I wanted to make a special dinner for my boyfriend and chose a Greek theme, mainly using recipes from this book, inclduing Friend Zucchini and Cheese and Shrimp w/Tomato and Feta. The whole dinner was simple enough (and I am a novice cook) and the ingredients were easily available. There are also interesting tidbits for most of the recipes, making reading the cookbook as fun as cooking out of it. Best of all, the food was delicious, and he said it reminded him almost exactly of the food he ate during his trip to the Greek Islands last summer. I will definetly be turning to this cookbook again and again.

I got this book as a Christmas present, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Aglaia Kremezi has always had the reputation of a gourmet cook, so I felt intimidated to try any of her recipes, because I thought they would be quite complicated and easy to fail for a home cook. Quite the contrary!! This is an excellent book, with very detailed descriptions and insightful information on original Greek dishes (as a Greek who just moved to the US from Greece, I can say that this is the REAL thing, very far from anything touristy or artificial).

All the dishes I have tried until now have been a success, and two are the main reasons: 1. The recipes have been adapted to the modern way of cooking 2. The ingredients have also been adapted so that one can find them outside of Greece without compromising in taste or authenticity. There is also a very helpful list of US sources for original Greek products.

I definitely recommend this book! It's one of the best cookbooks I own -- and trust me, I own many...

In this cookbook, Aglaia Kremezi not only compiles the best of the traditional recipes of the Greek islands, she also captures the essence of the islands themselves through well written, detailed, and interesting historical and geographical information.

This 298-page hardback begins with a comprehensive introduction to the islands of Greece. In addition to beautiful photographs, Kremezi provides a detailed description of each island and / or island group. The geography, history, and popular dishes are all highlighted, making the introduction alone a valuable reference tool.

The different types of food are divided among eight chapters; including appetizers, pitas and pies, seafood, meat, rice and pasta, vegetables, bread, and desserts. I really enjoyed the fact that each chapter is prefaced with additional reference information such as history, modern day adaptations, and substitutions for particular ingredients. In addition, background information is included with the recipes, which are not only delicious, but easy to prepare as well.

Another great feature of this cookbook is an A to Z glossary of Greek food terms. From Aleppo Pepper to Zante Currants, Kremezi clearly defines the traditional ingredients of the Greek islands. A Basic Preparations section offers recipes such as vegetable stock, tomato sauce, and yogurt that form the basis of many of the recipes offered. Most of the basic ingredients in this cookbook are readily available anywhere in the world, but Kremezi also offers substitutions for those ingredients that may be hard to find in your local grocery store. For ingredients that cannot be substituted, Kremezi provides a handy listing of Greek food suppliers from all over the country.

I highly recommend this cookbook not only because it is beautifully written, but also because the recipes are easy to prepare, flavorful, and truly capture the spirit of the Greek islands. In addition, the reference information included in this cookbook is superb.

I am Ecuadorian ( Quito ) and I have heard some of versions of this history, even by the most prominent Ecuadorian newspaper, but nothing compares as the certanty of Mr. John Treherne, book.
This book gives you an oportunity as break, you Imagine Global crisis of 1929, Nazi Germany, lots of pain and hatred everywhere
but at the end, love make a miracle in real life again.
By other hand, if you have heard of a place on earth where: is a treassured by nature and "fauna", yes that is Galapagos Island where you can find: amazing nature ( mountains and sea ), and sea lions swiming trought your legs, yes that is Galapos At Ecuador!! Mi pais!!

No fiction writer would dare to invent such a story. It's too implausible for a reader of mysteries to believe. However, it's a true story about several odd groups of people who went to live on an island. The story sweeps you along, building to a still unsolved murder or murders. Part of the fun is coming up with your own explanation for what happened. Someone was lying, but who? It's also interesting to find out who of the settlers actually stayed and founded a colony more or less by accident. All in all, a good book to curl up with on a cold winter night by the fire.

This is one book that needs, desparately, to be reprinted. It is the most amazing story and quite ably presented by the author. It is the true story of the inhabitants of Floreana, or Charles Island as it was also known in the late 1920's early 1930's. This tiny little island in the Galapagos group, off the coast of Equador was home to a small community of idealists who shifted there to start a new life - and it also became the centre of an odd and unsolved mystery.

