Book Description
HeartQuest brings together three original novellas that will stir readers to treasure their own keepsakes of life, love, and romance. These Victorian-era stories will touch hearts with the beauty of new love at Christmastime.
Story list:
- "Behold the Lamb" by Catherine Palmer
- "Far Above Rubies" by Kristin Billerbeck
- "Memory to Keep" by Ginny Aiken
Customer Reviews:
A collection of Moorcock's "pulp" science fiction.......1999-03-09
From the author's notes, Moorcock was writing these stories in the period while he was editor of New Worlds. These stories were an attempt to tie together the old traditions of SF with the new wave, of which he was a part. The three stories in the book have little in common with the exception of the Multiverse concept, which ties together all of the stories of the Eternal Champion which Moorcock has written. All represent the struggles that the people of Earth are going through at one point in the continuum.
I have enjoyed all of the Eternal Champion series that I have read to date, and have been pleasently surprised by how enjoyable and well written the non-Elric stories are. Most people seemed to be introduced to Moorcock through Elric and perhaps do not read more. They are missing out on a broader picture of which Elric is only a part.
I found myself wanting to read more about Faustaff, the Fireclown, and Clovis Becker when the stories were over. I wish there were more books about them! This book is similar to the first book in the series entitled The Eternal Champion which introduces a number of characters through medium length tales.
Intruiging science-fiction.......1997-09-01
The cover of this book is what first attracted me. Any book that dares to place a demonic clown standing on top of the sun can be relied on to be at least mildly interesting. Of course, first I had to read the other books in the series, so now that I finally get to this book, I've found that it lives up to the weird cover. Rare science-fiction from Michael Moorcock (the other exception being A Nomad of the Time Streams), it's just as good as his others.
Some comments on the three novels:
The Wrecks of Time: Kicking off the volume off the volume with the strangest story scienifically, it gets even stranger toward the end, but the tale of Faustaff and his fight against the D-Squads is great.
The Winds of Limbo: Ah, here the clown! One of Moorcock's more political tales, it also brings back his Von Bek family, who appear to be playing on both sides of the conflict. It's very good for a story with a clown and politics.
The Shores of Death: Interestingly enough, Clovis Becker is the only definate Eternal Champion in this volume (and the only reason I know that is because he is mentioned when all the names are going through John Daker's head in the first volume). Moorcock nevers explains how or when the planet stopped spinning, which is good, because if the Earth ever stopped spinning, everyone on it would be killed by interta, which would propel us all at thousands of miles per second. Still, it doesn't get in the way of a good story.
Great trio, though the connecting material leaves a little to be desired. I couldn't figure out what it had to do with the stories, though I remember Renark Von Bek as the cosmic guy from The Sundered Worlds. I assume that the stories are memories he is thinking about, but since he never appears in the stories, it is curious as to why he remembers them. However, the connecting material is only at most a page long and this is only a minor quibble. This is required reading for any interested in fun science-fiction
Moorcock brings alternate versions of Earth to life.......1997-08-24
The Roads Between the Worlds contains three unrelated stories, set in the theme of the multiverse. These stories take place on Earth, but not the Earth we know. These Earth's exist in different planes of the multiverse and coexist with our own. The first, and most entertaining story, The Wrecks of Time, finds the enigmatic Dr. Faustus leading his elite group against D-Squads who are tring to destroy Earth. Making matters worse for Dr. Faustus is that he travels the multiverse and the D-Squaders are trying to destroy thirteen Earths. The story keeps you guessing until the climax when Faustus meets the creatures behind the D-Squaders. Next, The Winds of Limbo takes you to Switzerland where the mysterious Fireclown speaks out against the government and what Earth has become. Here Moorcock skillfully blends politics and religion into a ideological clash between old and new guard politics. Finally in The Shores of Death, Moorcock takes us to a doomed Earth where the few humans left live extremely long lives but cannot have children. Here we see the clash between those who accept their fate vs. the few who try to find some hope for humanity's future. Like other Moorcock works, these stories make you think and question how we live, think and co-exist with one another, despite how different we truly are
Customer Reviews:
The diplomats were not surprised by Pearl Harbor........2006-03-13
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, continues to be of great interest to historians and conspiracy theorists, even more so since the terror attack of 9/11. How could America have been taken by surprise? Why were we so unprepared? Whose fault was it?
