MO

I liked the book. Its packed full of useful information. I'm a hobby gardener, not an expert and I found lots of useful hints. I'm sure I'll be able to follow the steps. Charts are used to give the reader find condensed information on specific plants. Its not a book of pretty pictures but the layout is easy to read and the pages are attractive. At first, I was surprised at the use of "Brand names" but decided that recommendations are always welcome and I can always find substitutes if I want to. I have only one complaint. There's no index. I saw some information on mildew but spent over an hour trying to locate it again. The table of contents is helpful in a general way but the book would be more useful if it were indexed. I'm going to have to use bookmarks to mark things I'm interested in - there are lots of those.

This book presents month-by-month plans for growing your garden in Illinois. It gives tips on such activities as planting, pruning, fertilizing, and so much more. The plans are organized into categories, including annuals, bulbs, herbs, vegetables, houseplants, lawns, perennials, roses, shrubs and trees. I love this book, and recommend it wholeheartedly!

If you live in or around the prairie areas of Oklahoma, you probably know about the diverse conditions we have and how difficult your gardening can be. Well, here's the answer. Given to me by my landscaping brother at Christmas, the Oklahoma Gardener's Guide : The What, Where, When, How & Why of Ornamental Gardening in Oklahoma has been very helpful to me, a novice gardener at best. Full of ideas about trees, shrubs, vines and flowers, it helped me decide what would work in my landscape. "A-Ha" was my expression as I quickly discovered why things I had tried in the past had failed. Easy to understand and accompanied by full-color thumbnail pictures, it gave me a blueprint to go by. I even carried my bookmarked copy to the nursery when I picked out new spring plants and trees. The bottom line... it works. Now I'm planting with success. This Oklahoma author has done his homework. You should benefit from it.

I just moved into my first house with a yard and now have to figure out how to take care of it. This book was heavily recommended by the local nurseries, friends and the county extension office. I now know why. It has nice, although small, color pictures of all the plants the author highlights. I really appreciate the author's willingness to speak his mind about certain plants and techniques. It's also very good that the book is specific to Oklahoma since many books spend time on plants that just can not handle red clay, 110 degree summers, drought, 10 degree winters and steady 25 mph winds - and that's just the months of September and October!

The book is a great reference although I ended up reading it cover to cover. It's very easy even for me to understand. It has a fine index for finding things later. The only complaint, and it is minor, is the size of the photographs. They are only thumbnail sized and kind of tough to see. But, I have other books that give me good pictures for cross-reference.

This book together with Heat Zone Gardening are my main references.

Mo Yan well-deserves his reputation among those in the know as one of modern China's most wonderfully wry writers, as this discomfiting yet compelling novel attests.
Republic of Wine's strength is in its evocative, viciously funny descriptions and depictions and in the symbolic social implications they raise. Centered around a fictitious province in China named Liquorland, the novel portrays China's obsession with food and drink and skewers the extremes to which it is taken by the wealthy and the politically connected (which are often one and the same). There is an expression in Chinese "Chi-he-wan-le" literally "Eat-Imbibe-Play-Joy". In ancient China, the landed and the literati had elaborate rituals and cultures surrounding the consumption of delicacies and fine liquor, which were mingled with the higher arts such as poetry composition, calligraphy, painting, and music. The Cultural Revolution attacked such traditions (among other things), and in its aftermath the finer points disappeared, leaving only its cruder translation: gluttony. Many Chinese know of few entertainments besides food and booze. A Chinese banquet is a grandiose affair, aimed at wasting expensive food and flaunting one's wealth. The higher level the revelers, and the bigger the favors the host is trying to earn, the more obscenely wasteful the dishes. Especially in the 1980s, when government corruption peaked, wining and dining was a popular form of bribery that took a chunk out of the Chinese treasury to the tune of billions of dollars per year. Republic of Wine is beautifully biting in its spoofing of this food obsession, which includes a craving for ever more exotic and expensive foods to impress ones guests with, here taken to the frighteningly logical extreme of serving up braised infants. Mo Yan also mocks the farcical attempt of Chinese men to prove their dubious machismo by "bottoms-upping" toast after toast: the last one standing is the "real man".

Mo's winding, rambling narrative is the book's only shortcoming, which may be deliberate as it flirts with assertions that it was written under the influence. In some ways, the surrealism and sarcasm are overplayed to a degree that makes it difficult to become very involved in the stories. In that regard, it reminds me of the stories of Wang Shuo; the similarity may be partially due to the esteemed Howard Goldblatt, who translated both of Wang's English versions as well as Republic of Wine.

