A Man Most Worthy
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Didn't like it.
  • Wanna Read A Good Book?
  • first - time read
  • A book most worthy of your precious reading time
  • Most Enjoyable
A Man Most Worthy
Marcus Major
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0451211073
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Book Description

Praised by Eric Jerome Dickey for "bringing to life the people we know," Blackboard bestselling author Marcus Major delivers his most accomplished, heartfelt, and soul-satisfying novel yet with A Man Most Worthy.

At 36, self-made millionaire John Sebastian has it all-a booming business, a luxurious home, a gorgeous girlfriend, and the respect of his friends-but somehow it's not enough. Returning to the tough streets of Newark, New Jersey, he spots Josephine Flowers, the love of his life, the woman he allowed to walk away seven years ago. He is driven to reconnect with her, even though the cost to his pride is high, and even though she's now married to another. For only her blessing, her love, will prove to John that he is, at last, a man most worthy.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Didn't like it........2006-05-15

I'm sorry but I really hated this book. I didn't care for any of the characters; I didn't care for the plot. I don't understand how Josephine could consider John, a man most worthy, when he made her do something that she really didn't want too. I thought John was a very selfish, arrogant character, and Josephine crazy for wanting him back. I just didn't like this one at all.

5 out of 5 stars Wanna Read A Good Book?.......2005-02-26

This one is for you! Kudos to Marcus Major for this one. I'm usually not a fan of his work, and got this book from a friend. I'm glad I did.

John promised that he would never have to struggle again after growing up in the slums of Newark, New Jersey. He's successful and has everything material with a hottie named Scent.

The problem is John is still in love with Josephine Prescott, and wishes he never let her go. Josephine is unhappily married to a man named Darrien. John always wondered where Josephine was and how her life turned out, and persus her by all means necessary. Luckily for Josephine, John is used to getting what he wants, and doesn't stop until Josephine is his.

I recommend this book as a must read! The love scenes, NOT sex scenes, but love scenes are fantastic, it's unpredictable, and has so many twists, turns, and surprises.

4 out of 5 stars first - time read.......2004-12-20

Good book. Easy to relate to characters and develop quick like and dislike of them. Not one dimensional - great character flaws.

5 out of 5 stars A book most worthy of your precious reading time.......2004-09-29

After reading his short story in I knew I would want to read his other books. He has this way of interweaving humor in his stories. Man Most Worthy is the first full length book I've read by Mr. Major's and I was not disappointed.

John Sebastian vowed to make sure he would never have to struggle after growing up in poverty in Newark, New Jersey. He is a successful business man and even though he has everything he could want materially, and he has a beautiful younger girlfriend named Scent, he realizes he is missing something. What he is missing is the one woman he really loved, but let go many years ago. That woman would be Josephine Flowers Prescott. Josephine is a Vice Principal of a school and married to Darrien Prescott. Darrien is the superintendent of a rich school district, and he is very concerned with image. So concerned he is always thinking about what his peers will think about Josephine working in such a poor school district. He feels that Josephine should get a job in his district. He is also always bothering Josephine about her being slightly overweight. Josephine is eager to have a baby, but her husband keeps putting if off. When John finds out how quickly Josephine moved on after their break up he wonders if she is truly happy, and seeks to find out. John Sebastian is used to getting what he wants, and he will not take no for an answer in his pursuit of Josephine. He wants to correct the wrongs of the past, and earn Josephine's trust, friendship and most importantly her love.

This book is a must read. The love scenes in this book are super hot, and he has some really positive male role models in this book. Mr. Duke is one of those positive male role models. This book I felt was not predictable, and there are some great pot twists in this book that will really surprise you. First question you will have is "Well she is married, so how on earth will John get this woman back? She has moved on, there is no way she will look back. Or will she?" Read the book to find out!!! You will not be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars Most Enjoyable.......2004-08-27

This was an interesting and most enjoyable read. I am relatively new to this author I thoroughly enjoyed it. His characters are so well developed and they come to life on each page. Jules, Gloria, John, Josephine, & Mr. Duke all remind me of special people in my life. Keep up the good work I look forward to reading more of your work.
A Man Most Worthy
Average customer rating: Not rated
    A Man Most Worthy
    Marcus Major
    Manufacturer: Recorded Books Inc
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Audio Cassette
    ASIN: 1402538006

    Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • It was OK
    • Loved it
    • Publishers' Weekly
    Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction

    Manufacturer: Invisible Cities Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    BritishBritish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
    ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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    Hopkinson, NaloHopkinson, Nalo | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0967968313

    Book Description

    The lushness of language and the landscape, wild contrasts, and pure storytelling magic abound in this anthology of Caribbean writing. Steeped in the tradition of fabulism, where the irrational and inexplicable coexist with the realities of daily life, the stories in this collection are infused with a vitality and freshness that most writing traditions have long ago lost. From spectral slaving ships to women who shed their skin at night to become owls, stories from writers such as Jamaica Kincaid, Marcia Douglas, Ian MacDonald, and Kamau Brathwaite pulse with rhythms, visions, and the tortured history of this spiritually rich region of the world.

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars It was OK.......2001-09-20

    This collection of short stories by Carribean authors was OK light reading. I didn't feel it was as good as the novels by Nalo Hopkinson. Some of the stories I found intriguing, but most were just not very interesting to me. The one gem was Uncle Obediah and the Alien, which was hysterical.

    5 out of 5 stars Loved it.......2001-05-05

    This is a great collection of imagination. It gave me both nightmares and good dreams. Now that's a good book.

    5 out of 5 stars Publishers' Weekly.......2000-11-02

    From the lush and fertile Caribbean soil springs this collection of island fabulism, a jumble of genres including magical realism, ghost stories, myth and fables, and speculative/science fiction. The mix of well-known contemporary authors (Jamaica Kincaid, Kamau Brathwaite), distinguished writers from an earlier wave of Caribbean fiction (Wilson Harris, Antonio Benitez-Rojo) and many newcomers results in a rich and varied volume. Two slavery-based ghost stories stand out as the most powerful. The somber, affirming "Spurn Babylon," by Tobias S.Buckell, centers on an ancient slave ship sucked from the ocean's bottom by a hurricane and deposited on a St. Thomas waterfront. As the islanders restore the vessel, they are lured by a mysterious force to create a new history. Roger McTair's bloodcurdling "Just a Lark" draws on the 1865 Morant Bay slave rebellion in Jamaica. During the 1950s, when Jamaica is striving for independence from England, a group of college-age boys try to raise from the dead one of the island's cruelest plantation owners, killed during that rebellion. Also enchanting is Marcia Douglas's pitch-perfect "What the Periwinkle Remember," as an elderly woman reminiscing in a nursing home tells a poignant story of what happened the night she met up with the fabled rolling calf ghost. Robert Antoni's "My Grandmother's Tale of the Buried Treasure and How She Defeated the King of Chacachacari and the Entire American Army with Her Venus-Flytraps" is a hilariously ribald tall tale. Though the collection would have benefited from entries from Edwidge Danticat and Patrick Chamoiseau, readers interested in this region's deep-rooted literature will find a fine representation here. The book should also gain some readers from the SF/fantasy market, given its subject matter and Hopkinson's strong reputation in the SF field. (Oct.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
    Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction. (General Area).: An article from: World Literature Today
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction. (General Area).: An article from: World Literature Today
      Ervin Beck
      Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Digital

      GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
      GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
      ASIN: B0008IMEQC
      Release Date: 2005-07-28

      Book Description

      This digital document is an article from World Literature Today, published by University of Oklahoma on June 22, 2001. The length of the article is 553 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

      Citation Details
      Title: Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction. (General Area).
      Author: Ervin Beck
      Publication: World Literature Today (Refereed)
      Date: June 22, 2001
      Publisher: University of Oklahoma
      Volume: 75 Page: 118(1)

      Article Type: Book Review

      Distributed by Thomson Gale

      The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Good books can be read "again and again". This "list" and format reminds you of that.
      • A Great Source for Literature Teachers
      • An overview of the classics
      • The usual myth of Dead White Men
      • Shake Hands With the Greats: The Book of Great Books
      The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics
      W. John Campbell
      Manufacturer: MetroBooks (NY)
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      GeneralGeneral | Criticism & Theory | History & Criticism | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
      Ancient, Classical & MedievalAncient, Classical & Medieval | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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      LiteratureLiterature | Bibliographies & Indexes | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books
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      3. The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Literature, Revised and Expanded The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Literature, Revised and Expanded
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      ASIN: 1586632043

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Good books can be read "again and again". This "list" and format reminds you of that. .......2007-10-11

      This of course can be a way to find out about these specific books and experience something about them for the first time. With plot summaries, historical backgrounds, and even chapter reviews this is a good tool and reference book.