The start of the book was not entirely satisfactory. If I hadn't been encouraged to continue then I might not have persisted in reading it. The book centres around two German idealists (Dore and Frecerich), who escape from unhappy marriages and make an 'ideal' home on the island where they can live close to the earth and philosophise. Later another German couple and their child (the Wittmers) settle in another part of Floreana. This first half of the book which is their life is interesting but not compelling. It is when the Baroness, a sort of mystic with Imperial intentions, settles on the island with her small entourage of devoted male followers, that things get interesting. From about half way through the book you can see that things on the island are deteriorating towards some kind of disaster. The Baroness seems to be deliberately provoking the others. Food is being stolen, mail tampered with and the Baroness's imperial intentions start to overwhelm them all.

The relationships on the island and the final mystery are unravelled by Traherne through thorough reading of books and resources from the various characters involved or who had visited the island. Treherne seems to have done a pretty good job in unravelling the tangle web of concealments about just what might have happened on the island during the drought in the summer of 1934 and it makes wonderful reading.

To even reveal the mystery would be to spoil the book as it becomes quite complex with other deaths involved as well. This is very well worth reading - kind of Lord of the Flies for adults and - as with all true stories - the truth is far stranger than fiction.

Worth every penny. Mark's photos are one of the few ways to appreciate the underwater and terrestrial landscape as close to real life as possible, without the hassles of separate glasses.

I felt I was back underwater with Mark's book. If these images moved, it would be more thrilling!

GALAPAGOS IN 3-D

Fabulous book with stereo 3-D photos!

I highly recommended this book for school children and adults alike.

I was introduced to the book by a friend and liked it so much that I sought out and bought all of the 3D books by Mark Blum. I find the price so reasonable that I've since bought more to give as gifts.

I enjoy looking at the 3-D photos even more than my seven year old boy so I already know several adults and children who will be getting this book as a gift.

The technical quality of the photos and printing of the books is very good. A magnifying, stereo viewer is built into a unique bi-fold cover of the book A little research showed that this idea is well over a hundred years old (like stereo photography) but I still find it very innovative because it is so rare and unusual.

The photographer has an inspired eye and top technical skill. Not to mention an amazingly adventurous job. The 3D photos make it easy to imagine yourself scuba diving under a school of hammer head sharks!

The writing accompanying each image adds to the photos with just the right amount of scientific and general information to serve both young and old reader. I like this book very much and I hope you find this review helpful. I recommend looking for the other 3-D books by Blum. They are all great!

This series is plainly one of my all time favorites! All ages will love this book.

Explore the wildlife and landscape of the famous Galapagos islands, above and below the ocean's surface. Galapagos in 3-D is filled with beautiful photography with informative captions. But, if you have normal binocular depth perception, you will be absolutely blown away by the amazing 3-D stereo effect.

Mark Blum is certainly a leading practioner of the difficult art of stereo photography. He has designed and even built his own specialized cameras. He uses cameras capable of seeing the world from the perspective of a tiny shrimp, or giving the viewer a crystaline sense of depth in a vast scene of cactii spreading out to the horizon.

I am especially intrigued by the underwater stereo photographs. The book ends with a magnifacent shot of 2 hammerhead sharks surrounded by a huge shoal of creolefish. The depth effect is incredible!

I simply can't recommend Galapagos in 3-D highly enough! All of Mark Blum's books are superb!

I was born on the island, and heard many stories from my father and mother, and my grandparents, uncles and aunts. However, Max and Gini's book has filled in all the gaps, either out of my own memory bank, or the stuff just left out by a father, protecting his daughter from the "sordid" tales. Galveston: Lore, Legend and Downright Lies has added even more to my "love of the island." I have bought the book twice, once for myself and once for my father. He loves it! I plan on ordering more from Amazon for Xmas gifts. A great "thumber" and definitely should be a part of everyone's home library. Thank you, Max, and Gini, and Robert John, and Amazon.....the world needs more books like this one!

“Galveston … Lore, Legend, & Downright Lies” is a delightful , entertaining potpourri of life in days gone by on Texas’ famed island city, once known as the Wall Street of the South. The city boasted electric lights and the best of practically everything west of the Mississippi.

The collection of stories was compiled by Gini Fendler-Brown and Max Rizley Jr., Texas writers, and published by Eakin Press, Austin, Texas in a 164 page package sure to please history-lovers near and far.

“Galveston … Lore…” brings to the reader stories ranging from the disastrous 1900 hurricane -- the worst natural disaster to occur in this country, to the fact that the extinct Karankawa Indians cared for Cabeza de Vaca and his shipwrecked party in 1588, and tales of fabled pirate-patriot-lover Jean LaFitte.

