Book Description
Jeff Shaara has enthralled readers with his New York Times bestselling novels set during the Civil War and the American Revolution. Now the acclaimed author turns to World War I, bringing to life the sweeping, emotional story of the war that devastated a generation and established America as a world power.
Spring 1916: the horror of a stalemate on Europe’s western front. France and Great Britain are on one side of the barbed wire, a fierce German army is on the other. Shaara opens the window onto the otherworldly tableau of trench warfare as seen through the eyes of a typical British soldier who experiences the bizarre and the horrible–a “Tommy” whose innocent youth is cast into the hell of a terrifying war.
In the skies, meanwhile, technology has provided a devastating new tool, the aeroplane, and with it a different kind of hero emerges–the flying ace. Soaring high above the chaos on the ground, these solitary knights duel in the splendor and terror of the skies, their courage and steel tested with every flight.
As the conflict stretches into its third year, a neutral America is goaded into war, its reluctant president, Woodrow Wilson, finally accepting the repeated challenges to his stance of nonalignment. Yet the Americans are woefully unprepared and ill equipped to enter a war that has become worldwide in scope. The responsibility is placed on the shoulders of General John “Blackjack” Pershing, and by mid-1917 the first wave of the American Expeditionary Force arrives in Europe. Encouraged by the bold spirit and strength of the untested Americans, the world waits to see if the tide of war can finally be turned.
From Blackjack Pershing to the Marine in the trenches, from the Red Baron to the American pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille, To the Last Man is written with the moving vividness and accuracy that characterizes all of Shaara’s work. This spellbinding new novel carries readers–the way only Shaara can–to the heart of one of the greatest conflicts in human history, and puts them face-to-face with the characters who made a lasting impact on the world.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
"To The Last Man".......2007-10-06
My dad reads history books for fun. I'm sure many of you can relate, but I, however, have often found my dad's hobby perplexing. For Dad, the best books present the down-to-the-minute detail of battles, examine every word of a president's letters to friends, follow the explorer each painful step of the journey. Yes, it's interesting, but I'm talking 1,000 pages of details. A daunting task for even us dedicated readers.
When I was growing up, my dad, the lifelong history major, took us to battlefield memorials instead of to amusement parks. As a child, I drew pictures of civil war soldiers more than doodles of Mickey Mouse. I'm sure this pleased my dad, the way this interest in history soaked into me. What didn't please him was my desire to read historical fiction. I was enamored of the TV mini-series "The Blue and the Gray", and soon after, began reading John Jakes' "The North and the South" trilogy. Dad frowned upon this. Too many Southern belles with bosoms heaving and laudanum addictions, I think. Not enough "hard" history, not enough fact. The fact of the matter is, I still prefer fiction. Ironically enough, to make history most real to me, I need it connected to the stories of individual people, and no one seems to do that better than novelists.
Enter Jeff Shaara. My dad introduced me to him by way of the author's personal life history. Jeff's father was Michael Shaara, Pulitzer-prize winning author of The Killer Angels. Michael Shaara was at work on the second book in his trilogy on the American Civil War when he died. Not a writer or historian himself, Jeff vowed to finish his father's work. And the books Jeff finished for his dad are excellent, critically-acclaimed. But when he spread his wings and started his own work, with books on the American Revolution, World Wars I and II, and the Mexican-American War, he surpassed his father. I have just recently finished To the Last Man, Jeff Shaara's book on WWI. Mind you, it is, technically, historical fiction. But just barely. Bestselling history writer Joseph Persico praises Jeff Shaara's "rarest of writing gifts, making literature read like history and history read like literature. He brings ... [history] to pulsating life." His books are "fiction" only in that Shaara creates thoughts and dialogue for these historical figures, based on impeccable research, but ultimately, on his imagination.
In most of his books, Jeff Shaara focuses mostly on the events surrounding the major figures - the generals, the leaders of the countries involved. Shaara explains in his preface of To the Last Man how this book is different: he tells about WWI through the perspective of just four people. In this way, the story isn't comprehensive or all-inclusive, but it is incredibly powerful. The four people are General John J. Pershing, THE commander of all U.S. forces when America finally enters the war; Baron Manfred von Richthofen, "the Red Baron"; Raoul Lufbery, of the Lafayette Escadrille; and Private Roscoe Temple, U.S. Marine Corps.
