This book captures the essence of Tequila from the perspective of making it and drinking it. I found it especially interesting in giving the reader a glimpse into the day to day activities of the tequila business.

Lance and Sandys adventure in the land of Tequila is not only entertaining but a highly informative read on the growing world of tequila. A must-have reference guide to take you thru the various types available, written by someone who obviously has had a few! I like the tasting pyramid too.

For the tequila lover, this book is worth checking out simply for the explanation of the different ways that tequila is produced, from archaic to ultra modern. The information on the different types of tequila, the different nuances of types, basic information about traveling in the region, and the food of the region are a huge plus.

This book is about as funny as watching the show! The way beavis and butt-head are so stupid sometimes in the book crack me up. They even have a list of funny words like Tungsten, cocky, sextet, and so on. If you are a diehard fan of Beavis and Butt-head such as moo-ah you MUST buy this book!

This is one book that does not live up to its name This is a very funny book- If you think Beavis and Butthead are funny-- If you don't like Beavis & Butthead you probably won't like this book

This book sucks is so great. For any Beavis and Butthead fan it is the must have collectors item. It has many detailed photos of, their town, the house, old B&B and many more pieces of impotant(huh-huh) background. My personal favorite which still makes me laugh is the list of words.

People without experience with cats often regard them as cold and aloof, but it's not true. Cats are sensitive and loving. They crave affection from you. They dote on routine, security, and comfort. Give them this, plus playtime with you each day, and you will have a cat that will love you. Unfortunately, cats can suffer trauma from past mistreatment, injury, terror at loud noises, or other unpleasant events. (Our cat hides behind me and peers out while the housekeeper runs the vacuum sweeper.) Cats suffer depression from loss of a family member, a move to a new home, or almost any change in the familiar routine. The author does a masterful job of showing us how to cope with a cat's traumas and develop a happy, purring cat. Our cat awarded five sniffs to this gold mine of information and advice.

As a Pet Sitter, I deal with kitty problems all the time. At Holiday Season, I buy this book for all my new clients. It is the best thing you can do for your cat and for yourself. Everyone appreciates how much they can learn from this little gem of a book; but mostly the cats benefit. They live longer, healthier and happier lives. As far as I am concerned Pam Johnson is the Cat's Meow.......

No matter how bad your cat is, the answer to your prayers is in this book. I learned so much about why my cat was being aggressive. The chapter on litter box problems was not only informative but fun to read. My friends have been so impressed with how well behaved my cat acts now. Every cat owner should have this book in their library.

Trudy has done something with her book "100 Days of School" that I haven't seen for a while. She has created a color book, a counting book, a math book, a rhyming book, and, of course, a fun book all in one. That takes talent, and a lot of it, to combine these four types of books without making the work so busy that the child loses interest. Also, the book is all about school and even teaches math etc., but guess what? The reader doesn't even become aware that he/she's being taught. That's the true art of children's writing.

Beth Griffis Johnson does wonderfully with the illustrations. She has given the book a zesty, almost celebration look. And there's plenty to look at after the text has been read. I think this book could be a favorite for your children. I bought it for my future grandchildren . . . whenever that's going to be...

A delightful book that combines rhyming, counting, color and fun. My 5 year old wanted to read it over and over and over. He learned the words quickly and enjoyed the playfulness of the book.

highly recommended.

This crazy, delightful book truly captures the fun of the 100 Days of School Celebration. My children and I both enjoyed all of the silly rhymes and wonderful illustrations.

According to Tina, her grandfather is different. Abuelito doesn't speak English, his hands are rough and gnarled from cutting sugar cane, and he doesn't drive. And horrors, he eats with his fingers. Later, Tina's attitude changes as she looks at old photographs of her dead grandmother. She finds that she and her grandfather share a talent for art. They make tortillas- from scratch- and eat them with their fingers. By day's end, they have started on a journey of friendship. Words and pictures are framed in a lovely design of seemingly old photograph-album pages with deckle edges. An interesting addition to intergenerational collections.

This charming picture book is about a young girl who hates to visit her grandpa. But one day, when her mother leaves her with him, the girl learns that her grandpa can make delicious tortillas and is quite an artist. This sweet book, filled with vibrant illustration would make a good read-aloud for any child.

Everyone can relate to the little girl who doesn't like to visit her grandfather. "My grandfather ruins my day! I don't like to look at him. Water leaks out of his eyes." I followed with interest as the girl's curiosity leads her to get to know the real Abuelito. "Abuelito gave me a necklace and the santos switched places and I can count in Spanish and guess what? Abuelito eats with his fingers and so do I." The story is warm and caring; the pictures are lovely and realistically portray the range of emotions the girl and her grandfather go through. A good book for teachers to keep in their classroom libraries. I plan on giving it as a gift.

The author has gained noteworthy attention by the Bush Administration for her work towards literacy and advocacy toward teaching children wonderful stories and moral lessons. The author has a series of titles that should be a part of all library archives; parents, teachers, librarians, and those interested in promoting reading among children should reach the series of this author.

