free advertising. Then this hunter describes his "tools" that enabled him to take the animal. Amazingly the article is followed by two or three pages of ads selling these very "tools". Fur, Fish, Game doesn't try to sell all these unnecessary items with each article. Just good honest woodsman skills. A very refreshing, down to earth magazine thats been around since the turn of the century. I highly recommend it for those who want skills and not "gadgets".

This is NOT just a trapping magazine. It has articles of interest to anyone interested in woodsmanship. I started reading FFG back in the 60's as a farm boy. Many a stormy winter's day was spend with my nose buried in a FFG magazine, learning things that I could apply as soon as I got back outdoors. Aimed more toward the rural, blue collar, and real woodsman segment of outdoor magazine readers. Very practical, useful stuff that won't cost you an arm and a leg to implement, and won't take a Ph.D to understand. I love this magazine.

Most people think that this magazine limits itself to the wild fur trapping industry but they are wrong. Although a good portion of the stories and departments focus on trapping, the excellent fishing, hunting and shooting articles should NOT be overlooked. I find this magazine to be much more appropriate for the average American and Canadian outdoors person. Several do-it-yourself features and inexpensive alternatives give this magazine a realistic touch. Most other magazines seem to cater to whoever advertises on their pages but FFG seems to care about the readers success. If I had to choose only one outdoor sporting magazine this would be it!

Fur Fish and Game is one of my favorite outdoor magazines. Between the helpful hints, articles on game you can actually hunt, and their very readable articles, it's a bargain.

The magazine reminds me of a simpler time both in my life and in America. It's a piece of Americana, and I'm amazed the magazine has remained true to it roots over the years. Even though my life has gotten much busier over the years, this is one magazine I look forward to reading.

I have almost finished building the summerhouse in Garden Retreats. It overlooks a bay where swan , ducks and other birds come over every day to watch my progress. This has been one of the most gratifying projects I have ever attempted. It has been time consuming, but worth it. I have even put in electric as suggested in the book. I highly recommend this book and this project. Once I got the summerhouse enclosed, I could trim out the interior and it was plenty warm inside the space. I can't wait until summer when I can sit inside the summerhouse and watch the sun go down.

When you make a garden, it doesn't matter what type of garden it is. You will still need structure to help tie it to the earth and sky. Whether you opt for a small arbor or a charming playhouse, this book has ideas and plans to help you fill your garden with structures. From practical plans for garden sheds to fun plans for gazebos, Garden Retreats by David and Jeanie Stiles has ideas for any gardener who enjoys working with wood.

Section one of this book covers the basics of building garden structures and fencing. This section covers topics such as planning, types of wood to use, and how to set corner markers. Section two covers garden seating. This section has clear, simple to follow directions for each piece, from a simple garden bench to a lovely pergola. Section three is called special places in the garden, and covers everything from arbors to arched gates. Finally, section four discusses garden shelters. I especially liked the garden shower, but there are also structures such as summerhouses and gazebos, as well.

This book includes directions and plans for over twenty garden structures. The plans are clear and the directions are easy to follow. I have several of these projects on my list of things to do next year.

Both my husband and I really enjoyed this book. The projects are interesting and the pencil drawings are great.In one case, we used their project as a starting point and went from there.

Most of the projects are NOT simple DIY stuff, so make sure you want do do a project that is covered in the book. It is not a generalized building manual that is applicable to building in general.

To complete the projects, you will need a good table saw, radial saw, circular saw or compound mitre saw, a good jig saw or band saw, portable drill or drill press, and power sander such as a 5 or 6 inch orbital sander or belt sander, plus the usual standard hand tools.

This is one I'll keep going back to -- in fact some of these projects are really do-able! My only caveat is that the type face, although pretty, is difficult for old eyes to make out even with reading glasses. Fortunately the pictures are lovely enough to be worth the price, all by themselves.

