Amazon.com
Fans of Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy Schulz, the gourmet gumshoe of Aspen Meadow, Colorado, love her modus operandi: "Treat every puzzle with questions and chocolate." In Tough Cookie, Davidson's ninth culinary mystery, Goldy is waiting to reopen her catering business, which has been shut down by the health department for lack of adequate drains. She's got a PBS cooking gig for a few weeks, and is trying to build a reputation as a personal chef, but she's desperate for a little extra Christmas cash, so she agrees to sell a pair of vintage skis to Doug Portman, a local art critic and former sort-of-romantic interest.
When Portman's killed in a skiing accident at Killdeer Resort with Goldy nearby, the police treat her with suspicion. It turns out that Portman was the easily persuaded head of the Parole Board, and Goldy's ex-husband (a.k.a. The Jerk, who was imprisoned for domestic violence) is coming up for parole. But when Goldy herself narrowly escapes a chilly death after her van is forced off a snowy highway, she starts looking for connections and steps into a minefield of unsolved murders, including the three-year-old avalanche death of her friend Nate Bullock. There're a multitude of suspicious characters lurking around Killdeer: Barton Reed, a crazy ex-con who sent Portman a letter loaded with poison; Arthur Wakefield, whose wealthy mother was also killed in a skiing accident at Killdeer; Jack Gilkey, a handsome young chef who was convicted of manslaughter in the death of Wakefield's mother (and released by Portman); Boots Faraday, a local artist; and even Rorry Bullock, Nate's angry widow. As usual, Goldy manages to solve the murders (with the help of Chocolate Coma Cookies), save her own skin (just!), skewer a few local snobs in passing, and revive her catering business. Lots of fun, and recipes too. --Barrie Trinkle
Book Description
The New York Times bestselling author of
Prime Cut serves up another tantalizing tale of culinary mystery and suspense--as chef turned sleuth Goldy Schulz goes on live television to prepare a meal to die for...but discovers that murder is already on the menu.
When Goldy Schulz is offered a temporary stint hosting a cooking show for PBS, she jumps at the chance. After all, she could use the money--not to mention the great exposure. Her catering business is in shambles, and publicizing her new venture as a personal chef will help get her back on track. Plus taping the shows at Colorado's posh Killdeer Ski Resort will be fun. A little cooking, a little chitchat. What could go wrong?
The question Goldy should have asked is, what wouldn't go wrong--especially when she has to drive through a blizzard to do one of her shows live for a PBS telethon.
To make matters worse, Goldy has an unpleasant duty to perform right after the show. She and her policeman husband, Tom, have agreed to sell a piece of Tom's treasured war memorabilia to help ease their financial woes. The buyer: Doug Portman, art critic, law enforcement wannabe--and, to her eternal embarrassment, Goldy's ex-boyfriend.
Predictably, the live broadcast is riddled with culinary catastrophes--from the Chesapeake Crabcakes right down to the Ice-Capped Ginger Snaps. But the deadliest dish of all comes after the cameras go off, when an unexplainable skiing accident claims Doug Portman's life--and Goldy is the one who finds his crumpled body on the slopes. Even more shocking is what police find tucked away in Doug's BMW: a greeting card with a potentially deadly chemical inside.
As the police try to determine if Doug's accident was really foul play, Goldy does a little investigating of her own--but finds more questions than answers. Was Doug, chairman of the state Parole Board, accepting bribes from potential parolees? Was he connected to the ex-con who's been telling Killdeer skiers that he's planning to poison a cop? And how did Goldy and Tom get mixed up in this mess?
When a series of suspicious mishaps places Goldy's own life in jeopardy, she knows she must whip up her own crime-solving recipe, and fast--before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends her cooking career once and for all....
Winter sports can be dangerous, but can they also be deadly? "Cooking at the Top!," Goldy's new TV show, is broadcast from one of Colorado's poshest ski areas. Unfortunately, she finds whipping up delicacies at 11,000 feet as perilous as skiing steep runs. Then a telethon raising money for the widow of a tracker killed mysteriously ends in disaster. Goldy finds herself searching the icy slopes to find a killer with desperate secrets to hide---but this may be one time the tough-cookie caterer will not be able to schuss to safety!
Included are Goldy's original recipes for mouthwatering Sonora Chicken Strudel, incomparable Marmalade Mogul Muffins, and sinfully sumptuous Chocolate Coma Cookies. -->
Customer Reviews:
Junior high level murder mystery...and that's going a long way!.......2007-08-30
I picked up this book in a used booked store in Powell River, British Columbia, while waiting for a ferry to Vancouver. I didn't know that culinary murder mysteries was a genre and this book was part of a series of similar mishaps. Where was the warning label?
