Rich Books

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This is a fascinating book that offers stimulating nuggets of understanding of some of life's great questions. What I liked about it is how the author introduces key topics from his own viewpoint without asserting that it is the only possible interpretation. And it is refreshing that he does not get caught up in defending or proving the validity of each topic. In fact, in addition to Church history, teaching, revelation and logic, he uses an interesting criterion for evaluating whether Christianity is believable - that the story of Christianity has an aesthetic beauty; that it "hangs together beautifully."

I also enjoyed how the author incorporates other religious texts and beliefs from Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism for comparison and contrast. This along with the historical perspective gives a "big picture" feel to the book. And yet the author makes it clear he is not going to do all the work for the reader. Each topic is only a jumping off point that stimulates the desire to read and contemplate more about the subject matter.

Part of the enjoyment of the book comes from Fr. Riches' ability to explain complicated concepts with clarity. This is obviously not easy for topics like original sin, Trinity, afterlife, free will, suffering, and love.

In fact for me it is the author's treatment of love that makes this book so special. He makes it very clear that the story of Christianity is a story of love. And this is certainly a message that is worth hearing again and again.

I could not put this well written book down. It is a warm and true story of the American dream.

Unexpectedly, this novel was richer and smoother than the other 5, in narrative style and in the dichotomies of small-town, trivial-tensions etched through the welcoming warmth of familiarity and intimacy. In the pilot to the series, THE COOKING SCHOOL MURDERS, it seemed that Rich was writing with all cylinders primed and pumping. At retirement age at the time, possibly she had harbored a long banked dream of writing this type of novel, and she was giving it all she had saved in her writer's soul through a rich lifetime. See my review (link page).

In BAKED BEAN SUPPER MURDERS, the second book in the series, the author's style seemed more relaxed. She seemed to have settled her author's hat comfortably on her head, and to feel she would be allowed by her publisher and readers to take time setting the foundation of an extensive collection of characters, which were her neighbors and friends with a few newcomers to the community mixed into the brew, most of whom would become suspects. Rich wasn't just developing depth into an intriguing group of characters to carry a "still waters run deep" plot. She was developing various types of Character from ethical, philosophical, sociological, and psychological perspectives. And she was "doing" an edgy Norman Rockwell portrait of small town life, this time with a slightly bitter twist (booze slurped tastefully, and socially tended), which eloquently exposed the dynamics of greed and offensiveness which can fester within a small community, especially when wide spreads of class structures, and a variety of social attitudes attempt to mix (or not) within a small, seasonally lush geography.

Below is a paragraph from my review of COOKING SCHOOL MURDERS, in which I noted the warmth Rich dramatized about another small town area, that of her own point of origin in Iowa:

You might expect a more simply sophisticated version of Mrs. Pollifax, a version of that feisty, restless, elderly spy; a version which is contented to settle into her last chapters of life by leisurely honing the luxury of cooking, of nurturing the body and soul by being comfortably in and seeing the significance of The Basic Life within small-town-communities existing in various places on "The Route 66 Literary Continuum" from Sinclair Lewis's MAIN STREET to Grace Metalious's PEYTON PLACE, with Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen cookie jar series taking the cake for the sweetest, perkiest view of small town life (warm hearts in cold places; see my Listmania).

THIS time many of Eugenia's friends and neighbors, with those among them who were neither, treated her like an old-lady-widow who should be done with the vital part of her life. Poor souls. They should have been warned. In one scene Mrs. Potter was rendered speechless several times, by this group, and each time I smiled, knowing this cattle rancher (her other home was in Arizona), horse riding lady would eventually get her feet under her (or in the stirrups), and the cow pies would fly. Loved that scene. Loved how Rich had Potter work herself out of the offensive affronts.

Since this # 2 in this sequence was my last novel in this series to read, I applied ginger to my reading recipe. I've reviewed the other two novels, by Virginia Rich, and those by Nancy Pickard who successfully published three Mrs. Potter novels after Rich's death. Possibly I had left this one to read last because I hadn't felt the pizzazz for THE BAKED BEAN SUPPER MURDERS title, as I had the others. I wondered if that might have been because baked beans, though I love them, didn't hit my palate as anything special in the currently jazzed-up culinary world. When Rich composed this one (probably during the transition from the 1970's to the 80's), especially from her secondary home setting in a lobster fishing village near Bangor Maine, brown bread and baked bean recipes were treasured and held close by the old guard cooks in the community.

While you're drooling over the opening supper entrees and ingredients, allow yourself to read leisurely through the character setting space in the early plot. I doubt any reader could have more trouble than I do with remembering a slew of names. I was helped by knowing that Rich doesn't just drip them and let the water run out without containment, she continues (underwater basket?) weaving names, faces, bodies, and social styles, through each other and throughout the mystery, completing several tangy tapestries which will thoroughly incorporate not only each name mentioned, but will add the reader into the design, from his complimentary side.

"Here's looking at you, kid."

This was an unusual mystery, in warm, spicy, and feisty ways. In this one I felt the characters' grief for the loss of each murdered character. I felt a deep disgust for some of the potential perpetrators.

