Tuesday, January 20, 2015

A book review for The Collector's Guide to Dollhouses and Dollhouse Miniatures 4 Out of 5 stars.

The Collector's Guide to Dollhouses and Dollhouse Miniatures Hardcover – April 1, 1974

by Marian Maeve O'Brien. 

 
213 pages by Hawthorn Books, Inc.
"Lavishly illustrated offers a panorama of miniature houses and all the tiny objects that go in them"

My Review: Here is another book I added to my miniaturist book shelf. Now, this is a book worthy of any miniaturist's bookshelf. It is full of information for those interested in collecting and those of us, like I, that enjoy admiring those that collect, as well of those that build. At over 200 pages, there is a mix of both color and black and white photos for the reader to peruse.
The book is broken into three parts: Part I covers Introduction to Dollhouses, Box Rooms and Cabinets, Foldout and Paper Houses, Corrugated Cartonia, and Dollhouse Classics and Masterpieces. Part II covers Dollhouse Miniatures, Decorating with Miniatures: Furniture, Metallics, Ceramic, Porcelain and Glass Miniatures, Art, Accessories and Oddities. Part III covers How to Start a Collection, dealers and Craftsman, etc.
Though, a lot of information is a bit dated with the book being published in 1974, the history part is a wealth of information on collecting. If you're a collector of dollhouses and/or dollhouse miniatures, you might want to add this book to your collection.



Until next review, stay safe. Smile! Show compassion to others. Be nice to one another. Read a book and pass it on. Review it. Cheers!
Regards,
S.J. Francis
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.

My Black Opal Books Author Page:

View My ShoutOut:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
A Book Review 4 U: abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: aconsumersview.blogspot.com
OnefortheAnimals:    onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
 
 
 

Good Reads:       https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j

 
Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. No portion of this blog post may be reprinted, modified or used without written permission of the author.

Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
 
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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Prodigious Savant: A Fascinating Thriller by J.J. White: 5 out of 5 stars.

Prodigious Savant by J.J. White:

A Fascinating Thriller by J.J. White:  Five out of five stars! Pages fly by quickly...
This thriller by J.J. White is a page turner. From the very first sentence the reader is drawn into the world of Burlington, Vermont in 1962. Once you start reading you won’t want to put it down. I read it all in one night. It is a very quick read. Teenager Gavin Weaver is injured in an explosion all because of one small act of teenage stupidity. Because of that act, his life is changed forever, and not necessarily all for the better. Waking up from a thirty-day coma, not only does he not suffer the usual disabilities from a head injury, he wakes up possessing several savant talents in music, art, math and memory. At the same time, his personality changes for the worst. He leans toward the dark side. Can Gavin survive the internal and external conflicts which keep him from the one thing he wants most, the girl he’s love since childhood? You’ll have to read it to find out. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I wasn’t.
Overall, Prodigious Savant is a worthwhile read, for any avid book reader and especially for the thriller lover. I highly recommend it.

Until next review, stay safe. Smile! Show compassion to others. Be nice to one another. Read a book and pass it on. Review it. Cheers!
Regards,
S.J. Francis
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.
My Black Opal Books Author Page:
View My ShoutOut:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
A Book Review 4 U: abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: aconsumersview.blogspot.com
OnefortheAnimals:    onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
 
 
 
Good Reads:       https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j


Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. No portion of this blog post may be reprinted, modified or used without written permission of the author.

Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

5 out of 5 stars for A Kitchen in France A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse Mimi Thorisson

Five out of Five stars for this gastronomic look at French Cooking:
Front Cover
 

From Publisher: With beguiling recipes and sumptuous photography, A Kitchen in France transports readers to the French countryside and marks the debut of a captivating new voice in cooking.
When Mimi Thorisson and her family moved from Paris to a small town in out-of-the-way Médoc, she did not quite know what was in store for them. She found wonderful ingredients—from local farmers and the neighboring woods—and, most important, time to cook. Her cookbook chronicles the family’s seasonal meals and life in an old farmhouse, all photographed by her husband, Oddur. Mimi’s convivial recipes—such as Roast Chicken with Herbs and Crème Fraîche, Cèpe and Parsley Tartlets, Winter Vegetable Cocotte, Apple Tart with Orange Flower Water, and Salted Butter Crème Caramel—will bring the warmth of rural France into your home.