I bought this for my son who uses his gas grill all the time. It's been a good purchase since he's learned some ways to improve his skills.

I bought this book for someone who told me they would like to cook on the grill more, but doesn't know much about cooking times or any recipes for grilling, so I went to amazon and browsed through grilling books and chose the Better Homes and Gardens Gas Grill Cookbook after being able to look at some of the pages on the site (which is a great way to choose a book -it's almost like being in the book store). I was very pleased with this book - I not only found it to be a perfect gift for a beginner, but I liked the book for myself and I have been grilling for many years. Another plus is the recipes can be used in any type of cooking, so I would recommend this book to anyone who owns a grill or anyone who is looking for new ideas for meals.

This cookbook comes in an easy format to read format and lies flat on a counter. I have grilled for years, yet I learned things about grilling in general that were extremely helpful. In addition, all the recipes were categorized for easy reading and the recipes were not complicated nor confusing. In fact, I am most impressed with the simplicity, as well as the mouth-watering choices for backyard barbeques.

Ordered this in honor of my first grill. Taught me the basics in simple and delicious fashion. Most helpful are the charts on the inside covers.

I sail the Georgia Coast and this book is invaluable to me. My wife and I plan on seeing all the places one by one. It is so neat to have someone that has been there, done that before we go. This book is a must have if you sail the Georgia coast. Amazon is the place to get it.

This is a great book! It contains an overview of the Georgia coast, along with a well researched ecological discussion. Then the writer analyzes each inlet and tributary right down to where to drop your anchor. A must for Georgia coast cruisers.

We were loaned a copy of this book before we took off on a two week vacation exploring the barrier islands by sailboat.
The expanded chart information alone was invaluable. By the middle of the trip, we had put away all our large foldout charts and used this book exclusivley to explore new waterways, find places to anchor for the night, and look ahead to decipher where to go next.
But this book is much more than an expanded chart guide. The historical background information, discriptions of what to do ashore, and the natural history information was interesting and useful. At the end of the trip the book was so worn we kept it and returned a brand new copy to the owner.

As an avid inshore fisherman, I regularly visit the Georgia coast. With so many inland waterways, the task of when and WHERE! can be quite a challenge. Fortunately, the Zydlers have accelerated the learning curve for me. Not only has the book been informative, it has also been a pleasurable read. It's not just a guide of the waterways (although it does that in great detail). The book brings a keen sense of history, a respect for nature and an armada of helpful resources that one could spend countless weeks investigating prior to a visit to this wonderland.

Georgia's coast is best discovered by boat, but having a capable "road map" will certainly enhance the journey. Whether you're a yachtsman, fisherperson, naturalist, or history buff, this book offers much for its reader.

I would encourage anyone that wishes to visit coastal Georgia to buy this book. I'm confident it will enhance your experience as it has done for me.

Thanks to the Zydlers!

Once again food editor Jennifer Darling (who did the fantastic BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS COOKBOOK that has become a standby) comes through for the people at Food Network with a winner. Though our days here in the Bay Area have been filled with rain, inside we've managed to do some indoor grilling and used sixof the recipes she provides (including side dish recipes, which eliminated the need to use the range entirely). With a gas grill, everything's easy especially in a moist climate, but as the book says, there will always be people who prefer charcoal and more power to them. Most of the recipes Darling includes can be adapted for both. Now that summer is almost upon us this book will get a real workout. It is sort of a heavy book, I'll tell you that, but one thing about people who use cookbooks, we know what it's like to have to lift! Not that 2 pounds is particularly notable any more.

I have Rachael Ray's cookbook too and plan to try to set up an Iron Chef-like battle of the cookbooks, using her more personalized recipes against the slick, no-name fusion food of GET GRILLING. If you like to have theme parties this book could be the winner, for there are all sorts of creative dishes you could make and lump them under one heading, like A Trip Around The World or Fairy Tales or The Four Seasons. In our household one of us is a strict vegan and the other eats meat sparingly yet heartily, and both of us have marked off the pages we plan to conquer this summer out of GET GRILLING. See you in September!

