Williams Books

I am inveterate reader of all kinds of books and got this book after a pretty good review in the NYTimes Book Review. The book was a difficult to find and I finally ended up ordering it from Amazon- not a bad thing! It was an easy read and not hard to keep ahead of what was going on. I think it was relatively easy to tell it was a first book for the author. All in all an okay read.

wow, just wow. this is an awesome book! sucks you in from the first page and doesnt stop. great characters and dialogue, nonstop chills and suspense and even some surprise laughs! my only complaint is that it didnt last longer, i finished it in 2 days.

The Grindhouse - the origin of the 'B' Movie. "Crimson Orgy" follows director Sheldon Meyer as he attempts to shoot his borderline pornographic to some film, 'Crimson Orgy' - but no one ever said show business was easy as on set problems are abound, the cops are on his tail, nature is working against him, and his own inner demons begin to consume him - at what cost does Meyer pay to get that he desires. "Crimson Orgy" is a deftly written, exciting tale from first page to last, highly recommended for community library fiction collections and anyone who seeks an edgy story set in the heyday of the Grindhouses.

Being a horror fan of every book or movie, I had to get this book when I first heard about it. I was not dissappointed. I was able to see what goes on in a movie shoot, how the actors interact with each other, what the job entails, and the attitudes of everyone involved. I knew this book was building up to a big ending and that it wouldn't be pretty, but I wasn't expecting the absolute horror of it all. It was like watching an
impending train wreck, knowing it was going to happen, unable to stop it, knowing it would be horrific, but unable to look away when it happened.

Readers who gravitate toward the edgier side of fiction, such as myself, are anticipating the release of "Snuff" by Chuck Palahniuk with great relish. I'd strongly recommend all Palahniuk fans pick up a copy of "Crimson Orgy" by Austin Williams at their first opportunity.

Seamlessly blending pitch-black humor with suspenseful and horrific elements, this tale of insanity, murder and mayhem offers a distinctly unnerving literary experience. Like Palahniuk's new book, "Crimson Orgy" immerses readers into the urban mythology of snuff movies, but the scope here is much broader than you might initially suspect. Beyond weaving a taut narrative of cinematic malfeasance, Williams masterfully sketches out a vivid portrait of exploitation filmmaking as it was practiced in decades past.

Dripping with swampy atmosphere, punctuated by quoatable dialogue and loaded with a shattering sense of inevitability, "Crimson Orgy" will make you laugh and cringe with equal measure. It easily tops my list of recent favorites.

This is the second book involving a WW I four stacker destroyer in an alternate time/place. The continuing story of how a group of beings come together to fight for survival against an overwhelming force of evil creatures. The story is well based in real capabilities as far as how the ships and weapons are made and perform in battle. No magic tricks or forces, the equipment, tactics and effects based on sound physics and historical development. The alliances and politics are further realistic challenges for the crew and their alliance. I find it a wonderful imaginary study in how people in grave times of need can perform extraordinary things with the right leadership. Also, the story takes into account those who are of lesser character, the problems they cause and how they are dealt with. If you have every found yourself thinking about a battle or some military group from history, or the present, and wonder, "What if they had to face ____?" this is the book for you.

Series by new author Taylor Anderson is very good. Shows talent equal to David Weber or SM Stirling. Third book will be released in February 2009. I sincerely hope that it will not be the last.

I read the first book and got curious; the story took turns I wasn't expecting, but this book was great! Very exciting and hard to put down, I can't wait until the next one comes out!

Taylor Anderson has done it again. I received "Crusade" right before a major back surgery and it really made recovery a lot easier. I just could not put the book down, and was naturally left waiting for the next book in the series. Taylor's continued refinement of characters is almost beyond belief. The way he handles Matt Reedy's character and the responsibilities of command, makes it obvious that Taylor understands the military. His approach to finding the other destroyer, Mahan, along with the joy felt by the crew is phenomenal. As is the terror felt by all when it is found that thier enemy in the new world have the Japanese cruiser, Amagi, at their side.

This book only makes one want February to get here so that the third book of the series, Maelstrom, will be released. I hope that this will not be the last of Taylor's literary contributions.

It will be a pleasure to finally be able to catch up with Taylor so that I can get all three books autographed.

This is another great book Taylor Anderson. You need to rear the first book in the series before this one or you will be lost. Well worth your money. Can't wait for the next one to come out.

love this book broke down many times on some of the letters great book!!