About the Author: MIMI THORISSON is the author of Manger, a blog devoted to French cooking that was named Saveur’s Best Regional Food Blog in April 2013. After a career in television and having lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Reykjavik, and Paris, she settled with her photographer husband, their five young children, her two older stepchildren, and the family’s fourteen dogs in a farmhouse in Médoc. She is the star of the cooking shows La Table de Mimi and the upcoming Les Desserts de Mimi, both on Canal+ in France.
Table of Contents
 
“When Mimi Thorisson, the author of this book and her family moved from Paris to a small town in out-of-the-way Medoc, she did not quite know what was in store for them.” What she experienced is this cookbook.
    Having a French background myself, and having visited this wonderful country of known for its beauty, culture, food and history, more than once, I’m always interested when I find a new book on French cooking.  When I saw this one, I knew I had to get it. It intrigued me. When I received it, I wasn’t prepared for the sheer size of it. It is a big, heavy book and at 304pgs beautiful photography, many of them are of the prepared dishes. Some are of the author shopping of preparing the dishes. Some of the photos are delicious enough to eat right off the page. The chapters are broken down into the four seasons and the recipes are set off into seasonal cooking. Mimi has the background to write this book. At the urging of her friends and family, before she left Paris, she began a food blog which contained recipes for French home cooking in English. Being half-Chinese and half French, she grew up in Hong Kong. Her mother is French. She spent her holidays in Paris or in the south of France with her mother’s family.  There with them, she was introduced to French cooking. Her maternal grandmother and aunt were terrific cooks, and “every day meant a feast.”  
Recipes and photos inside make up the book.
 
The recipes are many and varied from the starters to the main course and ending with dessert. There are soups, and meats with chicken, duck, and lamb, fish and the list goes on. There are dishes for the vegetarian and vegan or those that can easily be modified. Some are easy while others are time consuming. Overall, there isn’t any recipe in this book that can’t be made by anyone, even someone that never cooked before. Some of the recipes call for a dozen items or more, while some call for half that. Her recipes are clear and easy to follow. You can tell that she wrote it with the reader in mind.
Ready to get your mouth watering and follow it up with a meal that will have your taste buds applauding and you stomach yelling that it’s fantastic, but please I can’t handle anymore. Then grab a copy of this book for yourself or as a gift for someone you know. It is sure to be enjoyed by readers, cooks, and diners alike. Take a trip through the French countryside without leaving the comfort of your home. You’ll be glad you did. This is the first trip I didn’t have to pay for and I loved it!  
  
The author and her dogs and a delicious recipe. Is your mouth watering yet?


Until next review, stay safe. Smile! Show compassion to others. Be nice to one another. Read a book and pass it on. Review it. Cheers!
Regards,
S.J. Francis
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book at no charge in exchange for an honest and fair review.
 
Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. No portion of this blog post may be reprinted, modified or used without written permission of the author.

Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.


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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

A Book Review for Early American Dollhouse Miniatures (Paperback) 4 Out of 5 stars.



Early American Dollhouse Miniatures (Paperback) by Gerald Jensen, June 1, 1981 First Edition.
 

My Review: Dollhouse miniatures are a fascination in my household. I had to say that outright in order for my review to be evenly weighed. I bought this to add to my miniaturist book collection. Perhaps, in time it will be useful for one or two items I might construct, but for now, it isn't for me. This is an interesting read for those interested in Early America. If you are into miniatures of Early America, this book isn't bad. Be forewarned, 98% of the book is black and white photos: there are only about a dozen color photos. It is an old book from 1981 and poorly constructed. Again, for this time period, there are lots of diagrams for making this period of items for your dollhouse, shop or diorama. I give it four stars for the wealth of information in it.
Overall, not a bad book. It just isn't for me.

Until next review, stay safe. Smile! Show compassion to others. Be nice to one another. Read a book and pass it on. Review it. Cheers!
Regards,
S.J. Francis
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.


Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. No portion of this blog post may be reprinted, modified or used without written permission of the author.

Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston 5 out of 5 stars.

5 out of 5 stars: The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston

From Amazon.com:  The bestselling landmark account of the first emergence of the Ebola virus. A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus. The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race. Shocking, frightening, and impossible to ignore, The Hot Zone proves that truth really is scarier than fiction.



