Chang Books

I bought this book as a gift for a friend but when I took it home and read it, I couldn't bear to part with it so I went back and bought another copy. Now, a year later, I've discovered the book again, in a less frenzied time.

Reading it is like returning to the comfort of childhood when stories were read to us in soothing tones. And, every few pages, there is a treasure to discover, a gift, a surprise, (the one we always waited for when our parents returned from a trip!)

This book will relocate the kind and gentle memories lost in the embers of a despondent heart.

I bought this book as a gift for a friend but when I took it home and read it, I couldn't bear to part with it so I went back and bought another copy. Now, a year later, I've discovered the book again, in a less frenzied time.

Reading it is like returning to the comfort of childhood when stories were read to us in soothing tones. And, every few pages, there is a treasure to discover, a gift, a surprise, (the one we always waited for when our parents returned from a trip!)

This book will relocate the kind and gentle memories lost in the embers of a despondent heart.

L. Rizo

If you are looking for a book just to look at, this is it. It will inspire you to create. If you are looking for a story-line, keep looking!

I purchased this book because it was so beautiful when I flipped thru it (and on sale). It is most unique though; some pages hold little trinkets like miniature envelopes with letters inside. Although the story was slightly interesting and ends like a fairy tale, this is a purchase more for the beauty of the book, rather than the actual content. I would give the book four stars for its beauty alone, but I didn't want the Amazon rating to be misleading in how it's ranked. A great item for the coffee table.

The Secrets of Pistoulet is an uplifting, tactile creation of recipes, illustrations and humor, all bound together by a dynamite cover. This book is as much a pleasure to give to others as it was to receive.

LOVE this book. I was so tired of searching for decent baby books for single parent 'family' and this has been so wonderful.

I ordered this for my friend who is having a baby. Things fell out bad with the baby's father and I needed something that wouldn't make her leave pages blank, and later wouldn't bring up odd questions when it was bestowed on her son. The poems are a bit cheesey, but it's about babies, so that is expected. I think a little too much time is spent on the parent and their family, and also, for something that's supposed to cover 5 years, it's a thin book (I think some things are missing). I recommend it though! These things are minor, and I'm very happy with my purchase!

The reviewer C Kiernan didn't understand the the section of My Parents was for the MOTHER'S parents! The single mother (presumably) has a father, who is the child's GRANDFATHER and should be included in the family history.
Tthis is a LOVELY book, entirely appropriate for a single parent. My daughter & I love to page through the book together.

In this day and age I had expected to find more 'single parent' baby books! But, this is the only one I saw for my son, 3 years ago... Not a Problem, as this book is perfect! So good in fact, I am here to buy another one for my daughter (on the way). I didn't even try to find any others this time... This book has all the same stuff as a 'traditional' baby book - just in a single parent format so you're not forced to leave lots of blanks! Cute illustrations and very nice wording - appropriate for a boy or girl. I'm very happy to have 'found' it again!

I ordered this book for a female friend who is a single mother. She has adopted a child from China and, although there are a lot of books directly related to this type of adoption, there are very few that don't include something about the adopting father. I was very disappointed when I received this book. There is an entire section dedicated to "My Parents" with a line to be filled in for "My father's name", "My father worked as" and "What I treasure most about my father is....". The description of the book lead me to believe that this book was strictly about the child and the mother.

This is a great book to read.
Kevin is a cousin to a relative of mine in the UK .
I am taking it to her to read also.
Love it very easy to read and ever so interesting

