Book Description
"Sublime . . . complex and riveting."-Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post Book World
"A vivid picture of modern Chinese society . . . a work of real distinction."-The Wall Street Journal
"[A] terrific series. . . . [Qiu's] perspective on China gives the mystery genre a cultural twist and unusual direction that make his books unique and well worth reading."-The Rocky Mountain News
Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Bureau is taking a vacation, in part because he is annoyed at his boss, Party Secretary Li, but also because he has been made an offer he can't refuse by Gu, a triad-connected businessman. For what seems to be a fortune-with no apparent strings attached- he is to translate a business proposal for the New World, a complex of shops and restaurants to be built in Central Shanghai, evoking nostalgia for the "glitter and glamour" of the 1930s.
It is up to Detective Yu, Chen's partner, to take charge of a new case. Yin, a novelist, has been murdered in her room. At first it seems that only a neighbor could have committed the crime, but when one confesses, Yu cannot believe that he is really the killer. As Yu looks further into Yin's life, ample motives begin to surface, even on the part of Internal Security. But it is only when Inspector Chen steps back into the investigation that the culprit is apprehended. And then Chen discovers how Gu has played him and how he, in turn, can play the new capitalist system.
Qiu Xiaolong was born in Shanghai and received an MA in English and American literature in China. He received a PhD in comparative literature from Washington University in St. Louis, where he now teaches. He is the author of Death of a Red Heroine, which has now been translated into seven languages, and A Loyal Character Dancer, both available in paperback from Soho Crime.
Customer Reviews:
Inspector Chen Strikes Again.......2007-06-22
Let me set out my bias at the outset: I love the Inspector Chen novels. I drink up each one and can't wait for the next to be published. The real question is why do I enjoy them so much. The mysteries themselves (this one included) are not so mysterious. They are relatively straightforward. No novel twists and turns to challenge the mind. So, as a mystery, I would rate the books as mediocre. But the characters are fantastic. They are tortured -- each struggling to find his or her own way in a society that changes year to year, even month to month. Things that were taboo a decade ago are now norms. The characters wrestle not only with how to adapt to these changes but whether to adapt at all. After all, haven't we seen China develop down a path only to abruptly change course in "1984" fashion? Some criticize the prose as being plodding. But the prose mirrors the characters. They are deliberate -- unsure of the changes in themselves and society. I love the Inspector Chen novels, not because of the mysteries but because of Inspector Chen and all the other characters.
Fascinating Foray.......2007-06-13
In this detective novel, Qiu Xiaolong gives a detailed account of the tragic effects of the Cultural Revolution on ordinary -- and extraordinary -- people living in Shanghai in the 1990's. I could not solve the mystery, but I adored the poetry-spouting detective (who is probably quite a bit like the author) so much that I ordered Qiu's anthology of Tang and Song poetry.
When Red is Black.......2007-04-23
This is the third novel in Qiu Xiaolong's Inspector Chen mysteries.
The murder of a dissident author comes at an inconvenient time for Inspector Chen. He has just taken a break from his "iron rice bowl" job to engage in some highly paid free-lance translating. At first he is content to leave the investigation of the murder to his deputy, Sergeant Yu, but pressed by Party Secretary Li and by his own growing curiosity, he becomes fully involved in the unravelling of the murder case.
His translating job, however, continues. He has been given the task by Dynasty karaoke club owner Mr Gu (introduced in the previous novel A Loyal Character Dancer). Mr Gu, who has Triad connections, has also supplied Chen with a xiaomi, or personal secretary, the young and attractive White Cloud.
By coincidence, the murder has taken place in a shikumen, one of the traditional styles of housing created during the era of the Foreign Concessions in Shanghai; the translation undertaken by Chen is of an investment proposal for a major commercial, retail and residential precinct in the heart of Shanghai designed in the shikumen style. The author creates an interesting tension between the reality of life in the shikumen that is the murder site (no privacy, too many families living in incredibly cramped conditions) and the proposed New World project, the success of which, according to Chen "would depend on a myth - on nostalgia for the glitter and glamour of the thirties, or to be exact, on the recreation of that myth - blending the past into a delicious brew, a cup of cappuccino, to delight customers in the nineties" (p. 23).
Having been to Shanghai's model renovation in the shikumen style, the area known as Xintiandi, I can relate to the author's bemused sense of contradiction: the little museum and founding site of the Chinese Communist Party (my destination) is hardly noticeable among the yuppified coffee shops and bars of the new New China!
