Book Description
According to the New York Times Book Review, the Iowa Short Fiction Award is among the most prestigious literary prizes America offers, and the Chicago Tribune has called the honor a respected prize that annually introduces readers to a writer whose work is little known outside the circle of literary magazine and university publications. In 1991, to both celebrate the stories discovered by the Iowa Short Fiction Award and its companion, the John Simmons Short Fiction Award, and to further acquaint readers with the prize-winning authors, Frank Conroy compiled The Iowa Award: The Best Stories from Twenty Years. He follows that now with The Iowa Award: The Best Stories, 1991-2000, a collection of twenty-one winning selections.
Whether hurtling toward Earth in a disabled airplane, sharing silence with a prostitute, fantasizing about the Manson family, or hiding disgust for a dying friend, the characters in this new collection engage and captivate readers. The authors from 1991 winners Elizabeth Harris and Sondra Spatt Olsen to newcomers John McNally and Elizabeth Oness explore the nuances of love, lust, youth, old age, illness, nostalgia, obsession, idiosyncrasy, and surprise.
Their work judged by such accomplished writers as Ethan Canin, Francine Prose, Ann Beattie, and Stuart Dybek and the selections Conroy has chosen to share exemplify remarkable writing. Moreover, each writer achieves the expectations of the Iowa Short Fiction Award, established in 1969 to provide a forum for the publication of a uniquely American literary form.
IOWA SHORT FICTION AWARD WINNERS, 1991-2000
David Borofka Mark Brazaitis Kathryn Chetkovich Tereze Glück Ann Harleman Elizabeth Harris Jim Henry Lisa Lenzo John McNally Renée Manfredi Susan Onthank Mates Rod Val Moore Thisbe Nissen Sondra Spatt Olsen Elizabeth Oness Nancy Reisman Elizabeth Searle Enid Shomer Lex Williford Charles Wyatt Don Zancanella
Amazon.com
In this third volume of the
Tales of Arthur series, Taliesin Glyndour, chief poet of Keltia, reveals the climax of the epic of Arthur, his sister Morgan, his beloved Gweniver, and the quest for the Graal -- and finally brings his own Triad to triumphant completion.
Book Description
In this third book in a dazzling trilogy, Patricia Kennealy-Morrison takes her space-going Arthurian legends to a moving and triumphant conclusiona Graal Quest unlike any other.
The final novel in this sequence of Kennealy-Morrison's highly acclaimed science-fantasy series, The Keltiad.
For fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Arthurian fantasy, The Mists of Avalon.
Customer Reviews:
Not what I was hoping for........2003-03-14
It grieves me to say some of this stuff, seeing as how this series came very highly recommended from a friend (who told me to read the Arthur books, then the Aeron books, and finally the two standalones--and, given the kind of reviews Blackmantle is getting from you, my dear fellow reviewers, I do NOT think I shall be reading that one).
This is a series that simply didn't work for me. I've been told that Kennealy considers this to be a sci-fi series more than a fantasy, and yet, there isn't any actual science in them. Ships and the rare computers are controlled by crystals. Horses still seem to provide 99.9% of transportation. Bedding is made of fur. There are no paternity tests, apparently (an important plot point). This is not a scientific world. It is a fantasy, pure and simple.
Also, there are no surprises. Kennealy invokes "dan" (karma, fate, doom, whatever) at every corner, meaning that each and every major plot point is revealed well before it becomes an issue. I found myself rolling my eyes, wondering what the Kelts would think of us Terrans, who aren't given the opportunity to know EXACTLY what we'll be having for breakfast in forty years, much less EXACTLY how long we'll live, who we'll marry, what the names of our grandchildren will be, what our great and mystical destiny will be...
My friend was excited to tell me that there was no Lancelet figure in this series. Well, excepting Keils, there wasn't...but Lancelet is an important part of the Arthur legend. A very, very important part. Because, you see, it is mostly as a result of the whole Gwen/Lance thing that Arthur nanced off to get himself killed, and Camelot fell.
