With No One as Witness (Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers Novels)

Book Description

The police never suspected a serial killer was at large until they found the fourth murdered boy -- the first white victim -- his body draped over a tomb in a London graveyard. Suddenly a series of crimes and a potential public relations disaster have Scotland Yard on the defensive, scrambling to apprehend a maniac while avoiding accusations of racism.

Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley, distracted by concerns for his pregnant wife, has been assigned to the investigation, along with his disgraced partner, Barbara Havers, who's fighting for her professional future. Winston Nkata -- deservedly, if hastily, promoted to detective sergeant -- is the black face who will speak to the media. But none of them can imagine the tenacity and ingenuity of the killer they seek . . . and no one is prepared for the savage, shocking instant when everything will change forever.

Customer Reviews:

"He was in need of redemption".......2007-10-03

After a disappointing A Place of Hiding, Elizabeth George goes back to the basics, bringing back Havers and taking the series to the next level. George has always distinguished her novels by creating a product that is distinctly different from the typical police procedural. The differentiating factor is that she spends a considerable amount of time telling us about the personal lives of the characters. As a result, you will get much more enjoyment from reading this series in order, so if you are new to George's work, I recommend that you go back to the beginning: A Great Deliverance. For those that have been following this series, fasten your seat belts, because not only are you going to get a story with a devious serial killer that is hard to catch, but also on where there will be some important developments in the lives of the main characters.

Four boys have been murdered, but it was not until recently that the police and the Scotland Yard realized that there is a serial killer out there. The situation can be best described as a public relations nightmare, since only the last victim is white, and there are likely to be some accusations about this, probably justified. The good news is that all of our beloved characters make an appearance in this novel, Lynley, Havers, St. James, Nkata and even Havers' neighbors and Nkata's object of desire.

I liked the way in which George provides the story with several layers, transforming it in a mesmerizing read. For example, the pressure by the press on the Scotland Yard generates serious problems between Superintendent Lynley and his superior. There is also the issue of the previous demotion of Havers and now the promotion of one of her friends, trying to assuage the fire of public opinion. The relationship between Havers and Azhar, Nkata and his romantic pursue of Yasmine, and Lynley and Helen's soon-to-be-born son are other important storylines.

The writing is superb, and that is the only reason why George can write a 700+ page novel without us losing interest at any point. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the omniscient narrator that allowed us a look into the killer's mind, allowing for a better understanding of his motives. Finally, there is the big surprise towards the end, which some people may not like, but I think that sometimes it is necessary to shake things up a little. Ultimately, this is one of the best books in the series, and I am already looking forward to what comes next.

A great thriller.......2007-07-04

Elizabeth George never fails to fulfil the expectations. I've followed the adventures of Inspector Lynley and co. for years now and this book was as much as a page-turner as its predecessors.

This time Lynley and Havers investigate a series of murders in London which seem to have a racist background. As the murders escalate, they both work frantically to try and catch the killer as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the tale of their own personal lives keeps unfolding as in all previous books and, as it often happens, becomes influenced by work-related episodes.

The end of this book is the beginning of Ms. George's next one. It will leave the reader flabbergasted. I certainly was!

Masterful mystery by a masterful author.......2007-06-06

George's vivid and multi-faceted characters are what always keeps me coming back for more. I think she is not only one of the finest mystery authors out there but also one of the finest authors, period. This book is certainly no exception and while one of its plot twists was ruined for me by my reading a Time review of her novel after this one before reading this one, it really didn't lessen the impact. Whenever I read one of her books, I find myself devouring the pages ravenously, completely caught up in the world she has created. What I find so endlessly fascinating about her books is that she not only writes from the perspective of the detectives on the case--Havers, Havers, Havers, I can never get enough of your character!--she also writes from the perspective of the crime's perpetrator. Thus, she delves into the darkness and depravity of those who commit unspeakable crimes.

Even Deeper Ties that Bind.......2007-05-14

Once again Elizabeth George has taken a crime story that has so many twists and turns that you almost forget what you are really reading is the lives of the five main characters and how they grow and change through time. George is able to explore the complex world of human relationships with care, compassion and realism. That we come to know the characters and may even miss them between books is certainly a sign that George writes about the human condition. Yes, the crime puzzle is excellent, but it would be just another worn out formula detective novel without the human relationships. What happens to Helen forced me to put the book down several times before I could pick it up again and yet I understood why this had to happen. Like Sheri Tepper, George takes a writing genre and forces us to look at ourselves and our humanity and ask the tough questions about both. Reading George's books with friends, particularly close friends, is a way to enhance the George experience even more -- but it's still pretty good alone. I look forward to the next George novel, as I always do.