As with his previous novels, Qiu Xiaolong intersperses his narrative with insightful sociological observations. Some of these relate to the Cultural Revolution, which forms a backdrop to the murder, whilst others clearly reflect the author's concern with the growing gap between rich and poor that emerged in the wake of Deng Xiaoping's reforms: "The New World could turn out to be like present-day China, full of contradictions. On the outside, the socialist system under the rule of the Communist Party, but on the inside, capitalist practice in whatever disguise. Could the combination of the two really work?" (p. 139).
Nor would it be a Chinese novel without reference to food. White Cloud turns out to be an accomplished cook: "She finally emerged, carrying a large tray with a broad smile. `From the Dynasty Club,' she announced, placing on the folding table an impressive dinner that included some delicacies he had never seen before. One was a small dish of fried sparrow gizzards, golden crisp. How many sparrows had gone into the making of that dish, he wondered. The other dish, of duck, was also original - it was duck heads with the skulls removed, so people could easily reach the tongues, or suck out the brains. It was the sauna shrimp, however, that really impressed him. River shrimp were brought to the table in a glass bowl, live, still jumping and wriggling. She also provided a small wooden pail whose bottom was covered with red hot stones. She poured some wine into the bowl of shrimp, then took the drunken shrimp from the bowl and put them into the pail. There was a shrill hiss, and in two or three minutes, a plate of sauna shrimp appeared." (p. 108).
Some western reviewers have found the narrative pace and unexpected thrills of the mystery genre lacking in this novel; however, it is an intriguing tale and a pleasure to be transported back to a familiar Chinese setting.
Michael Williss
Highly recommended.......2007-04-13
Another engaging Inspector Chen mystery, but this time his sidekick Detective Yu is more involved, which adds breadth to the story. But this is not so much a mystery as a portrait of modern Shanghai, which in spite of its economic boom is still haunted by the horror of the Cultural Revolution. Although the denouement seems a bit dragged out, this is a finely written piece of work.
A wonderful writer!.......2007-01-04
Qiu Xiaolong writes in a way that is so wonderful on several levels:
1. He is a superb writer.
2. These are very good mysteries/crime stories. No pat endings and detailed characters with complex motives and relationships.
3. This view into modern life in China and the effects on its people of that nations recent history are not to be missed. Nowhere will you find such a detailed and eye-opening look at "real life" in China unless you have friends from there!
Average customer rating:
|
15 PBs! Roses are Red, Big Bad Wolf, Kiss the Girls, Mary Mary, 3rd Degree, 4th of July, When the Wind Blows, Lake House, Black Friday, Midnight Club, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, London Bridges, Beach House, Judge & Jury, The Jester.
James Patterson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TB0FO6 |
Product Description
Paperbacks
Book Description
Harry Osborn and Peter Parker were once best friends. But that was before Harry found out Peter is Spider-Man, and before Harry saw Spider-Man bring home the body of his father. Believing Spider-Man killed his father, Harry can't forgive or forget. The anger and pain fill Harry until he's driven to accept his father's villainous legacy. The New Goblin is in town, and he wants revenge.
Customer Reviews:
A bloodfest tries to pass itself off as a novel........2005-03-04
Carnage in New York was a slightly enjoyable romp that mainly involved a plot with Spider-man attempting to stop a deadly serum that will cause anyone exposed to it to go into a vicious killing frenzy, with said serum winding up in the hands of Carnage. The sequel involves a mysterious foe that could be Norman Osborn, the original Green Goblin, back from the dead(this takes place before that infamous clone saga really brought him back) stealing the serum and breaking Carnage back out of prison. Unfortunately, that's about it. The paper-thin plot is really just an poor excuse to showcase a horrendous amount of violence, bloodshed, and gore, and the unless you're a new-comer to Spider-man(you've only seen the movies, for example) the true identity of the main villain is incredibly obvious. Only masochists and extremely hardcore Spider-man fans should consider buying this tripe, the rest should stay away.
Sequel Misses the Feel.......2004-05-18
A while back I really enjoyed a book called CARNAGE IN NEW YORK by David Michelinie and Dean Wesley Smith. Now I have just completed the sequel called THE GOBLIN'S REVENGE by Dean Wesley Smith.
This book takes up just after the conclusion of the first book. Spider-Man has just turned over a deadly serum to Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four. Reed is attacked by a pumpkin-bomb wielding figure who takes the serum. Then someone helps Carnage break out of prison and there are sightings of The Green Goblin (who has been dead for years). The Green Goblin, Carnage and a team from the company that created the serum are now all after Spider-Man. To make matters worse, Spidey is not in top form as nightmares have kept him from sleeping. Now he must figure out the riddle of the Green Goblin's return, recapture Carnage and avoid the team with the fancy ray guns.
