This book is one of the best biographies I have read in years. Mainly because it captures Sarria not as a dry historical figure, but captures who he is and the way he remembers his life and his rich and eccentric personality as well. Gorman tells about his personal struggles and views while writing this book in an article that can be found at http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/mattsmind/gorman.html

This semi-autobiographical story of Jose Sarria, the founder of the Imperial Court System in San Francisco CA in 1965, is a remarkable read. Jose has been aware of his Gay identity since childhood and never had a problem with it. In this book we learn of his many experiences from World War II to several World Fairs to the history of the Imperial Court system. Throughout the book, Jose's voice is clear and to the point. Reading his quotes is like having tea with him. You laugh and cry and learn to love a remarkable man. He's Gandhi in a dress and still going strong! Perfect reading for the beach or for gift giving.

Princess DaisyMae Imperial Court of New York

As California goes, so goes the country. Stephen Krashen provides an enormously useful tool for helping educators see beyond the the political smoke and mirrors. In a clearly written, well-documented book, Krashen grounds us in what is important in teaching and learning.. letting children read and supporting them in their efforts.

For anyone who wants to understand what is going on in the state of California in regards to reading, this is one book that should be read. Krashen refutes some of the assumptions made by others and does so with clarity of purpose.

An excellent introduction to the thought of urban conception as a way of life, or even better of living. Michel de Certeau and the others would love to read it.

Everyday Urbanism is a wonderful collection of thoughts, projects and stories about the contemporary urban life in America (more specifically Southern California). Rather than speak about grand utopian visions, Everyday Urbanism investigates specific urban conditions. Each author brings their own perspective and dimmension to this interesting and entertaining compilation.

Probably the best book on the Baja I have in my collection. From the border to Cabo Walt and his son Michael can show you the best of a wonderful vacation area. And I bought it used for $10.00 at Amazon.com.....

Adventurer and author Walt Peterson does it again! With son Michael, he has produced a guide to Baja for those who want to explore this place of many wonders by RV. Walt and Michael provide an extraordinary book, filled with all the information RVers will need to have a really great adventure in Baja. For those who prefer to rough it, Walt's acclaimed Baja AdventureBook is just the ticket

I got this book after seeing it on the Travel Channel. It is a fun book and extremely informative! I'd write more.. but it has me stoked to hit the beach!

Later Dude!

From the Mexican border to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo county, this book delivers the goods on 170 beaches.

The directions are extremely clear, which is very important in both the chaos of LA and the unsigned rural coast of central Californa.

This book explores more than just beaches. If it's near the water or even under the water, it's in this book. Web addresses and phone numbers acompany the detailed info and descriptions.

But, the true beauty of this book are the essays. Extremely well-written insights into things like California weather, Sand, Kites, Surfing, SCUBA, Sailing, Tidal Pool, and more.

There's even an appendix with the average water temperatures in each of the book's 19 regions!

My only complaint is that they could have used some more indents and bold characters.

Well worth the price. I'm sure to need another copy after I wear this one out.

The book started out a teeny bit dry and left me confused because I didn't know who was what character and what their purpose was. Yet, as the book developed, the plot got soooooo good. There was obviously a lot of planning that went into this book, which made me happy to read it, because I hate books that are just flopped together for a quick dollar. I'm not going to go into what the plot was, because I think you should go out and read it for yourself and see the surprising ending!

This is an absolutely charming read, although it does take place in a distressing situation: young hopeful women from Japan are lured by the promise of marriage by the picture of a clueless gardener... who is discovered by two of them who manage to confound the exploitative but incompetent henchmen forcing them to stay in the brothel. The simplicity of the narrative style belies the complexity of the plot; Yamaguchi does a masterful job keeping the characters very clearly separate, although that means a bit of stereotyping. The characters are well-drawn, each with his or her redeeming sincerity within his or her weaknesses for status or revenge. Some outstanding comic scenes. Very good pace and excellent details of the 19th c. setting Without being too heavy handed, Yamaguchi does clearly paint the picture of discrimination suffered by non-white immigrants, but the more telling portrait is of the sad tendency for the first-arrived to take advantage of the later ones within the same ethnic group. Even though this takes place in a brothel, there is no raunchy language or graphic scenes, and I would recommend this for even junior high students for two reasons: great historical detail and a good plot device to explore human nature.