Kevin Kent, wrote novel Nanking, based on a true story about Minnie Vautrin, an American missionary and educator to China at the Rape of Nanking 1937. He was feverish in telling the story with a note: Though based on historical events, many characters are fiction and created to enhance the story. However, the historical content must remain accurate. It was obvious that Kevin did not do his homework well.
As a Minnie Vautrin Scholarship Committee Member and Coordinator of St Louis Alliance for Preserving the Truth of Sino-Japanese War, I want to comment on the inaccuracies among others for the record with special reference to the scholarly history book "The American Goddess at the Rape of Nanking, the courage of Minnie Vautrin, by Dr Hua-ling Hu,
1. In the FORWARD,. . . with the rise of Sun Yat-sen and his son-in-law, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek ... Both married the famous Soong sisters and they were brother-in-law.
2. 1916 was the first year Minnie became Ginling's educational director and she built the girl's college in Nanking (p.10,11). Minnie did not join Ginling until 1919 and Ginling was not built by Minnie but by five missionary boards in 1915 Hu's book p.10-20.
3. Nanking, a fishing village (p.28), sleepy trading town (p.65). Nanking, formerly known as Ginling was the capital of six dynasties.
4. Minnie Vautrin a petite woman. Based on the photos on Hu's book, she did not fit the petite size.
5. Minnie Vautrin went back to Secor, Illinois. According Dr Hu's book, in 1920's, the entire Vautrin family has moved to Shepherd, Michigan and no immediate family members remained in Secor. When Minnie came back from China in May 1940, she was escorted to enter a psychopathic hospital in Iowa City and then to Mafia, Texas and finally to Indianapolis. She never returned to Secor and was buried in Shepherd Michigan.
6. Confucius was a famous poet (p129). Confucius was honored as a teacher and philosopher with no known poetry work.
7. Minnie was armed with a pistol (p.172). There was no record of her weapon possession and violence. It was her Tao of virtue in peace over violence, weak over strong, hope over despair and humanity over cruelty.
8. A Taoist loved her Buddha and the learned aphorisms of Confucius (p.233) It is an error expression to mix the philosophies of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
9. The 200,000 + accounted for in this Japanese document did not include ... (p.321). This document is in Chinese.
Kent's sensational and bloody novel mixing real with fiction characters would confuse and mislead readers as to what really happened in Rape of Nanking and the courage of Minnie Vautrin. Interested readers in her real life are strongly advised to check my suggested books list. He spent many pages on the fiction but failed to cover Minnie's program and effort for the welfare of refugees. This hastely made novel with typos may be Kent's way to talk about Minnie Vautrin but it does not give truth nor do justice to her, John Magee and George Fitch and others. Kent writes with history in his veins, his heart and his soul (Back Cover). However, the Minnie Vautrin created through his mind and fabricated in the book was a petite American Mid-west woman who loved God, had gun and would kill - a strange and dangerous combination and misconception, contrary to the caring and loving American lady respected as the Goddess of Mercy so fondly remembered and honored by the citizens of Nanking.

Will the real Minnie Vautrin please stand up!

Nanking is a profoundly powerful story about an American hero who stands proud in the face of mortal danger. It is a haunting portrait of an event that seems to have been deleted from the history books. I had never heard of Minnie Vautrin or of any American hero saving 10,000 lives in China. I read Shindler of course, but I had to wonder why was all this important Chinese American history buried?

The novel is a well-paced work of literature. In the beginning, (while the exposition and back story are cunningly pieced together) it reads a bit slower than I might have expected. This was because the first section is composed of historical set-up which I for one appreciated. It definitely shows Kent's comfort in the historical genre.

Once the story exploded into action, Nanking becomes a page turner in the truest sense, a novel that I had a hard time setting down. I felt like I was witnessing and living history rather than reading about it. Kent paints a beautiful and haunting, if at times brutal, portrait of war torn China.

It was stated quite clearly that Nanking the novel is historical fiction, but the fictional elements are woven so tightly into the story, creating a sense of wholeness that many historical novels lack. Kent has managed to illuminate a period of time that I knew nothing about and has done it in a way that will stick with me for a long, long time. Whether you are a student of history or just someone looking for a good read, I highly suggest this one.

I couldn't put this book down. Kevin Kent has written a tribute to an American herione who saved 10,000 lives during the siege of Nanking. His fictionalization of the storyline seems plausible. He intertwines fiction with fact beautifully. I highly recommend this as a satisfyingly good read.

Part of Nanking's story is the horror of the events themselves. The other part is that no one seems to know about it. How could this shocking portion of recent history have been omitted from our history classes? Its secret is coming out... as are so many others we are discovering that have been carefully swept under the rug until now.