Last major gripe: there is no character development anywhere here. Oh, sure, characters grow up, and grow older, but they don't change must. (Okay, okay, Gweniver changes a bit, over the course of her hundred or so year lifespan.) No, Taliesin is the same person at 100 that he was at five. Donah and Loherin and Tarian and all these other character appear and move offstage without the reader ever having any insight into their being.
All of that said, there were some wonderful parts in this trilogy: the Yamazai were extremely cool, as was the whole "Hedge of Mist" idea, the idea of Taliesin's mother being from earth...probably the scene that moved me most was Arthur and company's demise, which I will not spoil for those of you intent upon reading this book.
Taliesin is a great character, and a great narrator, tempered by humor and anger and love and loyalty, and one is left with the impression that there could be no better bard to tell this story. If only the whole first HALF of this book didn't feel like such a death march to the end...
a magnetic book.......2002-11-13
i couldn't put this book down for 2 days. the story of taliesin is a new one and the male point of view for kennealy is also new. this is much better than even "the hawk's gray feather" "the oak above the kings".
you'll love it. don't try to start one without having both of the others with you.
The best Arthurian tales out there.......2002-02-07
This entire trilogy is wonderfully written and the tales are vibrant with imagery. A must read for anyone. One warning once you go keltiad you never go back. :) Any book by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison is a must own.
Arthur, as the once and _truly_ future king........1998-11-04
In her final book of the "Tales of Arthur" trilogy, Patricia Kennally uses the rich Arthurian legend to its best advantage, spinning it lightyears away 1,000 years in the future. Though her first two books of this series utilized the Arthurian legend, the scope of the myth was not fully tapped into until this book. I had the great fortune to be reading this book at the same time as _La Morte de Arthur_ by Thomas Mallory, and the connections between the two struck me almost every page. Kennally is a master at symbolism and archetypes, and the joy of recognition hits often in this retelling that adds, not detracts from the Arthurian legend.
Kennealy-Morrison at her best.......1998-03-25
When, upon finishing the first two books of this trilogy, I realized I had lost my prized copy of the third, I went into a frenzy; upon finding it, I read it without stopping. (Kennealy-Morrison's works are best read, by the way, with Enya's "The Celts" CD on endless loop in the background.) Despite the thickness that has earned these books the name of doorstoppers and the rather unscientific science, not to mention the highly unorthodox retelling of the Arthurian myths, I fell in love with these books both as an admirer of the Tales of Aeron and as a follower of Arthuriana in all its different forms. No matter what else there is to say, there's no doubt that the first book will hook you on the series, the second will draw you deeper in, and the third will leave you with a glowing sense of completion. If you've never read any of Kennealy-Morrison's works before, I recommend starting with this trilogy, going on to the Tales of Aeron (which should be read in chronological order: Silver Branch, Copper Crown, Throne of Scone), and then waiting--impatiently, as every fan is--for Blackmantle to come out in paperback. If you insist on chronology, of course, Blackmantle should come first, but I personally wouldn't put off this experience for anything.
Average customer rating:
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Art of Manfishing & Words to Winners of Souls
Thomas Boston , and
Horatius Bonar
Manufacturer: Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc.
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God's Way Of Holiness
ASIN: 187844235X |
Book Description
The Art of Manfishing by Thomas Boston A faithful soul-winners' guide to Calvinistic evangelism recommended by John MacAuthur. ''Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men'' (Matt. 4:19). The first thing is to follow the chief Fisher of men, Christ. He gives the promise that if they follow Him, they will indeed become fishers of men. But how does Christ make men fishers of men? (1) By His call; (2) By giving them success. For His word comes to them ''in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance'' (1 Thess. 1:5). It is not by might, nor by craft, but by the power of the Spirit that fishers of men succeed. You need not despair of fishing amongst the worst of men, for none can resist the Spirit when He engages Himself. Words to Winners of Souls, by Horatius Bonar, is addressed primarily to ministers of the Gospel. It is wondrously effective in its message to those called to preach the precious words of the Scriptures. However, the usefulness of the book is not confined to ministers, but has a message for all witnesses of Christ. The same spirit, sincerity, and fervency is needful for all witnesses, whatever their calling in life. There can be but one goal to winners of souls, to lead the lost sinners around them to that ''resting place where doubt and weariness, the stings of a pricking conscience, and the longings of an unsatisfied soul'' may be satisfied, in Christ Jesus. In Him alone will all these be changed into holy joy, peace, and everlasting happiness
Average customer rating:
- Several original series plots poorly reused
|
Star Trek: Mission to Horatius.