Well, if you're like me, the only reference I have to "the Red Baron" is ... Charles Schultz's Snoopy fighting him from the Sopwith Camel. It turns out Richthofen's life, just his personal history and career alone shed tremendous light on the war and the time period itself. And I had never heard of the Lafayette Escadrille - the Americans who went to France to fly the airplane, just in its infancy as a weapon of war, way before the U.S. reluctantly decided to join the fray. Now, I'm hooked on every word I can find about these guys. (Yeah, go ahead and rent the movie "Flyboys"; the fight scenes in the air are quite realistic, I think. But then do yourself a big favor and read about the REAL people. As far as I can find out, all the characters from the movie are fiction.)
And there it is: did you see that? I crossed over. Maybe historical fiction isn't as engaging as fact, after all. Certainly, it depends some on who is conveying the story. I, obviously, give Jeff Shaara an enthusiastic recommendation. With him, Dad and I both win.
Editor, "Of A Predatory Heart"
Excellent. A history teacher's review........2007-07-23
Shaara's writing just continues to improve as far as I'm concerned. Like many people, I was led to Jeff Shaara by way of his father's book "The Killer Angels." While he has never achieved that level of mastery, this is a very strong book - at times poignant, at times repugnant and always interesting.
Shaara's opening is strong and serves as a tremendous introduction to the vast devestation and inhumanity of the war. He focuses about half of the book on the new world of air power and the other half on an average foot soldier in the war. Pershing and other generals are thrown in from time to time to give the reader a wider view of the war. Those are essential as a plot device, but are not nearly as interesting as his portrayal of the fighting.
I give this one an enthusiastic grade of A.
Very dissapointing.......2007-06-01
I expected a lot from this book, hearing so much about Shaara and how he makes history read like literature. This was not the case at all though. The characters are all so stereotypical, the plot is stereotypical. I read a quarter of the book and had to stop because it got so tedious. He is more concerned with the history of what happened, not exploring the minds of the men that fought in the war.
to the last man.......2007-05-06
This is a not to be missed "novel", based on actual participants in the
Great War! I couldn't not put it down, I recommend highly this book to all who have an interest is the war or merely would like to learn more about the history of the war that changed the map of Europe
Key to understanding 20th century history.......2007-04-26
I never read any of Jeff Shaara's previous works and I knew very little about the Great War beyond the basics. This book follows very different aspects of this struggle from the horrors of trench warfare to early air warfare. The evolution of the AEF's leader General Black Jack Pershing is also contained therein showing some of the complex politics involved in the relationship between France, England and the fledgling AEF. Real people are the focus and the contrast of brutality and chivalry as well as the unbelievable waste of humanity is mind numbing.
It testifies to an effective end game strategy in a conflict to truly conclude a war rather than to sow the seeds for future conflict.
Product Description
A novel of the first world war. The author opens the window onto the otherworldly tableau of trench warfare through the eyes of a typical British soldier.
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Firepower: Sea Warfare
Horace Beck
Manufacturer: Book Sales
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0785810870 |
Amazon.com
Bishop Blackie Ryan--who spends more time troubleshooting and solving crimes than he does on spiritual matters--is back in action in a paperback original that's sure to delight Father Andrew M. Greeley's faithful fans. Sent by his boss, Cardinal Cronin, to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Langley ostensibly to perform a confirmation, Blackie finds that his detecting talents are more in demand than his devotional ones. ("Those of you who have seen the film Pulp Fiction will doubtless remember Harvey Keitel. He was a sweeper, a person designated by God and his betters to sweep up the mess left by higher-ups in the outfit. That's what I am, Sean Cronin's sweeper") Disappearing crew members and other strange occurrences have led to talk of the new ship being haunted, a situation that dedicated debunker of demons Bishop Ryan can't resist.
