Customer Comments

This is a beautiful and personal book by one of the leading proponents of responsible natural dyeing. Australian India Flint gypsys around the whirld sharing her magic cauldron and dyeing techniques in consistently sold-out workshops. Second Skin is largely a monograph expounding on India's personal style of hand-dyed, carefully stitched natural fiber clothing. Rather than giving detailed "how-tos" for projects, she shows examples and describes techniques in a way that encourages the reader to make her own experiments and develop her own style. I am a big admirer of India and her work, so I appreciate this glimpse into her personal life and artistic process. Stories from her life make for good reading, and the lovely photos keep me picking up this book over and over again. My favorite parts of the book are the little sketches of ideas for repurposing clothes, along with such useful teachings as how to make twine. I only wish there were more of this type of thing! I can only hope that India has a future book in mind which will be full of sewing/repurposing ideas.

What a great read! I've always been fascinated with Finland's reputation for witches and magical beings. Sinisalo weaves fictional historical accounts of Troll sightings into her thoroughly modern tale of a Troll "abduction", setting a believable context. The unexpected ending left me slightly creeped out and wanting more. Be forewarned; this is not a fairy tale for the kiddos.

At first I found the edgy writing style disjointed and annoying, but every time I would put the book down, the characters would follow me around the house, nibbling at the fringes of my consciousness until I'd pick up the book and read some more. So many parts of the story reminded me of people or locations I know. Beneath the pop structure is a deep, building current which swept me ever more eagerly towards the finale.

This is a great story about a (somewhat) utopian society, "Women's Country" and the secrets that occur to keep it that way. Makes me wonder; is a society so "utopian" if half of its population is kept in the dark? When some of the characters travel away from "Women's Country", they find that the outside world is quite different. This book always keeps me up late reading! (I've read it four times).

My copy of Healing Wise is dog-eared and worn from so much use. This is a classic reference book for anyone interested in using herbs for health and healing. Susun Weed covers seven common herbs (weeds!) in loving detail, describing their healing properties, habitats, and personalities. The book includes wonderful recipes for meals utilizing healing herbs, as well as instructions for making salves, tinctures, and other medicines. With its wealth of information and Susun Weed's unique approach to herbalism, Healing Wise is an excellent primer for the budding herbalist as well as being useful for those with more experience.

This book has so many fun projects. As soon as I brought it home, I began knitting. Some of the projects are perfect for learning new techniques. Since they are small, they don't take too long to complete, and you have a nifty gift when you're finished. My favorites so far are the knitted lavender sachets, a clever design utilizing double knitting.

There have been quite a few books out lately about natural dyeing. What sets this book apart from many of the others is the author's dedication to using wild plants for her dyestuffs. She even has a chapter about using invasive plants for dyes! In putting together her book, Burgess spent time with three experienced "elder" dyers, whom she cites throughout the book. A great example of knowledge being passed down through the generations. This is a beautifully photographed book with plenty of useful information for both beginning and experienced dyers.

I just finished reading this book for the third time, and it's still a page-turner for me! I love the social commentary; as the story unfolds we see how the upper class's superior and separatist attitudes actually keep them enslaved. A great blending of realism with just enough fantasy to pique my imagination.

Superb story-telling. This book had me laughing and crying right up to the last page. I enjoyed the depth of the characters. Even though Claire and Henry are soul-mates, they are far from perfect.

This book really brings the characters of an old California mining camp to life; I find myself thinking about the different personalities throughout the day. Even though the reader knows that Alex is actually a girl, she fits in with the men in the story well enough that it becomes easier to think of her as a boy. Now that I've finished reading the book, it's interesting to think back to the different chapters and imagine Alex doing what she's doing, as a girl. This is a well crafted book that had me turning the pages well into the night.

This is one of the best craft books I've come across lately. The styling of the photographs brings out the character of each toy. The directions are easy to follow, and there are plenty of tips for making up one's own softies. I've already sewn up two critters from this book, and they have personality-plus! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in making quirky, cute stuffed toys.

Deep Creek is a fascinating "who done-it" steeped in Oregon history. The setting is in eastern Oregon's Hell's Canyon in 1887. Ms. Hand does a fantastic job of re-creating the story of a little known mass murder of a group of Chinese miners. For the reader who enjoys learning history from well-researched historical novels, this is a winner.

