The name Stephen Jones is enough to make me pick up any anthology, and this is is another excellent addition to the best New Horror series. Every story in this collection reveals a different aspect of the continually growing "horror genre," yet none of them leave behind the essential elements of horror; in all cases, the writing is what most stands out. Jones has the admirable quality of discerning talent in a wide variety of practitioners; frankly I was getting bored with the proliferation of really bad erotic-horror and splatterpunk anthologies.Jones knows that writing matters, and every story in this book affirms horror writing as ranking with the finest writing anywhere

Here is my personal favourites, notes and brief comentaries about them :

Harvest - Norman Partridge - 8,5 - A little gem

Sometimes in the Rain - Charles Grant - 10,0 - A moving and wonderful ghost story !!

Dead Orchards - Ian R. Macleod - 10,00 - Beautiful piece of decadent writing, one of the best.

The Temptation of Dr Stein - Paul J. Mackauley - 9,00 - Excellent historical mystery

Waywang Kulit - Gary Killworth - 10,0 - By far the most original tale in this collection

The Scent of Vinegar - Robert Bloch - 9,5 - Black humour in Bloch's manner, very funny.

The Homecoming - Nicholas Royle - 9,5 - Mixes social realism with Cthulu Mythos

The Singular Habits of Wasps - Geoffrey Landis - 9,0 - Excellent steampunk adventure featuring Sherlock Holmes and Watson.

To Receive is Better - Michael Marshall Smith - 9,0 - Intense and depressing story about a mutiltaed boy.

The Alchemy of Throat - Brian Hodge - 10,0 - Another wonderful piece of decadent writing

Reading this book helped me understand things about myself and the way I relate with others that were just huge damn mysteries to me before.

Especially interesting were the sections on accepting differences, why opposites attract(and later repel), the dualities of character. Fascinating stuff. I am on my third reading and still finding revelations on every page. And it's not because I am dense or a careless reader--well, maybe a little dense at times,when I am resistant to learning but there is a lot to take in here. Susan Campbell's simple, direct language allows the content to remain in sharp focus.

The only part I found weak was the co-worker/group stuff--I'm not real fond of those feel-good group exercises--but it takes up only a fraction of the book and is easy enough to ignore if you choose to. Nonetheless, it is an amazing read and worth keeping in your personal library. She has also written a book called "The Couple's Journey" which is supposedly a more targeted and intense exploration of the same ideas about human nature and close relationships.

The author is extraordinarily gifted in presenting material from the various branches of psychology and psychotherapy in simple layman's terms that make it useful for relationships in everyday life. Has the potential to prevent many conflicts and the power to help resolve existing ones, provided the reader looks into the mirror the book holds up to him/her -in a non-judgemental, non-critical manner - from time to time. Have personally benefited from it countless times and have offered it to others in need. A must-have book for every household.

For moms who are overwhelmed by the daily grind---hang in there, help's coming! Much more than a simple motivational book, BLESS THIS MESS is a hybrid between household hints and having a personal spiritual coach to guide you through life's ups and downs (while keeping your sense of humor). Each chapter includes a Blessing section, reminding you to be thankful for your blessings and focusing on improving the life of yourself and family.

Practical and effective tips make BLESS THIS MESS a great resource for busy moms everywhere. From Mom Advice such as limiting your time spent in the kitchen (what a relief!) to relishing feedback from effective parenting, this book is a breath of fresh air.

Joanna Campbell-Slan's Bless This Mess is "motivation for moms through stories that inspire & uplift," a is a thoroughly heartwarming collection of gentle, humorous, and ironic anecdotes specifically meant to resonate with the trials and tribulations of mothers. Partly a book of stories, partly a selection of tasty recipes, and partly a consumable workbook inviting the reader to fill in her thoughts, Bless This Mess is a top-class Mother's Day gift and makes for enjoyable, entertaining reading for moms anytime, anywhere, all year long.

I can be frequently found in bookstores, but I have never encountered a dead body. Botanist Max Boyle finds not one, but two bodies in a small, musty bookstore on a small side street off Totenham Court Road.

