Simmons Books

This is a highly personal and surprisingly good biography by First Daughter Margaret Truman (1924-2008). Ms. Truman affectionately examines her father's Missouri upbringing, courtship with Bess, experiences in World War I, as a haberdasher, and as County Judge (Administrator). Readers follow as President Truman (1884-1972) graduates to the U.S. Senate in 1934, his surprise selection for Vice President in 1944, and his ascension to the top upon President Roosevelt's death in April, 1945. Then we follow along through Truman's Presidency, which he later said was akin to riding a tiger - keep abreast of events or get swallowed up. As many know, Truman's nearly eight years in the oval office involved ceaseless pressure from Potsdam, the Atom Bomb, postwar strikes, Israel, the 1948 election, Korea, confronting McCarthyism, etc. No wonder he called the White House the big white jail. Then it was back to Independence in early 1953 as private citizen and elder statesman.

Ms. Truman takes an nicely intimate look, with revealing quotes from his diaries and letters. Yet she doesn't always dig deeply enough, at times she's critical of other Truman biographers, and can we expect true objectivity from one who (understandably) addresses her subject as Dad? Still, this book is clearly worth a look. Just be sure to see another solid Truman biography (such as David McCullough's) for a more rounded view.

I bought this as a gift for an elderly friend, who had once had a copy that had become lost. She loves it, and says it is her all-time favorite book.

Margaret Truman treats the reader to an intimate biography of her father. She tells the traditional stories of his courtship and life long love affair with Bess, his life on the farm, his service in World War I and his unsuccessful haberdashery venture. She continues on through his entry into politics and involvement with the Pendergast machine. The senate campaigns of 1934 and 1940 and the choice for Vice President set the stage for Harry Truman's role of a lifetime. His succession to the Presidency started a dizzying sequence of crises including the founding of the United Nations, the use of the atomic bomb and the surrender of Japan. He then lead the country through a rash of post war strikes and inflation leading to Democratic defeat in the 1946 Congressional elections. Rebounding, Truman fought off the Berlin Blockade and won a stunning upset victory in the 1948 elections. In his second term he restored the decaying White House, was harassed by Joseph McCarthy and had his presidency redefined by the Korean War. Deciding not to seek reelection, Truman began his unsuccessful effort to mold Adlai Stevenson into his successor. After leaving the White House, Truman found most of his satisfaction in his family and in teaching others about government.

I like this book for its intimate view of Harry Truman's life. Margaret provides a perspective lacking in all other biographers. Her view of family life and the quotes from Harry's diaries and letters make this book a unique delight.

In dealing with aspects of Truman's life this book lacks the depth found in some other biographies. In some respects, Margaret is a bit too strident in defense of her Father. I recommend other works for an initial Truman biography and this one to deepen the reader's understanding of Harry. Other books provide a better understanding of the historical Harry Truman. Margaret provides an excellent introduction to her Dad.

Feng (wind) Shui (water) is the Chinese art or practice of positioning objects to complement the patterns of yin and yang. This wonderful little book can fit in the back pocket of your jeans, yet the text is not so small that you need a magnifying glass to see what it says.

Feng Shui has gained popularity in this New Age in which we live. The philosophy, however, is ancient and respected Chinese Art. Although it takes years to master Feng Shui, this little red book is filled with tips that are easy for any beginner, such as I am, to create a more peaceful and energetic environment.

Not all of the tips answer the question "why," but some do. I think this is part of the philosophy, for how can anyone explain art or trust? There are many topics covered in this book, including sustenance, light and reflection, water, color and scent, nature, and more.

These are some of the tips. (1) Goldfish represent wealth and fertility and should never be placed in the kitchen or bedroom. (2) Get rid of the clutter because "hoarding creates stale energy." (3) Sharp corners and angles in your furniture create a disruptive flow, while rounded objects create harmony. (4) Cool colors create passive energy while warm tones are energetic and passionate. (5) Keep your windows clean to enhance clarity and vision.

This little book of art and philosophy are filled with golden nuggets. For me, it is 5 stars.

Victoria Tarrani

One of my friends in Chicago practices Feng Shui in her home, office, even her car. What I find when I visit her is a sense of peace. I've carried this little pocket edition from country to country, shared it with my troops, and given many copies away. Facing an enemy is made easier by the bond we share through common knowledge.

Wonderful! Simple tips for creating a peaceful and nurturing environment without having to read through pages and pages of 'WHY'. Short and sweet (but thorough) and small enough to keep at my desk for office use, as well! Fabulous colors throughout covering topics from 'Home' to 'Love' - and we could all use a little more 'Love'.........