Good but not great.......2007-04-11

This book is very long and it took me a while to get into it. It was a bit slow going at first. I loved other books by Elizabeth George but this was not one of her best and the ending was terribly sad.

With No One As Witness (Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers Novels)

Average customer rating:

book
Wonderful, as usual
Sordid but fascinating
Bittersweet
It's the subtext, of course

With No One As Witness (Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers Novels)
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

British Detectives | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060545607
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Book Description

Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley
takes on the case of his career.

When it comes to spellbinding suspense and page-turning excitement, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George always delivers. As the Wall Street Journal raves, "Ms. George can do it all, with style to spare."

In With No One as Witness, Elizabeth George has crafted an intricate, meticulously researched, and absorbing story sure to enthrall her readers. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley is back, along with his longtime partner, the fiery Barbara Havers, and newly promoted Detective Sergeant Winston Nkata. They are on the hunt for a sinister killer.

When an adolescent boy's nude body is found mutilated and artfully arranged on the top of a tomb, it takes no large leap for the police to recognize this as the work of a serial killer. This is the fourth victim in three months but the first to be white.

Hoping to avoid charges of institutionalized racism in its failure to pursue the earlier crimes to their conclusion, New Scotland Yard hands the case over to Lynley and his colleagues. The killer is a psychopath who does not intend to be stopped. Worse, a devastating tragedy within the police ranks causes them to fumble in their pursuit of him.

Customer Reviews:

book.......2007-09-11

Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors and this book is awesome! You never know who is the bad guy till the very end.

Wonderful, as usual.......2007-06-07

I discovered Elizabeth George when she only had two books in print. I've read each one as it has come out, and have enjoyed all of them.

One of the things I have always loved about this series is the continuing back story on all of the characters. They have grown and changed over the years that I've read the books. The books are both about the mysteries and about the people trying to solve the mysteries.

It is possible that this is a pivotal book and that the direction of any future stories is going to move to characters that were more minor in the past. I've decided that is OK.

Sordid but fascinating.......2007-05-13

This addition to the excellent Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers series deals fairly convincingly with pedophelia and sexually-motivated serial killings. This is not intended as a spoiler, but fans should note that this is a very sad story for some of the favorite characters in the series.

Bittersweet.......2007-02-16

I love Elizabeth George's novels...all of them. I have never read one that I didn't love, and this one is no different. She kept me guessing all the way to the end. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the death of Helen Lynley. I have read every single one of the Lynley novels, so I have followed the story of these main characters and feel like I know them. I feel like I too lost something when Helen died, and I'm wondering what the future will hold for the other characters, especially Thomas. Or perhaps there won't be any more novels after the follow-up to this one. That would be truly be sad. All in all a great read.

It's the subtext, of course.......2006-10-15

Elizabeth George's Lynley/Havers procedurals are always carefully researched, full of details about investigations, richly rouned in character, and there is usually the kicker "mystery" solution to boot (no pun intended). This latest Lynley/Havers is no exception. And like most of the earlier books in this series, it has a VERY serious subtext. In the case of "With No One As Witness," what lies beneath the detective work is the fully fleshed-out investigation of the plight of just-barely-adolescent boys from impoverished backgrounds, with parents (those who are in evidence at all) who are often detrimental; with all manner of adults preying on them; with banding together in gangs for self-preservation; not to forget, of course, the attempts (Colossus) to bring some order, some education to these blighted lives. As shocking as the end-of-the-book shooting is, it is all of a piece with the thesis of this novel, and it is certainly no surprise that George's follow-up book is a prequel to this horror, an investigation of the young killer.
Very thought-provoking book, well crafted. A stunner.

Average customer rating:

With No One as Witness
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1840328878

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Sin Testigos/ With No One As Witness
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Roca
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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WITH NO ONE AS WITNESS
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UQ3YZW

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With No One As Witness
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0340827467

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With No One as Witness
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0340827475

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With No One as Witness
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 184032726X

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With No One As Witness (SIGNED)
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKK5I0

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With No One as Witness (Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers Novels)
Elizabeth A. George
Manufacturer: Books On Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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Product Description

When an adolescent boy's mutilated body is found, it doesn't take long for the police to realize that this is the work of a serial killer.