This has been an excellent book. He is by far the best writer in China today and I hope he receives his deserved acclaim from the international literary world one day.

Mo Yan is a great and creative talent...this is an absolutely bizarre book where he displays his profound imagination. He completely condemns the ostentatious consumption of China's corrupt ruling elite and their total, chilling disregard for the lower strata off which they consume. I see the book as a metaphor of the unchecked growth in wealth and power of this elite since the economic reforms.

The main reason I admire Mo Yan is because he is an absolutely fearless writer. He is never afraid to take creative risks; he does so in each book and this gives him a style truly his own. The scatological humor, references to dogs, reptiles, apes and donkeys; through the ugliest specimens of nature he alludes to the human condition. Li Yidou's fight with his wife in the chapter 'Cooking Lesson', where in his eyes she degenerates into an ever more grotesque series of images is a case in point: 'her stumpy little fists, which looked like donkey hooves'; 'like a footless person wearing shoes, she was actually wearing a bra', etc. Hilarious, yet nauseating.

I can't wait for his next novel.

Oh yeah, and the translation by Howard Goldblatt is dead on. Truly excellent, and you can tell he is completely in tune with Mr. Mo's agenda.

Constantin Tischendorf's 19th century find of the Codex Sinaiticus at St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai was an absolute milestone in the study of Textual Transmission - the history of the Bible's text. The circumstances leading up to the find are fascinating, and constroversy still surrounds the methods Tischendorf may have used to secure the long-lost codex, in order to present it to the scholarly community.

Bentley does an admirable job of painting a picture of the historical context of the monastery, and of the incredible nature of Tishendorf's find, making the book well worth reading, and the only contemporary account readily available (although now out-of-print). In it, he acknowledges Tishcendorf's remarkable intellect and drive.

The problem with the book is that one gets the feeling that the writer doesn't really understand the internal forces behind the drive, and seems to harbor an enormous resentment toward the man and his memory. It seems like a more neutral view could have been presented, without sacrificing an honest appraisal of his detractor's claims.

Yes, there are some who feel that Tischendorf wrongly removed the Codex from the ancient monastery where he discovered it. But no one today can state with any real certainty that an injustice was intentionally perpetrated. And history has shown the Codex's importance to the study of the Bible text, for which Tischendorf is responsible, as the monks of St. Catherine had made no such effort to share their treasure with the scholarly world, if indeed they did have any indication of it's value.

And as to the monetary gain they may have forfeited - they did receive a substantial sum for the manuscripts, and at any rate, the matter took on a life of its own, and outgrew Tischendorf's ability to direct it, once the codex was out.

The author plays up Tischendorf's vanity, which no doubt was a factor, but shouldn't be the focus of the story. Tischendorf's disparaging comments about the monastic life which he found devoid of scholarship should be viewed in the context of his genius and passion for scholarship - much like Mozart might likely have disparaged the musical tastes of a contemporary musician like Antonio Salieri.

Overall, a good read, but there's still an opening for an unbiased look at this fascinating chapter of the Bible text's checkered past.

The main idea of this book revolves around the oldest new testament manuscripts known to man. Those manuscripts have the complete record of the New Testament from the year 340 AD and on...

One of the chapters is totally dedicated to the history of the monastery of St. Catherine where the manuscripts were found by one of the pillars of biblical studies, Constantine Tischendorf in 1859...

Daringly constructed...
Excellently done...
Extremely challenging...
Amazingly informative...

Beautifully satisfying...
Tremendously comprehensive...
Gigantically convincing...
Bravo...

I'm afraid I have nothing intelligent to say about this book. However, this is not a reflection on the quality of the book, which certainly was not lacking, but rather a reflection of my extreme fatigue. In any case, this book is certainly worth a read or two and perhaps even more.

This is a short story collection that ranges from the prosaic to the poetic. The title story ("Shifu, You'll Do Anything for a Laugh") is a delightful tale of an unemployed factory worker who gets incredibly creative and makes out like a bandit until he meets some clients that are out of this world. The Chinese director Zhang Yimou made turned this story into a film called HAPPY DAYS.