Max Boyle is soon joined by two polar opposites: the irascible Professor John Stubbs, a Scottish botanist with a penchant for solving murders, and their old acquaintance, the reserved (and often underestimated) Chief Inspector Reginald F. Bishop of Scotland Yard. Professor Stubbs reminded me of Colin Dexter's brilliant, and sometimes quarrelsome, Inspector Morse. Both Stubbs and Morse solve mysteries by jumping to conclusions, one after another, until reaching the final, correct solution. Those around them often have difficulty keeping up with their shifting focus. Neither Morse nor Stubbs could imagine a day without one or more visits to nearby pubs; draft beer is essential for good deductive efforts.

"Bodies in a Bookshop", written in 1946, is entertaining and amusing. Boyle says early on: The trouble with bookstores is that they are as bad as pubs. You start with one and you drift to another, and before you know where you are you are on a gigantic book-binge.

Ellery Queen offers better constructed deductive mysteries. P.D. James and Colin Dexter are more literate. Robert Van Gulik's Judge Dee's mysteries are more exotic and G. K. Chesterton's Father Brown mysteries are more moralistic. Nonetheless, "Bodies in a Bookshop" makes good reading and I am thankful that Dover has republished this nearly forgotten book. Apparently "Bodies in a Bookshop" is only one of several stories involving Boyle, Stubbs, and Bishop. I look forward to finding others works by R. T. Campbell.

R.T. Campbell was the pen name of Scottish poet, scholar, art critic and fantasy novelist Ruthven Campbell Todd (1914-1978). His detective stories were written in a short period in the 1940s.

For those who can never own enough books, R.T. Campbell's 1946 Bodies in a Bookshop is, to use a weary phrase, a "must read." It is a delightful, droll murder mystery. Under the pen-name R.T. Campbell, Ruthven Campbell Todd wrote several detective novels that follow the escapades of the witty botanist Professor Stubbs who always seems willing to resolve the toughest murders. In Bodies in a Bookshop, while browsing many several secondhand bookstores, Stubbs' assistant stumbles across a locked room filled with gas and two dead bodies. How were these men murdered? Enter the obstreperous Professor Stubbs who becomes involved in trying to solve this "locked room" mystery. The story is well written and the characters are highly amusing. I strongly recommend this book as well as Campbell's 1945 Professor Stubbs novel Unholy Dying.

The comprehensive Campbell's Soup collectors guide will help you identify the many products produced over the years, and estimate their value. It is loaded with razor sharp pictures of over 600 items and includes prices of more than 1,700. Easy to use, as it is arranged in alphabetical order by category of collectible. Provides the collector with a guide of what to pay for items you intend to buy. Each category includes an interesting and useful history and summary of the category. Every Campbell's collector will find this up-to-date book of value.

We searched & have finally found the informative guide for our Campbell's Soup "stuff" collection. An excellent book which contains ONLY Campbell's items. So many collectible books listed just a few Campbell items. But, this is THE book we wanted. The format is "user-friendly", by catagory in alphabetical order. Lots of pictures for comparison. We use the book constantly. We are always looking for unusual Campbell items, and the guide is super helpful. We thank the authors for taking the time to put it all together.

I love this book! The price is right and the recipes are delicious. Marlene Ekman has illustrated a number of books for Sterling, and her illustrations are always charming. If you are looking for a special St. Pat's recipe, you'll find it here! Easy-to-follow directions for even the most inexperienced cook. There's something for everyone! I highly recommend it! For those with a little more money to spend, try Celtic Folklore Cooking (great folklore/history background); Irish Heritage Cookbook; and Irish Traditional Cooking.

I bought this book so I could cook the same foods my Irish-born husband grew up with. It has come through time and again. He swears the Brown Bread I make is exactly like his Mum's but I got it straight out of this book! There's a little bit of everything; from simple sauces to soups, vegetables, main dishes, breads and desserts and more complex recipes (like traditional Christmas cake that takes a couple of days to make!).

My one "complaint" would be that this smallish book likes to close by itself especially when I've got my hands in the flour so remember to weight it open beforehand.

However, I give 5 stars because you get a bunch of really great recipes for a reasonable price. So worth it!

