Stewart Books

I was extremely surprised that Arnold didn't mention meeting me in the parking lot of Houston's Memorial Park one evening after he'd finished a round of golf and I was returning to my car after running on the track there. We had a memorably joyful conversation -- I asked him how he was doing, and he said fine, and he asked me how I was doing, and I said fine, and we both smiled. He should have mentioned that episode, but he didn't

This is another type of book that any Arnold Palmer fan will love to read. This edition not only had my interest from Palmer's written words, but the clever inserts of about a dozen or so Palmer collectibles made it all the more intriguing. It was a book that once I picked it up could not put down. The story of his career and family life that was extremely interesting and insightful, yet entertaining. From a personal perspective I liked 'A Personal Journey' but was even more impressed with this one !

Before there was Governator Arnie there was Arnie the golfer. It seems like golf has always had a shining star or two that go beyond the game to making a lasting impression on the world at large. And Arnie certainly fit that. He generated an image for a generation of people, inspiring to do better in their work, in their life. Not the world's best golfer, he's simply Arnie, the world famous guy next door. His approachability and down-home humility have secured his status as one of the most admired people in and out of sports.

This book could almost be his scrapbook. It combines stories, both personal and professional, rare photos from his private collection and removable facsimilies of twelve collectibles from his archives.

This is a fascinating book with which to curl up during the long winter months. A good Christmas present for the golfer in the family.

When Rebecca Reid, a historian working on her doctorate, is offered a job evaluating the estate of James Forbes, she can't help herself, she has to go, despite the protests of her clinging fiancé. Forbes' estate includes an exact replica of a Scottish castle in the middle of Ohio that is chock-a-block full of Scottish treasures and collectables, plus Rebecca knows that Forbes owned the Erskine Letter, a letter that may very well prove that Mary, Queen of Scots' son had been switched at birth. What a coup that would be for her Ph.D. dissertation. And as a bonus the job would give her some time away from that fiancé who she's no longer so sure about.

However when she arrives the castle seems haunted. Something is stalking the halls, tossing around dishes, messing with the lights, but when valuables start vanishing, Rebecca suspects more than just ghosts. Her quest to find out just what is going on is further complicated by a couple of gorgeous guys - Michael Campbell, a Scottish professor on the scene to decide which of Forbe's treasures would go home to Scotland and which would go to the historical society and Eric Adler, the handsome executor of the Forbes estate. It's not long before she breaks her engagement as she attempts to solve both the mystery of the vanishing valuables and the mystery of which gorgeous guy is the guy for her.

I couldn't put this book down and that's saying something, because I first read ASHES TO ASHES several years ago, then bought it again in eBook format after my hardcover went south somewhere about three years ago. I have it again now in paperback and it's still as good, still as intense as ever. I just loved this book and I think you will too.

When historian Rebecca Reid heard about the chance to help catalog Dun Iain's treasures, she jumped at the chance. After all, how often does a historian get to visit an exact replica of an ancient Scottish castle in the middle of Ohio? She knew that James Forbes, the castle's owner who had just passed away, owned the Erskine letter - a letter which just might prove that Mary, Queen of Scots' son was switched at birth for another woman's. It was just what she needed for her Ph.D. dissertation. It also gave Rebecca a chance to get away from Ray, her cloying fiance, whom Rebecca was slowly falling out of love with.

When Rebecca arrived at Dun Iain, she immediately was embroiled in old feuds and shadows of the past. Nothing could have prepared her for the ghostly presences that stalked the halls clunking loudly up and down the stairs, throwing dishes in the kitchen, turning on and off lights in rooms, moving crystal bottles from floor to floor. And nothing could have prepared her for the living people at Dun Iain: Michael Campbell, the Scottish professor sent from the museum to separate out the Forbes' family treasures and decide what would go to home to Scotland and what would stay with the historical society; Eric Adler, the charming, handsome executor of the Forbes estate; Dorothy, the eavesdropping busybody of a housekeeper who had been cleaning Dun Iain for thirty years of more; Steve Pruitt and his girlfriend Heather who always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time; James Forbes, who, even after death refused to leave his beloved castle and stumped up and down the corridors and stairways; and Elspeth, James' beautiful mother, who threw herself from the 5th story window when she lost her daughter...