Inspirational is a good word to describe this book. Instructive is another. In a disarmingly warm and personal approach, Bogino builds a pathway to better days by tracing her journey from tragic events to the discovery of principles she uses as bootstraps to positive ways of living. It simply is not possible to read this book without feeling inspired to live better--regardless of one's current circumstances.

Diane really encompasses many tools in her book to help women overcome 'victim thinking'. She has shown much courage, strength and resilience throughout her life and shares her story of that journey. She has used the lessons she has learned throughout her life to put together a guide for other women who have faced, or are facing, similar circumstances. She puts everything in an easy to understand (and often times humorous) format that really shows that you CAN accomplish these important goals. This woman has truly accomplished amazing things in her life and is certainly someone to be proud of and look up to. I know this for a fact........she's my mom!! :)

~ Brittany M. Newberry, RN, MSN, MPH - Clinical Nurse Educator

The Birth to Five Book: Confident Childrearing Right from the Start


I like the inspirational, motivational quotes sprinkled throughout the book. It's amazing that the author survived and now thrives to help others overcome victim mentality. She's done some good research for this workbook-like read, making it a resource to keep on hand.

It should definately be on the shelves of all women's shelters!

This book is a fascinating study of fishing, hunting, and working in the Florida Everglades. Most of the activities that are described are set in the 1930s. Most of the book consists of stories and descriptions of live from Glen Simmons, a boat builder who has lived in the Everglades region all his life. The stories are intriguing accounts of the everyday events and the extraordinary happenings that form the stuff of history. Readers of this book will find interesting encounters with a colorful cast of characters, learn about Florida wildlife, and discover how a unique style of boat is built. This book is annotated with well-written introductions by Laura Ogden and illustrated with a wide variety of period photographs that make the rich descriptions even more vivid.

I highly recommend this interesting book. The details about Florida history are fascinating as Ogden presents some terrific stories told by Simmons. There is rich information about alligator hunting, bootlegging, and boat building. I am especially interested in Simmons' boats as the type of skiff that he makes is characteristic, if not unique, to the 'glades.
This portrait of Florida is vivid and harsh, and the book provides a richer, more nuanced, view of the state than most imagine.

it is with great honor that i speak of this book that was wrote by my friend, who lived all his life in the glades. his grandfather was ducan brady the founder of flamingo and his parents were the keepers at waddell grove on cape sable. this book is testimony to the hardships that our pioneer familys endured in a land all but gone.hell westerneralvin in naples

Marc Simmons can always be relied upon for giving acurate information in a compelling package. If you do not know the story of New Mexico's quasi feudal founding by Spanish Conqustidors in armor both the good and bad then you must buy this book quickly and correct your educational deficiency.

Marc Simmons does an excellent job of telling a story. I have endured novels that were much less engaging and well told. Simmons brings immediacy and life to events that occurred four hundred years ago. I wish he had written the history texts I was compelled to read in high school.

Many have made their views of Onate and opinions clear here around New Mexico, but few have ever made even a slight reference to the men around Onate ... the time Onate lived in, but alas, Marc Simmons has a captivating impartial review of the infamous Onate.

Author Richard R. Simmons has exposed his life through his easy to read but emotional autobiography, "A Long Hard Ride." This book examines the transformation of a horse jockey turned Air Force career man, turned postal manager and drunk, into a man in search of himself and the meaning of life. It is all about redemption and spiritual rebirth.

The story takes you from Richard's early childhood when his father's death changes the direction of his life and sets him off on a collision course with self-destructive behaviors including his life long battle with alcoholism.

His time spent at the race track and not in school makes for very unique experiences to read about. He raced against some of the best jockey and horses of his day but never found the kind of satisfaction or success that he needed. His quest for understanding and love follow him throughout the pages of his book from one life adventure to the next seeking to find that inner peace that eludes him for so long.

This is an exceptionally well told story and makes for some interesting, yet at times emotional, reading. This book will force you to look and reflect on your own life experiences. In the end, this book will be an enjoyable adventure but keep a box of Kleenex handy.

2005 Distinguished Honor Award!

I found this book to be a very revealing story about someone who had suffered not only childhood hardships but how they followed him into adulthood, and grew increasingly worse as his drinking overtook his life. there are many sad and heart wrenching events very cleverly laced with humor and honest feelings. The fact that anyone could endure such torture and self degradation and survive to the level he has is truly a miracle. A great read.

The story of a recovering alcoholic now enjoying 30 years of sobriety and a well-deserved retirement. Richard takes the reader through his journey from his impoveraged youth, joining the race track to ride with legends, military service, government service and finally, his ability to forgive and accept himself. His personal battle with alcoholism and self-doubt will be familiar with anyone who has struggled with addiction and the shame that feeds it. Richard's story shows that facing addiction and the pain that we try to numb is possible and worth the long hard ride.