Politics, including demagoguery and scapegoating of the worst kind, heavily influenced the investigations of the events leading up to Pearl Harbor. To this day, no one knows with certainty exactly what FDR's knowledge and intentions were. There is no question in anyone's mind that he knew America was headed for war eventually. If a war had to be fought FDR wanted that war to be fought on the best terms possible for America. He clearly felt American interests lay in preventing the defeat of Britain, and he went far beyond the accepted limits of Presidential power to further that end. Did he go so far as to deliberately put the Pacific Fleet in harm's way, hoping the Japanese would attack it on US territory and thus mobilize public opinion in favor of war? No one knows, and no one may ever know. It is certainly conceivable in my mind that he did so, but it is yet unproven. What is clear in all I have read about Pearl Harbor, Feis included, is that the high levels of US government were not in the least surprised by the timing of the Japanese attack, just by its location. The Philippines and Guam were expected to bear the brunt of any Japanese attack, with Pearl Harbor being a theoretical but less likely target. Japanese intentions were very clear to FDR and his cabinet - only the American people were in the dark.
A larger question raised by Pearl Harbor is that of whether war with Japan could have been avoided entirely if relations between Japan and the US had been better managed. Herbert Feis' book is one of the early and authoritative attempts to address this question.
Feis was a retired diplomat and historian. He won the 1960 Pulitzer Prize for his book "Between War and Peace" on the origins of the Cold War. The American Historical Association has named an award after Feis that goes to independent scholars, not associated with academic institutions. (David Walley has written an interesting on-line biography of Feis.)
There is no question that Feis was very knowledgeable about diplomatic affairs and had mastered the voluminous reports of the Pearl Harbor investigations and the diplomatic memorandums and cables of the period. Much information has become available since Feis published this book in 1950, especially on the Japanese side, but nothing has emerged since then to contradict the basic outline of the story.
It's a complicated story, to say the least. Relations had deteriorated considerably between the US and Japan long before Feis picks up the thread in 1937, when what he calls "the last good chance" for a peaceful settlement was lost by Japan's increasingly ruthless actions in China. Japanese disregard for American commercial interests in China was especially disturbing to American business, which was just coming out of the Great Depression. Feis does not mention two other factors which are now seen as having had great influence on American attitudes toward Japan. One was the so-called "China Lobby", emotionally influenced by works such as 1938 Nobel Prize winner Pearl Buck's The Good Earth (Enriched Classics) and tied to the American missionary presence in China. The other was the defeat of the Japanese at NomonhanNomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939 in August, 1939, by Soviet tanks under General Georgi Zhukov, and the Hitler-Stalin Pact that followed shortly thereafter. Feis sticks to the diplomatic thread, gaining clarity at the expense of the wider picture.
Feis focuses especially closely on the character and conduct of Cordell Hull, and in fact writes at times as though seeing events through Hull's eyes. This is of course a history of diplomacy, and Hull was Secretary of State, but my impression is that events were pretty much out of Hull's hands by 1939, and by 1940 were being driven by Henry L. Stimson. In 1929 Stimson had abolished the State Department's cryptanalytic unit, saying, "Gentlemen don't read each other's mail." He was hostile to Japan, as Hoover's secretary of State had wanted to impose economic sanctions on Japan in 1931 when the Japanese invaded Manchuria. FDR's bringing Stimson back into the government as Secretary of War in 1940 almost certainly guaranteed war between Japan and the US. Hoover had refused to implement Stimson's sanctions in 1931 for just that reason, that they would have provoked war between Japan and the US. Just as Hoover had feared, Stimson's sanctions had exactly that effect when carried out ten years later.
