I found this book by far the best description of the whole process of constructing a quilt I have ever used. It covers the process from choosing a pattern, batt, material and thread, through the preparation for quilting, to the quality of the stitching and the finishing. If you buy only one book on how to actually make a quilt, buy this one.

If you can find this book, buy it! You'll get helpful information about knots, marking quilt tops,needles, and the correct way to finish a quilt.

I planned a self guided tour of Italy this past October/November. In addition to the Open Road guide, I purchased Frommer's 2001 Italy guide book. The Open road book is very well organized and written, providing an overview of Italian history, food and culture. A suggested itinerary is provided for each major city and the recomendations contained therein are invaluable. The reviews of hotels and restaurants are accurate and reflect a range of prices and styles, with an emphasis on the off the beaten path local joints. They even have suggested dishs to order and the best rooms to request.

My trip was a smashing success and I used this book for the majority of my planning.

We are the authors of Eating & Drinking in Italy. The author of this Italy guide, who lived in Italy and seems to visit often, has written a guide that can be used by budget travelers and those looking for luxury. This guide is opinionated and thorough. It's the only guide we used in Italy on our last three trips. Don't want to carry a lot of guide books? Just take this one.

I was first introduced to Gilbert Morris when I ordered the first "Cheney Duvall MD" book from a mail-order book club. Later, I purchased "The Jeweled Spur," because I enjoyed the other Gilbert Morris book - I hadn't heard of the "House of Winslow" series until my purchase arrived. I finished reading about Laurie and Cody and looking at the geneology chart included in the book, and just had to read the rest of the series,(based on the local library's availability)as well as new additions. Keep up the good work!

I found this book to be an exceptionally wonderful story. It was one of the best books I have ever read! I have read the entire series and found that they are all my favorite books! Every one is a wonderful story you will find hard to put down! Laurie Winslow decides to she wants to join with Buffalo Bill Cody when she finds that staying in college for a while longer isn't going to happen. She is in for wild surprises and stardom. Cody Rogers is an escaped prisoner but did he really do the crime they've accused him of? When he joins the show as well, will love bloom? Well you will have to read to find out for yourself!

Sparks fly between a sexy hero and vulnerable heroine trying to protect her wounded heart! J. Morris wins my applause once more with this story of a widow determined not to fall in love a second time. Wanting to give her two children a father, Jodie Richards has come to Alaska to marry her mail-order man. Then Jodie steps off the plane and into a case of mistaken identity, which is why she ends up kissing her prospective groom's brother. From that moment Jodie's heart can't stop imagining a marriage where love calls the shots. Donovan Masters is annoyed with his irresponsible brother for going off to climb a mountain, leaving HIM to meet the arriving fiancée. Then the bride-to-be kisses him, her two-year-old daughter is determined to call him daddy, and his mother insists he stick around to become acquainted with his future sister-in-law. If only Jodie wasn't so...desirable. Jodie's Mail-Order Man is a wonderful story with a great mix of humor, emotion, passion, and of course, a happy ending! It's a terrific third book to Ms. Morris's Bridal Fever series. If you don't read Callie, Get Your Groom and Hannah Gets a Husband, you're missing a real treat. I can't wait until she tells the stories of Cole Masters (the hero's brother with a case of marital cold feet), and of Jodie's own siblings.

Jodie Richards has been married to a man hooked more on adventure than his family. And she had lost him. Now, she and her children were taking a leap of their own - on a man Jodie had never met.

And since she'd never seen her mail-order fiance outside photographs, it was understandable that she might mistake Cole's brother, Donovan, for the man she expected to meet. After all, she did expect Cole to meet her flight when it arrived in Alaska. But was it also understandable to kiss the wrong man - and like it?

Donovan Masters, a confirmed bachelor, found himself torn between loyalty to his absent thrill-seeker brother and the sudden attraction he felt for Jodie. But when Cole's change of heart is revealed, can Donovan convince Jodie he is the Master of her heart?

A delightful read with splendidly written characters and a well-crafted story. Rounding out the three book series, "Bridal Fever", "Jodie's Mail Order Man" is sure to please. Don't miss the rest of Ms. Morris' series!

As noted by another reviewer, this is first full scope biography in English of this significant figure in church history, especially that of the Reformation.

While many have heard much in the way of husband Martin's praise of his marvelous Kati, she certainly has been shortsuited in published works until this worthy volume.

Markwald's provide well documented primary and secondary source bio of this nun turned Great Reformer's wife. Going through the turbulence of life would be enough, yet add to that the pressure of keeping up with one who is at vortex of sweeping reform, with infamous Table guests and conversation and demanding family and church life as well.