Kevin Kent's telling of this utterly wrenching, horrific slice in history is one part passionate historian... and one part brilliant storyteller. That latter is key; because it allows the former's message to come through in no uncertain terms. This story needs and deserves to be told - yet the events and facts are harsh, brutal and incomprensibly inhuman. The scale of it is staggering; in numbers, far greater than the number of Jews annihilated in Nazi Germany. In brutality, probably on a par. But our media-saturated American culture mostly hasn't even heard of this broad-stroke genocide... and I'm betting wouldn't be willing to sit down and read a stark, historical account of it.

Enter Kevin Kent. His superb storytelling abilities present Nanking's story within a deeply human context. Giving us the grand scale picture in no uncertain terms; but also bringing it home to us through the eyes of people - some real, some fictional - that we come to know, understand and care deeply about. In turn, it sparks an interest in knowing more about Nanking and this portion of history which may have been ignored in America... but it truly affects us to this day.

Kent calls it a "novel based on a true story".
Minnie Vautrin was in fact, a real person... one whose accomplishments are astounding. In my book, she's a true American hero. It's hard to imagine a selflessness and caring for others in today's culture that could rival hers. Right there, it makes her story one that should be told over and over again. There are other people in the book who were real too - and some that weren't. Yet they all weave togther, make sense and matter intensely as they spring to life amidst events that are indeed heartbreakingly true on the pages of "Nanking".

As I read this book, it played on the screen of my mind like a feature film. Powerful, technicolor images... a gorgeous land, filled with fascinating people... events that stagger the mind... involving people whose love, caring and passion I'll never forget.

Nanking.
Its story should NOT be forgotten.
Thanks to Kevin Kent... perhaps it never will.

Written about one hundred years after the events 2kYs ago, it is less far from the truth than fanciful stories of later times. And much more enciting, exciting, alive. Depressing as well if you like, as you could only change the names and get a rather accurate description of the feuds and cruelties during the crusades or even Saddam Hussein & Co.

This book is a useful accompaniment to A Thousand Pieces of Gold (Adeline Yen Mah). I purchased this book because of the constant referral to it by Yen Mah. If you enjoy historic novels of gigantic proportions then I would recommend this book.

Sima Qian has the distinction of being almost an eye-witness to all the events in the life of the greatest emperor of China. Qin united China, had the Terra Cotta army and grounds constructed and started the Great Wall of China. Here's a book that tells you exactly who he was and what happened to this troubled genius.

Sima Qian was appointed grand historian of the Emperor Wu's court in 108 B.C. In his Records of the Grand Historian he describes the events which he witnessed or heard of that occurred during his lifetime, which offers the modern historian a fairly accurate account of a contemporary historian of the Han Dynasty. He composed his records from conversations he had with courtiers. In addition, he also consulted a plethora of documents and files which were stored in the palace as well as having had the ability to interview generals which enabled him to comment on the military institutions of the Han Dynasty.
Sima Qian had the ability to accompany the emperor on his visits to the provinces where he was able to record the "barbarian" tribes and lands which were brought under Han rule by Emperor Wu. In Sima Qian's records we also have evidence of the penal system and the conditions in the prison system. Qian wrote very detailed descriptions of these penal conditions for he had an intimate experience with them, having been punished for his "attempting `to deceive the emperor'" (xii). He was accused of using "veiled" words in his description of Emperor Wu, which was Qian's way of criticizing the emperor using language and words that were not outright critical, but inferred disapproval of the emperor and his actions.
The purpose of his official history is to record things so that the people who will be reading the history will be able to understand their past. This need to understand where one comes from helps states and individuals determine how and why they got to where they are. He organizes his accounts thematically, he discusses the military, generals, and he offers a geographic and ethnographic account of the peoples in the various "barbarian" provinces as well. He repeats himself often in order to get a certain point across.
The second way in which official histories are used is that they teach people important lessons. As Thucydides articulated in his Peloponnesian Wars Book I:
It will suffice if my work is judged useful by those who wish to gain a precise understanding of past events because, due to human nature, such events, or ones resembling them, will occur again at some time in the future (Thucydides, 1.22.4)
Basically, if you don't understand or study history, and the mistakes that were made in the past, then you are doomed to repeat them. He is very detailed in his descriptions because the more detailed a history is then the more accurate it appears to be by those who read it.
In contrast to Tacitus, the Roman historian who wrote about the Roman frontier, Sima Qian's descriptions of the barbarians occupying the Han frontier lands is more accurate, possibly because he was able to actually visit and see "first-hand" these barbarians whom he writes about, whereas, much of Tacitus' description came from second-hand sources, and usually merely stereotypical.
As an official history of the Han Dynasty, this book serves its purpose. It allows modern historians a semi-accurate look at what life was like along the borders of Han China. As a source, Sima Qian has recorded a history which makes a valiant attempt at staying clear of certain stereotypes which other historians such as Tacitus could not avoid, that of the uncivilized "barbarian". Rather, Qian's description of the frontier peoples is written from the barbarian perspective, therefore more reliable.

