England Books

I agree, this book needs to be re-issued. The copy I keep belonged to my mother, and it was my favorite growing up. I think its an excellent book, it discusses delicate social issues while stil staying child-appropriate.

I first recieved this book as a gift when I was 10 or 11. The cover was beautiful; green with a red caravan on the front. It was then called Diddakoi. I have just finished rereading it myself and reading it to my children. This book should be considered a children's classic. It is a must read for my friend's children.

Like the other reviewer, The Diddakoi has been my favorite book well into adulthood. And, like other great children's literature can, it truly did help form my ideas of right and wrong, of who I wanted (and didn't want) to be, and gave me insight into the realities and the joys of human nature. Reprint it, somebody!

I first read the diddakoi as an adult and reccommend it highly to any reader who insists on good writing. The message is important NOW, especially with current emphasis on teaching tolerance to young people and learning to control feelings of anger, hate, and prejudice. It is such a charming story.

It is with great sadness that I see my favorite book of all time out of print. I wanted to give it as a gift to all my nieces as they enter school. This is a wonderful story of overcoming being different and how cruel and loving human spirit can be. The people who love the little gypsy girl all come together and make a family proving that family is not just blood, but love. The most heartwarming story of my reading. Again, please someone reprint this moving story

A quarter of a century ago, when Prince Charles first spoke publicly about his belief in organic gardening and farming principles, he was dismissed as a tree-hugging eccentric that walked around talking to his plants. Twenty-five years on, he's considered an ecological visionary. His personal life may be somewhat controversial, but the garden is one place he gets it right (if only he could relate to people as well as he relates to his plants). In The Elements of Organic Gardening, published in the U.S. today by Kales Press, The Prince of Wales shares the sustainable growing methods he's used in his own gardens at Highgrove, Birkhall and Clarence House.

The book covers the time-honored principles of composting, crop rotation and water conservation that we've ignored for too long at our own peril. In a modest, personable style, Charles talks about his use of ducks and birds to naturally control pests such a slugs and snails, and the use of natural insecticides made from garlic extract to control bugs. He shares his ideas on the virtues of seasonal planting to work with nature's calendar rather then against it (Do we really need strawberries all year round?), and extols the traditional values of husbandry -- the care and cultivation of resources as well as crops -- since you can't have one without the other.

As you travel through the pages, the heir to the English throne gives an intimate tour of each individual area of his extensive Highgrove gardens; The Productive Gardens, where rare heirloom varieties of fruit and veg provide vivid flavors, and The Ornamental Gardens, where planting provides food for the soul. We stroll with Charles on his don't-call-it-a-lawn, flat, strictly non-monoculture, mossy green lawn-type areas, which are made up of a myriad green plants and what some might term weeds (what is a weed but something different that dares to stick its head above the uniform?). Precisely manicured and mown, with stripes that would make any Englishman proud, these areas perhaps illustrate best that fact that you don't have to compromise to go organic. Don't mistake this for a dry gardening tome, whether you're a royalist or a republican, whether you have an acre or a plant pot to play with, this holistic approach to gardening -- and ultimately life -- makes for an invigorating philosophical read.

Excellent book very well put together along with it's great pictures.One of my favorite books in my library.

Excellent book on organic gardening. Readable for beginners and masters. Shows what can be done with our natural process. Beautiful pictures.

I loved the earlier book on Highgrove and gave it the highest review. It's interesting to see this updated version, complete with delightful pictures of Charles and Camilla looking relaxed and happy. This book translates well for even the "small yard" gardener as there are a lot of tips. It is admitted that the Highgrove grass isn't really grass at all--just a wildflower meadow that's very closely clipped. It isn't fertilized or watered either (though the pictures don't show that--it would have been helpful and inspiration for the book to come clean by showing us the royal dried up lawn during a (rarely) hot English summer.) This book also is fun to compare to the earlier book, where one can see some of the new plantings (including the black and white garden) as they mature. There are also many other clever features in the garden, including the "green man" made of greens. There is inspiration for a novice gardener, and for organic gardeners there is a lot of useful information.

This most recent summary of Prince Charles's organic approach to farming and gardening at Highgrove follows two earlier efforts. The previous books are well-written and have wonderful photographs and the present effort, The Elements of Organic Gardening, is equally well thought out and beautifully presented. Twenty years ago, the Prince was thought to be an eccentric with naive and impractical ideas about conservation and an organic approach to living. The Elements of Organic Gardening presents tangible evidence that the Prince has accomplished a great deal in the last twenty years at Highgrove, his country estate and set a standard that puts him in the forefront of where we should be heading.

