Bloom Books

As with many anthologies of individual experiences, Here Lies My Heart relies on common themes--coping with the routine of a relationship, straying vs. staying, self vs. couple's identity. Overall it hit a negative note. It also overlooked a growing segment of the population--those who have never married and managed to find a degree of contentment. This book wasn't about why people don't marry--it was about how people work through staying in or leaving a marriage.

I've been reading a lot of books about love and relationships in connection with a book I'm working on, and this collections of essays was so superior to the others in the quality of the writing and the honesty and charm of the personal accounts (with a few notable exceptions, including Edward Hoagland's essay) that I made a special effort to post a comment here. This would be an excellent book to give a friend who has a perfectly wonderful marriage that he or she is thinking of walking out on, or to someone who's just experiencing a case of the marriage blahs.

A group of brief stories that illuminate just a few of the thousands of facets of relationships -- those sweet or disappointing and everything in between.

In the middle of my almost 27 years of marriage I find myself trying to find answers to unversal questions of Where did the love go?, Should I still hang around here in this marriage etc. It is not all that bad, but is this all there is. I saw alot of myself here and many others. I found no anwers except that what I was feeling and experiencing was not at all uncommon. This did make me feel less guilty about these feelings. I did conclude that these authors had a alot of time to worry about their relationships. Some seemed to be in such a turmoil and I just wanted to say come on shape up and do something.

The stories in this book are lovely. They are sad, moving, deeply thought-out vignettes of various aspects of marriage, married life and/or relationships. The stories probably won't change your life but the reader is afforded an intimate glimpse into the private, often painful and loving world of relationships. I found the writing in many of the stories to be breathtaking.

A thoroughly enjoyable New York story of family, romance, and food, not necessarily in that order. The only thing I found confusing was the point of view. It drove me crazy that Julia's Grandma Ida was referred to as such and her Uncle Jay was referred to as such, but that her mother was always referred to as "Sondra." Did they think if they referred to her as "Mom" it would be too juvenile? I thought the references to the mother by her first name was ridiculous, and it put a huge distance between me and the characters every time I read it.

I guess nobody's perfect.

One of the nicest books I've read all year. The family dynamics are so real that you just laugh out loud. Great characters, great humor, great romance. A real winner!

Grandmother Ida is strong and determined and wise. She puts her grandaughter Julia, a lawyer, in charge of Blooms, famous deli in NY. Julia doesn't know about managing a deli, she doesn't know about types of olives or even if this is what she wants to do. But do it she does.

While her Uncle Jay works at undermining her, her mother tries to be the president of Blooms, and a reporter looks for problems. Julia does her best to hold it all together.

Slowly she finds out who is stealing the bagels, introduces her sister to a true love, and begins managing Blooms. And, all the while, she falls in love herself.

What a wonderful romance. Light, fun, a family you can believe in, and love. Using food to bring people together is not new, however, this has the feeling of newness and originality. The zany characters in this novel only make it that much more fun- Uncle Jay the computer man, the bagel counter man, a poet writing sister, a cousin who is a director of sorts, a domineering grandmother and more.

Although this is the first book I've read by this author, it won't be the last. This was a joy from beginning to end. Well worth reading.

Enjoy.

I don't think the back cover copy or reviews are doing this book justice. It's a total joy to read, fun, fast paced--full of terrific, real characters in very real family situations. The food metaphors are all fresh and fun, but it's the story that took my heart. This is a love story you can believe in--poignant, hot and compelling--yet the whole book's done in such a fun, fresh way that it reads like lightning. This author will forever be a must-buy for me.

One year ago Grandam Ida's son died leaving Manhattan landmark Bloom's Deli in trouble. With the business in trouble, the family matriarch decides that a new Bloom needs to run the deli. She surprises the entire family by selecting her granddaughter, divorce attorney Julia. Shocked at first, Julia wants to refuse and remain in her safe world, but her sister Susie persuades her to at least try.

Instead of support from her so-called loved ones, Julia faces sabotage and scorn. Her uncle tries to undermine her and her mother believes that Julia is an interim until she takes over. Then there are the unaccounted for bagels that someone seems to abscond with each week. Worse is Ron Joffe, assigned by Gotham magazine to learn if rumors of Bloom's financial troubles are true, because of her attraction to him. Finally, the most absolute catastrophe of all is dealing with her iron maiden grandma. As Julia works on overcoming the plots to destroy her, she falls in love with the nosy journalist.

This lighthearted romp is a fun to read tale that pays homage to all those Manhattan romantic comedies such as Crossing Delancy. References to the city add to the tour as the Big Apple comes across as a character more than just a locale. The female lead protagonist is an engaging individual struggling with a family that has their own personal interests and agendas above everyone else including the deli that has made and kept the Blooms wealthy. Judith Arnold furnishes a warm amusing excursion of the New York archipelago.

Harriet Klausner

This was a very good book. It not only told about Rabin's rise to power but also about their life together, and the founding of Israel. I didn't agree with all of her political views but she did speak very highly of their life together. I read this in one day.

