Johnston Books

This book is a wonderfully written poem that answers the question "Cat, what is that?". It has become one of my favorite books to read to my daughter because of the dramatic, thought-provoking lines. My daughter loves the pictures of cats. This book is a piece of art and we will love it for a long, long time.

I loved this book and I don't even like cats. Very clever and descriptive.

I was handed this book to read by one of my coworkers. As I began, I found so much that inspired and strengthened my spirit! In this time of our nation's history, it was so encouraging to be able to find "Fact" upon which we could enhance the belief propagated by our forefathers--ONE NATION--UNDER GOD. Our Nation rose to its glory and overcame many hardships through our leaders' belief in the ONE TRUE GOD. The record of George Washington and his contribution to our nation is awesome. My only true knowledge of him was from my history lessons as a child. This book helped me realize that the reason he was such a great President--was because he was a humble man who served a GREAT GOD!

Ms. Johnson has done such a thorough background search. This was more a "gathering of history," rather than "her own thoughts." Love of country has always been uppermost in my heart; however, after digesting this written material, I am more than grateful to be able to be called an American. This book should be made "required reading" for our children today. Most of our history books are shallow and boring; students come away with the thought that our country is great, but a casual reading of Ms. Johnston's writings is anything but boring, and will help the reader understand WHY it is great! Our holidays have always borne special importance in my life--but now I will never be able to celebrate a holiday without reflecting upon its true meaning.

This is a MUST READ! Celebrations of a Nation, by Lucile Johnston, causes our early American history to come alive. I gained an understanding of and appreciation for the hardships, the sacrifices, the driving love for freedom, and the staunch determination of our founding fathers. More importantly, this book instilled in me a greater sense of patriotism and love of country, as well as a resolve to preserve our great heritage for future generations. This well-documented, compelling work will cause the reader to pause and reflect upon the true meaning of our uniquely American holidays.

This author is really worth reading for his exceptionally communicative passages in not only these two stories, but also My Brother Jack - the first of the Trilogy.

George Johnston published a number of novels, many of them "pulpy" in nature to earn a living, before he turned the subject of his writing to something closer to home: his own life. And in doing so, he not only gained incredible fame and adoration, but also reserved himself a place in Australia's Literature canon. The strength of George's writing lies partly in the attention to detail and his beautiful evocation of parts local and foreign (local: Melbourne, foreign: Hydra, Greece) but it is marked also by the honestly which pervades all his work. "Clean Straw for Nothing", I believe, is his masterpiece - an intensely personal exploration of ex-patriation, poverty, the nature of success, illness and sexual jealousy. All these conflicting emotions are heartbreakingly rendered such as few Australian writers have ever dared to do, let alone so well. His alter-ego, David Meredith, speaks volumes in the way he conducts his life, about the journey of life and career, and the extent we can push ourselves in one direction which may not necessarily be the best for us. David, like Johnston himself, is driven, passionate and yearning, but also flawed in his insecurity, stubborness and self-centredness. Nevertheless, Meredith is indelible and moving because of this.
I read "Clean Straw for Nothing" when I was twenty-one, and credit it with changing so much about life and my attitude towards it. This is a neglected classic, deserving to be better recognised. In my eyes, Johnston was leagues ahead of his contemporaries.

This is an absolute must-have book for dyers. It's a companion to Johnston's other book Color by Accident.

For all beginning dyers, Ann Johnston's books are imperative.

This book is the quintessential book for showing many, many techniques that can be employed in dye painting cotton or silk fabric using cold water dyes. Ann's methodical and orderly approach to showing all the different techniques makes the book a great reference for the more experienced dyer and also a great book for beginners. With this book and Ann's other book (Color by Accident) in your libary, you will have unlimited resources to dye your own beautiful fabric. This is the authoritative book for dye painting.