When priceless treasures turn up missing and Rebecca and Michael keep getting involved in mysterious "accidents", Rebecca is forced to admit that the ghosts aren't the only spooky things at Dun Iain. Eric is quite charming and she does enjoy their evenings together, but there is something holding her back from going all the way. Michael alternates between exasperating and loveable, but he may be stealing valuables to fund his own schemes. She wants to believe the best of everyone, but she knows that her time is running out...

This was a great book by Lillian Stewart Carl, full of romance and intrigue and priceless treasures lost and found. It is an updated version of a Gothic romance, with the heroine feeling lost and alone and plenty of handsome men around to choose from. All of the characters were well drawn and absolutely fascinating, whether hero or villain, all of them had shades of gray in their characters. I am looking forward to reading the sequel - Dust to Dust. Definitely worth your time to check out this author!

While sifting through the antique treasures of the replica of a Scottish castle in Ohio, historians Michael and Rebecca discover two plots one ancient one modern, both linked by the death of a child and both deadly to those involved. Followed by the equally good Dust to Dust and Garden of Thorns.

For anyone who loves baseball, food, wine, Italy, and music (not necessarily in that order), this is the book for you. Dave Bidini's experiences with the Peones are hilarious. Imagine the passion that Italians have about everything in life. Now imagine that passion when arguing with an umpire. Hot dogs in the dugout? Not in Italy. Italians know how to eat! Read this book...you won't be disappointed.

Baseball has been a popular sport in Italy ever since it was first introduced by American soldiers who liberated Italy from the fascist in World War II. Author Dave Didini (along with his wife and two small children) traveled to Nettuno, Italy (south of Rome on the Tyrrhenian coast) to seek out his favorite summer game in what has evolved into the "baseball capital" of Italy since 1944. The serie A team in Nettuno is the Indians -- but this is a team stuffed with talent imported from Latin America. So for six months Didini followed the fortunes of the Serie B Peones, solidly staffed with Nettunese locals. When he returned to America, he sat down and wrote up his experiences with Italian baseball and culture. The result is Baseballissimo: My Summer In The Italian Minor Leagues. A lively and informative account that is a "must read" for anyone with an interest in baseball, as well as the armchair traveler seeking a quite different perspective on living and life in contemporary Italy.

Baseballissimo is one of those books you probably won't find at the bookstore, mainly because they wouldn't know what section to put it in. I only found it because of amazon's amazing "recommended for you" feature. It put together the fact that I enjoy memoirs, baseball, and Italy, and found a book about all three.

Baseballissimo is by Dave Bidini, a Canadian author. A surprisingly high percentage of the offbeat and intriguing books that I come across are by Canadian authors. I don't know how it works exactly, or what the income tax rate must be in Canada to subsidize such a program, but apparently the government actually pays authors to write books. They paid Bidini to take his family (wife, toddler, and infant) to Nettuno, Italy for six months so he could follow the local baseball team, the Peones for a season, and write a book about it. He says his choice was between baseball in Italy or wrestling in Newfoundland. Doesn't sound like a tough choice to me.

Bidini sits in the dugout and sometimes warms up with the Peones, an amateur team in one of the several Italian leagues. He gets to know the players and gives them all nicknames. He finds out how baseball came to be so popular in Italy (American GIs introduced it during World War II). He and his family become temporary residents of the small town of Nettuno near Anzio and about an hour's drive south of Rome. Bidini gets in touch with his roots - his grandparents were immigrants to Canada from Italy. He reminisces about how baseball has always been a part of his life. And he follows the Peones from pre-season training to the exciting season finish against Palermo.