This book is so wonderful, now everyone an see how fresh flowers can enhance your life and your surroundings.

Thanks Elton for allowing us into your home.

Magnolia Village Florist
Seattle, WA

This book has awesome pictures of Elton John's homes, it focuses on the flowers in his houses. This book would be great to put on a coffe table, and a must for an Elton fan. I highly recommend it!

Excellent pictorial of an extravagant livestyle! Hard to belive, though, that there is a gross misprint on page 16-- the lyrics from "Your Song" are attributed to "Mona Lisa & Mad Hatters"! Oops!

Wow ... "amazing" is the best word I can come up with! I have been looking at decorating books for about a year since I bought my dream house. I stumbled upon this book, and have since bought copies for my Mom, my in-laws, my best friend, my gardeners, my designer, ...! I guess I am now their best customer! I plan to give a copy to my designer and say "Here, do this!"

Need I say more?

Elton John is an aristocrat, not only because the Queen said so. He demonstrates this in every day life, in the way he admits his weaknesses, in his involvement for beautiful causes. His house on French Riviera is a jewell. It's almost "too much". But "too much" is never enough for Elton. Thanks to the great pictures from this book you will discover a yellow castle between blue sky, deep blue sea and green grass. White structure of the house creates a contrast with blue, green and yellow. These colours could have been chosen by David Hockney. Original style of this house was respected. Flowers are every where. Furniture is on line with the overall "villegiature" style. Don't dream "too much", this "Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat" life-style has a price. But who talked about money, here? Not Elton, for sure. This is, again, a demonstration of the noble qualities of that man. Never in the whole book, you will find any decoration detail that could make you think it is here to impress people or to demonstrate power. What a paradox! this modern excentric, in the tradition on XVIIIth century english excentricity, never looks arrogant. None of his crazy demonstrations of "luxe" make you feel bad. The Atlanta house is more interesting because of the beautiful furniture and made to order closets for collections of ... everything. This book is a tribute to pleasure, good taste (yes!) and high-life. I learned this word from Johnny Weissmuller in Acapulco (pie de la cuesta beach), just before he died. I think it is quite appropriate to describe what these houses are made for.

Emma is a masterpiece: It is one of the most original mangas I've ever read in a long time. A breath of fresh air from the shonen fight-to-the-death battles and the shoujo bubble-head romances I've seen and read all too many. It's fresh and simple, romantic yet innocent and incredibly realistic. A Romeo and Juliet from a less dramatic, slice-of-life, point of view.

The art is superb beyond words. It's obvious that Mori has toiled and toiled in the illustration of the book. Every building stands out with detailed windows and rooftops, and the streets are drawn as like photographs of daily Victorian-era life. The characters are brought to life with Mori's gentle touches.

Speaking of character, the character development is incredible. I feel as if I know Emma personally and Edward's situations and strife come alive. Mori has woven an amazing story; with diverse scenarios and believable content. Victorian England has come alive, convincing readers to relish every moment of the rich tapestry of history.

Do not miss this historical masterpiece!

Emma: Volume One, chronicles the meeting of William, the son of a rich merchant (the new upper-class) and Emma, the mild-mannered and charming maid of his retired governess. But rather than the cheesy love-at-first-sight crazy-in-love sort of thing, we get the very well thought out beginnings of romance. The characters both exemplify love and getting-to-know-each-other newness, and show simultaneously as products of their time- and slowly charm in you the process.

Obviously the Britain of Victorian times was researched extensively for this manga- and it shows. We are from the start immersed in their world- which is more exciting than you'd think! Library porn! Elephants!

William and Emma form the core of the volume (with good reason), and given their circumstances, we understand their shy flirtations, which highlight Kaoru Mori's greatest strength- expressive faces. This manga is drawn fairly realistically (no slapstick here), and the characters often do not freely verbalize their thoughts- but Mori clearly displays them in concise strokes. (The retired governess, Kelly Stowner really steals the show in this aspect with her playful faces as she observes the blooming crush between the two leads.)

Highly recommended if you want to read a smart historical manga! (I'll certainly be checking out the next volumes!)

In my manga reading habits, I'm not usually much of a shoujo fan - endless high school romances and magical girl storylines tend to bore me to tears - so I'm far more of a shonen fan. Give me action and explosions. Adventure. Heroism. Daring deeds -- escapism at its best.