Get Grilling: Recipes, Tips, And Techniques For Terrific Food And Big Fun In The Great Outdoors is the collaborative work of the Food Network Kitchens staff and showcases recipes for outdoor grilling drawn from the Food Network television programming. After informative introductions into the "art of the grill", this beautifully illustrated compendium of grilling recipes ranges from Bacon-wrapped Dates with Manchego; Chicken Paillards with Herb-Tomato Salad; Fiery Flank Steak and Papaya Salad; and Lamb Brochettes with Tapenade; to Veal Chops with Endive and Lemon; Jumbo Shrimp Stuffed with Cilantro and Chiles; Sea Scallops with Zucchini Ribbons and Mint-Chive Oil; and Lobster with Tarragon Butter and Fingerling Potatoes. Of special note are the chapters devoted to recipes for salads, side dishes, sauces, rubs, sweets, and drinks. If you are intending to grill outdoors for your mealtime pleasure, then Get Grilling is the cookbook for you!

I just purchased Get Grilling after seeing a demonstration by the Food Network Kitchens Staff at Chef Central, and I have to say it is THE best book on grilling I have seen. As someone who was recently crushed to discover an allergy to beef, I thought my grilling days were over. They had me from the first recipe though - shrimp spring rolls with dipping sauce. The creative takes on these recipes are exciting. This isn't a book with 20 million recipes for barbecue sauce. They really took the time and developed many varied dishes and captured the whole spirit of grilling. The varied foods include fun appetizers, as well as lamb, and swordfish. By not simply concentrating on ribs and burgers, they gave me ideas on new things and new ingredients to try. The tips are easy to spot but don't get in the way of the recipe. The shopping tips and explanations of new ingredients and where to get them are helpful also. Worth the price of several other grilling books combined. A wonderful recipe book.

`get grilling' by the `food network kitchens' is the third written by the staff of the Food Network and while the first two were sound, this volume, with recipes which are just as good, succeeds where the others may tend to get lost.

This book succeeds because it provides lots of very good staple recipes for grilling, just in time for the 2005 living outdoors season. Basically, this book is not a winner because it apes Bobby Flay in trying to come up with a lot of innovative grilling recipes. It wins because it covers all the familiar recipes that are somewhere between easy and moderately challenging for the weekend griller who doesn't even bother to crack a cookbook or turn on Emeril over the long winter months. Like the earlier books, this volume has a very nice mix of recipes from a lot of different cuisines, but all of them are more variations on familiar dishes rather than outlandish dishes with rare ingredients such as galangal and Kaffir Lime leaves. I will not do a compete count and just indicate to you that the Mediterranean, including Europe, Africa, and the Levant; China; Japan; Southeast Asia; and Neuvo Latino cuisines are all represented, along with middle America and its heavy German influence on things such as brats, wieners, sauerkraut, and cole slaw.

As a non-griller, the thing I liked about this book is that it struck a very nice balance between giving the rudiments without taking up a third of the book with things some people already know and some people don't need to know. My only argument with this presentation is that they picture the `TOOLS OF THE TRADE' in four group photos and don't indicate in their discussion whether the items are cited from top to bottom, from left to right or from clockwise to counterclockwise. Tsk, Tsk.

On the much more positive side of things, the authors succeed in describe grilling as a distinctively different type of cooking, similar to, but not the same as baking, broiling, or sauteeing. They also stay on a finely impartial line between the religious factions in favor of charcoal and gas grilling. In fact, they make a very useful contribution to the charcoal camp by recommending a mix of briquettes and natural hardwood charcoal. The authors also score big with their recommendation of grilling cages. I have no idea why these have not been more broadly recommended, as they seem like naturals for doing fish and vegetables. The only Food Network show on which I have ever seen them appear was on a Martha Stewart episode hosting the owner chef of a leading New York fish restaurant. I just wish the authors had included a source for ordering these little darlings.

