House

Franklin Toker has constructed a masterpiece. The book's own architecture -- layout, typeface, illustrations, photos, and jacket, but mostly the GLORIOUS WRITING! -- rises to the level of its subject. Even the persnickety Frank Lloyd Wright might have been pleased with this book. The field of architectural criticism/history is a snoozefest of pscho-babble and partisanship. Here's something different: an eminently readable -- indeed, fun -- book that's rooted in solid scholarship and original research.

Toker's great contribution to the Wright/Fallingwater canon has been giving social, cultural, and political context to this Wrightian masterpiece. For example, he documents the deep antisemitism of Pittsburgh's baronial class through the first third of the 20th century, and how this affected department store millionaire E.J. Kaufmann's (eventual) embrace of Wright and modern architecture. Fallingwater was as much a gorgeous rebuttal to the backward-looking architecture and social attitudes of Pittsburgh's ruling elites as it was a country retreat for the Kaufmann family. Toker also examines Fallingwater in the context of Wright's rivalry with the European modernists like Mies and Neutra, the institutionalization of modern art in the U.S., and the nexus of art, publicity, and merchandising in the 20th century.

This is a must read!

That Franklin Toker has tended to all the scholarly details is evident in the footnotes and photo captions, and it comes through on every page of the narrative itself. Fallingwater Rising is the story of an iconic house, designed by America's greatest architect for Edgar J. Kaufmann, Sr., a Jewish merchant whose own fascinating story is told here for the first time. Toker manages to deliver even more than that. Within these pages is a memorable portrait of the clannish and provincial power elite that ran twentieth-century Pittsburgh. Anyone interested in architectural history, the modernist movement, business history, academic ambition (that of Edgar Jr.), or urban history will want to own this riveting and lavishly illustrated book.

This is an exceptionally well written book that gives insight to to not only Fallingwater, but the era in which it was built. Simply outstanding.

This book is a perfect college graduation gift, or for a friend just moving into her first apartment or house, and/or your mom. It's one of those books that should be left out for frequent browsing. The writing is fun, the topics are useful. Ladies who've read this book will seem to be more clever than their friends, which is always fun.

This book is a must, especially for women! The information is practical and the writers have a witty style that keeps your attention and makes you want more! I learned so much about the things most people my age are afraid to ask or are too embarrassed to say they don't know by now. Hats off to you, Elizabeth and Elizabeth!

This is GREAT! Well, done! Brava!!!

I wish I had read this book earlier, for many reasons! One, because it will make a fabulous gift for my friends, mom, aunts, etc. And also because it has some really practical advice for dilemmas I have found myself in! I definitely recommend this book, for yourself or as a gift for the women in your life!

I bought this book because my parent's were celebrating their 40th anniversary. My brothers and sisters and I wanted some ideas so that they would remember such a wonderful day. There were many ideas for both parties and gatherings and presents.

As a friend and CNN colleague of Laurin Sydney's, I can tell you honestly, that anyone who walks into Laurin Sydney's office can see the two distinct sides of her personality. Near her desk, on one side, neatly stacked research material for her celebrity interviews. When she's sitting in her desk chair or at her computer, you know she's preparing for "Showbiz Today". But, when you see her on the floor with ribbons, cookie cutters, and magic markers, we know she's crafting another "Why Bother..." masterpiece of an idea. Laurin's office has long been the place her friends and co-workers visit when looking for a novel and brilliant way to give a gift, a dinner party, or a bridal shower. In her years covering celebrities, Laurin's taken copious notes and filed some of their secrets with her own ideas and has shown us all how everything from a thank you note to a swanky affair for 500 guests can be transformed with simple little touches. Each time Laurin has saved one of us while in a "crisis for ideas", her friends have said, "If only you could write a handbook for us to follow!". Well, at last she has. And, "Why Bother, Why Not" with it's colorful and simple instructions, brings hope to every dinner-party-idea-starved reader. She teaches us in simple terms how a whimsical thought can make a party or a gift, something not soon forgotten. "Why Bother, Why Not", now sits in my kitchen near my cookbook, where I can grab it quickly when I'm at a loss for ideas, and I don't want to bother Laurin in her office when I see her doing her OTHER job! It's about time I learned how to "Why Bother.. " on my own. And thanks to Laurin's book I am learning, but I'll still be knocking on her door with wrapping paper and twine looking for inspiration.

Fun book filled with lots of inspirational ideas, sources and websites for gift giving, party giving, gift wrapping and more!
It's a great "idea book"!

My all time favorite Barbara Michaels novel. Although I read it many, many years ago, it's one of the few that has stayed in my memory bank. It is the one that has kept me searching through the library, used books stores and e-books lists with hopes of finding more. I've read most of her other pseudonyms as well, but this is the one that touches on most of her contemporary themes with a dash of the gothic as well. If Michaels is a new author to you, this is the one I would start with.