Manufacturer: Whitman Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Star Trek
| Media
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B000EX7CAO |
Customer Reviews:
Several original series plots poorly reused.......2007-05-29
Produced in 1968, this novel was written before Star Trek became the incredible phenomenon of the movies, novels and subsequent series. It also lacks the polish of the sequence of novels that began approximately a decade later. Written for young people, it nevertheless is of interest to all people with a passion for Star Trek.
The premise is that the Enterprise has been in space for a long time and the crew is in dire need of some R & R. Some of the crew have been showing signs of cafard, which is a space sickness generated by long stretches in space without relief or suitable activities of interest. Dr. McCoy is adamant that the Enterprise must stand down soon before the entire crew becomes susceptible to cafard. It is a dangerous illness, in other ships it caused the crew to go mad and kill each other with their bare hands.
When the Federation receives a distress signal from the Horatius sun system the Enterprise is ordered to investigate. Many years before, three planets in that system were colonized by three widely different human groups. The first was by a group of people who wanted to throw off what they considered to be the yokes of technology and once again become a species of hunter-gatherers. The second group consisted of people who were searching for religious freedom. Even though Earth was a planet of religious tolerance, they considered themselves persecuted, so they left searching for a place where they could freely practice their religion. The third was settled by a group of political non-conformists who believed that they were subject to political persecution.
When the Enterprise arrives at the first planet, it is immediately clear that it could not be the source of the distress signal. The colonists have completely disposed of all technology and have nothing more sophisticated than a bow and arrow. They are attacked by a youth named Grang who counts coup on the Enterprise landing party. Kirk and his group eventually make contact with the tribal leaders and learn that interplanetary raiding parties have been taking people from their planet. In a violation of Kirk's direct orders, Zulu and Chekhov allow Grang to be beamed aboard the Enterprise.
When the Enterprise arrives at the second planet, they find it governed by a strict theocracy that keeps the vast majority of the population in a continuous state of drugged bliss. The religious leaders live in opulent splendor while the masses are killed for the slightest religious transgression. Once Kirk ascertains that this planet was not the source of the distress signal, he orders the Enterprise to depart. However, not before they transmit an antidote to the drug into the water supply of the capitol city.
As soon as the Enterprise arrives at the third planet, they discover that it is ruled as a Nazi-like military camp. Furthermore, they discover that the size of the planetary population is far greater than it should be given the life of the colony. Once the planetary leader orders a futile attack on the Enterprise, he contacts them and asks for their surrender terms. Kirk and the landing party beam down and after some unusual battles, they learn the source of the distress signal. The planetary rulers have been using transporters to create pseudo-people, which explains the size of the planetary population. They have also been conducting raids on the other planets and they are obviously moving in an expansionist direction. By destroying key technical facilities, Kirk and company render the pseudo-people inoperable and destroy the militaristic government.
This story is a weak one, with many significant holes in the plot. The primary features of each of the three planets were taken from episodes in the original series. This book is typical of the books in the 1960's that were spin-offs of a television series. Relying more on the popularity of the series than the development of a sensible plot, they often seemed to be cobbled together rather than structured. Nevertheless, I still found the story interesting from an historical perspective. It is another volume in the entire Star Trek phenomenon, and that fact alone makes it of interest to many.
