Born and raised in Lubec Maine, I grew to love the coast as if it were my own personal playground. As a young lad I would spend my days swimming in the chilly waters off my families private beach, and my nights roasting marshmellows over and open fire. When I was in my teens I went to work in the local sardine factory and spent many days dragging for scallops in the bay.

I moved away from Downeast Maine twenty years ago and I have missed it ever since. I miss the smell of the salt air and the nice cool breeze that always seems to be there. I miss the endless hay fields and the way the trees produce unheard of colors every fall. Most of all I miss the people. They are kind, honest, and carry an accent that could make anyone feel at home.

I bought the book Downeast Maine: A World Apart a month ago and I read it every day. The stories and black and white photos give the reader a true feeling for what it is like living in Downeast Maine. Reading it, I can almost smell the salt air and feel that unforgettable summer breeze. The book really brings me home again. It's wonderfull book!

A summer resident of Maine's easternmost corner, Frank Van Riper goes beyond clam shacks, country clubs and outlet malls to portray how people 'Down East' eke out a living and build a life.

Van Riper, a former White House correspondent for the New York Daily News ably handles both camera and notepad to record vivid, full-frame images of his neighbors. This is fundamentally a book about people, and he has clearly managed to transcend that putoffishness that Maine residents are known for to get their stories alongside their pictures. The text doesn't merely accompany, nor do the photos merely illustrate; they are inseparable components.

There is a timeless quality to these images of people, most seen at work. Only at times does a modern watch or a radar dome on a boat remind you that clams are still dug through back-breaking labor and lobster hauled up one or two at a time. The book was collected over a number of years, and italics note where the subject portrayed died between the portrait and publication -- and you feel the loss.

This is serious documentary, with more than a hint of Walker Evans and Sebastián Salgado, but with light touches as well. Van Riper devotes a page to the peculiar delight of Maine's own Grape Nuts ice cream, a confection that predates -- and in his view, outrates -- Ben and Jerry's chunky conglomerates.

A visually stunning series of what happens when a dead whale washes ashore in his small town of Kennebec closes out the book. The sharply mottled skin of the whale amid the wash-fade of a foggy illustrate the beauty of his corner of Maine, as Van Riper also tells us of hard choices a financially strapped, self-reliant community must face as it struggles to get rid of what is, after all, tons and tons of rotting flesh.

This sensitive portrayal proves that what it means to be from Maine has nothing to do with what bottled water you drink.

Frank Van Riper captures, in his portraits of Maine, the people that he has come to know slowly (is there any other way in Maine?) through his photo excursions to the northeast.

His "moment" photographs are some of my favorites, including the photo of the boy at the pie-eating contest. It's an ageless photograph captured with precision timing and artful composition. These are traits of photographs throughout the book and share the essence of great documentary photojournalism--the ability to capture a simple (almost unseen) moment with artisitc and historic sensibilities. Van Riper captures this quiet beauty in medium format which lends itself to the superb reproductions.

Van Riper's fine images coupled with his words showcase his great ear for telling dialogue honed during his "other" career as a newspaper writer.

That Younghill Kang's book, critically acclaimed during his own lifetime, has been rediscovered and reprinted decades later is a victory for American literature. I am a student at Northwestern University and I read this book for an Asian American literature class that I took on a whim. Though I rarely glance at class books during vacation (even the good ones) I have re-read this one twice. East Goes West is a beautifully written novel that manages to be both powerfully thought-evoking and humorous. Kang's commentary on the uniqueness of American culture, politics, business, and society remain as fresh and valid as they were sixty years ago. The genius of this book is that it makes you think while being amused. If you've always wanted to find hidden treasure, this book comes pretty close. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

This is an excellent book for anyone who would like to know how Koreans in early 1900 had lived in America. It is a story of exiles living in the U. S. waiting to return to Korea someday knowing then that it was an impossible dream. In his book I met many people I had heard of or read about. Mr. Younghill Kang, who is a friend of my remote aunt, is indeed a true poet.

One of the first works of fiction written by an Asian immigrant to the United States, Kang's novel describes his early adulthood with a poignant humor that touches not only on his most positive experiences in a new country--such as being befriended by other Korean Americans--but also on some of his worst: the time when college classmates convinced him to run a race in long underwear. Kang, however, never forces us to feel sorry for him; simply by relating his experiences to us in a uniquely crafted language that reflects both his extensive literary training and his own quirky sense of style, Kang manages to win our sympathy for an obviously gifted young man who faces discrimination and hardship during his first years away from home

In the real East Liberty, in Pittsburgh, where Joseph Bathanti, an author I had never heard of, and I grew up, I attended a function dedicating a refurbished theater and celebrating locals, including Bathanti, who have made good. He had a table set up in the lobby where one could purchase copies of his book East Liberty and, frankly, I bought a copy simply to be supportive of this hometown fellow. And although I fully intended to dip into the book, I doubted that it would merit my reading it to the end.