Customer Reviews:
The Bishop at Sea.......2007-10-07
Andrew Greeley is back with Bishop Blackie Ryan and his adventures.
Part detective novel, part romance, and part Catholic religion, Bishop Blackie is always one step ahead of the reader, and usually a half-step behind the criminal mind. Truly delightful reads.
Sea Stories and Mysteries.......2006-04-25
I served on a Nimitz class carrier, so some of this was so familiar, but a few items seemed out of place. I found it brought back many memories, and some long buried feelings. Father Greeley did a wonderful job conveying the feel of the ship, sprinkled with many of the terms I remember so well. I even visited the captain's in-port cabin a few times for various reasons, and I was so envious. I lived in a compartment with 30 other guys. This was before women on ships, and I think it would be hard to separate them the way he portrayed. I know the one ship I was on this was not possible. At any rate, this book has me hooked to try another Blackie Ryan novel!
Blackie at sea.......2000-11-18
This was my second Blackie Ryan book and I found that I enjoyed it far more than the first which was The Bishop and the missing L Train. This one kept me on the each of seat and page turning, trying to guess what had happened, along with all the other enjoyable characters kept me going untill the final page. A first rate book and a new author to read had me doing handstands for joy.
Best of the best in mysteries........1998-06-12
Andrew Greeley is a master story teller - especially with Bishop Blackie Ryan. This is probably the first Greeley book I read and, once started, I lilterally couldn't put it down - finally finished it at 4:57 A.M. For mystery lovers, this is a "must read".
If you like Bishop Blackie, you'll love . . ........1997-12-16
An enjoyable, page-turning novel, but not up to the standard we expect of Bishop Blackie. As the plot thickens you'll be inclined to throw up your hands and 'leave it to Blackie'. He doesn't seem as real as he is in the other novels he graces; here, he's a narrator who expresses his own confusion/ignorance. But you, the reader, suspend your belief: you KNOW Blackie will solve it.
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From the mountains to the sea: The secret life of New Zealand's rivers and wetlands
Nic Bishop
Manufacturer: Reed Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Zoology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books | Amphibians | Anatomy | Animal Behavior & Communication | Animal Psychology | General | Genetics | Ichthyology | Invertebrates | Mammals | Ornithology | Pathology & Parasitology | Physiology | Primatology | Reptiles | Research & Ethics | Vertebrates
ASIN: 0790003473 |
Average customer rating:
- Sharp Writing, Beautiful Illustrations
- Learn a lesson and smile!
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Fables from the Sea (Kolowalu Book)
Leslie Ann Hayashi
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Other | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Short Story Collections | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Other | Children's Books | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Fables From the Deep
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Fables from Beneath the Rainbow
ASIN: 0824822242 |
Book Description
Children of all ages will delight in this captivating collection of fables featuring creatures found in Hawaii's waters and tropical oceans worldwide. In its depths and on its shores, you'll meet many of the sea's inhabitants--from manta rays to moray eels, from colorful cowries to fish of every size and color in the rainbow.
Like its companion, Fables from the Garden, this book offers valuable lessons at the end of each story. Illustrated with splendid watercolors, here are ten stories to share and enjoy with family and friends.
Customer Reviews:
Sharp Writing, Beautiful Illustrations.......2001-04-26
This book is a wonderful combination of storytelling, illustration, and biology! Kids meet all sorts of creatures from the Hawaiian seascape-eels, shrimp, limpets, squid, seabirds, and more--and learn valuable life lessons told in a clear, humorous text.
Many of the fables teach respect for kids' peers and the environment-while celebrating both. This is a book to read-and re-read with enjoyment.