Long live the soul of a true novelist who happened to have a plethora of mystery spices with which to season ... A Great American Novel.

Richness was achieved here, and shared well.

Thank you, Virginia. You've risen perfectly to your current residence and its unlimited views of many oceans. No old lady, you. Lady of the first water.

Holding a crystal water-goblet in both hands, looking through prisms of multi-colored light, I see not a cozy culinary. I see a true author, Virginia Rich, and a true novel with a tangy, tasteful mystery included.

Linda Shelnutt

This is a slim little volume but totally packed with decadent, delicious delicacies, all made of chocolate. The Wellesley Fudge Cake with Hungarian Chocolate Frosting that is pictured on the cover is a personal favorite of mine, a true "company" cake to bake if you want heaps of praise. Try Cream Cheese Brownies, Pot de Creme au Chocolat, Chunky Chocolate Cookies that Tollhouse doesn't want to know about, or the incredible Chocolate Mousse Pie au Rhum. The recipes are clear and easy to follow. Mouth-watering photographs illustrate this book and will definitely encourage you to branch out and try some new recipes that are destined to become favorites. It has a convenient wire spiral binding so it lays flat for ease of use in the kitchen. The various sections are as follows: Chocolate...Gift From the Gods; Cakes; Pies; Cookies; Desserts; Candies; Toppings; Chocolate Know-How. After his friend who started the chocolate mill drowned at sea, Dr. James Baker took over the Dorchester company in Massachusetts and made it a household word in large part due to the excellent quality that he insisted upon. Stemming from these New England roots there are several keepsake recipes in this book from the Boston area. The Wellesley Fudge Cake and Hungarian Chocolate Frosting alone are worth searching this book out and paying whatever they ask.

These books are so simple but so much fun. My daughter has all 4 and they are just the right size for little hands and for teaching basic sounds.

The birth of a great scent is the main focus in Meredith Rich's (Claudia Jessup) absorbing drama about the rise and fall of people behind the perfume industry. Throughout wonderful settings, handsome men, gorgeous women, power and romance Rich's first outing paints a colorful portrait of a pampered heroine on the brick of self-discovery, and the effect it causes to those around her. BARE ESSENCE touches themes as trust, betrayal, love, greed, independence, and the power of forgiveness, all the right ingredients for making this novel a sure-fire best-seller. With a clear prose behind a rich jet set frame of mind, the author's talent definitely shines from cover to cover.-----Martin Boucher

For all you folks out there passing through and wondering who this Barnabe Riche is, and why he's important, let me give you a little info. Riche was man of the English Renaissance. He served in the English military, especially in Ireland, but eventually turned to writing. You'll note the title of the work for which he is best known today above--the book you are currently looking at. Why is this man important you ask? Riche's Farewell to Military Profession is a collection of different stories, the second of which, Apolonious and Silla, is considereed the source for Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night. The main concept behind both works is that a woman is dressed as a man: said woman insinuates herself into the court of a nobleman with whom she is in love. The nobleman, however, does not reciprocate that love, but is pursuing another woman, and he uses the masquerader as a go-between. Fun ensues, as you can imagine. These are just basic points, not the complete fabric of the story. If your curiousity has been aroused, by all means, read Shakespeare--or, if you are a huge Shakespeare fan, and are interested in the what, when, where, and how of the bard, then this piece might interest you. Shakespeare, while being a brilliant writer, was not the only man with a pen in his hand during this time, folks. There are dozens of other writers from this period who have become eclipsed over the centuries by Shakespeare. I could list any number of playwrights: Thomas Kyd, John Fletcher, Francis Beaumont--even the giants Ben Jonson and Christopher Marlowe have had that titanic shadow to cope with, and it is not fair to these talented writers that history and modern readers ignore them: unless you're at a university being forced to swallow them down, or you're a professor specializing in this period (in which case, if said sort of person happens to be reading this, good luck with cause), people don't tend to get exposed to these guys, and as I said, it's a shame. So, to end this, go forth, buy Riche's Farewell to Military Profession, and read the darn thing. Open your mind to a whole new realm. And if you don't feel like slapping down 14 bucks, go to a library (probably a college or university library) and you'll find it there (I hope). Overall, it's a good read.

Since I live in the Hobcaw Barony area, it was with special interest that I read this book. Not much has been written about Belle Baruch, though her father Bernard is well documented in print. It was a fascinating look at Belle's life and the period. Often, nonfiction books of a historical nature are dry and tedious to read, but this one reads like a novel. Miller spent many years immersing herself in her subject, and it shows. And she doesn't shy away from the difficult questions surrounding her subject, but rather tackles them head-on. It was a joy to read, and I heartily recommend it here. If you live in this coastal area, be sure to visit Hobcaw Barony, which will add a special dimension to your enjoyment of this book.

This is a wonderful, well written book on how to make the necessary changes in your life to "Be Rich"! The author is well educated and confident in the material, and makes a special effort to use multiple examples to educate the reader in the power of different ways to think. This book has been an inspiration to me. I have implemented many positive changes in my life and I recommend this book to all!