The author sets up her heroine as a gourmet-wannabe Nancy Drew running after inept murderers while strewing recipe cards along her trail. She dishes out food descriptions ad nauseam and then raves over them until you want to gag her with a kitchen towel. All the while, she insults her readers' intelligence by serving up as novelty that age old recipe of suspecting the evil looking guy first, and then making her model character the evil culprit!
If you're a fan of this author's work you'll probably enjoy it. But if this is your first time try, be aware that it is definitely an acquired taste. I'll pass on seconds.
Delish Mystery.......2007-07-29
I discovered Diane Mott Davidson with this book and was so glad I did. I immediately went backward and read the rest of the series, and I'm still reading forward, moving toward her latest PB release Dark Tort. I highly recommend this series. Goldy is a caterer and a sleuth. Each mystery tale comes with a delicious list of recipes (prepared by Goldy during the course of the story). In Tough Cookie, Goldy is temporarily hosting a local TV cooking show when so much goes wrong! Cooking disasters on the set, a blizzard, and then a dead body. She finds it herself and unfortunately for her, it turns out to be her ex-boyfriend. Goldy begins to investigate to determine whether her ex was murdered or not. And it leads to real danger for her. Goldy is married to police investigator Tom in this outing, but in her earlier books, we get a nice build up of their relationship, starting with how they met in her first book, Catering to Nobody. I suggest you start with #1 Catering to Nobody and work your way up to this one and beyond. You'll be glad you did. Delicious!
Cookie Mystery.......2007-07-21
I love this series of Goldie mysteries...a good combination of great receipes and a good mystery in each
Murder Mystery.......2007-05-12
Love these books. Have read them all to date. Arrived as promised.
Favorite of the Series.......2007-04-19
Tough Cookie finds Goldy in the thick of some serious drama, but she gets through with smarts, determination and wit. I love the Goldy character because she's brave, funny and nurturing. Finally - a wife and mother who loves her job (and sex) too!
I put this as my favorite of the Goldy mysteries because of the end - which you have to read to believe. It'll leave you breathless, thinking `How's Goldy gonna get out of this one?' Sure, the likelihood of so many murders going on in one town is ridiculous. And would Goldy really be so front-and-center in these people's lives? I doubt it, but since Ms. Davidson tells such ripping good yarns, I don't care.
That being said, somebody please smack Arch. PLEASE! Sure he's a teenager, but until the kid's paying his own bills in his own house, he needs a kick in the pants. Still, my extreme annoyance with him is just what the author wanted - when you experience real emotion toward a fictional character, that's good writing.
And who knew recipes could add so much flavor to a plotline? I've gotten to the point where I'm looking forward to a page or two of cookery. Davidson's food passages are so well-written they don't slow the pace one bit. Characters, storyline, occupational details, humor and heartstrings come together wonderfully in Davidson's mysteries. I hope she writes a mystery with Goldy on her dream trip to Italy.
Average customer rating:
- That's How the Cookie Crumbles
- "You Play the Horses, Slim?"
- Tough Cookie
- On My Top Five Favorite Children's Book List
- Creatively superb!
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Tough Cookie
David Wisniewski
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Humorous
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Mysteries, Espionage, & Detectives
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Wisniewski, David
| ( W )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
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Nothing Ever Happens On 90th Street
ASIN: 0688153372 |
Book Description
Sam Spade, move over! In his years on the force, Tough Cookie Busted the Ginger Snaps and broke up the Macaroons. Now living as a private eye at the bottom of the cookie jar, he learns that Fingers has gotten his old partner, Chips. With his best girl, Pecan Sandy, at his side, Tough Cookie sets out to put Fingers away, for keeps! This hilarious spoof will have readers rolling in the aisles.
00-01 Keystone to Reading Book Award Masterlist
Customer Reviews:
That's How the Cookie Crumbles.......2001-03-12
This book is hard to rate. If it were for adults, as a novelty, it would clearly be five stars. For teenagers who have discovered "hard-boiled" detective fiction, this book would also be five stars. I have to believe that most of the story and humor would blow past the 4-8 year old set, that is the book's ostensible audience.
The illustrations, on the other hand, fit the age grouping nicely. They are done by cutting vividly-colored paper, creating constructions with the cut-outs, and then photographing the results.
