Brooks Books

This is a handy, travel sized guide to eating in Peru that greatly enhanced our trip to Peru. There are two excellent glossaries, one for menus with the names of foods in Spanish and in English, and the second listing a number of markets. There are recipes for some typical dishes from different regions in Peru. I especially liked the history of dishes.

Our tour arranged for Sunday dinner at the home of a penal judge and an office manager; the family prepared the meal using many foods grown on their their own farm, and the judge and his law student son ate with us. The menu included guinea pig fried in deep fat served with large kernel white corn on the cob and sweet potato. The second course was braised beef served with carrots, cucumbers, green beans and tomatoes. Dessert was strawberry gelatin. Except for the guinea pig, the meal sounds quite American, but this book added interesting information which helped us understand the seasonings and enjoy the meal more fully.

My son and I are greatly addicted to street food, and the book was helpful on street dining as well. The steamed white corn at the railroad station on the way to Machu Picchu was superb; roasted beef heart at a greasy spoon in Miraflores was excellent; and we were delighted to learn more about the fusion of Chinese and Peruvian foods at the many chifa restaurants.

There are a couple of useful websites that make this book even more useful. The publisher, Gingko Press, maintains a website with news about the authors and other books in the Series. ginkgopress The site announced recently that this book received the 2006 Gourmand Award for Best in the World Award for a culinary travel guidebook. There is also the helpful perufood.blogspot devoted to the foods of Peru; Joan Peterson contributes suggestions on how to find ingredients, and suggests alternatives for those that aren't available in the US.

As a portable guide book on the foods of Peru, this one can't be beat. But,if you are really serious about Peruvian food, consider obtaining the beautiful and encyclopedic The Art of Peruvian Cuisine by Tony Custer. The Reviews on Amazon and elsewhere (including my own) are glowing.

Robert C. Ross 2008

"...picarones, a doughnut-like snack or dessert made from a yeasty pumpkin dough. The rings of dough are formed by hand, deep-fried and served with raw-sugar syrup flavored with orange, aniseed, cinnamon and cloves." ~ pg. 14

The Eat Smart guides are an exploration of cuisine itself and are interesting even if you never reach the desired destination. You can order ingredients online for the recipes featured. There are pictures of delicious cultural favorites, food markets and unique ingredients. Some of the main sections include:

Early History through Pre-Inca Civilizations
The Regions of Peru
Tastes of Peru
Shopping in Peru's Food Markets
Resources
Helpful Phrases
Menu Guide
Food and Flavors Guide
Restaurants

Joan Peterson and Brook Soltvedt also show how various cultures influenced Peru's culinary world and the first part of this book contains a lot of culinary history that may appeal to food writers. Maps and pictures of the food make it easier to understand the cultural significance of food choices.

"Rare is the Peruvian dish that does not include chile pepper. Each river valley oasis along the western slopes of the Andes has a microclimate that produces unique varieties of chile peppers, which are, in turn, completely different from the peppers native to the jungle." ~ pg. 19

Recipes for Rice Pudding look familiar and if you can find gooseberries, you can make the gooseberry marmalade to serve with quinoa crepes.

Other highlights include a section on helpful phrases you can use in restaurants. List of foods like "nuez moscada" have translations, nutmeg. If you order a tortilla, you will get an omelet.

Eat Smart in Peru will appeal to anyone who is curious about new culinary discoveries and wants to either travel to Peru or incorporate new recipes into their cooking repertoire.

~The Rebecca Review

Eat Smart in Peru by Joan Peterson and Brook Soltvedt, Illustrated by Susan Chwae is a travel guide for food lovers which guides the traveler in Peru through the market and the menu in order to have a savory tasting adventure. The unique concept of this book is one of many in the EAT SMART series. The guides include a history of the culture and development of its unique cuisine. There are many recipes sprinkled through the book to try before making your trip to Peru or to enjoy as a special memory after returning. Especially useful is the chapters about shopping in the market with the needed languages phrases.And every traveler to Peru needs this book even if it is just for the restaurant guide which lists the dishes and food items in alphabetical order with descriptions of what it is, with national and regional Peruvian favorites indicated. With this guide you will no longer be ordering mystery foods when you dine. The book is unique and really well organized. Be sure to pack it for your trip!

