"Awake & Singing: 7 Classic Plays from the American Jewish Repertoire," edited by Ellen Schiff, is a superbly conceived and executed anthology. The 7 plays in this volume were produced between 1920 and 1960, and explore many facets of the Jewish-American experience. Love and loss, war, anti-Semitism, class conflict, political debate, legal quandaries, economic struggle, family relationships, theological questions: it's all here in 636 pages of electrifying theatrical genius. The plays are as follows:

"Welcome Stranger," by Aaron Hoffman: a comedy about a businessman's fight against anti-Semitism; features a particularly engaging hero. "Counsellor-at-Law," by Elmer Rice: a fast-moving play that takes place in the New York law offices of its main character. "Awake and Sing!", by Clifford Odets: The story of a working-class family in New York City; full of colorful syntax and expressions. "Morning Star," by Sylvia Regan: a very moving play that follows a New York City family over the course of two decades; historical events like the Triangle factory fire are skillfully woven into the story. "Home of the Brave," by Arthur Laurents: the story of a Jewish-American soldier and his unit in combat in the Pacific theater during World War II; features some really harrowing scenes. "The Cold Wind and the Warm," by S.N. Behrman: A story of love, loss, and friendship; biblical law plays a key plot point. And finally, "The Tenth Man," by Paddy Chayefsky: A story of supernatural possession that takes place entirely in an orthodox synagogue on Long Island; a marvelous blend of dark comedy and creepy horror.

I've never seen any of these plays performed. But for the most part, the plays in this volume make excellent reading texts. "Awake & Singing" is one of those great anthologies that I would recommend for classroom use, for reading groups, and for the individual reader. Especially recommended if you're interested in 20th century American drama or the Jewish-American experience.

I like crafts. So my mom got me this book to make beads and other cool stuff. I want to make a lot of flowers to put around my room. I will also make them as gifts for people. If someone asked me what a good clay book is I would say "Baked Beads" by Laura Rice Bergan

This book is very helpful for the Christian teen who wants to grow closer to Christ or even non-Christians who want to know more about the Catholic faith. Highly recommended...Bob is compassionate, articulate, challenging...not to mention hilarious!

This is the most inspiring book I have found about making baskets. John Rice Irwin covers the subject of producing hand made baskets from scratch with a minimum of tools, and materials found in nature. The author features a great variety of black and white pictures of high quality baskets and makers at work. The book is as much a historical perspective of the Southern Appalachian basket culture, as it is a guide for making your own baskets. The remote areas of the region and the abundance of white oak and other native plants dictate the evolution of making baskets. There are references that indicate the initial designs were adopted by the Cherokee people of the region for harvesting, storing, and marketing their crops. The author has taken great care to include many details about the basket makers, their methods, and reasons for weaving. I was most inspired by the personal stories behind each basket, and the fact that many of the baskets outlive their makers. It is not uncommon for a single basket to last through several generations, carrying the love and thoughtfulness of the maker to those that follow. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in hand made baskets, as well as those who are looking for ways to use materials found in the back yard to create a lasting, usefull, even market worthy product. I have adopted many of the methods, meterials, and designes in the baskets I now make.

My son and I have read this book many times, over and over, and it does not loose its "feel good" effect. The message is obvious, dealing with the propagation of kindness, and is presented at a level that children understand and appreciate. Those who have criticized its "execution", either are without children or can not appreciate the fun children have with such a style. My family finds this book to be a delightful gem.

This courageous book challenges the assumptions of a white patriarchal eurocentric dominant society. While corporations continue to destroy the enviornment while at the same time enforcing the poverty of People of Color, this book offers instead a brilliant discourse, an investigation of the noble spiritual traditions of the Sioux. This is an important book.

"Benny Bakes a Cake" has achieved legendary status in our home. We received it as a gift in 1993, for our first son's first birthday. It was the first "story" book that he truly understood -- thanks to the simple but appealing illustrations, the straightforward text, and the story elements that toddlers find so riveting: a dog, a cake, a birthday.

Ten years and three more boys later, the book remains a family classic. "Benny" was a hands-down favorite for each one of our kids in their toddler years; and even now the older kids enjoy hearing the story again.

I was only disappointed to see that most other Eve Rice books are out of print. Otherwise I would snap them up in an instant!

Cold Feet may not be a typical British comedy; nevertheless, it is certainly one of the funniest. Those who find they can't get enough of this exceptionally well-directed, slightly off-beat, very modern (albeit rather racy!) comedy-drama will, I am sure, enjoy this informative and humourous companion book.

The book covers the pilot plus the first two series (the last episode of which is the millenium New Year's). Subtitled "the Best Bits," the book provides the reader with the scripts for a couple of choice scenes from each episode, and I must admit I was surprised to find just how interesting (and indeed funny) most of the scripts were to read. Additionally, the writer, directors, producer, publicist, and actors all take part in introducing the scenes.

Among the things one discovers are: how the show came about, how the characters were cast, what provided the inspiration for certain scenes, how the actors felt portraying certain scenes (ie. the "rose up the bum" scene!), and how certain effects were achieved. We are also told about the scenes in which stuntmen were used and in which writer Mike Bullen makes a cameo appearance. I should just mention, lest anyone be disappointed, that this is a book about the series and its creation. It does not, therefore, have biographies or much in the way of personal information about the actors.

Physically, the book is soft cover, but in every other way it is the quality one would expect in a hardcover. The print is large and clear, and the paper is of an excellent quality: thick with a matte finish. There is an abundance of photographs taken from the series, a few of which are full page and the vast majority of which are in colour. The cover itself is thick and glossy. There are 224 pages and the dimensions are 9 1/2" x 7 1/2".

All in all, this is a fine book and one that will probably be thumbed through frequently with the reruns. Highly recommended.

This is the place I turn to for ideas for my children's parties; there are so many wonderful cookies and healthy desserts in this book. We entertain frequently, and there is a snack mix chapter that I use all the time for appetizers. Guests often ask me to make the Mediterranean Munchies and Cowboy Caviar.

This book really told the untold story of William Inge, a great American playwright. He is not as well know as his long time friend, Tenessee Williams, but this piece gives him the parise he deserves. The look into his inner mind hepls to understand his masterfull plays even better. I reccommend this book to any Inge fan, or evn any one who thinks themself a dramatist!