France Books

This is a wonderful book - one of my grandaughters favorites. It's a great one to read aloud.

Great Xmas book for the cat lover, and anyone who loves cat will recognize their cat and the Christmas tree.

author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

Our family sets out A Pussycat's Christmas every year when dressing the house for the holidays. Last year our copy got dropped in a bucket of water. A calamity that required immediate purchase of another copy and express shipping.
It's a charming tale. The illustration is excellent. Especially if you have a "Pussycat" look-a-like as we do this little book will become a part of your Christmas too.

As usual, Margaret Wise Brown is as tuned in to animals as she is with children. She uses a kitten's viewpoint to describe the wonders of Christmas-sights, sounds, smells, and the way cats delight at playing with everything-wrappings, ribbons, ornaments, decorations. A beautiful, descriptive story.

Ann Mortimer's illustrations are outstanding. Margaret's word's capture "cat" PURR-fectly!

I love the way Margaret writes - I have MANY of her books.

For anyone who has a cat and Christmas: "...She went POUNCING around in it... and she ATE some it..." "... she waited for something to fall, ...to crash and to break" SO Cat!

This book is great fun to read outloud with kids listening!

I really enjoyed this book. The photo foldouts are really great-they feature reenactors in full dress. This book provides for a great reference to anyone interested in a Grunt or special operations uniform.

The text is also good, although alittle too technical at times.

Overall, a great reference book for any WWII reenactor.

This book is a fine companion for someone who is already familiar with the overall story of D-Day. It has a larger than usual section on amphibious landing craft, and on the function of specific battalions and units too often overlooked in most discussions of D-Day. It has one to five quality pictures or diagrams on every page (not the ones you usually see). Focuses on the equipment used and apparel worn and gives lots of detail on each.

Just when you think that this is another re-hashing off all the often-copied stuff that's in every D-Day book you've ever seen...
Guess again, Skippy. This isn't your Daddy's D-Day book!
Gawne thankfully dusted off UNPUBLISHED information on largely ignored subjects regarding the Normandy landings, and I for one am glad to have this book in my collection.
Amphibious forces, Engineers and even Navy Beach Masters were all there, but you never see them in other books. Gawne takes previously unknown information, couples it with outstanding graphics and puts them together in THE BEST book on the subject to come out since.... well, I can't say when another such book was ever written!
And even though I'm a huge Airborne fan, I have to say this:
"Thanks, Jon, for not having half the book on Airborne forces! We needed another book on the subject like we needed more holes in our heads!"

My father was a D-Day medical officer June 6, 1944. Historians who write definitive books about Americans at D-Day and fail to mention the Army/Navy gap assault teams, LCI sailors, Army Engineer Special Brigades and attached Naval Beach Battalions, have left out the "backbone" of the Normandy invasion. Jonathan Gawne's Spearheading D-Day: American Special Units in Normandy set the record straight in 1998. Military authors should not feel bad if their books were published before Spearheading D-Day. Up to 1992, when Gawne first wrote about the "forgotten sailors of the invasion beaches," most naval historians were unaware that their own were some of the first ashore on D-Day. Spearheading D-Day, covering American forces in France, is simply the best invasion book published since Cornelius Ryan's The Longest Day.

didn't buy this book earlier!!! Absolutely top notch history of the special sea-bourne American units at Normandy. Maps & photos and narrative all combine into an informative and captivating tale. Even if you are a D-Day buff with a large reference library, you will learn much from this excellent edition. It seems pricey, but it is worth all of it & more. You will not regret getting this one!
I hope this sets a pattern for books about the British & Canadian units and their efforts and successes that day. When you realise the scope of just the American beach landings, you will see the huge, multi-volume collection that would be needed to address *all* the units involved. Buy it and and spend some time with it.

The needs assessment helps you prepare the job description and interview questions. The pdf files allows you to print the forms without bothersome tempplates. Getting the tax forms through the abcnanny.bizland.com links was very helpful

The needs assessment really gives you an idea of what to look for and what to ask. The forms are great, and the format of the book with a disk to reproduce forms is terrific. The childcare reference form tells you at a glance what you want to know about your prospective's employment experience and history. We saved time by down loading the forms from both IRS and INS. Also if you are looking for an agency out of your area, the web site has a directory(abcnanny.bizland.com)

Many of us interview candidates for various positions in the workplace on a daily basis and this book shows us we should use the same techniques when hiring a nanny. The forms are helpful throughout the process and are easy to use. The author was more interested in passing on information that would be useful to parents rather than share her experiences as a nanny. Parents need to know just who they are entrusting their children to and can't assume they are leaving their child with a nice person that wouldn't dream of hurting a child. The links to IRS and INS allows you to download all the forms you need, saving phone calls and snail mail time.