To my surprise and delight, I learned - despite the book's less-than-enticing title unless you happen to hail from East Liberty - that this fellow Bathanti is a wonderful writer, far more readable than many of the big names who have managed to secure the services of mammoth marketing machines. My concern now is that his book won't receive the kind of publicity and marketing it deserves.

Joseph Bathanti's anecdotes about growing up fatherless in a working class Italian family are authentic and affecting. But it is his skilled use of language that impresses. During an evening of mischief with his own friends and a rival group, the young narrator finds himself the victim of a ricocheting rock. He doesn't know at first that he's been wounded but eventually feels "the warm scarf of blood on my bare neck." When an ambulance comes to haul off a neighbor felled by a heart attack, he says, "It's red lights spray my bedroom with what looks like blood and fire."

East Liberty is a story of struggle and love, hope and survival, in a blue collar, multi-ethnic neighborhood. And although it is presented as a novel, it reads like an autobiography. If that is not the case, Bathanti's powers of description have convinced me otherwise. There are incidents in East Liberty that will make you laugh out loud and that will resonate with your own experiences, but the stories of his hardworking mother, his stern and culturally eccentric immigrant grandparents, and multi-cultural neighborhood influences are haunting and bring back memories of the "good old days" that were not necessarily so good.

Mr. Bathanti's blazing rich characters and truly insightful renderings of the '50s, bring Bobby Renzo's extended family and neighborhood brilliantly to life. In a well-stirred play of dream life, gleanings from old black and white movies, the lure of baseball as savior, and exotic language so true, I was cruising close beside him on the streets of Pittsburgh. East Liberty is a wonderful whirlwind chase though boyhood adventures told in a strong voice of innocence and curiosity. Renzo's coming-of-age is rendered with deep passion for the honesty of his heritage and flows from a stream of amazing, brave stories. This book has soul - highly recommended.

This is a terrific coming-of-age story about a boy growing up in a seedy Italian-American neighborhood in Pittsburgh in the '50s and early '60s. His mother is single, so the neighborhood's Catholic residents disapprove of her but accept the boy. As a result, he gets his information partly from the Church (he goes to parochial school, where the nuns try to encourage him to become a priest), partly from the old movies he watches with his mother, and partly from his tough buddies on the street. Great read!

After a long long time I got to read something so fulfilling. Something that one can identify with instantly and it does not take much effort as well. The theme of Brother Vs. Brother is universal and appealing to all. Maybe because as children of Cain, we are all the same - A blend of Good and Bad. Wow!!
East of Eden was heavy for me!!

Steinbeck is so good at descriptions - love the style of writing, the dry subtle humor- the very fact that he does not justify his character's actions - the struggle of mankind, the inner conflict,is so beautifully portrayed.

The Theme: Brother vs. Brother

The Plot: Two Families in Salinas, California. The Trasks and the Hamiltons. Adam Trask who faces a life-long complex from his brother Charles Trask heads towards a new life - with his brand-new wife. The birth of his twins is a joyous moment only to result in a sad one - with Kathy (his wife) walking out on
him.

He raises the kids with his manservant Lee - the ever symbolical of what is right - Chinese - who is a great human character in ages to come.

The twins - Aron and Cal are poles apart and the rest is as they say "History".

The Hamiltons are a different breed altogether. Nine children and Samuel Hamilton is a man who never feels the need to have more money.

I guess the Biblical influence is immense in the book - but obvious it had to be!!

Overall, a great great awesome read!!

This is a novel that successfuly weaves strands of fact with threads of fiction to create a stunning tapestry of American life that is timeless. The novel is based in the early part of the 1900's and despite it's massive length (over 600 pages) Steinbeck manages to draw you in and make you think. His characters are richly drawn so that you almost know them. I believe this is because we can find a little of each character with in ourselves. This book is the very best book I have ever read and that says a lot because I am constantly reading. Pick up East of Eden today and take the journey to the Salinas Valley. You will not regret it!

Classic characters and plot. More of how the more things change the more they stay the same.