This book...it sings. It's music, heartbreak, pain, hope. It is one of the most powerfully and beautifully written things I have ever read. I sat on the plane from L.A. to Tucson and it filled up my chest the way tears sometimes do when you're holding them back, but only because I kept stumbling across sentences that were so exquisite I could hardly bear them, and living the pain of the characters and burning with anger at a racist violent world that should never have been allowed to exist, that we should have destroyed before it was even born...and yet that always will contain beauty and strength because people always have that in them. And Simmons' words ball it all out like Raymond Charles Douglas' horn, like Miles Davis, like the blues, the hurting beauty that does a heart good.

Ha, you can tell I am a big old sucker when it comes to words, these are some of the best.

The title of this novel is, I think, taken from a critics description of the the playing of jazz great Miles Davis. The back cover of the book says the author was inspired to write this because of Miles. Though, I didn't personally know Miles Davis,based on various published material I really don't see the connection. The real Miles came from an upper class family. His father was a dentist. He went to New York to study at Julliard and fell into the bebop life where his talent evolved. He was a heroin addict and even for a time, a pimp. The hero here is Raymond Douglas who basically grew up in the ghetto's of St. Louis. He played football well, learned the trumpet and for a time was quite successful selling pot. His growing up is well chronicled as well as some romantic interludes and the maturation of his musical talent. The only connection that I see to Miles Davis is that both were Black, both hailed from the St. Louis area and both played the trumpet. Of course Miles was a world wide innovator and universally acclaimed star. In this book, Raymond Douglas received nowhere near that stature.So, if one removes the supposed Miles Davis connection,this is a decent novel with a jazz flavor but certainly not a particularly memorable read.

From the opening lines you feel the turmoil of one man's struggle with becoming a man. There isa deep sadness and confusion throughout the book that is masterfully captured in imagery and dialog. It reflects the soul of a jazz musician to its darkest and most enlightened moments. Beautiful piece of American Literature.

Upon the death of Mitchell Storm's grandfather the title of "The Chief of the Name, Clan, and Family of Storm" passed to him, as did the responsibility to restore the family fortune and bring prosperity once again to the people of the Isle of Storm, Scotland. His one hope lies with a family legend of a Templar Treasure buried on the Isle in the 1300's. The clue to unlocking the mystery is one of a half dozen Victorias (as in Queen Victoria of England) disposed of in an 1879 auction. All the heirlooms were purchased by Andrew Storm and were shipped off to America. Mitchell must travel to America and prevail on his aristocratic American cousin to help him in his quest.

Victoria Storm (Torey) Mitchell's fourth cousin agrees to help him on his quest and in the process falls for the dashing Scotsman, though love doesn't flow smoothly, as a scheming mother/daughter duo arrive on his doorstep.

Simmons' descriptive talent is so rich that I felt as if I stood in the same room with Mitchell and Torey. I really didn't want this book to end. The blend of history and well-planned fiction makes No Ordinary Man no ordinary read!

Suzanne Simmons's "NO ORDINARY MAN" is a great book. At first it seemed like one of those old love novels, which tend to be boring, but Ms. Simmons did herself well when writing this book. It's trully amazing the way it all happens. I would recommend it to everyone!

Victoria (Torey) Storm, a fabulously wealthy, attractive, sincere, and kind young woman from the U.S. East Coast (is this possible, really?) is attracted to and helps her fourth cousin, Mitchell Storm, Chief of the Scottish Clan Storm, find a buried treasure that makes it possible for Mitchell to live on his island, take care of his 800 island clansmen, and offer Torey a life of beauty and charm. The dialogue is simple, witty, and honest. The plot blends modern and historical. The setting flits from East Coast mega-wealth to a quaint Scottish island. Although the "struggle" is not difficult and you never doubt the outcome, the dreamlike, wispy heroine and always correct, strong hero keep you reading just to enjoy the calm of these happy, confident people. You want this couple, and their friends, to be your friends.

This edition includes an Introduction and Foreword by the translator, various Forewards by the author, a section containing the textual variants of passages that were removed from the original published editions, and an appendix of 8 critical articles about the book.

From the book's back cover:

The Petty Demon is one of the funniest Russian novels. It is also the most decadent of the great Russian classics, replete with naked boys, sinuous giirls, and a strange mixture of beauty and perversity. The main hero, Peredonov, is as comical as he is disgusting. He is at once a victim, a monster, a silly hypocrite, and a sadistic dullard.