This marvelous little book offers a parallel and human voice to the more academic books about Vietnam.
There is no "agenda", here just a selection of moving, articulate, impassioned voices talking about their experiences and feelings at the time they were there. Some of the most moving, of course, being those from young people who would die shortly thereafter. We see through the letters in the book that even on the front lines this "war" was seen through a wide diversity of opinions, from those that were totally committed to it, and why (though they tend to become less prevalent as the years pass), to those who came to believe it was not a worthy effort to justify the consequences. And the majority, just confused. A must read.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants to see the Vietnam war from the eyes of those who were there. The book is a collection of writings from Vietnam veterans that were written during there time in country. This book shows the War as more than casualty numbers and battle field dates. A good read for everyone.

This book captivated me so that i could not put it down, untill i had finished. It touches your heart and soul. Wonderful read!! Please put it on DVD!!! Thank you :-)

After the amazing documentary about Vietnam that solely exists of actor voice overs of funny, goofy, anxious and heartbreaking letters home from soldiers at the battlefront in Vietnam, accompanied by graphic footage of the war itself, this book came out. It contains the letters read out in the movie, and additionally has some more background information about the soldiers who wrote the letters.

Even without the trained actor voices reading the letters out loud to you, and without the grim and realistic war images, this book is a pageburner. Heart-wrenching accounts of the legacy of war written by the soldiers that fought it, as well as by the people they left behind.

There will always be one and only one Jacques Torres.I love this book actually made a few recipes from here.Its not everyday type of deserts but true masterpieces. Can you tell I am one of his biggest fans.I truly miss seeing him on food [...]

This book is autstanding. Although, the book that I was sent by your dealer is a black and white photocopy of Jacuqes original book since I've used his book before and I am great admirer of jacques.I love his book DESSERT CIRCUS BUT THE COPY THAT YOU SENT ME IS A CHIP COPY THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ANY PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL DESSERTS AS THE ORIGINAL COPY HAS. WHEN I PURCHASED THE BOOK TROUGH YOU OVER THE INTERNET IT WAS STATED THAT IT WAS A USED COPY OF DESSERT CIRCUS BY JACQUES TORRES BOOK. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE PHOTOCOPY THAT YOU SENT ME. IF YOU LIKE TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE DO SO @ HEBERESTRADA@HOTMAIL.COM

"Dessert Circus" is the companion cookbook to Jacques Torres' television series, filled with step-by-step instructions and photos to help you recreate all his delicacies at home. After flipping through the book, I had my doubts.

Every recipe I tried was delicious. My favorite recipe has to be his "Chocolate Cornflakes". Delicious and fun to make.

Things I noticed about these recipes: They seem designed for parties and less for home cooking. Yields were large, with servings for 8 seeming to be the magic number. If you want to impress, you'll love this book. There is a fair amount ingredients that may be hard to find.

To recreate many of the recipes listed will require: time, talent, and a little prayer to pull off. This is not to say that the results aren't worth it. Desserts like the impressive "Nougatine Basket with Fruit Sorbets" (three diamonds) can be accomplished, you simply have to take your time and be prepared.

If you've ever looked at an issue of "Chocolatier" or "Pastry: Art & Design" magazines, you have a good idea of what you'll be in for with this cookbook. Cooks looking for a challenge will find plenty of recipes to choose from.

The author clearly loves what he does. I love the fact that there is a picture along with each recipe. Very detailed. I would buy ANY book by this author!

Jacques is an excellent teacher who doesn't seem to try to omit an ingredient or a secret technique as some chefs do. He is eager to share his thoughts on how to make each recipe a success and even includes the decorative touches that make people ooh and ahh. I've tried, and with great success, the desserts involving Jacques' light puff pastry and the tender flaky tart shell recipes and they please both the eye as well as the palate. I entertain frequently, making twelve course Chinese meals and always ending with a French dessert, most of which now come from 'Dessert Circus' or is inspired by it. I especially enjoy watching my guests' delight over the desserts. Thank you, Jacques.

This was one of the most thoughtful personal readings that I have read in a long time. It gives insight into our culture as we know it. Many of us, myself included, have had one or both parents come to the U.S. from Hong Kong area. As children we may have not fully understood what they were trying to impart regarding their experiences growing up. Yet we held on to these oral histories. It is refreshing to see that someone has chosen to reduce the oral histories to written stories and share with others. I found that there is re-affirmation,common experiences and comfort in this book. It was well worth the read and is worth re-reading. Thank you.