(Planeta Journal) - This latest title in the Eat Smart series helps travelers decipher menus and shop in the lively markets of Peru. There are so many options for visitors throughout the country, this book is the definitive guidebook for enjoying Peruvian cuisine. Includes tips on shopping in markets, a menu guide, helpful phrases and a list of helpful resources.

People who love combining great food and travel make pilgrimages to Italy's Po Valley, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hanoi, Singapore, France's Lyon, San Francisco, Charleston, New Orleans and other shrines to fine cooking.

Add Peru to the list.

If you aren't aware that Peru has its very own fusion cuisine -- very approximately like that of New Orleans with a blend of Indian, Spanish and African styles -- plus contributions by Chinese and Japanese settlers, Eat Smart in Peru will open your eyes to yet another fine gourmet destination.

Authors Joan Peterson and Brook Soltvedt are way ahead of the curve in discovering Peruvian cuisine. I was only aware of Peruvian chicken, based on a carryout in my neighborhood that serves this dish, cooked on a rotating spit over charcoal, with a rosemary-based spice shoved under the chicken skin, and a fine salsa verde on the side. Peterson and Soltvedt found a vast variety of other dishes, including curries, desserts and appetizers. A section on recipes includes Aji de Gallina, a chicken stew that I plan to try.

In addition to the recipes, Eat Smart in Peru contains a history of the development of Peru's cuisine, a regional specialties chapter, a glossary of ingredients and menu guide.

Finally, Eat Smart in Peru tells you how to shop in a Peruvian market and how to locate rare ingredients stateside. It's an easy read, with nice illustrations and a logical organization.

By the way, the author has done other "Eat Smart" guides to Brazil, Mexico, India, Turkey, Poland and other destinations.

Shipping came within a week, even with the supersaver shipping. would use them again.

This work is the Gold Standard to which all other Exercise Physiology books are measured. I was introduced to the Second Edition of the book in an entry-level class in Graduate school. To this day I find it a necessary reference from my library.

Personally, the most useful information to me is on Energetics as it pertains to athletics, training adaptations, exercise testing and prescription. I use this information to help me decide how to train athletes from different sports. But, there is so much more than that in this book. Metabolism, Ventilation, Heart and Circulation (including CVD) is all covered thoroughly.

I especially like Brooks' approach to physiology. Brooks, likes to examine physiology by studying the rate-limiting processes. And to a coach, like me, finding weakness and improving that weakness is crucial to winning. Another topic I enjoy is Brooks' take on the misnomer of Anaerobic Threshold and Lactic Acid.

It's an extremely well-organized, well-written text. It's easy to read and a challenge at the same time. Brooks makes you think and delivers difficult information in a way that is easier to understand than other textbooks.

Eric Swannie, MA, ATC, CSCS

I would have to agree with most experts in this field, that Brooks did a smashing job when writing this text. His chapters on bioenergetics are superlatively done. Outstanding graphs, analogies ,coupled with an eazy to understand vennacular. The chapter on bioenergetics is extremly lucid when explaining the esoteric aspects of coupled energy metabolism and muscle performance. Brad Nindl from (Penn State University) and Dr. Paul Arciero (Skidmore College) still utlize his text, and often refere to his chapters on energy metabolism and exercise. Many of our lively discussions and research ideas were spurred by Brooks text. Not only does this text service as an outstanding learning tool, when learning the basic concepts of exercie physiology, but acts as a catalyst for innovative ideas for new research. The references are all up to date, providing eazy access to "cutting-edge" researchers. His chapters on cardiovascular physiology are well organized and follow the same lucid format of the previous chapters, however, i wish he included information on the newer developments in cardiovascular physiology and exercise, such as the work being currently conducted on signial transduction and on the dysregualtion of the sacroplasmic reticulum during CHF etc.. Overall i would recommand this textbook to any serious student, scholar, physician or allied health professional who is wishing to futher their understanding of this fastinating subject. I am currently using his text as a major ref. for preparing for part I of the USMLE!! Yours In Great Learning

There's no other quite like it - Brooks' is the best there is...

I received both my B.S., and M.S. in Exercise Biochemistry from Univ. of Mass, and Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, respectively. My former advisor studied under Brooks at Berkely (He received his Doctorate there). In any event the approach our department undertook towards exercise biochemistry/physiology was at the cell and molecular level. Brooks text was central to the program. What is great about the book, is that it explains complicated biochemical processes in easy to understand language and places it in the context of applied physiology. The book stacks up to classic texts like Molecular Biology of the Cell (Albert, Bray, Lewis), and many of the classic biochemistry texts. In my opinion it is far superior to texts by McArdle & Katch, or Textbook of Work Physiology (author escapes me, for now).