My Review: This is one scary book! Stephen King said that it was the scariest book he ever read and I agree. It is certainly the scariest book I ever read. It's about the Ebola outbreak in 1976. It literally describes in vivid detail about how the body attacks and destroys the human body. What makes it most scary is that it is a TRUE story and so fits the time we are living in now. Did you know that the U.S. kept a monkey house near D.C., and in that house monkeys brought from the Phillipines had Ebola. It is so easy to see why this is a NY Times bestseller. It is a definite page turner. I started reading and couldn't put it down. I read it in a total of four hours.
If you enjoy thrillers, especially those of the non-fiction variety, you'll absolutely enjoy this one and learn a great deal about Ebola along the way. This one is definitely a page turner.
CAUTION: Not for the squeamish of weak of heart. If you're prone to nightmares, don't read this at bedtime. The World governments seem intent to downplay Ebola. I can't figure out why. After you read this book, I'm confident you won't downplay Ebola.

Background on the Reston Ebola Virus: From Wikipedia:

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston_virus


Reston virus (RESTV) is one of five known viruses within the genus Ebolavirus. Reston virus causes Ebola virus disease in non-human primates; unlike the other four ebolaviruses, it is not known to cause disease in humans, but has caused asymptomatic infections.[1][2][3] Reston virus was first described in 1990 as a new "strain" of Ebola virus (EBOV).[4] It is the single member of the species Reston ebolavirus, which is included into the genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae, order Mononegavirales.[5] Reston virus is named after Reston, Virginia, US, where the virus was first discovered.
RESTV was discovered in crab-eating macaques from Hazleton Laboratories (now Covance) in 1989. This attracted significant media attention due to the proximity of Reston to the Washington, DC, metro area and the lethality of a closely related Ebola virus. Despite its status as a level-4 organism, Reston virus is non-pathogenic to humans, though hazardous to monkeys;[6][7] the perception of its lethality was compounded by the monkey's coinfection with Simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV).

Richard Preston's 1995 best-selling book, The Hot Zone aboe, dramatized this Ebola virus disease outbreak in Reston, Virginia.[27

Until next review, stay safe. Smile! Show compassion to others. Be nice to one another. Read a book and pass it on. Review it. Cheers!
Regards,
S.J. Francis

Regards,
S. J. Francis
 
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.

My Black Opal Books Author Page:

View My ShoutOut:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
 
A Book Review 4 U: abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: aconsumersview.blogspot.com
OnefortheAnimals:    onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
 
 
 

Good Reads:       https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j


Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. No portion of this blog post may be reprinted, modified or used without written permission of the author.

Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

A Book Review for Down South: Bourbon, Pork, Gulf Shrimp & Second Helpings of Everything by Donald Link

Down South: Bourbon, Pork, Gulf Shrimp & Second Helpings of Everything by Donald Link
4 out of 5 stars.
My Review:
What can I say about this cook book? Plenty. It is more than a cook book. It’s a book about down south and more. Take a trip down south without leaving home. Indulge your senses while taking in a bit of southern history. Most of the recipes can be made by anyone at any time, but not all. Some are a bit more involved and better reserved for a special occasion or dinner party. Think ‘hoity toity’.

Inside, learn how to make some tasty and easy drinks in the chapter entitled, let’s start with a drink. Enjoy some decadent starters with old-school southern cocktail parties. Do a little barbequing in the chapter: Cook It Outside. Roast, Braise, simmer and fry in the chapter of the same name. Indulge in the unusual in Heads, feet, neck and bones with such dishes as Fried fish collars with Chile vinegar or pork trillions. Do you have a taste for seafood, then you’ll find the chapter, Seafood from the gulf and south Atlantic of particular interest with recipes for crab and spinach dumplings, crisp fried frog legs or salt-crusted red snapper. Top off the recipes with Fresh Seasonal Southern sides and Southern-Style Sweets. 

With this cookbook, and most of the recipes, there’s simply no reason why anyone anywhere can’t cook as if they’re down south. A word of warning: This is not a cookbook for Vegans or those with small appetites.  This is definitely a meat lover’s paradise and those with time to prepare the meals.

 

Caveats as to why I give it just 4 stars instead of 5: It is not a healthy cookbook, vegan or everyday simple to make cookbook. If you’re looking to make a simple, quick to eat meal after work, this is not a cookbook for you. Neither is this a true ‘southern food’ cookbook. Unfortunately, this isn’t exactly the cookbook I was expecting. I expected a cookbook on ‘southern food’ recipes. There are some fabulous recipes here, and most are from the south, but not all. I counted at least twelve that originated elsewhere. If you are looking for a true ‘Down South’ cookbook about nothing but ‘southern food’, this isn’t it.  Not all recipes are from down south. Link takes recipes he likes and adds them to the book with a bit of southern flavor. I live down south, in the Mississippi Delta and wanted a ‘real southern’ cookbook and though, this is a fantastic cookbook, it isn’t what this former Yankee hoped for. 