Good, readable translation of the authentic source material on ancient China. Nearly complete text (skips a few boring parts). It's worth it for Sima Qian (aka Ssu'ma Chien)'s story alone: imperial historian who offends the emperor but chooses not to do the honorable thing (aka commit suicide) so he can finish his book. That's perserverance.

Required reading for freshmen entering SUNY Geneseo in preparation for an Adirondack Adventure. Bought this version after inadvertantly getting an abridged Walking.

Short little essay by Henry David Thoreau about nature. Writer teaches us that simple walking can awake awareness about animals, trees and flowers around us. It is meditation on connection between wildlife and men, development of civilization from nurture thru nature and men's appreciation of the world outside of human villages and societies. It is amazing to read this piece that was created by a writer who died in 1862. With environmentlist movement of today, it is refreshing to find a piece by one of the early nature writers that teaches us to appreciate world we are born into. Thoreau teaches us to surrender to the world that has been in existance long before humans came to occupy it. While he is aware of limited ability of older men to sustain themselves in widerness, to him it is incomprehensible how women can live in confinment of the domestic life. I became interested in this writer after watching the film "Into the Wild", Now that I read this little piece, I understand how someone young and impressionable can fall under the spell of Thoreau's words about nature and the beauty of it, especially on the west side of the hemisphere.

ok it's old english, but it's classical masterpiece.
i recommend it to anyone that enjoy and dream of nature and the wild.

The words of Thoreau are familiar to all those who have experienced life in the woods. His philosophies and observations are just as relevant today as they were when he first wrote them. In more eloquent words Thoreau explains how In the woods and wild places we find fuel for the soul. Without them we become stagnant in physicality and mentality. I recommend this book to anyone interested in conservation.

More than any book, this argues for experiencing nature and preserving wilderness. Thoreau himself saw that fewer passenger pigeons were visiting and even then was aware of threats. Though first spoken in lectures on 1851, and 1856-1857, and published in June 1862 Atlantic Monthly, a month after his death, it still speak to us in the 21st century. For example ".. what would become of us, if we walked only in a garden or a mall?", . "In wilderness is the preservation of the world." , "To preserve wild animals implies generally the creation of a forest for them to dwell in or resort to. So it is with man". So lace up your shoes, grab your binoculars, and go for a walk and join the tribe of squirrels!

He/she won't be able to pull off the recipes by him/herself, but you can put them onto some small task .... say, making a plum sauce to dribble over the final product ... to keep them out of your hair while you do the heavy work. In fact, think of these recipes as team projects ... that's probably the only way to get everything to the table at serving temperatures. Your hunter will beam with pleasure. You will be a god/dess in his/her eyes.

If you live in Chicago and love to cook... this is an amazing book. A lot of the ingredients may seem hard to find but it seems that Treasure Island has all of the items.....

Even if you don't follow the exact recipes you will be inspired....

i absolutly loved this book by Charlie Trotter. The food is absolutly stunning and the recipies are amazing. i think this one is the best because of the great foundation recipies and so many different forms of foods presented. the best of all the books. 10 stars++++

More of Trotter's high output of creative, skilled dishes with exotic ingredients, sauces and minimalist-Asian accent. Continues the 10-Speed Press tradition of well done cookbooks, with superior photos, text and in Trotter's case, two photographers scenic photos lining the pages.

These recipes are certainly difficult if not impossible for the average home chef, or even the sophisticated amateur gourmet as well. The ingredients are exotic and difficult to obtain (no source help is provided at all) and the techniques and difficulty of steps for each entree are staggering.