This book is a treasure-trove of hard-to-find information about growing Asian veggies. Ms. Larkcom has turned me on to some delicious varieties of greens and roots that grow well in my climate. A handful of useful recipes for preparing some of the unusual (to me) produce is icing on the cake. I'd recommend this book to any gardener wishing to expand their growing repertoire.

This enchanting fable of good vs evil is best enjoyed with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a chocolate croissant.

I could not put this book down. The ties between Atwood's near-future world and our present world are compelling and chilling. I loved the way this novel interfaced with her previous book, Oryx and Crake. I'll be re-reading this one!

This is probably the 4th or 5th time I've read this book. I love all of Octavia Butler's work. Her reflections of human nature and society, set in compelling futuristic environments, never fail to please.

Ever wonder how Noah gathered up all those animals? Or what it was like to be cooped up in that ark for seven months? Maine's imagined account of how it all went down is highly readable and entertaining. Glimpses inside of the heads of each of Noah's family members reveal different takes on the action. Highly recommended.

This is a welcome, fresh approach to pattern drafting. Plenty of cute photos and straight forward explanations of how to create well-fitting, simple clothing. Unlike other pattern-drafting books which tend to focus on tailored, fitted clothing, Ms. Patch shows how to construct loose-fitting, stylish clothing, as well as articles made from knit fabric. Being an experienced sewer, I was pleased to find plenty of new tips and inspiration. The book is geared toward the adventurous beginner, but I think an intermediate to advanced sewer would find it most useful.

A quirky backwards telling of the story, revealing events after we see the outcomes. I enjoyed the personification of these historical characters.

What sets this book apart from other vegan/gluten-free cookbooks is the absence of soy products and processed ingredients in the recipes. No egg-replacer, potato starch or tofu to be found. That's a huge plus for myself and others with multiple food allergies. Ms. Katzinger presents us with mouth-watering recipes for sweet and savory breads and pastries prepared with whole grains and basic ingredients. I also appreciate the many recipes using sweeteners other than cane sugar. Nearly all of the recipes in this book not only appeal to me, but I can safely eat them. Time to get baking!

Nicely illustrated and written. My eyes were opened as Ms. Bashi gradually pulled me into the intimacies of her life.

This book appealed to me because many of the simple projects were ideas I haven't thought of before. Ms. Worick has a good sense of style; she's like a Martha Stewart for nature lovers. The project descriptions are straight forward and basic. Perfect for an experienced crafter such as myself, but for someone not used to working with tools and materials, some of her instructions may be a bit sparse. She also uses a few specialty tools that weren't explained in the book. Otherwise, this is a fun book to have on hand for inspiration and ideas for crafting with friends or kids.

This easy-to-read story is highlighted by the friendship between an old woman who's lived in a Colorado mining camp much of her life, and a young bride, new to the area. The older woman's tales and remembrances of the past paint a lively picture of characters and events of days gone by.

I think this book is Nalo Hopkinson's best. Sharp-tongued, firey-tempered Calamity keeps things lively, and the totally unexpected story line was a delight to read as it unfolded.

I'm slowly working my way through this book. I've been turned on to some fantastic films, especially older, black and white movies. Sure, some of the recommended titles are bloopers, but most are entertaining, little-known gems from cinema history.

I found Blue Light to be a good read with a nice balance of action and introspection. The characters are believable and varied; the setting is day-to-day life on Earth. The circumstances that they find themselves in are extra-ordinary, however, and I was interested to see what would come of it all. I liked the blend of 60's San Francisco and extra-terrestrial induced psychic vision.

This book makes me want to make tamales...now! Written in a very user-friendly format, Ms. Tapp offers numerous explorations of the tamale theme, including many regional variations. I love that she includes several recipes for making masa (the corn base of a tamale), including vegan masa. There are easy-to-follow diagrams on different ways to fold the tamale wrappers. The recipes are varied and all sound so delicious; sweet, savory, meat, veggie. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to explore tamale-making at home.

I'm a sucker for apocalyptic novels, and Bar None does not disappoint. The seriousness of the "end of the world" scenario is lightened by the narrator's memories of various drinking sessions involving enticing-sounding British ales. As the group moves through an increasingly surrealistic landscape, I was turning the pages to find out what they'd encounter when they reached the last bar on earth.