Feis mentions the confusion of Japanese politics during the pre-war years, but did not have the sources now available to us documenting the power of the Imperial Army in Japanese domestic politics, particularly their ruthless use of assassination as a political tactic.
Feis begins his second chapter thus:
"When, in July, 1937, the Japanese Army marched into China, we were trying to make foreign policy out of morality and neutrality alone. These neither prevented the advent of trouble nor provided effective ways of dealing with trouble."
His book ends with Nomura handing Hull the diplomatic notice of the severance of relations between their two countries, one hour AFTER the bombs had started dropping at Pearl Harbor. As Feis presents it the tragic outcome seems inevitable. And the great question - do we make history, or are we made by it? - remains unanswered.
For an account of these events that is more up to date, but with the same tragic sense of inevitability, see Akira Iriye's The Origins of the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific (Origins of Modern Wars)
Other works by Herbert Feis on the diplomatic history of the Second World War:
Between War and Peace: The Potsdam Conference
1933: characters in crisis
Japan Subdued: The Atomic Bomb and the End of the War in the Pacific
Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin: The War They Waged and the Peace They Sought
Book Description
Ivanka struggles in Canada between her two worlds, feeling loneliness. She learns the English language while she works in the sewing industry, "rising" to doing some modeling; but her love-life creates heartbreak in not being able to put her life together with her dream of America---the ultimate goal for her on earth!
Book Description
Historically, Christians have taken a confrontational or missionary approach toward Islam, leading many Muslims to identify Christianity with the cultural prejudices of Westerners. On the individual level, Christ-followers within Islam have traditionally been encouraged by Christians to break away from their Muslim communities. Chandler boldly explores how these two major religions--which share much common heritage-can not only co-exist, but also enrich each other.
Customer Reviews:
Water of life in an eastern tea glass.......2007-10-10
I'm glad to say that I know Mazhar, the focus of this biography/study/journey. When I first heard that Paul-Gordon Chandler was writing this book, I was concerned that it would be hagiography rather than a realistic portrait. However, as I read this book I found myself nodding at the portrayal, remembering many of Mazhar's challenging sayings and enlightening stories that Chandler reports. There is plenty of detail here that fills in things I was unaware of from Mazhar's past. But the overall picture is clear, the picture of a devotee, "a lover of God" on the path of Christ, seeking to live out his life in true freedom in spite of the misunderstandings of some of those around him.
There are readers who may misunderstand the picture being presented here, seeing it as a universalist, everyone-will-go-to-heaven sort of thing. Mazhar is very clear in presenting the incredible value of knowing Jesus as Messiah and Lord, and following him through the joys and challenges of life. He is also strongly committed to his Arab Muslim culture and civilization. Some Westerners will find it hard to understand and value Mazhar's faith, wrapped and shrouded as they are within the dusty folds of age-old Western Christian interpretations, traditions and practices.
Many Westerners are surprised at how highly Muslims respect and venerate Jesus Christ. But the stories in this book are true...there is a large body of Muslims who are excited to hear about Jesus and his teachings when they are not tied to Western politics and religious systems. They would like to know how they can emulate Jesus and the prophets and put his teachings into practice.
This book is a wonderfully eye-opening look at spiritual dynamics in the Middle East, framed outside of the "conflict model" of Muslim versus Christian.
A Must Read.......2007-10-04
Never before has the subject of cultural understanding been so important. This book crushes Western stereotypes of Islamic and Arab culture and gives life/death insight into the opportunity we have to provide a peaceful future. Many people have ideas, but few have the experience to make their ideas relevant. The "Pilgrims" of this book are men and women who have paid a high price to forge a viable path between Islam and those that follow Jesus Christ. No matter what your religious, cultural, or political background, you will be impacted by this book.
Good in Many ways.......2007-10-04
I found this book to be well written and thought provoking. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking into the growth of Christianity within Islamic nations. It offers a perspective that is seldom heard and while western Christians might not be able to agree completely with that perspective it does not mean that they have no responsibility to understand it.
