I have a very extensive collection of cookbooks, they are a passion for me...But I must say that this cookbook impelled me to write a review, this cookbook stole my heart, it has the most endearing story behind it which I feel touches the very heart and soul of why and how this cookbook even came into existence in the first place. It is very warmly written, and has lots of fabulous recipes to be treasured for years to come...such as yellow cornbread, spoonbread, buttermilk pancakes, and biscuits, and corncakes, coffee cake, apple cake, chocolate pound cake, pineapple upsidedown cake, pie crust, apple pie, coconut cream pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, potato salad, barbeque pork, barbeque ribs, fried green tomatoes, coleslaw, split pea soup, stuffed green peppers, chili, meatloaf, baked beans, chicken and dumplin's, fried chicken and gravy, grits, oooh, to name just a few of the wonderful recipes in this book. It makes a perfect gift and truly a book to be treasured in your own collection. I highly recommend this cookbook to everyone!!!

I love this book. It is very warmly and lovingly written about an extraordinary southern black cook/nanny who changed the lives of the family she served. I wanted to cry when I read of Annie's impoverished childhood, having to work instead of going to school (even as a little girl), getting up at 4 AM from the time she was 10 years old in order to fix breakfast so everyone could get to the fields, etc. But she retained a positive attitude and deep faith (which is very humbling). Although I have not yet had a chance to try the recipes, they look wonderful, and many are prefaced by descriptions of why they are so special / taste so good ... down home southern cooking at its very finest. However, IMHO, the book would have been priceless if only for the warm, glowing descriptions of Annie, and recollections in her own words.

Women like Annie have been largely forgotten in our culture now. For most, if their work in life was to have any dignity, they had to provide it as a living example. I also grew up with one of these women. It was a symbiotic relationship between them and our families. The authors have done a great job documenting this work; I enjoyed Annie's parts and wished she had said more! Of course, the traditional recipes of our South are always a pleasure to read, and to cook. A beautiful book, beautifully bound, perfect for a gift.

The best thing about this book is that you don't have to follow the instructions verbatim. You can experiment and make each project uniquely your own. Each project is so beautiful I intend to fill my home with as many as I can.

This is the one of the most detailed books on filet crochet that I have ever read. It has background, history, comparisons, patterns. The pattern section has a good variety to choose from and are not just doilies. The instructions are excellent and the patterns are just beautiful. The introduction and general "how to" instructions are detailed and have large illustrations. There is a conversion chart of hook sizes, as well as US and British terms for chart symbols and abbreviations. There are complete instructions on how to read charts, do increasing and decreasing, make turns and calculate patterns. It has a great "first project" with one the best illustrated directions I've seen for how to work the stitches and where to actually place your hook for stitches and turns. I would recommend this book regardless of whether you are already into filet crochet or want to learn how to do filet crochet. Chris did an excellent job.

I have owned this book for a few months now. I have made (and am in the process) of making some of the designs in this book. It is an excellent book for those who love filet crochet. The pictures are wonderful and the instructions are rather simple. I highly recommend this book to all those who filet!