The authors cover the outdoor grilling / picnic scene with ten different types of dishes. These are:

Nibbles & noshes with some traditional dishes, grilled appetizers, and veggie oddities such as jicama sticks.
Little Dishes from the Grill with wings, crostini, pizzas, potato salad, kebabs, and veggie Napoleons. Note that the veggie Napoleons are done much more easily with the grilling baskets than without.
Burgers, Dogs, & Sandwiches is the chapter which clinched my strong recommendation for this book. Everyone can grill burgers and dogs, but isn't it nice to have all in one place some recipes for four different burger recipes, toppings for those doggies, and some righteous North Carolina pulled pork barbecue. This chapter alone makes me want to buy my first grill.
Chicken & other BBQ'd birds or more staples of the well-flavored grilling repertoire.
Meat of the Matter, or steaks, chops, ribs, medallions, and brochettes on the outdoor grill.
Fish and Shellfish, including smoking and planking recipes for days which are not Labor Day, 4th of July, or Memorial Day.
Salads and sides with two for potato, two for macaroni, two cole slaws, lots of tomatoes, and lots of grilled veggies. Again, this is all about basics with good variety to keep you interested.
Sauces and Rubs with a very well informed selection of regional specialities from North Carolina, Kansas City, New Orleans, Texas, and Memphis. Bobby Flay was here!
Sweets with some grilled fruit, s'mores, easy pies, and easy cakes
Drinks, including all the iced tea recipes you scramble for in you misplaced Martha Stewart books, plus some coolers, sangria, margaritas, and a warning to have enough ice on hand.

The cooking tips in the first Food Network book were, I thought, a waste of space. In this book, since the focus is very narrowly on grilling skills, the tips are just right, focusing on just enough to keep the average summer outdoor chef from cutting off your thumb or infecting his guests with ptomaine.

Like the previous two books, there is no mention of the Food Network's culinary stars. The most we get is a sly reference to the fact that these backstage cooks have rubbed elbows with the likes of show host Bobby Flay and guests such as Chris Schlesinger and Steve Raichlen, both minor gods in the world of modern grilling. The book also does less than it could to distinguish grilling from barbecuing. Yet, while the writers and editors are not in line with my linguistic prejudices, they succeed in generally limiting the word `barbecue' to long, low heat cooking involving smoke. So all is forgiven and this book heartily gets its full five stars!

As long as I am applauding this book, I can off the suggestion to all those cookbook publisher out there that they garnish no interest from me by imitating e. e. cummings by lower casing all their titles. This is a total waste of modesty and as a purchaser of about 200 cookbooks a year, has absolutely no influence on my selections or opinions, except to believe the copy editors fell asleep during seventh grade English!

If you grill outdoors, buy this book. If you only grill indoors, buy Bobby Flay's books.

"Girl in the Curl is the book we have all been waiting for-whether we know it yet or not. Never before has such a comprehensive history of the women who have impacted surfing been put together.

Gabbard, the author of the Greg Noll biography, Da Bull, weaves together the women of surfing through insightful interviews of those who have shaped the sport. Starting with the ancient Hawaiian waterwomen, continuing through the likes of Marge Calhoun, Gidget, Mary Setterholm, Frieda Zamba, Lisa Anderson, Layne Beachley, Sofia Mulanovich, and Kirstin Quizon, I think one would be hard pressed to find a woman surfer who has made an impact on the sport of surfing not mentioned.