Well worth reading
"A Logical Disconnect:.......2007-09-15
I read this book cover to cover and I must say, there is a logical "disconnect". When your wisdom is clouded, your intelligence is "dumbed-down". Chandler is no doubt intelligent; but he is a confused man. Chandler is choosing to believe bits and pieces of Scripture, thus choosing to believe what makes him feel good. As a society, we are so rooted in emotion and what "feels good". Does Chandler truly uphold Mallouhi's beliefs? If so, how disconcerting. If he believes according to the "Scriptures of Mallouhi", what a comfy chair to sit in. Mazhar says he believes in truth. There can be only ONE TRUTH! ONE GOD! John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Chandler, as a priest/spiritual leader, is more accountable to God because he is leading others. I pray for his soul. I'm reminded of a saying I heard from long ago: "If you're right, then I'll see you there. If I'm right, then you're in big trouble."
The Most Important Book for Christians & Muslims Alike.......2007-09-09
There has never been a book like this for Muslims and Christians alike. It is a stand alone and a must read. Why have I never heard of Mazhar Mallouhi? I did realize I've read a book by his wife Christine a few years ago. He does for us what E. Stanley Jones did for us with India and Hindu's. The principles of this book can be applied to any culture or context. Once you pick it up, it will be very difficult to put it down. What makes it so powerful is that it isn't about western missiology, or a Middle-Eastern convert from Western Christians, but a man who finds God by seeking for him on his own. There is not a more significant issue in the world today than how Christians and Muslims view one another and relate. This book will go a long way toward promoting that. It's a fast paced narrative filled with principles and lessons. Having worked around the world with the "powers that be" this book is a must read. I'll be making copies available for young pastors and immams alike. Thank you Thank you thank you Paul-Gordon Chandler for your book. Mazhar, may peace be upon you - thank you for teaching me so much - I will be indebted to you for it. Bob Roberts - Auhor, Transformation, Glocalization, and soon to be realsed The Multiplying Church.
Average customer rating:
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Road between Wars
Goldston
Manufacturer: Dial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Teens | Subjects | Books | Authors, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Health, Mind & Body | History & Historical Fiction | Horror | Literature & Fiction | Manga | Mysteries | Reference | Religion & Spirituality | School & Sports | Science & Technology | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Series | Social Issues
General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0803774672 |
Book Description
On the demand side, exporters and strategic planners approaching the world market face a number of questions. Which countries are supplying motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines of cylinder capacity between 250 and 500 cc? What is the dollar value of these imports? How much do the imports of motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines of cylinder capacity between 250 and 500 cc vary from one country to another? Do exporters serving the world market have similar market shares across the importing countries? Which countries supply the most exports of motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines of cylinder capacity between 250 and 500 cc? Which countries are buying their exports? What is the value of these exports and which countries are the largest buyers? In what follows, Chapter 2 begins by summarizing the regional markets for imported and exported motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines of cylinder capacity between 250 and 500 cc. The total level of imports and exports on a worldwide basis, and those for each region, is based on a model which aggregates across over 150 key country markets and projects these to the current year. From there, each country represents a percent of the world market. This market is served from a number of competitive countries of origin. Based on both demand- and supply-side dynamics, market shares by country of origin are then calculated across each country market destination. These shares lead to a volume of import and export values for each country and are aggregated to regional and world totals. In doing so, we are able to obtain maximum likelihood estimates of both the value of each market and the shares that countries are likely to receive this year. From these figures, rankings are calculated to allow managers to prioritize markets. In this way, all the figures provided in this report are forecasts that can be combined with internal information for strategic planning purposes.