      The book claims to have found 100 "Great Books" and it's presentation is a choice on what is felt to be "great". The books chosen do qualify as "great" in that they represent significant ideas and thoughts from individuals who have made a difference in literature. The books are ones that can be read over and over.

      There are many ways to find a list of 100, or many more books, thought to be significant. Most lists will enable one to check off what he has read and what may be missing. This collection enables one to stop and re review not only what one has missed but also what has already be read and the format is such that you can quickly bring back to memory all that you enjoyed when you first read the book.

      If you just love books then you will probably have several books that point you towards what is thought to be the "best books". This guide is well done, presented in a useful format and worth having.

      5 out of 5 stars A Great Source for Literature Teachers.......2004-05-08

      This book was instrumental in helping me as a new literature teacher construct lesson plans for my English classes. I have shared it with other literature teachers, and they also have appreciated its concise, yet thorough analysis of some of the great literature of our culture.

      4 out of 5 stars An overview of the classics.......2003-12-26

      In "The Book of Great Books," W. John Campbell provides an overview of 100 of the world's greatest classics, both fiction and nonfiction. It includes only American and European authors, from ancient to modern times. This is an arbitrary list, of course, and some of your favorite classics may not be included. Out of curiosity, I compared these titles to those on the Random House list of the 100 best novels. 20% of the Random House titles were included here.

      This volume is a sort of abridged Cliff's Notes in that it covers the historical background, summary, major characters and themes, symbolism, style, and a critical overview of each title. Reading this book is no substitute for reading the great classics themselves. Instead, this is a good reference book to consult when you are trying to recall the name of a character or a detail from the plot of a book you read a while ago. This book is now back in print as a Barnes & Noble publication.

      1 out of 5 stars The usual myth of Dead White Men.......2003-11-18

      The works reviewed in this book are largely works of literature as opposed to, say, philosophy; Wittgenstein's Tractatus and Kant's Critique of Pure Reason don't show up. This would already make one knit his eyebrows in suspicion, but far worse is the total absence of classical works of NON-WESTERN literature. (I don't count Amy Tan because her works are written in ENGLISH.) Where is Lady Murasaki's The Tale of Genji? Where are the four classic Chinese novels, namely the Outlaws of the Marsh, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Journey to the West (also titled Monkey), and the Dream of Red Mansions (also titled the Story of the Stone)? Where are the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata? Or the Persian epic Shanameh? Or the Tibetan epic King Gesar of Ling? And what about the Sufi poets, such as Rumi, Attar and Omar Khayyam? If you don't want to include non-Western authors, I'm sure it can't hurt that much to be a bit modest and modify the title of your book to something like 'A Guide to 100 Classics of the WESTERN World'. The intended message is clear: non-Western cultures are too stupid and barbaric ever to produce any great literature. It is sad that fascism should still be alive and well in the 21st Century. Glad that this book has gone out of print, though. May it and the likes of it remain so -- out of print.

      5 out of 5 stars Shake Hands With the Greats: The Book of Great Books.......2002-06-22

      Let's face it. Who is the most likely reader of THE BOOK OF GREAT BOOKS by W. John Campbell? Probably the same people who buy Monarch Notes, Cliff's Notes, and the like. That is students in high school and college who doubt that they lack the time, inclination, or ability to plow through a series of novels, poems, plays, and essays. What Campbell's book does is to break down what seems an imposingly difficult work of literature so that after ten minutes a reader can get a sense of the 'big picture.' Campbell has chosen 100 of the generally accepted classics of English, American, European, and Greek and Roman works that have survived the test of time to be called that. Each work is divided into a plot summary, a handy picture that connects the major characters in terms of how they relate, the background, key characters, themes, symbols, style, structure, and critical overview.
      The level of detail and the degree of analysis is just enough to permit the reader to follow the work and still retain the joy of reading the original. Nowhere does Campbell bog the reader down in detail sufficiently heavy to cause him to wonder why he bought TBGB in the first place. One of the problems that I had in reviewing this book is that Campbell makes no attempt to discuss exactly what a great book is and why he chose the one hundred that he did. I would have appreciated an introduction which could have clarified those two points. As it is, TBGB is simply a valuable addition to the bookshelf of anyone who likes to think that he is a reader of the classics.
      The Best of John W. Campbell
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Prelude to the Golden Age
      The Best of John W. Campbell
      John W. Campbell
      Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Mass Market Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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      1. From Beyond (Unrated Director's Cut) From Beyond (Unrated Director's Cut)