I really enjoyed the first book as it really felt like it was directly from the pages of the comic book, but this one just did not flow as well. It might be that Dean Wesly Smith was only a co-author of the first one while he is the only author of this one. So, while I recommended the first to people on the basis that it read just like a single issue of the comic, I do not really recommend this one. If you want to read it anyway go right ahead, it is kind of fun in its way.
Nuff' Said.......2002-08-24
great sequal. loved "Carnage in New York" (prequal). Dean Wesley Smith is a great writer. i highly recomend it. you can pass on it if you aren't a spidey fan but if you're lookin' for something new,try this out. hopefully read it after carnage in NY, but not necessary. nuff' said.
An entertaining Spider-Man adventure.......2001-07-16
Having been a Marvel comics fan for over a decade, and a Spider-Man fan for a bit longer, this character has been a regular presence in my life from childhood to present. His classic origin, major villains, and everyday struggles make him the flagship Marvel character, and it's hard to get bored of him.
But when I read the prequel to Goblin's Revenge, Carnage in New York (by David Michelinie and Dead Wesley Smith), I was disappointed. I thought it was lackluster in relation to Michelinie's own work on Amazing Spider-Man, and compared to Smith's solo novel, Venom's Wrath. So, seeing Smith cruising solo on this one again, I was anxious to see if he'd be able to hold my interest and perhaps even surpass the quality of Venom's Wrath.
I needn't have worried. Smith recovers from the pacing problems of Carnage in New York and does an excellent job of gradually introducing characters, elements, and antagonists for Spider-Man throughout Goblin's Revenge. The story picks up immediately where Carnage in New York left off - immediately after Spider-Man gave the vial of insanity-inducing serum to Reed Richards, someone stole it from him. And Spider-Man has to find out who (the Fantastic Four happen to be out-of-town during the adventure).
Meanwhile, Spider-Man has to deal with several enemies. For one, his fatigue: he can't sleep because he is plagued by horrible nightmares of New York City drowning in blood. Then, he begins to see the deceased Norman Osborn around town, and even spots the Green Goblin flying around. Naturally, this plays havoc with his mind, and he begins to torture himself with images of Gwen Stacy's death (in a very convincing psychological conflict, I might add). As if to make it worse, Lifestream Technologies (who created the serum) hires a group of soldiers to apprehend Spider-Man, making his maneuvering throughout the city extremely difficult. And finally, someone helps Carnage escape from the Vault, and the madman returns to New York City for a rematch. Each of these events occur in rapid succession, quickly building the opposition.
It's clearly shaping up to be a slaughter for Spider-Man, and that's how some of his best stories are written. He's the hero who works best as an underdog, coming back against unbeatable odds. But Smith makes sure to maintain realism by introducing chance elements and coincidences that take out some of his antagonists - thus making Spider-Man's inevitable triumph a bit easier to swallow.
However, since Norman Osborn was supposed to be dead, the revelation of who's behind the Green Goblin mask turned out to be a weak explanation. Nonetheless, it seemed like the real Goblin, and the dynamic between him and Carnage was actually pretty believable. I thought it was exactly how these two psychos would interact. I especially loved the Three Stooges-style fighting in the final battle.
I enjoyed Goblin's Revenge a great deal more than its prequel, Carnage in New York. Where I felt the first novel was acceptable but not necessary, I think this one is essential. Smith has a great handling on Spider-Man's character, and he knows the mechanics of pacing well enough to build suspense and maintain the reader's interest throughout the novel. I recommend Goblin's Revenge quite highly.
Nice way to Follow Up the Carnage In New York.......2001-01-19
This book is a pretty good read. First off, it starts as a mysterious foe watches Spidey's battle with Carnage from Carnage in New York (If you haven't read that book yet, read my review, it's pretty good....the book I mean, hehe). Then it ties in directly to the last pages of that book and into this one. I won't spoil it too much for you, but Spidey gets haunted when Doc Cattrall's serum - the very serum that could destroy entire countries - gets stolen! Yes, again! This kicks him almost over the edge! Plus, since Peter's obviously bored and lacking a challenge (and who wouldn't be, with being obsessed searching for a killer serum and all), we see the return of Norman Osborn!! He's dead! Or is he? To make matters worse (as if the return of one of your most powerful enemies on TOP of looking for a killer serum wasn't enough), Carnage has escaped! And he's coming to New York to rip Spidey into little bits! How'd he get free? Is there some connection? Should Peter have just stayed in bed? Plus Spidey tangles with even MORE folx, as you'll find out. Whoever thought sleeping near subway tracks could be so much fun? This book is well-written, and it'll keep you guessing as to what's going on, who's behind what, and how it ties together until the end. Best Spidey book I've read, by far.