This book in similar vein to the published historys of the 503rd and 507th Tiger tank battalions, follows the formation, combat and eventual surrender of the 508th Tiger battalion.
Written by former members of the battalion, who no doubt contributed to the wonderful photos from their personal albums,makes this a very interesting study of one of the two "Italian Tiger Units".
The book published as usual by JJ Fedorowicz is printed on fine glossy paper for excellent photo reproduction and has 10 pages of colour artwork from renowned artist Jean Restayn.
At a little over 188 pages the book is packed with over 199 photographs and unit organisational charts, and makes for a very easy read.
As usual the thing about these books I find fascinating is the recollections from the veterans who manned these tanks. They give us a rare glimpse into the daily life both at rest and in combat of a Tiger Tanker.
As with any JJF book the photo selection is superb and features many full page photos with the rest half page.
The 508th was formed in September 1943 and fought exclusively on the Italian front with the Tiger 1 in what was not ideal Tiger country.
The windy and narrow roads caused many a breakdown and large numbers of Tigers lost by this battalion were not through enemy action, but as a result of crews destroying their tanks to avoid them being left to the Allies.
First seeing action at the Anzio landing where it took part in a ferocious counterattack,the 508th fought its way back up Italy where it gave a good account of itself.
It was effectively disbanded in February 1945 when it handed over its remaing Tigers to the 504th Tiger Battalion.
Sent to Germany to train on the King Tiger, the unit never received this tank and fought out its last days as infantrymen.
This is another great Tiger history and is an excellent addition to any library or personal bookcase. It is highly recommended

If you are a student of the heavy Tiger Battalions or simply armored warfare during WWII, this is a "must-have" book. Like all of the books in this series, there are detailed action accounts, personal recollections, charts, and best-of-all, outstanding photos gathered by veterans of the batallion that have never been published before. An outstanding addition to any WWII library and a suberbly high quality book. I highly recommend acquiring all of the hardbound books in this series before they're gone. If you're a Tiger tank history buff, don't think twice, the book is definitely worth the expense.

This particular book in the series has some excellent lessons for Boys of today. There are some references to the middle ages. The boys are studying the middles ages through literature. This exposure to King Arthur & the Knights of old leads the boys to desire to exhibit the characteristics of the Knights of old, to LIVE PURE, RIGHT THE WRONG, etc. In our society where middleclass children have anything that they want, this story teaches the lessons of being generous to those that are not so fortunate. An Excellent story for Boys & Girls

Originals were handed down, mother to daughter in my family. I have even visited the home of the author outside of Louisville, KY Read the series!

Joan Johnston has written several series of delicious Romantic Westerns, usually revolving around the members of one family, or in some cases feuding families. Some also have added mystery or adventure, some take place over generations, beginning in the old West, but one thing is for sure, they are all wonderful romances(and most often pretty steamy as well), that will take you away for just a little while.

"The Cowboy and the Princess" is the 3rd in the Hawk's Way series. Modern day Western Romances, that begin with the Whitelaw family. Four siblings. Three big brawny brothers, and their beautiful little sister. They raised themselves after their parents death, and are a close knit and loving bunch, who may be just a bit on the wild side. The first in the series, "Honey and the Hired Hand", was about next to oldest brother Jessie and his love for "Honey". Next up was "The Rancher and the Runaway Bride", Tate the younger sister, who runs off to find love, followed by this one the story of Faron the youngest of the brothers. Faron's story unfolds into a love like a fairy tale(but not for kids!).

Faron gets the news. A letter from a woman claiming to be his step-mother. Seems Mom Whitelaw had herself a little affair, and Faron was the result. This was the first he heard that he was not a full blooded Whitelaw. He is quite upset by the news, and takes off for Wyoming to confront his horrid stepmother who says he is in the will. He's not a happy camper. While scouting across the land he is to inherit, he runs into the most gorgeous creature he has ever seen. A beautiful blonde who looks like a princess.And By the way, Faron is no slouch in the looks department as well. Johnston doesn't make us wait too long for the first scene of passion. As these two find something in each other's arms they both needed. He calls her his Princess, she calls him "Cowboy". And of course, neither knew at the time, that he was the stepson of this young and beautiful princess(Belinda Prescott), but when they do find out, the friction between them only adds more heat to their passion. They try(really hard) to stay away from each other, but Faron is there to help his father's wife fix up the ranch for sale, and it's awfully hard to keep them apart.Other new and wonderful characters are introduced that we hope to see in some future stories. Faron's new grandmother, is some fun and feisty old lady!

The story of Belinda Prescott's marriage to Faron's father, and the description of the Wyoming Ranch,"King's Castle" and it surroundings adds greatly, but the romance is one of the best. These two were made for each other, and you know it. The passion heats up. There is even a ride on horseback(with both on the same horse), that is like no other ride. The book kept me turning the pages all the way through.

