Mike Atherton the fromer England Captain and opening Batsmen has written an informative and at time insightful book in to his career and life. Opening Up presents you with the facts and is a straight shooting book on everything fronm the England Test Team to life after retirement.

Mike Atherton gives you an insightful look at the life of one of England Greatest ever Batmans and most capped Captain.

This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen...an eye opener in art and history. Worth every penny for anyone with the slightest interest in India or sculpture!

I've had this book (c1981) for about 15 years. It's among the most worn books in my garage. Great knowledge that is easy to grasp as well as quick look-ups for detailed info.

After the debut novel, I expected another such book, but this one did not grab me as much as the first book--but I am happy to report that none of the following books disappointed.

The action and the plot did not seem as crisp; the entanglements dangled. YMMV, of course, but I felt this one was not as well polished as the others.

However, it's better than many others I have read, in series where the action became formulaic, and the characters pasteboard icons.

Although this is the second book of the Dimity series I would recommend reading this one first as it is sort-of an off shoot from the character in the first book Lori - if you read Atherton's first book Aunt Dimity's Death first you sort-of loose some of the excitement of this book but it is still fabulous and fun.

Aunt Dimity and the Duke is set once again in the lush countryside of England. This time, as I said above - Aunt Dimity helps out Emma, who subsequently becomes Lori's best friend, (this book takes place before her first in the series)who takes a position gardening at a local mansion. There she meets Derek and helps to solve a mystery!

A wonderfully fun book.

Love the series. Aunt Dimity and the Duke is my favorite thus far. The descriptions of English gardens were breathtaking. Made me feel I was there and also made me want to return for another visit! Nancy makes the characters come to life and you can't help but fall in love with them. I'm anxious for her next book release.

David Atherton goes into great depth to help the reader understand some possible reasons for the eczema. He gives a very comprehensive explanation of how the body reacts to undigested proteins. I found that part to be very valuable.

However, I was very disappointed that he did not mention his opinion on nutritional supplements such as zinc, flax seed oil (Omega 3 vs Omega 6), vitamin B12 or B6, etc. He never mentioned digestive enzymes or his opinion on whether they may assist in breaking down the proteins. He never mentioned if an overgrowth of Candida Albicans in the intestines might be a cause of eczema. He never mentioned acidophilus as a supplement to help balance the flora in the intestines.

I felt that his conclusion was that children will eventually outgrow eczema and therefore, should consider using a very aggressive course of oral steroids. I hope he understands that the reason I am reading about eczema is because after 10 years of American Medicine treating only the symptom, I am looking for assistance in finding the cause. I do not want my child to suffer any repercussions later in life due to a mistake I make now. I tried Chinese Medicine, but, I guess she was one of the 40% which did not benefit from it.

This 250 page book is a valuable resource for any parent contending with infant eczema. I found the color pictures particularly helpful. Without it, I'm not sure that I would have had the courage to insist that our child be seen by a pediatric dermatologist. It turns out that he not only had eczema, but a common secondary infection that looked much like the photos in the book.

David Atherton writes this book not as a sure-fire method to eliminate the source of eczema, but as a tool for trying different tactics to alleviate the symptoms. He also takes the reader through the different stages that appear at different ages. There were several tips that I gathered from the reading, making the book well worth the $... to purchase.

There can be no other ailment as frustrating as eczema: any parent who has stood hopelessly by and watched their child scratch will testify to this. This book is a MUST read for any parent in that position. It covers EVERY question you ever had about the condition and more.

I must agree with the other people who have offered reviews about this book. If you have been teetering over the suicide/murder scenario since that fateful day in August, 1962...then this book should put to rest any questions you may have over how Marilyn Monrie died. There is no question in my mind that it was murder. It's right there in black and white and it is totally infuriating that a new, honest investigation has never taken place. Wolfe thoroughly researched this with all resources he could get his hands on. It's disgusting that so much vital evidence has mysteriously disappeared. A new investigation needs to take place now. We've already lost some major witnesses over the years and survivors like Pat Newcomb and Norman Jeffries won't live forever. As far as the book itself. It is hard to put this book down. However, the only reason I don't rate it a "5" is because a lot of pages are spent on Marilyn's life story. I've read that all before. But these new revelations from Jeffries cannot be ignored.

I've always been somewhat ambivalent about the conspiracy theories surrounding Marilyn's death & have vacillated between the foul play line & that she took an accidental overdose. I read Anthony Summers' "Goddess" when it was first published & was certainly of the conviction that there was indeed foul play. Having just read the first part of this book & skipped to the end missing out the biographical element of the middle section, I am yet again convinced that at best there was one huge cover-up to protect RFK and at worst that he actually had a direct hand in the deed or was at least present when the fatal barbiturate dose was adminstered. Earlier books I've read have all indeed questioned the validity of Marilyn's bedroom being the scene of death, no water present, the body lying in an unusual position, no evidence of convulsions or vomit which is usually the case with overdoses etc etc etc

It is certainly difficult to refute the evidence presented in this book & the various testimonies that have only just come to light, ie those of Norman Jeffries (this I had never read about before & I've read numerous MM biogs) and of the ambulence driver James Hall. The events that the author concludes took place that night are totally plausible, but what is surprising is the fact that this disparate group of people present when MM died all conspired over the years & colluded in this cover up. The numerous versions of the suicide theory are all fatally flawed & key witnesses such as Eunice Murray the housekeeper have constantly changed their stories over the years - lending them no crediblity whatsoever. However, it is unfortunate that we will never ever know for sure as RFK, Ralph Greenson & Peter Lawford all took their secrets to the grave with them.

