Often the continuation of a saga fails to measure up to the original ~ not so with this series. This is exactly what a second book should be. A natural progression of an adventure already begun in book one.
James Donaldson's knowledge of legend and fact shines through in both books as he delivers a realism so often missed by other authors. Here a love and respect for the characters results in a superior tale from the past. More than a mere read, his books are a journey we can share.
An absolute must read, but only after you have finished the first. Then you can join me in waiting for more!

These Chinese medical manuscripts representing a broad range of lost medical literature from ancient times have been carefully transalated by a sino-anthropologist. There are inherent difficulties in achieving lucid translation of ancient textx, as the author is quick to acknowledge. Unquestionably, these manuscripts, and the author's extensive commentary, provide a valuable and challenging contribution to our understanding of the history of Chinese medicine.

Lossing is directly responsible for the kindly view that the Shakers came to have in the eyes of America. This was the original article along with his sketches and illustrations which were finished out in water color before the wood engravers went to work. Absolutely astonishing details.

Step-by-Step Enameling written by William Harper and edited by William and Shirley Sayles was published by Golden Press in 1973/1974. The dimensions of this book are 8.25 x 11.0 inches and there are 80 pages. Photography and illustrations in color and black and white.

Contents include, but are not limited to, the following: tools and materials, work area, metals, enamels, firing process, finishing, mounting, color tests, stencils, foils, sgraffito, techniques with projects - cloisonne, basse-taille, champleve, grisaille, plique-a-jour. Additional techniques are also provided. Includes glossary and solutions chart.

Everything in this book except for the list of suppliers, schools and workshops is relevant to this day.

... this attractive cookbook is a real winner as well as a bargain. It's filled with easy to use and scrumptious recipes (I loved the "Tangy Lime-Peppercorn Catfish"), interesting and fun catfish lore, cooking tips, tips for the diet-conscious, you name it. The subject of catfish cooking is thoroughly covered, from Deep South and Cajun/Creole dishes to foreign dishes. What I love the most about this cookbook is that it contains every recipe you will need to cook a complete catfish meal--soups, condiments, main dishes, side dishes, even desserts. Congratulations to the authors on a job well done!

A collection of some of the greatest African-American poets. A wonderful synthesis of some of the most fantastic, most underestimated minds in society.

"Based on research in recently discovered material--some of which is printed in the appendixes to this volume--Papenfuse's closely argued and provocative work makes a substantial contribution. For it not only outlines the dimensions of Harper's dilemma but also suggests that more contemporaries than we have realized were aware that while their slaves were being impaled on one horn of the dilemma, they were being gored by the other. How else should we explain why Harper's neighbors in South Carolina voted fore him while they continued to buy slaves?"

Robert M. Weir, Pofessor of History, University of South Carolina

I`d love to know more about extrusion's machines, becouse I want to make a food with vegetables. I don't know English very well,I understand, but I don't write very well. I need dimensions, parts, material manufacture,etc.

It took me a little while to get the "joke" when I began this book, then when the author brings in the character of Mrs. Crooks, I really got into it.

This is a book I'll definitely read again, and probably more than twice!

"Fast Ride With the Top Down" reminds me of another marvelous book I read titled "Horses and Cows". It has the same kind of droll style and sense of humor about the human condition.

The characters are what one would call a bit off center, just slightly eccentric. Actually a lot like people are in real life.

The author has a master's skill at the use of words and language. Her descriptive comparisons literally made me chuckle outloud every page or two.

Nothing about this book bored me in the least. I did no skimming with this novel.

The book's main character is an artist named Lacy Blackwood. Lacy has desires, fears and insecurities like all human beings, and is quite easy to identify with.

In the beginning, Lacy appears to be a bi-sexual woman. She had an early intensely romantic and erotic interlude with another girl. When that ended she moved on to a couple of disasterous relaitonships with men, one of whom she married. It ended in divorce.

Lacy currents lives with her younger brother, Franco. Franco is delightfully wacky. To cover up some of his antics, Lacy refers to him as a "priest, sort of," and hopes nobody will ask any more questions.

In addition to looking after her dependent brother, Lacy also soft-heartedly takes in a homeless woman named Mrs. Crooks.

Lacy becomes involved with a beautiful woman named Shane. Shane, however, is involved with every woman that passes her way.

The book doesn't exactly come to a conclusive ending--as Lacy, Franco and Mrs. Crooks drive off "into the sunset." together.

Some things are resolved, however, to a certain extent.

I only wished the book were longer. I thoroughly enjoyed every one of the 160 pages of this slim novel.

It's the !kind of book one reads to find out what happens to the characters, and then want to pick up and re-read again, once you know those answers, just to enjoy the ride!

Yes a book about fences. Even I was surprised when I picked it up and took it home. I was in a hurry and had a blonde moment because I thought it said French Style. But... it turned out to be a book I actually like.

Just shy of 130 pages it is a book of beautiful photos of all kinds of fences. Some fences are the New England classics and some are wild west and awesome. Some are plain white and some are vivid purple hues.

Then there are instructions on how to build a stone fence , dry retaining wall, wet retaining wall, metal fences, and classic picket, vertical board, stacked rails, post and rail, slat, lattice, basket weave and stake.

On page 86 the issue of lumber grade is discussed. As well as dimensional lumber 24 inches and 2-4 inches thick, boards less than 2 inches thick. And the frosting on the cake is what kind of finish to give the fences and how to apply it.

I love fences myself and the book reminded me of rural fences in Montana and the Dakotas, the fences we see along the coast of California and the hooty tooty fences in areas like Woodside and up in Marine County. The stone fences we saw in Maine and which dot the landscape in the Yorkshire Dales on England.

It's a charming and useful book.

UPDATE April 2002 We are settled into our new Sierra mountain cottage and I am actually using this book as I re-design the fencing and the additional new gates.