California Books

Barbie is looking good in all my favorite LA hot spots. Cant wait to see her in Paris!

A friend had the book and we all loved it. I can't wait to get my own copy. The book is fun, creative, well done and brings back many memories of hours of fun and the joys of youth.

This book is just TOOOO CUTE! It is so well done from the text to the photographs. I still have my #6 Barbie with many of the clothes featured in the book and the photographs of my favourite hot spots in L.A. The book makes this such a special souvenir (it was a birthday gift)uniting my childhood with the present. Barbie, I'm 2 years older than you and look just as great!!!

Barbie loves L.A. is by far the cutest book I have ever seen. I postitvely love it! My favorite picture would have to be Barbie at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Barbie's outfits are so rad and she goes to a bunch of my favorite places in L.A.! I wish some of those outfits were mine!

Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous! If you love Barbie or love L.A. you will love this book. If you hate L.A. and love Barbie you will love this book. If you hate Barbie and love L.A. you will love this book and if you hate both you will still love this book.

It's really great.

Utah's acceptance of the 2002 winter games seemed to prove the soundness of Colorado's decision to reject the games decades earlier. As has now been well documented, the award touched off a cascade of corruption, from outright bribery of the International Olympic Committee to various land swindles. It was a seismic event in the rural West, creating a shock doctrine all its own. Here at long last was the perfect excuse for wholesale development at nearly any cost. Honorable state and national legislators morphed into eager enablers.

Steve Trimble wisely opted out of trying to thoroughly assay the political scheming and environmental consequences played out in a spectacular crucible. But he has done something far better. He tracks one emblematic deal -- the transfer of a great swath of prime public land to a driven man who was already one of the largest landholders in the country. Bargaining For Eden is not just another depressing illustration of the corrupting influence of power, but a vibrant montage of unusual suspects expressing quirky aspects of individualism, camaraderie, and Western ethos. The author himself does not stand aside in judgment, but, in going the extra mile for the truth, explicitly implicates himself -- almost shamefacedly detailing his own micro-land development.

I'm grateful that Steve Trimble volunteered to guide us through this minefield of desires and improbable outcomes. His softspoken integrity puts the reader at ease. His own contemplative adventures are mingled deftly with the big doings of "operator" Earl Holding -- a man who, despite the author's careful rendering, seems more bulldozer than flesh and blood. This, above all, makes the book compelling. It is surprisingly easy to read, in spite of the messy wrangling for wilderness and luxury it reveals. In the end, I could not escape the feeling that the author's essential honesty and kindness overshadow even his larger-than-life subjects. He would never concede the point, however. He maintains that we are all Earl Holding, to some degree. That perspective is, at least, instructive and useful for bridge-building. Steve Trimble is harder on himself than on anyone else in this book, and that's saying something. It is therefore the one book about the changing West that every American should read.

"Bargaining for Eden" is really two books in one. The first book, and the one that has garnered the most attention, is about self-made billionaire Earl Holding and how he finagled, with the help of powerful friends, to add over 1,000 acres of public land to his Snow Basin ski resort in advance of 2002 Winter Olympics. It's an interesting tale, and author Steve Trimble tells it with careful, well-researched precision. Trimble, a self-avowed environmentalist, treats all sides of the controversy fairly, as witnessed by the reading he gave at the Salt Lake City public library where one of Earl Holding's minions, who probably didn't care much for the book, complimented Steve on his good writing and accurate quoting.

The second book within the book is, to me, really the more important one, because it's about all of us who love and live in the West. As Trimble writes, "On some level I am Earl [Holding]--we are all Earl." Here, Steve chronicles his own adventures as a small-time land developer in Utah's redrock country, and what he thought about and considered as he built a second home for his family on a previously-undeveloped piece of land. As I read this I thought about myself, the places I've lived in Utah, Oregon, and Montana, and how I've impacted those places. I doubt few of us have considered our own impacts and worked to mitigate them in the way Trimble did. I know I haven't.

The last chapter of the book, "Credo: The People's West" is something of a non-sequitur. It's Trimble's rules for living in the West, and it clearly draws on more than what's in this book. I agreed with some of parts of the credo; disagreed with others. My credo would be different from Steve's. So would yours, I imagine.