Sometimes you get the feeling that Bidini cares more about the game than the Peones do. They're a good team, but it's just amateur baseball, and they all have day jobs and girlfriends and lives. Bidini's pushing forty and the manager, although still fit and athletic, is in his sixties. The players, mostly in their twenties and in a country where soccer is king, are sometimes late for practice, or are more interested in the fantastic pre-game snacks they've brought. Since this is Italy, there are no hot dogs and sunflower seeds. It's homemade pizza, smooth espresso, and sugary pastries. Sure, the players want to win, and they go all out when they play. But to them it's just a game. Little do they know.

September, 2007 issue of Director's Chair by Peter Marshall

Are you doing a documentary about World War 1? Do you need World War I stock footage for your movie?

This reference book gives concise information about the surviving motion pictures that were taken during WWI, over 90 years ago. BATTLEFILM details 467 film titles that cover America's part in this conflict. Each of the 957 reels of action is described using data gathered from actual U.S. Army records.

This book is the ONLY one in publication today that details readily available WWI films. BATTLEFILM is a superb source of information for stock-footage for that Great War documentary.

July 07 Newsletter by Tony Lazzarini, President Military Writer's Society of America says: "BATTLEFILM, written by retired U.S. Air Force officer, Phillip W. Stewart is a catalog of the WWI era documentary films in Record Group 11 held at the U.S. National Archives. Being involved with documentary films myself, I appreciate good reference material. it's a 'must have' book if you happen to be looking for original film footage regarding WWI. This is a very well organized and detailed catalog."

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (10/07)

Philip W. Stewart has researched, compiled and edited this listing or catalog of historic films of action taken during World War I. The U.S. Army Signal Corps were given the assignment of obtaining photographic coverage of American participation in the War. In the introduction, Stewart reiterates the earlier statement of purpose for the filming made by K. Jack Bauer in 1957. The photographic coverage was ordered for propaganda, scientific, identification, and military reconnaissance purposes, but primarily for the production of a pictorial history of the war.

The book is divided into two sections. Part One covers U.S. military operations from the years prior to the war beginning in 19l4 and through to the returning of the troops in 1918-1919. Included in this section are films related to post-Armistice training, films relating to Allied and enemy activities, and the parades and events celebrating liberty. There are films from Washington D.C., Paris, London, and Brussels featured in these festivities filmed in 1918 and 1919.

As a U S. Navy veteran I took special note of the films related to Naval Operations. There are films featuring submarines, U-boats, destroyers, battleships, our convoy activities, and the return of the fleet in 1918.

Part two is made up of a listing of films featuring civilian activities. Several films cover the years of Woodrow Wilson's administration, his cabinet, the decisions he faced and the treaties he signed. A number of films were made of his trip to Europe in 1918 on the ocean-liner George Washington. He visited France, England and Italy. Additional trips to Europe were made in the following year. Many of the events and receptions attended during these visits were captured on film and are included in the listings.

Films featuring industry as it related to the war effort are also included in this section. The manufacturing of ordnance material, military aeroplanes, gas masks, and shipbuilding are all included.

Other patriotic activities, holiday celebrations and liberty loan drives are featured. I found the films covering the memorial services at Arlington National Cemetery, and the Burial of an Unknown Solider of particular interest.

This book is one of a kind. It is destined to become an important resource for historians, media researchers, documentary producers, and students of films. There are 957 reels of footage shot during the years 1914-1918. These include the WWI era documentary films, in record group 111, held in the U.S. National Archives. Philip W. Stewart has produced an important work in his book "Battlefilm."

Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Phillip W. Stewart (a retired U.S. Air force Lt. Colonel who for more than thirty years has been a film consultant, video producer, television director, multi-media manager, and published author), "Battlefilm: U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Pictures Of The Great War" details 467 film titles covering America's involvement in World War I. A seminal work of exhaustive research characterized by a logical layout and an extensive index, "Battlefilm" is a superbly designed catalog of the WWI era documentary films in Record Group 111 stored at the US National Archives and specifically designed to help researchers, authors, and documentary film makers to find films and scenes they need. In addition to academic library Military History and Film Studies reference collections, "Battlefilm" is confidently recommended as an indispensable reference work for historians, media researchers, documentary produces, film students, and authors working on fiction as well as non-fiction works about American involvement in World War I.

The shipping was quick, and the book is in perfect condition. I would use this source again!

As a novice gardener, I have found many instructional books to be overwhelming; their scope is often too wide for my purposes. The Garden Project Workbook Series, however, provides clear instructions for a variety of creative yet practical designs.

With help from "Beds and Borders" I was able to implement my own design for a small border in my tiny front yard, a step that I would not have been able to accomplish on my own.

All of the books in this series are topical and very worthwhile. I highly recommend them.

This is a good book for the beginning gardner in need of ideas for planting a garden. It illustrates 21 planting schemes and provides brief how-to-do guidelines. Generally included in the instructions are: the latin name of all plants needed and he number of plants needed; special tools and equipment when indicated; designing, spacing, and planting the bed; care and maintenance as well as alternative planting schemes.

This collection of stories was wonderful. Every story was different and the book features a wide range of stories and emotions. I felt transported to a different time and place.

This is a great collection of stories ranging from family tales to folktales.Among my favorite were:John Henry Faulk's "Mrs. Fanny Rollins and her fake rubber bosoms," an old celtic legend of Finn McCoul is quiet but very powerful, Jay Stailey's stories jumped off the page with humor as did Finley Stewart's four offerings.Sometimes sad, often wildly funny the book gives us a glimpse of who we all are as human beings. My husband and I keep it by the bed for a quick reread f a story every now and then.Where can I find more like this?

I found this a WONDERFUL book! The stories are new and great. Perfect for adults and children, these are great stories to read to your kids before they go to sleep. But after they do, you'll keep reading for you!

Betty Crocker's International Cookbook by Betty Crocker. This book has lots of great recipes in it, including a great Szechwan Chicken recipe and a simple Cream of Mushroom soup recipe that I love. I've tried many of the recipes in this book, and, in general, I like them. My edition is the 1980 hardcover edition, which is now out of print. My copy of this one is falling apart, and I have difficulty keeping all the pages in order in it.

Besides my mother's recipes, this is the cookbook I used the most (and I own about 150 cookbooks). By luck, I bought it not long after I got married. The content of this book is a solid foundation for a lifetime of good cooking for weekdays and holidays. I read with curiosity all the comments and tips. They provide good basic information that is necessary for international dishes. The recipes are very reliable, clear and precise. The pictures are great and very helpful. I tried almost all the recipes and we have numerous favorites.
The book is not outdated even 23 years after it was first published. A great selection from all over the world. I bought several copies to my friends and now I buy used ones for my daughters. I don't like Betty Crocker's New International Cookbook as much as this one.

I have also had this book since soon after its publication. I have never been disappointed with the results and refer to it often. The recipes create an authentic tasting international dish, with nice presentation. They may not be as authentic in source ingredients as the Time-Life Series of International Cookbooks, but, and this is a big deal, Betty Crocker makes these dishes accessible to every cook, much like Julia Child made French cooking accessible to the American home cook. My copy is full of sticky notes and bookmarks on the many pages I return to on a regular basis every year (Hot Cross Buns, St. Lucia Buns, Coulibiac, Steak Ezterhazy, Blueberry Crisp, Cheese-stuffed Mushrooms, Greek Cheese Puffs, Couscous, etc etc).

I am sad that I can't buy the original edition in new publication because I truly think it is one of the best in my collection and want my daughter to have a copy!

I don't know who enjoyed this book more -- my kids (who were being read to) or me (I was doing the reading). The story is easy enough for the kids to follow, but interesting enough for any adult. But what makes the book really soar is the hard-boiled, knowing prose, which reminds you of all those great old gumshoe stories and detective movies (think "The Big Sleep, "The Thin Man", etc.) Although this book is, I guess, the second adventure for Sam the Cat, I am now hot on the trail of the first!