      ASIN: 0345249607
      Release Date: 1976-05-12

      Book Description

      THE VISIONS OF JOHN W. CAMPBELL
      Here are the finest stories by the man who almost single-handedly created modern science fiction--the writer who taught a generation to dream...and to write of all possible futures.
      TWILIGHT
      He was a mere hitchhiker now, but he had once seen the far, far future...and had returned to mourn what he had seen!
      THE MACHINE
      The machine was ultimately benevolent...so benevolent that it gave mankind the ultimate but most unwanted gift!
      FORGETFULNESS
      They were like children in the museum of Earth's glorious past...children who had forgotten so much, but whose powers were those of gods!
      And the classic that was to become the movie THE THING: WHO GOES THERE?
      The Thing was the most dreadful threat men had ever faced...a creature that could be any one--or all--of them!
      And many more!

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Prelude to the Golden Age.......2006-05-28

      The Best of John W. Campbell (1976) is a collection of short SF works and an editorial. In his introduction, Lester Del Rey states that Campbell had three successful careers in Science Fiction: the first as Campbell the author, the second as the author Don A. Stuart, and the third as editor of Astounding/Analog. The first two careers are amply illustrated by the contents of this volume, but the last career is best shown by the works of dozens of authors who learned from, or were influenced by, Campbell the editor.

      The Last Evolution (1932) was originally published in Amazing Stories under the John W. Campbell byline. It tells of an invasion of the Earth by aliens from outside the Solar system and the rapid invention of machine/immaterial minds to defend humanity.

      The following stories were written as Don A. Stuart. All were originally published in Astounding Stories:

      Twilight (1934) involves the accidental transport of a scientist from 3059 into the remote future where the remnants of humanity still survive but without curiosity. Before he attempts to return to his own time, the timetraveler takes some steps to resume progress.

      The Machine (1935) tells of the departure of the ubiquitous Machine that first came to Earth to help humanity, but finds that almost all mankind has since settled comfortably into dependency and indolence.

      The Invaders (1935) depicts the invasion of Earth by aliens several millennia after the Machine leaves. The aliens find humanity dwelling in a paradise of plenty among the fallen ruins of great works. They put mankind to work and start a breeding program.

      Rebellion (1935) recounts the results of the alien breeding program after a few centuries and the reinvention of secrecy, deceit, and rebellion.

      Blindness (1938) portrays the efforts of a dedicated scientist to provide humanity with a new source of energy.

      Elimination (1936) shows the influence of random chance upon any foretelling of the future.

      Forgetfulness (1937) conveys the muzziness of an advanced individual trying to remember the techniques of his more primitive ancestors.

      Out of Night (1937) is the first part of the story about the human rebellion against the Sarn using truly advanced technology.

      The following stories were written as Don A. Stuart and were originally published in Astounding Science Fiction:

      Cloak of Aesir (1939) is the second part of the Sarn rebellion story.

      Who Goes There? (1938) is one of the most famous horror/suspense stories of all time. How do you detect shapeshifters who have taken the form of your friends and livestock?

      Space for Industry (1960) was originally published as an editorial in Analog Science Fiction/Fact. It makes the case for industry in space rather than upon a planetary surface.

      The Postscriptum is a recollection of the ways of John Wood Campbell, Jr., by his widow and is fascinating reading.

      These stories are only a few of the short works of John W. Campbell. Many of the Campbell stories were eventually incorporated into novels of the space opera variety; some were very good, even by current standards. Of course, Campbell commissioned or influenced the writing of thousands of short stories and novels by other authors, contributing suggestions and even short outlines. In many respects, most of the Astounding/Analog fiction was coauthored by Campbell, as were many stories published elsewhere.