I found Lois' book to be inspirational and a compelling story of how one can move beyond the "band-aid" medical practices of treating disease symptomology and instead, listen to Essence at what it has to say about illness, pain and disease. I have worked with many, many people who have various forms of challenging disorders, including those with rheumatoid arthritis and have referred this book to many who are open and willing to examine some of the real core issues behind their disease. I must admit, many people are not as "ready" to examine their life (not to mention previous lives) as thoroughly as Lois has, but I believe her book can and does inspire others to go beyond the pain, the medicines, the doctors and the hospitals and tune into what Spirit is really trying to say about a disease process. This book also shows the gifts of how alternative health practioners can and do assist one in creating health. It does take time, effort, willingness and courage to peel away the multitude of layers of "stuff" that we can accumulate....be it imprinting, worn out beliefs, karmic ties, knots and ribbons. Many of the traditionally oriented practitioners are not equipped with assisting their patients in full-spectrum healing (it doesn't happen fast enough or it is not necessarily revenue producing for the medical establishment!) consequently, it is necessary to seek out those healers that are privy to moving one out of the disease-management mentality. Without this added holistic assistance, symptom-managemnt medicine only further contributes to pain, illness and disease in our bodies, our spirits, our soul. Lois has shown what true dedication and committment to healing can be like, and how her Inner Voice guided her in what was appropriate in each step. And like an onion or diamond....it is multi-layered, multi-faceted. Healing is a process, not an event. Lastly,this book is a journey about personal empowerment. As Lois dropped the imprinting, grew in awareness of herself and tuned into the healing energy of her Essence,it was then possible to hear what the disease was trying to teach her. As we agree to be co-creators with Essence we can then consciously create health, wellness and a life full of vitality. I am grateful for her courage at paving the way for many of us.

Lois Grant has captured a practical solution to how the essence of spirit can be tapped for growth in today's world of depression, pressure, amd other secular problems. She is a real persom with real experience and with real dynamics, and an inspiration to all of us.. Her book is a wonderful, caring, and outstanding proof of hope!

Lois Grant pulls every rabbit out her hat to stop the pain she suffers. She does so dutifully with a sincere and caring heart. She finds that it is her constant service to the betterment of herself, family and friends that trully heals her heart and body and fulfills her hope. I recommend this book to any 'New-Ager'. Remember you create your own path of healing. Ms. Grant shows us how she did it. Healing never ends.

The book, "Dandelion Cottage", was read to each of our family members by our fifth grade teacher (she taught all 5 of us kids at a wonderful grade school in the 1940's, 50's and early 60's). She set aside time during the week to read aloud some portion of this exciting, strong character book to us. I can remember so well the time spent sitting in that classroom and listening to her read to us. This is a book that all young people should have the opporunity to read and enjoy.

Reading Dandelion Cottage is like looking at my great-great grandmother and actually knowing her. My grandmother's family was from Marquette and then later relocated to Georgia. As I was growing up I was always told about The Dandelion Cottage and however fictionalized, the characters were modeled after my great-great grandmother and her friends. It's wonderful to know that through the reprint, that the book won't go lost.

My daughter is 39, but it's not too late for her to read this book -- as my mother and I both did as children. What a thrill to find it. The Marquette Historical Society should be commended for reprinting it. It's interesting to see that in 1904 there were books written with strong female characters. Anne of Green Gables and Jo March were not that unusual. Now, if I could just find a copy of "Stump Village".

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ ON THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. I ACTUALLY FOUND MYSELF ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT MORE THAN ONCE. VERY WELL WRITTEN, THE PERSONAL ACCOUNTS GIVES IT HEART AND SOUL AND PUTS YOU THERE WITH THE MEN WHO DIED, AND IT'S ALL HELD TOGETHER WITH A SUPERB NARRATIVE!!

Having read the Oxford History of the US volume on the American Revolution many years ago and being bored to tears, I was reluctant to tackle another book on the subject. My children purchased this for me while at the Concord Bridge Museum this summer and I felt an obligation to try another book on the subject. What a great work! The narrative is clean and flows smoothly. Numerous and often lengthy quotations from contemporary figures--some well known, some just your everyday foot soldier--are deftly interwoven throughout the volume to create a hughly entertaining, yet historical document. I found it very readable and would highly recommend this book.

An complete history of the American Revolution told in fluid style. What I really liked about this book was the first hand accounts individuals from both sides involved in this conflict; from ordinary soldiers and citizens to generals and statesmen. I also found some tidbits of history that I had not encountered in other histories of the American Revolution. However, if one( for those armchair generals out there!!) is looking for more detailed accounts of some individual battles I would recommend "Battles of the Revolutionary War" but W.J. Wood as supplement to this book.