The whole story takes place in a cookie jar, from the perspective of the cookies who have been around for awhile (don't think of them as stale, think of them as experienced). As is usual, putting a new viewpoint in place creates the potential for interesting new ideas. How do you stop depredations against the other cookies?
I wish that the classic noir novels from the thirties had the humor of this book. "I kiss her. 'You're a smart cookie,' I say. 'Maybe being a tough cookie isn't enough.'"
Now, if you have a child with great imagination, and you explain humor well, it may work for a younger child. But be prepared for the difficulty of explaining a satire of something you child has not yet seen or read.
You should also think about ways that low lifes (crumbs) can make all of the difference in real life.
Look at life from a new angle to see its potential!
"You Play the Horses, Slim?".......2000-07-10
Yeah, it's terse. Tough. Even cynical at times. But funny as all get out. It's probably no big trick to pull off a noirish children's book with a protagonist based on Bogart roles, but Wisniewski has just the right touch. It's clever/sassy for grownups ("A slap stings my cheek like a velvet bee." ) but colorful and funny for children.
Our hero, "Tough Cookie," aided by the smart and svelte Pecan Sandy, live in a cookie jar with assorted, uhhh, cookies (and crumbs). Tough Cookie and friends go after "Fingers," a ravenous foe who puts Cookie's former partner "Chips" in the cookie hospital: Like Sam Spade, Cookie goes after him (or her) "It's a long ride to the Top of the Jar. I begin to think maybe I'm a nutbar to do this. Then I think of Chips..." 29 pages of fun, it's an inventive twist on a proven formula.
Tough Cookie.......2000-04-17
Tough Cookie by David Wisniewski is a departure from his retelling of folktales from various cultures, which the illustrator has done in at least four of his previous books. His book, Golem, won for him a Caldecott award, which is a showcase for his cutwork art talent, however, this book shows his sense of humor and creativity. When reading this book the reader learns that Wisniewski is not only an award winning artist, but he also has a sense of humor too. What a wonderful combination! This book is a crime thriller in which Tough Cookie, a detective, and his girlfriend, Pecan Sandy, must solve the mystery of what is happening to the missing crumbs.It shows how rough life can be at the bottom of a cookie jar, especially when Fingers shows up. It's a must read for all ages, featuring Wisniewski's characteristic cutwork illustrations.
On My Top Five Favorite Children's Book List.......2000-03-24
I work in a children's library, and I read children's books all the time; this book stands out above and beyond many others. It's funny and cleverly illustrated with paper cut-outs, a specialty of the author. I've shared this book with all ages (including my co-workers) and it has been well received by all of them!
Creatively superb!.......1999-11-18
TOUGH COOKIE is one of the most creative and humorous books I have read. Because of its mix of adult humor with children's imagination, I think it is best suited for children ages 11 and up. What an excellent use of language and humor!
Average customer rating:
- Tough Cookie
- Life for a child with Epidermolysis Bullosa
- Here's a biography of faith that will make your heart glad..
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Tough Cookie
Lillian Sparks
Manufacturer: Logos Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Pediatrics
| Specialties
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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Parents Cry Too!
ASIN: 0882705164 |
Customer Reviews:
Tough Cookie.......2006-08-03
I was privileged to be Bryon's 2nd grade teacher and saw first hand EB at it's worst. Bryon took everything in stride as if it was an everyday occurance. He was protected by all the members of his class and they always pushed him to participate whether it was baseball, basketball or any other game that normal kids played. He was an inspiration to me and I did have the book which was autographed by Bryon and Lillian, but loaned it out to someone and it was never returned. If anyone knows of one I could buy to remember the story and remember a child that was such a blessing to me and all who came in contact with him. I am now a pediatric RN and have taken care of 3 children with EB and none of them were as bad as Bryon was when I knew him. I have heard in later years that the family had found somewhat of a cure for him and the last I heard he was in high school playing soccer. What a wonderful account of the LOVE OF GOD demonstrated in spite of all the pain!
Life for a child with Epidermolysis Bullosa.......2002-07-06
Bryon has Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa... the same exact condition my son has. RDEB is a rare skin disorder where the skin is so fragile a minimum scratch causes 2nd degree burn-like wounds, it is a devastating condition with no cure that does not improve with age.
In this book Lillian describes in detail her life with Bryon from birth and beyond. It was a tough book to read because of the vivid images it brought to me, but a must to read for any EB parent and their loved ones.