Book Description

¿Why is the measure of a man the number of strangers he kills?¿ The veteran knight escorting Prince Aelfwyn can¿t give his young charge a satisfactory answer. Aelfwyn is reluctant to sort out his duties as a Medieval warrior in an island kingdom that is torn between three factions, but he is caught in the history of his Weorcman family that has gained power through secret alliances and treachery. As he travels among the Weorcmen, Cogniere, and Gaethels, Aelfwyn discovers he is being manipulated by secret plots for revenge. He is in danger from political conflicts and the struggles between generations of fathers and sons, pagans and churchmen, authoritarians and outlaws, scholars and naturalists. Without crashing through desperate moments with clenched teeth and a mighty sword arm, Aelfwyn proceeds with thuds and blunders, caution and good luck, and the advice of his intelligent horse. The prince always asks questions and takes no answers for certainty, but will his wit and good heart be enough to make him a hero?

Customer Reviews:

Aelfwyn Review.......2004-11-25

Aelfwyn is the story of a young prince who is not quite sure if he is a brave man or not. So when he is sent on a quest by his father he learns the truth about his world. With the help of a few soldiers and his talking horse Aelfwyn sets out to relight the light in Loch Var. Only to discover that he is being manipulated by rivalries caused by his grandparents. In this book there are many differnent races fighting for control of the island of innis Aelga. This is a great for young adult readers and is a classic example of Fantasy but with a unique twist to it.

A review of Aelfwyn.......2003-06-17

Aelfwyn, by J. H. Newbold, is the story of a young man's journey from the protection of his home to the strange, and dangerous world beyond. King Edgar of Innis Aelga has many sons, the youngest of which is Aelfwyn. His family rules in a land torn by three rivaling groups of people. The Weorcmen take care of livestock, live in the cities, and, if there is anything around to be fought for, knights. The Cogniere are knights, although not always chivalrous. Of the three groups of Innis Aelga, they are the least liked. Finally, there are the Gaethels a nature loving group of people, who tend to be witches and wizards, and have the ability to speak to animals. The fueds between the three groups is the basis of the story.

Aelfwyn's family are Weorcmen. In the beginning of the book Aelfwyn is sent by his father to Loch War(Gaethel land), to go to Ainmire's tower and keep the light inside it going, because it is very important to the Gaethels. It is explained to Aelfwyn that this act will show the Gaethels that their king is there for them. Aelfwyn, along with a group of knights, head off to Loch Var. However, Aelfwyn's cousin, Dordmair, and the family wizard, Nathair, have chosen Aelfwyn to go because Dordmair's witch grandmother, Whiltiernia, has requested him for this duty.

As the story unfolds and secrets are revealed, the king has a deeper purpose for sending Aelfwyn to Loch War. Whiltiernia does not want Aelfwyn simply to keep the light shining, but for something else. Aelfwyn learns that his family is not appreciated by the people of Innis Aelga and why. He, also, discovers the horror of battle, and the feeling of heartbreak and loss. Throughout his trials, hardships, strengths, and victories, Aelfwyn discovers what it is to be a man, and how cruel the world can be. He searches to answer the question, "Why is the measure of a man the number of strangers he kills?".

Aelfwyn Reluctant Prince of Innis Aelga, was an excellent novel. It's action packed and exciting, yet contains love, devotion, and heartbreak. It is one of the best books I have ever read and I suggest it to everyone, however it contains some material not suitable for children. If you liked Lord of the Rings, you should try reading this. I bet you'll like it.

An Excellent Read.......2003-06-13

Aelfwyn, by J. H. Newbold, is the story of a young man's journey from the protection of his home to the strange, and dangerous world beyond. King Edgar of Innis Aelga has many sons, the youngest of which is Aelfwyn. His family rules in a land torn by three rivaling groups of people. The Weorcmen take care of livestock, live in the cities, and, if there is anything around to be fought for, knights. The Cogniere are knights, although not always chivalrous. Of the three groups of Innis Aelga, they are the least liked. Finally, there are the Gaethels a nature loving group of people, who tend to be witches and wizards, and have the ability to speak to animals. The fueds between the three groups is the basis of the story.