Book Description
On the demand side, exporters and strategic planners approaching the world market face a number of questions. Which countries are supplying motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines of cylinder capacity between 50 and 250 cc? What is the dollar value of these imports? How much do the imports of motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines of cylinder capacity between 50 and 250 cc vary from one country to another? Do exporters serving the world market have similar market shares across the importing countries? Which countries supply the most exports of motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines of cylinder capacity between 50 and 250 cc? Which countries are buying their exports? What is the value of these exports and which countries are the largest buyers? In what follows, Chapter 2 begins by summarizing the regional markets for imported and exported motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines of cylinder capacity between 50 and 250 cc. The total level of imports and exports on a worldwide basis, and those for each region, is based on a model which aggregates across over 150 key country markets and projects these to the current year. From there, each country represents a percent of the world market. This market is served from a number of competitive countries of origin. Based on both demand- and supply-side dynamics, market shares by country of origin are then calculated across each country market destination. These shares lead to a volume of import and export values for each country and are aggregated to regional and world totals. In doing so, we are able to obtain maximum likelihood estimates of both the value of each market and the shares that countries are likely to receive this year. From these figures, rankings are calculated to allow managers to prioritize markets. In this way, all the figures provided in this report are forecasts that can be combined with internal information for strategic planning purposes.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant Novel.......2003-11-07
It would seem that there are a lot of people who have critiqued this book who are hardly worthy to call themselves iron man fans at all. As a man who has been with the Iron Man saga from the late 70's, I must say that Greg Cox did an excellent job with this book. Perhaps if the other people who did reviews were smart enough to understand the technicalities and "jargon", they wouldn't make hopelessly stupid comments about it and realise how important and intriguing the technical knowledge is with these stories. Iron Man is my favorite comic charecter by far, and it is Iron Man's legacy beyond the suit, the man, and his enemies...his very ability to overcome situations and beat the odds, that make this an absolute winner. Many of the ideas put forth for Iron Man came from very real backgrounds of science and mathematics that a lot of people seem to have trouble grasping when they write reviews. So before you listen to the cretons who rated this book poorly, buy it and read it for yourself optimistically. It's a good read, and Greg Cox did an excellent job with the detail as well as with the assignment of charecter to friends and foes.
A fun read for ANY comic book fan..........2003-03-13
I'll admit that Iron Man is not my favorite character, but this is still a darn good book. It does a great job of covering all aspects of Tony Stark/Iron Man's career/life including his origin, friends, enemies, and also personal tragedies (i.e. Tony' alcholism, health problems, etc.). It does have a little too much techno-gobleddygook talk for MY TASTES, but that's just me. Also, it tends too focus more on War Machine than on Tony/Iron Man, but War Machine IS cool, I'd just rather have seen him gotten his own book. Anyways, this is good one, enjoy!
Not perfect, but an engaging and entertaining novel.......2001-07-15
Before I get into reviewing the novel, let me introduce my background. I've been a comics fan for over ten years, and while most of that time was spent collecting X-Men-related books, I've always had a passion for Iron Man.
Unfortunately, the Iron Man title often suffered from relatively lackluster writer/artist combinations, making for poor collectability - but the concept of a modern-day knight in shining armor always intrigued me. And there's just something about having so much sheer technological power and invincibility that appeals to me.
So when I saw The Armor Trap (and its sequel, Operation AIM) in the library a few years ago, I immediately checked it out. I enjoyed it thoroughly, but I never was able to find it again. So I purchased a copy through Amazon, and I re-read it.
Even after a few years, I remembered the plot of the novel enough that it wasn't entirely suspenseful reading. The gist of it is that Tony Stark is captured by a mysterious enemy who pretends to be Madame Masque of the Maggia. "Madame Masque" plays both sides of the fence, demanding that Iron Man steal an energy chip from AIM (which War Machine accomplishes), and forcing Tony to build a suit of armor for her.
The Armor Trap is a novel that lends itself more to conspiracies and intricate plans than all-out brawls, which is precisely the kind of opposition you'd expect for a hero that wears a suit of invincible armor (otherwise, it would get way too easy to beat everyone). Nonetheless, even the heavily armed War Machine has trouble with a massive underwater battle and some one-on-one combat with a dreadnought. At the end, the two team up for another heavy battle.
But while these are Iron Men, they aren't robots. There are people inside, and Greg Cox's real burden is making sure that they remain true to form. And he hoists that burden easily, correctly characterizing everyone from the chivalrous Tony Stark to the hot-headed Jim Rhodes to the harsh Bethany Cabe. The only thing that's out of place is Jim Rhodes' amiable relationship with Tony; in the comics, Rhodes dislikes Stark a great deal, and they never made amends.