Learn a lesson and smile!.......2000-10-14
Fables span time and space; they date back many centuries and can be found in all cultures. Handed down from generation to generation, the purpose of a fable is to teach a particular lesson, value, or to give sage advice. They also provide us with the opportunity to laugh at our foolishness and cry and comfort each other when faced with tragedy. They connect us not only with the world of nature and other cultures but ultimately they define what makes us human. In Fables from the Sea, the author has studied what the sea has to offer and discovered ten lessons, reminding us of the importance of kindness, honesty and perserverance. Her illustrator, a childhood friend, has taken those lessons and illustrated them in the most splendid and vibrant watercolors. A must for readers of all ages! Even adults can be reminded about what happens to complaining cowries! Like Fables from the Garden, Fables from the Sea is a beautiful and lasting gift, just one of the sea's many treasures. Alan Van Etten
Book Description
From the publishers who brought you the best-selling "Haunted Lakes" and "Haunted Lakes II" comes a book devoted to the ghostly tales and rich legends of the largest of the Great Lakes. "Haunted Lake Superior" features dozens of previously unpublished stories of supernatural, unnatural or unexplained phenomena. Our previous books have sparked readers to share their experiences around this mystical lake. This book is packed with ghost stories and tales of encounters with spirits or beings from other dimentions. In addition to time-tested historical sources, Bishop has unerthed a rich trove of recent occurrences in which "something different" encroaches on mortal soil. From lighthouses to ships and even spacecraft, nearly every page introduces a story that will keep readers enthralled.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty Good.......2005-04-08
This book was certainly an interesting one. I enjoyed it to an extent. I particularly enjoyed the odd things that Lake Superior did in the past that are mentioned in this book, such as the lakeshore receding about 15 feet without cause or reason, or the phenomenon called "the Three Sisters," which I have heard of, but never seen in print.
Besides that, there are some things in this book which I thought to be pointless, stupid, and just plain shouldn't have been placed in the book. Overall, a good book, but there were little things I would've left out. I still would recommend this book, and anyone who enjoyed Fred Stonehouse's "Haunted Lakes" books, or Gerald Hunter's "Haunted Michigan" would probably enjoy this also.
UFOs, to lighthouse hauntings, divine interventions & more.......2003-09-11
Compiled and edited by Hugh E. Bishop, Haunted Lake Superior showcases tales and legends of the supernatural and unexplained phenomena associated with Lake Superior. Ranging from ghosts and UFOs, to lighthouse hauntings, divine interventions, hidden forces within the lake itself, and more, each incident is discussed in fascinating detail in this informed and informative resource recommended for anyone with interest in paranormal studies, or who are regional folklore enthusiasts.
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Applied Oceanography (Ocean Engineering)
Joseph M. Bishop
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Geology | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Oceanography | Oceans & Seas | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0471874450 |
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Conejito y el Mar: Little Rabbit and the Sea
G. Bishop , and
P. Acevedo
Manufacturer: North-South
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fiction | Rabbits | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Miscellaneous | Sports | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Spanish | Multilingual | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
Libros con Dibujos | 4 a 8 años | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
Conejos | Animales | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
Acción y Aventura | Literatura | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
General | Literatura | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
Gente y Lugares | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books | Acción y Aventura | Biografías | Ciencias Sociales | Donde Vivimos | Explorar el Mundo | Feriados y Festivales | Los Hermanos | Los Padres | Niñas y Mujeres | Niños y Hombres | Profesiones | Realeza | Relatos Multiculturales | Situaciones Sociales | Temas Sociales | Vida Familiar
Ficción | Naturaleza | Ciencia, Naturaleza y Como Funciona | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
Variado | Deportes | Deportes y Actividades | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0735813132 |
Customer Reviews:
Extraordinary retelling.......2004-10-27
This trilogy by Persia Woolley, which includes Child of the Northern Spring, Queen of the Summer Stars, and The Legend in Autumn, is well worth reading. Among the plethora of feminine centric Arthur retellings, I thought this trilogy was second only to The Mists of Avalon, which is the best Arthurian novel I've read, period. Neither a simpering bauble like Marion Zimmer Bradley's queen, nor a bitter shrew, as she is depicted in Rosalind Miles' trilogy, the High Queen in this series is a strong woman, bold, intelligent, compassionate, and well worth the love of two legendary heros. My only complaint with the character is this: Woolley saw fit to make her Guenevere homely, not the great beauty of legend, and Guenevere is supposed to be the fairest of the fair. Otherwise, this trilogy gets my highest recommendation. It is much better than the other Guenevere trilogies out there (by Miles and Newman). If you like this one, you might also enjoy Queen of Camelot by Nancy McKenzie.