Although I read this book a long time ago I still re-read this book often. Perfect for a cold, stormy night spent under the covers. It has the perfect touch of suspence that will keep you up till you are done. It has a little romance but not enough to get in the way of the story or to overwhelm it. I loved this book I would recomend this to any suspence/mystery/romance fan.

I first came across this book when I was a kid, at the school library & have read it a dozen times since & it's still my very favorite. I still finish with an awestruck shake of my head & think about it for hours afterward. Best book I've ever read & I've read thousands.

This book by Joe Jenkins is one of a kind. It's a comprehensive, kalidoscopic, multi-faceted tome that everyone interested in architecture, construction, or design must read. One is duly impressed by the encyclopedic knowledge and obvious love and care Mr. Jenkins has brought to his subject. The photos are outstanding and lead you to the conclusion that slate roofs are truely a work of art. This book not only explains the history of slate (as if that weren't enough), but it also devotes the last half to giving practical instructions on how to preserve slate roofs. It argues convincingly that the loss of slate roofs in favor of inferior materials reflects a lowering of aesthetic (and economic) values. After reading this book, you'll want one yourself, and if you already have one, you'll know how to preserve it. The writing is folksy, down home, and humorous, as if Jenkins were pontificating to you from the top of a cathedral as he's replacing a tile. As an example of Jenkins' elevated taste, he opens the book with a phenomenal poem that encapsulates in musical language the poetry of slate. Leaving no slate unturned, the poem artfully recreates the spiritual and aesthetic resonances that slate suggests. The poem is worth the price of the book itself, as is the creative cover by Tom Griffith. All in all, no house with a roof should be without it.

This book is truly the Bible for anyone living under a slate roof. Joe Jenkins covers all aspects of maintenance and repair in a manner that even the most novice slater... with the correct tools and a little skill... can correctly (and safely) repair his or her own roof. The reading is kept interesting by his use of anecdotes from his own experience. An excellent reference, right down to what size nails to use. The historical knowledge presented in the book increases one's admiration of the slate roof, while the technical information is a "must" for anyone attempting their own repairs, or wanting to converse intelligently with their roofer.

This book is packed full of technical and historical information, all presented in an engaging way. I was surprised at how captivated I was throughout the entire book and by how much I learned! The photos are beautiful. The author's passion for preserving the art of slate roofing really comes through. Truly a delightful and enjoyable book.

What a wonderfully refreshing book this is. It's the first decorating book I've ever read cover to cover, and I've marked a zillion pages with sticky notes so I can go back and use them again. I love all the big color photos and the chance to see Lynette's own homes. You can buy the book for the pictures alone and get your money's worth. But then when you sit down and start reading it, it grabs you. Lynette writes in first person, so reading this is like having her talking one-on-one to me. Highly recommend.

I look at every new decorating book that comes out, and I buy up to 6 or 7 a year. I admit that I haven't seen Lynette Jennings' TV show because I work, but I've heard of her and have friends who never miss her show. She is funny, fresh, irreverent. She is honest and seems to understand what real people need and want. I am so into her message of doing what WE want with OUR home and not paying any attention to what anyone else has to say. This book is so good. I think it's must reading for everyone who loves her home and wants to make it as personal as possible. What a great message. This book is great to read but it's also filled with glorious color photos. I was glad to see that those photos run the gammut of colors and styles and home types and that Lynette Jennings isn't trying to push one viewpoint on her readers as some decorating book authors are doing. Lynette Jennings makes it clear that I am supposed to do what I want and she'll be there to help me through it. Just great.

I am an almost pathologically non-visual person who simply can't think outside the box when it comes to shapes, colors, or design or decorating of any kind. It didn't take me long to find that among all the home decorating and craft shows on TV, Lynette Jennings produced by far the most helpful and instructive show for brain-dead people like me.

What DID take me awhile to realize, however, is WHY she is so much better than the others. She approaches each topic just as if she were an instructor in a real-life classroom, albeit with the benefit of being physically placed in beautiful homes and rooms that she can display to the viewer. As a teacher myself, I looked at her with a sort of professional eye, and realized that she was in fact a superbly talented teacher and communicator.

Her book is more of the same outstanding material you get on her show, but this time organized according to various themes, such as how to use color, how to decorate in small spaces, etc. The book is gorgeously illustrated, and includes concrete ideas that can be understood by those of us who lack her instinctive talent for the subjects of decorating and design. Highly recommended!