Here's a biography of faith that will make your heart glad.........2001-03-29
"The heartwarming story of a small boy's rare courage and struggle with a rare skin disease that has caused pain and suffering for Bryon since birth. His story of strong faith in God's love is a lesson for all of us. His cheerful disposition is a tremendous contrast to the severity of his condition. When you read this story, you will realize that in the midst of sorrow, God alone can draw the sting out of every trouble and take the bitterness from every affliction." This is a wonderful book and you will be touched by it's story and how it will change your own outlook on life.
Product Description
multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
Product Description
multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
Average customer rating:
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Goldy Bear Series: Catering to Nobody, Dying for Chocolate, The Cereal Murders, The Last Suppers, Killer Pancake, The Main Corpse, The Grilling Season, Prime Cut, Tough Cookie, Sticks and Scones, Chopping Spree, Double Shot, Dark Tort (Set of 13 Culinary Mystery Novels)
Diane Mott Davidson
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000VEHCZQ |
Average customer rating:
- don't waste your money
- A Great Recommendation
- One Tough Cookie
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One Tough Cookie
Vinnie Hansen
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Women Sleuths
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 073881671X |
Book Description
A Watsonville High School student has dumped poison into a batch of cookie dough, making the entire faculty sick. While baker/amateur sleuth Carol Sabala investigates, someone throws the talented, pregnant Jennifer Padilla from a catwalk to her death. Who was the father of Jennifer Padilla's unborn child? Did he kill her? As Carol determinedly seeks answers, she falls victim to a relentless stalker.
Customer Reviews:
don't waste your money.......2004-12-09
I read a lot of mysteries, and to be honest, its a mystery to me how this book got published. I don't want to be cruel, but in fairness to readers who may waste there money, I have to be honest. I found this book to be totally lame and not at all up to the standards that I'm used to for even the most mediocre mysteries. Don't waste your money.
A Great Recommendation.......2001-10-17
Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. It is a must for anybody who loves suspense, mystery and intrigue. I have to say this is one of the best books of suspense I've read. I recommend anyone and everyone to read this book. Go out and read it!!!
One Tough Cookie.......2001-06-06
A "yummy" read... a must for those who love culinary arts! It's a great suspense- you can't put it down once you start reading!
Average customer rating:
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ONE TOUGH COOKIE
Manufacturer: METEOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000I8QSQO |
Average customer rating:
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One Tough Cookie (Black Satin Romance)
Carole Dean
Manufacturer: Ulverscroft Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
General
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Romance
| Large Print
| Formats
| Books
ASIN: 1861100388 |
Customer Reviews:
Blurb from back cover..........2003-08-08
ON THE COSTA DEL SOL. Taylor Monroe had come to Spain with one goal. He was going to snatch his wayward brother Dan from this lazy, bohemian lifestyle and put him on the next flight back to New York. Taylor had worked hard to build a successful firm. And while he reaped the benefits, he couldn't let his brother waste away in some ramshackle dwelling on the Mediterranean coast. But Dan was out of town. In his apartment, Taylor was confronted by a feisty woman who claimed to be one of Dan's buddies. With sunny blond hair, snapping blue eyes, and a gift for language; Willy Desmond seemed at home on the Costa Del Sol. She'd spent the last four years in Europem drifting like a leaf in the wind. Her lifestyle defied Taylor's values of discipline, stability, and roots. And with one taste of her lips, Taylor understood why they called her Wild Willy.
Willow Desmond had heard Dan talk of his brother, the family caretaker. Dark, gorgeous Taylor was the kind of man who made others bend to his desires, the kind of man Willy had spent a lifetime avoiding. Willy had earned her reputation as one tough cookie. But all it took was one kiss from Taylor, and that cookie began to crumble.
Average customer rating:
- Another Dragonlance masterpeice!
- Everything good fantasy should be
- Do not buy these books!
- Fantastic Novel!
- NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT!
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Dragonlance Legends: Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, Test of the Twins
Margaret Weis , and
Tracy Hickman
Manufacturer: Distributed to the book trade in the U.S. by Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
Hickman, Tracy | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Weis, Margaret | ( W ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 088038610X |
Customer Reviews:
Another Dragonlance masterpeice!.......2007-10-06
Ever since my bf introduced me to Dragonlance I have been reading them non stop. These 3 books are awesome! They really are very action packed and make you sit back and go WOW. I didnt get sad with these 3 books at all I was more sucked in and sometimes got so outraged by the actions of some of the evil people (you know who Im talking about) These are a must read.