A masterful guide to the Gettysburg battlefield. I took several books on my trip to Gettysburg earlier this year but this was the only one I carried on the battlefield. It is organized around the tour stops, but also contains several side trips to lesser known areas, and simply tells you all you need to know about the events in that area at the time of the battle. It contains several maps and the directions it provides to areas on the battlefield are concise and easy to follow. If you wish to seriously tour Gettysburg National Park, this book is essential.

I recently took a trip to Gettysburg (my 3rd) and carried this tour guide for the 1st time. It is far and away the best experience I've had seeing the battlefield. It follows the battle chronologically and offers several sites and insights not offered on the audio tours available at the local shops. Many of the stops are multifaceted. At several points the stops feature 7 to 10 asides which often involve only a minor shift in position to point out various phases of the battle. It includes a side trip to the cavalry field which I've never run into on the audio tours. The driving directions are easy to follow but do veer from the order of the Military Park brochure and the audio tours to give greater detail to the battle. The book says to allow for 6 hours-it's more like 10 hours to give time for exploring beyond some of the "stand here and turn left" instructions. 11 hours total if you include a break for lunch. We started at nine on one morning, toured until about 4 with a break for lunch and finished the following day. Sites included on the audio and Park tours tend to start getting crowded from 11 to 3, so this will add to the tour time depending on time of year and crowd. To sum it all up and paraphrase a popular commercial-when going on a tour of Gettysburg-"Don't leave home without it!"

I grew up near Gettysburg & have been there numerous times. I just spent 2 days there with this book on the battlefield--this book made the battle crystal clear! I ran out of time exploring the battlefield (it takes more than the 6 hours described in the book--my only criticism). This book brings the battle to life and explains the terrain like never before. I learned a lot about the battle that I never knew and many components of the battle came into focus in new and exciting ways. In particular, this book does a good job on overviews of each day and with it's clear directions, leads the reader through each stop--I really felt as if I had an expert by my side explaining all the facets of each aspect of the battle. Along the way, everything was just as the book described. The maps were excellent & it's nicely complimented with various portraits of leaders, common soldiers, etc. The guide brings the 3 days together as a cohesive whole. This is the book to get if you're going to visit Gettysburg; forget all the others.

I now live near Chickamauga and I plan on getting their book on that battle!

An excellent, well-written guidebook and the best I've seen on the subject. I carried this book on my first visit to Gettysburg in Spring 2001, and it greatly enhanced the experience. The directions are clear and up to date, and the text is precise and detailed enough to be compelling without trying to be an exhaustive treatment of every minute detail. If used as a companion to an actual visit, I would strongly recommend reading the book in advance of your visit, then bringing it with you for reference. There are only a few very minor faults I might find with this guidebook. On the maps, it would be helpful to have present-day landmarks indicated in some way to help with orientation. Also, the book suggests the full tour can be completed in six hours, but in my experience to make all the stops and fully enjoy it you'd need at least a full day, or preferably two. You'll want to leave some time for reflection at such places as McPherson's Ridge, Little Round Top, the High Water Mark, and others to think about the enormity of what occurred on that ground.

Read this book and you'll come away with a good working knowledge of the three-day battle. Highly recommended!

I've lived and/or worked in Gettysburg for almost twenty-five years, and I've been on the battlefield hundreds of times. But I can honestly say that I never really had a good appreciation for what happened there until I got my hands on Grimsley's and Simpson's guide. It's completely user-friendly.

For each of the places it highlights, the guide includes:

(1) Driving instructions to each site.

(2) An extremely useful orientation section telling you what's on your left, on your right, in front of you, etc. (For example, for Barlow's Knoll, the Orientation is this: "As you face west, the town of Gettysburg is due left of you; Oak Ridge and Oak Hill are straight ahead, as is Carlisle Road in the middle distance.") For those battlefield visitors who don't think to bring a compass with them, this kind of information is worth its weight in gold.

(3) An historical description of what actually happened during the battle at the site.

(4) A "Vignette," which provides one or two eyewitness accounts pertinent to the site.

