California Books

Only problem with these books is that they are not complete in explaining the Disneyland resort. Plus, they do not give correct negative reports on lines and other problems.

I used the book to plan my family's first trip to Disneyland Resort. Lots of information on :best time to go, where to stay, info on admission options,description of rides/attractions/shopping, etc... it helped me plan what my family really wanted to see and answered all of my questions about Disneyland and California Adventure. There is also info on attractions outside of Anaheim that would be helpful. Very informative without strongly voiced opinions..

Just like mboothby, I also buy this every year at Christmas and have a good read. It helps me remember the time I've spent there with my family, and the descriptions of the attractions are always a blast to read. The information is great (as if I didn't already have it memorized) and completely accurate. Very good insight for an "official" guide. This is highly recommended for anyone planning either their first trip or their 10th.

Every year I buy the new edition of this book and it never disappoints. Always colorful and chock-full of valuable information. It's a wonderful source for an upcoming trip to the Happiest Place On Earth or just to get a sneak peek of what the Disney magicians have up their sleeves for the coming year.

The nomenclature "Bebop" referring to an extension of American jazz development is, in itself somewhat unfortunate. It is not surprising that many of the musicians at the core of the movement hated the phrase "Bebop" themselves. The jokey sound of the word tends to trivialize the significance and the integrity of the music to which is referring. We tend to think of Bebop as an amusing, but irrelevant, phase of the urban jazz scene. The contribution of Bebop to musical development is both pervasive and irreversible.

Scott DeVeaux's book, "The Birth of Bebop" takes on squarely the issue of the Bebop's place in American music and in America's cultural development of the middle of the 20th-century. He has made excellent use of first-hand accounts, anecdotes, and obscure or original recordings to bring this story to life. He has applied an academic's discipline to documentation of his source material with a high degree of integrity. He achieves a remarkable balance between understanding and dealing with the details of the musical construction in the context of the "race" environments of the 1930s and '40s

This was an important era of American history. In a sense, we would like to forget the gross cultural inequities of the time. There are not many tangible reminders around, although the cultural imprint is still here and not likely disappear in the near future. Fortunately, the music of the era, Bebop, is still accessible through CD re-issues and is continuing to influence modern musical performance right through to a saxophone-toting Lisa Simpson. A key value of "The Birth of Bebop" is to remind us of this continuing connection. This book helps us appreciate the courage and commitment of the proponent musicians exploring this new medium, particularly in the context of nearly-overwhelming daily obstacles in the form of American cultural "Jim Crow" mores and laws.

In a perfect World, this book would come with a companion CD filled with aural samples of the music Mr. DeVeaux discusses organized to illustrate his musical points. This short-coming means that the fullest appreciation of the author's points is only available to those with access to fabulous recording collections of the era or, even more remotely, those with sufficient age and musical memory to bring the musical notation to life.

I am a music major at the University of Virginia, particularly interested in jazz studies, and have had the pleasure of taking several classes under DeVeaux, in particular, one based on this book. DeVeaux's humor, in combination with his musical genius when it comes to the topic of jazz, is expemplified by this book. He explains the hayday of jazz as well as the transition from the swing era into the bop era with incredible detail. Special features in the book are vignettes into the lives of the great artists such as Hawkins and Parker. He compares the styles of several of the pioneers which causes further investigation on the part of the reader to trail the modern jazz progression from the 1940's and 50's on into today. If you've ever wanted to know why the cats play the way the do and how jazz moved from big band swing clubs into bebop jam sessions, this is the author you're looking for.

A 500-page history of bebop that takes 400 pages to get up to the "Groovin' High" Bird & Diz recording session? Whose first 164 pages are all about Coleman Hawkins? Unusual, to say the least, but DeVaux shows how it all makes sense. Hawkins is portrayed as the central motif around which everything else turns: Hawk welcomed progress and a new style, played on the first bop record date (done for Asch in 1944), and opened at Billy Berg's in Los Angeles before Bird & Diz got there. DeVaux is a very good writer, thorough and judicious. Highly recommended.

It's hard to explain the excitement a 13 year old had on first hearing Dizzy Gillespie's THINGS TO COME on Side A and TWO BASS HIT on Side B. Or for that matter, as a 25 year old, on hearing KUSH from AN ELECTRIFYING EVENING WITH DIZZY GILLESPIE relayed on the VOICE OF AMERICA by Willis Conover. Undoubtedly there was something electrifying about the music which Mr Deveaux suggests had a "sense of frustration embedded in its core" p.446. Certainly, it was a musical world away from that of the great Thomas Fats Waller for example whose genius was usually sublimated beneath jumping and jive. It was SERIOUS music and demanded attention. This fine book by Mr Devaux puts the evolution of this revolutionary music in context and inspires one to revisit many of the records including those who inspired the great John Coltrane - Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. It is also of interest to musicians, musicologists, sociologists, historians but as a general reader who loves America's classical music - called jazz - it is a very fine read indeed and about the best book I own on Bebop.