Overall, the book is fair and even-handed, possibly to a fault. It is not a rant and it steers clear of the self-righteousness so common in environmental tomes. Buy it. Read it. Think about it.

Steve Trimble's latest book is a compelling look at the tensions between private mega-enterprise and public interests. If you care about the future of open spaces (and not just in the American West), if you care about the future of community, if you care about how to tend to democracy in an age of fracture and fracas, this is a sobering look at a battle in Utah that can stand in for many such battles across the country. Refusing to give into cynical preaching, Trimble offers a nuanced look at his own complicity in questions of ownership and activism, which makes this book even more important. It ends with a hopeful, necessary "Credo," which also was recently published in High Country News. A fine naturalist, photographer and writer, Steve Trimble is a treasure. This book demands to be read, understood--and its lessons put into action by thoughtful citizens everywhere.

Stephen Trimble tackles the paradox of the modern west: how do people inhabit and develop a rapidly vanishing landscape? Trimble weaves the important tale of public land transformed into a commercial ski resort with his own construction of a second home near a national park. This juxtaposition elevates the book from polemic to a serious discussion of the many facets of land development. Trimble recognizes that there are no easy answers, but argues convincingly that wise land use policy requires the contribution of all of the stakeholders in the landscape: developers, environmentalists, long-time residents and the public in general.

What sets Trimble's book apart is his obvious affection not just for the land, but for the people who have lived on the land for many years. His interviews with men and women whose families have lived on the land for generations provides the reader with an often neglected perspective on the west. Trimble has an ear for the ironic poignancy of how development displaces those families who have lived and loved a particular place for generations, even as that landscape is changed by their own decisions regarding its value and use.

Highly readable, Trimble's natural storytelling ability comes through to illuminate a transformative moment in western history. As a native Montanan and long-time resident of Utah, I recommend it to all those who seek to understand a sense of place.

Trimble tells the story of reclusive oil executive Earl Holding and his struggle to develop a wild mountainside into a an elite ski resort, using the Olympics as a cudgel to overcome passionate local resistance. This is a compelling story that has not been covered outside of Utah. It is a shocking example of how the powers-that-be facilitate destructive and one-sided land use and how common citizens who personally know thew land and love it resist. The book then takes an unexpected twist: Trimble builds a second-home in a wild canyon in southern Utah and realizes he is becoming like his nemesis, Holding, just on a different scale. This confessional realization makes him dig deeper. Ultimately it is our own human nature he uncovers.

Why do we violate the integrity of ecosystems and habitat and how can we stop ourselves? these central questions are not resolved here. Trimble's book is both a heartfelt and intelligent invitation to public discourse on these critical questions. The reader could not get a more honest or wise guide than Trimble.

The news about public school education has been bad for almost 30 years. Statistics published by city, state, and federal information banks show that kids are just not learning what they need to know, schools are overcome with violence, teachers are demoralized, and yet billions of dollars are literally shovelled into the system. Where does this money go, we have all asked,as we walk down our children's school hallways and have seen the paint falling off the walls and ceilings, the broken desks and chairs, and we have heard about the lack of services and resources going to our kids. There has been little documentation of the misappropriation of these funds until now. Lydia Segal has written an excellent and important book on this topic that will become THE textbook on corruption, theft, fraud, and patronage within the Board of Education not only in New York City, but also in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Lydia Segal, a former Investigator of the New York City public schools, says that very little of the dollars allocated to students in our public schools actually gets used by them. She details how coding problems, the procurement process, compartmentalization and opacity of information leave administrators with only two options: good corruption (which ultimately helps the kids) and bad corruption (which never helps anyone but the perpetrator and his/her allies and accomplices). Indeed, the system fights those who try the good corruption route. Ms. Segal describes in graphic detail the "godfathers" and "godmothers" (the school board members), who obtain jobs for their "pieces". Furthermore, no one who reads her chapter "Lessons From Local Political School Control", with the sub-headings "How Language Illuminates the Pathology", "No Real Accountability", "The Ease of Building a Patronage Army", "Controlling the Tools For Patronage", and "Exploiting Parents' Poverty" will ever listen to a school Principal, Superintendent, or School Board official in the same way. Our perception of public school education is changed forever by this book.
The pathology of this corruption suggests the remedy, Ms. Segal says, which is decentralization of power into the schools and the hands of the Principals. The 52 pages of footnotes, interviews, and reference materials as well as the easy reading style make every word Ms. Segal writes believable, although depressing. There is no question, however, that anyone who is interested in school reform and/or who works toward a goal of establishing an education system that puts children first must read this book.