Kimberly Johnson was invited to the White House gardens for an Easter celebration. She read from her book and was able to relate and share with children as she does during all of her readings and public appearances. Her goal is to get children involved in reading and she does this through public appearances, school and library readings, and through her zest for literacy. She is a major force in children's literacy and imagination.

My 3, 5 and 6 year old children love Mrs Johnson's books and ask for them again and again. The rhymes, the pictures and the general good message that always comes with them make them very popular in my house. Even my 19 month old loves the pictures. Kimberley Johnson knows how to reach into children's imaginations and I hope she continues to write books for them.

My review will not be as detailed as others however, it is important to express that this is a book that is a keepsake. It should be given as a gift to friends and loved ones. It is compelling and I enjoyed it a great deal.

The Thief of Letters is yet another tale of the tragic mulatto-however, this time Johnson's vivid imagination and outstanding writing skills breathes new life into a tired story line. This is the story of Brandy/Helen who was sold away from her mother at a young age. (I pause here to relay that the imagery painted by Johnson for this scene in the novel was powerful and heartbreaking-the mother's pain and humiliation crept from the pages into the reader's mind). The reader follows Helen into adulthood as she evolves from being the master's daughter's helpmate to the mistress of the master's son.

True to the "tragic mulatto" formula, Helen is largely ostracized by the majority of the slaves because of her light skin and initial station as a "house" Negro. Her association to the local slave/witch who practices voodoo causes nearly all the slaves to fear her. Her torment is exacerbated when the master notices her strength and stamina during play and places her in the field with the very Negroes who despise and fear her.

Her solace comes in the form of stealing letters (one at a time) from the master's children's spelling books to learn the alphabet. She eventually teaches herself to read. This ability will save her life (and others) repeatedly throughout her adventures in pursuit of freedom. There is so much more to this book that this review does not cover because of space and time constraints. Simply said: The author is a great storyteller and the book is superbly written. There are so many underlying issues and topics of discussion that were intertwined in the novel that one simply has to read it for themselves to appreciate this body of work. Well done, Ms. Johnson! This book is on my Best Reads List of 2002!

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO Bookclub, Nubian Circle Book Club

Brandy was half-white. Brandy was a slave. Brandy was sold. Brandy became Helen.

Sold from her wailing mother's arms at the age of eleven, Helen's life was changed forever when she was relocated to the Joseph plantation, Arcadia. She learned the science of herbs from the plantation's conjure woman, was the playmate of choice of Arcadia's young Master Benjamin, and became a field worker when it was seen that she could do a fair share of work. In addition, Helen taught herself to read by stealing glances at writing and permanently emblazening letters into her mind. And this was all in her first year there.

The Thief of Letters by Janet Mountain Johnson gives us a glimpse into the life of a field worker, to a house slave, to a mulatto mistress. I was so enraptured by this book that sleep seemed an annoyance, and I battled it, the book resting in my hands late into the night. The writing is superb, worthy of any award that has been bestowed on any piece of litereature. The characters are real, feeling, and human, and tears oft found their way to my cheeks as I walked with them along their path of bondage. Anyone who can read should read this book. Anyone who can't will be encouraged to learn after hearing of the Thief of Letters.

~ Reviewed by CandaceK

What a glorious romp! Imagine Thoreau and Thucydides building a communal fire in the woods, drunk on Thunderbird and the ancient sky. (Just my impression, but imagine them anyway.) Now add in a damn good dog that will go for any stick, anytime and (almost) anywhere, no matter the consequences. Then consider trucks that won't start without a gravity-fed "bump," generations of criminals examining the fates, a mystical pyramid, bad food, mildewed marijuana, a single shadow that costs a whole day, weird logistics on land and on water and the phases of our moons that make it quite beneficial, for some, to trade bootie for booty. And there's much more. If you love nature even when its damn harsh, if you love people when they're impossible but still completely loveable, if you've ever used a shovel with no handle, and if you love a story well told that includes these things--and a leaking tipi--buy this book. (Then go Out There.)

This is one of my favorite books!
I have started re-reading it about once a year now. [up to this point the only other book i have ever bothered to reread was Catch 22]

This is one of those books that you will end up buying copies of in multiples!.
This is because you will find yourself loaning your copy to a friend and never getting it back again. [i have personally gone through 4 copies this way -- no joke -- not to mention the copies i have given away as gifts]

The back jacket of this book does not do it justice.
It is more about the people that Robert Johnson met while staying in his teepee. They are the most interesting bunch or romantic outcast criminal philosophers who are brought together by living in the wilderness. Some are there to escape the law, some are there to find gold, and others are their to find themselves.

I have never read a book like this before, but it is hard to describe. Not to sound cheesy, but it is entertaining and inspiring.

ENTERTAINING: in its characters and crazy stories. While this is a true memoir, it is so entertaining it could be pure fiction [but it is not]

INSPIRING: in that if you have ever wanted to do something unique you will soon be inspired to do it. And to quote the book "Completion is vital."

