The Wines of California, Stephen Brook, Faber and Faber, London, 1999, ISBN 0-571-19030-8. Paperback; 685 pages; $20.

Stephen Brook has been a freelance writer for many years specializing in wine and travel books. He won the André Simon Award in 1987 for Liquid Gold: Dessert Wines of the World, and has written several other excellent travel and wine books. He has been learning about and drinking California wines since the late 1970s, and finds that California wines appeal to him strongly for their generosity: "California wine regions routinely succeed in offering rich, full-bodied, fleshy, opulent wines that make an immediate sensory appeal." This is a generous book that beautifully expresses the "instantaneous pleasure" he finds in California wine.

Brook briefly summarizes the history of wine in California, relying gracefully on the works of Charles Sullivan. He has a short, but excellent, summary of the "rules of California wine", asserting that California as an independent country would be the world's fourth largest producer after Italy, France and Spain. (A telling comment: "By and large, California wineries are not keen to dupe the consumer, although the overall laxity of the regulations often makes it easy for an element of deception to creep in.") Brook devotes about a quarter of the book to the wine regions, a quarter to grapes and types of wines, and the balance to a "Gazetteer" of various producers throughout the state. Throughout he relies on personal relationships with hundreds of grape growers, wine makers, writers and wine lovers.

Brook emphasizes that: "There were no secrets, no mysteries, about wine. My questions, whether about viticulture or winemaking techniques, were readily answered." In a favorable review of the book published in "Decanter" recently, Gerald Asher emphasizes that "this willingness to share information has made it possible for Brook to track changes that amount to a U-turn in all things vinous in the state. When talking to growers elsewhere, I am often amazed to hear them make references to a California that no longer exists - they cannot imagine a place where change can be so rapid and so fundamental."

Brook is quite skeptical about the AVA system, but his summaries are clear and historically accurate. Similarly with his descriptions of the various types of wine; I found his section devoted to Zinfandel particularly enlightening. But the heart of the book is a series of short, elegant essays on hundreds of different wineries; there are no tasting notes to speak of, but he captures the styles of wines made by many of these wineries in quite a remarkable way. And he captures the history and the character of the wineries with conciseness and clarity.

For example, I have just finished reading Robert Mondavi's autobiography, Harvest of Joy, admittedly a book that could have benefited from tighter editing. Brook's four pages captured the essence of Mondavi's story with style and warmth.

It would be fun to quote dozens of these essays; here's part of one favorite just to give you the flavor of the whole: "Newton's vineyards are not open to the public, which is a great shame since these are arguably the most beautiful in all of California. Peter Newton's wife Su Hua is Chinese, and the terraced vineyards are reminiscent of Chinese landscape paintings, the whole effect enhanced with red-lacquer gateways, wooden pagodas, and other Chinese ornaments. ... Peter Newton told me that Su Hua is now the winemaker, even though she also pursues a separate career in San Francisco. It's perfectly conceivable that this immensely dynamic and talented woman does indeed make the wines. She has been a model, a scientist, designed much of the vineyard and winery buildings, and has formidable expertise as a wine marketer. There is a mysterious personage at Newton called Luc Morlet; he is the director of oenology, but I have never met him and don't know what he does. The team is completed by the consulting services of Michel Rolland, who only advises on his special subject: Merlot."

I can only agree with Gerald Asher that only a person who finds great pleasure in California wine could have "devoted himself to a study of this magnitude. I give it a 'thumbs up'." Highly recommended.

Having read many college admissions tips with admonitions of how I wasn't going to get into college because I didn't do this and I didn't do that... this book was a step in the right direction.

"Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean" recommends choosing eight first choice schools. What you know best, you like best, says Joyce Slayton Mitchell. If you aren't obsessed with one school, are looking equally at all eight, then when you get into three or four of them you'll be guaranteed to have a school you enjoy.

I liked the strategies in this book, such as the SAT: no SAT score will get you into a college. It may keep you out, but not likely.

For any parent of a teenager or junior needing advice on how to pick the perfect school, "Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean" is the way to go.

This was a great book by Debra Doyle. Where Randal meets some old "friends" & a new chllenge with his magic. Where he is forced to trust an old enemy's wife when he is blocked off from his magic by a magical bell.And finding a new challenge he needs to complete in order to save a kingdom.

Lots of sly humor and an exciting adventure story makes this a good book.

The scholarly but extremely readable articles in this book provide an excellent introduction to the field of medieval women. The novice can find areas in which to start research, and the more experienced reader will find much new and useful information. Articles are written by recognized experts in their fields, and cover both well-studied topics (although always with fresh information) and areas less often covered. Highly recommended.