Customer Reviews:
Green Goblin Year One.......2006-11-12
Norman Osborn is back and he wants an heir to his name. Since his son Harry died trying to take over the mantle if the Green Goblin, Norman believes the heir apparent should be Peter Parker, also known as Spider-man! We also learn about the history of his love for his wife Emily, his abusive relationship with his father, and the new love of his life, Kolina. This essentially is an origin story of the Green Goblin. Too bad he forgets he had twin children with Gwen Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 8: Sins Past story line. Anyway, back to the tpb, will Norman succeed in manipulating and convincing Spider-man to become the next Green Goblin by taking the Goblin serum? Buy the book and find out!
Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be...the Green Goblin!.......2003-04-09
As the book title suggest's, it's the Green Goblin's revenge. Except now, Norman Osborn is using someone else as Gobby. I won't spoil it for you, though. I can say, though, that the story is very emotional, and you can see that everone has a dark, evil side. Even Peter Parker, Spider-Man. You can even feel for poor Norman, as the story reveals. Spidey is tangled in his own web, and you do not want to miss his struggle...
All in all, this ranks among some of the best GG stories (Perhaps even better than the GG/Hobgoblin team-up/battle). A must for Goblin fans everywhere.
Average customer rating:
|
Spider-man Revenge of the Green Goblin #1 Vol. 1 October 2000
Roger Stern
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
 General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Marvel | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Spider-Man | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000PV3FWE |
Product Description
"Madness Takes Its Toll!"
Average customer rating:
|
Spider-man Revenge of the Green Goblin #2 Vol. 1 Nov. 2000
Roger Stern
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Marvel | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Spider-Man | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000PV4W0S |
Product Description
"Lives in the Balance!"
Average customer rating:
|
Spider-man Revenge of the Green Goblin #3 Vol. 1 Dec. 2000
Roger Stern
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Marvel | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Spider-Man | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000PV37Z4 |
Product Description
"Surrender To The Dark!"
Average customer rating:
- Alien love
- Absolutely amazing. I cannot praise this book enough.
- Starkiss-s-sed Indeed
- Kinky futuristic romance.
|
Starkissed
Lanette Curington
Manufacturer: Amber Quill Press, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1592799248
Release Date: 2003-05-07 |
Book Description
Finalist, 2001 Eppie Awards- Best Science Fiction!
Finalist, 2000 PEARL Awards-Best Futuristic!
Leith McClure reluctantly takes the helm of the family business while her father recovers from an alien virus and finds herself in the middle of illegal trade with a Zi. The deal was arranged by her father before his illness, and all Leith wants is to finish the unpleasant business and return home to Earth. She doesn't anticipate being physically drawn to the exotic Warrior of Zi.
J'Qhir, the Warrior of Zi, reluctantly trades the precious jewels for the cargo needed by his people. Embroiled in a centuries-long war, the Zi have little contact with off-worlders, and J'Qhir wants nothing more than to conclude the transaction and return home to Zi. He is mystified by his acute awareness of this human female.
An act of treachery by a trusted friend maroons Leith and J'Qhir on an idyllic but deserted planet, where human and Zi must learn to work together to survive. As they struggle against the local flora and fauna, they also confront their growing mutual attraction. With no chance of escape or rescue, Leith and J'Qhir explore the strange new worlds of each other and become forever starkissed.
Customer Reviews:
Alien love.......2006-01-01
Leith McClure is the daughter of Cameron McClure, the wealthy owner of McClure Shipping, a space transport company. Cameron being seriously ill, Leith is handling the business until he is able to take up the reins again. Steve Hancock, Cameron's right hand man, has been assisting Leith with the business. As the story begins, Leith and Hancock are on Trader World to complete a deal with J'Qhir, the representative of a standoffish species of reptilian descent called the Zi. After the payment is made in invaluable Zi jewels, J'Qhir accepts Hancock's invitation to have a tour of the McClure ship. Hancock has ulterior motives, though--he kidnaps both J'Qhir and Leith in order to gain the Zi jewels AND the business, and abandons them on a planet called "Paradise."