If you do not read any other books this year, read this one.

I really enjoyed Thirteen Moons by Robert Johnson. I felt like I was there with him sitting around the campfire in the Sierras. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys camping and the outdoors...and the idea of spending a year alone!

When McDonough was still writing her book, she came to speak to my businesswomen's group about it--and gradually dressed, as she spoke, in the clothes she wore when she was homeless. There was a powerful impact in noting differences in how we "heard" her then, from how we'd "heard" her when she was seen to be "like us," minutes before. We averted our eyes. One member said it was one of the most memorable talks we'd heard in 15 years of monthly programs.

The book does that too; it makes it uncomfortable to see street people as "them" rather than "us." "There, but for a good break, go I"--not to mention the realigning of one's perception of "there but for the grace of God," for there are many excerpts in the book (from her journal at the time) that address the painful spiritual growth that results from such a wrenching experience. I no longer think that I could survive even a few days, if I suddenly found myself to be a baglady, yet I'd always thought of myself as resourceful, resilient, frugal, educated, middle class. Think again. I'd need a lot of help.

This country cannot afford to pretend that Americans who are (usually temporarily) indisposed far enough to have lost their living quarters for the moment are somehow different or "un-American." They are us. What we do about those of us with these problems--including the elderly and the ill--may someday become very personally relevant and (if we don't do better, faster) could become a big national problem. The housing situation in Minneapolis at the moment is veering sharply away from keeping some of us in affordable housing who used to be "the working poor" rather than "the homeless." The situation needs to be addressed by those in legislatures, healthcare, social services, volunteer groups. This book can help them to understand better. Very often the real view from the street is not understood by those who "help" them, as when the physician who treats the understandably ulcerated feet of those who have no place to sit down, let alone a sink with warm water, tells the patient to "soak her feet." Right. How?

This book is about a well educated and capable adult woman and her children, who was literally forced to be homeless by the court system. Given a similar set of circumstances, we could all be in her shoes! This book tells a straight forward story of how the author became homeless, what she did to cope, and how she dragged her family out of this overwhelming situation.

This book should be read by anyone, adult or teen, who has become too familier with the good things that many Americans feel entitled to.

This book is a fifteen-week diary of the author's life experiences while she was homeless and living in shelters. It is easy reading and it grabs your attention so that you do not want to put the book down. It is a must read.

I read The Woman Who Rode to the Moon last week, and am about 1/2-way through the sequel. I'm enjoying the characters, but the writing and story are a bit uneven. The author keeps shifting voices, detailing the story as observed from different points of view. This works better at some points than at others.

I'm not averse to the style. In fact, one of my all-time favorite books, Patience and Sarah (Isabel Miller) does the same thing. But I don't feel it's especially well handled here. The voice shifts are abrupt and the story, when told from Cord's point of view, often becomes confusing.

It also seems like the book can't decide if it wants to be a heterosexual feminist story or a lesbian story. There are allusions to lesbian attraction, but all of the overt sexuality in the book is straight. It seems like it's trying to attract a lesbian audience, but afraid of offending the heterosexual buying public.

Mixed feelings from me. I enjoyed it very much in parts, and was put off a bit in others. Overall, a positive 4 star review, and I felt it was worth reading the sequel. But it never quite felt like it delivered on the promise I initially felt.

A note I sent to the Authoress:

Bett,
I meant to tell you a few weeks ago that I had completed "Woman Who Knew Too Much." I have "Moon" on order now.

I'm not qualified to write a book review but just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed this book. One of the few I've read from cover to cover. I am familiar with the Pecos river down here in our part of the country and your description fit so perfectly. I could see, hear and smell it vividly in my mind as I read. I really enjoyed the charactors. Loved Kit, and naturally, Cord. Sheriff Juan (Sam Elliott) was great, as well as, Metz and Marguerite. I could just visualize how sorry Jaz was and why no one could really miss him. The cats flying in all directions when startled brought a verbal laugh. My wife just looked over at me and wondered "what in the world........". I felt like I was on the back of the horse with you when we went to Jaz's shack. I saw and smelled all that stuff too. I was sad about Jones. (Old Yeller?)

My norm is getting up between 3:30 and 4 am each morning, pouring a cup of coffee and go to the computer to tend to emails. Well when I got the book, I would have the coffee, read about an hour or so, then go to the computer. Toward the end, I couldn't wait to get the computer stuff done and go back to the book. It would make a great movie.

Looking forward to "Moon".

Kenn

Great Mystery! Lots of fun. One step beyond the traditional woman sleuth; mystery novel. A new great character and a unique storyline. I enjoyed the mystery of the woman working behind the scene; lurking in the shadowds. And a woman who knows and enjoys all her electronic toys and gadgets. Do not miss"THE WOMAN WHO RODE TO THE MOON" A thinking woman book. Enjoy