Sam the cat detective usually works for a pound of lox, but he's in for more than that amount of trouble when he takes a case trying to find Sandy, the cat actor, who's suddenly gone missing. Sandy is the famous 'blonde' cat who's filmed fifty million Catslop commercials. While this book is written for a Young Adult audience, folks of all ages will enjoy the sense of humor and Chandler-esque word play.

Here's a childrens book that kids of all ages--meaning parents and grandparents!--can enjoy. My grandson read it in school and was so enthusiastic that my daughter bought a copy and brought it to us on a visit. We had a great time reading it to each other, us grown-ups getting a big kick out of the take-off on Raymond Chandler tough-guy detective stories, and the children just hanging on to every word. I heartily recommend it.

What a wonderful compilation of stories. Dr. Villaverde deals with her clients in a very personal and loving way. Many of her stories made me laugh, while others brought tears to my eyes. Her writing kept me so engaged that once I started reading it was hard to put the book down.

what a view into this lives of wonderfully complex charaters who remind us of aspects of our self. Dr. Villaverde gives us a glimplse into her relationship with her clients and how she struggles with boundary issues and rules of engagement. We learn as much about Dr Villaverde as we do about her clients.. She is a spirtual healer, educator, and wise lady who gives a hell of a haircut. I especially love the title
"Blow DRY THIS" I wonder how she selected such a multi symolic title which blends humor, sexuality and style..This book will likely transform the hair industury into subsecialty of spiritual psychotherapy. Reverend Hilda,"You de best" Martin Keller


















blue

Dr. Villaverde's latest book is a treasure trove of stories she has gathered from her clients over the past 39 years. Standing behind the chair in her little hair salon in Scottsdale, AZ, Hilda has heard it all. She tells each of these stories with humor, compassion and love. At the end of the book, I wanted more. Hopefully there will be a sequel! MLDeCoster

Fran Stewart has done it again. Blue as Blue Jeans follows the well-crafted style we've come to expect from the Biscuit McKee mystery series. She's gone deeper in this one than ever before, and is dealing in a completely believable way with characters who grapple with the emotional effects of childhood abuse.
It's not all dark, though. Stewart's usual bright humor is evident throughout the book. Be sure to read the other colors in the series. Orange as Marmalade, Yellow as Legal Pads, and Green as a Garden Hose set the stage for Blue. This book can stand alone, of course, but it's even better if you've already gotten to know the charming townspeople of Martinsville.

BLUE AS BLUE JEANS, the fourth--after ORANGE AS MARMALADE, YELLOW AS LEGAL PADS, and GREEN AS A GARDEN HOSE--of Fran Stewart's Biscuit McKee Mystery Series continues the stories of Martinsville, a small town tucked away in a valley in northern Georgia. Biscuit McKee, the town librarian, and her cat Marmalade (Excuse me, I am not her cat. She is my human.) Ahem. Marmalade and her human, Widelap, are busy again when the swollen Metoochie River that runs through Martinsville deposits a body in the wreckage of the town dock.
I like the graceful way Fran Stewart handles the more sinister currents of her plots while keeping her characters, even the nasty ones, believable. She tells her stories without throwing muck in the reader's face. Along the way her readers pick up delightful tidbits about such topics as gardening, health, and spirituality.
Be sure to note the dates given at the beginning of the chapters. I didn't at first and had a little trouble keeping track of some of the twists and turns of the story. Checking the chapter headings set me straight again.
This is an enjoyable read. Treat yourself -- go back and read her earlier books, too.

It's official! I'm in love with Martinsville and the characters I've gotten to know over the past few years in Fran Stewart's mystery series. Her plots are always original and exciting - no formula here! This book was so captivating that I wish I could start the next one right away.