Girl in the Curl is organized in a series of short, easy to read chapters that explain the hardships and brilliance of each woman. Gabbard does not shy away from the dark side of women's surfing. She presents the chilling inequality of prize money and sponsorship. "The total prize money for the men's 2000 World Championship Tour is $2.1 million; for women, it's just under $500,000." The book does not turn into a man-bashing why aren't things better book. Gabbard simply presents the truths of all aspects of the sport as told by the athletes themselves. Gabbard also does a wonderful job of presenting unusual facts, such as mentioning Pam Burridge recorded a hit single in 1984 called "Summertime all Round the World." The highlight of the book, and very well surfing itself, is the chapter on Rell Sun. Rell's life is celebrated through her wonderful accomplishments for women, children, and surfing.

From the timeline at the start of the book, to the brief biographies of the professional surfers, and those surfers making a career in the industry, to the glossary and index of resources, I can't think of anything the book is missing. I have been wishing someone would write this book for years-I am thrilled my wish has been fulfilled!

Girl in the Curl is a beautifully written and illustrated book of women's surfing. Photographs are mainly the work of Jim Russi and are no doubt some of the best women's shots available today. This book will not only inspire the reader, but also fill wahines everywhere with pride. Women surfers who did not have the advantage of being there for the events of the past century will finally be able to learn of and feel what has happened, and further appreciate their mothers, grandmothers, and sisters of the sea. I would recommend every surfer buy this book and read it again and again. Girl in the Curl is the centurybook of women's surfing. I know I will keep this book with me at all times in hopes of having it signed by all the heroes of women's surfing." --Sunshine Makarow, Editor of Girls Surf Life Magazine

"'Despite the organization of a pro tour and the advent offinancial sponsors, professional women surfers have always suffered afate similar to that of other female athletes, pursuing their sportwith far less promotion, prize money, and media coverage.' -Fromthe Intro

While the above statement is inescapably true, I mustadmit I was a little worried that Girl in the Curl was going to be nomore than a feminist tirade on the unfair nature of sexism insurfing-a worthy argument, to be sure, but a battle that needs tobe fought in the water and on the beach, not in a coffee-table book.Fortunately, author Andrea Gabbard understands that a history ofwomen's surfing deserves more than a hundred pages of pettywhining.

The introductory timeline chronicling the major milestonesof women's surfing could give a few folks (men and women alike) a bitof a shock as to the sweeping presence of the Y chromosome in thewater. It ain't just Gidget to Lisa Andersen, dude. While it'sfairly widely known that the first Australian surfer was a woman(Isobel Letham, 1915), not many are aware that Marge Calhoun won theMakaha International Surfing Championships in 1958 or Margo (Godfrey)Oberg won her first world title at age 15. Rich stuff, even for thenon-history-philes.

What follows is essentially a series ofwell-written and relevant profiles on women who've made majorcontributions to the sport. It's put together more like an organicherstory told by the participants than a consecutive series of eventswritten by some third-party narrator up in the sky. From MargeCalhoun to Rell Sunn to Joyce Hoffman to Pam Burridge to LayneBeachley and the rest of the 21st century pros, it's obvious Gabbardhas done her homework.

Each woman profiled has a slightly differenttake on what it means to be a woman surfer, and while some may have alittle bitterness about lack of exposure or unfair financialcompensation, the whole picture is bigger than its parts and if Girlin the Curl is accurate-which I suspect it is-it's worth a hellof a lot more than a thousand words." --Marcus Sanders...

I grew up on the beaches of Southern California. How I envied the surfersÑtheir freedom, their agility, their inherent rebellion. But just as "people on Ôludes should not drive," chicks did not surf. "Girl in the Curl," Andrea GabbardÕs stunning pictorial documentation of a century of women in surfing, proves that is BUNK. In glorious Technicolor, Gabbard displays women surfers as ballsy as their male counterparts. In addition to the gorgeous photosÑjust put-Ôem-on-your-wall-and-sigh gorgeousÑGabbard can really write! Her essays are short and compelling, taking us from the dawn of womenÕs surfing (ancient Hawaiian waterwomen) to present-day champions. Along the way, she lets you in on interesting little-known-ers. If you didnÕt know that Pam Burridge recorded a hit single in 1984, you need this book. If like me, you didnÕt even know who Pam Burridge was, you REALLY need this book.