The needs assesment and the forms on the companion disk were very helpful in our first search for a nanny. We did not find the consumer information about agencies to be offensive, and in fact felt the author was giving us a choice to hire an agency or do an independent search. We found an agency that met our criteria and the agency found our nanny. We thought the author's experiences as a nanny was the reason the book was written. On the author's web site abcnanny.bizland.com she makes it clear she is not against nanny agencies and is announcing a directory of nanny agencies to be posted on the site in June. The book is a handbook and gets down to business quickly which we appreciate and did not consider a cold approach.

Although this book contains useful information, there is also an underlying sense that the author of this book (1)Truly dislikes nanny agencies (2)Doesn't actually appear to like nannies either. She covers the basics in a very 'cold' fashion virtually never stating the numerous benefits of hiring a nanny. The fact of the matter is that most nannies are terrific people who would never dream of hurting a child. As far as her obvious contempt toward nanny agencies, most parents use nanny agencies because they are so helpful. You do have to be careful when choosing however, it really doesn't matter if they are small (even home-based) or very large and expensive. What matters is how they make you feel when you approach them. What does your 'gut' tell you? Although the author's intentions were good, her book could have been better. It absolutely could have and should have had more feeling.

I purchased this book for my daughter so she can read that anything is possible if you truly believe no matter who you are. We are now Big Grace fans !!!

I got the book as a gift for my grand daughter who likes to draw. The vivid colors and expressions on the characters faces should keep her interested for a while. The story line is an added bonus.

Do you need a book that confronts racism, appreciates theater, and shatters stereotypes on a primary level? If so, Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman, is the book for you. Not only does this book cover the above topics, but is also highlights on key items for younger readers, such as reading about individual achievements and moral dilemmas.
Grace, a first grade African American female, has an imagination with no boundaries. Grace loves to act out stories that she is told. At school, Grace's heart runs with excitement when her teacher announces that the class is going to do the play Peter Pan. Everyone wants to be Peter Pan, which highlights the enthusiasm for theater among these students. However, as Grace wants to be Peter Pan, her classmates tell her first that she can't because she is not a male. The second reason her classmates say is that she can't be Peter Pan is because she is black. Here lies the racism in this book.
The teacher allows each student to take home lines and memorize them to try out for roles. The best would get Peter Pan. In the mean time, Grace's grandmother takes her to a Romeo and Juliet ballet that features a black Juliet. This inspires Grace to go home and learn those lines as best as she can so that she will be the best one in the class. When it is time to try out, Grace is by far the best Peter Pan and the class votes to let her fill this role. This is where the shattering of stereotypes comes into play.
Past the social issues, Amazing Grace also fulfills the requirements that the Temple textbook states are good children's literature. First, children's literature must speak to the child. Children, especially that would read Amazing Grace, are extremely egocentric. Therefore, they want to read about the potential for individual achievement. Any child that is repressed for any reason could identify with Grace. There are a lot of things that Peter Pan was not, not just simply black. African American students could truly identify with Grace, having to deal with their differences that are spawned by their skin color and culture.
The last noticeable characteristic of good children's literature apparent in Amazing Grace is the presence of in depth thought, especially on morals. This book spawns thought on all the social issues mentioned above. This book would most certainly cause students to re- evaluate their thoughts and stances on racism, stereotypes, and maybe even theater. So many times, students think that what their parents believe is what they have to believe. However, educating students can help not only in letting them make their own decisions, but also educating their parents as well.
Finally, this book is an excellent book for teachers because there are many activities that can be done to accompany the reading. Perhaps this would be a great book to lead into their own class play. Another idea is to place this in a unit on racism and segregation in the upper elementary levels. Also, a teacher could do dress up day and the students could be whatever they want to be. All stereotypes are shattered for the day and each student can be free to be who they are. Amazing Grace may be one of the most influential books that I have ever read on racism and the way that Grace and her family handle this issue is admirable.

I liked this story because Grace can be Peter Pan if she put her mind to it. My favorite part is after the ballet. I would recommend this book to a friend because its about your imaginery. The book is amazing.

By: S.J.
Los Angeles
Age 5

This is a great story with a great message. It tells children there are no limits to what they can be. It tells children not to be deterred by sterotypes or opinions. You can be anything you set your mind to. I bought copies for both my son and my niece.