Amazon.com
Mission to Horatius, the very first Star Trek novel, is only mediocre as a story, but its nostalgia potential is vast. In the introduction, editor John Ordover dedicates this authentic facsimile hardcover edition, complete with cheesily wonderful original illustrations, to "every Star Trek fan who was ever 8 years old." If that's you, switch off your late-century cynicism and return to 1968, when the starship Enterprise's weekly voyages were pushing the frontiers of mainstream America firmly into science fiction territory.
The Enterprise has been on patrol too long--the crew is restless and irritable (especially that cranky old charmer Dr. McCoy), the engines are straining, and food is running low. But Captain Kirk is under sealed orders to head to the far away Horatius system to answer a mysterious distress call from some decidedly anti-Federation colonists. When our intrepid crew tries to help, they run afoul of stone-age creeps, drugged fanatics, and oppressed clones. To make matters worse, they (you guessed it) face a moral conflict with Federation General Order One, the so-called Prime Directive, which mandates noninterference with native cultures. With the reissue of charming oldies like Mission to Horatius, classic Trek will live long and prosper. --Therese Littleton
Book Description
SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S ITEM
OUT OF PRINT FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS!
THE LOST STAR TREK® NOVEL
Captain Kirk investigates a primitive planet suffering raids from its high-tech neighbors.
Customer Reviews:
Simplistic fun.......2007-06-16
A fun read for younger fans and nostalgia buffs alike. It's exciting that the very first Trek book is available again.
not a great story, but worthwhile for Trek fans.......2006-10-16
This reprint of the first official Star Trek novel (originally published in 1968) is not exactly what you -- or anyone else -- would call a classic, but it is potentially of interest for hardcore Trek fans.
Published while the series was still on the air (the only one that was, in fact), the novel is extremely weak in terms of characterization: McCoy is fairly close, as is Spock, but the others seem like different characters altogether. This is understandable -- the series had not yet becmoe a classic, after all -- but it's also distracting and impossible to overlook.
Interestingly, the plot revolves partially around humans who have emigrated from Earth to alien worlds in order to create their own type of society. This is somethig that almost totally jars with the "Trek philosophy" of Gene Roddenberry, who wassort of insistent that in Earth's future, humans pretty much ALL got along, with any obstacles coming from elsewhere in the galaxy. This element of the novel isn't taken too far, but it is still an interesting peek into a different type of Star Trek.
And ultimately, that's the value of the novel: its status as a historical document that shows what the Star Trek universe was like circa 1968. That universe was far from fully formed, and this novel is very much worth reading from that standpoint.
On the level of plot, prose, dialogue, and character, though . . . not so much. Although I will admit to very much liking the way the story is resolved.
All in all, you probably know already if this is the kind of thing you'll enjoy.
One final note: the book itself is very handsome, a nice reprint of the original. The hardback binding is in the style of '60s novels for teenagers, and it's cool that Pocket decided to replicate that form, rather than just churn out a mass-market paperback.
Like a double-length episode of the original series.......2004-01-09
As "Mission to Horatius" was the very first Star Trek "tie-in" novel, this sturdy little hardback reprint is worth checking out for historical interest alone. But if you cut it a bit of slack and forgive some of the overly broad plotting and comedy, it actually does a fair job of providing a few hours of genuine entertainment. It certainly delivers the flavor of the original show, before countless Trek novels had added layers of subtle characterization and other levels of sophistication to the original mythos. Not that those latter improvements are bad, but it was nice to read a story that, aside from the longer length, felt just like an original Trek episode. Fun, and worth seeking out.
Back again after all these years..........2001-10-11
This is a reprint of the very first Star Trek book I ever bought, and it thrills me to see it back in print. I was about 11 when I bought the book and was mezmerized by the story. It is a wonderfully worthwhile book, worth reading at any age. Let it do for you what it did for me, which was take me into space for the first time and kept me going back for more. The only thing that would've made the book better is if there had been more of them.