Leith and J'Qhir are the only sentient beings on the entire planet, and must survive or die through their joint efforts. With the few tools at their disposal, they undertake the multitude of tasks required for them to survive. At the same time, they establish an intellectual relationship--then, in spite being of different species and from different worlds, they form a physical and emotional relationship.
This is essentially a castaway story, in which two people from different cultural backgrounds discover their true compatibility under external duress. The plot caught my interest from the first page and, as the story developed, kept me reading and hoping that these two admirable people eventually would be happy together in spite of the odds against them. The science fiction framework is well developed, believable, and interesting, and is combined with a love story that grows naturally within the plot. The story is complex, containing multiple conflicts that pit the protagonists first against an individual (Hancock), then against nature (the planet), and, finally, against their own cultures (their up-bringings and expectations). I would rate this novel Spicy. Although there are only two fairly explicit love scenes (with numerous others implied), the well-crafted prose successfully communicates the growth of the deep feelings between Leith and J'Qhir. I highly recommend this emotionally-fulfilling novel for science fiction readers as well as romance readers. -- Jean, Fallen Angel Reviews (courtesy of Fallen Angel Reviews)
Absolutely amazing. I cannot praise this book enough........2003-08-14
Awesome! Not to be missed! Incredible! Proof that Love transcends any obstacle! Lanette Curington's Starkissed has received much praise in the past. I add my voice to the chorus. Yes, I'm a believer.
Standing in for her bed-ridden father, Leith McClure concludes a shady business deal in a backwater dive on the butt-side of the universe. Her father's trusted partner had set up the deal, so Leith felt no need to ask too many questions. She just wanted the deal done so she could return to her sick father's side.
Leith would later regret her disinterest.
The well-being of his people rested squarely on J'Qhir's shoulders. Guardian of his world, indeed his people's greatest hero, J'Qhir was uncomfortable with this transaction. Yes he needed the supplies and yes he trusted Cameron McClure absolutely, but this "Steve Hancock" caused all of J'Qhir's inner alarms to ring. And the youngling...? There was something about her that disturbed him on many levels. Nevertheless, he had business to conclude. The offer to tour one of McClure's spaceships was a bonus. If Cameron trusted his daughter and this "Steve," then surely so could J'Qhir?
Betrayal and trickery were talents long mastered by the race called "human." The Zi had no concept of it, but Steve was quite happy to instruct him on the finer points. A few lies told, a booby-trap or two, and Leigh and J'Qhir are abandoned on a planet called Paradise.
As the only sentient being on Paradise, Leith and J'Qhir must learn to work together, to maximize their strengths and support each other's weaknesses. Cooperation brings familiarity... familiarity brings friendship... friendship brings trust and intimacy... and intimacy brings love.
Starkissed is amazing. It did not matter than Leith and J'Qhir come from two incredibly diverse cultures-or that they were not of the same species, let alone race-for they found a common thread. Two lonely hearts who wanted to love. For all its alien-ness, Starkissed is surprisingly sweet. Even during their first sexual encounter, ripe with humor and social confusion, received and "awwwwwwwwwwwwww" response. It was also amazingly intense and thoroughly enjoyed by this reader.
I opened Starkissed late one night to begin the reviewing process. I didn't put it down until it was almost done, when dawn caressed the sky and work called. My first response was to post my recommendation of this book to my author's lists. It garnered a lively discussion there. Although Starkissed is a mixture of "Enemy Mine" and "Star Trek," it stands powerfully alone.
Absolutely amazing. I cannot praise this book enough. Fans of Futuristic Romance should consider this a "must read".
-Brenda Thatcher
Starkiss-s-sed Indeed.......2003-08-06
I enjoyed this book very much. Ms. Curington is an accomplished storyteller, grabbing your attention from the first page and never letting go.
The main characters are well drawn and fully developed with perhaps the most fleshed out being the Zi, J'Qhir - the Commander. Never has "I will build a lair for us" sounded so romantic!
And speaking of romance, from the "ss" in its title to the signature s-speak of J'Qhir, this book sizzles! The sexual tension between the alien male J'Qhir and the human female Leith is all the more intriguing for their differences. Here Ms. Curington charts an original course in exploring their love. They truly discover one another and in so doing, define themselves.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone whether they are fans of science fiction or, like me, just enjoy a good old-fashioned love story - with a new twist!
Kinky futuristic romance........2003-05-31
Leith McClure is reluctant to leave the safety of Earth and her studies, but some off-planet family business must be seen to during her father's illness. While delivering some cargo to Commander J'Qhir, Warrior of Zi, a crooked co-worker absconds with the payment and the cargo, dumping Leith and J'Qhir on an uninhabited planet. While trying to survive the harsh conditions of "Paradise", they succumb to their mutual attraction, until rescue threatens the forbidden relationship.