Next up in the series is "The Wrangler and The Rich Girl", which is the oldest brother Garth's story. His story actually begins near the end of this one, so it's kind of a must read. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th (Rancher and the Runaway, Cowboy and the Princess, and Wrangler and the Rich Girl), all fairly short novels, may also be purchased in full in the 3 -in 1 book, "Hawk's Way Bachelors". The first one, "Honey and the Hired Hand is also included in a 3-in-1 book, called "Hawk's Way Rouges", which has 2 other stories that will follow later on.

If your looking for a little adventure, and some great romance, Joan Johnston won't let you down.
Other series are "Sisters of the Lone Star" and "The Bittercreek Series". And if you are not ready for an entire series, try some of her Historical Romance Westerns. A good one to start with is "No Longer a Stranger"

Enjoy the read...Laurie

Another Hawk's Way story. This is not the best one in the series, but it is still good. Faron Whitelaw finds out the truth about his parents, he was the result of an affair that his mother had. If you read the other books than you will understand how close the Whitelaws are, and how much it hurt Faron to realize his father was someone else. Faron found out who he was when his birth father died and left Faron half of his estate. The other half belongs to Faron's stepmother. Only Faron's idea of a stepmother is not what he gets when he meets Belinda. She is young and beautiful. He figured Belinda for a gold digging princess, but for him to know the truth means that he will have to know the type of man that his birth father was. Belinda and Faron find themselves drawn to each other. They also have a little help from Farons "new" grandmother. There is a lot going on in this story, but it is a quick and easy read. Another Whitelaw is always worth reading about.

THE CREATIVE IMPERATIVE is not an easy read, yet over time I've re-read and re-read it, each time gleaning more of its import. It is truly the most important book I have ever read and reflects what is undoubtedly some of the most brilliant thinking of this century! The body of theory outlined in THE CREATIVE IMPERATIVE can help all of us better understand these times -- times in which all areas of our lives, from parenting to politics, from art to big business, are fraught with new challenges and ask more of us than ever before. Before reading this book, I found myself frequently at the edge of despair, sure that our world was disintegrating before our eyes (or at least seriously gone awry) and questioning whether it could be saved or righted. I knew that the mechanistic worldview and simplstic either/or responses of the past were inadequate, yet viewing the inescapable complexity of the world today readily overwhelmed me. I doubted that I could make a significant difference in any corner of my life. I've come away from THE CREATIVE IMPERATIVE with a new and fuller understanding of how human systems of all scales grow and change over time and how we can appreciate and make creative use of the very real differences that exist among us. I can now discern elegantly simple patterns of organization and change within the incredible complexity of today's reality. Most importantly, I can now more creatively approach effecting meaningful change in the areas of life that most concern me.

A richly complex book that illuminates cultural and personal development in a way that gives hope for our future. The author outlines beautifully the pattern of the creative cycle and applies it to create a systemic view of culture and individuals. He reminds us that we are increasingly agents of creative growth in culture and that we must participate fully to insure a worthy future. This book asks for more than one read; each time there is more to learn.

The novel reads like an adventure story, yet is filled with acurate historical fact. As such, the book works well to help young readers discover an interest in history. The book goes far beyond the dry factual historical texts usually found in the age group.

This is a well-written book. The reader feels he is "right there" with Cabeza de Vaca as he endures his hardships, confronts his challenges, and never gives up. This book is more than just a fascinating biography--it is also a story about the indomitability of the human spirit.

From the blurb, Mireille Johnston was born in Nice [naturellement] and educated in France and the USA. She translated the script for the classic film "The Sorrow and the Pity" - directed by Marcel Ophuls - and also hosted a superb series on regional French cooking that was shown here in Canada on TVO (TV Ontario, a publicly-funded educational network).