Yes, It's Kids Book, But....................2000-01-31
When I saw that this book was again in print I had a feeling of both gladness and nostalgia. I still have my original copy purchased many years ago. I agree with one other reviewer who stated that the author must have been in the military as it surely does show in this book. And if you stop to think about it, the idea of cloning as far as a science fiction topic has been around a lot longer than some realize as this work clearly shows. This work also presents some very "adult" ideas. One of it's very obvious messages is the ugliness of political divisivness combined with a statement aganst racial oppresion. If this is "only" a kid's book then I am glad that I as a kid read (and enjoyed) it and would like my kids (and now my grandkids) to read it as well. Lessons about moral courage and being true to one's convictions are sorely needed and this work presents these ideals very well.
Average customer rating:
- Several original series plots poorly reused
|
Star Trek - Mission to Horatius
Mack Reynolds
Manufacturer: Whitman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Star Trek
| Media
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B000PD4LPM |
Customer Reviews:
Several original series plots poorly reused.......2007-05-29
Produced in 1968, this novel was written before Star Trek became the incredible phenomenon of the movies, novels and subsequent series. It also lacks the polish of the sequence of novels that began approximately a decade later. Written for young people, it nevertheless is of interest to all people with a passion for Star Trek.
The premise is that the Enterprise has been in space for a long time and the crew is in dire need of some R & R. Some of the crew have been showing signs of cafard, which is a space sickness generated by long stretches in space without relief or suitable activities of interest. Dr. McCoy is adamant that the Enterprise must stand down soon before the entire crew becomes susceptible to cafard. It is a dangerous illness, in other ships it caused the crew to go mad and kill each other with their bare hands.
When the Federation receives a distress signal from the Horatius sun system the Enterprise is ordered to investigate. Many years before, three planets in that system were colonized by three widely different human groups. The first was by a group of people who wanted to throw off what they considered to be the yokes of technology and once again become a species of hunter-gatherers. The second group consisted of people who were searching for religious freedom. Even though Earth was a planet of religious tolerance, they considered themselves persecuted, so they left searching for a place where they could freely practice their religion. The third was settled by a group of political non-conformists who believed that they were subject to political persecution.
When the Enterprise arrives at the first planet, it is immediately clear that it could not be the source of the distress signal. The colonists have completely disposed of all technology and have nothing more sophisticated than a bow and arrow. They are attacked by a youth named Grang who counts coup on the Enterprise landing party. Kirk and his group eventually make contact with the tribal leaders and learn that interplanetary raiding parties have been taking people from their planet. In a violation of Kirk's direct orders, Zulu and Chekhov allow Grang to be beamed aboard the Enterprise.
When the Enterprise arrives at the second planet, they find it governed by a strict theocracy that keeps the vast majority of the population in a continuous state of drugged bliss. The religious leaders live in opulent splendor while the masses are killed for the slightest religious transgression. Once Kirk ascertains that this planet was not the source of the distress signal, he orders the Enterprise to depart. However, not before they transmit an antidote to the drug into the water supply of the capitol city.
As soon as the Enterprise arrives at the third planet, they discover that it is ruled as a Nazi-like military camp. Furthermore, they discover that the size of the planetary population is far greater than it should be given the life of the colony. Once the planetary leader orders a futile attack on the Enterprise, he contacts them and asks for their surrender terms. Kirk and the landing party beam down and after some unusual battles, they learn the source of the distress signal. The planetary rulers have been using transporters to create pseudo-people, which explains the size of the planetary population. They have also been conducting raids on the other planets and they are obviously moving in an expansionist direction. By destroying key technical facilities, Kirk and company render the pseudo-people inoperable and destroy the militaristic government.
This story is a weak one, with many significant holes in the plot. The primary features of each of the three planets were taken from episodes in the original series. This book is typical of the books in the 1960's that were spin-offs of a television series. Relying more on the popularity of the series than the development of a sensible plot, they often seemed to be cobbled together rather than structured. Nevertheless, I still found the story interesting from an historical perspective. It is another volume in the entire Star Trek phenomenon, and that fact alone makes it of interest to many.