WOW! Start with the cover with its dawn view across Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor of Domino's "Sugar House." Inside it gets even better. Laura knows Bawlmer and brings it to life. Throughout the Tess Monaghan series, she brings you the sights; the smells of McCormick's spices wafting across the harbor; the taste and diversity of the ethnic neighborhoods and foods (although I think I'll pass on the 'green pepper rings with powdered sugar'). Combine this with a well rounded mystery story with well developed and believable characters (including the animals) and you have a great book. Each of her books can be read individually, but I recommend starting with the first of the series, BALTIMORE BLUES, and following the series in order. And it's not just for Baltimoreans -- most other cities have similar neighborhoods, so no matter where you're from you will ENJOY!

As a mystery writer with my first book in its initial release, I genuinely admire Laura Lippman, an author who is clearly at the top of her game. SUGAR HOUSE is Lippman's first hardcover mystery, and it is a fabulous novel. Lippman's protagonist, Tess Monaghan, agrees to her father's request and attempts to identify a nameless dead girl whose murderer himself was murdered. To accomplish this task, Lippman takes us on a tour of the Atlantic coast. Tess journeys from her usual stomping grounds of Baltimore to Annapolis, Philadelphia, and Maryland's Eastern Shore. Lippman continues to develop her Tess character, as well as several supporting characters. SUGAR HOUSE's plot is first-rate, and Lippman's writing is smooth. It is difficult to believe that it has taken five paperback books for Tess to reach hardcover. SUGAR HOUSE is a great mystery, and I recommend it highly.

I just discovered this author and enjoyed this book very much. You don't have to read the first Tess books to enjoy this one which is always a plus with a series. The plot was unusual and the characters were realistic. I liked Tess and I was interested in her city and the situation. Lippman gave me some points to ponder as well as some medical conditions that I have researched a bit. That's always good to have someone stretch your mind a bit and that's what Lippman did with me. I recommend this book to folks who like mysteries and folks who read for pleasure as well as to learn a little something every now and then.

As a resident about 40 minutes from Gettysburg, we bought these books when they were first published, drove around the battlefield, stopped at each place mentioned, and read aloud the accounts of what occured there. There is one house in particular that was on what became the battlefield and was used for injured soldiers - there is a blood stain on the steps that after all these years and countless cleanings, still will not disappear. This is true, as my aunt visited the house as a young woman and saw the stain herself. And the 'boy' soldier who could not cross the doorway to the 'new' part of the house built after the war to join a party at what is now a building of Gettysburg College. So much more! Good reading, and even better to visit the battlefield books in hand!

One of five great books in the Ghosts of Gettysburg series by Mark Nesbitt, having read them all, I anxiously await his next. Whether or not you're a believer in the supernatural, these books will touch, educate, and fascinate you. They don't sensationalize, you don't get the feeling you're reading a bunch of goofy ghost stories. He presents the information in a very objective manner, and lets the reader make their own judgement. His research is thorough, he gives great context to the events he describes, and all of these books will grab you from page one. I can't wait for #6! (And if you ever have the opportunity to go to Gettysburg & take one of his tours, definitely do it - they really bring the books to life...)

Mark Nesbitt's series, Ghosts of Gettysburg (five volumes), consists of some of the best paranormal journalism I have
ever read in years. These books actually kept me awake nights.
I have never been to Gettysburg, Pa, but Mr. Nesbitt makes
you feel as if you are there, complete with all it's colorful
history, and it's hauntings. Mr. Nesbitt seems to be neither
a skeptic or believer, he lets you decide. Don't let the small
page count of each volume fool you, there is a lot to read.
I can hardly wait for volume six.

I had a lot of questions when I saw the season finale of 24 (first season). I thought that a lot of things didn't make sense, but this book helps you understand. The book is written as if it were real. Jack Bauer is being interrogated by the Congress and they ask details of the events of season one. Each chapter starts with something similar to the show: "The following testimony by federal agent Jack Bauer covers the events that ocurred between 12:00am and 1:00am on the day of the California presidential primary". EAch chapter covers the same events of season one, told by Jack Bauer himself.

The book has articles from (fake) newspapers that covered the events of season one. You find out more about Sherry and David Palmer divorce, you find out more about details of "Operation Nightfall", you find out more about Nina Myer's actions, etc. Buy this book only if you are a big, big fan of the show.

Though not providing a ton of new information about what exactly happens to Jack Bauer after the end of "24" season 1, "The House Special Subcommittee's Findings at CTU" is a fun read and has lots of great background information on just about every major character. Lots of new revelations into the David Palmer presidential bid, and the Jack - David link of operation Nightfall.

