If you love books, especially if you are a book collector, and you also love a good mystery story, then Elizabeth J. Morris's "An Elusive Inhertitance" is definately for you. Morris has penned the ultimate book lovers mystery--the plot turns on the theft of a classic book collection. Based in the Maryland suburbs of D.C., Morris also provides plenty of local Capital-area color that will be appreciated by residents of the region.

Her heroine is Margaret Anne Phillips, a volunteer at the Writer's Space of Bethesda, Maryland. As part of her volunteer duties, she accepts a large donation from the husband of a wealthy socialite who has died. It all seemed pretty routine, until a large portion of the collection turns up missing and it becomes apparent that the books are a sore spot in a long-running feud among the eccentric wealthy family that donated them. As the mystery of the missing books unfolds, Margaret Anne finds herself entagled in the affairs of the family even as she and her husband are trying to enjoy a much-needed vacation at the beach.

"An Elusive Inheritance," fittingly, is a well-written literary mystery. Morris's love of books and book collecting shines brightly on every page. Her description of the appreciation collectors have for fine first-edition books is absolutely dead on. Additionally, Morris's descriptions of the Washington area are as detailed as I've read in a work of fiction. This is not official Washington, mind you, but the sprawling metropolitan area in which several million people live and work.

Overall, an excellent literary mystery novel that I would highly recommend.

E.J. Morris' novel, Elusive Inheritance, demonstrates the author's ability to place a reader within the pages of her text through intricate detail, vivid description and robust expression. She creates a believable world by placing people in real neighborhoods, driving us down real streets, and for those of us who live in the DC area, her attention to detail brings an extra feel of credibility to her writing.

Elusive Inheritance is a book that grows from two different subplots. On the one hand, sixty-year-old self-professed book lover, Margaret Anne Phillips attempts to answer questions about her own life, her own sense of failure by studying the lives of others. She does this through her pursuit of books. It is this pursuit that leads us into the second subplot, the strange "tragedy/mystery" of Phoebe Van Peebles and her two sisters, Eileen and Clovis, the theft of the books, and the truth behind that theft.

Ms. Morris succeeds in weaving an intricate web of past and present, expertly navigating us through a lifetime of family dysfunction, greed, jealousy and contempt. Flashbacks take us into the Skagan home where we meet the three sisters' mother, discover her love for books, and witness the tragedy that this legacy brings to her daughters. In the end though, it is probably the portraiture of Margaret Anne that is most impressive: insecure, frightened, forever searching for some meaning to her life. That in a nutshell is all of us, and Ms. Morris captures this helplessness in her main character.

Elusive Inheritance paints a cynical picture of family that casts a gloomy shadow over the story. Eileen Skagan is a mean, unsympathetic woman who creates her own despair. Her sister Phoebe, though more compassionate is a cynical woman who hates the aging process and the state it leaves her and her husband in. Clovis Skagan du Pont Patterson, the youngest sister comes off as a whiny, self-pitying pest who finally decides to take what's been coming to her at first, then shows her true nature. That said, at books end we find that the human spirit is still something to be admired and inspiration can be as simple as the printed word.

Emergent curriculum is the idea that the themes and activities which happen in a preschool program should center on the interests of the children. FOr teachers who already have this child-centered philosophy, this book is an enjoyable read and an important step in moving towards the Project Approach. For those who are used to teaching with a theme-a-week, pre-written lesson plans (or something similar), this book takes you on a journey of transformation in a very relaxed way. As an early childhood teacher for over 15 years, this is the book that is first on my recommendations for teachers or programs wishing to provide high quality education. It is an easily readable book, mixing good practice with real characters for a book which at times reads like a good novel.

This book has changed the face of our early childhood program.It has become our journal and map to providing a more appropriate child directed program. I have found that it released our teachers from the bounderies that surrounded them by guiding them to a classroom that is focused on the children's interest and yet provided an approach that was within reach. Emergent was always a frightening concept - but this book brought it down to earth for the staff by walking them through a year long journey of group of teachers - many of them with personalities that are similar to ourselves - breaking down each step and showing the simplicity of the concept. I recommend that this be a guide to all early childhood programs that step forward in their quest to providing a developmentally appropriate enviroment for their children

I love this art style and so heartily appreciated Vicente's exquisite paintings. He veers in the direction of colors I prefer as well, using purples, violets and reds generously. I know I've bemoaned art books which aren't laid out well but this is not one of them. If all art books were published with this care and attention, I would never complain about layout again, in fact! Elizabeth Frank, the writer, does her usual exemplary job but, as usual, I was into it far more for just looking at the art work. If you hate abstract expressionism and/or the cover of the book, go no further. The cover is very representative of his overall style and color preferences.

This is a wonderful, well written, interesting story of this first generation New York School painter's life and art. The illustrations are glorious and the writing is poetic. A perfect addition to any library and an ideal gift for any art lover!

Dr. Welfel has devoted her career to the study of ethics in the helping profession. This text is the accumulated wisdom of her years of practical experience, research, as well as the experience and research of her peers.

After reading this textbook you can rest assured that you have received a comprehensive look at ethics. You'll come away shocked at how ethics drives our every move as counselors, and you'll have a greater appreciation and respect for ethical decision making. The "10 Point Model for Ethical Decision Making" is worth the price of the book.

While no text, code of ethics or any such compilation can provide the answers to every decision you will ever face, this book can provide guidance that will serve you well.

One of the few textbooks I intend to keep and not re-sell. A masterpiece.

