"Apple Valley Year" by Ann Turner shows young readers what happens during the year as Ralph Clark takes care of his apple orchard. From pruning the winter-dead branches to setting the beehives down among the trees to preparing the barrels to hold the apples that will be picked, "Apple Valley Year" is filled with the things large and small that make for a good harvest. Throughout the story Mr. Clark offers wise comments to his family (and horses) as to what makes for good apples. Apparently there is much more to do than wait for the apples to fall from the trees each autumn. Meanwhile, the fox that lives in the orchard is raising her new kits. The bright artwork by Sandi Wickersham Resnick is in the American primitive style, which is certainly appropriate for this story. This is one of those books where young readers will learn a lot about a topic without ever realizing they are doing more than being entertained.

Ralph Clark and his family farm apples, and we are shown the beauty and rhythm of their life through the seasons, beginning with winter. All efforts are interconnected, each season with its tasks that untimately contribute to a successful harvest. The book ends as it began, in winter, showing the full circle that being a farmer and working with nature offers. Beautifully illustrated.

This book provides a thorough and well written discussion of various aspects of women's altars. If you maintain a home altar, you may experience a deep revelation of how women across cultures and religions have similar practices and understandings of the sacred altar space. Turner's book does a wonderful job with photographic images of altars created by women practicing different traditions, including Goddess worship, Catholicism, and Buddhism. I was unaware of how altar traditions are often passed down through women in the family or that women are the primary caretakers of altars in certain cultures. Turner's discussion of techniques that are shared by women, such as collage, was wonderful to read. I thought some of the practices I had been doing were unique to me, since I was not taught them. How great to discover women share these creative practices and approaches to the spiritual realm collectively. This book is a true gift.

Kay Turner's Beautiful Necessity graces its readers with balance and bounty. In its image-filled pages, one finds scholarship and story, history and anecdote, ritual and spontaneity, tradition and innovation, honor and humor: in all, the elements of a living altar. For those versed in altar tradition and practice, Beautiful Necessity affirms the sacred act of connection to that larger than the self; for those new to the tradition, welcome after welcome is given. Anyone who has ever -- who hasn't? -- found or made a meaningful connection to the sacred through objects or images will see themselves reflected here. One surprise after another greets readers throughout the book: perhaps one of the biggest surprises is the enduring and unquestionable connection between the altars themselves, made by women separated by time, place and history. Turner focuses on the ritual gestures of offering -- physical, spiritual, incantatory, conversational-- and manages, through carefully distinct chapters, to bring together the whole of altar practice via attention to distinct aspects and traditions; detail after detail stands out, and still the different altars come together into a practice, a way of being. This is remarkable, since even the contemporary altars vary from ephemeral performance art installations in New York City to long-enduring, cherished domestic altars in homes on several continents. Buy the book. Read the book. Make an altar, or return to the altar you have, or to your appreciation of another, refreshed and restored by this wide-ranging illumination of spiritual and artistic practice and belief. You need this book.

this book helped me study for and obtain a civil service position in a community college. many of the questions were straight from the book.

My wife purchased this book because the first time she failed the clerical exam. I later found out that half of the people who take this exam fail and she decided that she needed to purchase a study aid. Well, she PASSED!!!!. This book really prepared her.

A book of its time (60s-early 80s), but I'm glad I finally came to it. Generally it contrasts the theories and practices of western innovators (Stanislavski et. al., Brecht, Grotowski, Brooks) against the rituals and traditions of eastern institutions (Kathakali, Noh, Kabuki, ritual events of Bali, India, especially Ramlila). Fascinating diagrams accompany the discussion of performance theory. Loved the essays on performance in "Restoration of Behavior," and "Transported and Transformed." And for both the actor and director, the argument that performance exists somewhere between the "not-me and not-not-me" is compelling.

Victor Turner wrote the forward to this book.

He is not its designer

This is a great book for boys! My 8-9 yr old son refers to it all of the time... I constantly catch him reading from this book. We have started giving it as birthday gifts. Chapters include great subjects: Money; Social Skills & Graces; Social Studies; Safety, Hygiene & Grooming; Stuff to eat; Fixing & Making Things; Things to do Inside; Things to do Outside; Animals & Plants.

Chapter contents example are: Money: Chores for Cash (Snow shoveling, Raking yards, vacation specialist, washing cars) , Ways to make more money (start a collection museum, lemonade stand, helping grown ups get on the internet, toy auction), What to do with the Dough (saving money, what's compound interest... the rule of 72, investing... bears and bulls)

Chapter Two: Social Skills and Graces includes teh following: Mind your manners...special situations, thanks, death, phone numbers, tying a tie, tipping; Friends ... how to make a friend, Sportsmanship, How to be a real jerk, Party Stuff, How to set a table, wrapping a present.... and the list goes on and on and on and on. Hopefully this gives you the flavor of the book.