Not only a significant support to her husband and family, this readable and informative work presents through letter correspondence a remarkable portrait of a strong believer with convictions of her own and an intensity of faith and contentment which only comes from the strongest of the saints.

Many will gain much from this read which hopefully might stimulate other contributions to this First Lady of the Reformation.

Rudolph and Marilyn Markwald have done the English speaking world a great favor by writing the first real biography in English of Katharina von Bora, Martin Luther's wife. (Sure, there are other titles in English concerning Katie, but they are historical novels rather than real biographies.)

The Markwalds have added their own original research to that of German biographers who preceded them. This was a challenge because there are only 8 letters of Katharina that are extant. Fortunately, there is substantial relevant material also available in Luther's letters, letters of other contemporaries, transcripts of the Table Talk, and convent and municipal records. The result is a well-researched and fascinating text which is both quite readable and accurate (supported by extensive footnoting).

The text covers Katharina's birth, convent life, escape from the convent, marriage to Luther, managing the Luther household and raising a family, hosting visits of important thinkers and theologians, nursing Luther through his health problems, coping with poverty after Luther's death, and her own accidental death while fleeing the plague.

Despite the plethora of books on Luther, until now there was not a good English biography of this strong, independent woman (sometimes called the Queen of the Reformation and the Balance Wheel of the Reformation) who supported, challenged, and encouraged the Great Reformer.

I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in Lutheran and Reformation history.

Alyssa McKenzie is faced with a life-shattering decision after her marriage to R.C. Wetherington comes to an abrupt and bitter end. R.C. goes off to Harvard while Alyssa heads west to Berkeley. She vows he will never know that she is carrying the first Wetherington grandchild. Four years later, Alyssa is an ambitious and talented young woman fulfilling her dreams with an exciting career in the fast-paced world of San Francisco advertising. F. Grayson Coulter becomes more than a mentor and a business associate. He falls in love with Alyssa. There is a tie that binds them that is deeper than their professions, deeper still than their love for each other. R.C is obsessed with rekindling the romance with his former wife, and the truth he uncovers threatens to devastate Alyssa. Grayson is drawn into a web of deceit that may destroy his life. R.C. follows the trail that releases the most powerful of emotions. The conclusion is surprising and bittersweet.

Lavender Blue is an endearing tale of unselfish love and devotion. It is a mother's love for her child, a love that transcends any other. Alyssa McKenzie is the strong and stubborn heroine who sets her mind and moves full speed ahead. R.C. Wetherington is used to getting what he wants and will stop at nothing to rekindle the romance with Alyssa. F. Grayson Coulter is swept into a highly charged confrontation. A very private decision blasts into the open and can lead to nothing but heartache and years of legal battles. The plot is truly refreshing. And, it could happen!

This is an extreemly well thought out book, with great insight that allows the reader to better undestand what it takes to figure out the workings of a man's mind and to place it into a film. A barage of well layed out photos accent this book nicely. Also a great history of the movie is written: beginning with the life of T.E.L, following the arduois making of the film, the lives of nearly all who had a hand in it, the wide range of response to the film, and the recent restoration. This book is priceless and definitely a must for anyone.

A great book on a great film! Everyone who loves this film should buy this book.

This was the first book by Ihara Saikaku that I have read, but I will be reading m any more in the future.
The book begins with a very detailed introduction by the translator Ivan Morris, author of the world of the shining prince. Dr. Morris gives the reader a quick and easy to read background of the period of time in which Saikaku lived and wrote. He follows this with a brief history of Saikaku himself, sadly very little is known about the writer. next comes a small portion about the style of Saikaku's writing and his impact on Japan's literature.
The writings themselves are broken up into four sections beginning with Five Women who Chose Love. Three of the stories are reported in this book,and mainly deal with illicit affairs. The next is the title work which is basically the story of a nymphomaniac. The next two sections deal with the merchant class, and their ways of life.
A very nice book that gives good detail of the lives of the merchant class of Edo.

I stumbled on to Saikaku's writings while looking for another novel by another author for my book club. After briefly reading some of the summaries and glimpsing thru the stories I knew I would be intrigued.

Let me describe who I, as the reader, am. I am a 30 year old, black female born in Los Angeles, CA. Some people would ask why or how I could have ever found Saikaku's writings to begin with, but I am a person who appreciates the universals that exist between human beings. And as I get older, I still believe in fairytales and I am fascinated by fairytales with adult themes.

The Life of An Amorous Woman and other writings, provides us a snapshot of human nature, and what's even better, it provides some of the timeliest as well as most humorous observations of human nature we as readers are going to find. And unlike Shakespeare, there are no hidden euphemisms here: Many of the encounters, be they erotic, sexual,heterosexual, homosexual, or auto-sexual are direct and free of any "family values" or "hide this one from the church" type of encryption.