But I'm also a reader of historical romances -- Regencies mostly -- so period tales appeal to me too.

I was browsing Amazon one day searching for something 'new' to read (can't camp on the "order now" button for the next "One Piece" volume all the time... heheh) and stumbled across a review for "Emma". Curious and intrigued, I bought the first volume. I'm willing to give most things that pique my interest a try with at least one volume.

Oh my. I devoured it in less than 15 minutes. Then went back and savored it again with a slower, more thorough read. And did that again and again over the next week while I waited (impatiently!) for my copies of volumes 2-3-4-5 to show up.

Gorgeously and subtly rendered art and story. Compared to shonen, this story moves at a snail's pace. But that's part of the charm. It builds. Slow and sure. Lets you become familiar with the people and place and the time. The rich details of daily life (for both upper and lower classes) are astounding. Not boring, but fascinating. So much cleanliness and comfort and convenience that modern, industrialized life renders simple and of little thought to how to it is achieved now, used to be done by laboriously by hand. And in the case of the lifestyles of the wealthy, by many many hands. It took a lot of support to run a mansion. (Which also employed a lot of people!) We've forgotten that. And forgotten that many of the world still live that way - by hand and with support from many others.

The story is just as deeply researched into the ways and mores of that very different time. Mori-sensei tells an engaging and heart-tugging tale within that venue. She's done a fabulous job of re-creating and capturing the tensions, prejudices (spoken and not), class barriers amid the reluctantly (and often painfully) changing culture of Edwardian England.

There are panels without text that still shout so many things at you. Mori-sensei, I bow to you. Your storytelling skills shine in this medium of manga. You are a true master of your craft. I feel your characters boredom as well as their enthusiasm. Their hope and their pain. Grief. Desperation. Joy. Resignation. Without you having to hurl any of those words in my face. They act pained. Or content. Or afraid. Or confused. Or they pretend those things. And I can see it -- or miss it -- just as the people around them in the story do.

This isn't action-adventure or even blatant romance (at first). What it is is a tale of quiet, ordinary heroism. About finding the courage to follow (or even truly understand) one's own heart. And then finding the deeper courage to live one's own heart.

I'm pulling for you Emma and William.

(I'm pulling for you too, Aurelia and Richard! It's never too late!)

Emma is maid to a retired governess; her beauty and grace have attracted many suitors, some beyond her station in life. The story line follows both sides of the romance, giving insights into the vast class differences of the times and setting up what are sure to be difficult social hurtles for Emma and Mr Jones.

If you're a fan of quiet heroins of Jane Austin and the graphic styles of Japanese Manga, I think you'll find this first book appealing.

As a Literature major, I have been force-fed Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and other famous English authors. I didn't really enjoy them (although I love Great Expectations) but that was due to immaturity and being forced to read 100 pages a week along with other piles of homework. When I saw Emma sitting quietly on the shelf, it was calling to the part of me who is a Lit nerd. Emma is amazingly accurate and it grabs your heart and refuses to let go! It should be a boring manga, but it's NOT. You sympathize with the characters and want them to be happy (and together).

As a manga freak who's growing tired of the romance mangas that feature 100 hot girls after a boring guy (known as harem manga/anime), the sappy high school romance manga that has misunderstandings galore with the girl running away crying every 10 pages, and the popular guy/girl meeting an unpopular girl/guy, Emma is a huge breath of fresh air! I normally prefer action/fantasy over romance, but, once again, Emma has me more interested in her struggles with society over a magical girl's struggle with an evil queen. Buy it. Please. The other reviewer put it perfectly: Emma is a winner. Thanks to it, I feel more interested in Jane Austen and the rest of the English authors I will be reading throughout my education in Literature. I hope they release the touching and heartbreaking 'Emma' anime as well....

A great autobiography of the man who, as a young boy, inspired his father to write the Pooh books. The magic and tragedy of childhood is presented in one of the most authentic books to show the world through a child's eyes. Christopher Milne's long quest to rid himself of the shadow of Christopher Robin is also presented beautifully.

A great autobiography of the man who, as a young boy, inspired his father to write the Pooh books. The magic and tragedy of childhood is presented in one of the most authentic books to show the world through a child's eyes. Christopher Milne's long quest to rid himself of the shadow of Christopher Robin is also presented beautifully.

....about enchanted places and enchanted childhood favorites.

Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and all their friends have been family friends of us for a long time, and it was a treat to find this book about Christopher Robin, and be able to read about what it was like to be him. Did he really have a bear named Winniw the Pooh, did the Hundred Acre Wood excist, did he and Pooh play on Poohstick Bridge? What a fantastic childhood he must have had?

Of course the imagination in my mind was not all correct, at least not the fantastic childhood part. In this book Christopher Milne tells us from his heart how it was to be the son of A.A.Milne, the creator of all our childhood friends. The book is written with alot of charm, but we can also read between the lines about the negative effects of being a "famous" child, a boy with a childhood who belonged to, and still belong to the whole world.

If you know Winnie the Pooh, and who doesn't, this book is a little diamond, a book full of great details, a book which gives a unique view of the Christopher Robin myth.

Britt Arnhild Lindland

...as was reading the rest of the trilogy when it was in print. (I got the whole trilogy through a friend in England, but I'd never heard that Mr. Milne had written a fourth volume.) I'm glad to see that excerpts of all his memoirs are available in one volume, BEYOND THE WORLD OF POOH, because Mr. Milne was indeed a gifted and sensitive man.

I have a special interest in this book because Christopher Robin, of all the characters, was my favorite -- indeed, my alter ego. I knew from an early age that there was a real boy behind the fictional character, and I sensed the three of us were a lot alike. It was a delight to find out just how right my intuition was.

Despite tales of Christopher Milne's bitterness over being forced into the spotlight by his father's tales of Pooh, this comming-to-terms-with-it-all autobiography is filled with wonderful memories of Christopher's childhood and his relationship with his father, his nanny and his mother. He addresses with much warmth and humor the question "What was it like to be Christopher Robin," and, as it goes into much detail about the real enchanted places in Ashdown Forest in England, it's a must read for anyone making an "expotition" to the real-life haunts of Pooh and friends

This beautifully written, lyrical book is genuinely scary in a way that puts much modern children's literature well and truly in the shade. Grandmother Oldknowe is protected by all the good things of the earth - stone and water, and all the deep things of nature - in her struggle with the horrible Melanie Powers. Aided by Tolly and Ping, it's a battle for the soul with moments that will make adults draw their breath sharply.
Not a book for those who are easily scared, nor for those with strong prejudices against the supernatural - but for the bravehearted reader, an truly thrilling ride awaits.

Why is this book out of print?

In this, the fifth Green Knowe book, Tolly AND Ping come to spend the summer with Tolly's great grandmother, Mrs. Oldknow, and do battle with the forces of evil as personified by a newneighbor, Melanie Powers.

Absolutely wonderful -- my favorite part is the very end, where everything comes together serendipitously to defeat Miss Powers, leaving you to feel that all is right with the world.

After "The Children of Green Knowe," this is my favorite of the five central books of the sequence. It includes all the elements that make the series immortal: the mysterious old Norman manor house with its lush garden and bordering river, the wise and wonderful Mrs. Oldknow who often seems to have more than one foot in any time but her own, her young great-grandson Tolly (now probably about 12) to provide the spark, tales of the mysterious past of the house, and magic--some of it not very nice. Kids who enjoy identifying with the juvenile protagonists of R. L. Stine's horror tales may be well served by being introduced to Tolly and his friend Ping, the Chinese refugee boy, and following along as they slowly become aware of the character and lack of scruples of "Dr. Melanie Powers," the sinister lodger at The Firs, who wants to acquire a gramarie (book of spells) said to have belonged to a tutor employed at the house in the 17th century. While Mrs. Oldknow quickly comes to agree that Dr. Powers is both powerful and evil, it's left up to the boys to beat off her nastier efforts and, ultimately, find a means of defeating her utterly. (Ping has an excellent heroic role when he summons the shade of the slain gorilla Hanno.) Mrs. Oldknow's lodger, the scholarly Mr. Pope, also has his moment of glory when, reciting an ancient Hebrew spell for his tape recorder, he unknowingly halts a spell that threatens to literally ruin the manor. Even the time-travelling blind girl Susan makes an appearance, though I wonder that Tolly's first ghost-friends, Toby and his sibs, are conspicuously absent, this being as much their house as Tolly's--perhaps more: they've been there longer! The one question that itches at me is what has become of Tolly's stepmother: her husband, his father, is mentioned and even arrives at the end of the book, but she isn't and doesn't.

Children like to be deliciously frightened, and this book is a superior title to frighten them with--though not one you'll want them reading alone in their rooms late at night! A superior entry into the series.