(5) A tactical analysis of what happened at the site.

The maps are excellent, the layout of the text is convenient and easy to follow, and there's an informative appendix on "Organization, Weapons, and Tactics." Moreover, the East and South Cavalry Battles are included in the guidebook, and the description of Farnsworth's deadly charge in the latter is the best I've ever read.

Highly recommended for both the beginner and the seasoned Gburg afficionado.

By the way, for those who don't know it, co-author Mark Grimsley's The Hard Hand of War (1997) really is one of the best books on the Civil War written.

I first saw this beautiful poster framed, hanging outside a restaurant bathroom as I waited in line. I began reading and became so engrossed following the paths of lineage and interconnections of myths I have savored since childhood that I allowed three people to go ahead of me as I continued to study the chart. I was so happy to find it available on amazon at a very reasonable price. My own copy now hangs in a prominent place in my high school English classroom, and just like it drew me in to study, I now happily see that it holds the same power over so many of my students.

This enormous Wall Chart is a "Must Have" for any scholar of classical literature and mythology, as well as anyone who just loves reading Classical Myths and stories of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. The artwork is superb, as are the detailed references and "nexi" that are drawn between the various figures of Classical Mythology--both famous and not so well known! The visual impact of this Wall Chart allows one to understand that complex system of mythology and beliefs that described the world of the Ancients. This is the best Wall Chart of any kind that has been created on any subject both Ancient and Modern. If you wish to hang it in an open space, just ensure that you have a suitable and sizable wall on which to place this wonderful chart.

I first saw this chart on my Greek professor's wall and was stunned by it. So much information, and very clear diagrams indicating the relationships of all the gods. This is a must for any mythology enthusiast.

Word Ninja

This book is simple to read and fun! If you need Greek Myths for refrence, this is the book! It is one of the best. It is also a book for all ages. My two sons thought the book was great! And so do I! From a big Fan of Amazon, Jeanie L.

I was not disappointed by this wallchart in the least. It has so much information, and really presents the relationships among gods, humans and other beings very well. These relationships are so intertwined and tangled that I doubted whether they could be clearly presented. This chart does. (Now if only the type were just a little larger.)

Before I read this book the complicated art of mixing drinks simply made my head spin. All those gadgets and gizmos, LORDY. Now I have it all...a career and the ability to please a house full of freeloaders while wearing heels and burning my bra.

What a cool, fun book! I picked this book up as a bachelorette gift for a friend and was not disappointed. What a hoot! I loved the titles of the cocktails, and it was fun to read the descriptions of the recipes and the background of each. The colorful pictures really added to the book, and the information regarding garnishes, infusions, and syrups was excellent.

Some of our favorites included: Silky Stockings, Hot Lips, Choco Locos, Creamsicle Margarita, Bad Hair Day Blaster, and Power Shower Punch. Enjoy!

OK so maybe I like to wear high heels every once in a while, but that's not the only reason why I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The simple and articulate writing, the flow of the layout from page to page and the tasteful vintage-like illustrations makes this book a really great gift or just to own for yourself.

Here are a few reasons why I love this book.

#1 It looks a lot cooler than having the Sports Illustrated (Swim Suit edition) laying around.
#2 It shows that I am sensitive to certain women's issues.
#3 I finally learned how to make a decent drink.
#4 It impressed all my gay friends as well as my female friends and left all my buddies wondering (gotta love that!)
#5 It shows how I can be in touch my feminine side.

Highballs High Heels is for everyone to anyone.
A beautiful book with a very practical nature.
Do not let the title fool you.

My favorite parts of the book are the very retro names for the majority of the drinks. I am a fresh and new martini drinker and my boyfriend bought this book for me. Some of the drinks are familiar but tagged with different names many others are different and unheard of. This book outlines the necessities you'll need to get started. But Even for the novice martini drinker (like myself), you'll me mixing and shaking like a pro in no time.

"Highballs High Heels" is what it says: a smart, witty cocktail guide for girls (and the authors mean anyone female, not just the young 'uns). I own this book and "Atomic Cocktails" by the same writers, and both are terrific, but "Highballs" is funkier and less basic, though still very easy to use. "Highballs" is not exclusively for women, but then, neither is "When Harry Met Sally"- it's just unlikely that men will have the same appreciation for these that we do. With recipes like Minivan Mom Meltdown Mixer and Shirley Temple's Evil Twin, these recipes are as much fun to read as they are to make. The graphics are so cool that it practically qualifies as a coffee-table book. "Highballs in High Heels" is now the first book I grab when I have the yen for a cocktail- you really can't go wrong.