Everything good fantasy should be.......2001-10-18
It is almost impossible to describe how wonderful this book is. There is nothing about it that is not absolutly perfect. It is absolutly incredible what Margaret Weis and Tracy HIckman have written. I wish I could sit here and type out the whole plot, but unfortunatly, I can't. But I will say this. The characters are beyond belife. Anybody who didn't worship Raistlin before will now. He is most definatly the greatest fantasy character ever written. Crysania is good too, especially in Test of the Twins. Dalamar Nightson, Raistlin's apprentice, is one of the better characters, and is part of why this trilogy is so incredible. No one has ever written anythig close to this. Everyone should read this book, it is so wonderful. Personnaly, I've read it so many time I can almost recite it, and it never gets worse. Please, for the love of Raistlin, BUY THIS BOOK.
Do not buy these books!.......2000-05-20
Off limits! Never buy these wonderful adventures. If you do, you will ever after be disappointed in everything else you read. It's truly sad to stumble through the rest of your life searching for a comparable read as lively and passionate as this series by the masters of adventure, Weis and Hickman. OK, you've been warned.
Fantastic Novel!.......2000-03-14
By far, these are the best set of books that I have read in a VERY long time. I agree with some of the other people that the contents, especially the ending should NOT be reveiled in an email. I think that such a wonderful book should be read by the reader & not told to you by some goof. Experience the wonderful world of Krynn for yourself & you'll find you'll be back again & again & again.... :) Enjoy them all but start with Chronicles first! :)
NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT!.......1999-06-18
If you are reading this and thinking about buying, STOP READING THIS AND DO IT. I really can't think of any better book to read (other than the Chronicles) to get you started on fantasy. These books are easier to read and understand than most Tolkien novels. Caramon and Raistlin show the true struggle between Good, Evil, Love and Hate. Tasslehoff Burrfoot, our friendly Kender, also plays a MAJOR role, which I am glad to say. Just one more word......AWESOME!
Average customer rating:
- A good read!
- You'll love these books.
- SIMPLY AMAZING
- Twins
- Dragonlance top 3
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Legends Gift Set: Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, and Test of the Twins (Dragonlance: Legends Trilogy)
Margaret Weis , and
Tracy Hickman
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
Hickman, Tracy | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Weis, Margaret | ( W ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Soulforge (Dragonlance: The Raistlin Chronicles, Book 1)
ASIN: 0786927666
Release Date: 2002-09-03 |
Book Description
A boxed set of three core titles from the Dragonlance saga.
This slip-covered gift set contains three key titles from the Dragonlance saga: Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, and Test of the Twins, all of which were authored by New York Times bestselling authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. These are three of the strongest-selling Dragonlance backlist titles.
In Time of the Twins, Tasslehoff, Raistlin, Caramon, and the priestess Crysania travel back in time to visit the city of Istar before the Cataclysm in an attempt to avert disaster, while Raistlin plots to seize the magical power of the ancient wizard Fistandantilus. In Test of the Twins, Raistlin casts a magical spell to open a Portal to the Abyss. At the same instant his brother Caramon operates a magical device that throws Caramon and Tasslehoff into an unexpected place. And in War of the Twins, Raistlin prepares to enter the Abyss and challenge the Dark Queen herself, only do discover that he is caught in a time loop from which there seems to be no escape.
Customer Reviews:
A good read!.......2007-09-25
I love Dragonlance a lot! This trilogy was not as interesting as the first one Cronicles. however it was very good. If you like Raislin and the story of him searching to gain more magical power than this is the trilogy for you. A must for Dragonlance fans.
You'll love these books........2007-01-29
It doesn't matter what kind of books you like. Youll love the Chronicles and Legends trilogies.
SIMPLY AMAZING.......2006-11-12
Margret Weis and Tracy Hickam simply wrote the best six books I've ever read. Cronicles and Legends are great for any reader who enjoys a world of adventure. Every theme that you can find in a movie are in these books. Currently deployed, I finished the books in about a week for each one. If you love fantasy novels, this is the way to go!
Twins.......2006-11-10
My son could hardly put this set of books down. He read 5 of the the Dragonlance books in 3 months with is a seriously amazing thing for him!
Dragonlance top 3.......2006-11-05
These books along with The Soulforge are by far the best in the Dragonlance saga. Maybe I am partial to Raistlin but I find that the character is one of the most interesting in all D&D novels and the work that Weiss puts into him really pays off.
And time travelling is always a plus !
Book Description
In the twenty-fourth century, nano-designed biology has turned the world into humanity's playground. And entrepreneur Lucius Sterling has created a trillion-dollar empire solving the world's problems: poverty, disease, war, and even death. But when a new technology attacks the fundamental building blocks of nano-biology, the survival of humanity is at stake.And only Sterling's estranged grandson, Jack, can stop the destruction.