I remember reading these books on my summer vacations to my grandparents...I was bored and the local town librarian recommended them to me. Many years later, looks for books on mysterious houses for a nephew, I remembered and re-discovered them. My favorite is An Enemy At Green Knowe. The story is full of twists and turns and quite frightening events, with the excitement lasting just long enough to tantalize the reader. You feel the house itself is a living breathing character, as is true of the entire series. This is the kind of book an adult needs to put in the hands of the student -- as is true with A Wrinkle In Time -- and sit back while the child becomes wrapped in the world of Green Knowe. A superior children's book!

The fifth book in Lucy Boston's "Green Knowe" series finally brings together our two main protagonists: the house's blood relative Tolly and the Chinese refugee Ping, both of whom have featured in the previous books, but never together. Unfortunatly we do not see their meeting, but instead join the story half-way through the summer, by which time the two are already best friends.

As always, the mysterious Green Knowe is filled with ancient and semi-magical artefacts (all of which are actually real relics that belong in the author's home on which she based the books) and Grandmother Oldknow tells the children stories concerning the past inhabitants of the house. Now for the first time, she tells them a story that holds a more sinister edge to it. In the 17th century a young boy had a tutor that was said to dabble in alchemical practices, and have a number of magical books with which he created his spells. An author with astonishing vision for her time, Boston highlights the unfairness of such a man being thought of as noble and intelligent for following such a practice, whilst harmless women were often prosecuted for dabbling in herblore. Grandmother Oldknow tells the children that Doctor Vogel eventually burnt all his equipment with the help of the local minister (whose testimony was found in "The River of Green Knowe", but only now translated), but it is rumoured that one book of dark spells may have escaped the flames.

In typical Green Knowe fashion, in which the past regularly surges up to greet the present, it is not just a coincidence that directly after this storytelling a new neighbour comes to call: Melanie Powers, whose interest in the house and in the legend of Dr Vogel hints at her true intentions. She is after the missing book, and begins a systematic assault on Green Knowe as its first truly evil antagonist, whereas up until now the worst the children have faced is meddling adults. Like the Twelve Plagues of Eygpt, Ms Powers sends nasties crawling into the Green Knowe: maggots, snakes and bird-snatching cats.

But of course, Tolly and Ping have their own spells and allies, and with this comes wonderful reappearences from previous characters, including the spirit of the gorilla Hanno and the ghostly past-resident Susan. Even the starlings, who have been pests in previous books, prove their worth. It is stirring stuff to see the children fight passionatly for the home they love and attempt to reach the book before Powers does. I only wish Boston had taken the opportunity to include more characters: what about Ida and Oskar? Toby, Alexander and Linnet? Boggis and Feste the horse?

It is the first Green Knowe book to instigate a good against evil theme, and for that reason is sure to be a favourite among most readers since all the other books make more meandering and whimsical reading. In fact, one should be warned that this installment can get a little scary at times, and even gruesome, as in the case of Powers hanging dead birds on a clothesline or the sight of a horned ritual stick, which was described so evocatively that it sent shivers down my spine: "they recognized it at once as absolutely evil." I should also warn New-Agers and modern day "witches" that Ms Powers is a witch in the medieval description of the word - with black magic and links to Satan.

A great addition to the "Green Knowe" books, though often mistaken for the final installment. This is false, as there are six books in the series, and the last title is "The Stones of Green Knowe", an essential part of the collection. Boston claims that she wrote these books for her own amusement, and that has never been more apparent than in "An Enemy at Green Knowe" since many questions are left unanswered concerning the background of Mr Powers and the real intentions of Dr Vogel, yet despite that, this book is one of my favourites.

And as always, Peter Boston's illustrations are excellent, and I love Brett Helquist's new covers; let's face it, these books were in need of a face-lift.

Great news for anyone interested in the traditional folk ballads known as the "Child Ballads" that Francis James Child's late 1800s compilation "The English and Scottish Pupular Ballads" is now republished in a fully corrected and revised edition with the traditional tunes reunited with the texts. The new edition by Loomis House Press (...) is now available in paperback and cloth editions - so far volumes 1, 2 and 3 (of 5) are issued. Amazon lists them but the three volumes are hard to find on the Amazon site. The earlier 1965 facsimile edition by Dover has also now been republished - but the Loomis House Press edition is greatly superior - and is available from Loomis in USA and Springthyme in UK as well as from Amazon.