Leah Rabin died 12th November 2000 of Cancer 5 years after the Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated. This is a very good personal Story about The first 50 years of the State of Israel. This is why it should be read. In Tel-aviv and in Rabin Square You can find posters stuck up about the Intifada 2000 that say "This is not Peace, Friend". So the Incitement against Rabin and the Oslo agreements has not ended. For a academic book on the subject of Violence in Israeli Politics look at "Brother against Brother" by Sprinzak.

Leah Rabin, at the side of her husband Yitzhak Rabin participated over a period of over 40 years in the major events of Israel's history, including the War of Independence, the Six-Day War in which Yitzhak was Chief-of-Staff, his period as Israeli Ambassador to the US, his two terms as Prime Minister and the signing of the Oslo Agreements with Arafat. The tragedy of Leah Rabin is that her narrow-mindedness brought about her psychological downfall when she failed to see how the disastrous agreement with Arafat brought massive bloodshed and war in spite of her broad experience which is outlined in the book. This was sadly demonstrated on the night in 1996 when Benyamin Netanyahu defeated her husband's successor, Shimon Peres, in the election for Prime Minister and she told a reporter that she intended "to pack up her bags and leave the country". In the end, she stayed, but this unfortunately shows the mentality of so many people on the "establishment Left" in Israel, that they consider the country to be their personal property and their loyalty to it is conditioned on their being in power. She would often state that she viewed Arafat as a "personal friend of the family" and at the same time she would denounce the opponents of her political movement (the majority of the country) as fascists, a type of political terminology that went out of style in the 1970's. She reached her nadir in her final public statement before she died which was a call for "Shimon (Peres) to sit down with Arafat and reach an agreement to stop the violence" a meeting that in the end produced nothing. This tragically shows how truly out-of-touch she was with reality. It was inconceivable to her that "her friend" who had said so many nice things to her would at the same time conduct a war against her country.
I must add, though, that the book is important to read because of her frank account of the night of Rabin's assassination in which she states how the SHABAK (Israel Secret Service) bundled her off and kept assuring her for a long time that the shooting "was not real" and that Yitzhak was all right. This certainly lends credence to those who claim that the SHABAK set up some sort of "game" in which there would be an attempted assassination as a "provocation" to make the right-wing political opposition look bad, but something went wrong and he was killed. In spite of my strong opposition to her political views, I respect her candor.

Leah writes from her personal view about Rabin and Israels History. I liked the book very much and I have Leah's signature on my Hebrew Copy. From a reader who is commited to carrying on with Rabins Legacy. We miss him.

Leah Rabin is tough and gentle, a good wife and a good political partner. The story of my hero, her spouse, Yitzhak Rabin, brought tears to my eyes many times. The story is told not only of a war hero and politician, but of a life long love that has been lost. Even if you could care less about Israeli poltics, Leah Rabin's story can teach you lessons that we all need to learn

Nothing in this world can prepare us for the spiritual aspect of this haunting murder mystery as described on this audio cassette version. As much as science and reason can explain things seemingly unscientific, does there ever come a time when science alone cannot? In this tender drama of a twenty-one year old nun, one cannot help but question the mysteries of faith - in all its forms. Agnes, the twenty-one year old nun, has never known life as we have. Sheltered and secluded in her upbringing, abused and tragically disturbed, Agnes turns to the Catholic Convent when her mother dies. Surely there, Mother Miriam can produce or at least invoke a kin to humanity in this child, and perhaps even be somewhat of a mother to her in many ways. Perhaps Mother Miriam can bring her a sense of a real world, a sense of mankind with all of its beauties and all of its flaws. Truth is not told lightly here, and when Agnes delivers a child, beliefs must be questioned, questions must be answered, faiths must be acknowledged - or abandoned. Beautifully portrayed on one audio cassette, you will hear Agnes' song long after the cassette is over.

Those who have seen the movie Agnes of God be warned - it can not compare to the actual play. Reading the play is just as fulfilling as seeing it performed. Three characters - a shrink, a mother superior, and an innocent nun. Throughout the play, roles are examined, discarded, built upon and interchanged between the three characters. The author gives the characters real depth. Readers can see themselves in any of the three roles without any trouble.

John Pielmeier's Agnes Of God is a contemporary murder mystery set within the confines of a modern Catholic convent. Agnes is a devout, innocent young nun accused of infanticide. As a psychiatrist (herself a lapsed Catholic) and the Mother Superior struggle over Agnes' fate, the play plunges deeply into the mystery of faith and the consequence of truth. This superb audio play production features Barbara Bain as the Mother Superior, Emily Bergl as Agnes, and Harriet Harris as Dr. Martha Livingstone. Under the accomplished direction of Nancy Malone, Pielmeier's compelling tale is wonderfully underscored with the choral music of Kathryn Skatula, Ali Olmo and Teri Bibb. The recording techniques are flawless and present a true "theatre of the mind" experience that is both memorable and commanding.