What a great book, Was recommended to me by a high school teacher saying she had learned so much from the book and wanted every student she had to read it. I agree. It would make our young people so understand what we are facing as a nation . It is also a great read as well as a marvelous learning experienc.

Post-9/11 Syria is a conflicted place. No one is sure who to trust, who might be working for the government, or who might come to arrest you with no notice and seemingly no reason. Seventeen-year-old Nadia is conflicted as well, about her more Westernized friends and family members and the economic and social hardships her country is facing. Every day there is more news about bombings. Nadia and her cousins must be careful when they go out, because being caught without identification could have serious repercussions.

The one stable thing in Nadia's life is her devotion to Islam. She believes in a modern education and wants to go on to university to study medicine rather than marry young and raise a family immediately. By wearing the hijab and acting modestly, as she thinks a proper Muslim woman should, she believes she is living her life in the best way she can. All around her, however, people who share her ideas on Islam are being arrested, thrown in prison and tortured, including her cousin Fowzi. While other members of her family are focused on dismal job prospects, unhappy marriages and their potential for study in Switzerland, Nadia is looking for a way to avenge Fowzi's unlawful arrest and stand up for Muslims all over Syria.

Nadia's opportunity comes in the form of a young man named Walid, who is sympathetic to Nadia's more fundamentalist Muslim beliefs. He leaves her mysterious notes, organizing their rendezvous all over Damascus. Even though they must talk in secret and often don't get much time to speak, Nadia quickly falls for Walid's ideas, more like her own than her family's. Walid, like Nadia, is sure that America is full of many evil, materialistic people who believe their television sets and Pepsis are more important than tolerance and equality.

Although her cousin Bassam, back in Syria after years in America, tells her otherwise, Nadia can't believe his stories. She knows she has to take it upon herself to stand up for the Muslims of Syria, and is willing to do so in one of the most extreme ways possible. As she assembles a list of goods dictated by Walid, Nadia is sure she's doing what is right. But will she have the strength to follow the jihad plan to the end?

Although Nadia's religion, home and way of life may be something you've never experienced firsthand, or even read about, you will find Nadia to be a compelling, multifaceted character. She always believes that she is doing the right thing, and even when met with opposition from her cousins about her religious beliefs, she holds her ideals tightly, trusting that Islam is the way for her family members to achieve happiness and a good life. The important topics of life in the modern Middle East and Islamic fundamentalism are brought to light in a detailed narrative that will make you think about what it means to stand up for what you believe in.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Webber

... and it won't be hard to get them into this story.

I tore through In The Name of God as a reader first, led effortlessly by Paula Jolin's suspenseful plot, vivid characters, and fascinating details about teen life in Syria. Afterwards, though, the buried high school teacher in me came roaring to life, keeping me up late with ideas about how to use this book like mad in the classroom.

We'd read the book, for example, and then my students would pick three historical events in the last fifty years and describe them first in the voice of Nadia, and then through the eyes of an American teen who joins the Marines to fight terrorism. Or I'd get the kids discussing what they might be willing to die for and why. And so on ... how Jolin manages to create a sympathetic suicide bomber in the making is a literary study in itself.

17-year-old Nadia lives in Damascus, Syria, in a two-bedroom apartment with her mother and her brother. Every day the war seems to move closer, every day the poverty seems to get a little bit worse, every day Nadia sees everyone moving further from the God she knows, and every day Nadia gets more angry. When her cousin is taken to places and torture unknown, Nadia knows it's time to take a stand. But how? And why does no one else understand?

Her family can't seem to give her the answers that she needs. Lately they almost seem afraid of her. The only person who seems to understand is the mysterious rebel who appears with cryptic messages. With each meeting with this man, Nadia is more and more sure that he has the right idea. With his help she will finally be able to make her stand, as God intended.

This was a book that I desperately wanted to read, and was terrified of, all at the same time. I wasn't sure what I would come across, but I knew it was going to be important somehow. And it was, but not in the way that I expected.