      Highly recommended for Campbell fans and for anyone who has ever enjoyed stories originally published in Astounding/Analog while he was the editor.

      -Arthur W. Jordin
      ANALOG - Science Fiction and Fact - Volume 87, number 1 - March Mar 1971: The Missing Man; the Operator; May the Best Man Win; The World Mender; Celestial X Rays
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        ANALOG - Science Fiction and Fact - Volume 87, number 1 - March Mar 1971: The Missing Man; the Operator; May the Best Man Win; The World Mender; Celestial X Rays
        John W. (editor) (Katherine MacLean; Christopher Anvil; Stanley Schmidt; Lloyd Biggle Jr.; Margaret L. Silbar) Campbell
        Manufacturer: Conde Nast Publications
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        MarsMars | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: B000IBD57Q
        The Best of John W Campbell
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          The Best of John W Campbell
          Lester (ed) del Rey
          Manufacturer: Ballantine
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Mass Market Paperback
          ASIN: B000PAQE1Y
          THE BEST OF JOHN W. CAMPBELL
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            THE BEST OF JOHN W. CAMPBELL
            DEL REY LESTER
            Manufacturer: NELSON DOUBLEDAY
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover
            ASIN: B000PGHYK8
            Best of John W. Campbell
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Best of John W. Campbell
              John Campbell
              Manufacturer: Garden City, NY: Nelson Doubleday, 1976
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover
              ASIN: B000GR7JZ6
              The Best of John W. Campbell (11 STORIES + 6 MORE)
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                The Best of John W. Campbell (11 STORIES + 6 MORE)
                John W. Campbell
                Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback
                ASIN: B000NXUNV0
                The Best of Science Fiction
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  The Best of Science Fiction
                  Groff / Campbell, John W. Conklin
                  Manufacturer: Crown Publishers
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Hardcover
                  ASIN: B000HKG1A6
                  THE YEAR'S BEST SF (5) (Five) (5th) Fifth: The Handler; The Other Wife; No Fire Burns; No No Not Rogov; The Shoreline at Sunset; The Dreamsman; Multum in Parvo; Flowers for Algernon; What Do You Mean Human; Sierra Sam; A Death in the House; Mariana
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    THE YEAR'S BEST SF (5) (Five) (5th) Fifth: The Handler; The Other Wife; No Fire Burns; No No Not Rogov; The Shoreline at Sunset; The Dreamsman; Multum in Parvo; Flowers for Algernon; What Do You Mean Human; Sierra Sam; A Death in the House; Mariana
                    Judith (editor) (Damon Knight; Jack Finney; Avram Davidson; Cordwainer Smith; Ray Bradbury; Gordon R. Dickson; Jack Shrkey; Daniel Keyes; John W. Campbell Jr.; Ralph Dighton; Clifford D. Simak; Fritz Leiber; Roger Price; Randall Garret) Merril
                    Manufacturer: Dell Books
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback
                    ASIN: B000NH7RJM
                    The Best of John W. Campbell
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      The Best of John W. Campbell
                      Lester Editor Del Rey
                      Manufacturer: NELson Doubleday Inc.
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Hardcover
                      ASIN: B000E7YJB0

                      Meze: Small Plates to Savor and Share from the Mediterranean Table
                      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                      • Great Recipes
                      • Great for entertaining
                      • Same Old Fiddly & Fat Laden Tidbits
                      • Disappointing
                      • Simple Pleasures
                      Meze: Small Plates to Savor and Share from the Mediterranean Table
                      Diane Kochilas
                      Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Hardcover

                      GeneralGeneral | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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                      AppetizersAppetizers | Meals | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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                      3. The Food and Wine of Greece: More Than 300 Classic and Modern Dishes from the Mainland and Islands The Food and Wine of Greece: More Than 300 Classic and Modern Dishes from the Mainland and Islands
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                      ASIN: 0688175112
                      Release Date: 2003-06-03

                      Amazon.com

                      To confuse meze with antipasto or tapas is to miss the point. These small plates of Greek deliciousness come to us from a Mediterranean world of mid-afternoon snacking, drinking, and talking. The pace is leisurely, the content simple, the effect extraordinary. Early on in Meze Diane Kochilas, award-winning author of The Glorious Foods of Greece, sets the prototypic meze stage: two village codgers holding down either side of a small table; two glasses and a carafe of raki between them; a plate with some bread, olives, air-dried anchovies, cucumber sticks, and cheese. They do not sit at the table so much as beside the table, the better to take in the world.