First of all, I don't understand why this guy isn't that popular (at least in the USA)! His sense of humour is unlike anything you would have ever read in your life. Laced with witty humour, brilliant use of words and insane ideas, his plots keep getting better and better with successive novels. However, this one remains a classic to the very end. Its about Hugo Rune and all his crazy theories about life (well, at least the life of a screw!). I sometimes wonder how this guy's mind works...I mean, first of all, his plot is incredibly complicated, on top of that, its situational comedy to the very best (forget those stupid sitcoms after reading this...at least I have)
Read this one and expand your mind! And the ending of this book is...well, MINDBLOWING!

I read this book once and laughed out loud. I read this book twice and had a giggly fit. I lent it to my Grandma and she didn't give it back.

Robert Rankin is a master wordsman and his books never fail to deliver. The Book of Ultimate Truths is mentioned in other books of his, and Hugo Rune is in every book. This is truly wonderful - the extracts from TBOUT are really clever and makes me wish that I'd realised that first. An extremely funny book (in case you hadn't gotten the message by now) that EVERYONE should read.

This is Robert Rankin's eighth novel, the first of a new series. It introduces some endearing characters: the wild-haired seventeen-year-old Cornelius Murphy, and his dwarf-like companion Tuppe.

A typical Rankin plot: Cornelius and Tuppe are on an epic quest to retrieve the suppressed chapters of The Book of Ultimate Truths, and to keep them out of evil hands. Hugo Rune, the author of the book in the book, appeared in earlier Rankin novels, but now his outlandish ideas get the full attention they deserve: about the secret life of Gandhi and H.G. Wells, about the strange behavior of biros and small scews, stories that make you laugh aloud.

This was the first book I read from Robert Rankin, and at times I wondered if this guy needed to see a doctor. I read it again recently, after having read all his other books, and I found out that I had missed a lot of jokes during the first reading. The more you read these books, the better they get.

Full of casual sex and violence, this is a salacious account of life on the road with the Rolling Stones. Greenfield excels at nailing personalities and describing the fishbowl the band lived in. The Stones begin the tour in a vulnerable state of mind, scared that their glory days are behind them. Their braggadocio picks up considerably as the tour progresses. Near the end we have 16 year old girls doing "favors", beatings are given to anyone who steps out of line, groupies being filmed "in action" (despite Bill Wyman's 10 yr old kid hanging around!) for that infamous tour movie who's title I can't even mention here. Plenty of cruel nihilism. Oh well, I didn't read this expecting a nursery rhyme! This book delivers, warts and all.

I read this book in one go. Once I started, I just could not put it down. Besides giving the reader a great inside look behind the scene of the 1972 tour madness of the Rolling Stones, the author also provieds us with an excellent snapshot of the political and social situation in the USA during the early seventies. Of course, you get all the juicy details of groupies, drugs and playboy bunnies - but you also get a feel for how depressing at times the isolation of a major tour can be. You should definitely buy this book, if you love Rock'n'Roll, no matter if you are a Rolling Stones fan or not !

I think I know this book by heart. I can still recite the tour cities and dates. And... ahem, ahem, I really believe the reason they got Keith out of jail in Warwick, RI was not because of "the show must go on" (please!), but because Keith would've started heroin withdrawl. Get it?

A one-of-a-kind book that emphasizes terrific weight loss tactics interwoven with real people success stories, skillfully written by Dr. Howard Rankin, a clinical psychologist who is also a well-known lifestyle change expert! Dr. Rankin has created an awesome motivational map for weight control, through
inspiring real-life stories of ordinary people who have empowered
themselves by overcoming extraordinary odds in their personal battles against America's # one menace: OBESITY! "Inspired To Lose" is the key that will unlock your inner door to successful &
permanent weight loss. As you step through this door you will discover how courageous Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club Inc. members were victorious in their struggle to lose weight & keep it off by finding the answers within themselves. Dr. Rankin's book breaks through the lies & illusions purported by the Diet Industry Moguls & tells it like it is; Change your attitude & your lifestyle & you will control your weight.