"There have probably been hundreds of books written about surfing, but not one...has been written about women in the sport. Until now, 'Girl In The Curl - a Century of Women in Surfing' by Andrea Gabbard, finally fills the substantial void.

'I could have gone on and on and on,' Gabbard says of her experience writing 'Girl In The Curl,' which begins with a note on the ancient Hawaiian legend of Pele learning to surf, and takes us through the early days at the Makaha International contests, to the 'Gidget' phenomenon, to the birth of the pro circuit, and on through the `90s, when surf culture was changed forever by a clothing company (Roxy), a new magazine (in your hands), a surf shop (Water Girl) and a battalion of courageous women like Izzy 'Surf Diva' Tihanyi who dare live there surfing dreams. Along the way we meet Marge Calhoun (in a rare interview), Linda Benson, Lynne Boyer, Frieda Zamba and others who give historical context to all the rising stars on the WCT today.

The book is graced by the likes of Rell Sunn, whom Gabbard never met but of whom a poignant tribute is included, by Robin 'Zeuf' Janiszeufski. Like Rell, Zeuf was diagnosed with breast cancer. She communicates the thing all surfers know, certainly Rell: 'Surfing removes the need to close my eyes and seek the voice inside.'

Gabbard, author of 'No Mountain Too High: A Triumph over Breast Cancer' (1998), 'Da Bull: Life over the edge' (1990) and others, began writing this book just a year ago at the urging of her publisher, the feminist Seal Press....'I got back in the water when I began writing this book.'

Much of her research was culled from sources like Wahine, 'tons of old surfer mags,' and the vast collection of surf memorabilia amassed by Randy Hild at Roxy/Quicksilver. Along the continuum of women's surfing, 'Girl in the Curl' is an historical moment in itself. It arrives in bookstores around Thanksgiving. --Elizabeth Glazner, Wahine Magazine

I learned of this book title and author mentioned on the ASAP horse rescue website, and I'm very glad I did. A lot of careful thought goes into the decision to take on the lifelong commitment of adopting a rescued horse. This book brought up many easy to understand details I may not have considered properly before making a decision. Nothing speaks more clearly than experience. With all of the helpful references, it's a very useful and enjoyable read.

This book is a fantastic read for those interested in the practical side of rescuing horses. It describes the various conditions rescued horses may be suffering from and how to recognize them. I highly recommend this book to anyone who might even consider starting a horse rescue or rescuing a horse from a bad situation.

This book complies basic information and is layed out well and a good starter book.. One thing I was disappointed is that it didn't really outline how to start up a Horse rescue but then again it didn't state that it did- A overall nice book !

I found this book extremely informative and an enjoyable read. The author obviously writes from experience and with a desire to encourage responsible horse ownership. She offers helpful advice for first horse owners and outlines the issues involved when taking on a horse in distress. For those of us with soft hearts and a lack of good sense, when it comes to an animal is trouble, this is a handy and humorous guide that will help us do the most good where it is desprately needed.

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. It makes you want to try you best at the sport. I enjoyed this book very much. I would recomend it to everyone!

This book was excellent. It showed the real Shannon Miller. It gave perspective into her life and what she has went through to get where she is. She is truly the most magnificent gymnast ever

I thought this book was excellent. We really didn't know much about Shannon's real life outside of gymnastics, we just knew about her "gymnastics" life, and this book gives a great perspective on her lif

Although Septima Green's book is written merely for children, as a 19 year-old gymnastics fan, I found it very enjoyable. This book was written before the Atlanta Games so it is a bit outdated. However, it was an excellent book on an excellent person. The book is very inspiring, showing in detail Shannon's years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. I enjoyed getting to know Shannon as a person then a gymnast. I also liked the reading about Shannon's family, her relationship with her coaches, and friends