'My beloved, the establishment may not be ready, but God is!' (Mitchell, p. 39)

Reading 'Women: To Preach or Not to Preach - 21 Outstanding Black Preachers Say Yes!' was a very rewarding experience. Within this book, there are names familiar to me, and names new to me. The opening essay sets a framework for theological and historical reflection. The Mitchells have a regard for the authority of the biblical text similar to my own. 'Given this final biblical revelation, it is to be understood that God still speaks to individuals, an our prayerful interpretation of the changeless Word can still improve.' (p. 3) God has not spoken the final word on creation. The Mitchells also illustrate historical/textual points often forgotten or neglected by patriarchal authorities, such as the example of Huldah. 'When a woman is rated over the high priest in judging crucial spiritual matters, it has to be obvious that God places no limitations on what a woman can do.' (p. 8) My only concern with the essay would be a brief flirtation with supersessionism in the discussion on the theology of gifts.

Getting into the sermons by the women in this volume, there is a power and vitality that leaps off the page. They address in a number of ways the concerns women have toward their own role, and how society sees them. What they seem to have in great uniformity, however, is the certainty of a call from God for the role they occupy. Mitchell asks a basic question: 'Whom does God choose for the preaching of the gospel? Just how does God go about selecting those who are to bring the precedent-shattering Good News?' (Mitchell, p. 37) She concludes that the temporary societal structures of the church are not divine by any means. 'God does not pay any attention to the way we determine who should be called to preach or serve, and God never has.' (Mitchell, p. 38) God will call whomever God chooses. McKenzie seconds this with her example from the Hebrew Scriptures: '[Deborah] being a prophetess and a judge was not dependent upon the whims and fancies of her society, but upon the call of God. There is strength in knowing your job and doing it.' (McKenzie, p. 73)

Many speak of great power in the example of Jesus and the way he acted with regard to all people. 'Jesus, then, was about the task of infusing women with the spiritual strength and confidence of believing in themselves as equal children under God.' (Hale, p. 91) Jesus was not one to 'go along to get along', but rather one who risked everything for the greater good of all. This is what women are called to do, also. 'Risking it all will mean that women will have the audacity to preach when some who presume to know the mind of God declare that they can't.' (Grant, p. 108)

The structures of society work to keep women from pursuing their callings. Some are direct obstructions, but some are more subtle, and lead to women not making the effort required (which is usually an extra effort). Bishop Barbara Harris spoke of this in relation to the Samarian woman at the well. 'Too many people are absent from the well. Because the woman came, she received a blessing. Simply because she came, she received a blessing. So many stay away and do not avail themselves of the blessings that can be theirs.' (Harris, 58) Sometimes, women have to make the decision to do what they are called to do in any way possible, regardless of the support of their community. 'I had to move forward regardless of whether they followed me or not.' (Gerald, p. 53)

In all, this is a remarkable collection, very readable, very inspiring, and a welcome addition to my library. Admittedly looking in from the outside, it seems that the Black community as a whole has a tradition both of strong women's influences in the church, yet also having resistance to women's presence in official leadership roles. (I am reminded of some of the things Melva Wilson Costen wrote in African American Christian Worship here.) However, there is undeniable power in the preaching in Mitchell's book, and that power comes through even just from the reading. I can only imagine the force of grace that would come through the hearing of these sermons!

This is a great coffee table book. I'm sure almost anyone can relate to making an excuse not to exercise. The fitness apptitude test was great fun. Great gift book.

This large-size [8.75" x 11.5"], fully indexed, 255-page volume gives you details galore on the best-known, and some of the lesser-known, brands of beer throughout the world. From Argentina to Zaire and practically every place in between.

First published by Ballantine Books of New York in 1977, and edited by Michael Jackson [no, not THAT Michael Jackson], it fills you in on "the rare brands and the classics - how to recognize them - and when to drink them."

Profusely illustrated, there are full colour pictures of steins, bottles, labels, full-paged classic ad reproductions, noted beer personalities, pubs, manufacturing plants, and delivery vehicles - both horse-drawn and motorized.

A must for any beer lover.

Without question this is the best introductory journalism textbook on the market. I have used it in my classes for several years. The chapters are short but informative, and the exercises realistic. Primarily focussed on print, the discussion of broadcast journalism is sounder than that found in many books dedictaed to that subject.

I came across this little book by accident, and although I'm neither a Civil War buff nor a food historian, I had an hour's worth of fascinating reading. The author quotes extensively from primary sources (with footnotes) to give a vivid description of what the prisoners ate -- or didn't eat. Rats and lice were delicacies to be fought over, and starvation and scurvy whittled away at the men's humanity. There are several recipes of the period to give the reader an idea of the delicious home-cooked meals the boys dreamed and talked about obsessively. The heartfelt letters to home are especially moving.