This book was very touching. It was also funny and made me laugh out loud at the things that two ninteen year old girls did. Although it was set in the 1920's and I could not catch every person to which they referred, I still got the point of the book and enjoyed it immensely. I would definitely recommend this book to other teenagers and older because this book was one of the best books I ever read. The things they did I would never have done and the people they met were werid, yet I felt that without being able to relate very much to the book made it all the more interesting to read. I hope this book is read by others so they can all laugh as much as I did.

This book was very touching. It was also funny and made me laugh out loud at the things that two ninteen year old girls did. Although it was set in the 1920's and I could not catch every person to which they referred, I still got the point of the book and enjoyed it immensely. I would definitely recommend this book to other teenagers and older because this book was one of the best books I ever read. The things they did I would never have done and the people they met were werid, yet I felt that without being able to relate very much to the book made it all the more interesting to read. I hope this book is read by others so they can all laugh as much as I did.

I've never read the entire book (I'm working on it!) but just excerpts from my eighth grade lit. book, but what I've seen of it is FUNNY! Cornelia Skinner and Emily Kimbrough get into such hilarious circumstances! This is one of the few books I've laughed aloud with!

If you enjoyed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but thought the heroines slightly too worldly, you may be delighted by this autobiographical account of two relatively naive girls off for their first continental jaunt.

It's a delightful, charming little book about their misunderstandings and misadventures, and certainly introduced me to historical ladies' undergarments in an unforgettable manner!

There are sequels (like "Forty Plus and Fancy Free") if you find you particularly liked this one, but the first is the best, as sadly firsts so often are. This is a funny little treasure of a book.

Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually pretty good; I reserve 4 stars for tremendously good works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.

Cornelia Otis skinner is the real comedienne of this pair of authors and injects a lot more humor into this book, as opposed to most of Kimbrough's solo works. You cannot imagine two more naive college girls traveling about Europe in the 1920's. It was a simpler time, and today has great appeal to one's nostalgic side. If you get a chance to pick up a used copy, do so!

We read this book in our friends' apartment in Paris. It is the most wonderful and comprehensive book for cheese lovers and foodies. Looked through many book stores in Paris and were told it is out of print.
Most spectacular find at Amazon. Thanks.

This is great. Shows cheeses at different ages which is one of the most interesting points and makes this very unique as a reference book. If your in the business its a must have.

I collect field guides and what attracts me to some is the clever layout and design. This volume is in a class by itself and unlike some guides, the text was so informative that i could not put it dowm.
Should receive 6 stars out of 5.

As mentioned in previous reviews, this book does a great job of referencing hundreds of cheeses from France, providing photographs, descriptions, and wine recommendations. In these areas, it does a fantastic job. I've learned a lot reading it and I can't wait to take it with me on my next trip to France.

I wish the book gave more guidance on the tastes of the different cheeses and how you might select them. For example, if I like Brie and wanted to try a different nice mellow soft cheese, what might be recommended? This book isn't organized to help answer questions like that.

Overall, an important book for anybody serious about cheese.

Living in France, I am always making the acquaintance of cheeses I had never before known existed. I always scurry to find this book, and look up the tasty morcel I've just consumed. It's great for learning the basics about various cheeses -- and, as noted by other reviewers -- the photos are divine, but it's not the sort of book one takes into the bath to pore over for hours at a time. Put it on your shelf next to your dictionary and thesaurus; it's that useful!

I've done a fair amount of French cooking in my time and even owned a four-star rated restaurant for a # of years. I can say with confidence that if you knew nothing of French cooking but followed the recipes in this little book you could turn yourself into a competent chef in no time!

Okay, so I'm probably not your kind of cook. I'm the geeky sort of guy who thinks Julia Child is a reasonable substitute for divinity, who worships the ground Chris Kimball walks on in a "Brocktoon" sort of way, who considers superstars like you and Emeril the people the Food Network employs to keep the lights on for Alton Brown. But you know, even if I'm not exactly a fan, that doesn't mean I don't respect what you do. So I have to say right now, if you've never heard of this minute masterpiece from 1930, read it, reread it, incorporate some of his stuff into your own recipes, and then lay a wreath on Pomiane's grave next time you and John are in France to shoot an episode of Tasty Travels, because this guy is your granddaddy just as much as the nice Sicilian fellow you're always talking about on the show.

I mean, look at this guy. He hits practically every French classic that can be done in ten minutes and he's got you beat on organizational technique (first thing you do when you get in the door and want to cook Pomiane-style: boil a pot of water. Doesn't matter why, you'll find a use for it.). The recipes are simple and tasty, and would do Julia, Simca and Louisette quite proud. He even provides menus to plan from, because life is more than meat and two veg. He hits a few of the classic sauces (though his "white sauce" recipe is written as a joke), features a good-sized section on vegetables, and provides a surprisingly diverse selection of meat dishes ranging from a simple steak to some surprisingly complex veal and pork dishes.