Other than the opener, my favorite stories are "Abandoned Child," which makes a strong statement about the continuing practice of female infanticide; "Love Story," about an unlikely love affair set in the countryside; the strange fantasty "Iron Child" about a possible outcome of over-industrialization; and the incredibly poetic "Man and Beast," which the author claims is a sequel to his novel RED SORGHUM (although I missed some of the references, I was enthralled).

In his preface, Mo Yan (which, by the way, is Chinese for "Don't Speak") says his muses were hunger and loneliness. In fact, the author has a unique rapport with the lives of peasants and workers, as opposed to many more intellectual writers in exile such as Gao Xingjiang. I have already read THE GARLIC BALLADS and plan to read more of this fascinating writer.

What starts out as a confusing book becomes richly rewarding. Everything from K's quirky habits (signing the quotes on the men's room walls and talking to herself) to her pattern of working, going to the bar and returning home is well detailed.

This makes it all the more confusing when she starts writing tales which become true. You're never sure though if it's because she's seen the future or if she is causing these events to occur. What's better is when the characters in her stories start interacting and responding to her.

While I won't give away the last portion of the book, I will say the only reason I didn't rate this book a 5 was a few spelling errors and editorial issues.

A Great book that I can relate too. A slow beginning but starts to pick up once you get into it. I myself have purchase quite a few of these book from Runs on the Wind. Since my girlfriend enjoys reading, I got one for her. She got hooked and told her family about it, and I bought them each a copy. so in my opinion, this book is great!!!

I know Runs on the Wind and he's a wonderful person. (Not trying to make him blush) but in all honest truth he is a great friend.

I've never been to Tower Grove Park in St. Louis, though after reading this book I feel I know it well. Robert Knittel reminds his readers of the joys and rewards of walking for pleasure, stopping to observe and breathe in details, taking detours recommended by a curious canine guide (the author's airdale Herb believes in taking the trails less traveled). In this fast-paced world, we need guides like this, which encourage us not to squeeze all the top sites into one frantic touring afternoon, but to savor and discover our most familiar surroundings through the seasons.

While this book is about 20 years old it tells a good story about Tower Grove Park. This park is one of only four in the Unitrd States designated as a national historical park. At the present time the park is being restored and new trees being added. With this,new walks are being established and will be known as the Discovery Forest. The Discovery Forest is being dedicated on 16 April 1999 and Mr.Knittel has been invited to participate.

I really enjoy this cookbook. It reminds me of a church cookbook where every receipe is submitted by a different person. I find that you can make almost anything out of this cookbook. The poultry and fish section has so many receipes. Everything I have ever made from this cookbook has been a great success. The other nice thing about this is that the ingredients are normal things you can find at any grocery store. Down home cooking at its best.

This is a great cookbook for someone who is not only extremely busy, but who also wants to enjoy a nutricious, delicious meal. The recipes are easy to follow and include the prep and cooking times at the top of the page, making it easy to go through and pick a recipe based on the amount of time you have to spend cooking. All of the recipes are modified to be as low fat as possible without compromising taste, using fresh herbs and vegetables. The "Just Kiddin'" section at the back of the book contains recipes and craft ideas involving food that are suited especially for children. The addition of "Ozark Myths" sprinkled throughout makes this particular cookbook unique and an enjoyable read.

I've recently read two books on rez life: Ian Frasier's "On the Rez," and this -- better -- book by Larry Colton. "Counting Coup" is ostensibly about senior Sharon LaForge and the Hardin Lady Bulldogs basketball team. But it's real strength is in Colton's depiction of the lives lived off the playing floor on the Crow Reservation. Some parts, I believe, have to be fabricated. His description of Sharon's "Mother from Hell" Karna Fallsdown knocking down shots in a bar while her daughter is playing in the state championships might be accurate, but the author couldn't have been there. But "facts" are somewhat fluid in Indian Country, and Colton's pretty much on target. He sure nailed Hardin, Montana, for what it is. Reading the book, you get to know the characters and you get to care about them. My personal favorite was Stacey "Spacey" Greenwalt, whose quick wit provides much-needed sparks of humor in what is mostly a depressing tale. There's drama, certainly, in the sports reporting of the games. I just wanted the highs of the wins on the basketball court to be accompanied by some highs in the post-game parts of the book. But the rez life highs your read about are drug-induced. That's depressing, but for the most part true. I had hoped Colton would have a SuAnne Big Crow-like story to report, as is told in "On the Rez." (She was also a high school basketball player, a hero and a legend on the Pine Ridge reservation.) But real heroes are hard to find. I'm sure Frasier and Colton take flak from Indians for being middle-aged white guys trying to relate life in Indian country. Some Indians don't even grab the concept of the freedom of the press. They believe "permission" should be granted before a story is told. Clara Nomee, the (former) Crow Tribe chairman, certainly doesn't think the First Amendment applies in her part of America, and Coulton has to go undercover at one point to attend a Crow council meeting. We need more good Indian writers to put these white guys in their place, writers with the guts to tell truthfully and objectively the stories about contemporary reservation life. I'll buy those books. For the record, I spent a year in Hardin in the early 1990s as editor of the weekly newspaper there, and later worked as journalist covering the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota for Indian Country Today newspaper. I'm a middle-aged white guy.