Elizabeth Reynolds Welfel has written an insightful and informative guide to ethical decision making for anyone in the helping professions. She presents her material in a clear and easily readable form. It is obvious that Dr. Welfel is an expert in the field and her vast knowledge of the research on ethical behavior is evident. Her nine-step model of ethical decision making is a clear blueprint for helping counselors and psychologists make informed and thoughtful ethical decisions. I have used this text to help my counseling students develop an understanding of the ethical standards and underlying principles of the counseling profession and I plan to continue to use it in the future. I highly recommend this book for anyone teaching in counselor or psychologist education, as well as for any mental health professional.

This is the best cookbook I own. I've had it for over 11 years, and still use it regularly.

An unusual feature of this cookbook is that it explains the principles that give cuisines of different areas their distinctive flavors. The idea is that you can categorize cuisines in terms of (1) their primary ingredients, (2) the cooking techniques that are used, and (3) the types and combinations of flavorings that are added. (Somewhere along the line the author must have studied structural anthropology.) A later section of the book talks about how to combine these elements creatively.

One thing about this cookbook that must be mentioned is that the recipes work. I can't recall ever making something from this book that didn't turn out. The directions are very clear.

There's a lot of great stuff in here; I'll mention just a few stand-outs:

- mu shu whatever
- ful gobi (cauliflower curry)
- Provencal bean and sausage soup
- vegetables Provencal au gratin
- Spanish codfish soup
- Italian meatballs

I love Elizabeth Rozin's cookbooks -- her recipes are as close to foolproof as one can get in an uncertain world. But this book is much more than the sum of its recipes. Rozin breaks out the "flavor principals" that make French cooking taste French and Vietnamese cooking taste Vietnamese. Her insights have helped me both as a cook and as a diner to cook better, to plan menus so that the dishes complement each other, and to enjoy restaurants more, too.

This is a MUST have for all bath lovers! It is the perfect meditation companion, and makes your relaxation/down time more meaningful. The affirmations have soothed my soul many a time, and I especially like the aromatherapy suggestions for each theme (i.e. eucalyptus & juniper for the "Healing Bath", or ylang ylang & ginger for the "Sensual Bath"). It makes a fun gift for friends, too! I highly recommend it.

Cynthia is right on. A nice, warm bath can work wonders for the soul. This book is also a great gift idea.

Far From Home: Families Of The Westward Journey consists of four essays by Lillian Schlissel (Professor Emerita of English and American Studies, Brooklyn College, CUNY), Byrd Gibbens (Professor of English, University of New Mexico, Valencia Campus), and Elizabeth Hampsten (Professor of English, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks) about the troubles and difficulties of individual frontier families in the latter half of the 1800s. Hardships, conflicts, and true tales of survival and what life on the fringe could cost fill the pages of these candid, insightful, scholarly, informative accounts into what it really was like to pack up and move West. Far From Home is a highly recommended addition to academic American Western Frontier Studies reference collections and reading lists.

YOU'LL LAUGH, CRY AND FIND YOURSELF IN THE PAGES OF THIS HUMAN HISTORY ABOUT THREE FAMILIES SEEKING A BETTER LIFE IN "WEST" OF THE 1840'S-EARLY 1900'S. YOU WILL SHARE THEIR HARDSHIPS, DISCOURAGEMENT AND TRIUMPHS, BUT MOST OF ALL, YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT DREAMS, HOME AND FAMILY ARE REALLY ABOUT.

MY FAVORITE FAMILY, THE MALICKS IN OREGON TERRITORY IN 1840'S, COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO ANYONE OF US. I WATCHED AS THEY SUFFERED UNEXPECTED DEATHS AND HARDSHIPS. I SHARED THEIR MOMENTS OF JOY WHEN LAND AND LABORS PROVIDED THEM WITH ABUNDANCE, AND FAMILY TIES MATTERED MOST.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR A "GOOD READ" IN HUMAN HISTORY AT ITS BEST. I LIKED IT SO MUCH THAT I MAY READ IT AGAIN.

I've read a number of tracking books and this one is the best. Easy to follow. Sensible. Lots on gait patterns and scats. James tells you what he knows and is careful not to pretend to know more than he does.

This book has so much information about tracking that it will take a while to digest it all. The gait descriptions are thoroughly explained. Finer points of tracking and how to see tracks are well-defined. Explanations are written clearly and amply illustrated to make learning easier. This guide shows you how to identify not only the tracks, but the patterns and other signs left behind by animals. I have an extensive collection of books on tracking and I rate this one among the top three.

It's probably not the best idea to eat like Elvis all the time, but nothing beats his recipes for peanut butter and banana
sandwiches or fried okra. Elvis sure loved his fried foods. Learn how to make Southern cuisine and mouth-watering desserts fit
for dinner at your own Graceland, but don't over do it. After all, Elvis didn't end up a skinny-minny from eating all that fried
chicken cooked in pancake batter. (...)

My mother in law is an Elvis fanatic, so I thought this would be cute to add to her Elvis things. Since recipes come from his cook and plenty of pictures alot have never seen. She actually uses the recipes too. She loves it.

It's the illustrations in "Five Little Kittens" that make this book a pleasure. Elizabeth Sayles inviting pastel illustrations capture the essence of both human emotion and feline behavior with a charming balance of humor and mystery. It is the soft shapes and colors combined with the individual personalities of each little kitten that really make you want to snuggle up and share them with a little one....or two, or five. It's a must have for parents and children with a fondness for cats, a sense of humor, and an appreciation for art.

My daughter really likes this book. The story is about a mama and papa cat and their five little kittens. It begins with the kittens waking up in the morning and then being tucked into bed at night. They eat, bathe, and play with their little toy mouse during the day. My only complaint with the book (and it is minor) is that there are three pages that talk about the kittens bathing or washing. I would have preferred a little more variety in their daily activities, but it is still a wonderful book. My daughter really enjoys the rhyme.