Stories abound telling of the history of Galveston’s moniker as “The Oleander City” and the true origin of the Oleanders, to the fact that Galvestonians took on the challenge to rebuild after the 1900 storm and physically raised 2,100 structures above the sand during the city grade raising to avoid any repeat of the disaster. Extreme hardship, loss and Pride.

The book, easy to read and hard to put down, is bound to be a big winner for all who are fortunate enough to get their hands on it.

Galveston Island is home to a unique community. Although it is connected to the Texas Gulf Coast by two bridges and a ferry service, in many ways it is its own society separated by much more than a mere few miles of saltwater.

This book takes us into the distant and more recent history of the island and its colorful inhabitants, telling us stories in a way that leaves one feeling like you're sitting around a fire at a family reunion recalling old friends, neighbors and family members. Some stories one might tell only in hushed whispers. Others provoke knowing interjections from all quarters. These are tales that deserve to be shared far outside the circle of sand.

Whether you were born on the island and want to learn about the gossip you might have missed, or live far away and merely wonder what life is like in a seaside city, this book delivers. From pirates to revered community traditions, it explores a vast scope of history in an easy way that leaves you wanting more.

Caution: You may be tempted to move to Galveston after reading this book, if you don't already live there.

How such a wonderfully heartwarming, funny, wacky book could be out of print, is beyond me. I have read all three books in the 'Corfu series' again and again. Like the reviewer before me, the description of the different wines stands out in my memory, as does the description of the entire birthday buffet for that matter. Gerald Durrel is an extremely gifted writer, and has an excellent sense of humor. His portrayal of his family is wildly funny, and one can't help but fall in love with them, even the irritating Larry! I highly recommend this book, but read 'My Family and other Animals' and 'Birds Beasts and Relatives' first. This is a deeply touching series, for adults and children alike, and there is a good laugh on practically every page. I hope someone comes to their senses and reprints this book.

A wonderfully funny book set in sunny Corfu replete with Durrell's hilarious family anecdotes, convoluted Greek imbroglios and enchanting descriptions. The description of different wines is scintillating.

"The Garden of the Gods" by Gerald Durrell is an immensely funny biographical work telling anecdotes from the author's childhood on the island of Corfu. More to the point, it is the third part of the trilogy which begins with "My Family and Other Animals" and continues with "Birds, Beasts and Relatives". Can anyone explain why the first part of this trilogy remains widely available, while the other two books, which are just as good, if not better, are now out of print?

Prof. E. L. Anderson (Lansing Community College), in: Choice - Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (April 1997): This indispensable reference and thorough summary of mostly French and German reports and [Webb's] interpretations and observations will thrive and be a foundation for future work. Fine index, thorough footnotes and bibliography, clear outline and arrangement of material,and articulate paragraphs.

Prof. Barbara A. Barletta (University of Florida), in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review 8.5 (1997) 493-495: In this succinct and lucid exposition of figural motifs in Hellenistic architecture, Pamela Webb accomplishes exactly what she sets out as her task in the introduction. Her first goal is to demonstrate how figural sculpture was used. Thus [she] establishes a classification of buildings, as religious, civic, domestic, and cultic and commemorative. She also includes here a discussion of the orders used and a short section on Hermogenes, the most famous architect of the period. In the next chapter, she locates sculpture on the individual architectural members, moving from [column] drums and pedestals to akroteria. Chapter 4 then treats motifs dividng them generally into non-narrative and narrative themes. Her second and third goals, to elucidate patterns of use over time and the meaning of figural ornamentation, are addressed in the discussions above and developed further in the conclusions. Part 2 of this book provides a documentation of the material. Full descriptions of the architectural and sculptural remains are presented in geographical arrangement from northern to southern Anatolia, the Aegean Islands, and Cyprus, and from earliest to latest within each site. It is in this section that Webb discusses the problems and controversies surrounding the monuments, particularly their reconstructions and dates. As a result of its clear organization, with thorough and up-to-date bibliography, this book represents a handy and important reference. It is well illustrated, in several cases using the author's own photographs, and includes almost all the necessary plans and reconstructions. The book certainly provides the reader with an excellent overview of architectural sculpture in the "heart of the Hellenistic world".