The plot moves from Peredonov's petty quest for promotion to arson and murder via one of the most incredible and uproarious scandal scenes in world literature, the masquerade ball which the boy Sasha attends as a beautiful geisha. The electricity of the relationship between the androgynous, pubescent Sasha and the lovely Lyudmila, with her exoptic perfumes, caresses and lubricious fantasies, seldom fails to hold the reader's attention.

Even in its censored form, it is one of the most provacative and sexually open of Russian books. Sologub removed many pasages (15 percent of the text) which would have been unacceptable at the time of publication. In this edition these censored sections are appended, and are all keyed so that the reader can place them in the novel as it was originally written.

there are two main characters here. perodonov and the village. P is not quite a sympathetic figure. he starts about being pathetic and patronizing. he is led to believe some untrue things which makes his actions bizzare to the village, and therefore tension starts. between ambition and reality and lack of acceptance, p starts losing his sanity. the book is at times really great, but the plot isn't carried out masterly, and some of the things in the book seem to lack relevance in the end.

The Petty Demon is a turn of the century symbolistic novel set in a small Russian village. Many self-absorbed characters interact with only their own best interests in mind and attempt to deceive, mislead and cheat each other while the main character 'Peredonov' attempts to secure a school inspector's position for himself. A side plot is the unnatural relationship between Lyudmila (a young woman) and Sasha (a pre-pubescent male whom is often mistaken for a girl dressed as a boy). Lyudmila is obsessed with pagan thoughts about the young boy and pursues him in a slightly sexual manner without becoming a truly sexual relationship. Peredonov begins the novel as slightly disturbed and ends the novel by becoming completely mad and commiting murder in a fit of paranoia-induced rage.

Ignore the Format

If you're like me, you enjoy beautiful cookbooks with full-color photos of every dish, each perfectly prepared, garnished and groomed by a food stylist, and plated on co-ordinating dinnerware. This is not one of those books. This book is not even book-sized, has one photo (the [soft]cover), and feels only slightly more expensive than the pad of Mad Libs you took on junior high field trips. It is, however, indispensible if you're looking to make your own pasta from scratch, especially with the aid of a food processor. Forget breaking eggs into a well of flour and hoping your kitchen doesn't end up looking struck by nuclear winter. These recipes work quickly and well, even in a humid kitchen.

Basic Pasta Plus

The basic pasta recipe is great, especially for lasagne noodles you can custom-cut to fit your pan, but the real reason to make your own pasta is to make flavors you can't readily buy in the store. I've tried the spinach pasta and red pepper pasta variants, both with success. The book also has very helpful instructions for using a pasta machine. You can make these recipes with just a kitchen counter, a rolling pin, and a sharp knife, but I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you're researching traditional cooking or enjoy martyrdom, use a food processor and have your hand-cranked or electric pasta roller and cutter standing by.

Maybe Buy Capers but Don't Change Your Life

Even though making fresh pasta is usually a weekend project, the authors have made quite a stab towards weeknight convenience on the basis that once you've made and dried your pasta, it will keep for several weeks. The book includes many recipes for sauces that can be assembled and cooked in the time it takes to cook your pasta. There is also a section on how to set up a pasta addict's pantry so you can be ready to transform whatever is lingering in your fridge into a quick weeknight sauce. WARNING: Unless you harbor constant cravings for sundried tomato paste and the many permutations of tinned anchovies, this section is a mistake.

Alfredo Only

The majority of the sauce recipes, although fast, tended to be either amazingly oily or very humdrum in comparison with some of the better jarred sauces. The recipes are simple enough to preclude spectacular failures, but most don't justify effort beyond popping the vacuum seal on some Barilla sauce. The exception to this was the recipe for authentic Alfredo sauce, which was both fast and delicious as promised; my dinner guests have quietly asked for this recipe following the meal. The pesto recipe works--with more basil and less oil--but I rail against a recipe that requires major modifications to meet my taste. Alfredo aside, I'd recommend making up your own sauce recipes or checking back issues of Cook's Illustrated magazine.

In short, buy this book for the pasta recipes and the education in pasta making--it IS worth it; make the lovely Alfredo if you're not on a diet; and look elsewhere for colorful sauces and photos to match.

My friend and I are teen-agers and though we can't cook much else, these recipes are what they're advertised to be: quick, extremely easy, and they're delicious too. My parents will even eat my cooking with these recipes. I highly recommend this book, for any level. You won't regret buying this book!

Pasta Lovers,

This is one of the greatest pasta cook books on the market today. My father and I are constantly searching for new pasta flavors and this little book is our favorite. My book is so worn and used I have to buy another copy soon. Highlights are the white clam sauce and the meatball sauce.

Try them all with the wine suggestions. You will want to personally thank Coleen and Bob.

Matthew Walsh