The book I didn't plan on reading.......2002-08-15
My first attempt at reviewing this book never appeared on the page; I think it's because I called Morgause a nasty name. LOL. So, my reviews for this book and the following book, _Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn_, will be out of order.
I didn't plan on reading this book, since I was disappointed with its prequel, _Child of the Northern Spring_. But I was in an Arthurian mood, and saw the last two volumes at the library, and said "Hey, what the heck." And I was pleasantly surprised by books two and three; I'm glad I changed my mind and read them.
_Queen of the Summer Stars_ starts slowly; Guinevere seems more like a fly-on-the-wall narrator than a character for the first half of the book. She constantly regales us with all of the doings in Camelot--every banquet, affair, and border skirmish. But she doesn't talk much about what's going on in her own head. The result of this is that, whenever she suddenly acts with strong emotion, it comes out of left field. For example, at one point she lets two strangers talk her into trading a treasured family heirloom for a fertility potion from a Saxon witch. The scene was shocking because, while we knw Gwen is sad about her barrenness, we never knew she was *that* desperate. The emotional buildup wasn't there, so her actions were unexpected.
However, Guinevere comes out of her shell as a character when she begins to fall in love with Lancelot. They hadn't always been close. When Lance first came to Camelot, he was standoffish and rude to her. She disliked him even though he was a dead ringer for her childhood sweetheart. But they developed a friendship over the years, and then one fateful night, Lancelot rescues a delirious Guinevere from the tyrannical Maelgwn. She thinks he spoke words of love during their night ride--but was it just the delirium talking? A dream? Or long-denied truth? Now, Guinevere and Lancelot struggle to figure out a way to acknowledge their love without betraying Arthur. This book presents perhaps the classiest, most dignified portrait of that romance of any retelling I have ever read, and for that I commend the author highly.
Guinevere has the chance to run away with Lancelot and live happily ever after--but Arthur needs her, and so does her new adopted son, Mordred. Mordred is Arthur's son by the vulgar and vicious Morgause; after Morgause's death, Guinevere cares for him, though Arthur refuses to get close to the boy. Guinevere must make tough choices, and nothing will ever be the same again at Camelot.
So, although I didn't expect to like this book, I was proven wrong. I recommend it, especially for the touching portrayal of the Guinevere-Lancelot romance. See also the third book, _Guinevre: The Legend in Autumn_.
Best Arthurian Romance.......2002-06-29
I read this book for the first time about 10 years ago and I have re-read it many times since. You should start with the first book, "Child of the Northern Spring", then "Queen of the Summer Stars", then finally "Guinevere: A Legend in Autumn." Persia Woolley is actually the first author of an Arthurian romance to make me cry. I never wanted these books to end. They are so well written, and Guinevere is neither weak nor a feminist. She's absolutely wonderful. The way the affair with Lancelot is written is just some of the most beautiful that I've ever read. Not torrid and steamy, but soft and romantic. A very beautiful trilogy of books.
a woman's point of view.......2001-01-04
I first read this book when I was 13 years old, and I was immediately intrigued. But don't mistake me to mean it's full of juvenile content. Quite the contrary. This book is a beautiful story told from Guinevere's point of view as an elegantly spirited woman struggling to balance her instincts of freedom and love with her sense of regal duty as queen of Camelot and greater Britain. Not to mention her heart-wrenching dilemma between Arthur and Lancelot...I couldn't put it down! And I have read it again many times since. This is definitely not your average romance novel. It focuses on the enchanting story of a remarkable and inspiring woman's life instead of just graphic love scenes amidst a mediocre plot. I would imagine that many women today can relate to Guinevere's struggles. Ever since I first read this, I've been fascinated with the legend of Camelot, and I immediately searched for the prequel and sequel of this wonderful novel. I can't imagine why these books are out of print. Please let me know where I can find a reasonably priced edition of "Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn." Enjoy!