Customer Reviews:
Not believable, and weak characters.......2007-06-21
First of all even though this is science fiction, there has to be something to sell you on the idea that this could really happen. Some of it is believable, but some of it is just too much to swallow. Clothing that will totally reconfigure and rooms that do the same are two small examples. And even some of that contradicts itself. You can't root for the main character. It's the supporting character Alexa that "steals" the book. The main character Jack Sterling is shallow, feable, and selfish. How can you care about someone like that. So many people die because of him for no real reason.
The idea behind the story is pretty good, and for that I give it a couple of stars.
Enthralling, but loses its touch towards the end........2007-03-05
This book, while dauntiling long, is easy to devour. I spent a single day just sitting in bed, reading the entire story 'til the end.
The beginning of the book was very interesting; a group of young adults about to sacrafice themselves in effort to destroy some evil corporate villian. Then, a bit of mayhem ensues and Alexa (a girl dying of cancer and willing to lose her life for a cause) saves this villian and eventually becomes his bodyguard.
This villian made his fortune off of nanabiology; revolutionized all constructs and culture in society to the point that the world very much depends almost solely on this technology. Then speed forward a couple hundred years, and something has emerged that will destroy this, and all of civilization, with it.
Towards the last hundred or less pages of the book, the story is extremely fast paced and a lot of murder and other sordid afairs occur. Then it leaves you at a cliffhanger, but oddly, it also allows you to feel that the story, (at least this chapter of it) is complete.
One thing it reminded me of is the writing of Michael Chrighton. The story slowly developed with plenty of attention to detail in the beginning. But towards the end, the rushed pace gives you the feeling that the author was hurrying to finish the story. Overall, a worthwhile read - even for non-science fiction fans.
The Alexaead, part I.......2006-12-12
In "The Last Mortal Man," Syne Mitchell combines her interest in nanotechnology with her love for the space operatic epics of the middle of the last century.
This tale, first of a series, begins with an assassination attempt that will keep you on edge, and then hurtles forward into the mid future, where the "deathless," people who've been genetically and nanotechnally modified to live forever, have the power. (I mean really, really live for ever--they can apparently recover from being buried alive under a building.)
Now, the people who don't have the money to live forever naturally resent the deathless more than somewhat, and the deathless themselves resent the entrepreneur, Lucius Sterling, who holds the patents, and who is protected by his deathless bodyguard, Alexa Dubois.
Then, trouble starts. Somebody has found a way to destroy the nanotechnically grown glittering new cities of the future (fear not, Art Deco fans, this time when New York goes, the Chrysler Building stays), and for reasons you'll learn, only Lucius's heir Jack, aided of course by Alexa, can save the day.
The tale is well written and moves swiftly--so swiftly in fact that you'll probably enjoy the read (you can have fun along the way figuring out where John W. Campbell would have placed the "continued next month" break when he serialized it in "Analog" before publication) and willingly suspend your disbelief.
Count me in for the next volume when it appears.
Not the best.......2006-09-16
"The Last Mortal Man" book by Syne Mitchell is the first book in the Deathless series. It was a really strange one...
It's a sci-fi set in a not so distant future on Earth. The Sterling company has developed nano-technology that allows people to become Deathless, virtually Immortal. For almost two hundreds years everything worked just fine, but then, the disassemblers appeared, a tiny, new-generation nano-technology, that destroyes the old one. The world started to crumble and hundreds of thousands of people died in a matter of seconds. And that's the beginning of the story...
The main heroes are Alexa DuBois and Jack Sterling, the great-grandson of Lucius Sterling, the founder of the Sterling company.
The Immortals can't have children, but Lucius decided to have one anyway and thanks to an artificial insemination, he really did have a kid with his current flame. His great-grandson Jack
is allergic to nano-technology though, and has to live in the so called Dead Zone where there is no nano-technology present. He lives in Watershed Valley in the religious community of the Mennonites.
Alexa is a dying girl who wanted to kill Lucius Sterling but he makes her his best weapon and bodyguard, turning her into a ruthless Deathless who is ordered to protect the Sterling children above everything else.
And then there is the little girl, Isobel... But that would spoil the main plot :)
The actual story is set in an apocalyptic world and opens the question if it's right to save one individual at the cost of millions of other lives - and that's the main problem of the story too. You can't feel sorry for anything that happens to the main heroes because through their so called humanity they spread death around ruthlessly. To save one village, Jack kills thousands of people by blowing up an airport... To save one girl, Jack sacrifices at least a dozen children younger than she...