John Pielmeier's play "Agnes of God" opened on Broadway in 1982 with a cast that included Elizabeth Ashley, Geraldine Page, and Amanda Plummer. It tells the tale of a young novice who has been sheltered from the world all her life. One night, she is found unconscious in her convent room after having given birth to a baby, which is found dead in a wastebasket. This shocking incident gives rise to a whole set of questions: Who was the father? Why did no one know about Agnes' pregnancy? Is she really as simple and naive as she seems? And, most importantly, who killed the baby?

The play features three terrific roles for actresses: Agnes, the Mother Superior, and the court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr. Livingstone. The script is not without its flaws: the science vs. faith conceit is played out a little too simply, and some of the symbolism is heavy-handed to say the least (the doctor trades her obsessive chain-smoking for an obsessive fixation on Agnes). The play was also made into a rather tepid movie which unwisely opened up the claustrophobic office/convent interview scenario and added superfluous characters and subplots. Meg Tilly and Anne Bancroft both earned much-deserved Oscar nominations for their excellent performances, but Jane Fonda is miscast and less than obsessive in the role of Dr. Livingstone.

This audio recording, however, makes one forget any flaws in the script and completely erases any sour memory of the misjudged film version. It is gripping in every way. Harriet Harris carries the show in a bravura performance as Dr. Livingstone ("X-files" fans will remember her from the terrific "Eve" episode). She is not afraid to be curt and unlikable, and she carries a chip on her shoulder the size of a Buick. Every shifting emotion is immediately audible in her highly expressive voice: wry condescenion, bitter regret, volcanic rage, and aching sorrow all come into play. Her final, gut-wrenching monologue is absolutely harrowing. With a performance like Harris', visuals become unnecessary.

Harris' force-of-nature portrayal could easily overwhelm less accomplished co-stars, but Barbara Bain and Emily Bergl more than hold their own. Bain is sympathetic and likable as the Mother Superior, a welcome contrast to Harris' caustic doctor. She matches Harris step for step in their emotional confrontations and gives equal weight to the Mother's deep sense of spirituality and the earthier, more secular side of the character. This is no caricature, but a flesh-and-blood human being.

Emily Bergl (who was the one bright spot in the otherwise limp "The Rage: Carrie 2") makes a perfect Agnes: childlike, eager to please, and slightly otherworldly. She gives her ludicrous answers to the doctor's questions in such a matter-of-fact manner that one simply can't write her off as insane. Because of her utter conviction in everything she says, we as listeners must at least consider the fact that the visions and voices she sees and hears might be real. Bergl also fully commits to her emotional moments with the doctor. Harris is often so brutal with the psychologically fragile Bergl that one almost wishes Child Protective Services would come in and whisk Agnes away. Bergl's singing voice -- an important aspect of Agnes' character -- is childlike and unspoilt, adding to the sense of Agnes' purity.

Sound effects are used sparingly but judiciously, such as the flick of a lighter letting the audience know that the doctor has lighted a cigarette. Credit must be given to director Nancy Malone, who has shaped the rhythm and pace of the piece with the expert skill of an orchestral conductor. Under her guidance, the three actresses sound like a finely-tuned ensemble, with Bain's earthy alto, Harris' reedy mezzo, and Bergl's soft-grained soprano playing together as exquisitely as virtuoso instruments. Audio theatre doesn't come any better than this.

While I certainly couldn't say I was disappointed with this book, I don't think it quite lived up to the expectation based on the 2 reviews I read on [...] which both gave it five stars. The first half of the book deals with Blackmore up to the end of Deep Purple MKII which was interesting and certainly factual as to where Blackmore was and what he was doing but somewhat dull. What it lacked was the input from people who were in close contact with Blackmore, notably Gillan, Glover, Lord & Paice in what I, and many others, consider to be Blackmore's finest musical moments. Relying on quotes taken from the BBC "Rock Family Trees" and "Classic Albums" just doesn't cut it.
The second half of the book got somewhat juicer, with input from many people who were relatively close to Blackmore, including Dougie White, Cozy Powell and some interesting additions from David Coverdale amongst others. What becomes apparent in the second half of the book is the single-mindedness, selfishness and downright childishness of Ritchie Blackmore.
Somewhat bizarrely, the book finishes with a monologue - or quote - from of all people Ian Gillan, who likely in reality is Blackmore's nemesis.
Overall, a decent read, but with key testimony missing - where were Dio, Gillan, Lord, Paice, Glover? Interviews from Blackmore's roadies only go so far. The author is obviously a huge Blackmore fan but I feel this somewhat clouds his objectiveness - he portrays Blackmore as a mis-understood guitar legend whereas the accounts of Blackmore's behavior illustrate him to be a spoilt brat with an unbelievable musical talent.
Footnote : One person that for me merited further investigation after reading this book was Joe Meek: someone who had a vision whilst at the same time retaining a sharp business acumen - ultimately and unfortunately undone by his sexual preference. See "The Legendary Joe Meek: The Telstar Man" by John Repsch