                      And thus it is with meze. It's not about sitting down to eat as much as being present to exchange ideas, enjoy a glass of wine or spirits, and snack on taste treats that enliven the palate and pull all the threads of the whole into one. Kochilas divides Meze into "Dips, Spreads, and Relishes"; "Savory Salads"; "Small Egg Dishes"; "Phyllo Pies"; "Finger Foods and Fried Treats"; "Vegetable and Bean Mezethes"; "A Sea's Bounty"; "From Meatballs to Kebabs"; and, the "Meze Pantry." She provides sources for ingredients. And she includes enlightening notes on Greek wine and spirits, perfect for serving with these small dishes. She is truly a master of it all and a delight to read. When was the last time you mixed garlicky yogurt with dried apricots, or baked figs with oregano? Put your hand in Kochilas's oven mitt. She'll take you to a new, delicious, life-invigorating territory. --Schuyler Ingle

                      Book Description

                      Now you can enjoy the food and fun of a meze feast. Meze, the small plates of just about everything from seafood, meat, and vegetables to handheld pies, colorful salads, nuts, olives, and cheeses, is the food of hospitality and conviviality, food meant to be shared with friends and family and savored with wines and spirits.

                      Here, in Meze, Diane Kochilas, the award-winning author of The Glorious Foods of Greece, chef, restaurateur, and cooking teacher, takes you on a spirited journey across Greece and the rest of the Mediterranean, exploring these simple and simply irresistible dishes. The recipes are robust, dear, and easy to follow. These uncomplicated dishes are charged with flavor and based on fresh, accessible ingredients. The results are spectacular.

                      Meze makes every meal a party, and no one knows how to throw a party better than the Greeks. Youll find tangy, skewered meats and juicy meatballs, delicious seafood dishes from simple steamed mussels to creamy ouzo-flavored shrimp. You'll find a healthful selection of aromatic bean dishes, and a recipe for the best fried potatoes in the world, Greek fries, which are hand cut and cooked in olive oil.

                      The convivial and festive nature of the meze table is reflected in Diane's warm, inviting style. The innate attractiveness of the food -- the colors, textures, and shapes -- are captured in brilliant photographs that evoke the sunny, warm Mediterranean dime. Whether you make just a few dishes for informal entertaining, or create an entire meal of meze, Diane Kochilas makes it possible to bring the spirit of fun and sharingthe essence of meze throughout Greece and the Mediterranean -- to your own table at home.

                      Customer Reviews:

                      4 out of 5 stars Great Recipes.......2007-09-23

                      This book has some nice twists on traditional Greek dishes. Some of the dishes are easy and some are time consuming, but they all came out great.

                      I was a little disappointed that they don't have the Greek names of the items - this is clearly a book that is geared for an English-only audience.

                      Our favorite is the Skewered Ground Lamb Kebabs, which contain cayenne and mint.

                      5 out of 5 stars Great for entertaining.......2007-05-19

                      Bought this book as a gift for a friend - now I'm going to get one for my own collection! Great photos, presentation and very authentic recipes...good for any level of cooking experience

                      2 out of 5 stars Same Old Fiddly & Fat Laden Tidbits.......2006-11-26

                      .
                      I should have judged this book by its cover and resisted the purchase. There are indeed, thirty pages of recipes utilizing phyllo and pastry as depicted on the cover. Many sound quite good if your conscious will allow you to partake of their high fat content. Fried food is prevalent among traditional meze recipes, especially individual pieces. Phyllo recipes using a stick of butter to tame the leaves of pastry are subsequently fried. The book contains sundry recipes for fried cheese.

                      Once a person's eating habit and cooking methodology have left the fat-oil-grease-bond, it is increasingly difficult to look back and find enjoyment in unnecessarily heavy fat laden dishes we have programmed our taste and diet to abandon.