My mother lived in E. Orange during the 1906 to 1938 time period. She attended the Lincoln Elementary & E. O. High School along with my father whom she married later on. The postcards in this book give me a view that my mother would have seen as she grew up. This book gave me a warm and cozy feeling about a town I didnt know before. Many years later as I grew up in Caldwell, not far away, I had no idea of the rich history of E. O. Now I know thanks to this book. Note to Author: Don't ya just love Antique shops?

This well researched and visually appealing book is worth leisurely perusal. A picture is indeed worth a thousand words.

I can't remember when I've enjoyed a book so much! The postcards and narratives shown throughout the pages brought me back to the town I so loved and enjoyed as a child and teenager growing up in a city that I felt was the best place in the world.

Sudo's use of repeated curves and straight lines is amazing! The quilts and blocks all look so balanced and even, but in an unusual way. There's a wonderful, off-center sort of flair to the patterns- a sort of creation of harmony from disharmony. I haven't quilted much with curved forms (they have always sounded daunting) and this book contains the first pattern that even makes me want to try. And the wonder of the book is that I would really like to try most of the patterns... What a great, creative compilation!

I just purchased and read this book today. Kumiko Sudo's use of color and form is phenomenal. Her designs are kaleidoscopic, and may be challenging to create, but even if I never make one of her quilt block designs I will be affected by her choices of color, focus on the use of fabric and its design, and stories of how each design came about.

I really recommend this book; it will definitely encourage you to think more about color and form as you choose fabrics for quilts.

This gift awakened my creativity. I have questions about the fabric. Looking for dialogue.

...usted necesita a este libro.Mientras el imperialismo yanqui hace una guerra criminal ( marzo 2003 ) en el Medio Oriente que achicará a la Guerra del Golfo de 1991, este libro es tan necesario hoy como fue durante la guerra previa. Los dirigentes de la revolución cubana, dentro de la Organización de Naciones Unidas y afuera, plantearon entonces y plantean hoy que los objetivos verdaderas en la guerra anterior son los mismos que en la guerra de hoy: una conquista colonial de uno de los países de mayores recursos petroleros de la Tierra. Escucha a estas voces y no a las de los políticos, sobre todo las estadounidenses, que sirven los capitalistas petroleros, ni Bush ni sus aliados del Partido Demócrata. Lea y entienda que es la tarea del pueblo irakí derrocar a la dictadura de Saddam Hussein y sus generales; y aprenda que la lucha del pueblo irakí en contra el imperialismo yanqui y forma parte de la lucha unida de los pueblos de Asia, África y América Latina echar el dominio de los países imperialistas de Europa, Norteamérica y Japón. ¡Lea estas palabras y únase a la lucha en contra las guerras imperialistas y a la lucha por la autodeterminación de los oprimidos del mundo!

With US Imperialism preparing a war in the Middle East that will dwarf the Gulf War discussed here, this book is needed just as much as it was needed during the Gulf War. The leaders of the Cuban revolution in the UN and beyond pointed out then, and point out today that the real objectives of imperialism in this war are nothing less than a colonial conquest of the one of the richest oil countries on Earth. Listen to these voices, not the lies of Emron-paid-for-my-campaign Bush when you consider what the coming war is all about. Listen to these voices and understand that no matter how bad the regime in Iraq is, the struggle of the Iraqi people is part of the struggle of all the peoples of Africa, Asia, and Latin America to throw off the economic and political domination of the imperialist countries of Europe, North America, and Japan. Read these words and join the struggle against imperialist war and for the self-determination of the oppressed of the Earth!

En sus propias palabras --el enfrentamiento entre el gobierno revolucionario de Cuba y los imperialistas de EEUU y sus aliados en plena carrera guerrerista. Documentos de augusto, septiembre y octubre de 1990, mientras EEUU preparaba la guerra sangrienta contra Iraq.

En 9 capítulos, el libro presenta textos de las resoluciones del Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas y declaraciones hechas por el representante cubano, Ricardo Alarcón, y el presidente cubano Fidel Castro. Explican con datos y argumentos detallados porque Cuba se opuso a los planes de EEUU y sus aliados.

¿Quiere entender las razones por las guerras libradas por EEUU en todos los rincones del mundo?
¿Quiere entender el papel de la ONU en el mundo de hoy?
¿Quiere saber más de la crisis económica y social del mundo hoy en día --y cómo luchar para cambiarlo?

Entonces, ¡lea este libro y compártelo con sus amigas y amigos!

One of the greatest Ethio-Eritrean history books I have ever read. I am still not sure if Tekeste Negash is Ethiopian or Eritrean (or both) but never mind! He's redefined what it means to be objective.