I first heard of the Child ballads when I was about 13 years old and have been looking for a copy ever since. I was delighted to discover they have been brought back into print. This publication is particularly exciting since the editors have chosen to include musical notation collected by Child but not included in the original publication. Many of the ballads still sung today in Eastern Canada and the US were derived from these ballads, so these books are a facinating study of the earlier origins of these and many other ballads from the british iles.

Child's "English and Scottish Popular Ballads" is THE sourcebook for anyone interested in the traditional ballads of the British Isles, and also invaluable to all aficionados of European folklore and folksong in general. For those not up on their terminology, a ballad is a folksong with a plot, and Child's collection covers everything from foul murders to star-crossed lovers to Robin Hood, in five volumes.

I am extremely happy that someone has finally issued an edition incorporating the various addenda and corrections that Child made before his death. There is nothing here that Child did not write, so if you are looking for additional scholarship or commentary you will be disappointed; but the Loomis House edition vastly improves over the Dover facsimiles in completeness and convenience. Additional variants, comments and even some tunes (the one big omission in the original) are placed conveniently near the main text of each category rather than buried in appendices (most of which aren't included in the Dover editions at all). It's well worth the few extra dollars over the Dover books.

My one quibble is that they do not reproduce some of the typographical distinctions that Child occasionally used to indicate different features of a text, but this is overshadowed by all the good points of this edition.

Overall this is a wonderful and affordable edition; I fervently hope that all five volumes are issued as planned (it's been almost a year since Volume 3 came out...). I have no idea why Amazon makes these books so hard to find on their site: fix this, guys!

In summary: Buy this book. Now if someone would only reprint Bertrand Bronson's "The Singing Tradition of Child's Popular Ballads" as well....

The English and Scottish Popular Ballads are, as noted here, out of print in their Dover edition ... but fear not, they are being re-issued (in 5 volumes, 2 of which are actually done) by the folks at Loomis House Press. (I am not affiliated with Loomis in any way; do a Google search if you want to find 'em.) The books are authoritative and complete, and it's disappointing that Amazon doesn't list them.

Superb. For anyone interested in either the words or origins of English & Scottish folk music this is essential. You can settle those arguments (over a beer) as to who has the correct words or the origin.

The biblography needs some getting used to but when you understand it you will find this book a good companion.

I love these photographs---great ideas for wallpapers, paint, chintz and other fabrics, bookcases, displaying art, etc. Each photo is accompanied by a bit of text, e.g. "The center of an informal living room plays host to an oversized tufted settee with a rolled back. Upholstered in pale floral cotton chintz with a twisted silk cord, the settee adds romantic quirkiness to the rural interior."
The book has four chapters:
House and Garden, pp 14-27;
Rooms For Comfortable Living, pp 28-51;
Kitchens and Dining Rooms, pp 52-67;
Bedrooms, Nurseries, and Bathrooms, pp 68-95.
The final page has a short index, and photo credits.

I received this wonderful book as a gift and highly recommend it to those who, like me, love the comfortable, slightly rough but homey feel of a cottage. This has inspired many projects as well as many farther-off dreams for our own home. It's great to look through again and again!

This is my favorite little book which captures the beauty and comfort of English style. The pictures are wonderful! I refer to this often...more often than any other design book. It is an inspiration to me.

A wonderful book. I constantly refer back to it, more than any other of it's type. Beautiful pictures and text.

Have you seen the remains of the day? Do you love pastel colors, a relaxed atmosphere, antiques and softly printed fabrics? Then this is a book you might like. The choice of pictures is excellent and even after 6 years I still keep looking into this book. Every page is illustrated and the photos are sooo lovely. It is mostly about fabrics and colors though. If you are interested in HOW to decorate I recommend "decorating with antiques", which explains the structure of a well balanced room and furniture better. Nonetheless, this book will make you contemptuos of other people's homes. I hope you are not arrogant.....

Melanie has such a gift for writing. We learn history along with a good romance. She manages to make each book new and fresh. I eagerly anticipate her next novel, due in August, 2006!

This is a great read and true to the spirit of Lewis and Tolkein.

This wonderful novel provided precisely the perspective and resolve that I so seldom see in other books and stories in today's age. Too many modern works take issues of morality far too lightly, and too many specifically-Christian works make purity seem "easy" for those who are "really" committed to serving God. Melanie Jeschke's riveting novel "Expectations" acknowledges and deeply explores the challenges and temptations that young adults face throughout adolescence and courtship. The story takes place in 1960s Oxford, England, and while the love story that transpires between the two main characters is perfectly constructed and well-detailed within the setting and time period, the core elements of their relationship and interactions can be lifted from the book and applied to the present day. In other words, Jeschke is providing readers simultaneously with a beautiful, page-turning read AND a blueprint for how to hold oneself and one's love to high, Christian standards.