I almost did not buy this book. I would like to understand why our schools are doing such a bad job at educating our kids. The title to this book suggested a narrow focus on issues such as bribery, which, while interesting to a District Attorney, do not seem central to the problem.

What I discovered, however, is that this book really covers alot more ground that the title suggests. Yes, Segal is a lawyer, and she started out in this area by investigating honest to goodness corruption. She is concerned about bribery, waste and abuse, all of which are larger problems than I had realized.

The book goes way beyond those relatively small issues, however. It really gets to the heart of WHY our schools stink, in a way that I have not seen anyone else do. What Segal really gets into are the reasons why our largest school districts are such ossified bureaucratic dinosaurs. She tells a number of really hair-raising stories about how totally the system does not care about efficiency or educational quality, and, perhaps more imporartant, she explains WHY the system can not care. It is a very interesting story. It goes back to the early 20th century when the Progressive Movement was fighting urban corruption, and scientific management was all the rage. The bottom line, however, is that our large systems have fundamental, systematic problems that make it astonishing that they teach as well as they do. As Segal makes very clear, tinkering around the edges with curriculum reform and such like will do next to nothing, until the organizations are fundamentally retooled so that basic efficiency and educational quality become a focus again. As things stand, there is so much red tape, so much administrative ho-ha and general bureaucratic nightmares that there is no possible way that the system can deliver a quality product at a reasonable price.

Very important book.

As a mother of two, facing the tough choice between public and private schools, I found this book full of critical insights as to how the public schools really work. Segal's analysis of the perverse incentives, corruption, and overwhelming bureaucracy that are dragging down our schools is compelling and persuasive. Her suggestions for what should be done to fix the system are intelligent and long overdue. Everyone with school-age kids should read this book now!

A real eye-opener, this very well-written and powerfully argued book finally helped me understand why
urban public schools never seem to have enough money
to educate our children despite repeated national and local efforts to change that. Ms. Segal contends that waste and abuse are the primary culprits and offers thorough and persuavie doumentaion that this is indeed true.
Because she concludes that the problem is with
pathological systems, not people, she spends a good quarter of the book discussing how to overhaul the systems.
The suggestions are overwhelmingly intelligent, inspiring, and above all, realistic.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking for concrete and specific ways to improve our educational system.

A real eye-opener, this very well-written and powerfully argued book finally helped me understand why
urban public schools never seem to have enough money
to educate our children despite repeated national and local efforts to change that. Ms. Segal contends that waste and abuse are the primary culprits and offers thorough and persuasive documentation that this is indeed true.
Because she concludes that the problem is with
pathological systems, not people, she spends a good quarter of the book discussing how to overhaul the systems.
The suggestions are overwhelmingly intelligent, inspiring, and above all, realistic.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking for concrete and specific ways to improve our educational system.

...for the real facts. This book was one of the first Beach Boys bios to be published. Leaf is a fanatical Beach Boys expert, friend of the band to this day, and a frequent consultant on BB-related projects. His writing is not critical, but it is factual, and he tells the story well, illustrated with hundreds of vintage photos (reproduced from magazines, for the most part, so the quality is as dubious as the obscurity of the material is welcome). It is almost exclusively devoted to Brian. This is out of print, but due to be reprinted (hopefully in a radical update) soon.

Absolutely essential 4 Beach Boys & Brian Wilson fans, this is the 1st & best BB biography, full of great photos, terrific PET SOUNDS- & SMILE-era stories & background info, & Leaf doesn't short-change hard-core fans on the post-"Good Vibrations" era. Includes interviews with Brian's PET SOUNDS collaborator Tony Asher, Dennis Wilson on Charles Manson, Van Dyke Parks on his involvement with the band & Brian, & much more U can't find elsewhere. Full of great details, this was the 1st place where we got an up-close look at Brian & the Boys, & it remains the best look at this enduring American institution -- hey, they INVENTED California!