This book reads like a weight-loss feast for the mind, body, & soul!

Move over "Sarah Lee!" Look out "Krispy Kreams!" There's a new Sheriff In Town..Howard J. Rankin,PhD. & his sidekick; "Inspired To Lose!"

On too many occasions, books that are dedicated to helping people lose weight are too full of the basic "I ate less and started exercising more" stories. How boring (even though it's true). I want to hear about people that will INSPIRE me to keep going when all I want to do is quit. We all love to hear about how someone triumphs over adversity to reach their goal. Weight loss is no different. If it were truly that easy to lose weight then there would be a lot less overweight people in the U.S. And I doubt most overweight people would agree that the reason that they overeat is so that they can be treated poorly by society or to set themselves up for having a weight related disease such as heart disease or diabetes. Losing weight is a complex issue. It takes more than just eating less and exercising more. The stories that Dr. Rankin has insightfully included in his book deal with people who have low self-esteem, were abused as children or were just raised in families with skewed eating habits. It takes a very courageous person to get through the underlying issues and make their health a priority. Dr. Rankin sensitively approaches the many challenges that overweight people face. After reading this book, you will not only have more empathy for yourself if you are overweight but also for any other overweight person.

For anyone struggling with the inability to lose weight, this book brings into focus the 'true' struggle and eventual triumph of 35 people who have 'run the gamut.....and won'.

This should be definitely pushed for those people who need help and this is the way to help them, help themselves!

Kudos to Dr. Rankin and the contributors.

R. Ludwig

Slightly out of date now (Sybase 12.5 is the current version) but still very useful. I originally purchased my copy when I started at Sybase as a new employee (though I had been using Sybase software for about 10 years prior to that).

I have had my copy now for nearly 5 years, and I still use it as much as ever - though I left the employment of Sybase a long time ago (so this is not an official endorsement).

And I'm not the only one in the office to use it - the book is a very good general reference on Sybase - forget the manuals. This book covers most things you want to know - whether you are a DBA or a developer, but perhaps not always in as much depth as you'll need.

The book covers generally all aspects of Sybase SQL Server using in real life. It is outdated a bit (SQL Server version 11 already isn't latest release of Sybase DBMS), but, in my opinion, it is still the best book for any serious Sybase database administrator or programmer.

This is an excellent Sybase book (probably the best one on the topic), however I still have to go to sybooks.sybase.com for certain things. For example, sp_changedbowner (to change a database owner) isn't mentioned anywhere.

This book was the most moving book I have ever read. He was the first and only man to survive being inside a thunderstorm, and he is still alive and well right now. Every time I see a thunderhead of a storm cloud, I think of this book, and how this man could suffer through all of that and still stay alive. I am a 13 year old girl, and reading this book could be the most inspiring expeirience ever. It is an easy book to understand, but fit for all ages. I encourage anyone who loves a good story to read "The Man Who Rode The Thunder".

I read Lt. Col. Rankin's book in the early sixties while learning to fly and have never forgotten the book nor the author's name. I have told numerous fellow pilots about it. Movie producers are overlooking this possibility. Someday, I would like to meet Lt. Col. Rankin.

I read this book (in paperback form) as a young man in the early 1960's. It made a great impression on me. As the years pass, I find myself remembering this amazing true story. Often I'm reminded of this book when I see a thunderhead, or storm system developing. (The only other aviator/writer that has impressed me equally is St. Exupery in his book, "Wind, Sand, and Stars.") Lt. Col. Rankin's book would make a wonderful film - if done with the same care as the classic Jimmy Stewart movie, "The Spirit of St. Louis". With today's special effects, and if filmed with daring and wonder, it would be a great. But read the book first. Its unforgettable!