I am an avid reader of "Classics" and "canon works," and sometimes fall prey to the false mentality that all time spent reading should be spent on the day's newspaper or critically-acclaimed great works by writers like James Joyce and Philip Roth. A friend gave me "Expectations" while we were at the beach, and so I made the time for it, anticipating a quick, breezy beach-read. I was floored by what I read. Jeschke's novel was more than worth my time and has stayed with me - the endearing story and the emotional resonance of so many parts - for over a year now.

The appeal of "Expectations" is not limited to those who believe in God. For everyone out there who likes any combination of C. S. Lewis, England, the '60s, drinking in pubs, and falling in love, get a copy of this book. You'll be glad you did.

I highly recommend beginning by reading Jeschke's first novel in the series, "Inklings." And the third in the series, a prequel entitled "Evasions," has just been released!

First let me say that I had been a bit disappointed with Jeschke's earlier books, _Inklings_ and _Intentions_ (these books were later published in one volume under the title _Inklings_ and for the rest of my review I'll treat them as one novel). Jeschke's idea of writing about Oxford and a neo-Inklings group was an interesting one, and that's what drew me to buy the first book. I DID find it to be an interesting and entertaining book. However, when I read it, I was disappointed in part because I felt that the style needed work. For example, too much of the information about C.S. Lewis was delivered in clunky, not-always convincing storytelling, part of a general difficulty with exposition. In _Expectations_, in contrast, since the Tolkiens are actual, living characters, her connection to the original Inklings works much more smoothly. In other words, I liked that the Tolkiens were a real part of this work, rather than someone just telling stories about them. Overall, I'd say that I think her writing has improved. Improvement between a first and second novel and the third might be expected, but I didn't expect to notice so much of a difference. She's moving from a novice writer to a more polished novelist.

What is more important than style is that she has a stronger, deeper storyline in this work. No longer is she "only" writing a romance that emphasizes Christian purity. Now she is writing about grief, loss and recovery, writing about conversion and the need to adopt Christianity personally, and writing about truly accepting God's will even if it seems unlike what one wants, all in addition to the romance plot. To me, at least, this gave the book more depth. It goes far beyond being a fictional guide for Christian courtship.

As a Catholic Christian, I also appreciated that Jeschke dealt with some ecumenical issues. I am really impressed that she made Catholic Christians some of her main characters, because usually "Christian fiction" means "evangelical fiction" and the characters in Christian fiction are usually Protestant. So kudos to Jeschke for describing orthodox Christianity that is not limited to evangelical Protestantism. I would like to see more Christian fiction like this.

However, I suspect that a lack of personal familiarity with Catholicism meant that she "botched up" a few points. For instance, the two Catholic characters have dinner with their family on Good Friday; no mention is made that Good Friday is a day of fasting for Catholics! It is also a day when most Catholics would desire to attend church services, since it is one of the most important days in the Catholic liturgical year. This leads to a deeper concern on my part with regard to her handling of Catholicism: though the characters mention their appreciation for Catholic liturgy, I don't feel that Jeschke shows it very well. In fact, it's not always clear how their being Catholic shapes their identity as Christians. I would rather have seen a description of a Catholic Easter or Easter Vigil service than the description of the high-church Anglican Easter service that Austin, Yvette, David and Kate all attend. The friends do attend a Mass on Easter vigil, but it is described as a "noonday mass." In fact, as Catholics may know, there is no Mass celebrated in between Holy Thursday and the Saturday night before Easter! There would have been no noonday celebration for them to attend, though they could have attended an evening Mass. Leaving aside these minor errors, I want to reiterate that I am impressed that Jeschke wrote as positively about Catholicism as she did.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, moreso than the first one, and will most likely reread it to savor it more slowly. In some ways, this book may have less interaction with literature than Inklings had (which for book-lovers may be a down side) but it rewards readers with a deeper, more complicated plot and more polished writing.