This is essentially a biography of Brian Wilson. How the band, the california myth, etc. relates to Brian.

Although it was published before Dennis' death, it still has many enlightening things to say.

The book is neither too wordy (read Timothy White) nor strange and haphazard (read "Look, Listen, Vibrate, Smile"). Wilson friend David Leaf treats Brian with the utmost respect. And although it was written at a time where Brian was largely unavailable, Leaf does a comendable job collecting facts through friends and family.

I'm in the midst of a year of Beach Boys studies, and reading this alongside the three other bios (Wouldn't It Be Nice, Heroes and Villains, The Nearest Faraway Place). Again and again, this is the one that has me shaking my head in amazement.

The young David Leaf truly loved the band and interviewed them (and surrounding people) extensively to build this book. (His relationship with the band was such that he inspired Dennis Wilson to breach of his own accord the otherwise taboo subject of Charles Manson.) But his affection for the group does not dim the intensity of his scrutiny, for many painful facts and opinions are offered here, too.

Even after 24 years, this is still the book that is at once most accurate and most fresh.

Insanely, it's been out of print since its 1985 reissue, and not even Leaf himself can get reasonably-priced copies. He is said to be preparing an updated edition, but no other word is available on this.

If you see it priced for $[money] or less, and you can afford it, do yourself a favor - its worth is equal to all other Beach Boys books combined. Alternately, you may find as I did that your local (or non-local) public library has a copy you can peruse, and perhaps photocopy a page or two (or 208) for reference.

I was one of those fortunate people that purchased this book when it was in print. There are two editions, the original and an updated one. Get the updated one if you can find it. (there is not that much of a time frame between the two, but it is an important time in the history of America's Band). And no sorry I am NOT willing to part with my copy. David Leaf is today still close to Brian Wilson, I have seen him at many of Brians recent concerts I can only hope that a revised edition or a new book is on the offering. David also wrote most of the liners notes for recent Beach Boys re-issues from Capitol records with one huge exception, the Pet Sounds Box set. He did the original booklet notes but if you know the Beach Boys then you know who blocked it and demanded a re-write by someone else. Dont "screw" with the formula indeed.

The Taiwanese is once a part of Japanese,but now we are the Taiwanese,uneaqual to China. China is not eaqual to Japan,so how could China be eaqual to Taiwan? To say Taiwanese = Chinese is just China's excuse to occupy Taiwan,for China feel well-developed Taiwan is a BIG FAT SHEEP for them to eat.

Actually,I can say Chinese know nothing about Taiwanese traits and personailty. China would never be willing to understand it and communicate with us Taiwan,for Chinese is very self-focus arrogant people. So,to be nearset neighbor with China is the sadest fate for Taiwan. The book revealed the differences of Taiwanese and Chinese,focus on what is the life-experiecnce(historical)reasons of forming the "Taiwanese" identity. Readers can sense the logic a little from this book.

I think it's a good book.It gave us(chinese,especially taiwanese) a lot of infromation about the history of taiwan,and the relationship between the japan and taiwan(china).It let us know more,it make us understand more.

A great book drawing on postcolonial and postmodern thought that analyzes Japanese colonial rhetoric about Taiwan as well as different stages of Taiwanese identity-formation under colonization. Includes an analysis of Japanese representations of aborigines, a group that is often glossed over or ignored in books on Taiwan.

This is a detailed account of the Taiwanese response to colonization under the Japanese. Liu adroitly illustrates the monumental changes afoot in Taiwan of the early 20th Century and builds a strong case to support the idea of a Taiwanese identity seperate from China. Liu follows the steps colonialization drive that can later be seen in the Chinese colonization under the KMT. At times the language bogs down in anthropological terms of art, but is no less a valueable addition to the pool of information available on Taiwan.