Prof. Gary Reger (Trinity College), in: New England Classical Journal 25.3 (February 1998): In Hellenistic Architectural Sculpture, Pamela Webb aims to assemble in one place all the instances of sculpture that adorned buildings on the Aegean islands or in western Asia Minor in the Hellenistic period. In this she succeeds admirably. Her 110 page "List of Sites" covers every major building at every major site. The entries are divided up by region and by site within region. For each site she provides a list of builidngs which carried, or can be argued to have carried, sculpture, giving their date, size, order, and other basic information; a brief description of the extant sculpture, including provenance and present location; and a bibliography. Her discussion of each sculptural program gives special attention to the themes and motifs behind the sculpture and reviews particular problems, to which Webb occasionally offers her own solutions. The vast majority of the sculpture she discusses is illustrated with photographs of high quality in the plates at the end of the book. Webb's book is now the place to start for anyone interested in sculpture on architecture in the Hellenistic period. Webb's discovery that the types of buildings preferred and the nature of architectural decoration changed around the end of the third century BC is, historically speaking, surely the most important result of her work. It adds another element - all the more welcome as coming from the art historical direction - to the impressive list of important changes that mark the end of the third century.

Herbalist Shatoiya de la Tour, her husband, Richard, along with a very talented photographer, Saxon Holt, have produced a treasure of a book! This book takes us on a journey to visit ten exceptional herb gardens in the United States. First stop - Richard and Shatoiya's own garden which she describes as "a garden to serve the community". She shares her story of how her garden, Dry Creek Herb Farm came into being and has evolved over the years to become a refuge for herb lovers and learners across the country. Next stop is Sage Mountain, the Vermont garden of the highly respected herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar. Also spend time at Deer Run Herb Sancuary, Plimoth Plantation, Evergreen Herb Garden, the city garden of Brian Fikes and Greg Howes, Dr. Dukes "Farmette", Ravenhill Farm, Caprilands, and Saso Herb gardens.
The photographs are exquisite, probably the best gardening photography I have ever seen. You will also get to meet these very interesting gardeners, get a glimpse into their own life stories to learn what first attracted them to herb gardening and how herbs have become the focus of thier lives. I LOVE this book and have turned to it for inspiration over and over again. I feel you will be very pleased with it. Buy it!

THE HERBALIST'S GARDEN is subtitled a "guided tour of 10 exceptional herb gardens" and it is just that. I don't think you could get much closer to the real thing unless you made the actual physical trip to each of these gardens. Perhaps the only drawback for me is that so many of them are on the West Coast because seeing them makes me want to SEE them.

The photographs by Saxon Holt are some of the best. In each picture, I can clearly distinguish one plant from another--no small feat since to capture one plant clearly often causes others to be distorted. For example in one shot the viewer can raise her eyes from lettuce in the first row to cabbage in the second row to onions in the third row. I guess this is "trick" photography, but it's great. Although the photos are not three dimensional, they remind me of old 3-D viewer I had when I was a kid or the holograms of today where you can hold the picture to your eye and feel as if you are "inside" the frame.

The de la Tours have done a fabulous job of compiling, writing, and editing their book. They are down to earth and friendly and the text is newsy and informative. The de la Tours own Dry Creek Farm and Learning Center in Auburn California--the first garden on the guided tour which features the gardens of several other herbalist/gardeners and writers. Each section shows a ground plan for the featured garden. There are plenty of shots of the gardens including entrances and paths, and unique features found at the various sites.

Dry Creek Farm features a children's garden, a medicine-wheel garden, and a moon garden. The medicine-wheel garden is festooned with multi-colored prayer ribbons--hung out by the de la Tour's students at the Spring Equinox--that will be burned at the Winter Solstice. Along the edge of the medicine-wheel garden are plants representing the Zodiac Signs--Lavender for the Gemini, Mint for Virgo, and Lemon Balm for Cancer.

The Moon Garden is composed of a Catalpa tree surrounded by a circle shaped garden. The garden surface is composed of white gravel chips and outlined with smooth river stones. Both the full moon and the cresent are delineated. The full moon is white pebbles sans plants, the crescent is set off by Artemesia, the ghostly white plant that bears the "other" name of Diana, queen of the Fairies, Queen of the Witches and Queen of the Moon. A statue of a coyote (Diana's hund?) sits below the mobile moons hanging from the Catalpa tree.

There are photos of garden layouts, photos of specific beds, photos of smiling owners/gardeners and plenty of close-ups of the herbs recommended by the 10 herbalists. The text is extremely informative and inspiring.