Reading this book brought back memories of my parents and my childhood living in the Bay Area. My parents were from the same area and the terms like "ji-ji ja-ja" made me smile and laugh, it was said in our household. The soups my mom made were of the same ingredients, unfortunately I did not learn how to prepare them. I do know of the "medicinal" value of each of them. The stories of Chinatown reminded me of how my values were developed by my parents. Those values helped me survive the temptations presented in my life and still respect my elders.
William's book has provided additional insight to my parents heritage and deeper understanding of how we, the children perceive our parents as we "grew" up in a different world of "Western" values.
Thank you William Poy Lee for making it important enough to write and share this tribute to your mother. It is also a tribute to mine.
Oakland, CA...CLim

a wonderful and moving memory of mother and son, of Toisan and San Francisco, looking into the future from the past.

What a great book. I just finished reading it. There were so many layers to his story that I found so interesting: the American immigrant story of being uprooted into a strange land and customs, the attention to detail about Toisan food , the history of Chinese immigration to America and the racism they faced, and the racism faced by Asian Americans in contemporary America, the unveiling of the facade of Chinatown as a tourist postcard , the author's coming of age during the chaotic turmoil of the 60's and 70's, his relationship with his brother , and of course hearing his mother's story and the "Eighth Promise".
It's just a great story overall and he ties everything together well.
On a personal note, being a Korean American man , it's wonderful seeing more Asian American male voices that are being heard in literature today.

I was drawn to The Eighth Promise, as I automatically veer towards any books related to China. Then I realized that this wasn't just about China, but about America as well. The author grew up in San Franscisco's Chinatown during quite volatile times--the Vietnam war, Civil Rights protests, Chinatown wars. I was fascinated by this history which he so vividly brought to life. Then, a terrible thing happened to his family, a terribly unjust, unfair thing that you would hope doesn't happen in America. I was moved to tears by the grace with which they dealt with this horrible injustice.
The Eighth Promise is an insightful book about Chinese Culture, American history during the 60's, 70's, and most importantly, grace in the face of injustice.

I grew up watching Chips and my older brother Jose, who later actually worked for the CHP for 20 years, was often teased as being an Erik Estrada lookalike.
So this character had a place in my life. It was great as a teenager-twentysomething Chicano to have a role model that was so successful. Estrada was so popular that his success and presence blunted a lot of negative role models and rascism I faced growing up.
The book details his early life and early career. That was really helpful in fleshing out the larger than life image I grew up with. I love autobiographies to see how the person weathers the storms in their life. I love connecting the dots and stepping stones of their life. Estrada had a reputation for being difficult to deal with; his most touching admission is that the lack of a father figure prevented him from learning how to get along w/ difficult people, how not to burn bridges etc. I found that very insightful.
He was a serious actor who worked his way up. After Chips, his success in a Mexican soap opera gave him an insight to his Latino background. He grew up a New York Puerto Rican (NewYorican?) who had never fully grasped what the Latino world is. As a Chicano educator, activist, nationalist I am happy when I see "Born Again Chicanos" or in this case Born Again Boricua.
Read this book and understand part of the 1970's.

If you or a friend like Erik Estrada - you'll enjoy reading this book. It is written to keep your attention and interest to continue. WELL DONE! A great gift idea for an Estrada fan.

I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED ERIK, SINCE I WAS A TEEN AND NOW TO READ ALL ABOUT HIM, WAS GREAT, I REALLY ENJOYED TO HEAR HIS LIFE STORY, AND HOW HIS MOM RAISED 3 KIDS ALONE AND HE DID HIS BEST TO KEEP HIS MOM HAPPY, AND I LOVE CHIPS I WATCH IT EVERY MORNING ON TNT AT 6:00AM IN THE MORNING BRINGS BACK MEMEORYS OF HIM. I VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT HE FINALY FOUND THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE. AND HE'S A GREAT DAD TO HIS TWO BOYS AND HIS DAUGHTER. AND GLAD TO SEE HIM BACK ON TV ON THE BALD AND THE BEATUIFUL. TAKE CARE

I've been a fan of Erik Estrada's since the first season of "CHiPs", and am still an actively dedicated fan. I bought the autobiography in hardcover on sight without hesitation. The fan wanted the book immediately, and the amateur critic and aspiring writer have yet to regret the decision.

I don't read a lot of autobiographies because I lose either interest in the story or respect for its author. The conversational style and the honest and balanced telling of this story grabbed my attention on Page 1 and held it through a cover-to-cover reading. Aside from giving details not usually revealed through other means, this book presented itself as something special from the first moment. I wasn't reading an autobiography with stylized prose and a detached third-person feel. I was listening as someone I have long admired told me about who he is and where his roots lie. I felt the story as it was being told, from the frustration of Hollywood's own form of politics to the elation of true love and a treasured family. From triumph to tragedy, it's all there. It's a story of courage, determination, faith and love - personal, cultural and spiritual.