This study is an excellent examination of Japanese colonialism in Taiwan and its consequences for the contemporary formation of national identity. Through examining not only the particular circumstances of Japan in Taiwan but also the nature of colonialism in general, Ching shows how colonialism is a social transformation which produces people of mixed identities. He draws upon "The Orphan of Asia" by Wu Zhuo-Liu as an example of this understanding. Ching also sets forth an interesting critique of postmodernism's hesitancy to draw judgments across cultural boundaries. The "miracle" of postwar Japan, essentially an almost immediate turn from complete external orientation to complete internal orientation and subjectivity, was made possible by the United States' appropriation of Japan's colonies and Japan's immediate alliance with the U.S. in the Cold War. Because of these factors, Japan never had to go through the harsh but important process of decolonization, and Ching shows how this failure affects the identity crisis of Taiwan today. Ultimately the book is oriented around "the politics of identity formation" in which Taiwan must come to hold a national identity which embraces the diversity of elements (Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, Hakka, aboriginal, etc.) that have formed the ontology of Taiwan through history.

I found this book extremely helpful, covering every aspect of the rides,food, accomodation & recommendations.

Even if you have been to Disneyland before, this book is fun, informative and entertaining. I started buying these guides in 1997 and have bought one every year since. We are planning a big multi-family vacation and I recently bought each family their own copy!

This is a really useful book, tons of tips, saved me a lot $$ and time. The most valuable thing I learn is to rent a multi-family vacation house with my friends, 16 people for $199 a day. We all enjoy the stay at a luxury emerald island resort. check this out: http://www.cyberrentals.com/index.cfm/property/126687

I never plan any "Disney" trip without this book. They keep it as up to date as possible (always call before going). And have wonderful "tips" that others don't know about.

Our family are Walt Disney World veterans who are now thinking about heading to California to see what Disneyland has to offer. We really enjoy the Birnbaum's Official Guide to Walt Disney World and when we began to research Disneyland, I knew that along with the Unoffical Guide, The Disneyland version was a guidebook I had to have. The photos are great, the information is complete, and it does not have an "official" slant feeling. The extra section detailing the 50th Anniversary Celebration is a great bonus, as well as the information on things to do in the general Disneyland area. We do plan to head west before the celebration is complete and this guidebook has given us a real feel for what to expect. I highly recommend it.

I read this book a while back. I was looking for another book by the same author and I noticed that Blood Father only had 4 reviews. You've got to be kidding! This was a great book! It was very different from what I usually read, but so well done that I want to read another one by the same author. Something different. Something good. Go for it!

John Link is an ex Hells Angel, his mission in life is to find his runaway daughter and reconnect, keep his life simple and stay clean. One phone call from that runaway daughter, Lydia, and his life is changed forever. Go on the run with Lydia and Link as Link accomplishes what must be done to keep Lydia alive while she is being chased and hunted by a drug cartels thugs. Throughout this wild drama Lydia is finding out for herself just what kind of mess she has gotten herself into and the realization that Link has always wanted to be there for her and how far he is willing to forsake himself. This book was awesome and in some ways hit close to home to the point it was scary. I look forward to going back in time with Craig's previous titles and to whatever he has planned next.

Set on the streets of LA among the violent gangs who mete out their own unforgiving brand of vengeance, this is a story of survival, regret, fear and hatred. Blood Father plunges fully into the twisted psyche of a twisted part of today's society, visiting with the seemingly hopeless plight of the drug addicted kids caught up in the LA street gangs. Peter Craig has given us an absorbing story featuring an estranged father / daughter relationship that has been brought back together in a grim fight for survival.

I found Blood Father to be a particularly moving story that is a modern day tragedy about a former Hell's Angel who is just putting his life back together after a long stretch in prison and his daughter, a wild child rebel whose addiction to drugs and danger have thrown her into trouble way above her head.

This character-based story is dominated by Link and Lydia Jane, the father and daughter who have to learn and accept each other as they also try to evade an array of pursuers.

Link was a member of the Hell's Angels, a biker who lived life on the absolute edge, often through a haze of drugs and alcohol. There can be no doubt, he was a loser on a one way ride to self-destruction and his imprisonment for manslaughter was not only inevitable but also partly his salvation. The other part came before he went to jail when his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl. She was born very premature and it seemed unlikely that she would survive her first week. She did and Link named her Lydia Jane. Although Link loved her, he and her mother moved apart and he fell into trouble and a long prison stretch.

Through a series of marriages, Lydia's mother turned herself into a high society woman, part of the rich set leaving her days as a biker's woman well and truly behind her. Lydia however was a rebellious girl who was occasionally abused by her stepfathers and she turned to drugs at a young age. Gradually, she moved in with a smooth talking dealer, unaware just how dangerous he was until she made one mistake too many and had to run.