Black Knight is the best book of Ritchie Blackmore, Rainbow or Deep Purple by far, and I've read them all! It is a thoroughly comprehensive, well-written book, full of a plethora of great information. Jerry Bloom is a fantastic writer, keeping you reading until the very end. It is hard to put this book down. And it is quite long but never boring. Over 400 pages and numerous photos. Maybe it's because I live in the USA but a lot of the information was quite shocking as I've never heard of that side of Ritchie. For instance, I didn't know that Blackmore was such a groupie favorite. Literally hundreds of them. But I don't want to ruin all the surprises. If you're looking for a good read about one of the legends of rock music, buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

This is an absolute must-have book for any/ all Blackmore fans. Very well written and put together; very hard to put down. In addition, great pictures, as well. Bloom's book may be "unauthorized" but, do you realy think The Man In Black will ever participate in an AUTHORIZED book? That said, Bloom does a brilliant job in locating and interviewing many of Blackmore's musical cohorts...and he DID interview Blackmore, formally and informally, several times; this is NO generic volume...far from it (alot of great information that I, a confirmed Blackmore afficianado for over quarter of a century, did not know of. Bloom never takes the easy way out and goes into great detail many times). I cannot see how this superb volume could be better. I can't say it enough---outstanding job!!!! This book is soooooo readable and enjoyable...get this asap!

I am a guitarist, with Ritchie Blackmore probably being the earliest significant influence I can remember from my teen years as I was learning to play, and I have just finished reading "Black Night". On the one hand, I found it a fascinating look inside the mind and actions of a guitarist whom I consider "One of the Gods" of rock, and whose influence, in terms of approach, technique and style, was fundamental to my taking up the guitar as boy, and having it be part of my life to this day. That being said, I walked away from the book a little - for lack of a better word - sad. If one is to beleive the numerous accounts and quotes that make up much of the book, the portrait that is painted is that of a misanthropic, selfish, childish, and ultimately lonely man, who happens to have been granted an unbelievable talent for music in general, and for the guitar in particular. Much of the book is based on quotes by people who have lived and worked with Blackmore over the years, but unfortunately few quotes are from Ritchie himself (there is the odd one here and there). These recollections from people throughout Blackmore's career are so in keeping with each other, and so clearly paint the same general picture of the man, that it's impossible to believe that the reality is substantially different from the portrait they collectively paint. And having accepted this, my view of Ritchie, which was once that of a legendary Guitar Hero in every sense of the word, is now unalterably overshadowed by a portrait of a very difficult, callous, and selfish man. That he can play like he does is wondrous and phenomenal -- but the underlying petulance, even if the book is only half-accurate, is now - for me - impossible to overlook. I'll still listen - and be amazed and mesmerized by - my Purple and Rainbow catalog. But now, seeing the man behind the curtain at last revealed, has taken a big bite out of the wonder of it all.

"The Old Man and the Sea" was my favorite from all the books I've read this year. It was written by Ernest Hemingway in in 1951. The story is called a novella because it is too long to be a short story, but too short to be called a novel. This book by Ernest Hemingway is so amazing though. Hemingway has the ability to write a story that makes your mind paint a picture. This book draws you in, and you feel like you're in the skiff with Santiago, rooting for the death of the marlin. Quoted from Zach Davisson, "This short novel is fierce, full of vibrant energy and humanity," and I would say that this is Hemingway's best work. At first the story seems like a standard "man against nature" tale, but unlike those kind of stories, this one has a more vivid battle, and a stronger point at the end. It is said that Hemingway's inspiration for the old man in the book, was the Cuban fisherman Gregorio Fuentes, who was also Hemingway's friend, but noe one really knows where Hemingway gets he extraoridnary ideas.
Although short, the book has a deep meaning. Sometimes people can just read a book without really seeing much of a point, but that only happens when people read the words, not the story. You have to know how to read right, in order to see the message in the book. One main theme I found while reading was to have courage in the face of defeat. Even though the Old man hadn't caught a fish in 84 days, he didn't give up. He continued to try and try. On day 85, he decides that, no matter what, he will not return with a catch. His waiting paid off though, because soon, he caught an enormous marlin. Santiago had to fight with the fish for three days before finally killing it. On the way back, the old man had more to worry about than just about keeping the fish tied to the boat. Sharks, hunger, and weakness tried to defeat the man, but he stayed strong. This book mainly portrays masculinity. Although the old man was very gentle, he knew when to use the power and strength that men have. He is so gentle though, that at one point in the book he wishes he "could feed the fish," and at another in the book he is "sorry for the fish that had nothing to eat." Later on in the story, he deeply grieves when the first shark mutilates the fish's beautiful body. Santiago has a very kind soul and loving heart too. He doesn't mind the fishermen who make fun of him, and he respects Manolin's father, even though he forbids the boy to fish with the old man and tells him to fish with someone else after forty fishless days with Santiago. The only time in the book when Santiago is violent, is when he killed the sharks which attacked his fish, but such actions, the only reason he did was to defend his "brother", the fish. Even in his dreams are gentle and pleasant. Santiago usually dreams of playful, not fierce, lions, and also, once of mating porpoises. I loved his easy-going, selfless, and thoughtful character, throughout the whole story.