Overall, an excellent cookbook for food lovers, especially meat and seafood, and those who love southern food, or those with a hankering to learn how to do so.
About the Authors:
DONALD LINK is the chef-owner of Herbsaint, Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Pêche, and Calcasieu in New Orleans. He won the James Beard award for Best Chef South in 2007 and his first book, Real Cajun, won the James Beard award for Best American Cookbook. 
“Perhaps best known as the James Beard Award-winning chef behind some of New Orlean’s most beloved restaurants, Link also has a knack for sniffing out a backyard barbecue wherever he travels and scoring an invitation to sample some of the best fare around.”
PAULA DISBROWE is the author of Cowgirl Cuisine and co-author of Real Cajun and Susan Spicer’s Crescent City Cooking. She lives in Austin, TX.
 
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a honest review from Blogging for Books. 


Until next review, stay safe. Smile! Show compassion to others. Be nice to one another. Read a book and pass it on. Review it. Cheers!
Regards,
S.J. Francis
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.
My Black Opal Books Author Page:
View My ShoutOut:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
A Book Review 4 U: abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: aconsumersview.blogspot.com
OnefortheAnimals:    onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
 
 
 
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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

A Review for Deer: The Animal answer Guide by George A. Feldhamer and William J. McShea

A Review for Deer: The Animal answer Guide  by George A. Feldhamer and William J. McShea

Wonderful and informative book about all species of deer in the world. 5 out of 5 stars.
My Review:
This is a wonderful book for the animal enthusiast, hunter etc. If you want to know about the habits of deer and the different breeds, this is the book for you to read. I’m so glad that I purchased it. At 163 pages, there is an index, black and white sketches and color photos. There is so much for one to learn here. Examine a deer’s form and function, their behavior, ecology, reproduction, foods and feeding, interaction between deer and humans and more. Learn how many kinds of deer there are in existence. What is the difference between bucks, stags and bulls? How high can deer jump? How fast can deer run? Why do female caribou usually have antlers? Are deer social? If deer interest you and you want to learn more without reading several books or doing a search on the internet, this is the one for you.
Overall, this is an excellent book about deer and I highly recommend it without hesitation. Did you know that elk and caribou are deer? Neither did I. Well written and filled with lots of information in such a few pages, you couldn’t find a better resource.
About the Authors:
George A. Feldhamer is a professor of zoology at Southern Illinois University. He is coeditor of Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology and Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation; and coauthor of Mammals of the National Parks, all published by Johns Hopkins.
William J. McShea is a research scientist at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and senior editor of The Science of Overabundance: Deer Ecology and Population Management and Oak Forest Ecosystems: Ecology and Management for Wildlife, the latter also published by Johns Hopkins.
 
 

Synopsis:   From Amazon.com:

Think of deer and the image that pops into most American's minds is that of a white-tailed deer, the most common large mammal in North America. Most Europeans are more familiar with red deer. It may surprise many people to know that there are actually about 50 species of deer found throughout the world. Here, readers will find nontechnical, expert information about the wide range of diverse deer species.

Did you know that elk and caribou are deer? Or that the earliest fossils of deer are 15 to 20 million years old? Have you ever wondered whether deer swim, play, or see color? How do deer avoid predators and survive the winter? Do deer make good pets or carry contagious diseases? George A. Feldhamer and William J. McShea answer these and other intriguing questions about members of the deer family Cervidae.
From the diminutive pudu of South America that weighs 17 pounds to male moose that weigh close to 2,000 pounds, Feldhamer and McShea explore the biology, evolution, ecology, feeding habits, reproduction, and behavior of deer. They chronicle the relationships between humans and deer—both positive and negative—and discuss the challenges of deer conservation and management.
With vivid color photographs and an accessible and engaging question-and-answer format, this easy-to-read book is the go-to resource on deer. Nature lovers, hunters, and anyone curious about deer will find this fact-filled book both fascinating and full of surprises.
 Until next review, stay safe. Smile! Show compassion to others. Be nice to one another. Read a book and pass it on. Review it. Cheers!
Regards,
S.J. Francis
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.
My Black Opal Books Author Page:
View My ShoutOut:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
A Book Review 4 U: abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: aconsumersview.blogspot.com
OnefortheAnimals:    onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
 
 
 
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