The book is an exceptional experience in the way it gives extensive bibliography. Interestingly, Prof. Negash spends most of the time giving out footnoted facts than his perceptions/analysis of the past, but he does an excellent job at sequencing the facts in such a way that paints a focussed picture to the reader. He says his views without actually saying them, but through a series of facts, which makes a richer readship.

The book is laden with names, acronyms, dates and figures, but it still makes an easy read. For those interested in detailed facts and further reading, it has extensive indices in the end, and numerous footnotes on every page.

One of the most amazing moments is the end of this book, which basically predicated the 1998-2000 war one year ahead. The book was published in 1997. I read the book in 1999, but i remember the moment when i first heard about the warm-up bombing tag between the two countries in 1998. I was struck speechless by news I could have sworn unfathomable. However, his understanding was unline any other, I have the more respect for him for that.

He illustrates mistakes made on both sides. He shows their follies and justifications indiscriminately. In the end, like one reader already pointed out, the reader will just end up questioning politics and admiring ethio/eriteran civilians, their patience and tolerance of the 40-something year madness, and admiring them for coming out of it still with human values.

This book is a product of a person who does not know what he is saying. Please nobody should weast his time reading this ethiopist ideas.

Excellent presentation. The book focuses more on passing on facts (excelent footnotes and appendix) to the reader than giving analysis of events and their significance from the author's point of view. It definitely sheds a new perspective of the beginning of the Ethio-Eritrean war. There is not much about TPLF, but there's an interesting coverage of rise and fall of ELF and the rise of EPLF. As strange as it may sound, the book also makes you appreciate that the war was carried out as it was. It makes you appreciate the Ethio-Eritrean civil society.

Fatuma's New Cloth is an energetic and highly recommended children's picturebook about Fatuma, a young East African girl who learns about the complexities of the marketplace. There is even a recipe for East African chai (tea) included in this highly enjoyable tale by Leslie Bulion, whose engaging text is superbly complemented by the soft, watercolor-style illustrations by Nicole Tadgell.

Fatuma and her mother plan to spend their day in the market. Along the way, various merchants suggest their wares make chai (tea) taste better, but she does not see how their offerings make the chai taste differently. Then at the cloth shop, Fatuma chooses a new kanga cloth from which her mother will make her dress. Each Kanga pattern is imprinted with a Swahili saying, many of which have more than one meaning. Fatuma chooses a kanga imprinted with this message: "Don't be fooled by the color. The good flavor of chai comes from the sugar." So she learns that just as surgery dissolves becoming something we cannot not see, so are the things make us special as impossible to see.

FATUMA'S NEW CLOTH provides not only an entertaining tale, but also a fascinating peek into a vastly different culture from most American children's. In America, we teach our children, "don't judge a book by its cover." In Swahili, the same lesson is expressed as "don't judge the tea by its color." Parents will welcome the message that the value of people lies on the inside where we cannot see. In addition, parents seeking to teach their children the lessons of acceptance of other people's beliefs and culture will find the story an excellent aid. In addition, authentic East African features and kanga patterns frame the pages, lending the text an extraordinary visually pleasing appearance as charming illustrations bring the text alive. An author's note at the end aids parents to further explain the nuances of the story. Also included is a recipe for chai, allowing young children to experience the story first hand. Very highly recommended.

The lesson tells us, "you can't judge a book by its cover." But the inviting jacket art for Fatuma's New Cloth makes a promise that is fulfilled by a story that is as lush and lively as its illustrations.

The dialog between Fatuma and her mother sings with love, gentleness and humor.The author creates a story that is appealing to both girls and boys and one that is useful to parents and educators.

This delectable slice of East African culture lingers like the sweet taste of chai. (By all means, try the recipe!)

I recommend Fatuma's New Cloth and I look forward to seeing more books by Leslie Bulion.

This is excellent reading at home and on the go. You'll want to buy two of these just so you have one at home, and one you can really rough handle on the road. :) If you're into medicinal herbs or you just love knowing what's what out in the wild, this guide is number one! A MUST! You need it now.

This book was so fabulous, in fact, I give it more than five stars, I give it twenty! It is because of this book that I now want to be an ethnobotanical chemisist. This book has such pep and drive, just the Introduction and Preface make you want to go outside start a weed garden, picket the FDA, and go to college for seven years to get your degree in botanical chemistry. You don't believe me, but I'm serious. READ THIS BOOK! If not the whole book, at least the Introduction and Preface. It'll give you SO much energy.

This is one of the better field guides available for identifying and determining the usefulness of many medicinal plants found commonly in the Eastern and Central US. This guide is recommended for beginners and experienced medicinal plant enthusiasts alike. A must have book for the novice in this field.