This easy-to-follow cookbook includes the classic Nicoise recipes such as bourride (creamy garlic fish soup),soupe de pistou (vegetable soup flavoured with pesto (basil paste)), hors-d'oeuvres such as anchoiade (anchovy and garlic spread), pan bagna (classic sandwich with tomatoes, anchovy fillets, and a bit of tuna, etc.), pissaladiere (onion tart), tapenade (anchovy, olive, garlic, and capers spread), salads such as salades blanches (warm bean, cauliflower, and potato salad dressed with a spicy vinaigrette), salade de haricots verts (warm green bean salad with a vinaigrette composed of crushed garlic, good vinegar and olive oil, and salt and pepper), the classic "salade nicoise" (includes tomatoes, cucumbers, lima beans, purple artichokes, green or red peppers, onions, hard-cooked eggs, anchovy fillets (again!), basil or mint, radishes, and tuna - all artfully arranged (compose) on an attractive plate), sauces such as aioli (garlic mayonnaise), beurre d'anchois (anchovy butter), coulis (a warm tomato sauce, sauce aux noix (walnuts, garlic, and olive oil sauce), pistou (superb basil, garlic, olive oil,and cheese sauce), rouille (thick cayenne pepper and garlic sauce), basic vinaigrette (olive oil and very good red wine vinegar), fish dishes such as court-bouillon (fish stock), gigot de mer (fish baked with onion, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and white wine), moules de pecheurs (steamed mussels with mayonnaise, mustard and served cold), sardines grillees (grilled fresh sardines with parsley and garlic), thon provencale (fresh red tuna cooked with vegetables and white wine).

Ms. Johnston also include recipes for boeuf mironton (boiled beef baked in vinegar and caper sauce), daube d'avignon (lamb, vegetable, and herb stew), estouffade (lamb and beef stew), pietsch (poche de veau farcie - breast of veal stuffed with vegetables and simmered in white wine), pot-au-feu provencale (boiled beef, lamb, and vegetables), poulet a la nicoise (chicken cooked with onion, tomato, olives , and white wine), roustissouns (pork sauteed with herbs and red wine vinegar), vegetables such as beignets de legumes (vegetable fritters), celeri paysanne (celery braised in white wine), courgettes rapees (grated zucchini sauteed in olive oil), farcis a la nicoise (lightly stuffed vegetables such as green peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, chopped beef, lamb, or ham, rice, garlic, parmesan cheese, etc., etc.), ratatouille nicoise (vegetable melange simmered with herbs), crespeou (tomato omelet), troucha (spinach omelet), pois gourmands a la paysanne (snow peas sauteed with lean salt pork and chives), tian d'artichauts (baked artichoke hearts).

Also included are pasta and grain dishes such as barba jouan (pastry filled with cheese,ham, rice, herbs, and pumpkin[!]), panisses (chickpea "french fries"), pates rouges et vertes (noodles with ham and herbs), polente aux champignons (corn meal mush with mushroom sauce), ravioli a la nicoise (beef and spinach ravioli), tout-nus [all-naked] (spinach, rice, and meat balls), festive dishes such as aioli monstre (rich variety of vegetables, fish, and meats served with a garlic mayonnaise), bouillabaisse [!] (superb fish and vegetable stew), desserts such as beignets de fruits (apple raisin fritter or doughnuts), cloche amandine (bell-shaped almond brittle), compote d'abricots, de peches, et de prunes (apricot-peach-plum compote cooked in lemon and orange juice), galette des rois (crown-shaped brioche with candied fruits), glace a la fleur d'orangers (orange blossom water ice cream), nougat blanc (honey, almond, and egg-white confection [candy]), petits biscuits aux noix (crumbly walnut cookies), poires au vin rouge (pears in red wine and lemon juice), tian au rhum (rum and milk custard), tourte aux noix et au miel (walnut and honey pie).

The witty and fun illustrations are by the inimitable Milton Glaser and Mireille Johnston includes a table of classic ingredients from the Nice district, a table of techniques and tools, and mail order sources.

This tremendous chef died in October of 2000 at the very early age of 65 and it is not well-known that she was a former aide to Senator Robert F. Kennedy. She is sorely missed but anybody who wants to savour the sights and smells of summer only has to refer to this cookbook and enjoy the memories. Very, very highly recommended and almost a necessity in any well-appointed kitchen. It superbly complements Julia Child's classic books on French cooking and is a joy to read and is admirably produced.

Timothy Wingate, Ottawa CANADA

I thought I'd given up on buying more cook books. I rarely follow a recipe exactly, anyway. But a friend of mine has this book and has introduced me to some of the most amazing tastes. Tonite we had pasta with walnut sauce...just walnuts ground with olive oil and garlic, I think...but MARVELOUS!

Most are faily simply recipes, but just delicious.

It's a cook book I can't be without.