Finally, an author who differentiates between a human and an alien! When there is a romance involved, most authors seem to be afraid to make the alien character too far from humanoid.
J'Qhir has hairless, leatherlike skin and his "equipment" is internal until the mating act is performed. It makes for some interesting and kinky sex scenes, which (by the way) are surprisingly humorous. Kudos to Ms. Curington for having the [courage] ... to write it.
Overall, the book is a fast, easy read. There is not very much depth to the plot, so I can only go 4 stars; but, I do recommend it for entertainment purposes.
Amazon.com
The Village Baker's Wife is thought by many to be one of the best baking books of its year. If you bake, this book can help you hone your skills to professional levels. If you love dessert, reading the lavish recipes will make you salivate.
Whatever your local bakery charges will seem worthwhile once you see how the best baked goods are made--brimming with fresh butter and eggs, the finest chocolate, and fresh fruit.
Photos and drawings are used excellently in this volume. Crammed with information, each page is accessible thanks to intelligent design. Most recipes begin with a list of "Baker's Basics to Review." Take the time to do this; it will increase the likelihood of outstanding results and minimize scrambling for needed information at critical moments.
Raspberry Walnut Brownies, Downtowners (a sticky bun), Lemon Lust Bars and Banana-Coconut Cake are treats you can make with The Village Baker's Wife. If you like, tackle their devastating Chocolate Mousse Cake and elegantly European, marzipan-enrobed Princess Cake. Professional caterers should not miss this book.--Dana Jacobi
Customer Reviews:
I see why Gayle's is famous!!.......2004-09-05
The intro to the book states "an entire pastry shop between two covers", and that is the best way to sum up the book. Thank you Gayle for sharing a well written treasure trove of baking information. One of the best laid out formats, easy to understand delicious recipes, with cross references for each particular recipe. Good illustrations. Not for a beginner, but for myself, a novice, who has only attemped puff pastry one other time, I had excellent results following her instructions. This book is worth it's weight in gold.
DEE-LISH-US!!!.......2003-07-23
What a find! This book has some great recipes. It really caters to folks that know their way around the kitchen and have some knowledge of baking, even though the directions are very well written and each recipe has a refer to page to remind you of a technique that was explained early on in the book.
I've never been to Gayle's but I certainly won't pass it up if I'm ever in the area. Everything I have made, with the exception of the croissants, have been phenominal (the croissants were way too buttery and greasy - this was probably due to my handling of the dough rather than the recipe though). The pastries are to die for even though they took some time to make - no one believed I made them, they looked too perfect - exactly like the photo! The chocolate mousse cake is sinfully delicious and the key lime pie is the BEST I have ever had. Needless to say I have added a few pounds from all the experimenting in the kitchen.
The ingredients are easy to find, the recipes are the ones you'd want from a traditional bakery (danishes, pastries, cakes, cookies, pies). What a gold mind this book has been, I feel like Gayle's has 'revealed' all their secrets. I keep reaching for this book when I want to try a sweet treat.
My all-time favorite cookbook for special occasions.......2002-09-13
This cookbook is, by far, the most influential book in my life of baking! I bought it shortly before my wedding a couple of years ago, and I was able to use several recipes for wedding events! For instance, I made the poppyseed cake with raspberry cream icing for my bridesmaids' luncheon, complete with the traditional "cake charms" for the perfect pink cake! I was asked by four people for the recipe, and in fact, I made it again when I gave a good friend her bridal luncheon last June! For my wedding reception, one of my own contributions to the reception table was the lavender shortbread. A truly interesting myriad of flavors, of course, but it got rave reviews! ("What in the world is IN these cookies?") Five stars!
Great book for all levels of experience --.......2000-12-07
I love Gayle's in Capitola -- all the pastries taste exactly like those from your fondest childhood memories. In the past few months I've made several cakes from Gayle Ortiz' cookbook, and each one tastes just like Gayle's! Even somewhat complicated recipes are broken down into manageable components with easy-to-follow, detailed instructions. I have an embarrassment of cookbooks and baking manuals from four generations of avid bakers, and Gayle's combines the best qualities of all of them. As evidenced by another reviewer's comments, the inherent subjectivity of baking renders no cookbook foolproof. (I've made the pastry cream according to the directions several times, with no problems.) However, this cookbook is nearly foolproof -- my self-proclaimed "not-a-baker" boyfriend & his three children made the carrot cake for my birthday with no assistance, and it was wonderful -- just like Gayle's! (The one error I've found is that recipe's baking time seemed to be incorrect -- 30 minutes instead of the 50-60 mine needed to bake).