There is a sizeable and varied selection of soups (none of those annoying "stoups", fer chrissake) and some remarkably fast desserts, including a chestnut puree that the author was very proud of. A decent but concise section covers cooking techniques suitable for quick cooking, and the whole thing is topped off by a nicely informative preface by the translators describing how to handle Pomiane's recipes in a kitchen three-quarters of a century in his future. And did I mention this guy had a hell of a sense of humor, even in translation? Seriously, take a hint. Not one catch phrase anywhere, and he's still a hoot to read.

Rach, here's the deal. You're the reigning queen of convenience cooking and a kitchen superstar. Controversial, yes, but few have the luxury of near-universal love like Julia, and at the very least you've got it all over that bimbo Sandra. But you gotta give this guy props -- after all, like I said, he's your granddaddy.

Signed,
Brian from the Cape

This book should be a staple in every discerning cooks kitchen. Ten minutes or not, in the era of Rachel Ray (and I think she is lovely by the way) its nice to have a little class and soul in a "quick fix" cookbook.
Dr. de Pomiane is funny, insightful, and guiding. He not only gives you wonderful recipes to work with, he takes you by the hand and tells you just how to achieve the perfection you deserve and still have time to dwaddle over your coffee.

This is one of my favorites among the cookbooks I own. I love to cook, although I hate recipes. Edourad de Pomiane's approach is perfect. His writing is funny and encouraging, and he teaches you to cook rather than simply giving instructions to copy a specific recipe. His recipes are exquisitely simple yet profoundly delicious. This one book changed the way I cooked steak, gave me confidence to try sauces for the first time, and taught me the key to making perfect omelets. Buy it. You won't regret it!

This is the perfect book for a beginner! It teaches you very basic techniques on cooking that everyone should know, such as how to make a sauce from burnt on meat juices. Its recipes also build on previous ones which makes memorization easier. What I loved most were the lessons on organization that will enable you to cook more efficiently.

In all, this is a great book to start anyone off as a cook. I made a sauce the other day by following the book's guidelines, rather than following a strict recipe and it turned out pretty good. The advice is great in that it gives you room to experiment without destroying your meal. In all, this is a great book to start anyone off as a cook. It's excellent!

The photos take me back to the French countryside where I enjoyed painting landscapes in the late afternoon light.

Beau Morgan

Exactly what I was looking for...an engagement calendar that keeps us on schedule from week to week, and has the added advantage of lovely photos from France that remind us of our trip last year. Only thing I would like to see added is a monthly calendar view at the beginning of each month.

Book arrived in excellent shape. We have purchased this calendar in previous years so the content was not in question. Excellent purchase.

I have been buying these diary/calendars for years and love them. Their layout is excellent, the photographs are charming, and they are easy to work with. Merci mille fois.

I have been getting this calendar for at least 4 years now, and the beautiful photos of life in France always put me in a dreamy mood. There is one for every week. They come up with all new photos every year, too. I am always amazed. The cover pattern reminds me of the fabric of Provence and is alway colorful and looks lovely on my desk. It comes in a similarly patterned cardbord sleeve, which I cut up and use as bookmarks, as I can't bear to throw it away.
The paper quality is also good and it even feels special when you write on it. My pen just glides. I don't know how I could start a new year without it!

Fans of this series of books will know that most are very good, a few are duds, and a fair number are amazingly good. Professor Doyle's review of one of the major events in European history is firmly in that last category.

It is both an account of the events themselves and an overview of how they have been interpreted. The subject is complex and has aroused strong opinions across the ideological spectrum. Doyle gives all sides a fair hearing, but with the occasional wry comment that hints at where his own sympathies lie. The emphasis throughout is on the broader historic context rather than being an attempt to cram details into a short introduction. Both readers new to the subject and those looking for a review of where studies in the area now stand will be well served by this book.
[PeterReeve]

This book is very helpful for a quick review of the facts. I used it to brush up on dates and figures before a midterm and a final on this topic. Its well organized for a quick read.

I found this Very Short Introduction to be accurate, informative, and written in an interesting and readable style....This book fulfills admirably the series goal of providing solid, lucid introductions to topics without being simplistic...I think readers already familiar with the history and events of the French Revolution will enjoy the author's style and modern day perspective on this historic event...