One of the most important things I took from IN THE NAME OF GOD is that religious zealotry doesn't have to be a quick, dramatic event. It can be a slow, building descent, full of little moments that may not seem too consequential until you add them all together. Involved in it is a strong desire to do right, to fix things, to make things better, and to make a statement. You can't hate Nadia for believing so strongly, and for wanting to make a difference, as much as you hope that she changes her path.

Another thing that I found particularly telling was a moment when a friend of a cousin says he lived in the U.S. One of Nadia's cousins asks if he lived in New York or Hollywood. At first it was kind of funny, until I thought about it. Are those the only faces our country presents to the outside world? After that was more discussion about the perceptions of life in America versus the reality. Which was enlightening to say the least. If for no other reason than these, we need more books like this in the world. Maybe if there were, we would all be a bit more understanding.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

Paula Jolin has written an important book about making choices. Nadia is at once familiar and different. Different for the obvious reasons - she lives in Damascus, she's a Syrian Muslim. Jolin paints a picture of this particular family, peppered with a rich cast of characters. Although I had trouble at the very beginning keeping track of all the cousins, I knew each and every one of them well by the end of the book. The characters were authentic, never wholly good or bad, always a blend of the two, just like real folks.

Nadia is familiar. She's a typical teenager who thinks about her future (she wants to become a doctor), her values (she's a devout Muslim) and has good and bad times with her family. I thought her quite resourceful, given her restrictions (by her culture and her values) as she ducks in and out of buses and movie theatres to contact a revolutionary.

Nadia's transformation from devout to fanatic is believable. She's young, she's impressionable, and I feared for her. Nadia's desire to do the right thing drives this story. Jolin's debut novel offers great insight into how a person could be convinced to do almost anything, include killing themselves ... In the Name of God.

I am sure this book will provoke many thoughtful discussions amongst our teens.

Whether a child, parent, or first time coach with no prior knowledge, this book is the perfect introduction to children's soccer. Add your league specifics and develop technically as you go. A first, must read.

This book provides a brief introduction to soccer, at the right level of detail for those new to the game. My 11-year-old son found the summary of the rules and strategies quite helpful. As a new coach, I was glad to have a compact volume that included most of what I needed to know. There are other books that provide more detail on the game and more exercises and drills for soccer players -- but this is the ideal "first book" for someone just learning about the game. I recommend it highly.

I am the first time coach of a second grade boys soccer team. This book was very easy to understand for the kids as well as myself. For kids that are relatively new to the game it explains positions, the different kinds of kicks and the all around basics of soccer without getting too technical. It has been a great aid for our team.

As a long time recreation coach and soccer parent, Brooks Clark offer the side of the game perfect for all coaches just starting out, or for any parents who know little about the game their children are playing. Concise and fun, a great read for the basic rules and strategies of soccer.

I read this book and now I feel all the more confident while training my son and his friends. I can explain them about the basics and the game and how to plan their game. Tecnicalities of the game are exaplined well in this book. Go ahead and buy this book to learn the basics of this game.

I really liked this story. It is funny and exciting. I especially liked the part when the spiders give Spike and Pirate spider web-like hairdos.I recommend this story to all kids.

This is one of the best books!! I really love it! Mrs. Estell is an amazing author, I can't wait until the next book. I am going to go to the fair in Florida where she is going to show her book! I can't wait!!!

A joy to read!! I like the raindrops , Spike and Pirate. I also like the part when Spike and Pirate try to get some insects and animals and the spiders make them spider web hair-dos!!!!!!

A joy to read! I like the raindrops , Spike , and Pirate. I also like the part when Spike and Pirate try to capture some animals and insects. My favorite part is when the spiders spin web hairdos in their hair! I hope you read Magic Farm soon!

It's about time someone wrote a book that captivates the imagination and interest of young and old alike without being gory! From friendly animals to secret labs it's the kind of book my grandkids did not want to put down. I also found it to be educational. Questions at the end of the book set a child's imagination in motion.

I read this book many years ago and had very fond memories of it...started looking for a copy and bought one via Internet several months ago.
This book would make a lovely "period" piece of a movie. The book has so much to say about being open to new experiences and respect for other cultures--wonderfully nuanced as to the different points of view of the characters--and it is such a sweet love story.
Just saw Frances McDormand's new movie yesterday Miss Pettigrew lives for a day--which has much the same light-weight world within a bubble atmosphere and was totally enjoyable because it was so well done...
McDormand produced it so you know it was book she fell in love with--no studio would have touched it otherwise and married to the Cohen god she has lots of arms to twist ...

wish someone with that same type of clout would discover Miss One Thousand Spring Blossoms...