While the book does a superb job of patching up seeming plot holes, it also opens a lot of doors that it doesn't get around to closing. For instance, the DOD's prison system is never fully explained (while we get some more topical information on the system, we aren't afforded any sort of closure pertaining to what's going to happen to it)

All-in-all, it's a great read - even if some parts may seem repetitious after watching the series... but it's a great compendium, and offers a lot of deepening background into the amazingly woven world of "24." Buy and watch season 1, then read this book, then move on to the next season. You won't be disappointed!

"24: The House Special Subcommittee's Findings at CTU," is a fictional work-based upon Fox's critically-acclaimed drama series "24."

BACKGROUND:

For those unfamiliar with 24 (shame on you!!!), the plot is basically about a government agent named Jack Bauer who is assigned to a mission to protect a Presidential candidate, Senator David Palmer, from an assassination attempt. In the midst of his assignment, Bauer finds himself drawn into a very deep, and very personal plot that traces its roots to a failed mission he was assigned to a few years previous. The men he was sent to take out are out to exact revenge on both he and David Palmer, the man who authorized the mission.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

"24: The House Special Subcommittee's Findings at CTU," basically picks up where the 1st Season leaves off as Jack and his CTU comrades testify before a special House sub-committee assigned to ascertain the truth about the events that took place on the day of the California Presidential-primary. The book recounts in great detail the events the took place that day (as seen on the show). Beyond that though, the book also goes even deeper into the story chronicling the events of Operation Nightfall (Jack's failed mission that led to the Drazen assassination plot) as well as the events that took place immediately in the aftermath of Season One. Aside from testimony from Jack and Tony Almeida the book also includes numerous character profiles (many taken from the 24 website and many seen for the first time in the book) plus other records such as autopsy reports, news statements, police statements and other official records.

THE COMPLETE PICTURE (?????)

This book is definitely the perfect companion to the first season. It definitely answers many of the lingering questions that viewers may have had after watching the first season (such as why did Gaines try to kill Nina if they were on the same side?). The books also stands alone from Season Two. Reading this book will not give you any particular insight into the events of Season 2. However, I can say this though, after reading this book you do come to realize one thing. Well two things actually:

1.The plot in 24 against Jack and Palmer runs VERY deep, more than you'll ever know from watching BOTH Seasons 1 and 2.

2.The writers of the show are probably the best writing team there is on television today

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how the plot thread lines connect even more in Season 3.

Tick, tick, tick, tick...

Total Read Time: 8 hours, spread across three evenings

Must Read (for fans of the show)

Don't get me wrong, I plan to love this book a lot more when I have a daughter of my own who will (hopefully) be as enchanted with the Little House series as I was and still am. I vividly remember all the scenes involving food in the books and how much rich detail Wilder put into each description. As a very young cooking enthusiast with a runaway imagination, I saw myself plucking chickens and running around in calico trying to find a place in the taffy pull.

For these reasons, I practically grabbed the book from one of my eight-year-old students' hands when she showed her library copy of it to me. I loved the pictures, the story excerpts, the idea that someone was dedicated enough to do the research and find out as much as she could about how the Wilders and the Ingallses created these unique and hearty meals. It serves as a fantastic book to curl up with and picture yourself turning a spit or making a savory pie with blackbirds (erm..), but it doesn't inspire me to get off the couch and turn a spit, or rather, construct some kind of spit-like apparatus in my kitchen.

Maybe farther down the road I'll have the room in my apartment and time in my life to devote the effort to this book that it deserves. It is a treasure to me, but you won't find its recipes on my table. I know for a fact, however, that if my mother had owned it when I was a little girl, we would have done all we could to make these authentic meals.

If only Barbara M. Walker would put out a "Little House for the Little Apartment" cookbook companion.

The little house cookbook is a collection of foods and recipes mentioned in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House novel series. This book is chock full of fantastic recipes, anecdotes, and stories. The author translates the recipes for modern cooks, and includes historical background and information on each recipe's origins.

This book will be great for young readers, or for readers interested in learning more about the time period and the foods that Laura Ingalls enjoyed. The illustrations done in graphite pencil were cute and charming.

Overall, an excellent book, sure to delight young and old!

You can dip randomly into this book, and any page you land on will take you back to a simpler time. It is far from just a cookbook, it's about a way of life that was a hard existence, but one that many of us dream of. Whether you are already a "Little House" fan, or are new to the series, this book can be enjoyed by all "wanna-be 1800's pioneer women." Every time I start spending time with this book my family gets bombarded with home-made, "stick to your ribs" meals. Fast food becomes a nasty word during these times, and my home cooking reigns supreme! Be warned ~ you will always be hungry after reading this book! It is full of excerpts from different "Little House" books, and Laura Ingalls Wilder had a way of describing food that could make the best of us break down and drool! This book has become a dear keepsake to me. Cooking along with the recipes warms my kitchen, but most of all, this book warms my soul!