Don't stir the pastry cream vigorously!.......2000-11-27
Overall, this is a fine book. I have tried several of the recipes, following the authors' instructions carefully, and some turned out better than others. In particular, I have been disappointed with the recipe for pastry cream and buttercream frosting (which has pastry cream as a component). The directions to make pastry cream appear twice in the book. On page 127 the instructions say "It is very important to whisk continously or the pasty cream may form lumps." Later on, on page 260, you'll find "continue whisking vigorously until the pastry cream thickens, about 5 to 6 minutes." I followed these instructions only to yield 3 cups of very slightly thickened yellowish, tasteless liquid. Then I turned to Harold McGee's book "On Food and Cooking" to find out what had happened. In his section on starch thickened sauces, on page 338, he writes "There are, in fact, three different conditions that encourage thinning: heating for a long period of time after thickening occurs, heating up to the boiling point, and vigorous stirring." Aha! After repeating the procedure for making pastry cream, but not whisking vigorously and only gently agitating the bottom of the pan to prevent excessive clumping, I was able to make a thickened pastry cream. One without much flavor at all, but nonetheless a spreadable cream. Since this incident, I have become slightly suspicious of the recipes in general and have gone on to searching for a pastry recipe book that not only teaches the craft, but is also aware of the science behind baking.
Book Description
Since opening 25 years ago, Gayle's Bakery and Rosticceria in Capitola, California, has grown from a humble 800-square-foot shop to one of the largest, most successful fine-quality bakeries in the country. Now in paperback, THE VILLAGE BAKER'S WIFE collects the all-butter, real-sugar, whole-cream, fine-chocolate desserts and pastries that made Gayle's what it is. With more than 150 recipes, 130 instructional illustrations, and 25 essays on baking techniques, this is the only cookbook you need to make showstopping desserts and pastries, from delicate croissants and flaky puff pastries to sinful German Chocolate Cake and sumptuous Fresh Berry Génoise.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Cookbook.......2005-12-02
Every recipe that I have tried in this cookbook has turned out perfectly and it has the best tasting recipes that I have ever made. This is my most favorite book.
No baker's percentages.......2005-03-22
I cannot understand why books like this are still published. It uses the cup-system, which is a way of measuring ingredients by volume. This yields inaccurate recipes, period. And it took me quite a while to figure out the corrrect percentages to get a recipe right. They are only usable for someone who is either very eperienced or happy to find out by trial and error (or someone who uses exactly the same flour at the same time of year in the same region as the author).
Why, Gayle and Ortiz, why?
2 stars for the effort and nice printing.
Not to be missed excellent bakery cookbook.!.......2004-09-26
As a pastry chef and cookbook collector, the best thing I can say is: "Hurry up, get this book"!- My partner, also a professional baker, didn't wait 2 minutes to order it after she looked through mine. We can recognize a well written, entertaining and useful cookbook, this is one that you don't want to miss. The recipes are well written, with easy to follow instructions and easy to find ingredients-.
Very Highly Recommended Instruction on Pastry.......2004-06-15
This book spawns the germ of an idea that the American Renaissance in appreciation of food first sprouted in the soil of the mid 1970s from a seed planted in the hippie counterculture movement of the sixties. Gayle's bakery was founded in 1978 by a housepainter and an amateur, self-taught baker who did Summer replacement work for Lindsey Shere, the co-owner and pastry chef at Chez Panisse, the holiest shrine of new American food, which was itself started in the mid-1970s. But enough idle speculation.
Like Nancy Silverton's books on the products of the La Brea bakery in LA, most recipes in this book are of goods baked daily at Gayle's bakery in a very small town, Capitolana, a few dozen miles south of San Francisco. Also like Nancy Silverton, Gayle and Joe Ortiz and Louisa Beers have given us much more than a simple book of pastry recipes. In many ways, this book is what Nick Malgieri's book `How to Bake' is not. While Malgieri's book has lots of very good recipes, many of which I use on a regular basis, it simply does not have the depth of instruction in both simple and sophisticated techniques present in abundance in `The Village Baker's Wife'. This is not the very best book on baking I have reviewed. That honor is reserved for `Sherry Yard's great book `The Secrets of Baking'. In addition to great instruction and recipes, the Ortiz add sketches of many great bakers who influenced their career, such as Lindsey Shere, Pierre Herme, Flo Braker, and others.