I have never encountered a book that was so full of betrayal, selfishness, mistrust and ruthless killing where one wasn't needed and indecision where a merciless strike really was needed. And I'm not even talking about the Mennonite with their Old Ways and Bible preaching; they treated women like rags, beating them and denying them their rights - with Jack just looking away to "not make it even worse". Alexa doesn't trust anyone, not even Jack, and she has all the bones in her body crushed, looses legs and arms like she is shagging hair. Jack doesn't trust anybody, not even Alexa and survives time and time again severe allergic reactions... etc.
Yeah, it wasn't bad per se, but I will have to think really hard before buying the second book :(
Interesting premise-Terrible character developement.......2006-08-21
Enjoying good science fiction depends on suspension of the readers disbelief. Even though someone has a hyperdrive spaceship there are still internal rules to a book's universe that allow for this disbelief. Same goes for character developement and motivations. This author does a good job of building her world but then let me down with highly questionable character decisions that come out of nowhere. Her main characters make several bizarre choices that left me irritated beyond belief and rendered them unsympathetic. For example: "This child whom I've known for five minutes is going to destroy me and civilization completely but I have decided to protect her at all cost including murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens personally. Why? No reason. This sort of thing happens repeatedly. Bleagh! No thank you! I want my $7 and the last five hours of my life back.
Book Description
Nestled in the heart of the Mexican state of Oaxaca is Rancho Aurora, home of the Seasons of My Heart cooking school and inn. Ten years ago, chef and owner Susana Trilling left New York City and a very successful catering business to follow what turned out to be her calling--to immerse herself in the foods, culture, and traditions of this remote and exotic region of Mexico and share her knowledge with the rest of the world.
In this book and its companion PBS series, Susana shares her deep passion and anthropologic knowledge of this fascinating region whose cuisine remains virtually untouched by influences from the outside world. The pre-Hispanic and Spanish-influenced dishes, such as empanadas, nopales, quelites, and moles, are much more complex and delicious than the usual rice and beans found north of the border.
Susana not only takes us on a fascinating journey through the city markets, mountain regions, coastal villages, and low-lying coffee and cacao plantations, she introduces us to the beautiful people who work and live there. Along the way, she shares traditional recipes from each region, with her own improvisations and improvements, showing us how to easily approach this rich and delicious food in a modern American kitchen.
From Dona Josefa Sanchez's empanadas de betabel (beet empanadas), served to hungry shoppers at the Etla market in the Central Valleys, to the darkly luscious and mysterious Mole Negro Oaxaqueno (Oaxacan black mole) from the bustling heart of Oaxaca City, cooked up in quantity for the Día de los Muertos (day of the dead), to a tamale-making session given by the locally infamous Candida Blas Aguilar in the sleepy Isthmus region--this is truly a culinary journey through the heart and soul of Oaxaca.
Amazon.com
Right at the tip of the poblano chile that makes up the bulk of Mexico, right where the land squeezes together and pushes the Yucatán Peninsula out into the Atlantic Ocean, you'll find the state of Oaxaca. It's kind if a round state, like a grapefruit with a handle. Only Chiapas is further south, and beyond that lies Guatemala. This is to say that the Mexican cuisine Susana Trilling presents in her wonderful, informative book Seasons of My Heart has nothing to do with the generic food of the border. She follows in the tradition of Diana Kennedy, Rick Bayless, Zarela Martinez, Patricia Quintana, and Marilyn Tausend, both when setting a table and setting a standard.
Part of Oaxaca butts up against the Pacific Ocean; part of it is lost in the mountains. In between are valleys and plains. Susana Trilling lives, works, and raises her family in Oaxaca. Her knowledge of her adopted land is indeed intimate--and delicious. Take a restaurant owner and caterer out of New York and drop her in Oaxaca and it's guaranteed that she's going to zero in on the food and its traditions. Some Oaxacan food has roots in Spanish cuisine, but most of it is, well, Oaxacan, and has been that way since time untold. In Seasons of My Heart, Trilling walks the interested visitor through all the different regions and foodstuffs of Oaxaca. This book is like interactive anthropology: you read about Oaxaca, then you eat the food, filling your house with the cooking aromas of another land.