And the novel suffers from carelessness in other areas. For one, there seem to be some chronal inconsistencies. Tony is described as being in his early thirties, yet he was captured during the Vietnam War - so when is this novel set? In 1980? And if that age is accurate, how could he have helped to found SHIELD "decades ago"? Furthermore, Cox claims that Hydra was formed a few years before the time of the novel, but it was actually founded during World War II. And there are spatterings of smaller errors, such as when Jim Rhodes notices he has 18 hours until a deadline and then later mentions he has "over a day." To someone who notices details, they stand out glaringly.
But, on the positive side, Cox gives great attention to the armor's details. He subtly mentions its various features, layers, and mechanics without bogging the story down in technical jargon. It's easy to forget what a technological marvel the suit of armor is when you see it over and over again, but Cox restores some of that mystique. Unfortunately, he asks me to suspend my disbelief too far at the end of the novel (basically, the premise is so scientifically implausible that I can't help but laugh at it), but that's not a major problem.
I would say that this novel introduces Iron Man well to new readers, and fans of the comic book will definitely enjoy what is an improvement on the comic. But if you don't like Iron Man and you consider the concept silly, The Armor Trap won't change your mind.
Good book that focuses on WM as well as IM........2000-06-15
I must compliment Greg Cox on his outstanding work in "The Armor Trap". I greatly enjoyed the battle scenes that focused on War Machine, the pages went by in a blur. However, (I'll try not to spoil the plot! ) near the end when Tony was "surfing" cyberspace in his brain, I got extremely confused with all the jargon and sentences that (to me) made almost no sense to me. Could be because I'm not that computer-savvy, or maybe that I'm only 15. But, hey, I stuck with it and it turned out to be a wild ride, so I'm sure you can, too! Thanks again, Mr. Cox!
Excellent book.......1999-07-26
Can't believe I'm the first to review this book. Anyway...excellent novel. Love the way Greg describes the working of the Iron man/War Machine armor. it was good to see the "first" War Machine armor design (don't like the "alien" armor). It was also nice to see a "flashback" of the reasoning behind the origin of Tony's armor. Guess i'll have to read the next book...when i get a chance to pick it up
Book Description
Socially inclined but time-deprived? Want to see friends for dinner, but can't do more than order takeout or meet in a restaurant? Well, help is here. From Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross-whose nationally syndicated column reaches millions of readers through 115 papers comes the perfect cookbook for the harried would-be host and hostess.
Desperation Entertaining! is filled with 200 marvelous recipes for impressive dinner party food. Desperation Entertaining! is a complete game plan for having guests over (children included) without having to spend more than 20 minutes on a dish, or 20 minutes per cook-ahead phase. There are tips on saving time (buy prepeeled garlic, doctor supermarket potato salad with fresh chopped onions and paprika); sanity (tie the bottle opener to the cooler); and money (sangria costs less than wine). But of course the genius of the book is in the recipes: Cajun Catfish Gumbo, Cabernet Pasta Sauce with Italian Sausage, Greek Stifado with Artichokes, Citrus Shrimp Kebabs, Grilled Pork Chops with Southern Peach Salsa. Plus plenty of homemade desserts that won't break the host, including Rocky Road Brownie Sundaes, Berkshires Blueberry Crisp, and Sunset Key Lime Pies. Who's coming over next week?
Customer Reviews:
Another great book in the Desperation Dinners Series.......2006-08-30
I have all 3 books by these authors and this one is my favorite. The recipes are good for both entertaining and cooking for your family. Although, the recipes are not quite as quick as the Desperation Dinners cookbook, they are still quick, easy and usually use common ingredients.
I do agree with the other reviewers that this book is heavy on dips. But, when you are entertaining a dip is a very useful addition to the menu. For recipies that are more complex, the authors show you how to break the prep and cooking into steps. I found this to be a great help since as a mom of little ones I usually cook in spurts.