Not to despair however, for the interested gourmet. As Trotter himself suggests: "think of the recipes as interpretations found to be particularly pleasing. Look at these pages for inspiration and fresh ideas, then make the dishes your own, either by substitutions we have offered or through the endless possibilities evoked by the foodstuffs themselves." Further, nearly all recipes include suggested substitutes, e.g. for the Asian=Glazed Wild Boar Chop he suggests pork, lamb or chicken.

Especially attractive to this reviewer is the enormous collection of game: from grouse to partidge to quail to antelope, buffalo, venison, et al. Excitement from such as: "Roasted Chestnut Soup with Foie Gras, Cipolline Onions and Ginger," "Grilled Pheasant Breast with Wild Strawberries, Pistachios, and Apricot-Curry Sauce," Smoked Squab Breast with Israeli Couscous-Stuffed Tinker Bell Peppeers,Ennis Hazelnuts, and Savory Chocolate Vinagerette," "Asian Glazed Wild Boar Chop with Kimchi, Burgundy Carrots, and Their Puree."

True to his inspiration of fusion, he combines Western European technique without sauce, and in their place consistently and creatively replaces with Vinaigrette or Emulsion.

Suggest interested also check out Mark Miller's "Red Sage," Trotter's "CT Cooks at Home," and "How To Cook Meat" by Schlesinger.

Have you ever traveled cross-country to Chicago just to dine at Charlie Trotter's? I have, and it was one of the best meals of my life. This book and the others in the series are great at giving you a feel of what the real thing is like. The pictures are outstanding and the combinations just wow you. But if you think for a moment that any cookbook would allow you to duplicate what Charlie does, you are mistaken. Some cookbooks are for those who want to follow a recipe and duplicate it. This is not one of those. This is for people who want to understand the Chef's unique cuisine and appreciate it for the art that it is.

This book is great for cook saavy homemakers or for student chefs.Experienced chefs can use it for reference. It has simple carvings to outrageous crazy carvings. It also has recipes.

One of the first things I noticed about this book was an incredible array of edible flowers, made from vegetables and meats of all kinds. Also included are a stunning range of other garnishes, from a fried noodle basket to easily carved swans to The Good Luck Dragon and Two Butterflies. Not all of the dishes pictured have instructions, but those that do are easy to follow and produce beautiful results.

I have to say that this book is fantastic- step by step photographs for each garnish. I just made a crab out of a cucumber in 5 minutes!

This book is incredible. I'm sure many are agree with that. It shows master techniques for transferring a plain meet, fruits and vegetables to a beautiful decoration that guarantee to impress and add appetite for those who see it. The way I see it this book is for a pro and banquets. But for home cook like me, this book is hard and only 10% chance I'm gonna make it. It has to be learn by patient and diligent for a best result. But for those home cook who have Michael Angelo talent then this book is must have. The pages are full with colored photos. The guidelines are pretty complicated to follow, not very detail and you have to use your own imagination. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to make a different for their food appearance and of course anyone who love to make food as an art.

Although I'm not much of a fan of kidney or squid floral arrangements, the sheer beauty and creativity of this book gets one's own creative juices flowing. The specific tips are very helpful, and the results tremendous. Beginners may want this book to save for when they have gained precise knife skills, as the instructions are a bit cryptic. However, they may want to purchase it to save for when they are ready to tackle the incredible possibilities contained within. Professionals will be inspired by the photos. Beautiful work!

I did feel, however, that the section in the front of the book (all the dinners) was just a tease, and could be confusing to some with the way the garnishes were referred by page number for instructions. That space could have been used to present more garnishes!

Reminded me a little of the films of Paul Schrader, with the disaffected, alienated, and angry man brooding at the world. The spin on this novel was the letters and the outside narrator. Well-written, and interesting, but kind of a downer.

This novel begins with the former biology teacher reading letters meant for a previous tenant, and soon envisions the life of the intended recipient. It's an ingenuous new angle on the epistolary novel, and this device shows us the strange possibilities of narration and storytelling. The main character, Gorden, is odious but compelling, and you watch him with a voyeuristic fascination as he slowly unravels. The narrator/writer, the other part of the story, comments and describes his own life that's an interesting counterbalance to Gorden's deteriorating life. A smart and fascinating book.