I like to buy guide books to wherever I go, even if a buddy has one. Maybe to donate to the cause or to just have my own copy, little of both. This is by far the best guide book I have ever seen and I own at least 15...

If you are planning on spending any time bouldering in Bishop this guide is a must. To navigate the massive numbers of problems on the enormous rocks before you in this beautiful place you need more than skill, strength and healthy finger tips. This book makes your experience a million times better by recommending great problems to challenge and entertain you and everyone with whom you are climbing. I wish every area had a guide like this. Have fun out there!

Wonderful color pictures of routes and the Bishop area. Overall an amazing guidebook except for one huge oversite by the writers: NO index of problems. You basically have to scan the whole book if you want to find a specific problem. Other than that, its worth buying.

Finally an almost complete guide for Bishop and surrounding area!

Pro: Great pictures, clear layout of many of the popular routes in the area. Overall great description. I don't have any problems finding what I want to do. This book included enough routes for you to do in months. Also it includes bouldering areas around Bishop such as Rock Creek.

Cons: As expected, some errors of index and references. Such as route number on the picture is not corresponding to the description. Some reference number on the overall area map is incorrect as well. They can be easily figured out though. Also, the graphic layout is different between the main Bishop area and the surrounding area, my guess is that it was done by different graphic artist, or at different time. It should have been more consistent.

I believe the 2nd edition will be perfect!

I absolutely could not put this book down! From cover to cover I was hooked: The mastery of Shannon's writing style painted vivid images in my head, and kicked-started my imagination like no other book has in a very long while.

The boldest adventure on paper I've ever been on in my life, I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read at the edge of their seat, and be salivating for more when they're done! It's been a while since an author could stir me up like this...a most welcome change for everyone who's tired of the S.O.S. that clutters much of our bookshelves today. Great job, Barry Shannon!

The tale takes us to places we'd probably best never seek in person, but come wonderfully to lusty life in Shannon's seemingly simple style. Readers will wait as anxiously as will I for the further adventures of JOAT St...John; remarkably, the tale pushes the rather two-dimensional universe of the medium; The wry and apt turn of phrase, the hilarious juxtaposition of events, and the relentless insouciance of the auctorial voice seem to surpass the restrictions, taking this reader more for a flight into, through, and about marvels, than just a drive along the tired turnpike. This one carried me straight through, but already I'm going back for another look at scenes that may be experienced again and again, albeit vicariously. Shannon enters august company, nay even julian enclaves, with other paradigm- pushers such as Laurence Sterne, Richard Condon, and Thomas Perry, each uniquely enriching the volume of the reader's experience. Bold Stroke came to me as a gift, one that encourages me to hang out in anticipation of the next one; even the cover art enhances the package to the benefit of the beholder. Behold and enjoy!

Barry Shannon has written a captivating tale with all the ingredients needed to hook me on the first page and keep me entertained all the way through. His accuracy and attention to detail is significant but never gets in the way of the action. I really liked this one and would certainly recommend it. Good show, Shannon!....hope you write another.

Brilliantly filled with gems of Private Investigator tradecraft, ceaselessly entertaining with madcap and ribald adventures, "The Bold Stroke" engages your interest and exhilarates your sense of humor. It is also a wonderfully readable yarn of a streetwise righter-of-wrongs who seems possessed of indefatigable sexual prowess and joy of life. Yeah! . . . Barry Shannon's hero is just my kind of role model for the New(est) Age.

Paul Robinson

Bone Dry is one scary book: fast-paced, authentic, and suspenseful. But what I liked the most were the characters. There was not one major character who didn't feel fully-realized to me. Even the worst bad guy in it was real, which of course made it even scarier. It kept me up all night reading. I know other readers will enjoy it as much as I did.

A real page-turner! What makes this thriller so compelling, is that there is an eery sense of reality to the story although it is fiction. The authors successfully combine the best and worst of human behavior and set their characters within a fragile medical environment. Current advances in cancer treatment coupled with recent hospital scandals makes this mystery all the more plausable. "Bone Dry" is a white-knuckle read 'til the end, which makes it difficult to put down. Wouldn't be surprised to see this one jump from page to screen--it's got all the ingredients.

