Blake Books

What I love about this book: it actually has a gluten-free recipe for a black forest cake, which my non-celiac boyfriend loves. It has recipes for many other kinds of baked goods that are very close to the real thing, so much so that many non-celiacs can't tell the difference.

If your being gluten-intolerant is wearing on your family, this book can make it so they can eat with you and not remember that you have celiac. That makes this book an incredible godsend.

What I hate about this book: it's not easy. I wasn't the kind of person who would bake her own cakes before I got a celiac diagnosis, and I haven't morphed into one, now. I'm still looking for--and in the process of writing--a gluten-free cookbook where the recipes really are very simple. It's one thing to have celiac; it's another to have to learn to cook and bake with a high level of skill to accomodate the dietary constraints.

This book is not for anyone, even passionate Elton fans, who have the slightest problem with Elton's sexual orientation. This very candid book was written by an on-again, off-again friend and lover whose feelings for Elton were strong enough to withstand the ups and downs that Elton's torrid lifestyle brought with it. It is an account of excesses and tormented minds, but also of happier times and deep emotions. It is, of course, written by someone who was ultimately rejected, and you must realize that you will see everything through the author's eyes and pain. Underneath it all, you will also see the pain and suffering that Elton went through to beat addiction and end up sober. Nothing you read will take away from his musical genius, his compassion for the victims of AIDS, and his generosity towards friends and the cause of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

A very good back-ground work to the underworld in England in the 1960's, with particular reference to the "Firm"-the Kray brothers crime empire which was the dominant force in the London East end gangs of that era.
Recommended to anyone interested in the violent reality behind the almost mythical status accorded to the Kray's influence in the East End.

This story breaks the paradigms that separate sci-fi from fantasy. You are never really sure which it is until the very end.
The adventure is good and the writers pleasantly closes the story so that you are satisfied with the end, but tantalized at what may come next.
Only 4 stars because it left me wanting more! I want to know more about the strange world, about the cool monsters and the technomagic.

...oh yeah! Garry Bushell successfully emulates the dime store crime novel here. The Face is an edgy midnight stroll down sleazy street, it has no pretense and makes no apologies. Like the men who elect a life of crime and those who choose to uphold the law it is what it is: the Face is plain and simple, it draws you in and hold a gun to your head until the very last page. This is Sopranos meets East Enders, Donny Brasco on fish and chips.

Overall, I felt this book was a good one. It's obviously an interesting subject (though occasionally horrifying), and the author provides a great amount of detail and insight into the childhoods, early adulthood, and early murders of the subjects in question. Also included are some very telling quotations by the murderers themselves.

However, I felt that some of the author narrative was distracting and occasionally far-fetched. He seems to cling to the idea that these killers are 'two-sided', or, as he sometimes describes, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While it would certainly be comforting to think that there was a part of these individuals that was separate and untouched by their homicidal urges and sado-sexual impulses, I personally find it unlikely. The fact that John Gacy was an active and often productive member of society does not mean that the productive part of him was separated from the part that raped and killed teenage boys. We would all like to think that we would be able to tell someone with these sort of violent tendencies, but at least in Gacy's case, it was not evident at all to the individuals in the community he served. They valued, rewarded, and took pride in his place in their society and he often did things that were beneficial to the community at large. He also happened to be a murderer. I do not think that these things are mutually exclusive simply because we want them to be, because we want to believe that no community could love and praise a man who was killing their young boys. But there's little evidence to truly support such a claim, and the author stretches toward the idea that there are two Gacy's, the good and the evil one. Frankly, I found it to be grasping at straws. This theme of 'the evil side' seems to carry through to other murderers in the book, as well. It struck me more that the author is trying very hard to be clever, and while he often succeeds at sounding intelligent, well-informed, and plausible with his beliefs - there is the occasional moment of discord when he makes a statement that just doesn't seem right.

Aside from stylistic annoyances, though, I think the book was overall a great read and very compelling. It's a broad look at several serial killers, and the subjects chosen were particularly good for the purpose of the book. Covered are John Gacy, Kenneth Bianchi, William Heirens, John Cannan, and Patricia Wright. I would recommend it to people interested in knowing a bit more about this darker side of humanity. Of course, and I imagine this goes without saying, this may be a difficult read for people who have a low tolerance for violent imagery. Although the details of the crimes are quite appropriately clinical, one can't help envisioning them as they read and for that reason I wouldn't recommend it for the weak of heart.

Excellent sample of traditional recipes that are divided seasonally. Encompasses all types of meat and vegetable dishes, traditional in content but updated indgredients and preparation from the yesteryear. A great practical guide if you always wondered how to make mac and cheese homemade or 3 bean salad.
Many comfort foods. Excellent for winter.

This cookbook is great for down-home seasonal country-cookin' recipes. Every recipe I've tried from the book has come out wonderfully. My family especially loves the meatloaf! I love it because it gives seasonal ideas -- lighter, fresher fare for summer and hearty, creamy dishes for winter, for instance. I just wish it were longer!

This is a great way to start learning the harmonica. You'll need a Diatonic in the key of C, such as a Lee Oskar. (Don't buy a book with an included harmonica; those harmonicas are usually crap. A good one is only about $20.)

The book teaches notes, harmonica tabulature, reading music, some bends and chording and has a decent selection of tunes you'll recognize. It includes a CD which is very useful for hearing what the harp SHOULD sound like as well as music to practice to.

My only gripe is that I already know how to read music and find the inclusion of tabs all the way through a bit intrusive. But it made learning the harmonica faster and easier than I expected.

Based on the true story of Brian Grover and Ilena Petrovna. It tells the story of Brian, who found himself in Russia during the 1930's depression. There he fell in love with Ilena, but he had to face the obstacles of war, governments and near death to return to her.