This reviewer normally would not read a non-fiction work about sports, but my spouse used to coach girl's basketball and persuaded me to do so. It turned into quite a surprise as this work drives the lane with its in depth look at the divisions in society. Author Larry Colton went to Little Big Horn to follow a local high school boys team, but quickly honed in on a female superstar, Sharon Laforge.

The Crow see Sharon as a symbol that will break the cycle of their children living miserable lives. That pressure of tribal hope almost obscures Sharon's simple dream of wanting to be the first member of her tribe to attain an athletic scholarship. The season is a strong run towards the state title, but the book showcases the racial chasm between the Native Americans and whites even as the team tries to become one to achieve the goal of winning. COUNTING COUP: A TRUE STORY OF BASKETBALL AND HONOR ON THE LITTLE BIG HORN is slam dunk look at high school women's sports on a reservation that is more than just a minor chronicle or journal. Though a sports book, this account is actually an insightful look at a segment of life that serves as a microcosm of our larger society.

Harriet Klausner

Counting Coup is a five star book. It is for all ages and is the best book I have ever read. If you want to read about a Indian Girl who has sturuggles in her life, but has enouph sstrangth and passion to play her sport, her love, and her passion basketball. This young high school girl has the most emotional and physical problems have ever herd of, to know that this story is based on a true girl, it brings tears to my eyes. Every teenager can relate to this book and that is what makes it so good and so special.

Necrophilia, drug abuse and serial murder - with my busy social life I hardly have time to read! This is simply this year's "Every Dead Thing", a hyped novel which no way compares with "Red Dragon, Silence..". Sold in the UK with a money back guarantee if it's not as good as Thomas Harris could be seen as debased currency given the pathetic "Hannibal" but this reads more like a Lynda LaPlante (Prime Suspect) script idea. The hero carries next to nothing interesting with him (the baggage from his past is dull) and the book lacks flavour overall. Surely a first-time writer could offer us some popular culture references to give the novel some sense of being fresh. She also falls into the genre traps of making it a man on man duel with a threat to loved ones. The final scenes won't live long in my memory as they are clumsy. Do great thrillers really need a money back offer? I'm glad I hadn't read the other reviews which give away the plot - I don't even read the jacket for fear of spoiling the story. Some of these reviews should carry plot warnings.

Written by Mo Hayder, Birdman is a book that was a sensation even prior to its publishing, back in 1999. It's a crime book, where you follow the lead character, Jack Caffery, as he investigates a series of murders, trying to find out who did it.

And boy, is this book something else.

It's Hayder's first foray into writing, and if this is the opening, I really want to stay for the whole show. If you liked "The Silence of the lambs" you're going to like this book. Caffery is forced to deal with a murderer that is, simply put, one of the most disturbing psychopaths that ever lived. The gore level is incredibly high, and the book is so well written and the plot is so twisted that you simply won't be able to put this book down. As the tagline says, "For some killers, murder is just the beginning", and they're not kidding. Plus, Caffery is a very well rounded up character, who has to deal with both his inner demons as well as those who haunt the streets.

If you guys are interested at all in crime novels, I really recomend this one. I can't wait to get the sequel, The treatment, which promises to be as good as this one, or even better.

I have read both books by Mo Hayder. Birdman should be read first, then The Treatment, although you could read the second one first since the first half of the book is more of a review of the people in it. Both are MUST reads. Both are very detailed and will bring all your emotions to the surface. Birdman is a book you won't be able to put down. The Treatment is slow through the first half but the second half by far makes up for it. What a thrill ride. I hope Mo hayder writes a third book soon. I love Mo Hayder. Her website MoHayder.net is in the making. I hope it's got a message board so she can see how much she is loved by her fans!
5 Stars!