As a physician one would think that the last place I'd look for entertainment would be medically related literature. But I find myself drawn to it especially when the story is so plausible and the hospital and clinical characters are so true to life as was the case in this exciting and all-to-possible story. The book just whisked you away from the very start and was impossible to put down. There were some truly macabre and twisted methods that the authors came up with to agonizingly terminate at least one of the characters that only someone in the field could have come up with. But it was the premise of the story that made this one of the best medical mysteries I've read in years because this could really happen and it would be relatively easy given what I know of security in the various hospitals I've worked in to pull this off. Finally, the authors' style of inexorably building tension within a framework of making all the medical technology and jargon understandable to the lay reader just added to the pleasure of this diabolical plot. I highly recommend this book.

In San Francisco's Ridgewood Hospital, the staff is upset as the bone marrow to be used in an autologous replacement surgery to save the life of patient Carl Chapman is missing from the lab. Especially shook up is nurse Gina Mazzio, who has been with Carl from the beginning of his cancer treatment and now cannot understand why he seems so stoic about his pending death.

Lab worker Faye Lindstron stole the bone marrow at the machinations of her boyfriend Frankie Nellis. She has taken others also as Frankie demands fifty thousand dollars from the near death sufferers or they will die. As Alan Vasquez of administration tries to bury the scandal, Gina and a few other caring medical practitioners struggle to uncover why a simplistic procedure has gone awry not knowing that Frankie will kill to continue his lethal scheme.

Medical procedural fans will have a field day with the exciting BONE DRY even with knowing the perpetrators from almost the beginning as authors Bette Golden Lamb and J.J. Lamb use dramatic irony to make Gina question whether Vasquez is the culprit. The story line is action packed never slowing down until the final beach blanket scene. Though Faye is too pathetic a character and Frankie is too evil, readers will devour this strong thriller starring a wonderful Bronx transplant that is quite the lioness when it comes to protecting her cubs (patients).

Harriet Klausner

If you have looked for great muffin, coffee cake, cobbler recipes, this book has them. I'm pretty picky about recipes but I have found some great ones in here. I made the blueberry coffee cake and it was so easy and delicious. The banana bread was great and I can't wait to try others. I'm going to check out her other one!

This cookbook is awesome! I have had it for about 8 years now and have tried quite a few of the recipes and have yet to find one I haven't loved. The recipes are easy to follow and contain ingredients that are usually in my kitchen already or are easy to find at the grocery store. Although everything I've sampled is super-good, my favorites are "Yogurt Coconut Coffee Cake" and "French Breakfast Puffs". Several of the recipes call for 'melted butter or margarine', but I found I can substitute healthier canola oil and the recipes come out great! I highly recommended this cookbook!

So far all the recipes I have tried have been a huge success. The organization is simple, as are most of the recipes, so it is fairly easy to turn out a tasy breakfast with little effort. Like another reader, I am looking forward to checking out the author's other B&B cookbook for more great recipes! Make sure to check out the apple cider syrup in this one, it smells fabulous and tastes even better!

Carol Frieberg continues to find the most delicious, and easy to prepare, breakfasts in town. There are so many good recipes, this book makes it easy to celebrate the morning! I cannot wait until Carol's next B&B adventure.

This book is a great read for people of all ages. Whether your interested in learning more about "The Rock" or need some background information on it, this is the one book for you.

From the colorful pictures scattered throughout the pages to the easy to read layout, you will find yourself immersed in the horrific atmosphere that is Alacatraz.

Few books manage to capture so many elements that make a book sucessful like Breakout! Escape From Alcatraz does. I guarantee you will feel as if you've actually walked through Alacatraz and know exactly why they call it, "The Rock".

I was previewing this book for my 2nd grade classroom and became completely enthralled in it! It's a great adventure/mystery story sure to capture the attention of any child who likes action and suspense! It creates great imagery of Alcatraz and leaves the reader with an eerie feeling of not knowing whether these men made it or drowned in the bay. It's definitely one of my students' favorites in the classroom.

This book outlines in vivid historical detail the legendary escape of three men from the most inescapable prison in U.S. history. The book also explains a brief history of the island of Alcatraz in addition to a brief account of its final days. One of the major themes of this book is that not everyone will be shut up. Out of every prison, or every situation, there is a way out, and there is an escape if one is only willing to take the risks.