Enhanced with the color photography of Saxon Holt, Shatoiya and Richard de la Tour's The Herbalist's Garden provides the reader with an exception, fascinating, and informative guided tour through ten unique herb gardens, introducing the people who grew them and the plants that inspired those master gardeners. After an informative introduction (The Path of the Herb Gardener), we are treated to the Dry Creek Herb Farm & Learning Center (Auburn, CA); Rosemary Gladstar's Sage Mountain (East Barre, VT); Deer Run Herb Sanctuary (Napa, CA); Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth, MA); EverGreen Herb Garden (Placerville, CA); The City Garden (Sacramento, CA); Dr. Duke's "Farmette" (Fulton, MD); Ravenhill Farm (Vancouver Island, British Columbia); Caprilands (Coventry, CT); and Saso Herb Gardens (Saratoga, CA). A very highly recommended, inspiring, beautifully presented work, The Herbalist's Garden is enhanced with a concluding commentary (Manifesting Your Own Vision), a resources section, and an index.

When Susan Basquin's brother suggested they join forces and develop an Angora goat farm on Lake Michigan's remote Washington Island, she jumped at the offer. The isolation and rural environment would offer her free time for writing and contemplation -- or so she thought. What Susan found out first hand is the sheer physical and mental effort that goes into raising a herd of temperamental goats. For the next six years she struggled, growing founder of her animals, and discovering unknown reserves of strength and energy within herself. Goat Song: My Island Angora Goat Farm is the riveting memoir of Susan's life on Washington Island, a fascinating chronicle of her affection for her animals, her determination to overcome feelings of insecurity, and her reflections on island life. Goat Song is ardently recommended reading for anyone who has ever felt the urge to get away from it all and take the rural life in some isolated Eden.

I am/was interested in raising angora goats. This book provided valuable and informative information on that topic in a wonderful, well written story. I haven't decided if it talked me out of the dream or further embedded the dream but the story was great.

A poetic narrative, this book reflects life on a large scale as it tells Susan's story of raising angora goats on a small Lake Michigan island. I was touched by the depth of feeling Susan expressed in vividly describing everything from learning to know and care for the goats to living in an isolated community which generously offered friendship and support to a new resident and her risky venture.

Fabulous and funny essays about golf and golfers, coupled with insightful reviews of the area's courses. A must read for anyone planning to partake of the Low Country's golf course treasures.

Having never played golf in that neck of the country, I am sorely tempted to head down that way when I'm next on vacation. Zuckerman does a great job in making these courses come alive and his style of writing is breezy and fun --and with great insight into the sport of golf.

I was given this book as a birthday gift, and thought it would just be a pretty picture book about the fine courses of Hilton Head Island and Savannah. That element is definitely present, but what surprised me were the funny essays about the game of golf the author intersperses with the course reviews and area personality profiles. It's really a nice read--entertaining and informative in the same breath.

This is the second book in the Doc Ford stories, and even though the first one was very good, I liked this one even better. The reason for this is that the story focuses on Doc's home in Sanibel Island and really gives us a feel for what it's like to live on the Gulf Shores of Florida. There is excellent character development to the point where these characters come alive and you feel like you're spending some quality time with good friends. The plot is also quite compelling. It takes off right at the first with the discovery of a dead body floating in the gulf (the body of Marvin Rios who everyone hates but who wields quite a bit of money and influence), and then is compounded by the arrest of Doc's friend Jeth (the gentle fishing guide with a stutter who we got to know in Sanibel Island). Doc sets out to prove Jeth's innocence along with his best friend Tomlinson (my personal favorite character in the series). All the while, you have a sub-plot involving Karl Sutter, con-man and brother-in-law of the deceased. His underhanded dealings are worthy of the best of Carl Hiaasen and John D. MacDonald. Add in a beautiful pro-tennis player and her friend, and you have a story that's not only an excellent mystery but a great deal of fun in the process.

This book is a very fast read. I took it with me on a business trip and finished it after only 2 days. As coincidence would have it, the trip was to the Florida coast, and this book set the perfect mood for me while I was there.

If you like mysteries, or Florida fiction in general, you really owe it to yourself to discover Randy Wayne White. I've read all of them. James W. Hall, John D. MacDonald, Carl Hiaasen, and Leonard Shames. Trust me. Randy Wayne White is one of the best.

Having never been involved in a Tarpon Tournament, I found the whole premise of the book a delightful surprise. The whole experience came alive for me when reading the pages of this novel. This is a gifted author who knows how to plot a story and bring the reader along on an adventure. Be careful though in reading any Randy Wayne White book: they are addictive.

The Heat Islands is a great book! I highly recommend it. I also recommend Sanibel Flats, the first Doc Ford novel. Growing up in South Florida, reading a Doc Ford novel is just like reading about old friends. Randy White is so accurate in his descriptions of the islands, fishing, the South Florida coastal towns, and the people that live and work there. Doc and his friends are so "real-life". I can't wait for the next one !