Aelfwyn's family are Weorcmen. In the beginning of the book Aelfwyn is sent by his father to Loch War(Gaethel land), to go to Ainmire's tower and keep the light inside it going, because it is very important to the Gaethels. It is explained to Aelfwyn that this act will show the Gaethels that their king is there for them. Aelfwyn, along with a group of knights, head off to Loch Var. However, Aelfwyn's cousin, Dordmair, and the family wizard, Nathair, have chosen Aelfwyn to go because Dordmair's witch grandmother, Whiltiernia, has requested him for this duty.

As the story unfolds and secrets are revealed, the king has a deeper purpose for sending Aelfwyn to Loch War. Whiltiernia does not want Aelfwyn simply to keep the light shining, but for something else. Aelfwyn learns that his family is not appreciated by the people of Innis Aelga and why. He, also, discovers the horror of battle, and the feeling of heartbreak and loss. Throughout his trials, hardships, strengths, and victories, Aelfwyn discovers what it is to be a man, and how cruel the world can be. He searches to answer the question, "Why is the measure of a man the number of strangers he kills?".

Aelfwyn Reluctant Prince of Innis Aelga, was an excellent novel. It's action packed and excited, yet contains love, devotion, and heartbreak. It is one of the best books I have ever read and I suggest it to everyone, however it contains some material not suitable for children. If you liked Lord of the Rings, you should try reading this. I bet you'll like it.

A wonderful Fantasy.......2003-04-16

I stopped reading fantasy novels years ago because the writing was poor and the story lines shallow or hard to follow. I was given this book as a present and found it absolutely wonderful and anxiously await the sequel. I would call this a medieval, mythological fantasy novel that doesn't gloss over the interesting details of life. The mixture of reality and myth makes this an engrossing and believable story that is hard to put down.

From the very beginning where you meet Aelfwyn, a very inept prince, to the end of the book, which is really his beginning, you will be engrossed by Newbold's characterizations and tales.

review of "Aelfwyn".......2003-04-08

Coming-of-age stories are by no means uncommon, and the best ones deal with coming of age under special circumstances (e.g., To Kill A Mockingbird). To my knowledge, the curious (and ugly) special circumstances of dynastic hatreds on the one hand and palace intrigues on the other have never been addressed in quite this way before, with plenty of asides on matters like culture clash, ethnocentricity, and even the nature of certainty itself (I think).
"Innis Aelga (formerly called Eardland) lies across the Straits of Dunmore," the introduction begins, "thirty miles from the mainland and well beyond the limits of imperial conquest." Sound familiar? If it doesn't yet, it will. It is based on one of the most pregnant and violent ages of our history, when three cultures met along fault lines of mutual incomprehension. Thus is produced a mythic landscape through which its pageant of characters - not being dramatic roles but just doing what they do - can scarcely help but make history with every gesture. This greater tapestry of confusion is the perfect setting for the quest (literally and figuratively) of prince Aelfwyn, crucially, the youngest son of a conqueror king and politely despised because he himself is not in the mold of a conqueror. His personal resolution is only part of a greater whole; only at the end of the book is a larger significance revealed, and the end is obviously a beginning.

Average customer rating:

Good collection marred by poor paper quality.

One of the Best Wildstorm Graphic novels of all time!

The best graphic novel of all time

Great book, great price

Gen 13: Starting Over (Gen13)
Jim Lee , J. Scott Campbell , and Brandon Choi
Manufacturer: Wildstorm
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Gen 13 (Gen13)

Gen 13: We'll Take Manhattan (Gen 13)

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Gen 13: Meanwhile

ASIN: 1563895447

Customer Reviews:

Good collection marred by poor paper quality........2001-10-29

Collecting the first seven issues of the Gen13 regular series this book has excellent artwork and entertaining stories. The big disappointment is the poor quality paper used. Worse than that used by most comic books, the paper is grey and makes all the colors murky. And whoever decided to print the original covers of the issues at 80% size and rotated so that the corners are cut off should be fired.