When Lydia joins Link they head for open country with the initial fear that the police were after them and then later, the cold realisation hits that someone with a grudge against Lydia was also on their trail. But this seems so much more than a simple grudge, her pursuers leaving behind a frightening trail of devastation leading Link to wonder what she had left behind her and how he was going to protect her.

Blood Father is a grim story oozing with hopelessness with both father and daughter in desperate need of support with one either picking up the pieces of his life and the other strung out on drugs. They are a couple who are simultaneously fighting their own demons, learning to love and respect each other while distracted by the terrible danger that seems to be a mere step behind them.

Although the second half of the book steams ahead with the frantic thrill of the chase, the pace is a lot more leisurely at the start with a great deal of groundwork put in place regarding the character backgrounds. I appreciated the background detail finding it gave a greater feeling of depth and understanding for Link and Lydia, not to mention stark insight into the type of people who would be coming after them later.

Peter Craig has done an outstanding job of creating an extreme situation with a strong leaning towards tremendous violence and has made it seem entirely plausible. He has written a powerful story, filled it with flawed heroes and then has made us care about them. It gets into the dirty cracks of society prising out the greedy, the needy and the vicious who thrive on the blooming drug culture. The focus for us is whether two people will be able to escape from that life unscathed.

Well-written and provocative, this is an excellent modern noir thriller with relevant themes that are portrayed all too realistically. Because happy endings are never assured in real life, nothing can be taken for granted her either other than the certainty that this book will move you.

Peter Craig's Blood Father follows on the heels of his hugely entertaining literary crime thriller Hot Plastic. And while his prior work drifted closer to Thompson's noir territory, this book finds him in an Ellroy sort of mood, reveling in the criminal underground seething through the streets of LA and the baked nowhere deserts of Nevada. You can check out the plot synopsis above, so I won't recap it here, but it is a fairly traditional setup. The difference in Blood Father is the way Craig carefully crafts each character so that they transcend their thriller archetypes and become living, breathing people whose interactions drive the plot as much as the fast-paced machinations of the setup. And Craig's research into the dynamics of prison life, early Hell's Angels crank-trade, and the workings of the AFO and Mexican Mafia are all fascinating.

The elements for a classic thriller are here. Fully realized characters (including intensely brutal bad guys)- Check. Unexpected twists which redefine your perception of the depth of the story- Check. Awesome insights into prison life and aspects of the criminal underground- Check. Hard-boiled dialogue- Check. Gonzo pace, rich setting, and a hugely satisfying resolution- Three more checks.

There are moments in the book where it feels like it was being written for eventual film adaptation (i.e. cutesy quips during intense action scenes, or action scenes that occasionally defy physics for the sake of "something really cool happening"), but the pace of the book and the overall quality of the writing make these elements negligible. I can only hope that the eventual film of Blood Father will convey the richness of the prose and the wonderful relationship between Lydia and Link.

I'm not alone in hoping that Craig will soon craft a crime novel of epic proportions. He's clearly proven his ability with character-based road thrillers (and, really, the intense drama of familial relationships). Now I'm looking forward to an American Tabloid or Traffic-type sprawl. If any new crime author is up to it, it's Craig. Meanwhile, Blood Father comes very highly recommended.

Lydia Carson, on the run from her boyfriend Jonas' gang, calls her long estranged father for help. Her dad, Link, is an ex-con and ex-Hell's Angel. Lydia doesn't know it, but Link has been trying to find her for years, ever since he went to prison and she disappeared with her mother. Link jumps at the chance to help Lydia, and thus begins a wild adventure across the southern California desert. Link must use all of his wits to keep himself and his daughter alive.

Peter Craig's third novel builds on the themes he explored in the previous two--particularly, the adult child's relationship with the father. Although his work is primarily character-driven he has achieved a new level of storytelling with Blood Father. His navigation through back story is particularly skillful, he has the knack of writing flashbacks which do not distract and give emotional depth to the characters. The language in this novel is beautiful, and bestows a quality of grace to these characters who the reader comes to care about deeply.

Awsome story with just enough horse to make it good. I am usually very critical of any equine errors but found none in this book. Really enjoyed.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not only were the plot and characters well-written and entertaining, the factual information regarding the horse show industry was pretty accurate. This is fairly rare in a novel.