Along with colorful illustrations which tell a story by themselves and photographs which provide historically accurate detail, the book also tells an exciting though quite short, true story about the legendary island of Alcatraz. The text is not overrun with needless detail nor is it too general. What I liked best is that by the end of the book, the reader feels as if he or she has just been given a tour of the island prison.

I think Escape From Alcatraz Island was a great book because it had alot of adventure,and I could picture in mind what was going on.also I think it must have been really hard getting chased by a gang through san fransisco near the dwarfs pier,I could probably imagine what it was like locked up in a cell at night in Alcatraz, having to find away to get back home during the morning.

This book is educational, well written and interesting. It provides plenty of information without being wordy or boring. The illustrations are excellent, but photographs would be a nice bonus.

Like most Lone Pine publications, this one is a hit. It's just *fun* and fascinating to read. Part of me would like to see some range maps, and with 20,000 bug species in CA, this book clearly represents a small subset of what you might see. However, in less than 200 pages the author crams an amazing amount of "gee whiz" information. The illustrations of insects discussed are of an unusually high quality (bravo Ian Sheldon).

Excellent illustrations, my kids love it. Would like a bit more in-depth info, but then again, that might make the book a lot bigger...love it!

I just got this guide last month. It has bright attractive illustrations and was an immediate hit with my kids and me. We didn't know much to start with, but this guide has a picture index in the front that makes it easy to find the mystery bug. For us, it helps that we don't need to know taxonomy. Because it is region specific, we don't have to waste a lot of time wading through all the bugs we're unlikely to see anyway--I assume this is something like the "top 100" of local bugs, so just about everything I see in the book looks familiar. I also like that the book provides a little narrative about each bug, not just its name, so we feel like we're really learning something. I suspect it's not big enough for all the bugs we'll come across, but so far it is serving us well by wetting our appetite.

California and Nevada hold a vast array of plant life, many desert plants and Cacti, Agaves, and Yuccas of California and Nevada is therefore a key pick for any California travel or nature collection strong in botany. Sixty species are featured with detailed description complimented by nearly three hundred color photos, 16 botanical watercolors, and over fifty maps. It serves as both a field guide identifying plants and as a natural history survey for any California collection strong in plants.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Stephen Ingram has produced a very worthy field guide with his book "Cacti, Agaves, and Yuccas of California and Nevada"! He goes far beyond the pictures and maps of most guide books and provides detailed sections on the plants' ecology, conservation needs and propogation.
The photos are detailed and stunning, and not limited to the usual one per plant. This is a must have book for any one interested in the plants found in the Mojave desert, as well as parts of nighboring deserts.

Having been a fan of Stephen's exquisite photographs for some time, I was thrilled to find his fabulous book. Besides being a talented photographer, Stephen really knows his stuff. This is THE book to have if you want to learn about the fascinating cacti, agaves and yuccas.

This is the perfect book for all types of plant enthusiasts. Stephen Ingram has combined his beautiful photographs with a nice description of each species, including basic ecology, distributional information, and fun facts about the history, nomenclature, native american uses, etc. It is easy to read, and although not something you would want to carry into the field, a "must have" reference book for any desert botanist. It is also such a beautiful display of photos that it serves as nice gift to anyone who appreciates plants, nature, or the desert.

Living in California, I never knew there were so many great places to drive my SUV. The trail descriptions in California Coastal Byways are extremely accurate, concise and helpful. I liked the photographs because they give a perspective on a tour. The list of resources, parks and places of interest in the back of the book is invaluable. I wish I had time to go on all the drives. Good job.

The spiral binding of this paperback may not make it accessible for library lending, but individuals seeking a family driving guide for backcountry California will find it wonderful. California Coastal Byways covers roads from the Oregon border to San Diego, focussing on the coastal Route 1 and offroad between this and 101. It's easy to look at the general map, choose a specific region, then read the different trip descriptions which include notes for car, bicycle and stops along the way, maps needed and how to get there. Highly recommended for any California resident or visitor who enjoys rural back roads explorations.

As new owners of a 4x4 SUV, we bought this book as a guide for weekend off-roading. We have done a few of the trails in San Diego and found Tony's book to be informative; with times, highlights of the trail by mile, and any cautions needed. However,'El Nino' has changed some terrain since the 1995 printing. We found some trails designated "easy" are now "moderate", etc., according to Tony's definitions. Great resource for finding those dirt roads and heading off into nature!

Who'd ever think that California, of all places, would have so many beautiful little dirt roads through the coastal mountains? It was such a pleasant surprise to see so much of wild, old California still in existence, thanks to this book and my Toyota 4Runner. At last, a guide for the non-hard-core four-wheeler!