One of the Best Wildstorm Graphic novels of all time!.......2001-10-10

One of the Best Wildstorm Graphic novels of all time! This particular Gen13 Tradepaperback reprients the first Seven issues of Gen13: the regular series. It takes place where the first Gen13: miniseries left off. This one of Brandon Choi's Best writtem works! Brandon Choi, Jim Lee, and J Scott Campbell created this superhero team of Gen-active teens! These young people are lead by the mentor, Lynch or I/O from the WildCats: miniseries. the Gen 13 team leader is Fairchild,former college student who discovered she had more abilites then just brains! Then their is Burnout who is like Wildstorm's human torch! Grunge and Freefall, Gen-active teans who love to party! They have a love and friend relationship which is essential to the story! The RainMaker is the native-American superheroine who is also a Lesbian! She finally admitts to her sexual perference after having an on and off relationship with Bobby Lane aka Burnout! This book has wonderful characterizations and art and is considered one of the best Wildstorm titles ever made. With an acclaimed story by Brandon Choi, Jim Lee and Campbell, Art drawn by J. Scott Campbell with Alex Garner, This is a great read with Beautiful art! Also, Jim Lee and Scott Willaims apply the artwork for issues #6 and 7! Buy it! If you love comic books I know you will want this!

The best graphic novel of all time.......2001-05-31

EXCELLENT,EXCELLENT,EXCELLENT, This graphic novel has the best artwork and the best stories and has humor (something rarely seen in most except for Young Justice). It should have had a few fold out wall posters of the girls too. I guess you can't have everything. This is just a little better than Young Justice because it's a little more adult and the girls are breathtaking. Too bad their not based on real women. If Image kept J. Scott Campbell for all of Gen 13 and not just the beginning they would have sold a lot more comics. Too bad he now works on Danger Girl which isn't near as fun to read as Gen 13. Art alone cannot always sell a comic book.

Great book, great price.......2000-05-07

Gen 13. When I think of this title, I think of J. Scott Campbell's gorgeous artwork and Alex Garner's amazing inks. This book is still going strong today, even though the dynamic duo of Campbell and Garner have gone on to work on the comic Danger Girl. This book is a good place to pick up a nice part of the Gen 13 story, and is good reading material on a rainy day. Pick it up!

Amazon.com

Conventional wisdom holds that our dietary habits are mostly set by the time we reach age 5. Perhaps this explains why the thought of eating insects sends the average Westerner into a fit of shudders and gagging. But entomophagy is practiced by all kinds of people, all over the world. Arthropods are a good source of protein, they're plentiful, and they're often easier to catch than a fast bird or dangerous mammal. Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio, the husband-wife team behind the photojournalistic masterpieces Material World and Women in the Material World, bring us the world of insect eating through stunning photos and amusing, enlightening text, complete with recipes for delicacies like Simple Scorpion Soup. Peter dives into each insect meal with gusto, whereas Faith is always less enthusiastic, but participates nonetheless, if only to push her Western taste boundaries out a bit further. Here she describes her first taste of a fried tarantula in Cambodia: "I can stall no longer. I break off a leg--it's two inches long, but seems like twelve--and ask if this too is supposed to be eaten. Yes, I'm told, so I do. I'm surprised that it doesn't feel hairy in my mouth because it looks awfully hairy.... It doesn't taste bad, but I can't say it tastes good."

Man Eating Bugs is part global anthropological study, part nature essay, part travel adventure story. The plentiful, gorgeous photographs will take you on an emotional journey, from the depths of disgust to the heights of awe, as you realize that "the shelves of the supermarket carry only a small slice of what the world has to offer." --Therese Littleton

Book Description

The team behind the critically and popularly acclaimed anthropological photoessays Material World and Women in the Material World make their debut on our list with this oddly tantalizing book about a subject that's creeping into prominence: insects as food for people. With the distinctive blend of thoughtful cultural inquiry, intrepid exploration, and sumptuous photography that has earned them worldwide renown, the authors document the practice and history of entomophagy around the globe, discovering that insects are a nutritious, plentiful, and varied food source. From Mexico, where people celebrate the annual Jumile Festival with bug hunts and beauty queens, to China, where whole families make their livings from scorpion ranches, over a dozen bug-eating countries (including the USA) are profiled in MAN EATING BUGS. Each chapter examines a culture through a stunning array of location photos, interviews with locals, and highlights from the authors' field journals, as well as indigenous recipes carefully photographed. A colorful, beautiful, and intelligent book.

Customer Reviews:

Tarantula Tastes a Lot Like Chicken.......2006-07-08

A delightful book featuring an eight year on-again off-again survey of...BUGS ON THE DINNER PLATE! The authors search for insect eaters willing to be photographed with their cuisine and share their knowledge. The photos are plentiful and absolutely brilliant.