Different, emotional, pleasant..........2000-12-14
I read this book soon after I ended reading The Mists of Avalon. When you read such a beautiful and inteligent book as The Mists, you get so much more exigent about Arthurian books. Well, I cannot say that this Persya Wooley's book is such a masterpiece as The Mists are, but it took my attention as I read it, such a difficult task now. Guinevere is shown here, as a brave and strong woman, who has to handle with her love to Lancelot, and her duty and respect to her husband, Arthur. And yet, to conform herself with her childlessness. But Persya gives Guinevere a new perspective, and make her a interesting and real woman. Full of romance and power, this is a very good book to read. You can feel Guinevere's anguish, despair, passion, happiness... You'll read and feel a different book.
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Queen of the Summer Stars
Manufacturer: Poseidon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GLAC4C |
Product Description
three mmpb books. 3 Titles By Patricia Coughlin Gypsy Summer When Stars Collide The Cupcake Queen
Book Description
Blueberry muffins crowned with a cinnamon and sugar topping, savory cornmeal muffins spiced with jalape ño, tender lemon and poppy seed muffins served with lemon curd -- these are recipes that any home cook would be proud to make and bring fresh from the oven to the table.
Williams-Sonoma Collection Muffins includes 40 kitchen-tested recipes for these and other muffins as well as coffee cakes and quick breads. Not only can the recipes be prepared in just an hour or two -- they are also wonderfully versatile. Banana-walnut muffins and slices of pumpkin bread are delightful ways to bake with fresh fruits and vegetables. You can serve muffins flavored with Cheddar cheese or pesto as a savory accompaniment to soups and salads. Coffee cakes enriched with raspberries, apples, or chocolate make elegant centerpieces for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea.
Each recipe in these pages is shown alongside a beautiful full-color photograph that helps you decide which recipe you want to bake. Additional photographs illustrate side notes with invaluable information about essential ingredients and techniques. You will also find an entire chapter devoted to simple baking basics. This cookbook provides everything you need to create delicious muffins perfect for any meal or occasion.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Muffins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-09-02
All I can say is WOW!! I can't recommend this book enough! Recipes are easy to follow, no fancy-smancy never heard of before ingredients and best of all; most recipes only make 12 muffins. So for people that don't have an army to feed, it's nice! I recommend the awesome Blackberry muffins, which are my favorite to make. Every recipe I've tried has come out great, and the muffins freeze well too. BUY the book, you won't be dissapointed! Happy baking :)
Muffin Heaven!!!.......2007-06-14
No hard-to-source ingredients. No are-they-cooked-are-they-raw musings while you stare into the oven. No only-use-these-fruits-picked-by-the-light-of-a-full-moon pernickityness. Just straightforward instructions, delightful ingredients and splendid results. My favourites are the Cheddar Cheese Muffins - because my sons don't eat cheese so my husband and I can relax eating them - and the Cinnamon-Buttermilk Muffins which are especially wonderful for breakfast. Buy this for everyone you know who has even the tiniest interest in baking. Deirdre, Dublin, Ireland.
For Amateurs.......2007-01-13
I never so much as picked up a spatula before I bought this book so I can say as the ultimate rookie that this book will give you excellent results. The recipe's are easy and the instructions are coherent. My only complaint would be that I often was a bit surprised at the consistency of the batter. I would have liked a description beyond "slightly lumpy" to know what to expect. I love this book and have bought another from the series.
Perfect for a morning sugar fix!.......2006-11-01
Of the countless cookbooks I own, this book has the best compilation of breakfast quick breads. Nearly every recipe sounds and looks so good! The ones I've tried I would definitely make again, and I have every intention of working my way through nearly all the sweet recipes and a couple of the savory ones as well. The book is well laid out, every recipe is accompanied by a beautiful picture, and the instructions are simple. If you like to satisfy your sweet tooth in the morning, as I do, then this is the book for you!
Amazing!.......2006-07-20
This is my favorite go to cookbook for prep ahead breakfast. The recipes are delicious every time. And, when guests arrive I don't have to worry 'Will the recipe turn out'.