This is indeed a compelling read, although sometimes I found I was so bombarded with facts that it was a little difficult to absorb.

If you're an MM fan, then read this book & Anthony Summers'"Goddess".

When I first started reading this book, I thought to myself, "Oh no, not another book re-hashing the already revealed inconsistencies surrounding MM's death!" Boy, was I wrong! This book is one of the best ever written on the subject of MM's life and, especially, the mysterious and sinister circumstances surrounding her death. Someone should send a highlighted copy of this book to the LA District Attorneys office because this womans death screams out for justice! What amazed me was how Marilyn had no one in whom she could place her trust. The circle of people surrounding and insulating her in her last years were people who had known each other for years. They formed a tight circle around Marilyn and slowly but surely cut her off from people that really cared about her. Little did MM realize that anything she told one person in that circle (supposedly in confidence) was being shared with everyone else. The two most important new voices heard are those of John Minor (who strongly suspects foul play) and Mrs. Murray's (the maid's) nephew, who states that he was at Marilyn's home the night of her death. Their revelations alone are reason enough to re-open the investigation. History should reflect an accurate portrayal of past events, even if that accuracy serves to cast dark shadows on people that were once shining in the public spotlight. The people involved in the death of Marilyn Monroe should be no different. To this point, the "official" story as to MM's death has been nothing more than a piece of fiction. The question now is whether the LA District Attorney's office will have the courage to re-open the case with the new information provided, knowing that some big names might be implicated in a heinous crime. Let us all hope that they will find the strength of character and fortitude to do so.

I'd read AUNT DIMITY'S DEATH once before and found it enchanting. I liked the fact that Lori's Prince Charming isn't storybook handsome. I've loved ghost stories since I was a child, so the supernatural element didn't bother me. My second reading was even more special. I saw my mother only twice a week. I knew she wasn't well, but she didn't tell me she had heart trouble. I said goodbye to her one night before I went home. The next morning my sister called me to tell me she'd died in her sleep. 2 1/2 months later it was the annual Friends of the Tucson-Pima Library used book sale. Saturday was my only chance to go, but I woke up not wanting to bother. The sale had always been a gala day for my mother and me. I couldn't bear the thought of going without her. When I'm feeling really sad or sick, I like to reread a gentle or funny book to help me cope. I'm glad I chose AUNT DIMITY'S DEATH. As Lori learns how Aunt Dimity managed to go on with her life after a devastating blow, I started to feel a little better. By the time I was finished, I no longer felt like greying out in my bed. I drove to the sale. It was hard whenever I spotted a book I knew Mom would have wanted, but I had a nice time. This is a dear book if your life is going well, but I recommend it as a comfort if you've lost someone whom you loved.

This is what you need when the noir world of Kinsey Milhone is weighing you down and you've read one too many quick come-backs in the Janet Evanovich books. Poor (and I do mean poor) Lori, cruelly dumped by her ex, has landed in Boston in reduced circumstances. Depressed by her mother's death and a string of soul-numbing temp jobs, she's astounded to learn a storybook character her mother created was indeed an actual person. Lori's circumstances begin to change. She moves briefly into a lush and lovely mansion and from there into a lilac-sheltered cottage in the Cotswolds. All is idyllic, but there are (natch) mysteries she has to solve - who was Aunt Dimity? Why was she wandering the London Zoo one miserable afternoon during the Blitz? And who is haunting her cottage?
Put a kettle on. Bake a batch of oatmeal cookies - recipe's on the back page. This book is a balm for a rattled and weary soul.

This is a fun book you can quickly read in one afternoon. It is easy to read and the time flies by as the story takes you to the English countryside. It revolves around a young woman's journey to her departed "Aunt's" cottage and the unusual happenings that go on there. There is also a bit of a love story woven in to entice romance readers. It was a delightful read and I look forward to reading the rest in the Aunt Dimity series.

This is a good overview of Hildegard's work. Hildegard was in fact NOT canonized after her death.