Peter alternates essays with Faith and is consistently more enthusiastic about experiencing every taste: "If day-old fried chicken had no bones, hair instead of feathers, and were the size of a newborn sparrow, they might taste like tarantula." Faith only ate a two inch piece of tarantula leg. Peter says Faith is a lightweight. "Big deal!" says Faith.

The South African ladies' lunch group was aghast when they heard about the Chinese, who eat raw scorpions with their stingers and poison sacs removed or stir-fried without the subtraction. "I wouldn't eat them," one of them said, as she downed her fried termites. Both groups would probably be repulsed by the New Guinea boys who eat raws grubs or roasted stink bugs for a mid-morning snack - or the Indonesian woman who likes cicada and says, "It's better than pig." What constitutes acceptable vs repulsive food seems to be a matter of locale and culture.

Obviously, our supermarkets are culturally limited, offering only a narrow slice of what world cuisine offers. The authors provide formal recipes for witchetty grub dip, fried water bugs with plum sauce, scorpion soup, grasshopper tacos, stink bug pate, mealworm spaghetti, and sundried mopane worms. Many simpler recipes may be gleaned from the text.

Peter Menzel is an award-winning photographer. Faith D'Aluisio, his wife, is an award winning TV news and documentary producer. The book covers trips to thirteen countries, mostly third-world - definitely a 5-star effort.

pass the grubs.......2005-11-12

A feast (or just a snack) of insects sounds almost revolting unless of course you deep fry them or place them in lollipops or my favorite barbecued. Whats not to love about straight from the earth cuisine which is actually considered delicacies in many countries. Menzel demonstrates that every continent gets enjoyment from tasty insect treats. But because Menzel is such an amazing photographer, its hard not to have your skin crawl when you see a girl eating a spider, or women eating grubs (look like albino catepillers), or the vast amounts of scorpions runnng aimlessly around a man's feet. I particularly think the roasted termites were very disturbing since they look like rat size roaches. I dont mean to sound childish, this book is much more then just unique cuisine, its another way that Menzel is making us globally aware of our neighbors. The photography is beautiful and vivid plus the paragraphs speaking of the insects and thier importance makes you feel a little respect for things we usually step on. Menzel is once again a genious and a little offbeat (in the best of ways) with this book.

The Art and Science of Eating Insects.......2005-10-01

Excellent full color photography. This could have been more indepth on recipes. There must be a lot more types of edible insects than what is shown here and some step by step meal preparation in full color would really help in rounding out this scratch on the surface edible insects. The book is more of a coffee table conversation piece than a chef's delight but what is presented here gives some insight into cultures and is far superior to any line drawing presentation.

Eating bugs for fun and profit!.......2004-11-22

This book has always been a big hit with the numerous public school classes that visit our museum. I only have to hold it up to get a reaction, usually a groan, but it sure gets their attention. It also starts discussions and questions even when other parts of the presentation have not. The photos are great and add immensely to the charm of the book.

In general Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio have written a book in "Man Eating Bugs: The Art and Science of Eating Insects" that is largely color photos. But what photos! Each present parts of a story involving the way various cultures employ insects in their cuisine. This brings up a question used by a much earlier author as a book title - "Why Not Eat Insects?" Many (but by no means all!) species of both insects and arachnids are as edible as the shrimp and crabs we Americans love to consume. We of course have to be cautious (not a good idea to eat cockroaches, despite some "reality" TV programs!), but there are a number of "safe" species that have been "taste tested" so to speak. In addition, we unwittingly consume tons of insects in various agricultural products simply because they pose no health hazard and are nearly impossible to remove.

If you have to deal with children in education or if you are just curious about what other cultures eat, this is a great book both to read and just to peruse. I would think that it would find its way to school libraries and to home schoolers lists of resources!

Unexpectedly wonderful.......2004-08-18

I got interested in entomophagy (eating insects)when I found out that cicadas are ediible during the recent "invasion". I bought this book and was entranced by the beautiful photos, as well as the "point-counterpoint" comments by the authors, one of whom was considerably more enthusiastic than the other about the whole idea. This is a great glimpse of the eating of insects in almost all cultures except our own, and we're missing something by our squeamishness, believe me!

The book is always entertaining and opens a door to a world we may never have considered. Buy it! Read it!

Man Eating Bugs : The Art and Science of Eating Insects

Average customer rating:

Man Eating Bugs : The Art and Science of Eating Insects
Peter; D'Aluisio, Faith Menzel
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PS58E0

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