The reason that I loved "The Old Man and the Sea" is because this book inspired me the most. It made me think of how the old man's life is the kind of live anyone would want. Although he is poor and lonely, he loves everyone around him no matter how much they discourage him, and he believes in himself enough to set out goals that seems unreachable. He knows that he can succeed in practically anything. The old man has everything he needs in this world: determination and strength. Santiago's battle was a very hard one, but no matter how hard it got, he never gave up Mainly, this story portrayed hope. Santiago created hope when there was none. He was strong when his body was weak. Santiago himself has said, "Man is not made for defeat....A man can be destroyed but not defeated."
The strength of his will is what keeps him going. It is all that holds his failing body together. Even though the old man's strength seemed a little over-exaggerated and unrealistic sometimes, the rest of the story has fixed that. The boy is a good example of a casual person, and the fish is just a casual fish.

This book has many different interpretations. To one person, this could be a story of how a man was so determined that he never gave up, not matter how much suffering he had to go through. Another person may think of this story as just another story of symbolism, because the old man, no matter how aged and hurt, had strength and bravery throughout the whole story.
While one person may this of this story as a story of success, another one might just label the old man as too desperate and obsessed, because he almost lost his life over catching a fish. To another person this story might portray that riches and wealth give nothing, and that a person can live a good life without any of that. To me, this story had a different meaning, but is similar to the first one. This story represents courage, trust, and love to me. It represents courage, because the old man had courage in times when most people fear. He had the courage to go out there, knowing he will succeed in his goals, and he rejected fear, doubt, and weakness. It represents trust, because the old man trusted himself. Sometimes, in a tough situation, people do things they normally wouldn't. Sometimes people say they would never do something, but at the end, they turn out to. Mothers who love their children, actually ate their children in times of starvation, and this is because of how their brain reacted. The old man knew that he could trust himself not to give up. He knew he would keep going no matter how back-breaking the work would be. He knew that he wouldn't betray himself and give up in the end, like many people do. It also represents love, because the old man loved his dream and hobby. Catching the marlin was his dream, and fishing was hobby. He loved the feeling of success, and self-respect, and so he loved the dream of catching the fish so much that he decided to go out and make it reality. I can really relate to this story, because many times, I suffer in order to get a reward at the end. Even though I don't actually get a reward, just like the old man didn't, I get respect, and it makes me feel better too. This story could have had a different ending, one that many people said they would have liked. Some think it would have been better if Santiago would have towed the enormous fish back to port and posed for a triumphal photograph, but instead his prize gets devoured by a school of sharks. Santiago returned home with little more than a skeleton, but that didn't mean anything to him. He was not fully defeated, and that made him feel proud. He didn't want credit or popularity, because he didn't care about any of those things. All he wanted was to finally succeed in catching a fish, and that's what happened. When he returned home, he went to bed and, dreamed about the lions.

I recommend this book to everyone. It is such an encouraging and outstanding story, and I think that everyone should get a change to read it. If you've read it, but you didn't find it touching or meaningful, then you've missed the point. I never knew that a story a little over 120 pages could have so much meaning, and teach you such great things.

This book contains a lot of symbollism that advanced readers can comprehend. The ending is what ties the book together and has a lot of meaning to it. Heidi and Jessica

i think a lot of the people reviewing this book have missed the point. It is true that there is not much of a plot but the book is not about plot. If you want a page turner go to an airport and look at the bestseller list. Through this book Hemingway displays his views and feelings on masculinity. It has been said, and been well reported, that Hemingway is deeply macho and believes in this whole rum-drinking world. But in the old man... I feel that Hemingway shows a masculinity with a human face. In the book the old man and the boy talk of the baseball greats. When they come to John J. McGraw, they say that "he was rough and harsh-spoken and difficult when he was drinking." Here Hemingway is showing that machismo which is coarse or totally insensitive is not a worthy charectaristic. Although Dimaggio is strong and plays through a bone spur and the old man is resolute in over coming every difficulty to kil the Marlin, both these charectors are give a sensitive edge. The old man talks about humility and wonders about the consequences of having this emotion. He decides that this feeling loses no pride. Ultimately I feel that feelings and the fight that man has to go through are the over whelming messages of the book.

The old man... also has beautiful images and throws up lots of questions aboutrole models and determination. I read in one of the reviews that the reviewer wanted snatiago to let the fish go and go back to land! That is totally missing the point. We have to look at santiago and his qualities. Take the arm wrestle he didn't just 'give-up'. All of us can do with some of his determination to be resloute, fear no sacrifice and surmount every difficulty to win victory.

All in all i feel this is a fantasti book that uses some wonderful images. the language, which has caused such a chasm between the reviewers, I feel is beautiful. It is so beautifully simple that hemingway himself considered it the best he had ever and would ever write.

I would like to recommend One hundred years of solitude by gabriel garcia marquez, graham greene, a confedaracy of dunces by john kennedy toole

The Old Man and the Sea was an outstanding book in my opinion. Although short, it had some deeper meaning. One theme I found was: have courage in the face of defeat. Even though the Old man hadn't caught a fish in 72 days he kept trying. The next day geuss what, he caught a huge marlin. He fought with the fish for three days before he killed it. On the way back he had more than just worrying about keeping the fish tied to the boat. I don't want to spoil the ending but I do recommend reading it.