This is a wonderful love story about a beautiful geisha and an 'everyman' (who considers himself an utter failure with women). After that it is a terrific story of the initial clash of two cultures, with people (from both) having misconceptions and prejudices about the other. In the end just about every character realizes how wrong those initial ideas were and that an open mind is a pretty valuable commodity. [Would love to see this turned into a really good movie...with Russell Crowe or Ioan Gruffudd perhaps as Richard Seaton? (It would have to be set in the '60s - before computers, world travel became so common and when isolationism was the norm in the US).] One of my favorite books, to be reread often.

As beautiful a book as its title. If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, you will love this.

It is simpler and sweeter and possibly much more memorable than Geisha, more haunting.

I wish it were more widely known so I could reminisce about it with friends. I'm happy it is not because it remains a delicate memory.

John ball has done great job in narrating the experience of an American facing the Japanese culture with the fine tunes of romance woven in it. The characters of people are nicely built. The description of Japanese culture is excellent. The author has dealt the realationship with Richard and Miss One thousand spring blossoms with great sensitivity and very realistically. The supporting characters play a very strong but subtle role in bulding the story. A great reading.... Really a master piece from a great story writer. A Must read.

This is one of my all time favorite books. The descriptions of the cultures coliding are wonderful. The characters all grow and learn from each other. Richard learns to like himself and to enjoy the differences between life in Japan and Boston. The description of Richard's first experience in the Japanese bath totally describes the feelings of being overseas, alone, and totally confused.

My experiences as a US Army family member in Japan were good and my memories are happy ones. This book reminds me of all the reasons I fell in love with the country and it's gentle people.

This is a wonderful love story.

Everyone's favorite witch is back, and the many fans of author Barbara Brooks Wallace are welcoming Miss Switch's return with open and eager arms.
Written with Ms. Wallace's usual wit, charm and impeccable plotting, the story reunites young Rupert P. Brown III with his former school teacher, that most admirable witch, Miss Switch, about whom he says, "Once you've had the best, nothing else is ever going to seem that good."
The same can be said for Ms. Wallace's book. In an age of heavy, morbidly serious children's fantasy, MISS SWITCH ONLINE comes as a welcome breath of fresh air, jiggling the reader's funny bone and charming a new generation of children looking for a good read and a good laugh.
Don't miss this one. It's a winner.

I like stories where I could be the main character, like Rubert in this book. Rubert doesn't have magic powers and I don't have them. If Rubert did he wouldn't need Miss Switch. I wish I had a teacher like Miss Switch. She is scary and funny. This book is fun and I am telling my friends about it.

Snap, crackle, pop! Sharp, prickly (but with a heart of gold) Miss Switch is back at last! It's been too many years since she first appeared, but what's a few years to a witch once condemned to sweep Witch's Mountain for one hundred fifty
years? The crazy computowitch returns, but this time as wicked Saturna's web site computowitch.com. Rupert P. Brown again humorously records the story in his journal, but make no mistake about it, he hasn't a magic (or scientific) power to his name, and considers himself lucky to have Miss Switch around to save his skin, and that of his whole class at Pepperdine Elementary School. This book is as funny as the first two! I hope that Rupert doesn't wait one hundred fifty years, give or take, to record another encounter with the fantastic Miss Switch.

This long-awaited third installment of the Miss Switch series is sure to please old fans and new. This time Rupert and Miss Switch (disguised as a substitute teacher) take on the evil witch Saturna who's spreading her nasty schemes through the Internet. Pure light-hearted fun guaranteed to make kids laugh (especially during the Romeo and Juliet scene: "I didn't come here to get insulted...I came here to woo"), MISS SWITCH ONLINE rules!

My children (and I!) once all enjoyed THE TROUBLE WITH MISS SWITCH and MISS SWITCH TO THE RESCUE so much I was happy to learn of the new book, MISS SWITCH ONLINE. I gave copies to my grandchildren, and they LOVE it! They think this is a "really, really funny" book. They dislike writing letters, but thought everyone should be told about this new Miss Switch book, in case they haven't already heard about it. I suggested thaat I might write a letter for them, which, as all can see, I have!