My late husband said that every technician needs good tools. My hobby is cooking and good tools are as much a part of the meal preparation as the ingredients or the techniques. I loved this little book when I read it 10 or more years ago and vowed to buy it someday. Some very unusual tools are listed. There are many pencil drawings as well. For the food lover, it is one more little piece of fun.

As a long time collector of all things kitchen, I inherited a brand new rotary whisk of an unknown date, but definitely seemed to be a collector's item. I decided to let it live in a drawer with the rest of the kitchen items, thinking it would definitely be lonely all in its original box. I mean, kitchen tools were meant to live out their lives whipping up delicious food.

I did so love finding pictures of a "molinillos" on page 135 and didn't even know there was an asparagus peeler.

While there are no recipes, there are instructions for assembling various dishes like a Black Forest Cake. You can even learn how to chop lettuce. Who does that? Ok, there is such a thing as a chopped salad. Anyway, you should chop it with a "plastic" knife instead to prevent browning. I rather like using it to shred the lettuce for sandwich displays.

So, you can learn a bit about actual cooking, while seeing the items in use. The "How Knives are Forged" is well worth the price of the book.

Information is included on: Knives, Scissors & Shears, Other Cutting Tools - peelers, mushroom fluter and such, Pounding, Pressing and Pureeing Tools, Crackers and Crushers, Meat Grinders, Grinders & Mills, Boards, Rolling Pins, Piercing Tools, Pastry Brushes, Spoons, Whisks & Beaters, Separators & Homogenizers, Sifters, Strainers, Shakers and Spinners, Food Mixers and Food Processors, Bowls, Cake, Bread and Pastry Tins, Molds & Presses, Casseroles & Baking Pots, Soufflé Dishes, Gratin Pans, Roasting Pans, Saucepans, Frying Pans, Sauteuses & Deep Fryers, Grills & Griddles, Barbecues, Smokers, Fondues, Toasters, Warmers & Coolers, Racks, Trivets and Diffusers, Cake Decorating Equipment, Papers, Plastics, Foil, String and Cloths, Teapots and Kettles, Coffee Makers & Jugs, Wine Making & Brewing Equipment, Glasses, Yogurt, Ice Cream & Drink Makers, Measuring Equipment and Storage.

If you love to cook, you will find this entertaining. Probably will cuddle up in bed
with the book on a Saturday night because your best online friend is busy doing who knows what. Probably something more delicious than cooking!

Back to listening to Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

New Cookbooks I love:

Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cooking
Idiot's Guide to 20-Minute Meals

3 dollars! Every horror fan should own a copy of this book which is a perfect introduction to Campbells quite dense, detailed and inherently eerie style of writing. If your bored with King and want to try something new you could do MUCH worse then spend a few precious dollars of this collection od subtle horror stories.

Shaking off his Lovecraftian roots, Campbell wrote these stories to bring horror fiction into the present day--tales where nightmares happen in everyday life, though perhaps only glimpsed out of the corner of one's eye. Campbell realized that the old techniques of elaborately building up suspense had lost their force, and instead used understatement and misdirection to scare the reader before they realized they'd been scared. I know this is an overused word, but this book really is a masterpiece, and well worth tracking down if it's out of print.

This is a great addition to the three book series, the Hopewell Saga. I read this years ago and again recently and found it to be just as good today as it was then. I have been trying for years now to get a complete set with no luck.

This is titled the "Hopewell Saga" but the first story is not listed and I have never been able to find it. I am wondering if anyone can help me. The name of the first is Broken Promises supposedly published in March 1982.

OUR SON USED THIS BOOK WITH HIS SPEECH THERAPIST AND HE LOVED IT. IT'S LIKE THE OLD FASHIONED COLORFORMS. THE ACTUAL BOOK ASKS THE CHILD TO FIND CERTAIN MISSING ARTICLES OF CLOTHING OUT OF THE STICKERS AND THEN DRESS THE BUNNY. IT'S SUPER.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! My Daughter played with it for hours. She loved placing the stickers on the bunny!!!! I found this book at a grage sale It was the best 50cents i ever paid. I am also not surprised this book is a collector item it is wonderful