The characters' identities are not as deeply sculptured to the demands or standards of the modern novel--like Holden Caufield is in Catcher in the Rye, but they aren't caricatures of the modern novel either. Saikaku's characters, from story to story might seem familiar, but their paths are different, and I felt like Alice in Wonderland on a lazy day on a dreamy riverbank, listening to friend or a fascinating stranger tell me fables about many people's lives. Maybe they existed but even if they did not some sense of them exists inside of me. And I learned, and I compared our situations.

The Cons?: Saikaku's writing does rely heavily on a symetry of style carried from one story to the next, and sometimes you might wonder how one segment of the story relates to the next. Sometimes, it might not.

Be that as it may Saikaku still fills his short stories and his longer work, The Life of An Amorous Woman, with some great details, and definitely unexpected twists of plot (because it's human nature--not the nature of the Formula movie--sorry I'm preaching I know) which I expect from a non-American work. It is actually quite alright to stray to an isolated moment and take it in for what it is.

By the way, you won't find the stereotypically submissive Japanese women that stupid men at stupid bars talk about. But they aren't the iconoclastic type of Japanese female Ling portrays on Ally McBeal either. These are simply women who are existing, surviving, falling in and out of love, or just falling. The men treat women with respect and the fact that a man created this story really does impress me about his insightfulness and love for human beings. One is especially fortunate to have this particular edition, translated by Ivan Morris. There is a line by line glossary of notes at the end of the book, explaining many of the details that we may not understand from styles of dress (Fashion Do's and Dont's) to currency exchange to Saikaku's symbolism and development of imagery. Some of the more fascinating details I discovered was that women who conquered men in Houses of Pleasures could become as famous as men who conquered territories on the battlefield. But you can take the extra explanations or leave them because the writing and the translation stands on it's own without much clarification.

I highly recommend it for those who yearn to be transported to a time period that really did exist before authors knew the significance of "Hollywood Rights".

This book has been such a blessing - from a man who lived - and died - a lifestyle of worship.

David Morris was and is my best friend - I knew him personally and learned to love him and his example of Christ he lived every day. David overcame great adversity in his life (explained in the book), knew the depths of personal failure, yet through the grace of God came out on the other side with a powerful testimony - and more powerfully - a lifestyle which consistenly reflected the nature of Jesus - not only to me, but to all he ministered to.

David's life has powerfully - and in a lasting way has touch my life - even after his death - in a way which continues to amaze me.

This book captures the essence of what David walked out in a daily basis.

This book will help you pursue a deeper and more meaningful walk with God! I continue to miss him deeply and look forward to the day we will be reunited!

Let me start off by saying that this book is not an emotional spritzer - you know the kind - a book written to hype your emotions to a new level, only to drop you later when you realize JUST HOW HARD LIFE REALLY IS! Although Morris's personal story will move you, there is SO MUCH MORE to his book! It was not written to further your own personal guilt trip due to failures in private devotions and worship, but to break the viscious cycle and help each of us move into a new level of intimacy and relationship with our Heavenly Father! It's about time!

Beyond private worship - it's also about corporate worship and the many different forms that takes. He covers topics on prophetic dance, warfare praise and worship and a host of other contemporary worship concepts. Underneath all he writes, Morris lays a very solid biblical foundation for the concepts he presents. He is authoratitive and speaks out of his years of experience as a worship leader. This is a must read for church worship leaders and music directors.

This book has an edge to it - it's called the cutting edge...

Randy Gingrich

This book should be part of each St. Louisans home library!

Interviews highlight the celebrated accomplishments of the community's brothers, sisters, grandfathers, role models hear in the heart of the city. The book features professional and personal role models including ministers, doctors, boxers, entrepenuers, state reps and many other role models in the community.

Some have well-known names and faces while others have broken through glass ceilings to make a better future for all St. Louisans. From US District Court Judge Clyde S. Cahill, First African American to graduate from SLU and President of St. Louis Board of Education Joyce Thomas to General Surgeon Homer G. Phillips Hospital and KMOV's Senior News Anchor Juluis K.Hunter, this book digs into the personal side of these influential St. Louisans who can motivate us all.

This book can help youth who can use another mentor, and even those of us who just want to be proud of our community. It should not take a holiday to pen great stories such as the ones collected in this book.

I found this book particularly interesting because it features both pictures and stories on dozens of prominent St. Louisans, and how they relate to the history of the city. The very first feature is about my late uncle, Bennie G. Rodgers. Fortunately, he was able to be included in the book. In addition, there are many other people whom I either knew or knew of in St. Louis. The book not only covers civil rights advocates, but also educators, politicians, health care providers, entertainers, clergymen, media professionals, athletes, and others. Their stories serve as an inspiration on how perseverence worked for them.