                      Meze offers a dearth of palate cleansing combinations. One lighter attempt combines the unlikely pairing of watermelon with vinegar, feta cheese, and onions. The spoiler in the Beet and Feta Salad for me was a large amount of brown sugar and nothing to balance it.

                      Many recipes fail to excite my adventurous nature; Fluffy Fish Roe with Almonds, Trout Whipped with Potatoes and Olive Oil, or Marinated Raw Anchovies. Others fail to excite my palate, and additionally, are fiddly to make; Pan Fried Olives Stuffed with Fish Roe, Deep Fried Squid Stuffed with Cheese, Deep Fried Stuffed Eggplant.

                      Meze does not contribute to my health or cookbook library needs.

                      2 out of 5 stars Disappointing.......2006-09-25

                      Lovely book, lovely photos...BUT I am disappointed in the recipes. Admittedly, I have only tried five of them, but was disappointed in all five. I am a good cook,lived in Greece for 2 years, and have been cooking Greek food for some 30 years with great success. Some of the MEZE recipes were O.K., but not REALLY good, and one was a disaster. Sorry.

                      5 out of 5 stars Simple Pleasures.......2003-11-18

                      Cooking from this book was a great joy after having spent several days with books dealing with French haute cuisine. I heartily recommend this book to just about anyone as a source of tasty, easy, traditional dishes. The only reservations would be to people who may not have the time or inclination to search out some of the speciality ingredients.

                      Almost all recipes in this book use fewer than 12 ingredients and the technique rarely takes more than four (4) steps, taking no more than a half page of text. This is not exactly quick cooking, although there are a fair number of quick recipes herein. Some recipes do require long marinades, but very few require long cooking. Most heat is from either a quick saute or a grill.

                      The issues with ingredients, especially for those who like to stay authentic, is probably solved if you live in a large city and there is a Greek or middle eastern grocery available. It is also probably not a big issue if you live near a `megamart' which carries a generous supply of Greek and Turkish staples. Needless to say, even if you live in the sticks, there are internet sources for everything. The most important speciality ingredients are:

                      Greek feta - There is barrel cured and tin cured. Some recipes recommend one type. Some the other.
                      Other Greek Cheeses - Popular Italian cheeses like ricotta will substitute for most requirements.
                      Greek Oregano - Dried
                      Greek / Eastern Mediterranian yogurt - Fortunately, there is an easy way to make plain yogurt work.
                      Dried Mint - Yes, dried. Fresh mint is also commonly used.
                      Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil - `What is grown together goes together'. But Italian or Spanish will work.
                      Phyllo - Supermarket Phyllo is fine.
                      Octopus - The national seafood of Greece.
                      Pastourma - Cured Beef

                      Once you locate a source, I believe most ingredients such as the Greek olive oil will actually be less expensive than Italian substitutes. Almost all other ingredients such as eggplant, pita, and ouzo are very common everywhere in the country.

                      Meze, short for mezethes, denotes small dishes served typically at small eateries like `mezethopoleion'; ouzeri, similar to the Italian wine shop; and the tsipouradiko, serving Greek eau-de-vie. The object of these establishments and their meze fare is to offers its patrons a place to eat, drink, and have conversation in the hours between large meals. The author points out that although there is a strong similarity in portion size and preparation similarity to Spanish tapas, the dishes were specifically developed to be eaten only as an accompanyment to drink in the middle of the day, not as a `before the meal' bite to get you started on the main meal of the day. It is much more comparable to bar nuts, pretzels, and pickled eggs on American bars.

                      All portions are small and most are designed to be eaten with the fingers, bread, or skewer. Chapters in the book cover:

                      Dips, Spreads, and Relishes; Savory Salads; Small Egg Dishes; Phyllo Pies; Fried Finger Foods; Vegetables and Beans; Seafood; and Meatballs and Kebabs

                      The author is a recognized authority on Greek food and has a written a widely praised book on general Greek cuisine. The color pictures are decorative, but few. While I found all instructions very simple, the author did occasionally seem a bit opaque. I still don't totally understand her instructions for peeling a roasted eggplant. As Martha Stewart said in one of her book introductions, this book made me want to immediately try many of the dishes. This is a sure symptom that there is good food to be had here.

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