I'm sorry to learn that this book is not available anymore. I learned about Following the Bloom when I read an article about beekeeping in southern California written by Whynott for a San Diego weekly. I read it, loved it, and then ordered several more copies and took them to beekeepers meetings. This book covers an important time in beekeeping, when tracheal mites arrived in this country and when the Africanized bees crossed from Mexico into Texas. It was a difficult time in commercial beekeeping. The author also covered some of the greats in the industry, people such as Horace Bell. But Whynott goes beyond reporting too, and gets into the mystery of the bees, nature's most interesting creature. The review on the back cover of this book has it right, that the author excites our wonder. Anyone interested in bees or the people who keep them for a living should read this fine book. If you can find it. I'm still looking for copies.

Following the Bloom by Douglas Whynott, is a collection of amusing anecdotes of colorful migratory beekeepers and their truck-transported bee-cargo. Doug Whynott hitches a ride and applies his professor quality bee knowledge to the open road. Funny stories, told in a lyrical prose, plus expert information--a book to read and reread and treasure! New England readers may even envision on off-beat winter vacation in the South Carolina sun--as part of the crew.

This book is fascinating, suffering only from being out of date in terms of the new crises in beekeeping. I wish Whynott or someone would revisit the subject of migratory beekeeping. These people drive semis loaded with beehives around the country! It is an adventurous life, to say the least. Whynott tells some wild stories. We owe the migratory beekeepers a lot. This is a quick read, but worth a try if you are at all interested in beekeeping.

As a new beekeeper - or rather, as someone who has a beehive on her property - I have tried this spring and summer to read everything I can about bees and beekeeping. Whynott's stories are fascinating, and the background information provided is helpful even to a hobbyist. High School biology teachers should put this on their students' summer reading list; I know the school I teach at will!

The catcher in the rye is by far, the best novel I've read lately. Not only does it show in a magnific way how tough and funny (in its own way) relationships between teenagers are, but also it desribes every situation as if you were there. It's just amazing and everyone should read it, mostly if you wanna know how a person feels when he's 16. Besides, it's exactly the way I would have written a novel.

Me and my friend Carla just finished reading the book and just think it is great. Of an accessible language, mainly slang, it captures anyone looking for a guide to social training. What we enjoyed most was the range of language but we feel there should be a lot more professional and academic materials with which to learn as, in some countries like Portugal, it is part of the curriculum at certain colleges for those who are studying modern languages and translation.

I read this book in one sitting when I was 15. I was hypnotised by the world of Holden Caulfield. To me he represents the dark side of the teen age mind. Many fail to see the real Holden, passing him off as just another teen-ager when he is in fact a very depressed and mentaly unstable person whose actions and feelings are those of a person suffering from a nevous breakdown. Anyone who has been through a period of mental instability can see the true meaning of the title. When I was 15 I went through a very severe battle with depresson after reading this book I saw the world from a compleatly diferent perspective. It gave me hope and understanding and as is implied in the title it caught me before I went over the edge. I think the reason that this book is so popular is because we are all crazy to some degree and those who criticise the book or dislike it are simply those who cannot accept that part of themselves. As long as there are humans on this earth this book will remain a classic

I didn't read 'Catcher' in high school. However, when I was in high school, a friend of mine claimed that he would introduce himself to girls as Holden Caulfield, and the one who knew who that was, well, he was going to marry her.

I'm now thirty-two, and I just read 'Catcher' for the first time, two weeks ago.

I wrote my Master's Thesis on Twain, primarily on Huck Finn.

I'm glad I read Huck first.

Huck in a 1950's boarding school is an accurate summation of 'Catcher', I think.

I know I'm too old for it, but I was playing a video game on the internet the other day, and a teenager happened to ask if anyone has ever read "Catcher in the Rye?" I said, "Maybe." The teenager (a high schooler made to read the book) then asked: "Why is the main character such a d----bag?"

It sounds something like a previous review here.

If you think Holden is a whiner-- or worse (the same kind of person would also probably think Huck is just a fool)-- then you're either so much like him that it's too painful to recognize it, or you haven't got soul enough (yet, perhaps) to appreciate him.

'Catcher' is an enjoyable read, and very American book, and Salinger owes everything good about his best work to Mr. Mark Twain.

As part of the epic clash between the great cultures of the world, markedly the West and Islam, Westerners have often discredited Islamic civilization's contribution to the global propagation of paper. In his book Paper Before Print, Jonathan Bloom details Islam's contribution to the proliferation of paper from its birth in China and through to Europe. Bloom's argument that Islamic civilization has a major role in the proliferation of paper is extremely plausible and convincing; however, many of his claims about the artistic and intellectual growth resulting from its proliferation are questionably misguided in that they are inferred from Bloom's own logic rather than compelling historical evidence. Nevertheless, Bloom's book makes an interesting reading experience and is very useful in the study of Middle East history.
Bloom's claims about the proliferation of paper through the Muslim world to Europe are both plausible and convincing. He provides an abundance of information and details to prove his points. He details numerous factors, changes, and events, all of which coalesced to create a flourishing of paper throughout the world. His notation of multiple events and his diverse range of evidence converge to form a cogent and logical explanation of the growth of papermaking. The actuality that his claims are based on a variety of different factors make it extremely difficult to refute his argument, since even the successful rebuttal of one or two of his claims would be outshined by a tremendous amount of additional substantiation provided by him.