Average customer rating:
|
Star Trek Mission to Horatius
Mack Reynolds
Manufacturer: NY Pocket Books 1999.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Star Trek
| Media
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B000GWFDX6 |
Book Description
The compelling aroma of fresh, buttery croissants, the delicacy of Savarin au Chantilly, the bliss of the chocolate-mousse Le Pleyel, these are just a few of the specialties that make Parisian boulangeries and pâtisseries the best in the world. Now, in the sequel to her acclaimed Paris Bistro Cooking, Linda Dannenberg presents the gourmet breads and pastries from thirteen of Paris's unsurpassed bakeries and pastry shops.
PARIS BOULANGERIE-PÂTISSERIE offers more than 70 tempting recipes, including Bombes Amandés (Lemon-Almond Cakes) and Mousse au Caramel et aux Poires (Caramel-Pear Mousse Cake) from Paris's oldest pâtisserie, Stohrer; the signature Délice cake (Chodolate-Cream-and-Chocolate-Macaroon Cake) and lace Florentins from the world-renowned chocolatier Maison du Chocolat; and Pain de Campagne (Hearty Country Loaf) and the classic Gougerés (Giant Gruyére Cheese Puffs) from the archetypal neighborhood bakery Haupois. Linda Dannenberg gathered these one-of-a-kind recipes from the great bakers themselves, and presents them in clear, easy-to-understand recipes specially designed for the American home kitchen.
More than 150 spectacular photographs and evocative descriptions of the bakeries and the people behind them bring the essence of Paris to your kitchen. PARIS BOULANGERIE-PÂTISSERIE is rounded out with a comprehensive guide to authentic French utensils (although most recipes can be prepared using equipment found in ordinary kitchens), and a directory that includes sources for everything from crystallized violets to baking stones.
PARIS BOULANGERIE-PÂTISSERIE is the quintessential cookbook featuring the peerless baked goods from the most romantic city in the world.
Customer Reviews:
Too difficult to read.......2007-09-07
This might be an okay cookbook but the font is so hard to read that I don't find it worth the time when there are other cookbooks out there that are not hard to read. I hope this printer of this book reads this.
French Baking.......2007-02-01
Beautiful book, enticing photos and the recipes, when they work, are excellent. This is not a book for beginning bakers, though. It requires some experience with home baking and patience because some of the quantities given are not exact and need a bit of adjusting and the essembly procedures need improvisation as well. Because many of the recipes are so involved, it takes some dexterity to reach the desired look and taste of the pastries. But when it works it is superb. I enjoyed the challenges, but buyers should beware.
It is a helpful book...........2005-12-04
Do all recipes in this book work? Yes and No. I bought this book 8 years ago, every since then I tried each of the recipes to the dot. Few worked, most didn't come out close like in the pictures. The pictures are certainly pretty. BUT, the contact info regarding the locations of the pattiseries are very helpful. I didn't waste any seconds trying all the boulangeries/pattisseries while I was in Paris. And some newcomers are popping up near the address mentioned in the book. So if you fail make breads or pastries from this book, use this book as one of your 'travel guide' books when you go to France.
The pastries of Paris........2005-09-10
Linda Dannenberg's Paris Boulangerie Patisserie is not only a book for French pastry lovers, but it is also a perfect coffee table book that your guests will love to glance at. This book is full of visually stunning pictures and mouthwatering recipes of traditional French pastries. Going through the book brought memories of the time I spent in Paris. I actually met Jean-Luc Poujauran who is mentioned in the book and got to taste many marvels of his creation (page 111).