I enjoyed the main characters, Sandy and Tom, and felt that both were fleshed out well. Their relationship faced ordinary obstacles -- jealousy, mistrust, uncertainty -- amongst unusual circumstances.

The support characters were consistent, which is often difficult for authors to achieve.

Additionally, there were enough hazy references to the first book in the series (which I have not yet read) to pique my interest. I look forward to picking it up soon.

This is a well paced story with unexpected twists and turns that had me guessing up until the surprising conclusion. Sandra and Tom are shown to be more than just detectives, they are individuals that are complex and compelling. Like Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn of the Tony Hillerman novels, I want to see them at work, because I want to know the characters better.

Wonderful book! I am rarely surprised at who the murderer is. But in both Blood Reins and an animated murder in Burbank I was pleasantly surprised. Mr. Joens is an excellent author and I highly recommend all of his books.

"Blood Reins" is the follow-up in the Detective Sandra Cameron series from the starting novel, "An Animated Death in Burbank," and once again, it reflects one of the authors' passions and something he knows a great deal about. The first story featured a murder mystery within the animation industry (Michael Joens has past week in the animation field.) and in this novel, the plot revolves around people involved in horse-racing and breeding.

Our heroine, Sandra Cameron is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from the events of the past story. She's having nightmares as well as breakdowns and although her relationship with Tom Rigby, as well the kitten Sylvie he gave to her, have helped, she's still pretty messed up. Things only seem to go from bad to worse when the murder case in this novel, of horse trainer Chet Gundry, ends up involving both her and her father as potential suspects.

As the story unfolds, there are more deaths and more potential suspects as well. The web grows quite complicated and the strain takes its toll on both Sandra and Tom. It'll keep you guessing right up to the end.


I didn't enjoy "Blood Reins" quite as much as "An Animated Death in Burbank," but overall it was still a great story. It's probably just because I have an interest in animation, but don't really care much about horses. Still, if you enjoyed the first book in the series, you'll probably like this one. And I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series.

On a par with Francine Rivers, Ms. Noble takes my breath away with this wonderfully written novel. Once I started the first page, I literally couldn't put it down. The story of Quaid, Emmeline and Merci and they're walks with God were so moving, I found myself on the verge of tears many times. Especially with Merci's story. To watch her go from tragedy to redemption was awe inspiring. Ms. Noble knows how to touch the heart with a deepness that leaves me truly touched. Not overly preachy, any non-christian will find this book very entertaining and won't help but be touched by it. Superbly written.

Diane Noble delivers a beautiful escape that takes us from Washington D.C. to sunny and wild Southern California. The characters are real. They have the same problems we all have. I saw myself in each of the three main characters...Merci with her struggle with who she really is, Emmeline with her determination and struggle with her place in life, and even Quaid with his struggle with his own desires and the desires of others. Ms. Noble weaves a tale that is sure to thrill the heart of every reader. Number three cannot come out soon enough.

Emmeline Amity Callahan has always been an outcast. Not pretty and vivacious like her half sisters, she is also socially inept and ill-at-ease with the Washington, D.C. social scene that is part of her world as the stepdaughter of Senator James Dearbourne, who readers will remember from WHEN THE FAR HILLS BLOOM (1999).

When her step-grandmother Sara Dearbourne, offers to give her the family rancho, she jumps at the chance. Sara's offer is only good if Emmeline can show a profit she does some research and plans an orange grove on the land.

She arrives in California after having gone to Brazil where she obtained Bahia orange seedlings. Meeting her train is Quaid Dearbourne, the son of her stepfather's brother, Spence and his wife, the former Aislin Byrne whose family owns the land adjacent to the Dearbourne's. His grandmother Byrne has just made a similar proposition to Quaid, she will give him the Rancho de Paloma land if he can show he is able to make it profitable. His cousin, Merci Byrne, daughter of his mother's sister Brighid, is disappointed when she isn't the one to inherit the rancho. However, Merci has a far more serious problem to deal with when she discovers the secret to her heritage - that her birth was the result of her mother's rape. Thinking of herself as being unworthy since she is the product of evil, Merci flees the rancho to go to Los Angeles.