We have tried a number of recipies from this book and have found them to be excellent. I have been in search of a good meatloaf recipie and I finally found one in this book. The Fastest Fruit Salad recipie is also excellent and gets rave reviews everytime I make it for a potluck. The Blue Jay Point Pasta is also very yummy and is great to freeze.
I highly recommend this book to people who like to entertain and like to cook a nice meal without becoming stressed out.
Great quick recipes.......2005-09-08
I have Desperation Dinnners but this cookbook is great for entertaining.Have made several easy things from here which certainly makes entertaining much easier.A must have along w/other Desperation Dinner cookbook.
Entertain yourself.......2004-07-04
This book is a great source of recipes for entertaining or just for your everyday dinners where you want to relax. As with the earlier Desperation Dinners, it is focused on making things easy for you, although in this book not necessarily fast. In the first book, all the recipes took about 20 minutes from start to finish (although they sometimes started assuming you already had the water boiling!). Here the emphasis is on planning things ahead so you can do preparation work before your company arrives, leaving you to time to enjoy visiting rather than go crazy in the kitchen at the last minute!
Don't save the recipes and use them only when you're having company. There are some great recipes that your family will enjoy even when you're not having company.
A guests-are-coming survival guide.......2004-05-01
I pull this book out every time I face an entertaining challenge, and I always find at least one recipe that's perfect for the occasion. The guacamole-with-peas and black bean "hummus" dips wowed my New Year's Day guests and they were really tickled when I revealed the secret ingredients. (They said, "You must really trust the "Deperation" ladies!" I do!)
Witty commentary and helpful shopping, presentation, and decorating tips make this a fun book to browse through.
Some warnings and comments: Unlike the original "Desperation Dinners," this book focuses on multi-stage do-it-ahead recipes. Those wanting lots of menus that can be on the table in an hour or less will be disappointed.One long chapter is devoted only to grilled main dishes; another to slow cooker meats and soups. If you don't grill or slow cook, half of the main dishes won't work for you.
Certain food themes are repeated ad naseum - there are 9 creamy dips, 6 chicken salads, 5 chilis, 4 kinds of slaw, and 8 breakfast casseroles. The beverage and side dish chapters are slim, but the dessert chapter is much larger here than in "Desperation Dinners." Both authors are North Carolinans, and the book is heavy on Southern favorites. Although they make some concessions to low-fat dairy ingredients, this is not the book to turn to for low-fat, low-carb, or low-calorie ideas.
Because these dishes rely on partially-prepared ingredients such as "already-cooked" bacon, and because the authors favor shrimp and fine cuts of meat, most recipes are expensive. If your grocery store is rural or small, you'll struggle to locate some ingredients.
Check this out if you're looking for easy entertainment-specific recipes, throw-together dips, do-it-ahead plans, and lots of interesting advice for the host or hostess. Most dishes serve 8-12.
One of my favorite cookbooks.......2003-04-25
I would rate this a low five or a high four. My big complaint about this cookbook and it's fellow one "Desperation Dinners" is that sometimes there is so much advice and hints, the recipe kind of gets lost on the page.
But having said that, these are great cookbooks. They are full of easy to follow recipes, time savers, hints and helps. The recipes require normal ingredients and rarely anything fancy. Every meal I have made has turned out fantastic. And this book lives up to it's name, in that almost every meal in this book can be served to company.
Well worth the money.
Enjoy
Books:
- Amuleto (Narrativas Hispanicas) (Narrativas Hispanicas)
- Anne Hébert: Collected Later Novels
- Antigua, Penny, Puce and They Hanged My Saintly Billy
- Asmara: Africa's Secret Modernist City
- Badlands: Library Edition
- Blurry and Disconnected: Tales of Sink-Or-Swim Nihilism
- Bogeymen Don't Play Football (The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids, #27)
- Breathe Deep the Passing Wind
- CAFE ROYAL
- Cape Cod Stories: Tales from the Cape, Nantucket & MarthaÆs Vineyard
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