It's easy for celebrity autobiographies to become self-serving tell-all's, but this book maintains a straightforward perspective, allowing the story to be told with dignity and with class. It's a breath of fresh air, and an absolute pleasure to read. The fans who have remained devoted through the bad press and the "where are they now" stories have long held the hope that the truth would be revealed. It has in a compelling story, straight from the heart and well worth the wait. Thank you, Erik, for sharing your side of the story.

If you're a fan, this book is a must. If you're not, read it and you just might become one.

Erik Estrada's book is the best Hollywood bio I have ever read. He holds nothing back and is very honest about rough times and regrets in his life (i.e. failed marriages, his shaky relationship with Larry Wilcox). He seems like such a terrific person and great friend, too. God bless him, Nanette, and his two boys.

Also, wasn't Mr. Estrada so much fun to watch in "CHiPS '99:? :)

This book is to be a gift and it answers all the questions I would think a person would want to know about the subject of fish and shellfish. I believe it will make the kind of cookbook that will be useful, and also open the door to many kinds of dishes that one may not know about.

Anything you could possibly want to know about fish, how to buy them, when to buy them, where to buy them, and the best possible way to cook them is ALL in this book. The recipes are all fairly simple - any home cook with a moderate amount of experience should be able to execute them easily. There are also a number of helpful resources like sauces, how to filet (and when not to), and different cooking techniques to achieve different flavors and results.

If you're serious about eating more fish or getting more adventurous with the way you cook it - this is a must have.

If you have ever had a question about any type of sauce this is the book to own! The basic for every sauce begins with good stock and that is not overlooked in this book!! It is a must have!!

I got this for a gift for a friend from NJ. He was always complaining about there never being recipes for obtuse fish, shellfish and bi-valves. When he opened this book, he didn't put it down for 2 days. He is STILL raving about it! Kudos!

No more searching through a string of specialty cookbooks for that fresh idea for tonight's dinner. Look no farther.

Fans of this series of books will know that most are very good, a few are duds, and a fair number are amazingly good. Professor Doyle's review of one of the major events in European history is firmly in that last category.

It is both an account of the events themselves and an overview of how they have been interpreted. The subject is complex and has aroused strong opinions across the ideological spectrum. Doyle gives all sides a fair hearing, but with the occasional wry comment that hints at where his own sympathies lie. The emphasis throughout is on the broader historic context rather than being an attempt to cram details into a short introduction. Both readers new to the subject and those looking for a review of where studies in the area now stand will be well served by this book.
[PeterReeve]

This book is very helpful for a quick review of the facts. I used it to brush up on dates and figures before a midterm and a final on this topic. Its well organized for a quick read.

I found this Very Short Introduction to be accurate, informative, and written in an interesting and readable style....This book fulfills admirably the series goal of providing solid, lucid introductions to topics without being simplistic...I think readers already familiar with the history and events of the French Revolution will enjoy the author's style and modern day perspective on this historic event...

I highly recommend this volume to anyone who wants to know about the French revolution but doesn't have a lot of time to spend on it. I read it while waiting between flights. Doyle is an excellent writer and the volume is very engrossing (good enough that I have subsequently checked out his full treatment of the revolution). He does a good job of covering all of the basics of the French revolution and warning readers where the shortfalls are in the book because it is a brief treatment. But what I really liked about the volume is his discussion where he looks at the French revolution as it is treated today and the 200th anniversary that occured just under a decade ago.
I highly recommend it.

Lets face it: many people point to the French Revolution as the source of innumerable subsequent political ideological movements, but when pressed, nevertheless have difficulty describing the essential elements and personages involved in the actual event. One likely cause for this phenomena is the habit of "aping" the attributions of others without really knowing the subject matter itself -- the subject has long since passed into a popular and iconographic status -- but another reason is surely the bewildering array of people involved in the event, the need for a precursory understanding of the "Ancient Régime," and the sheer number of divergent events leading to the culminating outcome. In this sense, Doyle's book well serves the introductory reader well by helping the reader develop a foundational understanding of the French Revolution through its clear verbiage, introduction to personages, and its narrative timeline approach. The book, too, sets the stage for additional derivative studies (perhaps by using the popular works by Furet, Schama, and others) while still being able to stand on its own as a primer to the subject. Of particular interest is Doyle's presentation on how the event has been divergently interpreted by historians over the past two centuries. In summary, not only is the text a bargain, but it provides a great "very short introduction" to a critical historic event in an exceptionally interesting and accessible structure. I have to say that I immensely enjoyed it.