This is written by kids for kids and it is awesome!

Parents this is the perfect book for inside rainy days,camping, or just regular bike repair. My son has this and takes it where ever he goes.

I mark this book as a required text to my students in my Cultural Studies Course.

Despite, or rather because of it's professed limitation to British Cultural Studies, Turner demonstrates a lot of sensitivity to what is and what is not British Cultural Studies, making any reader immediately aware of how other Cultural Studies traditions may differ. His extremely cogent and clear account takes the reader easily into the heart of Cultural Studies- what quarrels does British Cultural Studies have with other disciplines and what is so unique about its orientation as a discipline?

Turner's is a well-summarized, well-written introduction to the tradition of so-called critical cultural studies. This can draw a lot of attention from undergrads to phd-to-bes, from all across the social science and hmanities fields--such as mass media, communication, literature, aesthetics, philosophy, criticism, popular culture. If you believe that there's something missing in the US mainstream social science and humanities, this is the book you must start with.

I loved this book. I felt like I was getting the real inside scoop on the dirty tricks in the auto business. For the first time in my life, I was able to go out and buy a car, without feeling like I was being taken to the cleaners. I was in control! I loved the way the book was written, too. Mr. Raisglid really has a great sense of humor!

I cannot believe that I had so much fun buying my Acura. Using the Books suggestions I paid only $100 over cost and saved alot on my insurance. OH YEA, You will love the Directory chapter with hundreds of auto related discounters... parts, service, insurance, reviews of web sites! I never thought buying a car could be this good!I know what I am getting my auto buying and leasing friends for the Holidays. Good Luck!

Dr. Turner writes with dry wit and intimate understanding of the beauty, complexity, and mystery of the Eastern Shore of VA.

With the recent purchase of a 1926 farmhouse on Hoopers Island on Maryland's Eastern Shore, I wanted to learn more about life on the Bay. My family and I hoped this book would shed light on perhaps a gentler time, with a return to "the basics." William Turner has written a wonderful account of his life growing up on the Chesapeake Bay in the 40's and '50s. The stories are entertaining, with laughs, as well as gasps, as well as tears. My sons, ages 10 and 6, beg me to retell his stories on our drives to our new Eastern Shore retreat home. From bear sightings to pig butchering to duck hunting adventures to sinking boats in the dead of winter, William Turner paints vivid images in our minds of life on the Chesapeake Bay during a time of neighborly help and family closeness. He is an artist, and shares his sketches in this book as well, which further brings home the true meaning of his stories. This is a treasure!

favorite scene with rebecca-
discovering how her boss feels about her and terrified.

favorite scene with austin-
crying on rebecca's shoulder about the anniversary of his dead wife and baby.

favorite scene with rebecca and austin together-
in big bear.

Synopsis:

While investigating the attempted murder against beloved patriarch Joe Colton, hardened P.I. Austin McGrath made his own earth-shattering discovery - an undeniable attraction to elusive beauty Rebecca Powell. This world-weary widower thought he knew women. But little did he know that his impromptu partner was guarding a secret as closely as her virginity. What would it take to bring the Colton foster daughter out of her shell and into his arms? Well, dammit, he was about to find out! After all, secrets were his specialty!

Another great one in the Colton Series. Rebecca and Colton are fabulous characters and the story was GREAT! In my opinion this was the best one of the Colton Series. (But I encourage you to read the entire series)

Order it today!

Dr. Lyn Turner's knowledge and passion for the North Carolina coast is evident in this fabulous book. Get it today!

If you are one to travel to new and fascinating places with little money to exhaust, then you are in luck! "The Crystal Coast: North Carolina's Treasure by the Sea" is your best bet for an illustravtive vacation at a fraction of an airline ticket. Lyn Turner and Diane Hardee truely capture in picture the essence of North carolina's coast. The reader is captivated by the simplicity and sheer beauty of this North American gem. You feel as though you are a part of the pictures, and eagerly await the next turn of the page, goose-bumps are abound! The captions that are spread throughout the book are colorful and give wonderful explanations to the illustrations. The photos of day to day life on the Crystal Coast such as fishing, surfing and most of all dining make the reader even more curious of this majestic land! The last picture of the book is my favorite, it was a perfect ending to a great trip!! Do your self a favor....buy this book, and share it!! Your sure to acquire new friends!!