The subject of the proliferation of paper throughout the world is an extremely important part of Middle Eastern history for a number of reasons. The most simple and obvious of these is that to understand paper is to understand the survival and existence of written records. It is conceivable that in the absence of paper, there would be a significant reduction in written documents that would survive to the present day. Much of the history we know of and study today is derived from primary documents of various time periods. The durability of paper ensures that these documents survive the test of time. Paper is a medium of recording information so that subsequent generations can study the events and tales of that time. Another reason that the study of Islamic civilization's proliferation of paper is important is the increasing acknowledgment of this civilization's achievements among today's scholars. As mentioned by Bloom, many scholars and individuals are reluctant to accept the validity of Islamic civilization as a great and inspirational one. It is important that we understand and value the contribution of Islamic civilization in spreading paper through to Europe and eventually globally, and that we recognize Islamic civilization's impact on the West, especially in a time of increasing hostilities and conflict between the two cultures. If there is ever to be a reconciliation or assimilation of the two cultures, it would have to involve recognition of each other's greatness, if not an outright appreciation and admiration of it. Historical interpretation can be, and often is, the source of many conflicts and death throughout the world. However, it can also serve to advance civilization and bring upon an unprecedented global society in which peace and understanding prevail over war and hatred. Only through understanding the greatness of the various cultures of the world, in addition to their misdeeds, will we be able to improve intercultural affairs and avoid further escalation of violence and hatred.

Jonathan Bloom's book is extremely compelling in its attribution of the proliferation of paper to Islamic civilization. His argument is extremely persuasive and based on good evidence and research. Paper Before Print is interesting, and provides an argument that is seldom discussed in today's history books. The book, however, is not without flaws. Adding to his faulty implications of the proliferation of paper is his incorporation of various uninteresting aspects of the preparation of paper. The book focuses a lot on the manufacture of different kinds of paper, and how it differs from place to place. Although this may be of some interest to such paper-producing corporations as Avery and Kinko's, it is of no interest to me personally. These tedious facts are detrimental to the reader's enjoyment of the book. The book is extremely interesting at times, but it is definitely not captivating. It is very easy to put this book down, and it is quite enjoyable to abstain from reading it for long periods of time. The book is so extremely dry and uninteresting at times, that it may throw the reader into a spiraling descent of deep sleep. It seems somewhat ironic that Bloom, a man who clearly values the contribution of paper to society, would waste so many pieces of it on the dull facts of papermaking. I would not recommend this book to anybody, precisely because a large part of it is unexciting. Rather, I would recommend anybody interested in the subject to visit the historic centers of papermaking mentioned, such as Baghdad, Damascus, Tehran and Cairo. I do realize however, that a trip to these places would require a significant amount of capital. Those who choose to embark on such an enlightening journey may giggle at the thought that the monetary exchange of legal tender for airline tickets is made possible by the contribution of Islamic civilization to the proliferation of paper.

Paper Before Print is very iconoclastic. It suggests the European Renaissance is related to declines in a commodity cost (writing material), rather than the birth of now-familiar geniuses and renewed interest in ancient classics. While the scope of the book outlines a complete history of 'cellulose pulp using people' (paper users), the central theme addresses the cultural transmission of technology. Specifically, it describes the transmission of paper making skills from China to Europe via the Muslim Caliphates. Most of the narrative covers the period between 700 and 1200 AD, but ancient and modern detours intrude regularly. This is entirely appropriate, since most readers will have a difficult time giving credence to commodity prices playing any role in European intellectual development. Bloom seems to have decided to zig-zag back and forth across 3 thousand years of history, hoping to keep the 'big picture' in view.

The book makes an excellent argument for 'cultural' issues dictating technological change. For example, paper emerged in China as a 'wrapping' material. It wasn't until Buddhist influences from India made 'writing' important that it's utility as 'voice recording substrate' was discovered. In other words, until the economic demands for precise and voluminous reproduction of Buddha's voice emerged, 'paper' was only used to bundle things together. The combination of a cultural need (reproducing Buddha's voice) blended with a Chinese skill (making a cheap membrane that happened to soak up ink), what we know as the 'writing' industry never got off the ground. Of real interest is the fact that India ignored the Chinese innovation for 2000 years. Paper was not used frequently there until Muslim culture was imposed on it 2000 years later.