One hallmark of French sophistication in the culinary world is the way they separate boulangerie (bread making shop) and patisserie (pastry shop). From an earlier book by Joe Ortiz, it is apparent that Gayle's bakery does both bread and pastry, but this book is all about pastry, including some products like croissants and brioche which may seem like breads, but which the French do in the patisserie. And, the whole style of Gayle's products are based in the French rather than Austrian or Italian tradition. In fact, with everything the book says about croissants, I am sad that it did not point out that croissants were invented in Vienna, not Paris.
This book is almost entirely about technique. It does not go into great depth about the details of ingredients or explanations of technique like Rose Levy Beranbaum's bibles. It does not go into deep reasons and skillfully crafted master recipes like Sherry Yard's `The Secrets of Baking'. It really concentrates on explaining the HOW of some of pastry's most difficult tasks. They take a scant 24 introductory pages to cover advice on general techniques and equipment. I second the author's warning. Do not skip this chapter! My only argument with this chapter is the fact that it recommends salted rather than unsalted butter, where virtually every other important cookbook in English recommends unsalted butter.
Butter is the unquestioned star of the first half of the chapters on recipes. The nine recipe groupings are:
Croissant - 28 pages devoted to France's favorite morning sweet bite. The techniques include making croissant dough from a levain (sourdough starter) plus lots of recipes for basic croissants, croissants with sweet fillings, and croissant-like goods. Croissant dough is made much like puff pastry, except it has only about 1/10 the number of folds and layers as true puff pastry.
Danish Pastry - Another type of dough based heavily on the proper application of butter. All the familiar Danish style recipes are here, including bear claws, braids, and rings.
Puff Pastry - Yes, this book tells you how to make puff pastry from scratch, along with lots of applications, especially the most famous such as Napoleons, turnovers, cheese sticks, and palm leaves.
Pies and Tarts - This is the last of the great quartet of chapters on butter doughs, and the subject which is probably most familiar to most American amateur bakers. I am both surprised and pleased that the author's basic pie dough is simpler than the one I got from Susan Purdy's book `As Easy as Pie'. It leaves out the vinegar and egg yolk and does it all with just water, all-purpose flour, and butter. All our favorite pies are here, but the star of the show is the instruction on how to make a good crust, including when and how to blind bake the crust.
Cookies - Probably not as useful as the first four chapters, unless you simply have no other source for cookie recipes. Many classics are here, but not all.
Muffins, Cream Puffs, and Other Bakery Goodies is most interesting for the recipes using Pate a choux.
Cakes, Icings, and Decorations has important sections on instruction. Its most valuable recipes are for the genoise and petits fours. Also good recipes for icings, cheesecakes, and tiramisu.
Gayle at Home - Things they don't sell at the bakery with lots of fruit.
Holiday and Other Festive Desserts - The brioche chapter, plus yummy sourdough pastries and others.
The end of the book has a better than average listing of ingredient and equipment sources.
If you make not a single recipe from this book, you will still enjoy it for the insight and information into great baking. If you simply want good cookie and pie recipes, you will get a nice selection here. But, the real payoff in this book is the techniques for butter doughs for croissants, Danish, and puff pastry. This book and a fond memory for the days of `The Whole Earth Catalogue' can come dangerously close to turning you into a baker.
A bit steep for a novice, but highly recommended for a wide range of interests.
Books:
- Without Due Process
- A Cold Day In Paradise (An Alex McKnight Novel)
- A Deadly Yarn: A Knitting Mystery
- A Dose of Murder (Pauline Sokol Mysteries)
- A Gladiator Dies Only Once: The Further Investigations of Gordianus the Finder (Novels of Ancient Rome)
- A Midsummer Night's Scream (Jane Jeffry Mystery Series, No. 15)
- A Nose for Murder
- A Stained White Radiance
- A Traitor to Memory
- American Tabloid: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Minimus Pupil's Book: Starting out in Latin
- Kiss of the Night
- Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology plus Applications Manual, Third Edition
- Gold and Silver Staining: Techniques in Molecular Morphology
- History: Fiction or Science
- Log Cabin Classics
- Kookaburra Gambit: A Kylie Kendall Mystery
- Windows on the Past: Four Centuries of New England Homes
- Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses
- The Watermark: A Novella
A Loyal Character Dancer
A Case of Two Cities: An Inspector Chen Novel (Inspector Chen Cao)
Death of a Red Heroine (Soho Crime)
Jar City: A Thriller (Reykjavik Thriller)
The Coroner's Lunch