There are so many levels to this book that it is a joy to read. So much of the action seemingly stems from miscommunication, whether between friends or cultures, with one thing leading to the next. Wrapped within the adventure story resulting from these misunderstandings, is another tale of the brutal injustices of the Mayanmar Military Government.

I was fascinated to read the true story of Nguyen's life. He grew up in rural Vietnam, immersed in a world of spirits, healing plants, and political unrest. His visit to the Fourth Uncle in the mountain reminded me a bit of Castaneda's sessions with Don Juan.

Plush are soft, stuffed toys. Animals are well represented, but Plush can also be a stuffed piece of toast with butter on top, weird robot creatures, or abstract 3-D figures that are somehow cute. This book features the latest in the D.I.Y. Plush movement with plenty of full-color photos. A handful of sewing projects are scattered throughout, but I'm more inspired by flipping through the pages and looking at all the cool creations by Plush artists around the world.

Whenever I need a little creative boost, I flip through the pages of this book. It shows an amazing range of interpretations of the human form in many mediums and exceptional craftsmanship. Being a doll maker myself, I'm inspired by the images of rustic, stylized figures. Some of the dolls are quite life-like, appearing as if from a fantasy animation set. I doubt if I'll ever tire of looking at the pictures in this book.

I don't usually buy cookbooks, but this one has made its way into my library. I already have most of the ingredients in my cupboard to make these recipes, and along with veggies from my garden have been cooking up meal after delicious meal from this book. There are even recipes featuring brussels sprouts! The majority of recipes are vegetarian, but the handful of meat recipes are equally intriguing. The other night I prepared halibut in tamarind sauce that was to die for. If you enjoy adventurous tastes, but appreciate recipes simple enough for day-to-day cooking, you'll want to check out this book.

Stephen King, move over! This super-creepy, gore-splattered novel had me turning the pages until the end, just to find out if the protagonists would end up in the world of the living or the world of the dead. I don't generally go for bloody horror stories, but the character development (including Judas's dogs) and the skillful blending of reality and fantastical supernatural malice had me enjoying this read. What better victims of a vengeful, deranged ghost than an aging death-metal rocker and his 20-something Goth girl friend?

While reading this book, I kept thinking that another title could be "The World According to Ray Charles", or perhaps, "I'm Doing it My Way". This autobiography is an intimate look into Ray Charles' life, peppered with his philosophies and opinions on just about everything. He describes a life of hard work, dedicated to music and touring. His positive spin on life has served him well. This book is an interesting read into the life of one of the world's top icons.

I found this book to be a highly readable blend of historical fiction and sci-fi, with a plot informed by African American folklore.

McMarthy's spare writing and superb character development make this book a treat to read. I love how this Western is set in the not-so-old West.

I love Joe Sacco's style and have read all of his books; right now I'm on my 3rd time through "Palestine". Gritty, on the street, journalistic writing, illustrated with his realistic line drawings. Very informative.

Skim is my kind of graphic novel. Smartly written and believable, the text and flowing, engaging illustrations support each other perfectly. I was transported into the heart of teen-age girl angst, feeling a rapport with the well-developed characters.

I first looked into this book to find recipes for which I could use the plethora of dandelions growing around my place. I was pleasantly surprised to not only find five delicious-sounding recipes for using dandelions, but also a huge book choc-full of enticing ideas for many, many types of wild and not so wild foods. The bonus for me is also that the recipes are vegan, wheat and sugar-free. Most wild food cookbooks have recipes laden with butter, cheese, and sugar, so for those with food allergies or choosing healthy diets, The Wild Vegetarian Cookbook offers a refreshing change. The book is nicely organized by season, so one merely needs to flip to the section representing the current season to find ideas on how to prepare what wild foods are available during that time. The author describes briefly each wild food and how to harvest it, though for more detailed information and pictures, one would need to consult a separate wild foods field guide. Many of the recipes are involved and use awkward measurements (eg: 2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons); perhaps a bit intimidating to a beginning cook. For anyone who leans toward being culinary adventurous and enjoys wildcrafting, this book is a winner.