A friend lent me this book, and thought I would enjoy the plot. I am, I admit, a lover of thrillers and read this in one day.

A strange killer is on the moves (pun intended), and a woman detective (Jessie Drake) must identify him before it is too late. Will Jessie save her sister's marriage, and will she find the Curare Killer before he strikes again... Romance can not be avoided, as in most thrillers, but it at least is plausible and believable. Of course, the inevitable happens, the plot does get a little predictable, nevertheless the suspense is there all the way. Definitely deserves five stars.

I ran across this book and decided to give it a shot even though I wasn't familiar with the author. I was not disappointed. The characters are wonderful and by the end of the book, you feel like you know them all as friends. There are nice twists throughout the book and it never bogs down. It's a great read. I highly recommend it.

Falling Leaves was an AMAZING book. It was touching and heart-wrenching, and I could not put it down. Adeline Yen Mah's story is so sad, and one realizes all the obstacles she had to overcome. I highly recommend this book for all mature readers, as it is an excellent and eye-opening work of art.

all of us cling to the belief that our parents would love us and protect us no matter what. This book brought home the cruel fact that family members are related by chance only. It,s lottery!! I heart ached as Adeline recalled her story. I felt I was living her life while I was reading the book.I was that little girl that no one wanted to remember .At the same time, I wanted to reach across time and hug her and confort her. Perhaps it's impossible to imagine all this if one had grown up in a warm and loving family. I salute Adeline for her courage to get her story out.Most of us whom have survived similar experience could not bear to even admit to ourselves that our family did not care. After all, It might mean we were not lovable. "falling Leaves" is a wonderful study of family dynamics . Each charcter teachs me something about human nature.Most of all, I appalud the human spirit. Adeline has shown that out of the mud, a lovely lily emerges.

Jacob Asch is about as close to Marlowe as it gets. When I read crime fiction (especially first-person stories about private investigators set in LA!), I'm continually making comparisons with Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe. So far, I've found two worthy successors to Chandler: Crumley and Lyons.

Lyons' execution is nearly flawless. The story never sags, from its opening in which a new client is found dead in Asch's office. The pursuit of the truth about the client, his prostitute girlfriend and junkie crime-partner is wound into a tight, elegant ball of a plot, surrounded by a host of LA police detectives... some cooperative and some downright suspicious of Asch's motives.

I encountered and read this book by accident. I will hunt down the other Asch novels for the simple reason that this book is an entertaining, nearly flawless example of LA PI fiction.

Reporter turned private detective Jacob Asch agrees to meet a man on short notice--anything to take Asch from the ennui of tracking down elderly people for conservatorship actions. The man says he suspects his wife of being unfaithful, and Asch takes the case. After a fruitless day of following the woman, Asch returns to his office to find his client murdered. Asch is further confused when the man turns out not to be who he claimed to be. The police are not confused, though. Asch is promptly jailed.

When the police verify Asch's whereabouts during the day, they finally release Asch, who vows to solve the mystery of the murdered client. When each lead seems to leave to a corpse, Asch finds himself involved in an even larger mystery and a growing cast of suspects. He finds himself growing increasingly suspicious as he falls into the arms of a gorgeous blonde homicide detective. But can he trust her, her alcoholic partner, the self-centered reporter who did the story on police corruption, the widow of a slain cop, the mechanic who dabbles as a pimp, or any of the other people in the story?

"False Pretenses" is a hard-boiled detective story for the '90s, true to the genre's pioneers without being an anachronism. Jacob Asch may not be Sam Spade, but he is not too far removed. The result is a very enjoyable novel.

This slim volume is fascinating, easy to read and beautifully illustrated. While it is not a thorough scientific treaty on the subject and doesn't provide information on the locations of ALL old growth (something I kind of expected from the title) it is nevertheless an exquisite introduction.
Having contacted Larry Eifert about the book I have to also say that he and wife Nancy are extremely friendly and helpful, not only pointing me in the direction of other information and advising on the best places to visit but also sending me further of his works gratis! In particular, a wonderful little chart describing the creatures and plants of the Redwoods which was the perfect suppliment to the Field Guide.

Field Guide to Old Growth Forests isn't a scientific treatise on old growth forests, but a guide to accessing and appreciating them, blending a science guide with a travel handbook. A review of the natural history of old growth forests blends with the author's pen and ink drawings and tips on where to find the remaining old growth forests.