There are more than just muffins in the book. There are breads and coffee cakes. As I type this I am eating the Spiced Apple Coffee Cake. The recipes aren't complicated. In fact, they are very simple and call for ordinary ingrediants. But, who would have thought that you could make a muffin that tastes like a dognut! Williams Sonoma did, and it does. The secret ingrediant? Buttermilk.
Other favorites of mine in the book are the rasberry muffins, the jam filled muffins, the chocolate chip muffins, and the pear muffins. I have used the batter for the rasberry muffins with many other fruits - one of our favorites is peaches. This books gives you an awesome base and you can mix and match and get creative without worry! I made my sister a batch of the cherry muffins with the coconut topping and plan on baking more when she delivers her first child...
Excellent for a beginner and tasty enough for the expert cook.
Book Description
A warm slice of bread, fresh from the oven and spread with butter, is one of life's simple pleasures. Whether it's a traditional whole-wheat loaf, a crusty baguette, or tender blueberry muffins, the delicious taste and aroma of home-baked bread appeals to all of our senses. Best of all, delectable baked goods will delight friends and family alike.
Williams-Sonoma Collection Bread offers more than 40 delicious recipes, from traditional yeast breads to convenient quick breads, including breakfast treats such as muffins and scones. Whether you are in search of a savory sourdough loaf to serve with soup, simple dinner rolls to enhance the holiday table, or classic banana bread for an afternoon snack, this book includes recipes for every occasion. In addition, a final chapter on international breads, such as Italian focaccia or French brioche, rounds out this essential collection for the home baker.
Enticing photographs of each recipe make it easy to choose which bread to bake, and photographic side notes give insight into each recipe. Including all the techniques essential to mastering the art of making bread -- from mixing and kneading to rising and baking -- here is everything you need to bake the perfect loaf.
Customer Reviews:
Tried and Loved!.......2007-05-24
Definitely one of the better cookbooks I have purchased. I have tried over half of the recipes and they came out successfully. I am a novice bread-maker, so this is definitely a great accomplishment for me! My family thanks the authors for helping their mama bake great bread!
Great bread book.......2007-03-18
I've got a number of bread books and although I've only made a couple of the recipes, I think this book will become one of two or three favorites. Nice pictures and the background info on the various breads is interesting. The print is large enough to read without glasses - something increasingly important to me. A well made and bound book that will probably have olive oil and butter stains before too long.
Too many recipes call for heavy-duty mixer.......2003-02-08
The book I received did not look like the photo, so I'm assuming it's the same with a "new" cover. I understand this is a reprint of an earlier favorite book. This version however, requires a heavy-duty mixer for many of the recipes. I do not have one and was looking forward to "hand-made" bread. I am not sure how to translate mixing and kneading times from mixer-time to handwork-time. The extra copy I bought for a gift I am no longer sure will be as appreciated for the same reason. A bit disappointing.
simply the best.......2002-02-23
I also bought this book in college, and now 12 years later, it is my bread bible. Hensperger's instructions are simple and the breads--no matter what kind--always are delicious. Always. I've tried other bread cookbooks, but always come back to this one.
Excellent book!.......2000-10-05
This is the first bread book I owned and the one that started a baking frenzy that still goes on! It's a beautiful book with incredible recipes. The challah is outstanding, the banana nut muffins are SOOOO good!, the orange date cake delicious, the brioche ease and delicious, the gruyere pullman loaf is amazing... I can go on and on. The only minus is the lack of sourdough breads. A book definitely worth having.
Books:
- Toiles for All Seasons: French & English Printed Textiles
- Top Ten: The Forty-Niners (Top Ten)
- Understanding International Art Markets and Management
- While I Was Gone (Oprah's Book Club)
- Witches Abroad
- Woman Hollering Creek: And Other Stories
- You Shall Know Our Velocity
- A Dangerous Fortune
- A Girl of the Limberlost (The Library of Indiana Classics)
- Anybody Out There?: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning
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- R.C. Gorman, the drawings
- Libya President Muammar Muhammad Al-Gaddafi
- Thomas B. Reed
The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II
The Glorious Cause
Rise to Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution
Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican War
The Last Full Measure