As a composer, poet and writer on theological, scientific and medical subjects, Hildegard von Bingen has bequeathed us a rich legacy. She is one of the few female medieval composers whose work is generally known and performed today. My favorite interpretation of her music can be found in four tracks on Meredith Monk's album "Monk and the Abbess" Atherton's book provides selected texts from her visionary Scivias trilogy, her medical writings, songs and letters. Interestingly enough, Hildegard is known today in Europe by followers of holistic and herbal medicine on the one hand, and by lovers of classical and medieval music on the other. She is also admired for her life story and for having been a popular and influential author during a misogynist era. Although she was orthodox in belief and criticized the Gnostic Cathars to my dismay I still admire her spirituality and the feminine expression of it (she saw man & woman as equals) and her understanding of humanity's unity with nature and the universe. Atherton provides explanatory introductions to her writings, and the book has a chronology of her colorful life, a discography of her music, notes, and a glossary.

Hildegard, the "Sybil of the Rhine," was a Benedictine nun and one of the most prolific and original women writers of the Middle Ages. Arranged thematically, this new edition of her work brings together selections from her visionary trilogy, her treatise on medicine and the natural world, and her songs and correspondence. Interwoven with beautiful ease, Atherton manages to write with the exactness of an academic but with clearness of a good storyteller. The translations are illuminating and musical in themselves, and a corner-stone for any Hildegard enthusiast.This unique volume includes a chronology of her life and times, bibliography, select discography, explanatory notes, glossary, and connecting commentary. It shows Hildegard as a wide-ranging thinker who touched on many themes that concern us today, including: the relationship between human beings and the natural world, mutuality between men and women, and the importance of a holistic approach to life. Much can be learned!

In this wonderfully crafted mini-novel, Nathanael West captures the cultural essence of boomtown Los Angeles during its tumultuous adolescence. The dark, coarse, seamy side of the "California dream" is vividly portrayed here. The plot is not really the point in this period piece; the truth is in the characters and their always unfortunate interactions. For those who seek to understand the social history of southern California, this novel might be more useful than a half-dozen academic treatises.

Now I know why Flannery O'Connor so admired West. His prose is crystal clear, his craft virtuoso. His characters, however ugly, are utterly compelling and tragic. There was simply no stopping them. They would hang on to their delusions even if it destroys them. And then there are the people with no hope whatsoever, existing just for surface pleasure and materialism. Tod, the 'artist', tries to help these people, and nearly goes mad with frustration. West's compassion for these people (cloaked by his biting sarcasm and wit) makes this book a great work of art. It, like O'Connor's "Wise Blood," are among the masterpieces of American fiction. Read it and be ennobled.

I am so glad this book has been published with a pretty cover. That old black and white one was so creepy I'm sure a lot of people passed it by owing to the judge-a-book-by-its-cover syndrone. "The Day of the Locust" is the best reflection of LA noir that I have read. It is just wonderful and the characters are pretty tragic. When we had the riots and I saw the city burning I could not help but think of this book and its haunting prophecy. If you're hemming and hawing about what to read on your summer vacation snap this one up right away, but don't expect sunshine and roses. Well, actually there is sunshine seeing as how it's in Los Angeles. I'm sorry N. West had to die so soon. He was a #$%^ good writer.

Nancy Atherton's cozy mystery series is wonderful and Aunt Dimity's Christmas proves it all the more. While I am not a big fan of cozy mysteries this series touches the heart but is also fun. You really get to know Lori and her extended family of friends and creatures. Dimity teaches Lori the true meaning of Christmas and the reader learns the lesson as well. The only gripe I have with this book is that we did not get to see enough of the other characters that populate the Dimity series such as Emma and Derek and their daughter Nell (with her lovable bear Bertie).

I highly recommend this book for it's warm and wonderful story! Once you start reading this series you won't want to stop.

2 people found this review helpful.

Nancy Atherton's cozy mystery series is wonderful and Aunt Dimity's Christmas proves it all the more. While I am not a big fan of cozy mysteries this series touches the heart but is also fun. You really get to know Lori and her extended family of friends and creatures.

Dimity teaches Lori the true meaning of Christmas and the reader learns the lesson as well. The only gripe I have with this book is that we did not get to see enough of the other characters that populate the Dimity series such as Emma and Derek and their daughter Nell (with her lovable bear Bertie).

I highly recommend this book for it's warm and wonderful story! Once you start reading this series you won't want to stop.

Nancy Atherton's cozy mystery series is wonderful and Aunt Dimity's Christmas proves it all the more. While I am not a big fan of cozy mysteries this series touches the heart but is also fun. You really get to know Lori and her extended family of friends and creatures.

Dimity teaches Lori the true meaning of Christmas and the reader learns the lesson as well. While planning a lavish family holiday (as well as working on the town's preparations) Lori stumbles upon a homeless man, half frozen to death on her door step. Why has he chosen to seek her out and who is he?

Lori, with the help of Dimity, tracks the man's past down and makes some new friends along the way and realizes the true spirit of the season.

The only gripe I have with this book is that we did not get to see enough of the other characters that populate the Dimity series such as Emma and Derek and their daughter Nell (with her lovable bear Bertie).

I highly recommend this book for it's warm and wonderful story! Once you start reading this series you won't want to stop.