Trilling divides her book into chapters that reflect the distinct regions of the state, finishing up with chapters on mole, updated recipes for the modern kitchen and palate, and essential ingredients to make the food happen. --Schuyler Ingle
Customer Reviews:
A fabulous book.......2007-03-25
Seasons of my Heart is the best book on Mexican recipes from Oaxaca I have ever read and owned. Living in Columbus, Ohio I have been able to find all of the ingredients required for most recipes. There are individual recipes which by themselves would make this book worthwhile owning. To name just a couple of these, the basic chicken stock recipe, the tortilla soup recipe and the three milk cake are extraordinary and easy. It is well written and the instructions are easy to follow. It is a very treasured cookbook in my collection. Anybody who enjoys great food, and in particular Mexican food should have this book.
NURTURES MINDS AND BODIES.......2004-02-11
Some twelve years ago chef Susan Trilling said goodbye to an alive New York City catering business to follow her heart to a remote and exotic region of Mexico - Oaxaca. Today, deep in the heart of this Mexican state is Rancho Aurora, home of the Seasons of My Heart cooking school and inn.
A companion to the well received National Public Television Series, Seasons of My Heart is a tribute to the people, culture and cuisine of this far-off area which has remained virtually untouched. "Oaxaca invites a deep appreciation of Mexican culture," the author writes. "Here time has stood still in the small village where I went to visit my husband for the first time. I was enchanted with every burro laden with corn going to the mill, every horse-drawn cart filled with alfalfa for the cows and horses......"
A veritable armchair travelogue, this colorfully illustrated volume takes readers to a tomato lunch in the field, to harvest time by dawn, to a traditional wedding feast, and to see a primitive altar laden with dishes for religious holidays.
Trilling wisely not only shares these treasured recipes, but offers her personal alterations and advice for successfully preparing them in American kitchens. Imagine sitting down to a platter of "Tamales De Ragas" (Chile and Tomato Tamales) with its appetizing marriage of sweet tomatoes and onions or "Empanadas De Mole Amarillo (Baked Mole Amarillo Turnovers), which are often prepared to order on charcoal grills set up outside local churches.
Seasons Of My Heart nurtures not only bodies, but minds and imaginations as well.
- Gail Cooke
Great food, you'll not likely find the ingredients though..........2003-12-11
After recently attending a cooking class by Susana Trilling, I can attest to the wonderful recipes in this book. Not only that, but Susana is a wonderful person with great knowledge of the culture.
However impressive the recipes may be though, there is a huge problem with this book. Many of the recipes in the book call for ingredients that can't be found even in a speciality mexican store, and some are unique to Oaxaca itself. While this in itself is not a problem, Susan does not provide any help with suitable substitutions for those unique ingredients. For an advanced cook maybe this isn't a problem, but for a beginner or intermediate cook, this makes the book nearly unusable. In general, the recipes are quite involved and complex in comparison to other mexican cook books I have seen.
I would not recommend this book to someone who is newer to cooking or does not live in an area where an ample supply of mexican cooking ingredients can be found. Perhaps Susana will make a second addition for us newbie cooks that provides us with better alternatives.
My sampling of Oaxacan tamales was at a local Mexican booth.......2002-12-24
These tamales were delicious with lots of chili-laden pork wrapped with a specially coarse ground masa mixture and wrapped with banana leaves and finally wrapped in Al foil and steamed. While not done in the same mole variation as Trilling shows on p261, they were called the same on the menu board. They had a homemade creamy red salsa available on request too. I've had these cheap, savory, and filling lunches a few times, and taken them home and reheating them in a microwave for a nice snack.
This is a wonderfully illustrated cookbook has many black & white pix of people & illustrations and also 16 pages of color plates of people and food. While this unusually organized cookbook is separated into microclimates of Oaxaca, a small state south of Mexico City, I found the chap 7 on Tuxtepec as having the most savory sounding recipes.
Be aware that this cookbook is quite vegetarian and fish oriented, for example, in chap 6 for the mountainous region of the state, there were 16 recipes with only one with meat. There were no menudo recipes or any recipes with variety meats, such as calves' foot, tongue, and tripe in the entire book.
I found her book at a local library along with Diane Kennedy and Rick Bayless. Kennedy's classic Cuisines cookbook was my first introduction in Mexican cooking many years ago.
Brilliant.......2001-08-09
I just want to concur with the other reviews and add that Susana Trilling is a brilliant chef, period -- in Mexican cooking or otherwise. I don't understand it, but she really knows how to balance flavors in a way that is unique, compared to similar recipes I've followed. What makes one chef good and another great? I don't know - but she's got it, whatever it is!
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