Great Vicarious Tour of Paris Baking. Less value for recipes.......2005-04-01
`Paris Boulangerie Patisserie' by culinary journalist, Linda Dannenberg, subtitled `Recipe's from Thirteen Outstanding French Bakeries' has the look about it of being a book on the fast track to the budget book piles. This impression is reinforced by the fact that it is published by Gramercy Books, a division of Random House Value Publishing. This gives some explanation of some printing and editing gaffs such as the fact that the very first page of text is Page 9. Counting backwards, page 1 is the frontispiece. This is very, very odd by American publishing standards. Another odd symptom is that there is a reference to sources on page 00. Needless to say, the sources do not appear on the front cover. They start in the middle of page 155. One last observation I sense is that the recipes are printed in the very awkward three (3) columns per page. This means that it is very common to find lists of ingredients split across two or more columns. Adding to this test of our eyesight is the fact that many line items on the ingredient list are split into two lines. Topping of this museum of typographical errors is the fact that the steps in the procedures are not numbered. Everything is stated in a narrative style as if being recited in a Tony Bourdain novel.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let me say that this book does have a lot to offer. While there are several books such as Dorrie Greenspan's `Paris Sweets' and `The Art of the Tart' and `Tarts With Tops On' by noted English culinary writer, Tamasin Day-Lewis which get the culinary content better, these books give you nothing of the travelogue or museum tour or sources catalog aspects of this attractive book. The art and history and photographs all contribute to a strong urge to find my passport and book passage on the QM2 to Paris. As someone who has been to Paris without the benefit of reading a book like this, I strongly suggest that you check out this volume before boarding your Air France Aerobus.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is its explanation of the distinction between patissiers (pastry makers) and boulangers (bread bakers). The story is a cross between tales of inter-union differences on a Broadway stage job and the sneers heard between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists on professional qualifications. The bright side of this history is the fact that these two disciplines have largely been merged into dual function shops which happen to specialize a bit more on bread or a bit more on pastry. But, at least this book explains the two different counters of bread and pastry at my local Wegmans megamart that, I might add, makes some of the very best artisinal bread found in the Lehigh Valley. But back to the book.
Since my primary interest is in culinary content and, in all modesty, I suspect that is what my two review fans look for in my reviews, I have to say that the best culinary content in this book is in the appendix of sources. It tells me, for example that there is a mill producing artisinal flours just a stones throw down the Pennsylvania Turnpike from me in Great Valley. The value of the recipes is diminished by the organization, spread out across articles on the thirteen shops covered by the book.
I must say, at long last, that the recipes are of good quality. The level of detail is just enough to prevent a total amateur from committing a major gaff; however, it is not on the level of a first rate manual on pastry making. So, even though recipes recommend not overworking pastry dough, chilling it for 30 minutes before rolling, and rolling out carefully on a floured surface, this task can fail without a fair amount of practice. The long and the short of this point is that these are advanced recipes whose primary objective is to show off the products of these Paris shops, not to teach pastry making. My conclusion to all this is that if you are an experienced pastry maker, this book will give you lots of ideas. If you are a complete novice, read the interesting stories and start with something just a bit simpler. It is important to note that the author is reporting these recipes. There is little guarantee that the author checked the procedures by baking them herself. In contrast, Dorrie Greenspan can be trusted to have rolled out all her pastries herself as she puts electronic pen to paper. So, there are no guarantees that these recipes work as written and some expertise may be needed to fill in the blanks.
Note that while the picture on the cover is dominated by bread and the first of the two specialties in the title is bread baking, most of the recipes in the book are for pastries. A crude estimate would put it at 25% bread and 75% pastry. And, there is virtually nothing about artisinal bread baking techniques except for a reference to `sur poolish' described as a `turn of the century method of preparing dough using a starter...'. There is little mention of interest in or detail about this method for producing artisinal bread. If your love is bread, check out Peter Reinhart's `The Bread Baker's Apprentice'. If your love is Paris, buy this book before your next trip!
Books:
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- The Old Gringo: A Novel
- The Old Limey
- The Persia Cafe
- The Rich Man's Table
- The Sculptural Imagination: Figurative, Modernist, Minimalist
- The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story/El Espiritu De Tio Fernando : Una Historia Del Dia De Los Muertos
- The Swoop! And Other Stories (A Continuum Book)
- The Unfinished Novel and Other Stories
- There Were Two Trees in the Garden
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