Since Bloom's perspective relies on continually falling paper prices for explaining cultural revolutions, the reader is presented with a sound foundation in the mechanics of paper production. It is advances in these mechanical arts that drives down commodity prices. Equally important are the mechanics of educating 'paper' users and stabilizing an infrastructure for the system's continued existence. In this light, most of Bloom's time is spent describing educational and institutional practices of Muslim bureaucracy. It seems this was a unique interaction between Mediterranean 'mystery writing' (Greek logic plus Jewish/Christian/Muslim truths) and the Chinese (via silk road) paper bureaucracy. Bloom makes it clear that Muslim bureaucracy, and the paper using skills it relied upon, were invented by interaction of Middle East and China. The new technology was not a revolutionary technology discovered when Muslims captured Chinese paper-makers during 8th century military exploits, instead the bureaucratic needs of Muslim authorities saw in 'silk road cellulose membranes' an means to 'better government' during a time when anachronism of Roman government bureaucracy made change (better government) a possibility.

With the expansion of Muslim bureaucracy around the southern half of the Mediterranean basin during the 8th and 9th centuries, paper production skills became available to Germanic peoples of Europe. Unlike the Byzantines to the east, they were less attached to high priced writing membranes such as papyrus and vellum. They showed far less resistance to changing manufacturing and institutional practices. A good example of this is the 11th century 'corporate charter' revolution in Spain. This bureaucratic revolution relied upon cheap paper for incorporating numerous Spanish towns into a cohesive military defense force against Muslims who brought the paper in the first place. At the same time in Byzantium, the institutionalization of vellum record keeping practices retarded development of efficient government practices and an inability to address military threats from the Muslim east.

Bloom goes on to suggest that 3-D perspective as a communication skill emerged as a cultural force only when paper prices and reproduction costs fell to levels where 'mass readership' became possible. Bloom locates this emerging phenomena in the 10th century Caliphates, where mass readership of the Koran was a cultural priority. Bloom goes on to suggest that the Germanic peoples of Europe, who had no institutional focus on reproducing Koran-based beliefs, transmuted the phenomena of 'mass communication' into what we now know as the 'modern world'.

This book was absolutely great. It tells the history of paper before it reached the Christian world. This is the time before the printing press was invented. Paper had just come from China. This book tells about this time that is sometimes forgotten. This book is the best

Paper Before Print is a glorious achievement from all perspectives: historically, culturally, and as an impeccable model of how books of this sort should be presented (though too often they do not). Jonathan Bloom's text is revealing and intellectually stimulating without alienating the average reader. His premise, though not a popular one -- that the Middle East played a far more important role in refining and introducing paper to the West than is usually acknowledged -- carefully unfolds with unassailable research and arguments. The illustrations, mostly early Islamic texts (700s-1300s), are tastefully selected and compliment the text perfectly. The typography, layout, and presentation are superb. Anyone interested in history, art, and printing will profit from having this book on their shelves.

I gave this book only 4 stars because I was disappointed in the pictures of the flowers. I think that the concept of the book is wonderful, but the watercolor pictures were very simple -- you can't really tell what the plants look like. One would definitely be able to use this book to get an idea of what they wanted in the garden when planning, but they would need an additional book with better pictures to really 'see' what the garden will look like.

Overall, I'm very glad I have the book, and it will be a wonderful addition to my gardening library.

I have lived in Texas for 15 years, this is a must have selection for your garden. The Texas flowerscaper gives you great references as well as care for each plant. Also many tips about which plants need alot of water for each region. Excellent book!!

This book is incredibly useful. It tells you everything you need to know and is well illustrated. It shows a close up of the plant and a view of the entire plant. But the best thing is that the pages are split three ways according to the plant's height. So you can mix and match pages to see how different height plants work together. It also has all the information about plants, sun, water, propagation, etc. I recommend this book highly to anyone landscaping in Texas and many of the plants work in other states as well.

High marks for creativity, uniqueness and just plain fun. The book is spiral bound so it will lay flat. This makes it easy to use. More importantly each page has been divided horizontally into three independent sections. The flowers on the top section of the divided page are tall with a height range of 3-6 foot. The flowers in the middle section of the divided page are in the medium height range of 1-3 feet. The flowers on the bottom third of the divided page are of a low height ranging from 1 inch to 1 foot. So by choosing different top, middle and bottom sections you can get an idea of how the staggered heights of the flowers in your bed would appear simultaneously. By flipping back and forth between different choices for the top, middle, and bottom sections (which move independently of one another because of the division into three seperate sections) you can compare various color, height, and texture combinations. Alternatively use it to compare flowers that bloom in the cool season, those that bloom in the warm season, and those that bloom year round and get an idea of how your bed will appear over time as the seasons change.

There are 138 tall, 138 medium and 138 short flowering plants illustrated. Happily this is unique entries, that is, there is not 20 separate entries for tulips. So you are being introduced to many lesser-known varieties of flowering plants for Texas.

The general information is printed on a soothing happy shade of yellow paper. The wording is informative without being dry.

I am not awarding 5 stars for two reasons. First the illustrations are hand painted. While it is great that there is a close up of the bloom, as well as an illustration of the entire plant, this is not as informative as an actual photograph. Secondly because of the split page structure there is only a single paragraph for each plant listing. This leaves out some important information, such as pest problems (I see that disease problems are mentioned.)

I recommend this book for its fun factor. It would make a great gift for any Texas gardener. Give it a try!