I read Leonard Chang's first novel, The Fruit 'N Food, and thought it was okay. But this one is so sophisticated and interesting. I'm really curious to see what he does next.

The cover says it all. A man spiraling out of control. The book weaves together some of the major issues of our time in a story about relatively simple people: race, hate, adultery, revenge, ambition, and the ravages of lost dreams. Leonard Chang describes the characters as if there's a microscope upon them, until you can tell what they're feeling through his subtle descriptions. An altogether excellent book by an up and coming writer.

Finally we get an Asian American writer who doesn't just write about race or ethnicity. Am I the only one getting tired of all that "woe is me" ethnic angst? This guy is writing some good fiction. Not "ethnic fiction" but GOOD fiction.

The book is nicely illustrated and the book quality is good. However, it is too advanced for children. It is over-rated I suspect due to the voices of the celebrities that are on the CD. Many pages are actually quite depressing and negative. I like more upbeat books even if there is a moral to be taught.

The format of this book and the others like them give a young reader a very enjoyable experience. The adult side helps to embellish the story but the children's side lets a new reader be part of the story not just a listener. Our first grader takes great pride in his part of the book and seems to have better comprehension. These are a great find.

I had been given 2 of these books from a friend and I decided to see if there were anymore. My son loves this book. He's now working on reading the adult side. It's a great idea to have a page each, 1 for the adult and 1 for the child. We have several of these books now and I see my son sitting down and reading them on his own.

I read this book to my little sister, she is 9 and thought it was the funnist book she had ever heared of. She really liked the part were the emporer.... well I won't give the ending away. But, I hope you enjoy it.

Generally, I do not care for audio books; many of the readers speak in a dull voice that rapidly drives me either away from the story or to sleep. However, there are a few exceptions; this is one.

Understand, that this is not the normal audio book; this edtion has a large cast of actors who collaborated to produce this item as a fund raiser for Starbright.

The result is an ensemble piece that is witty and charming. Part of the fun for me, was guessing who was reading before looking at the cast list included in the box.

Other folks feel that this isn't for children; I don't know as I don't have children, but I found that my "inner child" was highly entertained for 40 minutes with this tape.

If you are a fan of one or more of the actors in this edition or like puns (there are many here!), then you will probably like the Starbright edtion of the Emporer's New Clothes.

It's nice to look at but quite hard to copy these recipes. It's a good source of inspiration at the highest level.

I bought this book as a reference book when it first came out, I read French with a little difficulty, but with a list of a few keywords the ability to reproduce recipes were not difficult. The pictures are great, and they layout of the book based on ingredients make doing a quick search a dream. I would add this to you library of Pastry Must Haves. This is a book for Professionals, but a really good understanding of the 12 basics of Pastry you can make anything in this book.

I purchased this book after doing a considerable amount of pastry, breads, desserts, etc. This book offers hundreds of recipes, easy to follow, great photos, clear explanations. It is a must have for anyone serious about their collection of cookbooks, and for anyone searching for the perfect dessert recipe. Any one of the recipes can be used as a guide to creating your own inventions. I would highly reccommend this book, and it is pricey, but considering I am a passionate cook, this was a must have and a true reward for myself! Enjoy! [...]

Alain Ducasse is a master of his craft. To enjoy this book, though, one must have a clear understanding of the pastry arts. There are not recipes for every element; however, the methods that are presented are easily followed. Not recommended for the novice, unless you want a beautiful book to display on your shelf. The photographs are phenomenal.

I purchased the Desserts and Pastries at the same time as the other Grand Livre de Cuisine on savory food. My professional expertise was in breads and pastry, so it is easier for me to appreciate the example recipes in this book. The book is by no means exhaustive. It is an excellent resource with some fantastic pastry ideas and good ingredient combinations. It is also easier to find most of the ingredients in this volume than the savory book.

The photography is superb, but don't expect to be able to reproduce the look of the photographs without some professional baking or pastry experience. The recipes lack explanations and expect you to know foundation techniques.