I highly recommend this volume to anyone who wants to know about the French revolution but doesn't have a lot of time to spend on it. I read it while waiting between flights. Doyle is an excellent writer and the volume is very engrossing (good enough that I have subsequently checked out his full treatment of the revolution). He does a good job of covering all of the basics of the French revolution and warning readers where the shortfalls are in the book because it is a brief treatment. But what I really liked about the volume is his discussion where he looks at the French revolution as it is treated today and the 200th anniversary that occured just under a decade ago.
I highly recommend it.

Lets face it: many people point to the French Revolution as the source of innumerable subsequent political ideological movements, but when pressed, nevertheless have difficulty describing the essential elements and personages involved in the actual event. One likely cause for this phenomena is the habit of "aping" the attributions of others without really knowing the subject matter itself -- the subject has long since passed into a popular and iconographic status -- but another reason is surely the bewildering array of people involved in the event, the need for a precursory understanding of the "Ancient Régime," and the sheer number of divergent events leading to the culminating outcome. In this sense, Doyle's book well serves the introductory reader well by helping the reader develop a foundational understanding of the French Revolution through its clear verbiage, introduction to personages, and its narrative timeline approach. The book, too, sets the stage for additional derivative studies (perhaps by using the popular works by Furet, Schama, and others) while still being able to stand on its own as a primer to the subject. Of particular interest is Doyle's presentation on how the event has been divergently interpreted by historians over the past two centuries. In summary, not only is the text a bargain, but it provides a great "very short introduction" to a critical historic event in an exceptionally interesting and accessible structure. I have to say that I immensely enjoyed it.

I got much more than expected when I read this book. As others have stated, it reads like fiction but you have to keep reminding yourself that the characters of the book actually existed. I can't believe this book has not yet been turned into a movie. I was absolutely caught up in the excitement and danger as the lead character, Roy Allen, tries to get back to allied lines to fly again after being shot down over France. It is amazing that he survived the ordeal, as he looked into the eyes of death so many times. In the end, I was disappointed to read that Allen had passed away prior to publication, because I would have made every effort to try and meet the man, just to shake his hand. In reality, Roy Allen was quite representative of those who fought in WWII --- humble, polite and ever adept at doing the right thing. I love meeting the former soldiers of that era, who truly were of the greatest generation. You will not be disappointed with this wonderful book, and I will keep it to re-read in the future! Well written. -- Terry Mindham (silverwings442002@yahoo.com)

I just finished this superb work a few moments ago. Warning: once you start, you will not be able to put this book down.

As others have said, this is a true story which reads like a finely crafted work of fiction of the historical "thriller" genre. The constant tension is palpable as our heroes, the downed American airman desperately seeking help in occupied France, the young, small town schoolteacher who decides to risk all to hide him, the brave French Resistance fighter, all attempt to evade capture and death at the hands of the Nazis. That's all you need to know. Treat yourself...get this book and find out what happens to them. As the story draws to its end, you will truly care. I promise.

I love stories of the WWII era in occupied Europe and have read many, both history and fiction. Alan Furst's works of fiction are good, especially the earlier ones. Robert Ryan's works, The Blue Noon and Early One Morning, are both superb. They are based on actual events and real persons, with additional fictional characters inserted. A central "real" character in the latter, race car driver Robert Benoist, appears briefly in The Shadows of War.

Airey Neave's They Have Their Exits is a thrilling true memoir of escape from a Nazi prison camp. Neave also appears briefly in Ryan's The Blue Noon. Clare Francis' Night Sky is by far the best fictional work I have enjoyed of this genre.


All these books are excellent page turners. If you only read one, however, read In The Shadows of War. Whether you are interested in WWII and/or clandestine operations in occupied Europe or not, you will love this book and be moved by it.

I first encountered Thomas Childers in his excellent courses for The Teaching Company. His full history of WWII and his course on Hitler's Empire are excellent. Childers is a highly regarded U. of Pennsylvania professor of history. I recommend those works as well.

This is a very well written story of both the French resistance and the story of one of our pilots that crashed and was helped to avoid the Germans in occupied France. It also documents the experience of the pilot when he is captured by the Germans. It is a chilling example of the cruel treatment the pilot and other prisoners had to endure.

Thomas Childers has done it again - a truly amazing recount, from a very personal view, of another air war story from WW-II. His previous "Wings of Morning" was spell binding and yet here is "In the Shadows of War", another captivating book to be read over and over.

this book is fascinating as it ties in a captured American pilot's story with that of the French underground. A sobering view of the stranglehold the Germans had on occupied France and the tragic and heroic struggle of ordinary people.