After reading Melanie Jeschke's INKLINGS and INTENTIONS, and enjoying those thoroughly... I was anticipating the sequel, EXPECTATIONS!! Jeschke more than met my expectations in her novel! She blew me away as the story took turns and developed in ways I was not ready for! It is refreshing to read this genre and feel excited, uplifted, encouraged and ready to read more! As soon as I received EXPECTATIONS, I had to read the entire book... THEN, went back and re-read INKLINGS/INTENTIONS and EXPECTATIONS again back to back. Jeschke does a wonderful job of developing her characters with realism and truth that shines through - no "candy store formula" in these novels. The other benefit is that I soooo want to travel to Oxford, Cambridge, Castle Coombe and the other places to see them for myself... preferably WITH Melanie to here her thoughts,etc. You really think you will meet David Mackenzie and Kate and Stuart and crew on the streets of Oxford! THANK YOU, Melanie for writing a great novel and chronicles - CANNOT wait for the next one!

I have loved all the Merrily Watkins mysteries, and this one is the best so far. By now I have a real emotional investment in the characters. I love how people are not always who, what or how the seem. And that even people like Jimmy Hayter can have a decent side.

I bought this book for my wife and she can't stop singing its praises.
She is a fan of England and in this case, Wales.

The characters are well drawn and interesting.

The village and surroundings are creepy and taut.

My wife would recommend any book by Phil Rickman.

Well, he's done it again.
Phil Rickman continues to deliver with his latest Merrily Watkins book. Excellent story telling, deep and rich characters. He is constant in his ability to create a very particular atmosphere, of shadowy people and places. Never giving any solid clues. Are you dealing with just strange/odd people and places or truely supernatural events? It's truely a rare talent, to never quite go "over the top" - leaves you wondering.
There are more things in Heaven and earth.....

If someone like Phil Rickman had been my history teacher in high school, I probably would have got better grades and an earlier interest in what may be the most fascinating subject of all. The point is, he does meticulous research and has the ability to make it come alive for the reader. Merrily's Border Country is steeped in ancient mysteries that can only be speculated about; so much is shrouded in the depths of time. This time out we have the Knights Templar and their connection with present day Freemasonry. Also there is a reference to the writer, M. R. James, without whose wonderful ghost stories many of us would have been cheated out of the experience of shivering in our beds late at night, searching the shadows and thinking, "There's no such thing as ghosts. Really there isn't..."

But this certainly isn't some musty old tome written by an academic. This is the ninth (and you will see the significance of that number in the story) adventure with Merrily Watkins, her daughter Jane and her extended family. At this point poor Merrily is very stressed and who wouldn't be in her situation? Her position as Diocesan Exorcist is in jeopardy with the distinct possibility of losing it and having to take on multiple parishes much like the circuit riding preachers of old in the U.S. That, coupled with the gruesome things she has seen, would be enough to drive the most stable of us over the edge. But we are seeing her eventually becoming toughened by her experiences. She may still have self doubts but she won't be pushed around, even by her superiors.

Helping in her investigation into the strange events surrounding the Master House in Garway are her lover, Lol Robinson and her daughter Jane. In the course of the book we see Jane growing up, taking charge of her life and Lol reaching a possible turning point in his career.

I think this really is the best book of the series with Rickman throwing in the occasional biting social commentary. The murder mystery makes me think of Raymond Chandler who said that he did not write whodunits but rather was concerned with the reasons that people commit the act. Whodunit becomes whydunit and the motive in this one, when it is finally revealed, is absolutely shocking.

Rickman is one of a group of really exceptional writers in the U.K. who include Kate Charles, Andrew Taylor, Stephen Bishop, Deborah Crombie and others who never seem to make our best seller lists which says something about the state of the publishing industry in our country. He is the best of the bunch and, while the temptation is to compare him with other writers like Chandler, Hammett and McBain, his writing is unique. There just is no one else like him. Unfortunately, we have to wait until next year for the next chapter in this superior series.

Let me add my enthusiasm for Fabric of Sin to the other reviews here. I've read the Merrily series from the beginning and have always thoroughly enjoyed them. This one is no exception. I'll not revisit the plot; I'll only say that the tension and action build to an excruciating climax. The main characters, Merrily, Jane, and Lol have all evolved and matured. Jane is no longer an obnoxious adolescent and Lol is not just a peripheral character but is in his own way a counseler. Merrily is losing her diffidence and becoming more comfortable as Diocesan exorcist, quite able to confront the bishop when necessary. Add the ghost stories of M. R. James, the Knights Templar (no, this isn't another DaVinci Code knock-off), and hints of royalty, and you have a book that is not easy to put down. Highly recommended!