In her quest to find work and to be independent of the Byrne family, Merci puts her life in danger. When she is forced into prostitution, she accepts her fate as a daughter of evil. She believes herself to be unworthy of anyone's love, including God's.

Meanwhile, Quaid and Emmeline are involved in a battle of wills. Eager to find a way to provide needed water for her orange grove, Emmeline discovers what may appears to have been someone falsifying water rights maps. Quaid, who has the most to gain from this, is the prime suspect. Emmeline whose feelings for Quaid has evolved from friendship to love, is devastated.

Merci, in the meantime, has fled from the control of the man who had her working as a prostitute and has found refuge in a central California mission and although she now feels somewhat safe, she still cannot accept the fact that she is unclean. Her mother and her Indian friend search for her but when they get close, are told by a wise friend that perhaps Merci needs to find her own way and come back on her own terms. Reluctantly, they return to the rancho. Fortunately for Merci, she finds an ally in another former prostitute who has found shelter at an abandoned mission. And, although Merci still doesn't accept that she is a child of God, she does agree to stay at the mission for a while.

Quaid has always cared for Merci, as their respective parents' only children, they have always been as close as sister and brother instead of cousins. Knowing the danger Merci still faces, Quaid decides it is up to him to find her and bring her home. Merci, though, feels hopeless. Will Quaid find her before it's too late?

THE BLOSSOM AND THE NETTLE is a complex tale, beautifully told as only someone of Diane Noble's talent can. As with WHEN THE FAR HILLS BLOOM, Noble's love of her native California is readily apparent. Readers will not be able to put this book down once they begin. Those who are looking for a compelling, inspirational read need look no further. Ms. Noble is able to skillfully integrate details of life in 1880s California with the story in such a way as to make the reader feel a part of Emmeline, Merci, and Quaid's world.

Readers will anxiously await the third book in the California Chroncles, trilogy, AT PLAY IN THE PROMISED LAND, the story of Emmeline and Quaid's daughter, Juliet Rose Dearbourne.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Ms. Noble is exceptionally adept at interweaving two opposite story lines- a touching love story involving Emmeline and Quaid, and Merci's heart-wrenching spiritual journey. Not only was I entertained by her intriguing plot and wonderful writing, I was spiritually uplifted as well. I can't wait until Book 3!

Reading The Blossom and the Nettle is like sinking your teeth into a freshly-picked California orange--delicious and sweet, full of juicy surprises, yet good for you as well! I totally identified with Emmeline, whose self-confidence was often undone when she looked in the mirror. Quaid was the perfect Golden State hero--rugged yet not so macho he couldn't see the soft side of our headstrong Miss Callahan. And Merci broke my heart in two with her prodigal daughter journey toward hope. Three unique, memorable characters, breathtaking scenery, a message of genuine faith, and true love--it doesn't get any better than that!

Techniques I & II are absolute Must Haves in EVERY Library of those even contemplating Bonsai. John Naka was a Brilliant Man, and I am happy to say I learned much from Him, about Bonsai and about Life. Two things He taught me .....

The Master is One who learns from every source, especially from his Student.

Everyone knows when the Student is ready, the Teacher will appear, but few reMember ..... when the Teacher is ready, the Student will appear.

Hai!

Buyer beware. I would just like to point out that the prices are way out of the ball park. I purchased the same book for half price from an online bonsai store.....

I've seen on here that that promote the book as collectable because he signed the book. He signed every book. Don't fall for it.

This is the second of two great books by John Y. Naka. This book breaks the tree down, and goes into greater detail about each section of the tree. Then it gets into pots and how to display your bonsai. Both these books are worth the price, and if your into bonsai you need both his book.

A must have. This book along with Bonsai techniques I by John Yoshio Naka is one that will always be reference by the beginner or advance Bonsai enthusiast

If you want the mystery taken out of Bonsai; YOU NEED THESE BOOKS!! Both of his books are known worldwide as the "Bible" for Bonsai. Just to let you know that NOT ALL HIS BOOKS ARE SIGNED!!!
A lot are though. I have two sets myself; one signed, and one not signed. I read and reference out of the ones not signed. I have been creating and selling Bonsai for 8 years, and this book still blows my mind when I read it EVERY WINTER and reference it several times a month!! Great stuff!!!