Easy and great food every time. This book was recommended by my good friend. I had to get it.

The recipes my wife and I have made have been great. I like the organization by season. The "meal plans" are often too much for just the two of us. We usually just cook the entree. I'm also happy that these vegetarian meals don't rely too heavily on dairy products.

The only reason this book doesn't get 5 stars is because there isn't a photo for every dish. The photos in the book, however, are nice.

I have truly enjoyed this cookbook! Since my husband decided to go vegan I was at a loss at to what to make for dinner every night; I mean, you can only eat so much pasta before you start packing on the pounds. The objective was to get healthy, not add more weight. So I went in search of a cookbook that could help me with protein supplements, variety, and more veggies. I made the best purchase in this cookbook.
Yes, many of the products used in the recipes are not things you find in all grocery stores but with access to a health food store you will be okay. And the dishes will be worth the extra trip.
I love the menu style in which this cookbook is written. Everything is laid out for you; it could not be easier. I find the recipe I want to make, photocopy the page and take it to the grocery store with me.
The book is also divided into the four seasons; spring, summer, fall and winter. This way you are more apt to find the fruits and veggie within the recipe most plentiful and at their peck of flavor.
Make the purchase, you won't regret it. Excellent photos as well!

I love this cookbook!!!! The recipes are healthy, fast and always delicious. I have finally started going through the cookbook and making every dish because even when something sounds iffy,its great. I mean steamed cheese stuffed romaine leaves over a kidney bean tomato sauce...I don't know...but delicous and a crowd pleaser. I use the book often for entertaining and sometimes feel like I'm serving take out because the recipes take so little time, but taste and look like I spent hours slaving away.

This book has changed my life- seriously! My kids and husband are now convinced that I am a good cook, and we can all sit down to a delicious vegetarian dinner every night of the week! The recipes are easy to prepare, and once you start using them, you will have most of what you need on hand to create almost anything in the book for that season! Its really terrific; I can't recommend it highly enough!!

May Sarton is an insightful writer in all of her books. Although I am not a cat lover, I read the book first before deciding whether or not my cat-lover reader friends would enjoy this book. I know they will. The hardcover edition is especially nice for a gift. The illustrations in the book are a treasure as well.

May Sarton, poet and journal-writer extraorindaire, wrote a novella/poem to the Cat, the Gentleman Cat, called "The Fur Person". I have reread this masterpiece every year for the past 25 years. "The Fur Person" is for children and adults, for everyone!

This is a good book both children and adults. Couldn't wait to read the next chapter.

This book was given to me as a gift and after reading it I promptly bought 4 from Amazon to give as gifts for the holidays. The author has truly captured her cat's essence. It's beautifuly written and tells just how much love a cat needs and gives. I highly recommend this book.

Author May Sarton has given me some of my most reflective reading experiences with her journals but I've been much less organized about reading her poetry and novels. When I spotted her 1957 short novel The Fur Person it was an easy choice to grab it. Sarton spent her last twenty years in Maine, so I have a special interest in her work.

The story, told from the cat's point of view, is of a stray cat, a Cat-about-town. His life on the streets is guided by the Ten Commandments of the Gentleman Cat, such as "Never allow constraint of your person under any circumstances." One day the hunger and homelessness begin to pall, and our cat goes about "finding a permanent home and staff." His search brings him to the home of Sarton and her partner, who are known to the cat as Gentle Voice and Brusque Voice. Once installed in their home in Cambridge, MA, he dines on creamed haddock, keeps the neighborhood cats in line, and has the occasional catnip bender. They name him Tom Jones because he was a foundling, and perform their servant duties admirably. This little parable ends with our cat musing on what it means to be a Fur Person: a status that can only occur "if the human being has imagined part of himself into a cat."

The Fur Person is a short but essential read for cat lovers. The 1978 edition has a preface by May Sarton containing a rare treat: she tells the story of going away for a sabbatical year and leaving house and cat in the care of Vladimir and Vera Nabokov. The great writer used Sarton's study, where he installed a semi-reclining stuffed armchair for his writing -- with Tom Jones draped across his chest.

This is a charming little book that says as much about the people as the cat, and even more about the comfort of home and family. Every lover of cats or of the English language will enjoy it.

Linda Bulger, 2008